Northeast San Antonio Metrocom Edition | May 2025

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Northeast San Antonio

Metrocom Edition VOLUME 4, ISSUE 8 MAY 14JUNE 12, 2025

4 stories to know in Northeast San Antonio Metrocom

1. Government

2. Education

INSIDE

Schertz trash rates to increase 33% with new provider Starting on July 1, Schertz citizens will see an increase in residential waste collection rates. Approved by the Schertz City Council, Frontier Waste Solutions will provide waste services to Schertz, increasing monthly costs from $14.46 to $19.20. The 32.78% increase in rates and change in service providers also means a change in collection schedules for the city.

Ocials at Judson ISD are contemplating a voter-approved tax rate election, or VATRE, this November to increase revenues for scal year 2025-26 and oset a projected budget shortfall. Revenue would come from levying property taxes beyond the maximum com- pressed tax rate. JISD weighs cost-saving budget measures

Schertz waste collection fees

Garbage and recycling pickup costs will increase from $14.46 to $19.20 on July 1 for residents.

$1.10

Garbage Recycling Bulk/brush Household hazardous waste

$2.05

Current $14.46

As of July 1 $19.20

$12.73

$4.37

Budget outlook

Revenue Expenditures

$12.41

FY 2024-25 forecast

$251.3M

SOURCE: CITY OF SCHERTZCOMMUNITY IMPACT

$273M

FY 2025-26 base budget

$232.3M

$280.2M

SOURCE: JUDSON ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

4. Transportation

INSIDE

COURTESY FRONTIER WASTE SOLUTIONS

3. Impacts

INSIDE

Universal City renames Cimarron Park

Street updates complete on Lookout Road

Live Oak

1604

LOOKOUT RD.

THOMAS LEFFLERCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

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Impacts

4 Quick Quack Car Wash The California-based car wash chain oers car wash memberships, free vacuums and more. • Opening in August • 460 Kitty Hawk Road, Universal City • www.dontdrivedirty.com 5 Home Depot The home improvement retailer is anticipated to begin construction on a new building in October, according to a ling with TDLR and conrmation from a company retail representative. The Home Depot sells outdoor power equipment, patio furniture, ladders, ceiling fans and more, according to its website. • Opening in August 2026 • 18541 Ripps Kreusler Road, Schertz • www.homedepot.com

Garden Ridge

482

3009

2252

Selma

1103

RIPPS KREUSLER RD.

1604

Cibolo

Schertz

What’s next

Universal City

6 Olive Garden The chain restaurant has plans to build a new restaurant, according to the ling with TDLR. Construction is anticipated to begin in September, according to the ling. Olive Garden serves a variety of entrees, soups, salads and more. • Opening in April 2026 • 17974 I-35 N. frontage road, Cibolo • www.olivegarden.com 7 Ford Motor Company Training Facility The 13,524-square-foot facility will oer hands-on training with vehicles and classroom lectures. The facility, currently under construction, is anticipated to be complete by August, according to a ling with TDLR. • Opening in August • 17623 Lookout Road, Ste. 140, Selma • www.newfordtech.com 8 AutoZone Auto Parts The automotive retailer has plans to open a second Schertz location, according to a ling with TDLR. Autozone Auto Parts sells automotive products, such as batters, brakes, engine components and more. • Opening in August

E. WRIGHT BLVD.

1518

Live Oak

WAGON CROSSING

MAP NOT TO SCALE

Schertz

1976

spark plugs. The business will also oer battery and check engine light testing. • Opening in October • FM 1103 and Turning Stone • www.oreillyauto.com 3 STX Frio The 325,274-square-foot cold storage warehouse will have 42 docks, LED lighting, a Tyco Quell dry re sprinkler system and a 200-foot-deep truck court with 68 trailer parking spaces and automobile parking. • Opening in winter • 22218 FM 2252, Schertz • www.boomerangindustrial.squarespace.com 10 1518

Now open

1 BlueWave Express Car Wash Owned and operated by ClearWater Express Wash, BlueWave Express Car Wash oers power washes, wheel cleans, ash drys, foam polishes and rain repels. • Opened April 16 • 6050 FM 3009, Schertz • www.bluewaveexpress.com/locations/schertz 1604

Coming soon

2 O’Reilly Auto Parts The auto parts store will sell batteries, brake pads and

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Coming soon

12 Selma Splash Pad The splash pad reopened April 18 after closing in June due to a mechanical issue in the secondary UV disinfection system, the city stated in a social media post. • 9374 Valhalla Drive, Selma • ci.selma.tx.us 13 Billy D’s Club The bar changed ownership from Derek and Trevor Emery to Vanessa Flowers in December. Flowers re-opened the bar Feb. 3 following a series of renovations, including new countertops and additional televisions. • 1805 Pat Booker Road, Universal City • Facebook: Billy D’s Club 14 Neville Park and Clubhouse Universal City o¥cials celebrated the renaming of Cimarron Park to Neville Park and Clubhouse with a dedication ceremony on April 22. Universal City City Council approved the renaming of the park March 4, to honor Richard “Dick” Neville. Neville served as a Universal City council member for 26 years. • 368 Wagon Crossing, Universal City • www.universalcitytexas.gov

