Fire Inspector: Tim Zelenak Ext. 2990 | tzelenak@windcrest-tx.gov
Police Department: Interim Chief, David Ellis Ext. 2130 | dellis@windcrest-tx.gov
Code Enforcement | Animal Control 210-655-2666
City Website: www.windcrest-tx.gov
Windcrest Economic Development Corporation
Director: Mario Hernandez
210-469-6802 | marioh@satx.rr.com
Coordinator: Karen K. Nelson
210-469-6800 | knelson@windcrest-tx.gov
Bexar County Water District #10
General Manager: David Wallace
210-655-2888 | gmbcwcid10@gmail.com
Mon – Thu 8 AM – 4 PM | Fri 8 AM – 3 PM
Water Emergencies: 210-422-4159
24-Hour Police Non-Emergency 210-655-2666
ALL EMERGENCIES
FIRE
Mayor’s Message Dan Reese
Welcome to 2025! Happy New Year Windcrest!
Like many years before, 2024 had its share of challenges, but we made it to 2025! My wife and I went to a play in November, and I heard a comment that I really liked: “Sometimes I look back, but I don’t stare.” I’m excited for 2025 with all the hopes and dreams we have for our amazing city!
2024 Annual Light-Up : “Blue Sapphire” – We celebrated the 65th anniversary of our city with the traditional gem, the blue sapphire. Our unique celebration was highlighted throughout the area, including a special airing of KSAT’s “Know My Neighborhood” on December 19th! As in the past, “Yelp” listed Windcrest Light-Up as the Number 1 Christmas Light Show in our area, and unlike most others displays in the area, it’s free, and a gift from the citizens of Windcrest to our community. Thank you for participating! One highlight was our Judges Dinner when we welcomed local dignitaries, including State Representative Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, County Judge Peter Sakai, County Commissioner Tommy Calvert, Alamo College District Board Trustee Gloria Ray, NEISD Board Trustee Tracie Shelton, and Rey Feo LXXVI Sabastian Castillo! Our “Winners Dinner” will be on Tuesday, January 7th, at the Windcrest Civic Center from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. All of you are welcome to the dinner, hope to see you all there.
This is a gigantic effort by your entire City. The hard work of the Women’s Club, your City Staff, our Volunteer group, the Windcrest Volunteer Fire Alliance, Public Works, the Fire Department, and Police Department come together as one team to make this signature event a success!
New Years Resolutions If you are making New Year's resolutions, here are a couple of ways you might serve your city:
Serve on a Board or Commission: We usually have vacancies on one or more of our Boards or Commissions. To find out more, go to our city website, go to the Boards & Commissions page. You will see the list of Boards and Commissions, the list of members and if there are openings. If there is a board or commission you would like to serve on, click on the link to the application. Once submitted, your application will be presented to the City Council for consideration on February 3, 2025 . Application deadline for City Council review and consideration for appointment to any board, commission, committee is Wednesday, January 21, 2025.
Windcrest Volunteers: This group has helped several citizens with tasks around their home that they were not able to accomplish. The group also supports several city events. For more information, go to the City of Windcrest website, from the Home Page select “Community” then “Get Involved”. You will be able to decide what kind of volunteer activities you would be willing to help with. Contact Anita at her email: aluna-caulk@windcrest-tx.gov.
New Year Quotes: I looked up some New Year’s Quotes I wanted to share as we enter 2025:
• “Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” — Hal Borland
• “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
• “What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.” —Vern McLellan
• “Change can be scary, but you know what’s scarier? Allowing fear to stop you from growing, evolving, and progressing.” — Mandy Hale
• “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” — William James
• “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” — Albert Einstein
I’m at Las Palapas on Walzem every Saturday morning (when I am in town) at 8:30 for “Coffee with the Mayor.” Coffee is on me. Please see my Facebook page (Dan Reese, Mayor, City of Windcrest) for updates. You are welcome to come anytime you wish and leave as you need to.
HAPPY NEW YEAR WINDCREST! I look forward to our adventure into 2025! What a great city we live in!
