Commerce to Buena Vista€¦ · Commerce to Buena Vista Tres Nuevas Leyes que Afectan a San Antonio...

Fruta Nativa:Callicarpa Americana

VOL. 2 • NUM 30 28 de Julio de 2019www.LaPrensaTEXAS.com

Commerce to Buena Vista Tres Nuevas Leyes que Afectan a San

Antonio

The Rise of Latino Prospect Hill

Roots of Change Community

Garden Work Daysat the Southwest

Workers Union

Por Councilwoman Ana Sandoval By Dr. Ricardo Romo By R. Eguia Por Rachel Cywinski

Las Ventas de Casas en San

Antonio Siguen Subiendo este

Verano

Por Marcie Hernandez

La Prensa Texas SAN ANTONIO2 28 de Julio de 2019

La Prensa Texas San Antonio is published once a week by La Familia Duran Inc. San Antonio, Texas (210) 686-0600. Subscription price in the U.S.A. $125 per year (52 issues). The opinions expressed in the editorials of this publication represent the positions and ideology of this newspaper; the opinions expressed by writers and guest columnists are not necessarily the opinions of the management staff or ownership of this newspaper; the contents of which they are solely and exclusively responsible for. Letters from our readers are welcome and will be published, subject to space availability so long as they are signed and have a proper return address. All letters will be reviewed and edited for offensive language, libel, slander, defamation, proper grammar, spelling, and accuracy, according to our style. La Prensa Texas San Antonio is not responsible for advertisements that may be deceitful or fraudulent, and does not guarantee in any way the products or services of-fered, of which only the advertiser is responsible. All Rights Reserved. Published and printed in the United States of America.

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The vision is a vibrant Westside com-munity where people want to live, work, and visit.

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This grass roots publication is the life source for a community that is not easily afforded viable access to diverse and ac-cessible media. San Antonio and the sur-rounding counties have become accustomed to relevant news brought to them in both English and Spanish since 1913.

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Let’s Talk About it...Missing Children

La Prensa Texas 210-686-0600

By Yvette TelloEvery morning on Social me-dia it seems there are more and more posts of missing children of all ages. Has it always been this way? Are these children being found? Are they running away? Are they being abducted? Stud-ies show most abductions occur by a family member, abductions by non family member perpetrators are less prevalent. Other rea-sons include run away or thrown away children miss-ing because they were lost, stranded, or injured or miss-ing for benign reasons like a misunderstanding about a child’s schedule. What can we do to change this?Let’s talk about it...

Barbara Ann Mendoza Mead: “There’s more and more trafficking and with social media it’s shared more.”

Nina A. Sanchez: “Call me crazy...but I like to believe they are being abducted to a better place for a better purpose in life...like in the movie Knowing with Nicolas Cage...only one wish & prayer for the best for these children and others that become victims.”

Raul Cervantes: “ I agree wi th Nina

A.Sanchez...lets call her

crazy....missing children...for a variety of reasons end up missing..Social media has made us aware of what’s happening in all areas of life.”

Gilbert Dimas Jr.:“Watch the missing 411 on amazon.”

Mike Miller: “It’s on the rise. Most par-ents don’t even know the United States is most traf-ficked country right now. Most don’t realize the gov-ernment knows about it. Sadly most don’t talk to their kids about it anymore.”

Penelope Perez:

“Raul is right that social media makes us hyper aware of all of the goings on and those platforms are great for calling attention to urgent matters when we need help. How do some cases get an Amber Alert while others do not? What qualifies the statewide alerts? I feel like most domestic missing chil-dren has to do with disgrun-tled fractured families acting outside of family courts, but it’s so sad when you see some of the babies bodies turning up. This reminds me of the disappeared in Mexico and I fear missing children is way more prevalent there, but a major concern for our Texas babies.”

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children 24-hour hotline 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)

San Antonio Police Department Missing Persons / Youth Services: 210.207.7660.