In the news

9 K. Charles & Co. The hair salon, owned by Holly Thalman and managed by Nicole Delaney, will celebrate 10 years in May. K. Charles oers a range of hair services, including hair coloring, hair cuts and extensions, and keratin treatments. • 3820 FM 3009, Ste. 108, Schertz • www.kcharles.com 10 Mam’s Cigar Shop The cigar shop, locally owned by Marshall Matney, celebrated its 10-year anniversary March 15. • 107 E. Wright Blvd., Universal City • 210-658-6267 11 Public Storage The storage unit facility recently added 25 units from vacated commercial tenants, totaling 3,550 square feet of rentable space, according to construction manager Dan Westervelt. • Renovations completed in April

15 Salata With four locations in San Antonio, this will be the rst Salata location in the Northeast San Antonio area. The fast-causal restaurant oers wraps, build-to-order salads and teas. • Opening in May • 18384 I-35 N., Ste. 101, Cibolo • www.salata.com

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Dining

BY THOMAS LEFFLER

Howzit Hawaiian Kitchen is owned by Alden Tottori.

THOMAS LEFFLERCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Howzit Hawaiian Kitchen oers Hawaiian salted pork with cabbage as part of its Hapa Mixed Plate ($18) .

COURTESY HOWZIT HAWAIIAN KITCHEN

Howzit Hawaiian Kitchen serves up family cuisine The Tottori family is bringing their Hawaiian heritage to Schertz through plates from Howzit Hawaiian Kitchen. The inspiration community surrounded by our friends and family,” Tottori said. On the menu Howzit Hawaiian Kitchen’s menu is an ode to

Howzit Hawaiian Kitchen’s Beach BBQ Chicken Plate ($15) is made of boneless dark meat chicken.

COURTESY HOWZIT HAWAIIAN KITCHEN

Tottori’s Honolulu roots. The restaurant mixes dif- ferent concepts of Hawaiian food, such as Japanese, Korean and Chinese, mixed with Polynesian culture to break down the barrier of what Hawaiian comfort regional cuisine is, Tottori said. Howzit Hawaiian Kitchen’s menu features Hapa plates with meat selections which is marinated for 48 hours before being put on the grill. Howzit Hawaiian Kitchen also provides catering services throughout the area.

A native to Hawaii, Owner Alden Tottori managed restaurants in California and Hawaii before moving to Schertz to be closer to his wife’s family. Tottori said he had always considered owning a restaurant, and in November 2024, that became reality. Tottori said his family and friends gave him the nal nod of approval after trying his Hawaiian cuisine. Then he saw an opportunity to open his restaurant when a space became available within the Parkway Village Shopping Center. “We’re happy that we could stay in our own

1420 Schertz Parkway, Ste. 290, Schertz www.howzithawaiiankitchen.com

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Government

BY THOMAS LEFFLER

Schertz City Council increases rates for garbage, recycling pickup

Timeline

2017

City of Schertz awards 10-year waste services franchise agreement to Bexar Waste—later Republic Services—to expire June 30, 2025 March: Waste services survey is sent to residents January: City engages consulting rm to assist procurement of waste services April: Frontier Waste Solutions selected for waste services

2025

were problematic. “I don’t think though that we’re in tune with the community on the frequency and the types of service that they’re expecting out of trash collection with what’s being recommended by the sta,” Davis said. The city’s relationship with Republic Services dates back to Republic’s purchase of Bexar Waste in 2017. The city rst established a waste services franchise relationship with Bexar Waste before selling to Republic.

For the rst time in seven years, Schertz City Council approved an increase to residential waste collection rates. In a 5-1 vote on April 1, the dais approved a ve year collection agreement with Frontier Waste Solutions, increasing monthly costs for residents from $14.46 to $19.20 as of July 1. Council member Mark Davis—who was the single dissenting vote—said he expected rates to go up but thought the lack of communication with the public and the loss of the spring and fall cleanups

July: New services, rates go into eect

SOURCE: CITY OF SCHERTZCOMMUNITY IMPACT

What residents are saying

Breaking it down

Garbage Recycling Bulk/Brush Household Hazardous Waste Schertz waste collection fees Garbage and recycling pickup costs will increase from $14.46 to $19.20 on July 1 for Schertz residents.

