SUMMER 2018
by Beth Graham
HIDDEN HISTORY OF HELOTES: WHO WAS JOHN T. FLOORE? by Cynthia Cynthia Leal Leal Massey Massey by
GOOD TIMES & GREAT SHOPPING:
LADIES NIGHT OUT IN OLD TOWN HELOTES by Julie Julie Catalano Catalano by
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Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
By Mayor Tom Schoolcraft
definitely looks like we are in for a long, hot, and dry summer in Helotes. This time of year is special for us, though, because there are so many activities in which to participate and enjoy. Our annual Jazz a’Round Old Town Helotes festival brought a big crowd to the City to listen to four jazz groups, including the O’Connor High School Jazz Band. The weather was perfect, and everyone had a great time listening to the music and visiting with friends. May opened the 11th year of our summer series of Movie Night at the Park. Movie nights have become one of our most anticipated and popular events each year. We generally have free hot dogs provided by a local business, food vendors, drawings for free door prizes, activities for the kids, a band concert by our Helotes Area Community Band, and, of course, cartoons and the movie. Each movie night provides a great evening of fun for the family and an opportunity to meet new people or visit with friends. A family from El Paso visited with me after the June movie and said they were here visiting family, decided to see what movie night was all about, and said they had a wonderful time. If you haven’t experienced a movie night yet, you still have three chances to do so. Our July 20 movie will be “Peter Rabbit,” August 17 will be “The Nut Job 2,” and our final movie of the year will be “Coco” on September 21. TxDOT is making good progress on our F.M. 1560 Realignment Project and their reconfiguration of Bandera Road to the North and South of Circle A Trail. Once
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completed, the results of the project should be shorter waiting periods at the turning points, less congestion in that area, and, overall, much smoother traffic flow. The latest estimates from TxDOT indicate that this area will be fully functional and open to traffic before the end of August. The Hausman Road Expansion Project will begin before the end of this year. That project is another TxDOT project and will provide four main lanes with a center left turn lane, bicycle lanes, curbs, and sidewalks. The project limits are the intersection at Bandera Road to the intersection at Loop 1604. We have issued notices to proceed for the largest street maintenance project in our history, thanks to the street maintenance sales tax approved by the voters in November 2015. Much of the work, which should begin in July, will consist of applying a one course surface treatment to area roadways. This is a coating each of oil and aggregate over the existing street surfaces throughout several of our subdivisions. That work will then be covered with a mastic overlay to further seal and extend the longevity of the streets. The project also includes striping on selected streets to replace existing, but badly faded, striping or striping covered over by the new surface treatments. Our French Creek Tributary Flood Control Project has passed the halfway point and is scheduled for completion late this year. The project starts with new culverts and drainage improvements in the Helotes Park Estates Subdivision at Diamond K. It
then extends to the other side of Hausman Road and includes new culverts along Circle S Drive in Evans Valley, with massive channel improvements between Evans Valley and Cedar Springs subdivisions. This project is being handled by the Bexar County Flood Control Department and, when completed, should remove an estimated 40 to 50 homes from the 100-year flood plain. We are continuing to add new amenities to the Helotes Fitness Park and Disc Golf Course at the corner of F.M. 1560 and Parrigin Road. Our Public Works Department just completed a 1/3 mile asphalt walking trail, and our goal is to add a few more exercise stations, signage, water fountains, and a restroom facility. If you feel like getting a little exercise, come to the park to play disc golf or get a good work out using the fitness stations. We will be accepting applications for park volunteers to help us maintain the grounds, so let us know if you would like to join the crew by calling Celina at (210) 695-5911 or Susan at (210) 695-5914. Visit our website at helotes-tx.gov or our Facebook page to get more information about all of the projects described above. Have a great summer!
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
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Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
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Table of Contents Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country
Howdy Helotes
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Helotes Dispatch: Outreach Programs Enhance Community Safety
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Hidden History of Helotes: Who Was John T. Floore?
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Helotes Points of Interest
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Good Times & Great Shopping at Ladies Night Out
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Stormwater Best Management Practices
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Athletics: O’Connor, Brandeis, GHLL
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Stay: Gallagher Headquarters
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Savor: Helotes Café & Bakery in OTH
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Events
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City News: Municipal Court Awards
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Advertiser Coupons
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Advertiser Index
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Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
Magazine Credits Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country
Publisher Louis Doucette | Traveling Blender, LLC louis@travelingblender.com
Advertising Sales Janet Sandbach | janet@travelingblender.com
Contributing Writers Julie Catalano Beth Graham Cynthia Leal Massey Bob McCullough Celina Perez
Contributing Photographers Dave Scepanski Jack Smith Tony Wazir
Editorial Committee Members Ken Dempsey Louis Doucette Glenn Goolsby Cynthia Leal Massey Janet Sandbach Tom Schoolcraft Rick Schroder Andrea Wazir
Helotes City Council Mayor Tom Schoolcraft Mayor Pro Tem Cynthia Leal Massey Councilmember Bert Buys Councilmember Alex Blue Councilmember Paul Friedrichs Councilmember Jim Meadows
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country magazine is published by Traveling Blender, LLC (Publisher) on behalf of the City of Helotes. Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, is prohibited without the express written consent of the City of Helotes. Editorial and advertising material contained herein does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the City of Helotes, elected and appointed officials, or its staff. Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country magazine, the Publisher, and the City of Helotes reserve the right to edit all material for clarity and space and assume no responsibility for accuracy, errors, or omissions. Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country magazine does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertisements or editorial, nor does the Publisher or the City of Helotes assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear in the magazine. Articles and photos are welcome and may be submitted to our office to be used in the magazine, subject to the discretion and review of the Publisher, Editor, or the City of Helotes. All submissions become the property of Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country magazine and the City of Helotes, and the submitter confirms that all submissions, including photography, is either the submitter’s own work or the writer / photographer has provided permission to the submitter to use the content within the magazine. All Real Estate advertising is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or an intention to make such a preference limitation or discrimination.”
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Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
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HELOTES DISPATCH CENTER
Outreach Programs Enhance Community Safety By Beth Graham
hen the worst happens, the Helotes Dispatch Center is waiting to take your call. If someone dials 911 in the Helotes service area, the caller is connected with emergency dispatch personnel who will not only summon help, but will also stay on the line until that help arrives. A recent 60 patient regional study for emergency medical services found that 50% of patients receiving resuscitation assistance showed sustained return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) versus a national average of only 32%. Area residents had a ROSC rate until hospital discharge of 33%, versus the national average of only 8%. Of the individuals in the survey, 29
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received bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the survival rate for individuals who received such assistance was 79%. Lifesaving measures, like CPR, performed during a lifethreatening emergency are vital. It saves lives. Helotes Dispatchers are trained and well prepared to assist callers with implementing emergency procedures before professional help arrives. All nine of Helotes' operators are certiďŹ ed Emergency Medical Dispatchers.. If someone has had a heart attack or stopped breathing, the dispatchers are trained to talk a bystander through resuscitation procedures. They act as a calm, resourceful support system for callers who may be unable
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
Did you know? You can now also TEXT 911 in emergencies. This could save lives for individuals who cannot hear or speak, or who are in a home invasion or domestic abuse situation. If you are in personal danger, remember to turn off your phone’s sound and be sure no light is visible from the screen.
to think clearly or simply not know what to do. Dispatch Supervisor Angela Bocconcelli explains, "Our goal is to empower citizens and give them confidence that they can help. Early intervention is key. Time can make all the difference." “When a heart attack has occurred, you have a staff of certified personnel that will help with lifesaving instructions to assist you. For that reason, it’s important that we act quickly.” Not content with just answering the phone, the Center is reaching out into the community, as well. After receiving a call from a child who could not give dispatchers essential information, operators realized that people needed to know more about emergency services and how they could operate more effectively for first responders. “Children, especially, may not know addresses, phone numbers, parents’ names, and other necessary details,” says dispatcher Skylar Dailey. “It’s important that they be taught this kind of information so that they can get help if it’s needed.” The result was an outreach campaign to inform the community about what emergency dispatchers need to know and how having that information readily available could increase chances of a favorable outcome. They first hosted a booth at the Helotes MarketPlace to distribute information to the general public. Angela Bocconcelli and Skylar walked the grounds and made contact with a number of parents and children. It was then that they realized more needed to be done. After discussing their experience at MarketPlace with Helotes staff, they started several educational outreach programs.