La Prensa Texas SAN ANTONIO 328 de Julio de 2019

By Dr. Ricardo RomoJacinto Guevara moved

to San Antonio in the early 1990s from his hometown of La Puente, California. He is a product of East LA schools and now lives in East SA. He grew up drawing on scrap pieces of paper and with the encouragement of his par-ents, taught himself to draw and paint. He writes: “The best of the early drawings were simple ‘studies’ of the world around me plus many fantasies. There were never considered to be a product of ‘Art’. I didn’t consider mak-ing ‘Art’ until 1974.”

Guevara came of age dur-ing the rise of Chicano art

in California. Much of the new Chicano artistic expres-sion could be found in the murals of East Los Angeles which were painted in the 1970s. He acknowledges that he became “obsessed with the Xicano (Chicano) illustrative motif which in-cluded indigenous design and history, vato loco/street iconography and the great Mexican muralists.”

I lived in Los Angeles in the early 1970s and taught at California State University-Northridge where Guevara enrolled in the early 1970s. I taught Chicano history for the Chicano Studies De-

partment but never had the opportunity to meet Gue-vara. Chicano Studies stu-dents took pride in being politically active and sev-eral worked in publishing El Popo, a campus newspaper that Guevara contributed to on occasion.

In his twenties, Guevara painted but preferred music over art. For over a decade he played the accordion for several Los Angeles bands. In the mid 1970s, he met several East Los Angeles muralists and decided to engage in art full time. East Los Angeles was home to many Chicano artists, most

of whom regrettably were ignored by the galleries and museums. Lacking access to the art markets, Guevara decided to move to San An-tonio where housing was less expensive and opportunities for exhibitions and shows were more ample.

In his Eastside home on Olive Street, Guevara stays busy painting and construct-ing his own wood panels

for his oil paintings. His paintings are in the UTSA collection as well as in the offices of numerous local professionals. Our recent donation of Chicano art to St. Philips’ College includes several of Guevara’s paint-ings. His work can be seen in an exhibit planned for the start of the fall semester in September at St. Philips College.

About the Cover ArtistJacinto Guevara


C O M M E R C E T O The Rise of Latino Prospect Hill

By Dr. Ricardo Romo San Antonio’s social and

cultural history has been enriched over the years by its many Latino neighbor-hoods. Many of them date back to the World War I era of the 1910s. From 1910-1940 most Latinos lived in the Westside, a community that extended from the Mis-souri Pacific Railroad yards to San Fernando Cemetery #2 on Castroville Road. The boundaries on the south ex-tended to Frio City Road and the community spread north to Culebra Road.

This is an essay about the evolution of Prospect Hill, an early ethnic neighbor-hood initially comprised of residents from German and East European background. I lived in Prospect Hill and witnessed first hand much of the Latinization of “Anglo” Prospect Hill.

The Sosa family were pio-neers in the movement of Latinos to Prospect Hill. Ro-berto Sosa married Cristina Jimenez in 1938, the same year that he opened Prospect Hill Cleaners on Commerce Street. At that time he was only 21 years old. The clean-ers were two blocks from my house on Monterey Street and in the 1950s, we often saw Lionel and his brother

Robert Sosa when we stopped to drop off or pick up clothes at the cleaners.

Prospect Hill Cleaners was

at the heart of the commer-cial district of Prospect Hill. The family-owned business was across the street from the original David Crockett El-ementary school and near the fabled Walter’s Drug Store. The cleaners were also only a few doors from a popular feed store and Winn’s variety store.

Lionel Sosa was born in family quarters located be-hind the cleaners. He at-tended Lanier High School and upon graduation from high school he went into the advertising business and eventually opened his own company with offices down-town. His dad remained in the cleaning business, which every year became more competitive. As large clean-ers began offering lower prices and pick-up service, Prospect Hill cleaners closed its doors in the early 1960s

Prospect Hill extended from the Alazan Creek to Hamilton, just west of Zar-zamora. The boundaries of the old Anglo areas of the neighborhood were clearly defined--Durango Street on the south and Travis Street to the North.