By Jennifer Newman, President, WEDC Board
From Big City to Small Town:
Gratitude for Mario Hernandez’s Dedication to Windcrest
Many Windcrest citizens know Mario Hernandez, Executive Director of the Windcrest Economic Development Corporation. Not everyone knows the details of his background, which makes us very lucky to have him working for our city.
Mario’s unparalleled mastery of economic development has left an indelible mark throughout the State of Texas. Since 1990, when he became president of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation (SAEDF), Mario has overseen initiatives that have brought more than 90,000 jobs to the region. Under his stewardship, the foundation’s budget grew from $300,000 to nearly $3 million, expanding its capacity to assist over 420 companies with location and expansion plans.
Mario’s leadership will forever be associated with the 2002-03 negotiations that brought Toyota Motor Manufacturing to San Antonio—a landmark achievement that added thousands of jobs and transformed the local economy. Former Toyota executive Dennis Cuneo lauded Mario as the “key player” in the successful site selection process.
Recognized as one of the top 100 Most Influential Hispanics by Hispanic Business Magazine and a national leader in economic development, Mario has also chaired the Texas Economic Development Council and served on the International Economic Development Council board.
Mario’s visionary leadership has elevated the well-being of countless families, and we are privileged to have his expertise guiding Windcrest toward a prosperous future. Thank you, Mario, for your incredible legacy!
Code Enforcement & Compliance
By Daniel Fox, Police Code Compliance Agent
We hope everyone enjoyed their holidays and the beautiful displays of lights. We are excited for the fresh start that the new year brings.
Help our city get a refreshing look by taking down your holiday lights. Keeping your light up too long can bring many unwanted and potentially hazardous complications for you. Holiday lights can become damaged if left out for too long, which can lead to electrical problems and potential structure fires. It is more environmentally friendly to reuse Christmas lights, the longer they last the better it is for our environment. When it is time to dispose of your old holiday lights, please remember that they DO NOT go in the recycling bin. Consider donating them or throw them in the trash if they are irreparable.
Please be sure to continue to maintain your alleyways and yard. If you would like to report a city code violation, please visit the city website at www.windcrest-tx.gov/report
CLUB
Another fabulous Light-Up and holiday season is in the books! THANK YOU to all the volunteers, city staff, Light-Up participants, and event attendees who helped our gem of a city SHINE for our 65th Anniversary!
We’re kicking off the new year with our first meeting on January 22nd at 10 a.m. at the Civic Center! Destiny Jones, from River City Massage, will be there to give a presentation on Massage Therapy and its Benefits. Come join us, bring a friend or two, and help us start 2025 off with a bang!
A Message From Fire Inspector, Tim Zelenak
Hope everyone had a safe and wonderful Christmas. As we start a new year, I would like to share some winter safety information with everyone. The months of January and February are typically the coldest months here in South Texas. Everyone wants a warm and cozy home when it’s cold outside.
Safety Tips:
• Have your homes’ HVAC units inspected annually by a licensed HVAC company.
• If your home furnace burns on natural gas make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector in your home.
• If you use space heaters in your home, make sure they are at least 4 feet away from anything that might catch fire. Don’t plug your space heater into a power strip, this could overload your power strip and cause a fire. Make sure your space heater has a tip control on it, this shuts the unit off if it’s knocked over.
If anyone would like to schedule a FREE home fire safety inspection, please contact the Windcrest Fire Department at (210)655-0022
United Way Help Line: Dial 2-1-1
2-1-1 is a free, anonymous social service hotline that helps people find information and resources in their community.
Community First POLICE DEPARTMENT
By David Ellis Interim Windcrest Chief of Police
We hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season. We are all excited to continue to improve our department and our community. This year we plan to participate in even more community and police relationship building opportunities. We want to encourage positive mental and physical health for all our Windcrest Police Department employees and community. Your continued support is very important to us and we are excited to navigate the new year with our Windcrest Community.
DID YOU KNOW?
You can register your cameras with the Windcrest Police Department. The purpose of this is only for our officers and team of detectives to know what homes have cameras that may assist them with solving a crime that occurred in that area. We do not ask for the log in to your camera system. At no point will the Windcrest Police Department have access to camera footage without your consent or knowledge. If we need access to any footage we will request it directly from you. If at any point you feel uncomfortable sharing your footage, you have every right to not share it with us.