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
The kickoff event was held at Helotes Elementary School during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Helotes Elementary School Principal, Rhonda Johnson, and her staff accepted a proposal from the Helotes Dispatch team to educate Helotes’ youngest citizens about calling 911. Together, they organized a pep rally for students. The dispatchers worked with the Northside Independent School District Police Department, fellow first responders, and a number of employees from Helotes to devise a plan. Together with local merchants, including H-E-B, students received goody bags, police, fire, and EMS personnel made appearances, and Officer Holt brought his police dog Taska, who made everyone smile with her presence. Skits, music, and other activities informed students about 911, including when and how to call. After success with the children, the Center turned their focus to educating teens and adults about emergency response. Research shows that in a natural disaster or catastrophic accident, lack of preparation can cost lives. This prompted the
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Center’s second outreach event — free Community Emergency Response Training (CERT). “When there is a major disaster, such as a tornado, fire, or flood, professional first responders may be overwhelmed or delayed when every single second counts,” the Bexar County CERT webpage explains. “In these situations, it is the neighbors or family members that become the first responders. However, without proper training, spur-of-themoment well-intentioned volunteers often become injured, adding to the problem.” CERT training allows members of the community to become effective assistants to frontline responders during emergencies. The free 21-hour course includes both classroom and practical training and provides instruction in fire safety, search and rescue, disaster medical aid and triage, and other skills. Anyone can go through the class. “Our class included teachers, retired veterans and everyday citizens. In an actual emergency, there is a role for everyone, and training makes you a more effective volunteer,” says Angela. A total of 23 trainees completed the May course while under the direction of volunteer instructors from the Bexar County CERT Team. Those who complete the training and join the Bexar County CERT also receive a responder’s backpack that includes a hardhat, flashlight, poncho, safety vest, emergency blanket, utility gloves, duct tape, and a tool that can be used as a pry bar to break a window or to turn off water or gas.
Above: Officer Chris Holt, Taska, and City Secretary Celina Perez
Outreach continued with a Public Education Course hosted by Helotes Dispatch. This course provided instruction in basic first aid techniques, and participants learned what to do while waiting for professional help to arrive, including how and when to apply tourniquets and how to perform handsonly resuscitation. “It’s essential to have high quality training available for staff and citizens. Preparedness makes a difference,” explained Angela. The Helotes Dispatch Center is not slowing down. The Center’s community outreach efforts continue to grow. The Center is hosting another CERT training course August 18 – 19, 2018. This course will include prerequisite online training and two full days of classroom and hands-on instruction. There is no fee to participate, but registration is mandatory.
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To learn more about the Helotes CERT team or other upcoming educational offerings, contact Skylar at (210) 695-2500, option 1, or go to visithelotes.com.
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
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By Cynthia Leal Massey
Helotes is home to the “World Famous” John T. Floore Country Store, a Texas Historic Landmark listed in the National Register of Historic Places that celebrated its diamond anniversary in 2017.
But who was John T. Floore? John T. Floore in front of the original Red & White/Floore Country Store, late 1940s. Photo by Woodrow Marrs. Courtesy of Wayne Marrs and the Historical Society of Helotes.
Editorial staff recognize the sensitive nature of the content of this article. While eliminating any reference to the KKK would sanitize the article and make it palatable to most readers, doing so would also gloss over a significant aspect of John T. Floore's life. Sanitizing history for the sake of readers' sensitivities is not, in our opinion, an effective method of ensuring that repugnant portions of human history do not repeat themselves. Immortalized in the 1973 song, “Shotgun Willie,” by Willie Nelson, Floore, who residents called the “unofficial mayor of Helotes,” is described in this way: “Now, John T. Floore was a-working for the Ku Klux Klan, At six foot five, John T. was a hell of a man, Made a lot of money selling sheets on the family plan.” The title of the song is the nickname Nelson got after confronting his daughter Lana’s husband and threatening to kill him if he repeated his assault on her. How lyrics about John T. Floore got into the song is a mystery. But the album has been touted as one of the first albums of “Outlaw Country,” and perhaps that is where the connection lies. Born August 4, 1898, in the northeast Texas town of Troup, south of Tyler, John Tramell Floore was a conventional product of the South. Settlers of Troup in the 1840s were predominately
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from Virginia. Floore’s grandparents, who were from North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Arkansas, moved to east Texas where his parents, Lloyd Floore and Mary Foster, were born in the 1860s. John T. had two older brothers, Lloyd Jr. and Henry “Shag,” and three younger sisters, Mary Francis “Frankie,” Margaret, and Beulah. His youngest sister moved to Helotes with her husband Bern Vinck, who in the 1950s ran the newly built Riggs Garage (now Mander’s Automotive). Troup was a small railroad town in the 1870s. By 1892, the town had 600 residents, eight general stores, four churches, millinery shops, saloons, physicians' offices, drugstores, a hotel, a district school, a meat market, and a cotton gin and gristmill. The municipal government included a city commissioner, a justice of the peace, and a constable. By 1914, Troup’s population had doubled and the town included a bank, a telephone exchange, two cotton gins, several restaurants, and a weekly newspaper. The town was predominately Presbyterian in creed and Democrat in politics, both of which John T. Floore embraced. The history of the KKK in Texas had its beginnings during Reconstruction and was focused in northeast Texas, with Klan members pledging to support the supremacy of the white race, to oppose the amalgamation of the races, to resist the social and political encroachment of the Republican “carpetbaggers,” and to restore white control of the government. The Klan's regalia
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
included a white mask with holes for the eyes, a high, conical, cardboard hat, and long flowing robes, primarily white. By the time Floore was born, the Klan had “gone underground,” but it reared its ugly head again after WWI. A growing nativist movement against Catholics, Jews, African Americans, and other “foreign elements” sparked racial animosity, which had never waned. In 1922, the Klan, with a paid membership in Texas of about 150,000, had achieved political power throughout the state by helping to elect state legislators, sheriffs, judges, and other local and state officials. However, their heyday didn’t last long. Their candidate for governor was defeated by Ma (Miriam) Ferguson in 1924, and dissension within the organization over its violence and discriminatory tactics, caused its membership to decline to 2,500 by 1928. According to an article about Floore in Helotes Happenings, a compilation of stories about the town, published by the Helotes Historical Society in 1998, Floore once said, “Time was when you had to belong to the Ku Klux Klan.” He and a lawyer profited by selling sheets and hoods [to Klansmen], each for $8, making a profit. Floore, who’d attended Austin College in Sherman, Texas, an affiliate with the Presbyterian Church, for three years starting in around 1916, began his entrepreneurship early. Floore married Pina Akin, who was from Claiborne, Louisiana, in about 1923. After a stint working as a timekeeper for the railroad in Troup, and a brief time in the automobile business, the couple moved to Harlingen, Texas, in 1928, where Floore became manager of the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce and the Valley Mid-Winter Fair, positions that primed him for the promotional work for which he’d later become renowned.
