Local news online Daily, online-exclusive community news and information Community calendar, interactive maps, newspaper archives and more Local deals online Hundreds of local and regional coupons, updated daily Just click and print coupons for free Two websites. Twice the Impact. impactnews.com impactdeals.com Vicky and Hugh Simmons | 16 The San Marcos couple preserves memories at Cardinal Frame and Art San Marcos/Buda/Kyle edition | Volume 1, Issue 5 | Sept. 16–Oct. 20, 2011 Texas’ fastest-growing news organization www.impactnews.com Impact Deals begins on Page 23 2011–12 brings property taxes, water and wastewater bills up Kyle budget orders rate increases Academies prepare students for employment, college City Council considering multimillion dollar plans San Marcos HS offers career-style learning Service options to improve Buda wastewater plant By Susan VanDeWater In an effort to prepare students for life aſter high school, San Marcos Consolidated Indepen- dent School District has imple- mented career academies at San Marcos High School. Academies, oſten referred to as small learning communities, group students by their interests and prepare them for both col- lege and careers. School officials hosted a kick- off event the first day of school, Aug. 22, to welcome students to the new format. “Career academies give us the opportunity to engage students,” SMHS Principal Michelle Dar- ling said. “is approach helps students explore their next steps so that they know where they are By Jaime Kilpatrick e wastewater treatment plant on Garison Road may be seeing an increase in capacity to accom- modate the needs of the growing community as city leaders con- sider options to aid in planning for future needs. Operation and maintenance of Buda’s wastewater treatment plant is contracted to the Gua- dalupe-Blanco River Authority, which also maintains the Sunfield Wastewater Treatment Plant that serves Sunfield Municipal Utility Districts No. 1–4 east of I-35 in Buda. Expecting growth City engineer Stanley Fees said there is not currently a particular stress on the plant, but the city is weighing options before the plant reaches capacity. “Now is the time to look at things, and make plans before there is an issue,” Fees said. “It’s just planning for the future and weighing our options.” Divide treatment Engineering consultant Gra- ham Moore from Lockwood, Andrews and Newman Inc. pre- sented three options to improve the Wastewater Master Plan to the council in August. e first of three options would double the capacity of the Buda wastewater treatment plant from 1.5 million gallons per day to going aſter graduation.” SMHS is using the academy model from the National Career Academy Coalition. According to the NCAC, stu- dents attending academy high schools perform better academi- cally and are more likely to pur- sue post-secondary education. Options available SMHS has created four career academies for grades 10–12: Applied Science; Arts and Com- munications; Hospitality, Busi- ness and Law; and Health and Human Services. Students were surveyed during the 2010–11 school year to determine their areas of interest and were asked to choose an academy based on those interests. By Jaime Kilpatrick City Manager Lanny Lambert presented Kyle’s approximately $37 million proposed 2011–12 budget to the City Council in August with a warning that there would be rate increases across the board. “is is one of the toughest budgets I’ve seen in 32 years of being a city manager,” Lambert said aſter unveiling the proposed budget outline. Budget background e budget covers all city funds, programs, services, operations and activities from Oct. 1, 2011, to Sept. 30, 2012. Its largest portions are for the General Fund at 34 per- cent, or $12.3 million, and the Water and Wastewater Utility Fund at 30 percent, or $11.2 million. Lambert said there were 12 guiding princi- ples and objectives that went into developing the budget, including provisions for delivery of all basic municipal services; disclosure, transparency and public involvement; and preventing employee layoffs. As written in the City Charter, the city manager is required to present the recom- mended budget to the council no later than 60 days before Oct. 1, and the deadline to e Phoenix Academy, a self- paced program that allows stu- dents who have struggled aca- demically to refocus or accelerate their path to graduation, also has been strengthened within this new model. A sixth academy—the Ninth Grade Academy—helps to accli- mate freshmen to high school. “Ninth graders are grouped into four small teams,” Darling said. “ey spend their first year of high school learning about credits, how to develop healthy study habits. ey also spend the year getting to know themselves better, including their interests and aptitudes.” Before entering 10th grade, students pick the academy that appeals to them and that aligns with possible career choices. Stu- dents are encouraged to remain in that academy for at least two See Academies | 9 See Wastewater | 11 See Budget | 10 New construction: Career and Technical Education building SMCISD broke ground on the new Career and Technical Education building earlier this month. The building will house the culinary arts, vocational, agriculture and construction technology programs. It should be ready for occupation in time for the 2012–13 school year. A greenhouse will be constructed next to the building for use by the agriculture program. • Four classrooms • Two workspaces • Teaching kitchen • Dining area The 16,000 sq. ft. building will house: Kyle property tax rate history Rate (per $100 assessed value) Fiscal year Source: City of Kyle Source: Pfluger Associates $0.4 $0.5 $0.3 $0.2 $0.1 $0.0 2007 2010 2009 2008 2011 2012 0.2724 0.2707 0.3731 0.4240 0.4154 0.4845
Transcript
Local news onlineDaily, online-exclusive community news and information
Community calendar, interactive maps, newspaper archives and more
Local deals onlineHundreds of local and regional
coupons, updated daily
Just click and print coupons for free
Two websites. Twice the Impact. impactnews.com impactdeals.com
Vicky and Hugh Simmons | 16 The San Marcos couple preserves
2011–12 brings property taxes, water and wastewater bills up
Kyle budget orders rate increases
Academies prepare students for employment, college City Council considering multimillion dollar plans
San Marcos HS offers career-style learning
Service options to improve Buda wastewater plant
By Susan VanDeWaterIn an effort to prepare students
for life after high school, San Marcos Consolidated Indepen-dent School District has imple-mented career academies at San Marcos High School.
Academies, often referred to as small learning communities, group students by their interests and prepare them for both col-lege and careers.
School officials hosted a kick-off event the first day of school, Aug. 22, to welcome students to the new format.
“Career academies give us the opportunity to engage students,” SMHS Principal Michelle Dar-ling said. “This approach helps students explore their next steps so that they know where they are
By Jaime KilpatrickThe wastewater treatment plant
on Garison Road may be seeing an increase in capacity to accom-modate the needs of the growing community as city leaders con-sider options to aid in planning for future needs.
Operation and maintenance of Buda’s wastewater treatment plant is contracted to the Gua-dalupe-Blanco River Authority, which also maintains the Sunfield Wastewater Treatment Plant that serves Sunfield Municipal Utility Districts No. 1–4 east of I-35 in Buda.
Expecting growthCity engineer Stanley Fees said
there is not currently a particular stress on the plant, but the city is weighing options before the plant reaches capacity.
“Now is the time to look at things, and make plans before there is an issue,” Fees said. “It’s just planning for the future and weighing our options.”
Divide treatmentEngineering consultant Gra-
ham Moore from Lockwood, Andrews and Newman Inc. pre-sented three options to improve the Wastewater Master Plan to the council in August.
The first of three options would double the capacity of the Buda wastewater treatment plant from 1.5 million gallons per day to
going after graduation.”SMHS is using the academy
model from the National Career Academy Coalition.
According to the NCAC, stu-dents attending academy high schools perform better academi-cally and are more likely to pur-sue post-secondary education.
Options available SMHS has created four career
academies for grades 10–12: Applied Science; Arts and Com-munications; Hospitality, Busi-ness and Law; and Health and Human Services. Students were surveyed during the 2010–11 school year to determine their areas of interest and were asked to choose an academy based on those interests.
By Jaime KilpatrickCity Manager Lanny Lambert presented
Kyle’s approximately $37 million proposed 2011–12 budget to the City Council in August with a warning that there would be rate increases across the board.
“This is one of the toughest budgets I’ve seen in 32 years of being a city manager,” Lambert said after unveiling the proposed budget outline.
Budget background The budget covers all city funds, programs,
services, operations and activities from Oct. 1, 2011, to Sept. 30, 2012. Its largest portions are for the General Fund at 34 per-cent, or $12.3 million, and the Water and Wastewater Utility Fund at 30 percent, or $11.2 million.
Lambert said there were 12 guiding princi-ples and objectives that went into developing the budget, including provisions for delivery of all basic municipal services; disclosure, transparency and public involvement; and preventing employee layoffs.
As written in the City Charter, the city manager is required to present the recom-mended budget to the council no later than 60 days before Oct. 1, and the deadline to
The Phoenix Academy, a self-paced program that allows stu-dents who have struggled aca-demically to refocus or accelerate their path to graduation, also has been strengthened within this new model.