Beginning July 1, garbage will be picked up once a week, with recycling and brush/bulk pickup occurring every other week. Garbage pickup costs $12.73 per month, with recycling at $4.37 per month and brush/bulk pickup at $1 per month. The remaining $1.10 comes from a household hazardous waste option for items like pesticides, with residents able to call for a pickup and eliminate the need to take the waste anywhere outside their home, Assistant City Manager Sarah Gonzalez said. City sta recommended the $19.20 option over a $22 at rate which would have included once per week garbage, once per week recycling and every other week bulk and brush collection. The

Resident Michele Tereletsky said 96-gallon bins are anywhere from 43-46 inches tall on Amazon, noting that she is 63 inches tall. “I understand we have to go up in price, but there’s some consideration that needs to be taken on the how [it is] being done,” she said. Resident Maggie Titterington said she doesn’t think having a 96-gallon recycling cart is going to be unmanageable.

$1.10

$2.05

$12.41

$12.73

Current $14.46

As of July 1 $19.20

$4.37

SOURCE: CITY OF SCHERTZCOMMUNITY IMPACT

The city of Schertz surveyed residents to name their most important waste collection feature. Schertz waste collection features

$22 at rate was not chosen because it would have resulted in a $90.48 annual increase in costs, according to agenda documents.

Votes Recycling pickup

207

Garbage collection method

Digging deeper

207

Monthly cost

157

Approximately 5,200 residential accounts receive garbage and recycling pickup once a week, and approximately 9,300 residential accounts receive twice a week garbage pickup and once per week recycling. Both once per week and twice per week residential accounts are currently charged $14.46. As part of the current agreement with Republic Services—which expires June 30—residents also receive monthly bulk pickup, access to spring and fall cleanup days, and optional curbside chipping, or brush removal, service, according to agenda documents. The new agreement with Frontier Waste Solutions

will “equalize” service across the city by standard- izing pickup schedules, Gonzalez said. Curbside chipping service will no longer be provided with the increased brush pickup frequency, which will allow the Public Works division to focus on potholes and street repair, Gonzalez added. The increased bulk and brush pickup service will also discontinue the annual fall and spring cleanups, which are 16-day periods with a temporary waste collection point. Residents will receive a new 96-gallon garbage cart and a 96-gallon recycling cart. Frontier will also provide door to truck waste collection for those who need it.

Bulky item disposal

126

Brush waste disposal 109 Household hazardous waste disposal 57

Other

Waiting time for special item pickup 36

SOURCE: CITY OF SCHERTZ COMMUNITY IMPACT

NOTE: RESPONDERS COULD SELECT UP TO FOUR FEATURES IN THE SURVEY.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Government

BY THOMAS LEFFLER

Schertz increases water, wastewater impact fees Schertz City Council approved an increase to its water and wastewater impact fees for new properties on April 1. Water and wastewater impact fees are collected from new developments once a building permit is issued, which helps fund new construction and facility expansion, agenda documents state. What you need to know As of July 1, impact fees for a new single-fam- ily home will increase from $4,603 to $14,369, which will put Schertz in line with communities of a similar population, City Engineer Kathryn Woodlee said. The dais began discussing updating water and wastewater impact fees in March, however, pend- ing litigation from the Texas Legislature forced city sta to change its recommendation, according to agenda documents. If approved, Senate Bill 1883

Economic analysis OKed for golf course Universal City City Council voted 5-1 to award an economic impact analysis of Olympia Hills to the National Golf Founda- tion, or NGF, in the amount of $19,000 on April 15. Council member Bernard Rubal was the single dissenting vote. Some details In March, Richard Singer, senior director of consulting services with NGF, suggested multiple golf course improvements. The report will analyze Olympia Hills’ economic impact on the community. Once the analysis begins, it will take between two and three months to com- plete, according to agenda documents. Council also considered awarding a contract for design renovations on May 6, after press time.

Breaking it down

Current impact fee

Fee as of July 1

Fast food restaurant $125,866 $239,978 Single-family home $4,603 $14,370

Medical oce $9,206

$28,740

Spec warehouse $125,866 $239,978

SOURCE: CITY OF SCHERTZCOMMUNITY IMPACT

would not allow a political subdivision to increase impact fees for three years from the date the fee was most recently increased—leaving Schertz in a bind with the phase-in process, Woodlee said.

Rezoning approved for new Burn Boot Camp location

3009

DOBIE BLVD.

growth of the gym necessitates a new location, according to agenda documents. The new location would consist of a 12,000-to-15,000-square-foot building with at least 8,000 square feet for the gym space. There would also be a smoothie bar and a locker room with showers, agenda documents state.

Cibolo City Council rezoned 5.2 acres of prop- erty south of the intersection of West Borgfeld Road and Dobie Boulevard for a new Burn Boot Camp location on April 8. What you need to know Burn Boot Camp Cibolo Creek currently operates at 233 FM 3009, Schertz. Franchise partners Alex and Tiesha Hartman said the

Next steps Burn Boot Camp Cibolo Creek will continue to operate out of the Schertz location. The Hartmans selected an engineer and architect for the project.