When the Centeno Grocery store opened in Prospect Hill in 1948, the Centeno family were following the path of Sosa and several other Latino entrepreneurs. Jose Centeno, a Laredo native, came to San Antonio in 1914 and

worked in a dry goods store. He learned the grocery busi-ness and in 1928 he opened a small store on Rivas Street, part of the northwest section of the Latino Westside. Busi-ness was good, even during the Great Depression years. In the mid-1940s Centeno began looking for property in Prospect Hill.

The Centeno store on Com-merce Street was one of the largest grocery stores in the city with parking for 500 cars. Centeno, with its large meat department, bakery and fresh produce, attracted La-tino customers from through-out the Westside. Their prox-imity to the Alazan-Apache Housing units also made shopping easier for the 1200 families living in the courts.

Centeno eventually opened four other stores, including a giant store on Castroville Road near 24th Street. Jose Centeno trained his two sons, Joe Centeno Jr. and Eloy Centeno to manage the busi-ness. From 1948 to 1970, the Centeno family rose to the top of most successful Latino businesses of San Antonio.

Prospect Hill also had nu-merous Latino-run restau-rants, none more popular than the Paul Marie. The idea for a drive-in restaurant with carhops came to Oscar Ro-driguez Sr. when he landed in California as he returned from World War II. He tasted a crispy dog in California

and concluded that it would be a popular dish in San An-tonio. He was right.

According to Paula Allen of the Express-News, Paul-Marie had been a tavern in the 1930 and 1940s. When Rodriguez opened the new Paul Marie in the late 1940s, he added carhop service and the crispy dog. Soon after his grand opening, Rodri-guez met Zulema, one of his carhops. They married and moved to Saunders Street, one block north of his Du-rango Street restaurant. He lived not far from Pete Cor-tez, founder of the Mi Tierra restaurants.

In its twenty-year exis-tence, Paul Marie was a popular hangout for Lanier High School students as well as for those attending Central Catholic. It is likely that Hope Andrade, former Texas Secretary of State, who also lived on Saunders Street, would have eaten a crispy dog there or would have spent a few leisure mo-ments there as a teen.

For nearly 100 years, Commerce and Buena Vista Streets have been the main thoroughfares of Prospect Hill. From its founding at the turn of the century to 1960s, Prospect Hill had many prominent residents, including state and local politicians and millionaires. Carol Burnet, a Hollywood movie and television star in

the 1950s, grew up on Buena Vista Street and attended Jef-ferson High School.

II. The Romo Family Od-yssey In Prospect Hill In the post-World War II years, Latinos began to move out of the Westside into neighbor-hoods that were ethnically different. When my parents moved to Prospect Hill in 1950, they were following a path opened by my dad’s mother, Maria Saenz Romo. We called our grandmother Abuelita Romo. She was the matron head of the Romo clan. She began the move north across the dividing line of Durango Street in the late 1940s. It was a planned move.

Abuelita Romo arrived in San Antonio in 1916, just in time to prepare for the birth of my father Henry Romo who was born in early 1917. She and her husband Benito Romo came to San Antonio via the cotton fields of Kyle, Texas where they had been employed as farmworkers. After the birth of my dad, my grandparents decided to make their life in San An-tonio and moved to El Paso Street.

In a very good way, my grandmother was clannish. She loved being close to her family and somehow con-vinced everyone she loved to live close by. For this essay, I consulted with some of the 38 Romos who lived within


B U E N A V I S T A

two blocks of one another in Prospect Hill.

After moving to El Paso Street, which is part of the Guadalupe Street district, Abuelita Romo helped re-locate her mother to her neighborhood. By the early 1940s when my parents got married, Abuelita Romo lived across the street from one brother and sister and down the block from her mother and older brother. By the 1950s, all the Romos had moved north to Prospect Hill.