A sixth academy—the Ninth Grade Academy—helps to accli-mate freshmen to high school.
“Ninth graders are grouped into four small teams,” Darling said. “They spend their first year
of high school learning about credits, how to develop healthy study habits. They also spend the year getting to know themselves better, including their interests and aptitudes.”
Before entering 10th grade, students pick the academy that appeals to them and that aligns with possible career choices. Stu-dents are encouraged to remain in that academy for at least two
See Academies | 9
See Wastewater | 11See Budget | 10
New construction: Career and Technical Education building
SMCISD broke ground on the new Career and Technical Education building earlier this month. The building will house the culinary arts, vocational, agriculture and construction technology programs. It should be ready for occupation in time for the 2012–13 school year. A greenhouse will be constructed next to the building for use by the agriculture program.
•Four classrooms•Two workspaces
•Teaching kitchen•Dining area
The 16,000 sq. ft. building will house:
Kyle property tax rate history
Rat
e (p
er $
100
asse
ssed
val
ue)
Fiscal yearSource: City of Kyle
Source: Pfluger Associates
$0.4
$0.5
$0.3
$0.2
$0.1
$0.0
2007
2010
2009
2008
2011
2012
0.27
24
0.27
07
0.37
31 0.42
40
0.41
54 0.48
45
2 | NEWS | Community Impact Newspaper • San Marcos/Buda/Kyle Edition
A WINNING TEAM . . .
CHANGING THE WORLD.
stdavids.com/UT
impactnews.com • September 2011 | NEWS | 3
I remember graduating from high school and head-ing to my college interview with only a handful of extracurricular activities and a short list of work
experience on my resume. Susan VanDeWater’s lead story about
career academies at San Marcos High School explains how students will have an advantage in the job market, preparing them for future employment and higher education.
The program is intended to help students whittle down their interests and focus on a career. In today’s economy, it is more important than ever to have a specialty and develop skills necessary to land a job.
Schools are also adjusting the way they measure students’ year-to-year progress, providing them with the tools necessary to gain admission into college. Taylor Short’s
story on Page 13 about Texas schools replacing the TAKS test with the STAAR test shows a shift from focusing on students simply memorizing answers to an exam that tests their critical thinking and career-oriented skills.
The 2011–12 school year is under way, and the STAAR test and programs such as career academies represent a long-term investment in our students. As evidence that our schools are developing local talent, both Kyle Mayor Lucy Johnson and San Marcos Mayor Daniel Guerrero are prod-ucts of their city’s public school system and have become leaders in their communities.
I hope you enjoy reading our educa-tion issue, and please be mindful of school zones.
General Manager | Melissa Nicewarner DalyReporter | Jaime KilpatrickAccount Executive | Chalene HillLead Designer | Amy VanlandinghamStaff Writers | Kate Hull, Taylor ShortContributing Writers | Katie Gutierrez Painter, Susan VanDeWater Intern | Phyllis GasperContributing Photographer | Ashley Landis
Editorial management
Executive Editor | Cathy KincaidManaging Editor | Shannon CollettiCopy Editor | Andy ComerCreative Director | Derek SullivanAd Production Manager | Tiffany Knight
Administrative management
Chief Operating Officer | Jennifer GarrettChief Financial Officer | Darren LesmeisterBusiness Director | Misty PrattCirculation & Operations Manager | David Ludwick
About us
Community Impact Newspaper, owned by John and Jennifer Garrett, is Texas’ fastest-growing news organization. We now distribute to more than 750,000 homes and businesses in 12 markets in the Austin, Houston and DFW metro areas.
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Reader FeedbackThe City of San Marcos is seeking input on its new Comprehensive Master Plan. What do you think is the most important issue for the plan to address? Attracting employers
35%Protecting the San Marcos River
25%Improving public schools
25%Improving pedestrian and bike accessibility
10%Other
5%Results from an unscientific web survey, collected 8/19/11-9/8/11
On Page 4, the phone number for Body Beautiful Spa is 805-0155.
On Page 4, the address for Have a Heart Thrift Store and CTMC Family Grief Center is 1315 N. I-35, San Marcos.
Corrections – Volume 1, Issue 4
“The expansion of Texas State is placing the need for more housing; apartment buildings are multiplying like rabbits. State universities should set examples for students to follow in changing their lifestyles to environmentally friendly. After all, what will be left to consume if our environment is not sustainable?”
—Mark Schmiedeberg
July employment trends
Central Texas unemployment—7.6%No change from June
State unemployment—8.4%*Up from 8.2%* in June
National unemployment—9.1%*Down from 9.2%* in June
In Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, the leisure and hos-pitality sector added 400 jobs; professional and business services added 2,000 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities lost 600 jobs; government lost 8,100 jobs.**
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Texas Workforce Commission
*Seasonally adjusted numbers **Preliminary data
We at Community Impact Newspaper recognize the need to help those affected by the recent Central Texas wildfires. We encourage our readers to help, also. Your gift to the American Red Cross of Central Texas will support wildfire relief efforts throughout the region. (512) 929-1250, www.centex.redcross.org
The Capital Area Food Bank is also accepting nonper-ishable food donations and bottled water at 8201 S. Congress Ave., Austin, (512) 282-2111, www.austinfoodbank.org
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(512) 392-8050www.rosiegarciatx.com
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1180 Seton Parkway, #320Kyle, Texas 78640
T: (512) - 268-7100 • F: (512) -268-7200
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4 | NEWS | Community Impact Newspaper • San Marcos/Buda/Kyle Edition
IMPACTS
Buda, in August. Owner and director Elaine Stanfield operates the licensed child care center that promotes creativity and growth and provides social, physical and educational activities for infants to school-age children. 922-3418, www.firstclasscdc.com
11 Any Lab Test Now opened in San Marcos at 1941 S. I-35, Ste. 113, in September, providing cost-effective lab draws and specimen collections for a variety of tests. A doctor’s order is not required, and the office is open on Saturdays. 212-4098, www.anylabtestnow.com
Coming Soon
12 Brian and Jenny Kneese are bringing pizzas by the pie or the slice hand-crafted with farmers market produce and gourmet meats and cheeses to San Marcos. Say Cheese Pizza opened in a renovated 1979 Airstream trailer at The Hitch: Mobile Eatery at 312 E. Hopkins St. in September. The pizza menu includes vegetarian and vegan-friendly options. www.saycheesesmtx.com
13 Garcia’s Mexican Food Restaurant is opening a second San Marcos location in September at 1917 Dutton Drive, Ste. 200, off of Wonder World Drive. The family-owned and -operated restaurant serves Tex-Mex favorities for breakfast, lunch and dinner at locations in San Marcos, Kyle, Buda, Schertz and Lockhart.