the Majestic theatre in San Antonio until the Second World War put a damper on business. He and his wife moved to Helotes in 1942 after negotiating a deal to lease James Riggs’ grocery store. He opened a Red & White Food Store, and promptly changed the name to Floore Country Store. An astute businessman, Floore took note of the crowd on the weekends at the Helotes Inn dance hall next door. With that in mind, in 1945, he purchased 15.7 acres from Blanche Maltsberger across the street, followed by a 1.02-acre purchase the next year. Blanche kept the almost two-acre tract upon which her house— the old Gugger Homestead—was located. Art Schimmelpfening (Maltsberger’s son) worked for John Floore, first helping out at the grocery store, then afterward at the Floore property: “After the war, when I was about 12, Floore built his new store. He sent me to town to learn how to run a movie projector, and during a couple of summers, I was the projectionist for his outdoor movie theater. He put out folding chairs and charged people a small amount to come in. He showed old westerns, B, C, and D movies. This was before television. At that time, Floore and his wife lived in a little house on the back of the Floore Country Store property, by the creek.” Floore continued operating the Red & White Food Store/Floore Country Store across the street next to the Helotes Inn as he considered plans for his new property. It is unclear as to when the new Floore Country Store was completed, but Wayne Marrs, whose father took the pictures accompanying this article, said it was in the early 1950s. This is corroborated by a couple of newspaper stories. In a San Antonio Light article dated April 5, 1950, the Around the Plaza reporter wrote: “John T. Floore, the country store owner and real estate developer, is among those in
The marriage ended, and in 1934, Floore moved to San Antonio to began his career with Interstate Theaters, first managing the Empire and Texas Theaters, and later taking over management of the Majestic Theatre. Floore married his second wife, Emealia Schlagel, in 1937. Schlagel, who’d also been married before, was born in the state of Washington to parents who’d emigrated from Germany. Floore managed
John T. Floore in front of the original Red & White/Floore Country Store with San Antonio Police Department motorcycle patrolmen, late 1940s. Photo by Woodrow Marrs. Courtesy of Wayne Marrs and the Historical Society of Helotes.
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
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more people.” In the early 70s, Bandera Highway was enlarged, and its location behind Floore Country Store did not affect attendance or its popularity, though it certainly sped up traffic. At about the same time the road issues were in play, so was talk of incorporation, and of course, Floore had on opinion on that: No way! Surprisingly, he touted annexation with San Antonio, which he believed would provide better services than a small town could afford. In a rant, Floore wrote to San Antonio Evening News columnist Paul Thompson in 1971: “And politically, Lord knows what a baby city might fall heir to—like maybe being taken over by voting 18-year-old hippies.” San Antonio’s denial of Helotes’ request for incorporation as a municipality, coupled with John T. Floore’s strident opposition, stifled plans to incorporate until 1981, six years after Floore died.
FlOORE COunTRY STORE After Floore Country Store dance hall opened, John T. began to promote it as “the place” for Country and Western singers and musicians to appear. Floore had a deep admiration for C&W music. In a Helotes Echo profile about Floore that appeared in August 1967, contributor Charlie Moss wrote, “He feels that country music is the ‘People’s music’ and that it will be heard long after ‘Rock and Roll’ is a memory of a once-popular fad.” John T. Floore founded the city’s first newspaper, the Helotes Herald, which he called “the poor people’s paper.” Courtesy of the Historical Society of Helotes.
the middle of things, rushing plans on a new dance hall. He [Floore] says, “We already have one dance hall, but there’s room for another. I want to catch some of the overflow crowd that comes here on Saturday nights for country style dancing.” According to a San Antonio Express article dated September 14, 1952, John T. Floore formally opened the doors of the Floore Country Store Dance Hall and Kitchen on Saturday, September 13, 1952. By that time, Floore and his second wife were divorced. In 1959, he married third wife, Elizabeth Josephson, in Johnson City. This marriage had ended by 1963, according to a November 22 article in the San Antonio Light that reported, “The oft-married John T. Floore is about ready again.” Whether he did marry again is unknown, but at the time of his death, his marital status was listed as “divorced.” In addition to building the country store/dance hall, Floore started the first newspaper, the Helotes Herald, and became a strong opponent of initial proposals of the highway department in 1946 to expand Bandera Road through downtown Helotes, which would have required removing at least half of the buildings, including his own. He was equally appalled at later efforts to expand the road to a multi-lane highway, which he thought would “speed up traffic and kill
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Floore’s respect for the C&W music genre and his showmanship lured the best-known name bands to Helotes. Bob Wills, Ernest Tubb, Hank Williams, Willie Nelson, and Merle Haggard were just a few stars that graced the Floore Country Store stage in the early years. But John T. also liked to promote musicians whom he considered gifted, but unknown. However, as Ray Price, who first played Floore’s in the mid-1950s recalled, sometimes such musicians were unknown only to Floore. In an interview with San Antonio Express-News reporter John Goodspeed in 2003, Price said, “John didn't know who I was, so he said, 'I won't pay you any guarantee. I'll just give you the door.’ So when I got there, there were about five state troopers directing traffic, so many people had showed up. Must have been at least 2,000. By 9 p.m., Floore was out of cold beer, tamales and everything else. When I came in I heard him coming out, and he said, 'I didn't know who Ray Price was before this, but, by god, I do now'." By the 1960s, Floore had befriended another rising star: Willie Nelson. Nelson was a successful songwriter, penning such tunes as “Crazy,” made famous by Patsy Cline, but his own singing career was in a slump. He moved to Nashville in 1965, but returned to Texas not long after, frustrated with music industry executives who wanted him to conform to the style and C&W look of the era. Nelson, who was from Abbot, Texas,
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
moved to Austin and began playing at Texas honky tonks. In his Country & Western Roundup column in the Helotes Echo, Floore introduced Nelson, who played his first Floore Country Store gig on August 25, 1967, calling him “a special kind of artist” who “will hypnotize a complete audience.” After Nelson’s first appearance, he continued playing at Floore regularly. Floore’s arrangement with Nelson was that the singer would play at the country store once a month and nowhere else in the San Antonio area. Floore and Nelson developed a special friendship, forming a partnership, along with two others, in the original Willie Nelson Music Company. In a January 1968, Helotes Echo column, Floore wrote of his visit to New York when he accompanied Nelson who was appearing at the Taft Hotel, which was “overflowing every night.” As for the song, “Shotgun Willie,” and Nelson’s lyrics about Floore, Willie meant the song as a tribute to his friend, despite the negative connotation. Floore, never a man to avoid publicity, good or bad, took it in stride.
to associates Joe and Estella Algueseva with the stipulation that Floore could continue to live in the two-bedroom apartment inside Floore Country Store, where he had resided for some time. The following spring, Floore suffered from a bout of pneumonia. In January 1975, John T. was hospitalized with the flu. On October 1, 1975, employees opening for the morning found John T. Floore sprawled on the floor at the entryway to the store from his apartment, a gunshot wound to the head. The county medical examiner, Dr. Ruben Santos, said that he had died from a self-inflicted wound. Floore’s death left a void in Helotes. His strong personality and “Churchillian” stances against issues he considered important had shaped the direction of Helotes for almost 33 years. Others would step up to fill the void, but none would ever match the charisma and showmanship of John T. Floore. Cynthia Leal Massey is the author of several books on the history of Helotes. Visit her website: www.cynthialealmassey.com.