The entrepreneurial spirit in the Romo-Saenz families made possible the move north to Prospect Hill. Abuelita Romo learned her profes-sion-- the art of delivering babies-- from a seasoned midwife. It was indeed an art and few gained the skills needed to be successful in such a delicate health profes-

sion, and one of the oldest professions for women. In my grandmother’s era, few families on the Westside could afford hospital stays because of the medical costs. Doctors seldom delivered babies in the Westside.

In Abuelita Romo’s era, there were dozens of mid-wives living and working in the Westside of San Antonio. I have been told by many who worked with my grand-mother or after her, that she was one of the best in the city. When I was in my twen-ties and I applied for a copy of my birth certificate, I was told by a city officer that my grandmother had delivered thousands of babies in the Westside.

My grandmother worked as a midwife for nearly 50 years. She trained my moth-er’s sister who delivered me. Aunt Julia also deliv-

ered several of my broth-ers. Abuelita delivered all twelve of her youngest son’s children and most of her sib-lings’ children.

When Abuelita Romo bought a home on Saun-ders Street, my dad fol-lowed with the purchase of a home a block away on Mon-terey Street. Abuelita Romo bought a second home on Saunders, where her oldest son Benito Romo moved in the late 1940s. Soon another of her sons, Arnulfo Romo, moved across the street from her, as did her daughter, Yolanda. Three dozen Ro-mos eventually lived within two blocks from my grand-mother’s house and that of

my parents. The Romo family move

north across the dividing line of Durango Street was only five blocks, but to me as a seven-year-old, it ap-peared to be a move of many miles. When we arrived in our new home on Monterey Street there were only a few Latinos on each block. To the west on our street lived the families of former San Antonio city manager Alex Briceno, former San Anto-nio mayor Henry Cisneros, and the famous San Antonio artist Jesse Trevino. They all grew up on Monterey Street.

Ethnically, Prospect Hill changed in the decade of the 1950s. While several of our

Anglo neighbors left for the suburbs, a few Anglo teens who remained on our street became lifelong friends. By the mid-1960s the Latiniza-tion of Prospect Hill was nearly complete. My elemen-tary school, Sacred Heart Catholic School, had some Anglo students, but not many after 1960. All my memories of growing up in the Prospect Hill neighborhood are good. Today Prospect Hill is over 90 percent Latino. I enjoy returning to my old neigh-borhood even though only a few Romo families still live there and many of the old family businesses are gone, replaced by national fast-food franchises.


E V E N T O SPhotos by Ramon Chapa

Bethel Prevention Coalition Drug FreeCommunity Family Festival

Bethel Prevention Coalition in collaboration with La Prensa Texas hosted a Drug Free Community Family Festival at Cottage Creek Aprtments. Thank you to all our friends and agencies who participated in the heat!

Council Check - In : Responsible Growth Presented by the West San Antonio Chamber of Commerce on July 17

Photos and Audio by R. Eguia

District 4 Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia, Dis-trict 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez, District 10 Coun-cilman Clayton Perry and District 6 Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda shared a stage at the Marriot Hotel on the morning of July 17.

The panel was sponsored by Via, Port San Antonio, Pape Dawson Engineers, CPS Energy, San Antonio

River Authority, Prodigal Son Films, the San Anto-nio Housing Authority and the Methodist Healthcare Ministies.

The conversation was moderated by the West San Antonio Chamber of Com-merce President, Kristi Vil-lanueva. The councilpeople discussed transportation, climate action and their pro-cesses for preparing the 2020 budget. The full conversation was recorded and can be heard on our website.