14 Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is preparing to open a new location at 5695 Kyle Parkway., Ste. 100, in Kyle. 866-781-7849, www.dickeys.com
15 Andy Algava will hold the grand opening of Mimi’s Trailer Park at 310 N. Guadalupe St., San Marcos, on Sept. 24. The outdoor community food court will offer wifi, weekend entertainment and food vendors including Shiner Smokehouse BBQ, The Nibbling Nomads, PB & What?!, The Big Kahuna and The Tin Box. 507-2223, [email protected]
Relocations
16 FriDaze Liquor is moving from 101 Hall Professional Circle, Ste. B, to a new location in Plum Creek Square at 130-A Kirkham Circle, Kyle. 262-2120
17 Salvador Hurtado and Michelle Fry, owners of Sal’s House of Tint, relocated from 2605 S. I-35, Ste. 200, to Ste. 100-B, San Marcos. They provide window tinting for residential, commercial and automotive glass. Hurtado has more than 15 years of experience, and every vehicle the company tints comes with a lifetime warranty. 757-8716, www.salshouseoftint.com
Now Open
1 The Attic Resale Store opened in August at 805 N. Old Hwy. 81 in Kyle. The store specializes in hand-picked antiques and accepts donations of clothing, furniture and other household items and will schedule pickup from customers’ homes. 803-4475, www.theatticresalestore.com
2 Viuda Bistro, located in Casa Alde at 108 Main St. in Buda, is the product of Arouse Your Palate catering company founders Paul Rutowski and Kurt Romberger. Viuda Bistro serves fine dinners every Thursday, Friday and Saturday starting at 5 p.m. Bring your own bottle of wine to enjoy with dinner. 410-1442, www.arouseyourpalate.com
3 The owner and chefs of The Root Cellar opened an a la carte food trailer in August next to the Korner Food Store at 705 Aquarena Springs Drive, San Marcos, across from Sewell Park. Breakfast, lunch and side items are featured along with special beverages. 392-5158, www.rootcellarcafe.com
4 Family-owned by James and Veronica Chapa, Veggytopia at 130 Kirkham Circle, Ste. A, provides chef-prepared vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free meals delivered to your home or office weekly. 843-7700, www.veggytopia.com
5 A Little Caesars Pizza location opened at 5167 Kyle Center Drive, Ste. 118, Kyle, in August. The restaurant offers Hot-N-Ready pizzas, custom pizzas and specialty items. 268-6866, www.littlecaesars.com
6 Ace Estrada opened Smokin’ Ace’s Barbecue food trailer in August at The Hitch: A Mobile Eatery at 312 E. Hopkins St. in San Marcos. 484-0415, www.smokinacesbbqtx.com
Owner and jewelry designer Amy Friend launched an online store this summer for Cypress Sun Jewelry. Customers can shop for handmade jewelry designs in sterling silver, gemstone and Czech glass. 393-4802, www.cypresssunjewelry.com
7 Selena Ybarra opened Karissa’s Baby Boutique and More in August at 407 S. LBJ Drive, San Marcos. The store carries
clothes, toys and related items for babies. 392-3133
8 Owners Marty and Christine Reyes opened SkinSational Laser Med Spa in September inside iBeach Tan at 1567 Main St., Ste. 150, Buda. The spa offers laser hair removal for men and women performed by extensively trained medical professionals. 618-2906, www.skinsationalmedspa.com
9 Funky Finds Resale Shop opened in San Marcos at 1658 S. I-35 in August. The store accepts cash only and sells clothes, furniture and odds and ends. 665-3100
On Sept. 12, Mark Williams opened Garage Door Masters in Buda. The locally owned and -operated company offers garage door and opener installation and repair, custom garage doors, safety consultations and 24-hour emergency service in Austin, Buda, Kyle and San Marcos. He has 15 years of garage door experience. 222-DOOR (3667), www.garagedoormastersaustin.com
10 First Class Child Development Center opened at 1215 Old Black Colony Road.,
San Marcos
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impactnews.com • September 2011 | NEWS | 5
Anniversaries
18 The Cornucopia Health Food Store at 1104 Thorpe Lane, Ste. J, celebrated its ninth year in San Marcos in August. Brothers David and Dan Davis opened the store that offers all-organic produce, specialty supplements and a selection of raw and vegan food products. 353-5044
In 2010, Austin and Mary Van Zant founded Redbud Roasters. All of their coffee beans are shade-grown Arabica and certified Fair Trade and Organic. Redbud Roasters coffee is available by the cup at Jo on the Go at 312 University Drive, Ste. B, in San Marcos. They also sell their locally roasted coffee beans by the pound from the website or at farmers markets in San Marcos, Wimberley, New Braunfels and Kyle. 934-2841, www.redbudroasters.com
19 In August, The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University-San Marcos’ Alkek Library, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, opened two new exhibitions, totaling three free shows on view in conjunction with its 25th anniversary. Come and go from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. during its open house. Curators and staff will be on hand to answer questions. Authors and photographers whose works are held at the Wittliff have also been invited. 245-2313, www.thewittliffcollections.txstate.edu
20 Owner Sam Bostick celebrated the second anniversary of 6sful Computer Repair on Sept. 1. Located at 5500 FM 2770, Ste. 1111, Kyle, the staff repairs computers, upgrades, removes viruses and sells refurbished computers and accessories. They also offer one-stop shopping for designing and hosting websites, registering domains and take weekend appointments at no additional charge. 541-1660, www.6sful.com Mark Williams opened Garage Door Masters
in September serving Hays and Travis counties.
Owner Elaine Stanfield opened First Class Child Development Center in Buda in August.
Garcia’s Mexican Food Restaurant is open-ing another San Marcos location in September.
The Attic Resale Store in Kyle specializes in antiques and accepts household donations.
News or questions about San Marcos, Buda or Kyle?E-mail [email protected].
10
13
1
Pho
tos
by
Jaim
e K
ilpat
rick
Owners Salvador Hurtado and Michelle Fry relocated Sal’s House of Tint to 2605 S. I-35, Ste. 100-B, in San Marcos where they provide commercial, residential and automotive glass tinting.
16
6 | NEWS | Community Impact Newspaper • San Marcos/Buda/Kyle Edition
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Compiled by Phyllis GasperCALENDAR
October1 Wittliff Collection open houseThe public is invited to an open house celebrating the Wittliff Collection’s 25th anniversary. Curators and staff are available to answer questions about three new exhibits: “The Edge of Time: Photographs of Mexico” by Mariana Yampolsky, “Illuminating Texas: 25 Lone Star Moments” and “The Dazzling Instant” photographic show. Refreshments are served. • 10 a.m.–2 p.m. • Free • Texas State University-San Marcos, Alkek Library, seventh floor, 601 University Drive, San Marcos • 245-2313 • www.thewittliffcollections.txstate.edu
22 Gearheads Car ShowThe 3rd annual Gearheads car show features trophies for winners, door prizes, live music and food. Proceeds from the show provide scholarships to Hays CISD graduates pursuing automotive technology degrees. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. • $20 (pre-register, closes Oct. 12), $25 (register at the gate, 9 a.m.–noon), free to view • Cabela’s, 15570 S. I-35, Buda • 466-1958 • www.budagearheads.com
22 Bass fishing tournamentThe City of Kyle’s Parks and Recreation Department holds its large-mouth bass fishing tournament at Lake Kyle with 100 percent of the proceeds funding the Hooked on Fishing Kids’ Clinic and Derby held in June. Adults will catch and release large-mouth bass and judging will be based on weight. • 6:45 a.m.–noon • 18 and older • $20 (registration through 5 p.m. Oct. 21), $25 (late registration on-site, cash only, subject to space available) • Lake Kyle, 700 Lehman Road, Kyle • 262-3939 [email protected] • www.cityofkyle.com/ recreation/scholarship-bass-fishing-tournament
September
Worth the Trip
17 Jacob’s Well Fall Festival
Hays County joins the Friends of Jacob’s Well and the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association to celebrate the historic Trinity Aquifer and one of Texas’ longest underwater caves. Learn about the history of the well, water conservation and native plants. Prizes are to be awarded for nature scavenger hunt winners and best water-themed costumes. Live music by Hal Ketchum, Mike Bond and the Sun-Dried Texans. Swimming is allowed if the water level and flow permit. • 4–8 p.m. $5 (adults), $3 (13 and younger), free for bike riders and Friends of the Well • Jacob’s Well Natural Area, 221 Woodacre Drive, Wimberley 847-5999 • www.jacobswellspring.org
18 The Steel Magnolias benefit concertThe Steel Magnolias present a fully choreographed gospel music presentation to benefit the Hays County Food Bank and raise funds for their East Coast mission trip. Non-perishable food items will be collected to benefit the food bank. • 4 p.m. • $10 suggested donation • San Marcos Conference Center, 1001 McCarty Lane, San Marcos 757-4901 • www.thesteelmagnolias.com
Sept. 30–Oct. 2 Fire Fest TexasJoin firefighters from across Texas for the 54th annual firefighter challenge and barbecue cookoff. Nightly concerts feature Roger Creager, Casey Donahew Band and Cody Johnson. The Fire Fest 5K Run/Walk through Historic Stagecoach Park is at 9 a.m. Saturday. See website for complete schedule of events • $15 (one day), $30 (weekend package), $100 (VIP) • Buda City Park, 100 San Antonio St., Buda • 563-3112 www.firefesttexas.com
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Online Calendar
October 1By Jaime Kilpatrick
Prevent A Litter (PALS) of Central Texas hosts the ninth annual family-friendly Pet Fest to promote responsible pet ownership and animal shelter pet adoptions.
Enjoy live music and demonstrations, Dachshund and Chihuahua dog races, a silent auction, and a costume contest and meet pets from shelters and rescues.
The 5K Run/Walk and Fun Run/Dog Jog begin at San Marcos City Park, 170 Charles Austin Drive and follow the San Marcos River. Proceeds benefit PALS’ spay and neuter services. • 5K Run/Walk • $20 8 a.m.; Fun Run • $15 • 9 a.m.