NORTHEAST SAN ANTONIO METROCOM EDITION

Education

BY THOMAS LEFFLER

Judson ISD ocials may call a voter- approved tax rate election, or VATRE, this November with hopes of increasing district revenue for the 2025-26 FY. VATRE consideration stems from an early proposed budget showing that total expenditures are $47.89 million higher than total revenue in scal year 2025-26. Revenue from the VATRE-if successful- would come from enrichment pennies, supplemental revenue that levy property taxes beyond the maximum compressed rate, according to the Texas Education Agency. Chief of Finance Larry Guerra said one option would be to go after $12 million of revenue from the VATRE, which would increase the district's tax rate from $1.0346 per $100 valuation to $1.11 per $100 valuation. JISD considers voter-approval tax rate election

Digging deeper

Employee budget savings If Judson ISD were to reduce an employee group’s calendar each year by one day, this is how much the district would save in FY 2025-26.

Cost reduction options for board consideration included the reduction of pay for District of Innova- tion teachers, with a possible 10% reduction for the 177 teachers, saving the district potentially $925,000 for FY 2025-26. A District of Innovation teacher is a teacher currently working on obtaining teacher certications. Two other cost-saving options presented to the board were adding responsibilities to district librarians and increasing student-teacher ratios in the classroom. A move that would save the district $750,000 for the 2025-26 FY would see all librarians kept at campuses, with elementary school librar- ians taking on additional responsibility through Academic Enrichment Teaching, or lessons that go beyond the typical curriculum. An increase in the teacher-student ratio would lead to class sizes going up by two students. This would raise the elementary class size to 23, middle school to 25 and high school to 26. Kristin Saunders, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, said that while it may

District Oce/Education Resource Center/Technology/ Facilities: $84,084

Maintenance/ Transportation: $6,285 Principals: $17,347 Instructional Paraeducators: $25,252

Associate Principals: $3,072

not be desirable, going up to 23 students at the elementary level is not an “outlandish number.” Mary Duhart-Toppen, deputy superintendent of teaching and learning, said some middle school classrooms are already sitting at 25 students, and principals have supported increasing class sizes by two students.

Budget outlook

Next steps

Revenue

Expenditures

FY 2024-25 forecast

The district would then have to receive an eciency audit before a November vote, with the cost to run an election and receive the audit totaling $150,000, Guerra said.

The board will continue to meet on budgetary matters until a nal budget proposal is voted on during a June meeting. For a VATRE, the board will have to vote in May whether to seek an election or not, according to the presentation.

$251.3M

$273M

FY 2025-26 base budget

$232.3M

$280.2M

SOURCE: JUDSON ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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Education

BY THOMAS LEFFLER

SCUCISD, Judson ISD receive TEA ratings for 202223 school year

Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD

Judson ISD

Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD and Judson ISD received a “B” and “D” respectively for the 2022-23 school year in the Texas Education Agen- cy’s 2022-23 accountability ratings. The ratings were released April 24 after a delay due to lawsuits. TEA ocials said the methods of calculating 2022-23 ratings were “updated to more accurately reect performance.” For the 2021-22 school year, when Texas school districts last received ratings through the AF system, SCUCISD and Judson ISDs both received “B” ratings. How we got here The state’s AF accountability system was designed to measure how much students are learning in each grade and whether they are ready for the next grade, according to the TEA. The release of the ratings follows an April 3 ruling by Texas’ 15th Court of Appeals, which over- turned a lower court’s injunction that had blocked the 2023 ratings for over a year. In September 2023, over 100 school districts sued TEA Commissioner Mike Morath, arguing the agency’s revamped accountability system was “unlawful” and would unfairly harm school districts. What districts are saying Deanna Jackson, SCUCISD executive director of communications and community engagement, told Community Impact that the district’s “B” rating is “within range” of what they anticipated, particularly within the “recalibrated accountabil- ity framework” of the TEA. However, the district was not okay with any campus earning a “D”. “This is not aligned with our commitment to excellence, and we are working urgently and

Campus

Rating

Campus

Rating

Candlewood Elementary Converse Elementary Coppereld Elementary Coronado Village Elementary

Cibolo Valley Elementary

D D B B D F C D D C F D

Green Valley Elementary

John A. Sippel Elementary

Norma J. Paschal Elementary

Crestview Elementary Elolf STEAM Academy Escondido Elementary

Rose Garden Elementary:

Schertz Elementary

Fine Arts Academy at Olympia Franz Leadership Academy

Watts Elementary

Wiederstein Elementary

Hartman Elementary Hopkins Elementary Masters Elementary

Barbara Jordan Intermediate

J. Frank Dobie Junior High

Elaine S. Schlather Intermediate

Miller's Point Elementary

Park Village Blended Learning Academy

Laura Ingalls Wilder Intermediate

Paschall Elementary

D C D

Ray D. Corbett Junior High

Rolling Meadows Elementary

Byron P. Steele II High

Salinas Elementary

Allison L. Steele ELC

Spring Meadows Elementary

Samuel Clemens High

Woodlake Elementary

D B C F B F D A D A C D

Wortham Oaks Elementary

Judson Middle Kirby Middle

deliberately to improve outcomes in those schools,” she said. JISD ocials did not respond as of press time. What’s next The TEA remains blocked from issuing ratings for the 2023-24 school year due to a separate law- suit, which is pending in the state appeals court. The TEA intends to release ratings for 2024-25 on Aug. 15, per state law. Hannah Norton contributed to this report.