Por José I. Franco En las peticiones de su base de seguidores el equipo San Antonio Fútbol Club (SAFC), que es propiedad de la empresa Spurs Sports & Entertainment (SS&E), ha logrado cumplir, como recientemente lo hizo en el concurrido partido inter-continental contra el visi-tante rival Cardiff City FC (The Blue Birds-Los Pájaros Azules), con sede en el país de Gales, Reino Unido. Donde han militado en los circuitos Premier League, FA Cup. FA Community Shield, y Welsh League. Los Pájaros Azules, en las últimas campañas bajo el mando del renombrado di-rector técnico Neil Warnock, quien también es influyente comentarista de la radio y televisión, ha logrado sobre-salir ubicándose en escaños de prestigio, como lo fue recientemente en la final del balompié inglés donde ob-tuvo el subcampeonato en el la campaña 2017-18. SAFC a petición de su base de seguidores, con su gerente Tim Holt y el entrenador en jefe Darren Powell, nativo de Nottingham, Reino Unido, optaron por “retar” a los Pá-

jaros Azules, contando con efectiva respu-esta del propietario Vincent Tan y Warnock. El partido se realizó en el estadio Toyota Field, sede de SAFC el sábado 13 de julio, con entrada de 7,723 espectadores (cifra con lo que aumenta su afición en partidos internacionales y locales), con mayoría de fanáticos del equipo local, y un selecto grupo de simpati-zantes de los pájaros azules que realizaron viaje especial de diversas ciudades de Es-tados Unidos.Warnock, disfrutó cada mo-mento en las acciones de su equipo que con marcador de 1 a 0 goles se llevó la victoria. Neil, con su natural personalidad, le agradeció a la directiva de SS&E y el entrenador Powell, por la maravillosa invitación, re-cepción y el gran partido que a la vez les sirvió a ambos clubes como preparación.Warnock, de 70 años de edad, nativo de Sheffield, Inglaterra, dijo en exclu-siva para La Prensa Texas, haberse sentido complacido porque ambas aficiones, les dieron excelente recepción. Dándose a la tarea de firmar

autógrafos para su base de seguidores y los fans del SAFC que lo felicitaron por la victoria y su venida a la ciudad de El Álamo. El entrenador Powell, por su lado, agradeció la visita de los pájaros azules, indi-cando que durante el partido se lograron varias experien-cias debutando a novatos y dándole minutos de juego a prospectos, titulares y su-plentes. “De antemano se agrade la venido de Cardiff City FC la afición quedo complacida y eso es lo mejor de todo. Los visitantes es un equipo de gran potencial y les deseamos todo lo mejor en su próxima temporada”, dijo Powell. En las fotos aparecen: Anna Savelson, cantando el Himno Nacional de Estados Unidos. Familias felices. Jes-se Martínez y la conductora Rebecca Pérez, presentán-dole el premio de Supporter of the Match, patrocinado por Twin Peaks. Fans de Car-diff City FC, Neil Warnock, saludando base de fans. Neil, sonriendo a la cámara de La Prensa Texas. Warnock, firmando autógrafo a uno de sus seguidores. (Fotos Franco).

SAFC Incrementa su Afición con Partidos de Gran Nivel

E S P E C I A L E S


Christmas in July for Children with Cancer

By Isa FernándezIsa Fernández, MPA is a Legacy Corridor Business Alliance Program Manager at Westside Development Corporation, a freelance photogra-pher and peace and justice advocate.

“Put the heart where the hurt is,” is the motto of Ma Hila’s Heart, a 501c (3) formed by Gloria Rodriguez in 2010 shortly after her mother Irene “Nana” Bena-videz died of pancreatic can-cer. As one of eight siblings, Gloria fondly remembers her large religious family from El Campo, Texas as being “rich with love, joy and hope.” Rodriguez in-fuses these feelings into the nonprofit with the tagline, “we create planned acts of kindness” to address seven far-reaching causes: the el-derly, women and children, the food insecure, the home-less, wounded warriors, bul-lied kids and the suicidal and children fighting cancer.