The event is free, but donations of dry pet food are requested. Well-behaved, restrained pets are welcome. • 10 a.m.– 5 p.m. • Free • San Marcos Plaza Park 401 E. Hopkins St., San Marcos • 754-7257 www.preventalitter.com
Co
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Zane Hartman and Stinker attended Pet Fest in 2010. The event benefits PALS of Central Texas.
Pet Fest
(512) 541-5736
impactnews.com • September 2011 | NEWS | 7
CITY AND COUNTY Compiled by Jaime Kilpatrick
Commissioners confirm new precinct mapHays County Commissioners voted 4–1 Aug. 23 to choose
a map with new precinct lines, resulting in some residents changing precincts and commissioners.
Pct. 1 Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe cast the dissenting vote.
The new map—known as option M2—was chosen from four maps proposed during the redistricting process.
Kyle City Councilman David Wilson represents neighbor-hoods in Kyle that will move into new precincts.
“We have worked effectively in the past with the Commis-sioners Court and the City of Kyle,” Wilson said. “There is tension growing in the population related to some degree to this redistricting.”
The map will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice for approval, a process that is expected to take 60 to 120 days. Once approved, the new precinct lines go into effect Jan. 1, 2012. Elections Administrator Joyce Cowan and Geo-graphic Information Systems Program Manager Steven Floyd are working to develop new voting precincts based on the new commissioner precincts that must be approved by Oct. 1.
Detailed maps can be viewed on the county’s website at www.co.hays.tx.us/redistricting.
KyleBuda
San Marcos
Hays County
City presents Dream San Marcos initiative to update Master Plan
San Marcos unveiled the Dream San Marcos initiative Aug. 16 to ask residents for ideas for the city’s future as part of the process to update the city’s 1996 compre-hensive plan.
“To make the most of the opportunities ahead of us, we must first imagine a city that will nurture our dreams and aspi-rations in the coming decades,” Mayor Daniel Guerrero said. “Then we will craft a plan to guide us toward that vision.”
The city is collecting ideas from resi-dents using IdeaScale online software, email, comment cards, activities and pub-lic events. Activities will include meetings with residents, businesses, students and civic groups, presentations during city board and commission meetings, com-munity events such as the farmers market and a day-long public input session.
“The Dream San Marcos process will help establish a community vision for our comprehensive plan, which in turn will
Redrawn City Council district lines will require DOJ approval Kyle’s Redistricting Advisory Commit-
tee began meeting in August to discuss the redistricting process and held a public hearing Sept. 16 at City Hall.
Committee member and former Kyle City Councilman Ray Bryant said the purpose of the public hearing is to notify and inform Kyle residents.
“We want to educate them and to hear from them in order to gather their opin-ions,” Bryant said. “No maps have been drawn at this point, so it’s really crucial to hear from the city residents.”
Bob Barton, committee chairman, said transparency will be important during the process of redrawing the single-mem-ber City Council districts.
“We are going to have some tough final decisions,” Barton said. “We need to start out openly, and we need to explain every time someone asks why those decisions were made.”
The current council district map is available on the city website at www.cityofkyle.com/council/voting-districts-map.
Buda receives Scenic City Certification; parks, historic districts laudedBuda received Scenic City Certification
Aug. 3 by the Scenic City Certification Program of Scenic Texas.
The city was awarded a gold certifica-tion for its parking lot landscaping; five special districts, including the historic district; strict dark sky regulations; and for meeting national standards of 10 acres of parkland for every 1,000 residents.
“Buda exemplifies the idea that by implementing strong scenic standards, citizens can enjoy a higher quality of life, and businesses find it easier to attract cus-tomers and employees,” said Anne Culver, executive director of the Scenic City Certification Program. “This is a win-win situation for these cities, their residents
and for the promise of future quality of life and economic development.”
The program incorporates a set of design and development standards for public roadways and spaces. Applicants for the certification must present their existing standards for assessment and scoring against the model.
Organizers said 1,200 Texas cities and towns applied for certification, and 16 were chosen.
A reception to present the certification to each city is scheduled for Oct. 13 in Houston.
For more information about the Scenic City Certification Program, visit www.sceniccitycertification.org.
Buda City Council121 Main St.312-0084www.ci.buda.tx.us
Meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.
Kyle City Council100 W. Center St.262-1010www.cityofkyle.com
Meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.
San Marcos City Council630 E. Hopkins St.393-8000www.sanmarcostx.gov
Meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.
Hays County Commissioners Court111 E. San Antonio St.393-7730 www.co.hays.tx.us
Meets each Tuesday at 9 a.m.
Meetings
help assure that our infrastructure plans are matching the community’s goals,” said Matthew Lewis, director of Development Services. “An up-to-date comprehensive plan is crucial for us to prepare for the future growth of San Marcos effectively.”
For more information or to contribute input, email [email protected], visit www.sanmarcostx.ideascale.com or call the Development Services Depart-ment at 393-8230.
Stagecoach Park pavilion $50/day (increase from $35) $65/day
Stagecoach Park amphitheater $50/day (increase from $35) $65/day
City Park pavilion $100/day (increase from $50) $125/day
Parks and Recreation Commission recommends facility, event fee changesThe Parks and Recreation Commission
recommended in July updating rates along with new permit and special event fees for residents and non-residents who use city park facilities.
A $10 fee will be charged for certain event permits, and permits for electrical use and water use will incur an additional charge of $10 each. Permits that require an on-site inspection would require an additional $15.
City Park’s rental fee will remain $250 per day for nonprofit organizations but
will increase to $500 per day for for-profit organizations.
Nonprofit organizations that charge a gate fee and for-profit organizations will still pay commercial use permit fees, and nonprofit organizations that do not charge a gate fee will remain exempt. The $100 facility rental deposit and $500 special events security deposit remain the same for all organizations.
The City Council is expected to review the proposed rate increases during the annual budget process in September.
Cour
tesy
City
of S
an M
arco
s
S. Loop 4
Camin
o R
d.
Guadalupe St.
Hunter Rd.
Option M2
Precinct 1
Precinct 2
Precinct 3
Precinct 4
Source: Hays County
New Hays County precinct lines are planned to take effect Jan. 1, 2012, with approval from the Department of Justice.
Source: City of Buda
12
290
1826
967
16262001150
32372325
12 80
35
8 | NEWS | Community Impact Newspaper • San Marcos/Buda/Kyle Edition
Hays Co. fire departments aid in emergencies across TexasAgencies help fight wildfires in Travis, Bastrop counties
By Jaime KilpatrickFire departments from across Central
Texas—including departments from Kyle, Buda and San Marcos—responded to help in early September when multiple fires swept across Travis County.
“Virtually every fire department in Hays County [had] firefighters and equipment rotating in and out,” Hays County spokes-woman Laureen Chernow said.
Residents in and around the Dripping Springs subdivision of Stagecoach Ranch in northwest Hays County were evacuated Sept. 4 as a precaution and were allowed to return the next day after the Pedernales One Fire—also known as the Spicewood Fire—moved away from the Hays-Travis county line. An emergency shelter was set up at Dripping Springs Middle School for the night to house evacuated residents.
Chernow said no damage to structures was reported in Hays County as of Sept. 7 but cautioned residents to remain on alert.
“We’re more fortunate at this point than a lot of our neighboring counties, but we know that could change rather quickly,” she said.
Providing aidBuda Fire Chief Clay Huckaby said
Buda was one of the communities that sent equipment and firefighters to help in Travis County while being cautious to maintain its own staff in the event of a local emer-gency.
“That has caught some fire departments off-guard when providing mutual aid to other departments,” Huckaby said. “When we start sending resources and not thinking about ourselves, that’s when departments get into a problem back home.”
Community responseOrganizations and locations throughout
Hays County are accepting donations of food, clothing and household items and monetary donations to benefit residents of Travis and Bastrop counties.
Huckaby said a portion of the proceeds
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Have at least 30 feet of space between your home and sur-rounding brush.
Keep your landscap-ing pruned and cut low branches to reduce fire hazards.
Use fire-resistant structure materials such as double-pane glass windows.
Use fire-resistant roofing materials like asphalt, metal or concrete products.
Have a disaster plan. Decide where you will go and how you will get there.
Make sure structures attached to your home such as decks, porches and fences are fire-resistant.
Have a designated emergency access from your home and neighborhood.