In October 1973, just a few months after the release of the song, Floore who had been suffering from ill health, sold his business
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
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GOOD TIMES
at
GREAT SHOPPING
By Julie Catalano
In Helotes, ladies have their own special evening where they can shop, sip, wine, dine, and enjoy a break from the routine with Ladies Night Out, a fun-filled event on the second Wednesday of every month. On that evening, selected shops welcome shoppers from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. for a good time and great shopping in Old Town Helotes. Food trucks, live music, giveaways, and free beverages make the evening a special one. The popular event has evolved over time, says Madeleine Stalls, owner of Simply Yours Gifts & More for 14 years. “Originally, we did it only three to four times a year,” she says, “but it wasn't enough. We needed to get people here more often.” That meant switching to the once-a-month schedule in 2016. Since then, Ladies Night Out runs like a well-oiled machine, geared toward the goal of “bringing our ladies out, thanking the regulars who shop with us all the time, and bringing in new shoppers. It's been very successful in doing that every month,” says Stall. The event is sponsored by Ken Dempsey, local entrepreneur and owner of the new Helotes Cafe & Bakery. A registration booth set up in front of
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Men serve complimentary beverages to ladies night Out attendees at the registration table as they pick up their raffle entry card.
Helotes Creek Winery is manned by...men. Handing out free wine, beer and water, the helpful guys also make sure each shopper has a raffle card to be initialed by each participating shop. “Shoppers must visit every participating store to be entered in the drawing,” says Stalls. “It's the only fair way to do it.” Merchants at each location stamp the card, and shoppers turn it in at their last stop or drop it off at the registration
booth. The next day, each store conducts its individual drawing, and the winner is called to come and pick up her gift, which varies from store to store—a purse or bag, jewelry, a bottle of wine, candles, and more. Although the focus of the event is on women, it does draw a handful of men. “We've just always called it Ladies Night Out because that's what gets the ladies
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
Retail participants at ladies night Out: Simply Yours Gifts & More Jewelry, home décor, clothing, gifts, candles, crosses, and accessories. Find them on Facebook or call 210.695.6951.
GG's House Boutique and Venue Women's clothing boutique, shoes, jewelry, home goods, and accessories. Outdoor space available for special event rental. Connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or call 210.587.5475.
Harvest Cottage Thrift & Consignment Antiques, jewelry, furniture, and home goods. You can find them on Facebook or call 210.437.1115.
Helotes Creek Winery Boutique winery featuring handcrafted wines, wine bar, wine tastings, casual dining, and gift shop. Available for special event rental. Learn more on Facebook or call 210.878.4759.
Three Sisters Home Women's clothing boutique, jewelry, and accessories. Connect with them on Facebook, Instagram, or visit their website at threesistershome.com. The shop’s phone is 210.257.6828. ladies night Out brings friends together for a fun evening full of shopping, free drinks, and friendship in Old Town Helotes.
out, and most of our shoppers are ladies,” says Stalls. “This is basically a way for them to get away, have a night out away from husbands and kids, have a couple glasses of wine, and shop.” There are other events for families, she continues, “like the Helotes MarketPlace, held on the first Saturday of every month.” Growth has been steady, even with building turnover and changes in tenants. “A lot of shops have come and gone,” says Stalls, “but the event itself has grown. Based on registration forms, we're getting between 200-300 people and not everybody registers.” Social media outreach has been a huge boon, allowing regular customers and the curious to interact with merchants on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others. The shops also aim for creativity in holding themed events, especially for the fall and winter holidays. Halloween is especially popular, says Stalls. “Trick-or-
treaters can go from store to store, and we know the kids are safe.” Ladies Night Out takes place in and around the Bluffs at Old Town Helotes near the traffic circle, where every merchant is within walking distance. No map is necessary; the lights are on at every stop. Banners are put out in advance, and people who have signed up at previous events get one email reminder for Ladies Night Out. The location is the perfect setting, as shoppers sip and stroll through the area surrounded by the town's history. “Old Town is where everything was,” says Stalls.
Country Elegance Country French style furniture, farmhouse décor, antiques, collectibles, original art, local area books, and photography. Find them on Facebook or visit their website at countryelegance-helotes.com. They can be also be reached by phone at 210.695.6678.
Agora Benefits Solutions Insurance broker offering life, health, and retirement benefit solutions for employers in the private and public sectors. Learn more on Facebook or visit their website at agorabenefitssolutions.com. Call 210.949.0002 for more information.
Helotes Cafe & Bakery Newly opened this May and housed in a historic home-turned-cafe and bakery. Open for breakfast and lunch. Connect with them on Facebook or call 210.695.2996.
Old Town Depot Antiques That includes shopping, says Stalls. “We really do get a lot of out-of-towners,” she says. “There's a lot of growth in Helotes, and it's getting bigger. Ladies Night Out is a good night for us. It's tried and true.”
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
Variety of antiques, collectibles, furniture, gifts, and consignment items. Learn more about this shop on Facebook or call 210.695.8589.
Buffalo Beach Trading Company A curated treasure trove of found, handmade, vintage, and new goods for authentic living. Find them on Facebook or call 940.367.0313.
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A CITIzEN’S GuIDE TO
Stormwater Best Management Practices By Helotes Public Works
After a rain, the water that flows over our streets, lawns, driveways, and parking lots picks up harmful substances like chemicals, dirt, and other pollutants. When it rains, stormwater flows into a storm sewer system or directly to a creek, lake, stream, river, or other body of water. Anything that enters a storm sewer is discharged, untreated, into the waterbodies we use for swimming, fishing, and drinking water. Polluted runoff is the nation’s greatest threat to clean water. By practicing healthy household habits, homeowners and business owners can keep common pollutants like pesticides, automotive fluids, grass clippings, and pet waste off the ground and out of our stormwater runoff. Adopt these healthy household habits and help protect our waters. Remember, if you dump it, you drink it.
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Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
As a Helotes resident or business owner, it is important to follow the below best practices to help protect our water supply. away from paved surfaces to increase infiltration and reduce polluted runoff.
lAWn & GARDEn • Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly. • Do not apply fertilizers if heavy rain is predicted. • Look into alternatives for pesticides. • Select native plants and grasses that are drought-and-pest-resistant. These require less water, fertilizer, and pesticides. • Sweep up yard debris, rather than hosing down areas. Compost or recycle yard waste. • Use a mulching mower to recycle grass clippings into the lawn. • Keep leaves and grass out of storm drains. • Do not overwater your lawn. Water during cool times of the day and do not let water runoff into storm drains. • Vegetate bare spots in your yard to prevent erosion.