Kitty Hawk Middle Metzger Middle

Woodlake Hills Middle

Judson Early College Academy

Judson High

Judson Learning Academy Veterans Memorial High

Wagner High

SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

EAST AVIATION DISTRICT MARKET

NORTHEAST SAN ANTONIO METROCOM EDITION

Education

BY THOMAS LEFFLER

Judson ISD accepts new math materials

SCUCISD selects 2 new principals Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD trustees selected two new principals for the 2025-26 school year April 3. What you need to know Justin Monk will be the new principal for Barbara C. Jordan Intermediate School. Monk, who has nine years of education experience, will replace Tina Curtis. He’s currently the assistant principal at Judson High School, where he maintained a focus in the ne arts, athletics and physical educa- tion departments, according to the Judson High School website. Steven Piles will be the new principal at Maxine & Lutrell Watts Elementary School after serving as assistant principal at Schertz Elementary School for the past four years. Piles will replace Lee Conn.

Judson ISD trustees approved new instructional materials for district math classes April 17. The board voted 5-2 to approve math instruc- tional materials for grades K-8, as well as Algebra I materials, selecting Bluebonnet Learning from Carnegie Learning Inc. The dissenting votes were Laura Stanford and Monica Ryan, who had concerns about lack of buy-in from JISD teachers and neighboring school districts, respectively. How we got here The district selected Bluebonnet Learning from a list selected by the State Board of Education, electing to continue use of existing products in all other academic areas next school year, according to agenda documents. The district will receive an extra $60 per student on top of its Instructional Materials Allotment from the state, Assistant Superintendent Lacey Gosch said. Mary Duhart-Toppen, deputy superintendent of

Judson ISD 202526 math materials funding per student Instructional Materials Allotment $171.84

Adoption of Bluebonnet materials $40 Training for Bluebonnet materials $20

SOURCE: JUDSON ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

teaching and learning, told the board that mathe- matics performance has been a struggle for several years, namely students not meeting grade level expectations on standardized testing. Gosch said materials will be provided in time to begin professional development for sta for the 2025-26 school year implementation.

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Development

BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

Ocials with waste disposal company WM, formerly known as Waste Management, celebrated the grand opening of the Mesquite Creek Recycling Facility, located at 801 Kohlenberg Road, New Braunfels, on April 15. “Not only are we celebrating the hard work and culmination of a very special project, we’re also making signicant steps toward enabling a more sustainable Texas,” said Domenica Farmer, WM Texas Oklahoma area vice president. In September 2023, the city of New Braunfels entered into an agreement to partner with WM to build a state-of-the-art recycling plant, something the city had previously lacked. The city’s recycling trucks had been driving to material recovery facilities in San Antonio multiple times a day since 2007, according to previous reporting by Community Impact . Construction on the recycling facility began later that year, WM’s chief sustainability ocer Tara Hemmer said. The $72 million recycling facility is equipped with over 16 optical sorters that use cameras and lasers to identify and properly sort materials discarded at the center. “That technology can help us recycle more material, make it cleaner for our customers and really transforms the experience for our employees,” Hemmer said. Ocials unveil $72M regional recycling facility

The Mesquite Creek Recycling Facility is located at 801 Kohlenberg Road, New Braunfels.

PHOTOS BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWENCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Austin

WM Service areas Mesquite Creek Recycling services the following areas:

130

Buda

Comal County

New Braunfels

1 Austin 2 New Braunfels 3 Victoria 4 Live Oak 5 Jourdanton 6 Buda 7 Boerne 8 Universal City 9 Converse

Boerne

Mesquite Creek Recycling Facility

1604

San Antonio

410

123

173

181

Jourdanton

SOURCE: WM COMMUNITY IMPACT

Victoria

Some details

Quote of note

New Braunfels recycling trucks will unload all collected material at the recycling facility. From there, those materials will be sent to a large con- veyor belt for sorting. Paper, cans and bottles will be separated before being run through an Eddy current, an electric current that pulls materials with aluminum o the conveyor belt. The sorted materials will then be compacted into bales, as previously reported by Community Impact. Mesquite Creek Recycling can process up to 144,000 tons of material annually and is also equipped with an education center. Cardboard, paper and aluminum cans are among the materi- als that can be recycled at the facility.

As New Braunfels continues to grow, so do needs for thoughtful infrastructure that supports sustainable living, said Andrés Campos, New Braunfels’ Mayor Pro Tem. “By investing in modern solutions like this here in our community, WM is helping our city prolong the life of our landlls, conserve natural resources and strengthen programs that support both the economy and ecology of our city,” he said. “The Mesquite Creek Recycling Facility provides much better access to recycling services making it easier than ever for residents to participate in building a greener, cleaner city.”