Seven steps to help protect your home from wildfires
7
4
6
3
5
21
Source: Austin Fire Department
from the 54th annual Buda Fire Fest scheduled for Sept. 30–Oct. 2 at Buda City Park will be donated to residents of Bastrop County.
The event hosts firefighters from across Texas who compete in challenges and features music and barbecue cookoffs.
Proceeds from the event support the Regional Live Fire Training Facility in Buda.
“I think it will actually bring some of the firefighters out from across the state,” he said. “If they get a break in the evening, they can come out and have some fellow-ship with their fellow firefighters.”
Fire near Hays-Travis County line
CR 101
SpicewoodLake Travis
Lake Austin
Pedernales River
Pedernales One Fire
Steiner Ranch Fire
Dripping Springs
Hamilton Pool Rd.
Hays Co.
Travis Co.
RR 12
MoPac290
71
620
impactnews.com • September 2011 | NEWS | 9
AcademiesContinued from | 1
years, but can change academies at the end of every year.
“The longer they stay in a particular academy, the deeper their understanding, and that can help a student identify if that career path is right for them,” Darling said.
Career academies can also help students identify a path that isn’t right for them. In a traditional high school setting, gradu-ates have not had a great deal of real-world experience in the field in which they are interested. Many students will spend a few college years—and several thousand dol-lars—only to find out their field of interest is not a good fit. With a career academy, students are able to rule out some of those options before college.
“Knowing what you don’t want to do is valuable,” Darling said.
Creating the programSMCISD Board of Trustees President
David Chiu said he has been a champion of small learning communities for many years. He began pushing for San Marcos to move to the academy model 12 years ago when he served as a member of the board.
“The district made this change to pro-vide the best education for our students and future generations,” Chiu said. “We are pushing for academic excellence.”
Creating an academy model is more costly than a traditional high school setup
since it requires more teachers —SMHS added four new teachers and one coun-selor.
The district also committed to build-ing a new Career and Technical Education building on the SMHS campus. The facil-ity is expected to be ready for occupation in time for the 2012–13 school year. Con-struction will begin later this month, and it has a price tag of about $5 million.
But Chiu affirms that it is worth the cost. “Money invested into the classroom is a
guaranteed return on the future,” he said.Parents, too, are backing the career acad-
emies. City Councilwoman Kim Porter-field has two daughters attending SMHS and said she is excited about the change.
“I think this is a good direction for the school to head,” Porterfield said. “I have read a lot of research about small learning communities, and [I] know that there is great opportunity for meaningful learning.”
Another advantage Porterfield said she sees to academies is the way teachers are grouped. Core academic teachers are teamed with elective teachers in their acad-emy. They work together to provide mean-ingful and more directed education.
“The teacher-student relationship is enhanced by this model,” she said, “which means the teacher can intervene more quickly if the student is struggling or hav-ing issues.”
History of academiesThe academy approach is not a new
idea—it first appeared in 1968 in Phila-delphia—nor is it new to San Marcos. The district actually applied for and received federal grant funding for small learning communities in early 2000. A pocket acad-emy was created and subsisted alongside the traditional high school model, mean-ing that not all students were enrolled in the academy path.
The new model did not exist for long,
however.“Many schools, including San Marcos
High School, launched academies but didn’t create a strong infrastructure to sur-vive the change,” Darling said. “We have spent the last few years becoming a strong high school. We are going to be successful.”
To learn more about the SMHS career academies, visit www.smcisd.net.
Applied Science
Arts and Communications
Hospitality, Business and Law
Health and Human Services
Aca
dem
ies
Estimated enrollment
San Marcos High School Academy enrollment Source: San Marcos CISD
6005004003002001000
560
420
410
260
305
Ninth Grade Academy
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Comment at impactnews.com
10 | NEWS | Community Impact Newspaper • San Marcos/Buda/Kyle Edition
adopt the proposed budget is no later than the third Thurs-day of September, or Sept. 15 of this year.
During the review process, the city held public hearings as part of the City Council’s regular meetings and special called meetings.
Reason for increasesLambert said increases in property taxes and water and
wastewater rates are needed to balance the budget and reverse the trends from previous years when the city used its savings accounts to keep rates relatively low.
“Now those funds are at critical levels, and we cannot afford to draw them down further,” Lambert said. “This means that we have no choice but to set rates at a level where everything is fully funded or cut from the budget.”
The increases will also be used to cover debt payments for infrastructure projects, he said, that were constructed to accommodate Kyle’s recent population growth, includ-ing roadwork along I-35, Center Street, Kyle Parkway and Kohler’s Crossing, expanded water and wastewater sys-tems and enhanced technology and communications.
Property taxesProperty tax revenue encompasses two parts: main-
tenance and operations for the city’s daily functions—known as M&O—and the Interest and Sinking Fund that pays down the city’s debts.
The average tax bill from 2010 was $529.69, based on the average homestead valued at $127,513 and the tax rate of $0.4154 per $100. The average tax bill in 2011 is $616.91, based on the average homestead valued at $127,330 and the new tax rate of $0.4845 per $100.
This results in an increase of an additional $87.22 annu-ally or $7.26 per month for the average homestead.
Communications Director Jerry Hendrix said the city lowered property taxes for 10 years in a row until 2009, and the new rate is comparable to nearby cities.
“It’s catching up [and] putting those rates in real time and making those updates,” Hendrix said.
Utility ratesThe budget as proposed also included rate increases for
water and wastewater customers over the next three years.Current water and wastewater rates are inadequate to
cover all of the required utility expenditures, Lambert said. As of Oct. 1, customers will see a rate increase of
30 percent for water and 25 percent for wastewater. In fis-cal year 2013, rates will increase 20 percent for both water and wastewater, and in fiscal year 2014, water rates will increase 20 percent and wastewater rates will increase 10 percent, according to the new budget.
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New leadershipLambert was appointed as Kyle’s new city manager in
January after the previous city manager of eight years, Tom Mattis, resigned in April 2010. Lambert said he was not aware of the scope of the city’s financial situation before he accepted the position.
“I’m new here, so this is my impression,” Lambert said in August. “I read the budget and the audit before I was hired, and those documents did not reflect the elimination of [the savings].”
Finance Director Perwez Moheet joined the city in November. He said he thinks the rate increases are neces-sary, but it will be beneficial for the city to review previous years’ finances.
“I was not here when all of these things happened, but I am 100 percent confident that we can fix this going for-ward,” Moheet said. “Looking back forensically, what hap-pened, how it transpired, that’s good information to have so we can fix those problems moving forward.”
InvestigationLambert asked the Hays County District Attorney’s office
in August to investigate Kyle’s previous years’ finances for evidence that the city’s savings were reduced or eliminated without the council’s authority—his theory of how the city’s savings were diminished. “Funds were not being reported to the City Council,” Lambert said. “I don’t know that the City Council was making all of the decisions.”
The DA’s office said they were unable conduct the
investigation unless evidence of wrongdoing is found. Hendrix said the city will need to conduct a forensic
audit of previous years’ spending and has embarked on a three- to five-year plan to determine how the fund bal-ances were expended, thus requiring the rate increases.
“We’re working to build them back up to where we have some extra funds in those balances,” Hendrix said. “They might get too low to where they won’t be able to serve their purpose, which is to be used in an emergency.”
Mayor Lucy Johnson, who has been on the council since joining as an at-large member in 2008 and was elected to her first term as mayor in 2010, said she is concerned that funds were being spent without the council’s approval.
“It makes me angry as a mayor and as a member of this council to know that we had no control over the expendi-tures in this fund alone despite supposedly having ultimate authority over these expenditures,” Johnson said.
Moving forward Councilman Brad Pickett said he feels like the new lead-
ership at City Hall has changed the culture of the city. “I think we have what it’s going to take for Kyle to
improve,” he said. “I think it’s been a 180 [-degree change]. We were heading down a path that was just going to get worse. Now we’re heading in the right direction.”
To view the 2011–12 budget, visit www.cityofkyle.com/finance/city-kyle-budget-fy-2011-2012. Copies of the bud-get are available at City Hall and the Kyle Public Library.
Estimated average monthly residential water and wastewater bill based on the proposed 3-year rate plan
0
10
2011Fiscal year Source: City of Kyle
Prop
osed
rate
s (d
olla
rs)
2012 2013 2014
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
$22.
72$33.
03
$28.
40
$42.
94
$34.
08
$51.