VEHIClE & GARAGE • Wash cars at a commercial car wash or on a lawn or unpaved surface to minimize the amount of dirty, soapy water flowing into the storm drain. • Check your car, boat, motorcycle, and other machinery and equipment for leaks and spills. Clean up spilled fluids with an absorbent material, like Kitty Litter or sand, and dispose of it properly. • Recycle used motor oil and other automotive fluids at participating service stations. Do not dump these chemicals down the storm drain or dispose of them in your trash.
HOME REPAIR & IMPROVEMEnT • Before beginning an outdoor project, locate the nearest storm drains and protect them from debris and other materials. • Sweep up and properly dispose of construction debris, such as concrete and mortar. • Use hazardous products like paints, solvents, and cleaning products in the smallest amounts possible. Make sure to store and dispose of them according to label directions. • Utilize household hazardous waste disposal programs and facilities to dispose of excess paint or other hazardous waste. • Clean paint brushes in a sink, not outdoors. • Purchase and use non-toxic, biodegradable, recycled, and recyclable products whenever possible. • Direct downspouts onto lawns and
SWIMMInG POOl & SPA • Drain your pool only when a test kit does not detect chlorine levels. • Whenever possible, drain your pool or spa into the sanitary sewer system. • Properly store pool and spa chemicals to prevent leaks and spills.
PET CARE • Pick up and properly dispose of pet waste dropped on public or other people’s property. • Use newspaper, bags, or pooper scoopers to pick up pet waste. • Dispose of the wrapped pet waste in the trash or unwrapped in a toilet. • Never discard pet waste in a storm drain.
SEPTIC SYSTEM uSE & MAInTEnAnCE • Have your septic system inspected by a professional at least every three years, and have the septic tank pumped, as necessary (usually every three to five years).
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
• Care for the septic system drainfield by not driving or parking vehicles on it. Avoid planting trees near septic systems to prevent damage from roots. • Flush responsibly. Flushing household cleaners and liquids, including cooking grease, can destroy the biological treatment taking place in your septic system. Other items, such as diapers, paper towels, and cat litter, can clog the system and potentially damage components. GET InVOlVED • Do not litter! • Recycle! Recycle! Recycle! • Participate in community volunteer clean up days. • You can make a difference! Keeping our creeks, streams, lakes and rivers clean and safe will be a tough challenge as our community grows. In Helotes, we’re up for the task, but we can’t do it without everyone’s help. The choices we make today will impact future generations. As a community, we are responsible for maintaining the quality of our waterways. Please do your part to help minimize stormwater pollution.
Be the solution to stormwater pollution!
More inforMation can be obtained at: www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater www.tceq.state.tx.us www.helotes-tx.gov
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It takes a village, like Helotes, to produce successful athletic teams. By Bob McCullough
oaches, team officials, booster clubs, and others with upclose vantage points believe the local environment plays a key role in producing winners. “We’re fortunate to have a community where youth are raised right,” says David Branscom, Brandeis High School Athletic Coordinator and Head Football Coach. “They’ve learned to work hard and not expect everything to be handed to them.”
Branscom developed his coaching philosophy at Mary Hardin-Baylor University in Belton as a member of the football team that played for a national championship. The Fort Worth-area native became the first graduate assistant at Mary Hardin-Baylor to become a full-time coach. His college head coach knew of Brandeis’ stellar reputation and urged him to inquire. Branscom arrived at Brandeis
in 2015 as the football defensive coordinator; he subsequently moved to the head coach’s position and hasn’t slowed down since. His O’Connor athletic coordinator counterpart – David Malesky – grew up in San Antonio and followed in the footsteps of his dad, who served as head coach at Holmes High School and, later, as
Branscom considers himself fortunate to now be a part of the school’s tradition of team successes and its ongoing drive for greater achievement. “We have students with high intelligence who are ambitious and competitive in nature,” he says. “It’s a great atmosphere where everybody’s competing and wanting to excel and be great representatives of Brandeis.” Brandeis High School
He recalls a recent district swim meet “that, for me, was more like a track meet. It seems like our athletes kept running up to the podium about 50 times to collect their awards.” The girl’s soccer team has also been a perennial power, along with the girl’s and boy’s basketball teams. “At Brandeis, we’ve developed an underdog mentality,” he says. “We may not be the biggest, the strongest, or the fastest, but we try to outwork our opponents. We put forth time and effort and blend talent to reach a common purpose.”
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Sandra Day O’Connor High School
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
assistant athletic director of the North Side Independent School District. Now in his 17th year at O’Connor and 9th year as head coach, Malesky played on Judson High School’s first state championship football team and went on to letter in football at Texas A&M University in Kingsville. He points with pride to O’Connor’s best football record in school history, 13-1 this past fall, and to other top O’Connor teams, such as the girl’s volleyball team that advanced to the state tournament. “We have tremendous traditions at O’Connor and lots of high expectations,” Malesky says. “We’re also fortunate to have great students and great teammates on the field and in the classroom. What’s always amazing to me is how the older athletes help the younger athletes, and they all come together to develop strong relationships.” Malesky believes the relationships built through high school athletics will be important to players long after they’ve checked in their equipment. “Years from now, you might not remember which play you ran or the block you threw,” he says, “but you will remember the relationships you formed with other players and coaches. We’re trying to build relationships and instill values that last for decades to come. After all, the youth we’re privileged to coach will go on to lead our country in the future.” Among all the sports played in Texas high schools, football still reigns. Fans have already circled Friday, Oct. 12, the date for this year’s battle for bragging rights between the O’Connor Panthers and the Brandeis Broncos. It’s set for 7:30 p.m. at Farris Stadium on Loop 1604 between Bandera Road and Kyle Seale Parkway. Both Malesky and Branscom can’t wait to welcome the next generation of athletes, such as those from the Greater Helotes Little League, home of the 2016 Junior Softball World Series champions. The young ladies won state titles in 2013, 2014, and 2015 before taking the world title in
Portland, Oregon. “It’s all about helping our youth develop citizenship, discipline, teamwork, and physical well-being through baseball and softball,” says Aly Guerrero, a longtime official with the league. “Our efforts are focused on sportsmanship, camaraderie, making good friends, and becoming a well-rounded person.” Describing herself as a “military brat,” Guerrero moved with her Air Force family to San Antonio in 1978 and played softball all four years of high school at John Jay. She continues to play slow-pitch softball when she’s not working diligently to support Little League players and families by procuring uniforms and equipment, fundraising, or doing whatever else is necessary. “I have a passion for Little League,” she says, “and I’m also passionate about getting a Challenger Division organized for players living with disabilities. I’ve seen what Little League has done for young girls and boys, and I want disabled children to have the opportunity that every other child has.” Those in the Helotes-area who work with young athletes all agree that there’s more to it than wins and losses. They strive mightily to help their players score victories, but, ultimately, they want everyone who dons a uniform to join dream teams in adulthood comprised of solid citizens.