Each bale can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and will be shipped to end users or mills to be used again.

NORTHEAST SAN ANTONIO METROCOM EDITION

Development

Transportation

BY THOMAS LEFFLER

New townhomes near completion in Schertz Collection Schertz Station will have its rst townhomes available beginning in July, according to real estate investment company Embrey. The overview The project—developed by Embrey—will consist of 318 build-to-rent townhomes with units ranging from one- to three-bed- rooms according to Embrey.

Aordable housing project opening soon Aviator 1518, an aordable housing complex located at 9120 E. FM 1518 N., Schertz, is nearly ready to open for renters. The details The rst 27 units of the planned 300 will be released June 1, Manager Adriana Contreras told Community Impact . Contreras said the develop- ment will be fully constructed by the end of 2025. The development is a partnership between the Schertz Housing Authority and The NRP Group, according to previous reporting by Community Impact . Digging deeper Aviator 1518 is named due to its location on FM 1518 and its close proximity to Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. Rent in the community will range from $794 to $1,797 per month, with a

Ongoing projects

Completed projects

3009

1 Schertz Parkway Areconstruction of Lookout Road in Schertz and upsizing of a sanitary sewer main from Doerr Lane to Schertz Parkway will begin this summer, according to the Schertz capital improvements webpage. The city of Selma is providing funding for a third of the cost of a tra c signal on the project. • Timeline: summer 2025-March 2026 • Cost: $4.89 million • Funding sources: Economic Development Corporation, city of Selma 2 I35 NEX Central Construction continues on the I-35 NEX Central project, including multiple mainline closures on southbound I-35 from Schertz Parkway to Forum Parkway in Schertz and Selma in April for bridge deck pour and roadway work. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, a deck pour is concrete deck slab placement for the portion of the remaining deck between stages of bridge construction. • Timeline: June2022-late 2027 • Cost: $1.5 billion • Funding source: TxDOT

3 Knights Crossing Trac Signal A new tra c signal at the intersection of FM 1103 and Knights Crossing was activated April 1. The installation, according to the Texas Department of Transportation, was in response to increasing tra c volume and a need to enhance road safety at the location. The project is part of the Steele Creek Subdivision Public Improvement Agreement approved in July 2022, according to agenda documents from the April 8 Cibolo City Council meeting. • Timeline: Completed April 1 • Cost: $607,842.55 • Funding sources: city of Cibolo, Buffalo Crossing, DR Horton 4 Lookout Road Constructionto complete street improvements on Lookout Road in Live Oak nished in April after beginning on Jan. 13. According to previous Community Impact reporting, the project is part of a bond approved by Live Oak residents in 2022. • Timeline: January-April • Cost: $18 million • Funding source: 2022 Transportation Bond

TRICOUNTY PKWY.

The complex is located at 9120 E. FM 1518 N., Schertz

1604

1518

Schertz

BRITE RD.

1103

WEIL RD.

maximum income limit based on 70 percent of the area median income, Contreras said. The apartment complex oers a variety of ame- nities, including a 24-hour tness center, outdoor playground, picnic grills and business center. Each unit will also have a full size washer and dryer, according to its website.

Schertz

KNIGHT'S XING

1976

RIPPS KREUSLER RD.

LIVE OAK 14623 IH-35 N (210) 651-1911

RECTOR 819 E Rector Dr (210) 340-2244

LEGACY 2003 N Loop 1604 E (210) 494-8600

STONE OAK 23026 US Hwy 281 N (210) 497-1322

WELCOME TO MAYFAIR’S BEAUTIFUL BEGINNING NEW HOMES SELLING Kids need room to grow. At Mayfair in New Braunfels, not far from historic Gruene, our community is designed around gracious public parks and a robust trailway system. Connecting a variety of new single-family, town and for-lease homes to nature and soon to Midtown Mayfair—our planned shopping, dining and workplace district. Because parents need their space, too. We invite you to join us.

Nine builders. Eight model homes to tour. More coming soon.

MAYFAIRTX.COM

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

MORE STELLAR THAN USUAL!

A TOUR OF THE STATE, MADE ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITY IMPACT MAY 2025

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

DETOURS: Hoodoos in Big Bend Ranch State Park CRITTER: The Caprock Bison

OUT THERE: Meanwhile, in Texas MADE IN TEXAS: Music Makers FEATURE PREVIEW: Meet the Texperts

Above: Big Bend Ranch State Park.