53
$37.
49
$61.
83
Water WastewaterKyle’s 2011–12 budget will raise water and wastewater rates over the next three years: 30 percent and 25 percent respectively in 2011–12; 20 percent for both in 2012–13; and 20 percent and 10 percent respectively in 2013–14.
Comment at impactnews.com
impactnews.com • September 2011 | NEWS | 11
•City is able to reuse Type 1 effluent for water conservation
• Least expensive option
• Fewest capital improvement projects required
WastewaterContinued from | 1
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3 million gallons per day and reroute 1 mil-lion gallons per day to the Sunfield plant and construct new facilities.
Rerouting 1 million gallons per day from the city’s treatment plant to the Sunfield plant would come at an estimated cost of $39.8 million.
Another issue this option does not resolve is that the city’s treatment plant remains near downtown Buda, which some have said can negatively affect the down-town community.
“Some don’t want a treatment plant close to the central city area,” City Manager Ken-neth Williams said. “There are potential issues with that and one could be smell.”
Williams said any future plans would include odor-control processes for the treatment plant.
Changing roles Moore said another option is to convert
the city’s treatment plant to a lift station and have all of Buda’s wastewater treated at the Sunfield plant.
“Lift stations have equipment used to pump wastewater from areas of low eleva-tion to high elevation,” Moore said, which would be required to transport the waste-water from the city to the Sunfield plant east of I-35.
Treating all of the wastewater at the Sun-field plant moves the process away from
downtown Buda, something council mem-bers said they support. It would also allow for reuse of Type 1 effluent, but the cost to provide this service to areas west of I-35 would be more substantial, as the Sunfield plant is east of I-35.
This is the most expensive option at $62.7 million and would require the city to contract with Sunfield for services.
Increase capacity The third option is to increase Buda
wastewater treatment plant’s capacity from 1.5 million gallons per day to 4 million and have all of Buda’s wastewater treated at the city’s plant.
Like the other two options, this would allow the city to reuse Type 1 effluent for water conservation; however, it requires the use of two treatment facilities.
In addition, the treatment plant would remain in its location near downtown Buda. At $36.8 million, this is the least expensive option and would require the construction of the fewest capital improvement projects throughout the city.
Water conservation Two of the options presented would
allow the city to re-use type 1 effluent for water conservation efforts.
Buda uses Type 1 reclaimed effluent for irrigation for landscaping in City Park, Stagecoach Park and Bradfield Park. In addition, Elm Grove, Garlic Creek and Whispering Hollow subdivisions and
Cabela’s use the reclaimed effluent to irri-gate landscaping.
Moving forwardAfter the first reading in August, coun-
cil members said they were most interested in dividing treatment between the city and Sunfield’s treatment plants because of the
relatively low cost. Fees said it is too early in the process to
know if the proposed changes will have any effect on customers’ wastewater rates.
“That’s something that would have to be plugged into a rate model to determine at a later time,” he said.
Wastewater master plan options
The City of Buda is considering three options to improve its wastewater treatment process.
Advantages
Option 1
•City is able to reuse Type 1 effluent for water conservation
• Less expensive than Option 2
•Reduction in effluent•Multiple capital
improvement projects required
• Treatment plant remains near downtown Buda
•Contract with Sunfield
•Reuse of effluent from Sunfield is costly west of I-35
•Multiple capital improvement projects required
•Most expensive option
• Contract with Sunfield
• Treatment plant remains near downtown Buda
•Multiple capital improvement projects required
•Wastewater treatment moved away from downtown Buda
Option 2 Option 3
Disadvantages
Source: City of Buda
cost: $39.8M cost: $62.7M cost: $36.8MDouble capacity and use Sunfield plant
Reroute all wastewater to Sunfield; convert to lift station
Increase capacity at Buda wastewater treatment plant
Comment at impactnews.com
12 | NEWS | Community Impact Newspaper • San Marcos/Buda/Kyle Edition
The 2011–12 school year will be one of dramatic changes for Texas students as a result of legislative decisions made in the past few years.
Following a $4 billion reduction in state funding, districts are expected to teach more children with fewer instructors in larger classes.
The biggest difference, however, will arrive next spring, when hundreds of thousands of students tackle the STAAR test—or State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness—which brings more demanding requirements and several more exams than the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.
Students in third through ninth grade will take the new test next year, but the roughly 350,000 incoming ninth graders statewide will be the first class required to pass 12 end-of-course exams to graduate.
TEA’s solution to counter-intuitive rehashing of old material is STAAR’s 12 end-of-course exams. Instead of passing the TAKS test’s four exit-level subject area tests in order to receive their diploma, stu-dents will have to take and reach a passing cumulative score on all 12 EOC exams.
Mandated changesIn 2009, state lawmakers called upon the
Texas Education Agency, the administrative unit for primary and secondary education, to develop a new state assessment test.
TEA spokeswoman Suzanne Marchman said there were several things that prompted a new test, but placing a larger emphasis on college and career readiness is what drove the change.
“At the high school level, [legislators] wanted the test to indicate that the students
By Taylor Short
San Marcos and Hays CISDs
Education FOC
Legislators require the assessment program to measure “minimum skills” rather than “basic skills competencies.” The Texas Educational Assessment of Minimum Skills (TEAMS) increases the difficulty and assesses grades 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. Passing the tests for 11th grad-ers in 1987 is required for graduation.
The Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) ups the difficulty once more and emphasizes academic skills over minimum skills. The TAAS also allows for more detailed performance data.
The legislature enacts a statewide account-ability program rating districts and campuses using TAAS scores and other factors. Ratings are released publicly.
The 76th Texas Legislature mandates the Texas Education Agency to develop a new test, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), which is aligned with state-mandated curriculum, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.
Legislators order TEA to develop a test with more rigorous questions based on critical thinking as opposed to memorization. College and career-readiness is emphasized.
Incoming high school freshmen become the first class to take the State of Texas Assess-ments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test.
The Texas Legislature passes a bill requiring basic skills competencies in math, reading and writing for grades 3, 5 and 9. Educators create the Texas Assessment of Basic Skills (TABS), which becomes the first test to be reported and the beginning of district account-ability to the state.
1979
1986
1990
1993
1999
2009
2012
State teSting timeline
TAKS STAAR
a
a
Ca
C
C
B
B
B
D
D
e
Blueprints for each assessment were developed with test lengths ranging from 30–60 items
Standards set separately for each grade and subject and based on the examination of test content
Standards have remained consistent since the first operational administration in 2003
Assesses standards that prepare students for the next grade or course
Students must pass three end-of-course tests in each of four core subject areas to receive a diploma
Assessments will increase in length at most grades and subjects
Assessments will encompass only the curriculum for that grade or course, with the exception of science at grades 5 and 8
Overall test difficulty will be increased by assessing skills at a greater depth and level of cognitive complexity
Links performance year to year from grades 3–8 to high school and from specific courses to college and career readiness
In grades 9–11, grade-level assessments assess content from multiple courses
Standards aligned across grades and courses within a content area
Difficult to measure student growth in commended performance category
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understood the Texas curriculum—which is what TAKS does—but also show whether students were ready for college or post-sec-ondary education or training for a career,” she said.
Marchman said the TEA received many complaints from the public and legislators about TAKS, including that high school instructors had to reteach old material to prepare for the tests.
The STAAR test will also have new “grid-dable” answers on math and science tests, Marchman said. In addition to multiple choice, some questions in the math and sci-ence portions now ask students to bubble in the calculation themselves.
“It’s more difficult and moves more toward critical thinking as opposed to memoriza-tion-type questions,” she said.
Student trajectoryOne of the most important changes in
the STAAR test, Marchman said, is the ability for educators to track student prog-ress from year to year.
The progress measures will be strength-ened over time, as new testing results are available from previous years. The indicator will be able to provide an early warning for students who are not on track to pass a future grade or might not be ready for advanced math or English courses in high school.
Accountability ratingsTEA assigns one of four possible
accountability ratings to schools in Texas: Exemplary, Recognized, Academically Acceptable or Academically Unacceptable.
San Marcos and Hays CISDs received Academically Acceptable ratings from TEA on July 29—a rating awarded based on TAKS scores, completion rates and annual
dropout rates.Those ratings will carry over through
2012, as the state accountability system is overhauled in coordination with STAAR to something “very different,” Marchman said. Details will be worked out during the upcoming school year.
local districts prepare for new state test
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L ocated next door to the Buda Area Chamber of Commerce on Railroad Street, Buda Drug Store and Soda
Fountain attracts a variety of customers: high-schoolers who swing in for a shake after school; parents with prescriptions to fill and children to entertain; elderly mem-bers of the community who count on the store’s personalized customer service; and everyone in between.