TO LEARN MORE, VISIT: www.nisd.net/brandeis – brandeis High School www.nisd.net/oconnor – o’connor High School www.ghll.org – Greater Helotes Little League
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
Greater Helotes Little League Team Greater Helotes Little League Team
2018 Football Schedules for Brandeis Broncos & O’Connor Panthers BROnCOS Aug. 31 Johnson 7:30 p.m. Farris Stadium Sept. 6 Stevens 7 p.m. Gustafson Stadium Sept. 15 Marshall 7 p.m. Farris Stadium Sept. 22 Clark 7 p.m. Farris Stadium Sept. 28 Brennan 7:30 p.m. Farris Stadium Oct. 12 O’Connor 7:30 p.m. Farris Stadium Oct. 18 Holmes 7 p.m. Farris Stadium Oct. 26 Warren 7:30 p.m. Gustafson Stadium Nov. 3 Jay 7 p.m. Farris Stadium Nov. 10 Taft 7 p.m. Farris Stadium
PAnTHERS Aug. 31 Steele 7:30 p.m. Lenhoff Stadium Sept. 7 Holmes 7:30 p.m. Farris Stadium Sept. 13 Warren 7 p.m. Gustafson Stadium Sept. 21 Jay 7:30 p.m. Farris Stadium Sept. 27 Taft 7 p.m. Gustafson Stadium Oct. 12 Brandeis 7:30 p.m. Farris Stadium Oct. 19 Marshall 7:30 p.m. Farris Stadium Oct. 27 Clark 7 p.m. Farris Stadium Nov. 3 Brennan 7 p.m. Brennan Nov. 9 Stevens 7:30 p.m. Farris Stadium
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stay
The Gallagher HEADquARTERS OF THE OLD GALLAGHER RANCH By Cynthia Leal Massey
One of the most storied properties in the area is the Gallagher Ranch. Nine miles northwest of Helotes off Bandera Highway, Gallagher Headquarters, as it is known today, was established by Irish immigrant Peter Gallagher (1812-1878), who was commissioned by Mexican president Antonio López de Santa Anna to find a suitable spot for a military supply depot within 25 miles of San Antonio. Gallagher found the perfect spot in the valley of the San Geronimo River, a fertile valley with deep canyons and rugged hills. Since Comanche, Apache and Kickapoo Indians roamed the countryside, Gallagher’s first job was to build a fortress home.
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The original section of the ranch house, which still stands, was built in the 1830s by Gallagher and some 250 Mexican laborers. Comprised of four main rooms, one of which was a chapel, the fortress-like building is a story and a half high with an immense loft room above the four groundlevel chambers. Constructed of limestone blocks quarried at the ranch, the massive walls are 2 feet thick. Rifle slits on both the ground floor and in the loft room commanded a 360-degree field of fire. The building had a single door of handhewn timber with a window protected by iron bars and oak shutters. Gallagher’s next task was to build an
aqueduct using limestone blocks quarried from the surrounding hills. The aqueduct was more than a mile long from the river’s edge to fields that had been cleared for cultivation. The stones are bound together with primitive mortar, and it still winds along the left bank of a lake created more than a hundred years after the aqueduct was built. With the defeat of Santa Anna in April 1836 at the Battle of San Jacinto, Gallagher, an Irish citizen who’d never taken Mexican citizenship, pledged his allegiance to the Lone Star State and became a citizen of the Texas Republic. Gallagher was the first to register a brand in Bexar County, the
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
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“Circle G,” and as his livestock herds increased so did his land acquisition in the San Geronimo valley. By the time he’d finished, he’d accumulated 10,000 acres. Over the years, the property served as a fort, post office, stagecoach stop, cattle and dude ranch, and a movie set for westerns, most notably, “All the Pretty Horses,” released in 2000. In 1927, Vachel H. McNutt (18881936) and wife Amy (1889-1983) purchased the property and converted it to a dude ranch, ostensibly the first in Texas. After Vachel’s death, Amy became the force behind the ranch. She added more rooms of Texas limestone
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Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
built in a U-shape around a courtyard. The dude ranch attracted nationally known business tycoons, entertainers, historians, public officials, wealthy socialites and writers until 1973, when it discontinued its dude ranch operations. It continued to operate as a cattle ranch and hunting lease, and then it sat vacant for about 15 years. Christopher Hill, an accomplished San Antonio architect, heard about the interesting, but dilapidated house from friends and decided to take a peek. Although in need of repair, the house was still functional, and Hill saw its rustic appeal. He decided to purchase the property and has spent the past 20 years meticulously renovating the historic hacienda, adding 18th and 19th century Spanish and Mexican art, furnishings and tapestries, intermingled with antique pieces from other European countries. According to Hill, the hacienda sleeps 18, in two suites and nine bedrooms, and can seat 24 for
brunch, lunch, or dinner. Twenty-two fireplaces grace the rooms of the sprawling Gallagher Headquarters, and a dramatic 1,800 square-foot living room is suitable for cocktails, after-dinner cognac, or the celebratory pop of Champagne corks. In addition to his careful restoration of the buildings, Hill, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and to honor his mother, has designated over 700 acres of the now 1,500-acre Ranch property as the Elizabeth Hill Preserve, providing refuge and protection for endangered birds, native plant species and the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone. Today, Gallagher Headquarters is available for large group rentals, such as family reunions, with a minimum stay of two nights required. The venue can also be booked for weddings, business meetings, and corporate day retreats. The hacienda provides 15,000 square feet of comfort and
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
elegance, with arched entryways into spacious porches, expansive lawns, a large swimming pool, and gardens.
To Book Your Event Contact: Gallagher Headquarters 19179 State Highway 16 North Helotes, TX 78023 Phone: (210) 828-6565, Ext. 6 Fax: (210) 828-1688 Email: info@gallagherheadquarters.com Website: www.gallagherheadquarters.com
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Helotes Café & Bakery Now Open in Old Town Helotes
By Celina Perez
nestled among the trees and quaint shops in the old town Helotes Special district, Helotians now have a new place to gather. The Helotes Café & Bakery takes visitors back in time with the warm welcome of your friendliest neighbor and classic meal options reminiscent of home-cooked favorites. Born and raised outside of Chicago, Ken Dempsey relocated to San Antonio in 1971 where he served 30 years as a City of San Antonio firefighter. In 1993, he settled in Helotes and slowly began purchasing property in Old Town, establishing himself as a popular local business owner. He has a knack for being an entrepreneur. Ken is the owner of the Gardens at Old Town Helotes, a lavish event venue that is known for its beautifully landscaped outdoor reception areas and impressive hill country views. Bringing another one of his visions to life, Dempsey recently opened his first restaurant, the Helotes Café & Bakery. The Café is full of charm and furnished with modern farmhouse style tables and decor that create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. “Our goal is superior service with delectable food,” said Ken. His longtime associate, Rhonda Crennen, helps him manage the Café’s kitchen. He describes the menu as “traditional with a twist. For example, the chicken salad recipe includes both grapes and blueberries. The blueberries make it unique to us.” The most popular menu item is the “Helotes Trio,” which is half a sandwich, a cup of soup, and a house salad. “Every sandwich is served with half of our signature deviled eggs. Helotes Fire Chief Scott Moreland likes them so much, he always asks for more.” The menu also offers familiar options, such as pancakes
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rhonda crennen with Ken dempsey at the Helotes café & bakery
and eggs for breakfast. Blackboard lunch specials are quickly becoming a Café favorite. Items are inspired by local businesses, such as “Mander Meatloaf,” affectionately named after Bob Mander, the owner of nearby Mander Automotive. Shoppers in Old Town can stop in for a hearty lunch or simply grab a gourmet cup of coffee and pastry. Ken has partnered with Jennifer Howard, owner of Jersey’s Bakery, and Phillip Santillanes, owner of Texas Grounds Coffee, who, collectively,
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
Phillip Santillanes, owner of texas Grounds coffee
Jennifer Howard, owner of Jersey’s bakery
texas Grounds coffee selection available at Helotes café & bakery
Jersey's bakery has brownies and cream puffs available at the Helotes café & bakery
add the “wow factor” to the Café. Jennifer and Phillip have areas for their businesses set up within the Café, offering visitors even more exclusive culinary options to satisfy their tastes. Jennifer, a New Jersey native, is a former Helotes Elementary teacher. She taught school for 14 years, but has been baking all her life. “I learned from watching my Italian grandma and mom. The recipes stem from them, but have since become my own personal recipes.” A hobby that was once reserved for friends and family has grown into Jersey’s Bakery. She offers an assortment of baked goods, from chocolate chip Oreo brownies to Rice Krispy Treats. Her most popular items are Italian wedding cookies and Italian cream puffs. Jennifer’s sought after cream puffs are also for sale inside the Helotes Rome’s Pizza. For more information about Jersey’s Bakery, call (210) 744-5676 or follow them on Facebook. Philip is a military veteran and former business executive that has a passion for roasting his own coffees. As a small batch roaster, every bean is roasted fresh and to perfection. “I love connecting with new people, and a great way to do that is over coffee. You really get to know someone and learn what they are ‘grounded’ in,” shared Phillip. He packages and sells the Republic, a medium blend; the Outlaw, a decaf blend; and the
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
Come and Take It, a dark blend. All can be purchased at the Café. Texas Grounds Coffee makes a variety of coffee drinks, but the most popular are keto lattes, which are low carb lattes made with your choice of coconut, soy, or almond milk and sugar free syrup. Learn more about Texas Grounds Coffee by calling (210) 722-4274 or visit their website at texasgrounds.com. The Helotes community has a shop local, eat local spirit. “This town is a place where, despite the growth, people want to gather and enjoy the company of their neighbors. Citizens enjoy attending City events, such as the Helotes MarketPlace, and they continue to support local businesses,” explained Ken. The people of Helotes make the town a special place, which aligns perfectly with the vision of the new Café.