NORTHEAST SAN ANTONIO METROCOM EDITION

DETOURS

Clods and Monsters

Location: In Big Bend Ranch State Park, 26 miles west of the Barton Warnock Visitor Center BY PAM LEBLANC WALKING AMONG the weird spires of rock that sprout like giant mushrooms in Big Bend Ranch State Park feels like wandering the set of the original Star Trek series. The sand-colored hoodoos—some as tall as a two-story building—look otherworldly, but they developed natu- rally. Eons of wind and rain have scrubbed away softer materials such as fine-grained mudstone and porous tu at the base of the columns, leaving caps of hardened rock at the top. Use your imagination and you might see a human-shaped figure, a lumpy rendition of a troll, or a colossal bird egg balanced on a pedestal. These “fairy towers” famously appeared in the closing scenes of Boy- hood, Richard Linklater’s 2014 coming-of-age drama. An easy stop if you’re driving through the park, the Hoodoos Trail is about a mile long. If you’re not up for the walk, a shaded picnic table oers views of the hoodoos, the Rio Grande, and Mexico beyond.

acres, “they’re usually just cud chewing and wallowing and walking around like they have all day to do nothing,” says Na- talie Smith, a park interpreter. Still, she warns visitors to stay at least fifty yards, or half the length of a football field, away from a bison—and even more during rutting season, which typically lasts from June to September, when they can be aggressive. “If you get two bulls that are equally dominant and are physically equals, they can fight, and they will,” says park superintendent Donald Beard. “We have had bulls killed by other bulls.”

The bison at Caprock Canyons State Park, in the Panhandle, default to photogenic docility, as befits a noble symbol of the American West. They are the descendants of five herds, in- cluding one created by Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight, who in 1878 rescued several calves during the great slaughter that made the once plenti- ful bovines a rarity. There are other herds on private land, but Caprock’s has been designat- ed the o cial herd of Texas, a celebrity status the bison seem unaware of. Mostly unrued by the campers and day hikers who visit the park’s 15,314

YIKES. HOW DO I AVOID IRRITATING A BISON? Leave appropriate space be- tween yourself and any animal capable of tap dancing on your organs, and look out for signs of agitation. “If their tail is in the air, like it’s flagging, you need to step back,” says Smith. Ditto if it’s swinging its head from side to side. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I’M BEING CHARGED BY ONE? Beard says, “If you get into a situation where you’ve been charged, it’s too late.”

The Caprock Bison CRITTER OF THE MONTH

OH. —Lauren Larson

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

MADE IN TEXAS

The Sound Machinists A Houston-area company creates modern synthesizers with vintage vibes for Joe Walsh, Duran Duran, and LCD Soundsystem. BY MICHAEL HALL

OUT THERE

Meanwhile, In Texas

In the right hands—customers include Chro- meo, Duran Duran, LCD Soundsystem, and nu- merousfilmandTVsounddesigners—theycan create audio that is human and otherworldly, animated and moody, hard and soft. “The idea that synths are just beeps and bloops is not accurate at all,” says Mike Gra- ham, an engineer and the vice president of business development. “They can sound creepy; they can sound angry; they can sound happy or sad. They can sound inquisitive.” The company’s roots go back to 1969, when Roger Arrick, then an eight-year-old living in suburbanFortWorth,firstheardSwitched-On Bach, an album of the composer’s songs played on the synthesizer created by Robert Moog. To read the rest of this story and stories about other independent makers in Texas, subscribe to Texas Monthly.

THE BUILDING’S WALLS sometimes shake with a sonic rumble. Other times, it’s like a spaceship is flying overhead or as if the elec- tronic duo Daft Punk has reunited in this pleasant industrial park in Stafford, thirty minutes from downtown Houston. But it’s just business as usual at the workshop head- quarters of Synthesizers.com. Thecompanyhasmadeanalogmodularsyn- thesizers for nearly thirty years. The instru- ments are based on the classic Moog (rhymes with “vogue”) synths of the sixties and sev- enties, but these modern-day machines are cheaper and easier to play. They are elegant, with black panels, silver knobs, and red lights.

Numerous attendees at a pickle- themed event in New Braunfels claimed that it was a fiasco, with one unhappy patron posting that she “didn’t even get 1 pickle” and that organizers “should have called it the dusty long line festival.” A pig named Peppa and a blind dog named Amy were reunited with their owner after the lost pair trotted along- side U.S. 290 and wandered into a general store in Austin’s Harris Branch neighborhood. Drivers of two vacuum trucks caused a large explosion and fire after they al- legedly attempted to steal petroleum from a pipeline maintenance station near Orla. The discovery of more than one hun- dred human teeth buried in the yard of a Hondo home prompted an investiga- tion by local police, who found out that the previous owners of the property were dentists who may have been fol- lowing a tradition of burying teeth for good luck . A state representative from Smithville introduced a bill called the Forbidden Unlawful Representation of Roleplay- ing in Education (FURRIES) Act, which would ban “non-human” behavior in schools, such as wearing a tail. A substation explosion at Texas Tech University caused widespread power outages and the eruption of green flames from manhole covers across campus. —Meher Yeda

Mike Graham operates a Studio-110 system at the Synthesizers.com oce in Staord.