For owner and pharmacist Tammy Gray, the store is the culmination of a dream that was born more than 30 years ago.
“When I was in pharmacy school, I always thought it would be so cool to own an old-time drug store with a soda fountain,” Gray said. “Then once I got into ownership, I didn’t know if I’d ever have the opportunity.”
After becoming a registered pharmacist, Gray eventually purchased the small South Austin pharmacy she’d interned in as a student. She owned the store for 10 years until she lost the lease for that location and purchased her second pharmacy, Lamar Plaza Drug Store.
“That pharmacy was built in the ’50s, and it had a [soda] fountain [at that time],” Gray said. “It was taken out in 1970, but here it was in 2000, and people from the area were coming in looking for that soda fountain where they had all these wonder-ful memories.”
At the time, Gray was commuting to Austin from Buda, where she had moved
Pharmacist Tammy Gray and barista Bonnie Buchanan welcome visitors to the Buda Soda Fountain.
with her family in 1994. “When we first moved out here, there
was nothing but open space,” she said. In 2006, Gray sold Lamar Plaza Drug
Store and opened Buda Drug Store. Since then, the pharmacy has carved out a niche by providing customer service that larger chain pharmacies are unable to provide.
“We make deliveries, and we know which customers don’t have great mobility, so we’ll take their medicines to their cars,” she said.
Gray is also able to do pharmaceutical compounding on-site, mixing prescrip-tions that are not commercially available. Still, she never forgot about her idea for combining a drug store and soda fountain, and when the adjoining space became available for lease in 2008, she took the chance. She furnished it with vintage fix-tures, seeking to capture the atmosphere of an authentic 1930s soda fountain.
For Bonnie Buchanan, working as a barista at the soda fountain offers an opportunity to connect with people, which influences her work as a painter.
“I paint the stories of the people I meet and come across,” said Buchanan, a longtime friend of the Grays. “So with loving the Gray family so much, and this community being so warm and sweet, and this place being one where conversations happen—it’s perfect for my work.”
Customers’ stories are also central to Gray, whose collection of vintage apoth-ecary jars, bottles and medicines lines the top of the pharmacy’s shelves. Many items, such as a leather first-aid kit from World War II, are brought in by customers.
“I wish I knew the stories for every single one of these pieces,” she said. “Maybe one day I’ll open a pharmacy museum.”
Buda Drug Store and Soda Fountain203 Railroad St., Ste. 2B, Buda312-2111
By Katie Gutierrez Painter
Buda Drug Store and Soda Fountain Local pharmacy combines modern science with nostalgic appeal
BUSINESS
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Two donation points near you:
Peak Therapy & Sports Medicine Center21195 IH-35 North, Suite 201Kyle, TX 78640-1195(512) 268-0000Open Mon 7am-6pm; Tue-Thu 8am-6pm; Fri 7am-5pm
Devastation hit our neighbors, friends and family.
Let’s do our part. Community Impact Cares is collecting money for wildfire victims.
Tens of thousands of acres have been burned.
More than 1,700 homes were destroyed.
Fires have affected Texas residents from Bastrop to Steiner Ranch to Magnolia and beyond.
Thousands of people have been displaced and have lost everything.
Visit impactnews.com for updated wildfire information and ways to help the victims.Community Impact Cares will have an event in downtown Austin October 12. Please visit impactnews.com for details.
16 | FEATURES | Community Impact Newspaper • San Marcos/Buda/Kyle Edition
BUSINESS
By Katie Gutierrez Painter
Cardinal Frame and ArtSan Marcos couple offers 37 years of experience in custom framing
W hen asked about the most unique items they’ve been asked to frame, Hugh and Vicky Simmons—owners of Cardinal
Frame and Art in San Marcos—grin. “There was an owner of a feed lot,” Vicky said.
“He’d made a good deal of money [in his career]. He wanted to frame a cow patty.”
“He wanted it to look ‘fresh.’ It took about 15 coats of lacquer,” Hugh said.
The couple, who met on a blind date and have been married 45 years, opened their first custom frame shop in 1974. Then living in Canyon, Texas, the Simmonses learned the framing business from the ground up. They educated themselves with help from a longtime friend and industry expert, by attending seminars and, of course, by making mistakes.
“We used to have sales,” Hugh said. “But then people would come only when we had sales, and we’d work our butts off and come out making no money.”
“We don’t have sales anymore,” Vicky said. “We have a 10 percent off coupon on our website that people can use, but that’s all we do.”
After living in Canyon for many years, the couple moved back to San Marcos, where they had met, in the mid-1990s and opened Cardinal Frame and Art soon after. Today, the store offers an extensive
variety of frames, shadowboxes, mats and glass. Both Hugh and Vicky are active in the design pro-cess, helping customers choose frames, matting and glass that are most appropriate for the customer’s item, taste, lifestyle and budget.
“We like to say our prices are as low as we can live with,” Hugh said. “And our quality is always better than big-chain framing stores.”
In fact, it is not unusual for the couple to be asked to fix framing mistakes made by chains. The couple also educates customers on what type of frame and glass will best preserve their artwork or keepsake. Conservation glass, for example, will prevent fading of prints and photos, while Vicky warns customers away from using any glass when framing needle art.
“It will cause the fabric to dry rot,” she said.In addition to framing, the store also sells framed
and unframed prints. Hugh and Vicky take particu-lar pride in selling limited edition prints by Texas artist Jack Sorenson.
“We met him when he was a young artist, just starting out,” Vicky said.
Each print is one of only 1,000 signed and numbered by the artist. Customers can view and purchase prints and frames online, but the Sim-monses encourage customers to walk into the store for a more personalized experience.
“We visit,” Hugh said, “and people come back.”
Vicky and Hugh Simmons of Cardinal Frame and Art help clients preserve memories.
Hugh Simmons assembles framing orders in-store.
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Cardinal Frame and Art offers several frame styles:
• Sorenson series
• Spanish colonial
• Tuscany
• European classic
• Modern series
• Classic ornate series
• Antique veneer
Cardinal Frame and Art1904 Old RR 12, Ste. 101, San Marcos392-7699www.cardinalframe.com 35Craddock Ave.
Old Ranch Rd. 12
Hopkins St.12
impactnews.com • September 2011 | FEATURES | 17
DINING
Railroad Bar-B-QueHill Country family serves up plates of Americana in Kyle
S ince 1982, the Sherrill brothers have served up their family’s signature slow-smoked brisket at Railroad Bar-
B-Que off of FM 1626 in Manchaca. In 1985, the family opened a second
location down the rail line at 107 E. Center St. in Kyle.
Co-owner Dan Sherrill said the key to the family’s success has been its com-mitment to quality meat and consistent preparation.
“[Our family] loves barbecue, and it has always been a family favorite,” Sher-rill said. “Different foods become trendy and leave, but barbecue over the years has remained tried and true. [Barbecue] is an icon, no matter where you go in the United States. It is that unique little piece of Amer-icana that never changes.”
Sherrill and his brother, Paul, opened Railroad Bar-B-Que almost 30 years ago in Southwest Austin. The restaurant, named for the nearby tracks, quickly attracted loyal customers who regularly dine there to this day, Sherrill said.
The first two locations are relatively small—seating around 100 patrons—and have a homey, rustic atmosphere. Ameri-cana memorabilia graces the walls and the smell of mesquite wood fills the room.
The family uses a mesquite wood smoker to slow-cook the briskets, pork, sausage and other meats. The signature beef brisket rub is a secret family recipe that negates the need for any sauce.
Although Dan Sherrill said Railroad Bar-B-Que serves a great sauce, Texas-style barbecue is more focused on rubs and
meat preparation and can stand alone. The coleslaw, however, is a must, he said.
In November 2010, the family opened a third location in Driftwood.
That location is much bigger and is becoming the restaurant’s flagship loca-tion, co-owner Paul Sherrill said.
“We tried to carry on the spirit of the original stores with upgrading to large- screen TVs, so people could watch sports while they are having a great Texas barbe-cue experience,” Paul said.
The Driftwood location is home to Railroad Bar-B-Que’s full-service catering business. It offers options for small events and large-scale weddings.