If you would like to participate in this program please complete the online form at www.windcrest-tx.gov/services or visit the Windcrest Police Department at 8601 Midcrown Dr.
REMEMBER if you see something, say something. We really could not do what we do without our amazing community. You can reach our non emergency line at 210-655-2666.
Wearing the Windcrest Badge
Highlighting Badge 709
Wearing Badge 709, Communications Officer Angelica Grey is the newest member of the Windcrest Police Department Emergency Communications unit. She graduated from Texas State University with a degree in Criminal Justice. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dogs and going for brunch with friends. Her hobbies include watching crime documentaries and going on hikes.
F.D.News FIRE DEPARTMENT
By Ivan Hernandez Windcrest Fire Chief
Happy New Year to all! As we welcome 2025 and begin our journey towards achieving our New Year's resolutions, let us not forget to keep fire safety at the top of our list. January has the highest incidences of heat-related fires, making it essential to take the necessary precautions to protect your family and home during the winter season.
Space heaters must be placed at least four feet away from any flammable materials, such as upholstered furniture, mattresses, or bedding. Never leave them unattended.
Keep candles at least one foot away from any flammable materials. Never leave them unattended and keep children out of reach.
Do not use the kitchen oven or stove to heat your home. Excessive use could lead to an accumulation of toxic fumes.
Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Keep fire extinguishers nearby and make sure you and your family know how to use them.
Meet Wally! He is very friendly and ready for a new family. If you are interested in adding him to your family or any other dogs within our care, please call the Windcrest Police Department at 210-655-2666 and ask for an Animal Control Officer.
To see more pets available for adoption visit the www.windcrest-tx.gov/animal
REGISTRATION: Registering your dogs is a process that takes less than 5 minutes. Bring your ID, your pet’s vaccine records, microchipping records, and spay/neuter records.
WHY IS PET REGISTRATION IMPORTANT?
It is not only a city ordinance requirement, but it also helps our team return your pet home if they get lost.
Animal Care & Control TxWeACT an animal non-profit
Windcrest Animal Control Task Force
Thanks to all for your support during our December fundraisers. Your support is greatly appreciated!
Just a reminder of some of our city codes for the care of your pets now that old man winter has arrived:
Section 6-6
(b) An animal owner shall provide their animal with veterinary care to maintain and ensure its health and, when needed, to prevent suffering.
(c) An animal owner shall provide their animal with an area that is dry, sanitary, and free of objects not intended for animals and which could cause them bodily injury, such as rusted metal or broken glass.
(d) Animals shall be protected from extremes of the environment, including outside temperatures of heat (80 degrees or above), cold (40 degrees or below), and precipitation; this shall include but not be limited to shade, dog houses, lean-tos, tents, garages, or inside the owner's house
Please make sure they are warm and have food!
Another reminder that San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition is now offering Trap-Neuter-Return classes on-line or a class at their new offices. Please check on their website for more information. If you are feeding a cat or kitten that has wandered into your yard and adopted you, you really want to take this class. We are only talking about an hour and a half of your time. These classes have lots of good information about how TNR works and why it is the best program for our community cats. There is also a form you need to fill out with the city that identifies you as a TNR caregiver. Call animal control and they can provide you with the form.
GARDEN CLUB
By: Narquiz Cervantes
Happy New Year 2025 to all Windcrest Garden Club members and Windcrest residents. We look forward to the 2025 projects, meetings, and community service tasks to come, but want to take this time to reflect on our November and December 2024 accomplishments. On November 12th, we welcomed Jamie Whitfield, representative and speaker for the Christmas Cheer project, a non-profit group that provides much needed services to youth but also to adult members of our community. Jamie gave a warm and thoughtful presentation that helped members reflect on the importance of contributing to our community. In addition, many food and canned goods were donated to the San Antonio Food Bank, and a very spirited White Elephant Auction led by Kathy Littlefield raised funds for future community projects for Spring 2025. We closed our year with our December 9th Civic Center Christmas Potluck, with guest speaker Sir Oliver Smith who presented “Water Saver Landscapes with Native Plants.” And to add to the holiday atmosphere, Annette Hoffman distributed beautiful, purchased Poinsettias to members at the event. WC Garden Club also brought beauty to City Hall by planting 55 Poinsettias. Thank you to Annette Hoffman, Virginia Guzman, Kathy Littlefield, Elizabeth Castro, and Linda Oliver. We look forward to our first meeting of 2025, at 10:00 a.m., on January 6th, at the Civic Center, with a “Make and Take” project led by Narquiz Cervantes, and we welcome TxWeAct speaker Pam Dodson. New members are welcome in 2025 to partake in Rose Care presentations, wine mixer socials, Lavender Farm field trips, and more. Join us!