Helotes café & bakery is located at 14359 old bandera road. the café is open tuesday through Sunday from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. they are closed on Mondays. breakfast is served all day upon request and lunch starts at 11 a.m. the café offers outside patio dining, where four-legged guests are warmly welcomed, and complimentary Wi-fi is available. for more information, call (210) 370-3123 or follow them on facebook.
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Community Recurring Events Mon. – Fri. | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Casa Helotes Senior Citizens Center Congregate Meals & Activities 12070 Leslie Rd. | casahelotes.com Every Monday | 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Helotes Area Community Band Rehearsal | Location varies helotesareacommunityband.com 1st Monday | 7 p.m. Helotes Festival Association General Meeting | 14690 Bandera Rd. cornyval.org 3rd Monday | 7 p.m. Helotes Ag Booster Club General Meeting | 12132 Leslie Rd. helotes4h.org 1st Tuesday | 7 p.m. Helotes Planning & Zoning Commission Regular Meeting | 12951 Bandera Rd. visithelotes.com 1st Tuesday (Feb., May, Sept. & nov.) Historical Society of Helotes General Meeting | TBA historicalsocietyofhelotes.org 1st Tuesday | 7 p.m. Helotes lions Club General Meeting | 14690 Bandera Rd. lionsclubs.org 4th Tuesday | 7 p.m. Helotes Humane Society Board Meeting | 10672 Shaenfield Rd. hhsanimals.org 1st Wednesday | 7 p.m. Knights of Columbus General Meeting | 13715 Riggs Rd. kofcknights.org 2nd Wednesday | 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. ladies night Out in Old Town Helotes The Bluffs at OTH | 14391 Riggs Rd.
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3rd Thursday | 7 p.m. Helotes Masonic lodge General Meeting | 11740 F.M. 1560 helotesmasonicfamily.org 4th Thursday | 6 p.m. Puppy Hour Community Event | Shop at Old Town wine101tx.com 3rd Friday | 6 p.m. Casa Helotes Senior Center Food Truck Friday | 12070 Leslie Rd. casahelotes.com 3rd Friday (May-Sept) | 6 p.m. Movie night @ the Park Community Event | 12951 Bandera Rd. visithelotes.com 1st Saturday | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. MarketPlace @ Old Town Helotes Arts & Crafts Fair | 14391 Riggs Rd. helotesmarketplace.com 2nd Saturday | 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Family Game night Community Event | 14743 Old Bandera Rd. 3rd Saturday | 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Helotes Art Walk Community Event | 14743 Old Bandera Rd. helotesartwalk.com 1st Sunday | 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Helotes lions Club Bingo | 14690 Bandera Rd. lionsclubs.org
July Events
July 11 | 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. ladies night Out in Old Town Helotes Community Event | 14391 Riggs Rd. July 14 | 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Family Game night Community Event | 14743 Old Bandera Rd. July 20 | 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Movie night @ the Park – Peter Rabbit Community Event | 12951 Bandera Rd. visithelotes.com July 20 | 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Casa Helotes Food Truck Friday Community Event | 12070 Leslie Rd. casahelotes.com July 21 | 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Helotes Art Walk Community Event | 14743 Old Bandera Rd. helotesartwalk.com July 26 | 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Puppy Hour Community Event | Shops at Old Town wine101tx.com
August Events August 4 | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The MarketPlace @ OTH Arts & Crafts Fair | 14391 Riggs Rd. helotesmarketplace.com August 5 | 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Helotes lions Club Bingo | 14690 Bandera Rd. lionsclubs.org August 8 | 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. ladies night Out in Old Town Helotes Community Event | 14391 Riggs Rd.
July 1 | 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Helotes lions Club Bingo | 14690 Bandera Rd. lionsclubs.org
August 11 | 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Family Game night Community Event | 14743 Old Bandera Rd.
July 3 - 5 | City Offices Closed Independence Day Break
August 17 | 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Movie night @ the Park – nut Job 2 Community Event | 12951 Bandera Rd. visithelotes.com
3rd Wednesday | 7 p.m. Helotes Economic Development Corp. Regular Meeting | 12951 Bandera Rd. visithelotes.com
July 4 | 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Independence Day Celebration & Fireworks Special Event 12951 Bandera Rd. visithelotes.com
2nd & 4th Thursday | 7 p.m. Helotes City Council Regular Meeting | 12951 Bandera Rd. visithelotes.com
July 7 | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The MarketPlace @ OTH Arts & Crafts Fair | 14391 Riggs Rd. helotesmarketplace.com
August 17 | 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Casa Helotes Food Truck Friday Community Event | 12070 Leslie Rd. casahelotes.com
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
Events August 18 - 19 | 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Community Emerg. Response Team (CERT) Program hosted by the Helotes Dispatch Center Community Education | 12951 Bandera Rd. visithelotes.com August 18 | 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Helotes Art Walk Community Event | 14743 Old Bandera Rd. helotesartwalk.com August 23 | 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Puppy Hour Community Event | Shops at Old Town wine101tx.com
September Events Sept. 1 | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The MarketPlace @ OTH Arts & Crafts Fair | 14391 Riggs Rd. helotesmarketplace.com Sept. 2 | 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Helotes lions Club Bingo | 14690 Bandera Rd. lionsclubs.org Sept. 3 | City Offices Closed labor Day Sept. 8 | 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Family Game night Community Event | 14743 Old Bandera Rd. Sept. 12 | 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. ladies night Out in Old Town Helotes Community Event | 14391 Riggs Rd. Sept. 15 | 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Helotes Art Walk Community Event | 14743 Old Bandera Rd. helotesartwalk.com Sept. 21 | 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Movie night @ the Park – Coco Community Event | 12951 Bandera Rd. visithelotes.com Sept. 21 | 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Casa Helotes Food Truck Friday Community Event | 12070 Leslie Rd. casahelotes.com Sept. 27 | 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Puppy Hour Community Event | Shops at Old Town wine101tx.com
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
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HELOTES MUNICIPAL COURT
RAISING AWARENESS Helotes Municipal Court Clerk, Andrea Goff (center), and Deputy Court Clerks Yolanda Guttierrez and Moses Gaitan, celebrate Municipal Court Week by providing educational materials to the community.