The name “Ma Hila’s Heart” was born when Ro-driguez’s mother Irene was close to the end of her life, in continual pain due to her refusal of medication due to her strong religious

beliefs that “offering her pain and suffering” would help “souls in purgatory” (a biblical concept). Rodriguez found that the soothing ritu-als performed at her business Dasa Spa (which provides massage, organic facials and body treatments) were a relatable form of pallia-tive type care that she could provide her mother. In the depth of suffering, before passing, her mother Irene said something that works change daughter Gloria’s life: “Yo quiero mi Corazon de Ma Hila” (Ma Hila’s Heart). Gloria asked her aunt Margaret who immediately teared up when explaining the memory of their grand-mother Hila. Grandma “Ma” Hila would perform a heal-ing ritual when helping her grandkids through the tough scrapes and unexpected falls of childhood. She would cut paper hearts to help distract her grandchildren from the pain and ask the kids to “put it where it hurts” to inspire faith and healing. This pro-found moment lives on in the nonprofit borne of comfort-

ing those in need. A close-up photo of Irene’s hands hold-ing a red paper heart graces the organization website.

The hallmark event of Ma Hila’s Heart is “Christmas in July” a two-day event aimed at bringing festivities and re-laxation to children battling cancer and their families. The event offers children with cancer and their fami-lies a two-day “staycation” at the downtown Riverwalk. The event is sponsored in part by nearly two dozen business sponsors, individual donors and volunteers. This year the Hyatt Regency is sponsoring the hotel rooms for the families and the ball-room where the event will take place. Mariachis and DJ’s will provide music. Popular superheroes Bat-man and the Alliance will make an appearance. Balloon artists will design animal shapes for kids and real animals with Paws for Pets will perform tricks. A magic mirror photo booth will en-tertain, makeovers inspire and massages from Dasa Spa will reinvigorate. And as it is

“Christmas in July”, Santa will make an appearance to give gifts to approximately 28 children. The goal of this yearly event is to fill the gap of services that exists for children with cancer outside of the holiday season and to share a Christmas experience with kids who may not have the opportunity to experience such festivities at a later time due to illness.

Ma Hila’s Heart’s mission is to “inject medicine for the soul into the lives of others that are in need of comfort.”

This weekend’s “Christmas in July,” among all the ser-vices for the neediest in the community offered, surely accomplishes this. It serves as a fond remembrance of both mother Irene and grand-mother Hila, two women who inspired their daughter and great-granddaughter Gloria to care for the those most in need of comfort.

For more information, visit:

Ma Hila’s Heart Project Foundation or call 210-224-4340.

Is soliciting sealed proposal for RFP-219-07-018-SVC

Worker’s Compensation Third Party Administrative (TPA) Services

DUE DATE: August 22, 2019 at 2:00 P.M.

OPEN DATE: N/A

www.universityhealthsystem.com/bidsBid packages will not be mailed to Vendors, RFP number is required to appear somewhere on the

FedEx waybill. No unlawful discrimination will be made against bidders, vendors, or contractors.

www.universityhealthsystem.com/bids


By Leonard RodriguezThis column highlights inspiring stories of Latino leaders. For more than 500 years, Latino men and wom-en have positively influenced the face of United States so-ciety. Let us celebrate these outstanding hispanics.

Ramon Cortines

Born in San Antonio in 1932, Ramon Cortines was reared with an appreciation for higher education. After earn-ing his B.A., he began teach-ing in the California public school system while earn-ing two master’s degrees. In 1972, he was appointed superintendent of a 24,000 student school in Pasadena California. Twelve years later, he was asked to restore solvency to a 30,000 student school district in San Jose California. A proven master of school financing, he cap-tured national attention for being first to lead a school district out of bankruptcy since the Depression while raising test scores and reduc-ing drop out rates. For his success, Cortines was asked to step in as school chancel-lor of the nation’s largest school system in New York

City.