Windcrest Golf
By Mary Wold
Resolutions are so easily broken, so WHY bother? It’s easier to just get out on the course and break into a smile at a good drive or putt! Check out the deals at Windcrest Golf. Ladies Play every Thursday, tee time is 9 a.m. We welcome all levels of lady golfers. For more information please call Mary: 210-608-9645
Looking to Start a Group or Club?
Looking to start a walking group, bike riding group, book club? Let us know so we can get the word out for you. This would be a great way to get to know your neighbors.
Send an email to: editorial@neighborhoodnews.com
LIONS CLUB NEWS
By Lion Tim Flick
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you to everyone who supported the Lions Club through our Christmas Greenery sales, the annual Chili dinner, and Fillthe-Boot efforts during Christmas!
The Chili dinner was a huge success, and a lot of fun! So many of you came out, had some chili and cornbread, then just hung out with your neighbors, and had a great time. Thank you again for your support.
A reminder that our famous Pancake Sausage Breakfast is just a couple of months away and will be held at the Civic Center. Check here next month for information on the date and time! We hope to see you there. We are still working with the city on the date. Watch this space, our Facebook page or our webpage for updates on the date of the breakfast.
Many local students spent time during the holidays making Christmas ornaments and cards for the elderly at our local nursing homes. Many of the residents are alone during the holidays, and these hand-made cards and ornaments mean the world to them! They were absolutely beautiful.
If you would like to donate used eyeglasses or hearing aids we would love to have them. You can reach out to any Lions Club member, call the number below, or drop them in the white mailbox at City Hall. It’s the one with the Lions Club logo on it.
If you have been considering joining an active community service club, the Lions Club could be right for you. We focus on serving the Windcrest community, schools, and all its citizens. Contact information below.
Volunteer Group
The Windcrest Volunteer Group was instrumental in making the 2024 Light-Up season a success. From festive events to community involvement, our volunteers showed up and made a difference. Throughout the Light-Up season, volunteers supported several key events including Candy Cane Lane, Light-Up Celebration Kickoff, Mayor’s Bike Night, Bake-Off Contest and more!
The holiday season wrapped up with a Windcrest Volunteer Meeting on December 12th at Astro Bowling Alley. The meeting was not just a celebration of accomplishments, but a moment of pride as KSAT 12 interviewed some of our group to feature Windcrest in their monthly Know My Neighbor segment. Our Volunteer Program was highlighted, and volunteers had the opportunity to showcase Windcrest’s festive homes and the incredible efforts behind this year’s Light-Up. It’s exciting to see the hard work and dedication of our volunteers recognized beyond Windcrest!
Thank you to everyone who volunteered, participated, and supported these events. The Windcrest Volunteer Group continues to embody the spirit of “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” and plays a vital role in keeping our community strong and connected. If you’d like to get involved and join this growing group, please reach out to Anita (aluna-caulk@ windcrest-tx.gov). Let’s keep the momentum going into 2025!
If you would like to learn more about joining the Lions Club you can contact us at 210-951-9463, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WindcrestLions or on our website www.windcrestlions club.org. We are currently meeting at the Windcrest Civic Center, you are welcome to join us!
OTHER CONTACT INFORMATION
ORGANIZATIONS:
American Legion - Jack Leonhardt - jackleonhardt@aol.com
Boy Scout of America: Justin Buckner - 210-744-7296 - buckj64@gmail.com
FIT High-Performance Tennis Academy & Pickleball Center - 210-405-3781www.fithptennisacademy.com