The Sherrills have expanded the cater-ing menu beyond barbecue to a variety of other food genres with items including fajitas, spaghetti and bacon-wrapped scal-lops. The catering business serves Austin and the Hill Country area.
The task of running the three Railroad Bar-B-Que locations is still all in the fam-ily. Dan’s son, Nathan, and Dan’s nephew, Gerald, help manage the storefronts.
Dan said the restaurant has seen a num-ber of regulars turn to Railroad Bar-B-Que as their neighborhood barbecue joint.
“This is something that has given us the longevity and will continue to always be true about barbecue—it is a really personal experience,” Dan said. “You really do develop a relationship with people, and it is a great journey.”
By Kate Hull
727 FM 1626, Manchaca • 282-3288
Creekside Event Center 18315 FM 1626, Driftwood • 894-3218
A brisket plate at Railroad Bar-B-Que comes with a choice of two sides plus pickles, onions and bread.
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Nathan Sherrill, son of co-owner Dan Sherrill, welcomes customers to the Railroad Bar-B-Que in Kyle.
Other locations In 1982, Dan and Paul Sherrill opened their first Railroad Bar-B-Que location in Manchaca in Southwest Travis County.
The restaurant features live bluegrass music on Thursday nights starting around 6 p.m.
Creekside Event Center in Driftwood hosts small- and large-scale events—including weddings. The facility is on the banks of Onion Creek.
Catering by Railroad Bar-B-Que is available. Packages can be customized by preference and budget.
Popular itemsBeef brisket by the pound ($10.69) •Meats are served by the pound with sides,
family-style that serves three to six people, on plates or as a sandwich. Prices vary.
•Loaded baked potato available with chopped beef
•Slow-smoked with mesquite wood
Sherrill family creamy coleslaw ($3.49 per pint)•Other sides include Texas-style beans,
macaroni salad, Vidalia onion rings, french fries and cheddar-stuffed jalapeños.
Banana pudding, co-owner Dan Sherrill’s favorite dessert ($2.99)•Daily pies by the slice and cobbler are also
customer favorites.
Railroad Bar-B-Que107 E. Center St., Kyle 262-4641www.rrbbq.comTwitter: @railroadbbq
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18 | FEATURES | Community Impact Newspaper • San Marcos/Buda/Kyle Edition
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PAWS Shelter and Humane SocietyNo-kill Kyle facility is on a mission of second chances for pets
A sign outside PAWS Shelter and Humane Society, located on East FM 150 in Kyle, reads,
“Urgent need for bleach and dry dog food.” The no-kill animal shelter is a nonprofit organization able to care for dogs and cats through donations of money, time and supplies.
“These are the basics we go through every day,” said Melanie Cambron, a PAWS board member who began vol-unteering for the organization in 2005 and donates 40 hours per week to the shelter. “We have wonderful, generous people who drive by, see the sign and help out how they can.”
PAWS was founded in 1986 and adopts out more than 1,000 animals each year. All cats and dogs are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and behavior-tested prior to adoption, and an application process aims to ensure the right families take home the pets that are the best fit for them.
Recently, a PAWS favorite—11-year-old Timon, a small, curly-haired dog with congenital heart failure and fail-ing sight and hearing—was adopted.
At the news that Timon found a home, Cambron became tearful with joy.
“This is huge,” she said. “Most people just run away when they hear his age and ‘congenital heart failure.’”
But Timon is an exception to the general age and health of animals at PAWS.
“We want people to know that shel-ter dogs aren’t broken,” Cambron said. “Homeless, but not broken.”
It is not uncommon for adoptive families to send photos and emails to the shelter. Cambron and two staff members—Jacqueline Smith and Michelle Bender—shared photos of a large black pit bull mix lovingly dubbed “king of the couch” by his new family.
“He was kind of a handful before,” Bender, a veterinary technician, said. “I really think it was the Cell Dog Program that [settled him down].”
The Cell Dog Program, officially called Pawsitive Education Training Solutions, or PETS, is run twice a year in conjunction with the Kyle Correc-tional Center near PAWS.
After a selection process, inmates undergo two weeks of classroom training before beginning six-week, 24-hour-a-day care of the dogs. A paid trainer works with the handlers and dogs twice a week.
The benefits, Cambron said, are mutual: The dogs are loved, socialized and trained, and the inmates learn about responsibility.
The program is entirely funded by donations: $300 covers the cost of one Cell Dog, while $3,000 covers a whole class. People can donate to the pro-gram specifically or PAWS in general via a drop-box at the shelter or online.
The shelter’s most-needed donations include dog food, cat litter, bleach for cleaning, pet beds and flea and tick medicine.
But the organization’s greatest need, Cambron said, is more volunteers, and there are many ways to get involved.
“We have one lady who comes and feeds the cats every day,” she said. “Other people like to walk dogs. This is truly a group of people who felt a calling.”
NONPROFIT
Apples is one of the dogs available for adoption at PAWS in Kyle.
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By Katie Gutierrez Painter
PAWS Shelter and Humane Society500 E. FM 150, Kyle268-1611Sun. and Mon.: Closed; Tue.: 11 a.m.– 6 p.m.; Wed.–Sat.: 11 a.m.–5 p.m. www.pawsshelter.org
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impactnews.com • September 2011 | FEATURES | 19
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Southwest Health Plaza I7900 FM 1826, Suite 170Austin, TX 78737Phone: 512.324.9250
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20 | FEATURES | Community Impact Newspaper • San Marcos/Buda/Kyle Edition
REAL ESTATE
Ruby RanchBuda – 78610
Build-out year: 1996–present
Builders: Custom builders
Square footage: 1,991–5,081
Home values: $265,000–$998,000
HOA dues (estimated): $310 annually
Amenities: Walking/jogging trail, common area
Nearby attractions: South Park Meadows Entertainment Complex, Cabela’s, Duchman Family Winery, YMCA
Property taxes:
North East Hays County ESD No. 2 0.03000 Hays County ESD No. 8 0.10000 Hays County 0.42480 Special road 0.04440 Hays CISD 1.46130 Austin Community College District 0.09510
Total (per $100 value) ______________2.15560
Schools:
• Carpenter Hill Elementary• Dahlstrom Junior High• Jack C. Hays High School
78610 Buda Meadow Park 747 Reliance Drive 3br/2ba $146,000 1,528 Gerry Vanover Coldwell Banker United Realtor
78610 Buda Meadows at Buda 505 Hot Spring Valley 3br/2ba $174,004 1,946 April Maki Sisu Realty & Associates
78610 Buda Southern Woods 500 FM 1626 5br/3ba $379,000 3,273 Mike Minns Atlas Realty
78610 Buda Stonefield 342 Travertine Drive 4br/2ba $179,990 1,983 Daniel Wilson Keller Williams Realty
78610 Buda Stoneridge 1851 Stone Rim Loop 3br/2ba $157,500 1,932 Doris Schroeder J.B. Goodwin, Realtors
78610 Buda Whispering Hollow 601 Middle Creek Drive 3br/2ba $163,500 1,711 David Raesz Keller Williams Realty
78610 Buda Whispering Hollow 250 Wildhorse Creek 4br/2ba $178,500 2,131 Zach Frederick Keller Williams Realty
78610 Buda Whispering Hollow 500 Bayou Bend Drive 3br/2ba $199,900 2,103 Jessica Dodge Keller Williams Realty
150 Primrose Blvd., Kyle $134,000
500 Bayou Bend Drive, Buda $199,900
1681 Amberwood Loop, San Marcos $167,000
309 Verdin Drive, Buda $299,500
The market data for Kyle and Buda are gathered from Austin MLS and San Marcos market data are gathered from Central Texas MLS. The residential real estate listings are a sample of homes added to the market between 6/09/11 and 9/01/11 for Kyle and Buda and between 8/06/11 and 9/02/11 for San Marcos. Listings for San Marcos were provided by the San Marcos Area Board of Realtors, www.smabor.com, and listings for Buda and Kyle were provided by the Austin Board of REALTORS, www.abor.com. These listings are not comprehensive. Contact the property’s agent or seller for the most current information. Although every effort has been made to ensure the timeliness and accuracy of these listings, neither Community Impact Newspaper nor the agent assumes liability for errors or omissions.
For more information, visit impactnews.com
22 | FEATURES | Community Impact Newspaper • San Marcos/Buda/Kyle Edition
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