By Councilwoman Ana Sandoval, District 7

Durante la 86ta sesión de la legislatura estatal, la Ciudad de San Antonio supervisó más de 1,600 proyectos de ley que podrían afectar a los residentes de San Antonio y el presupuesto de la ciudad. También promovió leyes que beneficiarían a la Ciudad y a los residentes.

Primera Ley: Límite de Ingresos de Impuestos a la Propiedad

Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) limita la cantidad de nuevos in-gresos por impuestos a la propiedad que la ciudad puede recaudar cada año a 3.5% por encima del el año anterior. Por ejemplo, si la ciudad recauda $100 en impuestos a la propiedad en el 2020, no podrá recaudar mas de $103.50 en el 2021, al menos que los votantes de la ciudad lo aprueben en una votación.

Los legisladores presen-

taron SB 2 como un proyecto de ley para aliviar la carga de los impuestos a la propiedad. Según el análisis realizado por la ciudad, la nueva ley les ahorrará un dólar cada mes a cada residente. Tam-bién proviene más certeza sobre cuanto cambiarán los impuestos cada año.

Esta ley no aplica en cu-anto a los impuestos esco-lares, del condado, o de los hospitales. Esos impuestos no serán limitados al 3.5% de aumento por esta ley.

Es posible que esta nueva ley afecte la calificación crediticia de la ciudad. Si eso sucede, la ciudad tendrá que pagar intereses más altos cuando tenga que prestar fondos para proyectos y paquetes de bonos – signifi-cando que más de nuestros impuestos se irían hacia los pagos de interés en vez de los proyectos. En ese caso, un paquete de bonos de $850 millones no sería capaz de

pagar por tantas reparaciones de calles, mejoramientos de parques, ni los mejoramien-tos de seguridad pública, como lo hacían antes.

Segunda Ley: Reforma de Finanzas Escolares

House Bill 3 (HB 3) incre-menta la cantidad de fondos que el estado contribuye al el sistema de educación publica, de 38% a 45% - significando que habrá más fondos por cada estudiante, aumento salarial de los mae-stros, y reducciones a los impuestos a la propiedad de los distritos escolares.

Esperamos que HB 3 sea más que un proyecto de ley sobre educación, y espe-ramos que HB 3 dé alivio considerable a los impues-tos a la propiedad para los residentes. Los legisladores estiman que el dueño de una casa con valor de $250,000 puede esperar pagar aproxi-madamente $200 menos en el 2020 y $325 menos en el 2021.

House Bill 3 fue parte de la agenda legislativa del Consejo Municipal, lo que significa que el personal de la Ciudad fue dirigido a promover la ley de parte de la Ciudad. Además de enviar activistas a la Legislatura de Texas, la Ciudad juntó a todos los superintendentes de los distritos escolares del área de San Antonio para urgirlos a comprometerse a un alivio de impuestos si acaso se aprobaba el HB 3. Y lo hicieron.

Adicionalmente, les agra-dezco a los dos represent-

antes de San Antonio que fueron líderes para pasar HB 3, especialmente el Repre-sentante Diego Bernal.

Tercera Ley: Multa para Compañías de Telecomuni-caciones

Senate Bill 1152 (SB 1152) rebaja las multas locales para compañías de internet y cable, por lo que San An-tonio perderá $1.7 millones en nuestro presupuesto. Las compañías de telecomu-nicaciones alegaron que los impuestos de internet y servicios telefónicos eran redundantes. Argumentaron que si ellos implementan un solo cable que provee ambos servicios, entonces ellos de-berían de pagar la renta para un cable solamente.

Varias ciudades, incluyen-do San Antonio, se opusieron diciendo que los impuestos no eran para el uso de la propiedad de la Ciudad, sino eran para cada uno de los servicios prestados. Desafor-tunadamente, las ciudades perdieron el argumento y tendremos que planear to-mando en cuenta el corte en el presupuesto.