to Curb Distracted Driving By Beth Graham
In Texas, municipal courts are a big part of the State’s judicial system: there are over 900 municipal courts in the State and 1,260 judges. In fact, 36 percent of the Statewide judiciary is comprised of municipal court judges. In a year, they can issue approximately 2 million warrants and hear more than 7 million cases. In Helotes, the Municipal Court handles around 600 cases a month. All this activity, under the direction of the Honorable Judge Mario Treviño, is managed by Municipal Court Clerk Andrea Goff and two Deputy Court Clerks. For most people, the phrase “municipal court” probably conjures troublesome visions of paying traffic tickets or having to prove that, yes, you did put your car inspection sticker on after that police officer stopped you. In fact, the Helotes Municipal Court “…processes all fine-only, Class C misdemeanor traffic and ordinance violations written by the Helotes Police, Fire, Animal Control, Public Works, Building, and Code Enforcement
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Departments.” This could include anything from a minor in possession to noisy dogs to parking tickets. But, in Helotes, Court officials take seriously the Citywide mission to serve all members of the public; they are moving beyond warrants and citations and into education and prevention with a series of community outreach programs that aim to make the community and its residents safer. The City’s innovative approach has earned Statewide recognition and a positive response from residents. With an increase in impaired driving incidents nationwide, Ms. Goff saw a need to educate the community on the dangers of driving while impaired, whether through substances or by using a cellphone. “You don’t really expect it happen to you,” Andrea says, “so it’s important to show how easily drivers can become distracted or impaired and how devastating the results can be.” With that in mind, in 2015, Helotes Municipal Court officials began a concerted effort to “create better drivers and better pedestrians.”
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
They started visiting schools, the City’s Movie Night at the Park, and the Market Place at Old Town Helotes, coordinating their efforts with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. The Service helped the Court distribute printed materials and make a presentation on the dangers of impaired driving. Children and teens were able to use “drunk and drugged goggles” to simulate how being impaired affects the ability to perform a simple task, such as a bean bag toss. Older attendees were able to try the impaired driving simulator and see, firsthand, the effects of driving while under the influence. Following these first successful events, Court officials continued their outreach during Municipal Court Week in November 2017. In cooperation with Helotes Fire, Police, EMS, and Dispatch, they staged a community safety demonstration featuring mock incidents. An Airlife helicopter made a landing at one of the simulations to garner additional attention and illustrate one part of the emergency response to this kind of situation. One of the elements of Municipal Court Week that made the biggest impact was the installation of a wrecked vehicle in front of Helotes City Hall. During the exhibit, the Court encouraged the community to support the “One Text or Call Could Wreck It All” campaign. They also distributed educational materials and statistics about impaired driving. To sustain their efforts, the Helotes Municipal Court has information handouts available at City Hall and airs traffic safety videos before Court sessions. Monitors displayed around City Hall show statistics reminding the public of the costs of impaired or distracted driving, as well.
comes from knowing that they have made an important contribution to their community. “We are public servants – part of a branch of government – and we have a duty to take an active part in the community and provide accurate and helpful information to make it safer.”
The Helotes Municipal Court has won three State awards for its outreach and education efforts – an honorable mention in 2016 and State Traffic Safety Awards in 2017 and 2018. Andrea stresses that, while it’s gratifying to have your efforts recognized, for her and the two Deputy Clerks true satisfaction
Looking ahead, Andrea plans to implement a series of presentations for area organizations to continue to promote the importance of safe driving. She says, “continuing to be actively involved in our community will allow us to take our message to a wider audience.”
ABOUT HELOTES MUNICIPAL COURT 12951 Bandera Road | Helotes, Texas 78023 | Phone (210) 695.5903 | Fax (210) 695.6520 Open 8 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday | Closed Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday www.helotes-tx.gov, under “City Departments”
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
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Coupons
The City of Helotes Dispatch Center is hosting a Community Response Team (CERT) program August 18-19, 2018. Upon completion, graduates will receive FEMA and CERT certificates. The program educates community volunteers about disaster preparedness and trains them in basic disaster response skills.
The classes are free and open to the public. CERT applications are being accepted now! Visit the City of Helotes website to download the application or contact us at (210) 695-2500 for details.
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
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Advertiser Index Author
Medical Services
Cynthia Leal Massey cynthialealmassey.com
AHNEW Physical Therapy - Ann H. Newstead 210-833-8336 | ahnewphysicaltherapy.com
Birds
Dermatology San Antonio 210-615-7171 | dermsanantonio.com
Wild Birds Unlimited 210-375-3611 | westsanantonio.wbu.com
Dance
Prestige Emergency Room 210-504-4837 | PrestigeER.com
Chrissy’s Dance Academy 210-695-1511
Preschool
Dental Services
Primrose Schools 210-372-1488 | primrosesonomaranch.com
Blume Pediatric Dentistry 210-614-3334 | blumedentistry.com
Real Estate & Realtor Services
Kinard Family Dental 210-695-1200 | kinarddental.com
Dining/Restaurants B-Daddy’s Barbeque 210-275-9995 | bdaddysbbq.com
Electrical Services Hunter Electrical Service 210-701-0192 | hunterelectrical.net
Keller Williams Realty - Kara Gilbert 210-616-1050 | kgilbert@kw.com Re/Max Real Estate - Stevie Seitz 210-382-2923 | justcallstevie.com Texas Property Group 210-616-1050 | 210-287-9801 txpropertygroup.com Doris Young & Co. Realtors 210-695-2861 | dorisyoung.com
Financial Institutions Frost Bank 210-220-6603 | frostbank.com
Services Maid Affordable 210-372-9970 | maidaffordable.com
Garage Doors Helotes Overhead Garage Doors 210-695-8983 | helotesoverheaddoors.com
Pope’s Cleaners 210-695-4343 | popecleaners.com
Guns / Ammo / Gun Accessories
Storage
Gun Shack 210-858-6882 | gunshack.com
Ten Oaks Storage 210-587-6911 | tenoaksstorage.com
Home Builders / Remodeling Haven Design and Construction 210-996-9494 | havendesignandconstruction.com Janus Custom Builders 210-695--9770 | januscustombuilders.com
Insurance Agents State Farm - Carlos H. Miranda 210-695-2880 | sfmiranda.com UnitedHealthcare - Joni Reyna 210-422-5272 | myuhcagent.com/joni.reyna
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Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
Helotes: Gateway to the Texas Hill Country – Summer 2018
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