NORTHEAST SAN ANTONIO METROCOM EDITION

Space Center Houston tour guide Irwin Stewart.

for a movie about space to get a VIP tour from Stewart, though he has guided actor Natalie Portman, who portrayed an astronaut in 2019’s Lucy in the Sky, and director Alfonso Cuarón, an Oscar winner for 2013’s Gravity . You just have to reserve a spot on one of Stewart’s week- days-only excursions, which cost about $200 per person and are limited to small groups. With light gray hair styled in the manner of Albert Einstein’s, the 56-year-old Stewart is expressive and enthusiastic, often peppering conversations with “Did you know that?” He and eleven others on the Space Center’s sta give these specialized tours, and Stewart is comfortable with famous visitors. He is also a certified commercial pilot who spent more than a decade as an aircraft-maintenance in- structor. In other words, he can go deep on all things that fly. He can easily talk for three hours, the average length of a tour, and show no sign of flagging. Stewart greets me on a hot fall day at the entrance to Space Center Houston and makes small talk while he escorts me around the back of the building to a black SUV. Then, as he drives onto the NASA campus, he launch- es into tour guide mode. His voice becomes louder and more animated. “There’s one hundred buildings on this cam- pus! Each has its own specialty.” To read the rest of this article about Stew- art and more of our favorite tour guides all across Texas, subscribe to Texas Monthly.

IF YOU’VE BEEN among the million-plus annual visitors to Space Center Houston, the museum at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, you’ve probably seen the Apollo 17 command module, walked through the replica of the space shuttle Independence, and touched a moon rock. You may have even taken a tram to the 1,600-acre working campus behind the museum and walked up to the Saturn V rocket —more than thirty stories tall—lying on its side like a giant in repose. But have you met Irwin Stewart? You don’t have to be a celebrity preparing

FEATURE PREVIEW

Meet the Texperts Tour guides, park rangers, and docents interpret our state in wildly different ways, but their mission is the same: tell a story no one would ever want to walk away from. BY KATY VINE

TEXAS MONTHLY : WRITTEN BY TEXANS FOR TEXANS FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS. JOIN OUR COMMUNITY OF READERS.

TEXASMONTHLY.COM/TEXAN Subscribe to Texas Monthly for just $9 and never miss a story!

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Events

BY THOMAS LEFFLER

will be provided to each participant. Each wave of participants will have 10-15 minutes to sh and will then turn in their catch for measurements. • June 6, 6:30-9 p.m. • Free (admission) • Multi Event Center, 210 S. Main St., Cibolo • www.cibolotx.gov/community/ special_events/cibolo_summer_nights.php Junior Fishing Day This event is for children 13-years-old and under. Adult supervision is required, and no license is required for the day for any age. Attendees must bring their own shing gear. • June 7, 7-11 a.m. • Free (admission) • Lakeside at Main Park, 7800 Lazy Forest Drive, Live Oak • www.liveoaktx.net Father’s Day Classic This youth basketball tournament will be in a 3-games- in-1-day format for boys and girls teams in grades 2nd through Varsity. • June 14-15, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. • $210 per team • Alamo City All-Stars, 11471 E. Loop 1604 N., Universal City • www.alamocityallstars.com/ event/fathers-day-classic-june-14th-15th-2025/

May

Dark Skies and Fireies Local Firey Expert and founder of Firey Conservation & Research Ben Pfeier will oer rey education. • May 17, 7:30-9 p.m. • Free (admission) • Crescent Bend Nature Park, 12805 W. Schaefer Road, Schertz • www.schertz.com/Calendar.aspx?EID=6572

June

San Antonio Radio Club Radio Fiesta 2025 This two-day event will bring together amateur radio operators, vendors and those interested in the hobby for various sessions. • June 6, noon-5 p.m.; June 7, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. • $12-$25 (irst responders in uniform, military, scouts in uniform free) • Schertz Civic Center, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz • https://w5sc.org/radio-iesta-2025-information Cibolo Summer Nights: Kids Fishing Tournament Registration is not required, and shing equipment

Armed Forces Day Parade The city of Live Oak invites military personnel, businesses, civic groups, and citizens to join in honoring all past and present members of the military. This event will have hot dogs, drinks, kids’ games, music and parade.

• May 17, 10 a.m. • Free (admission) • 8001 Shin Oak Drive, Live Oak • www.liveoaktx.net

NORTHEAST SAN ANTONIO METROCOM EDITION

Real estate

Here are the latest trends in the Northeast San Antonio Metrocom area for the month of March, according to the San Antonio Board of REALTORS. Residential market data

Homes sold

March 2024

March 2025

-17.65%

-25%

-15.22%

-2.33%

78108

78148

78154

78233

1604

Median home sales price

78154

78108

78233

March

2024

2025

78148

$360,707

$380,000

78108

$279,450

$275,500

78148

$362,000

$335,000

78154

MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY THE SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS • 9110 W. I10 2105931200 • WWW.SABOR.COM

$255,000

$261,000

78233

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

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