El Consejo Municipal pasará los próximos me-ses repasando solicitudes de presupuesto para cada departamento de la Ciudad antes de votar para el pre-supuesto oficial del 2020 en septiembre. Mis colegas y yo estamos listos para crear un presupuesto balanceado con estas nuevas leyes imple-mentadas – un presupuesto que refleje las prioridades de nuestros residentes.

Tres Nuevas Leyes que Afectan a San Antonio


C O M M E R C E T O B U E N A V I S T AAffordable Housing Nonprofit Completes

$1.5 Million Renovationto Preserve 92-unit housing complex on the Westside

By Cyndi Martinez San Antonio Alternative Housing (SAAHC) origi-nally built the Lago Vista Apartments at 4243 West Commerce in 1999 under the section 42 low- income hous-ing tax credit program. Lago Vista has a total of 92 units with 74 of the units set aside at affordable rents for house-holds at or below 60% Area Median Income. The remain-ing 18 units are leased mostly to households at or below 80% Area Median Income. The property consists of twenty-four (24) one bedroom, forty-two (42) two bedroom and twenty-six (26) three bedroom apartments.

According to SAAHC Execu-tive Director Keith Newcomb, “In addition to developing new affordable properties our mission also places empha-sis on preserving affordable housing long term such as the Lago Vista Apartments. Therefore, we obtained long term financing and invested $1.5MM of our funds to en-sure long term availability of affordable housing units to low-income households. Exterior upgrades include new siding, complete replacement of all wooden columns with steel columns, a new com-posite roof. Interior work includes new appliances, new

air conditioning units, floor-ing and remodeling the main office. Located on West Commerce across from Our Lady of the Lake University and adjacent to Apache Creek Linear Park. The Park was developed in cooperation with SAAHC, City of San Antonio and San Antonio River Authority. Lago Visa is convenient to shopping and employment centers. A Via stop is located in front of the property and such amenities are important to low-income residents for employment opportunity and self-sufficiency.

City Of San Antonio Buena Vista Corridor Project June 2019 – March 2020

By R.Eguia The City of San Antonio

(COSA) Buena Vista Corridor project is currently underway and is expected to go through March 2020. Work, designed to improve pedestrian connectivity on Buena Vista Street between Frio Street and Santa Rosa Street, includes new sidewalks, lighting enhancements and the installation of a HAWK signal at Buena Vista Street and S. Leona Street.

As part of the project, COSA will permanently close the Bue-na Vista Street entrance to the Cattleman’s Square parking lot on Monday, July 1, 2019. The W. Commerce Street and I-10

frontage road entrances are now open and can be used to access the parking lot. For additional information, reference the at-tached map or contact COSA’s project officer, Joey Doctor, Capital Projects Officer for TCI – City of San Antonio at 210.207.8415 or by email at [email protected] .

More information about Transportation & Capital Im-provements (TCI) can be found at www.sanantonio.gov/tci. General inquires can be sent to to PO Box 839966San Antonio, Texas 78283-3966, to reach them directly call 210-207-8022.

Cattleman's Square Lot


By Steve WalkerHere are some interesting

statistics pertaining to the 7.1 acres that face W. Com-merce, and Buena Vista, and Alazan Street and Las Moras Street on the opposite sides. The current Total Popula-tion within a mile is 25,688, within 3 miles, 179,506 and 5 miles, 443,196.

Employees number 19,731 within a mile, 125,662 within 3 miles and 193,508 within 5 miles. The numbers for total businesses within 1 mile is 1,240, 3 miles 8,188 and 5 miles 14.430. Notice how the numbers increase drasti-cally as you move away from West Commerce and Buena Vista?

Look at average household income is $33,339 within a mile, within 3 miles 51,475, and within 5 miles $51,934. Is there is a pattern here?

Total Consumer Spending in the area is $116.9M within a mile, $1.2B within 3 miles and $2.9B within 5 miles.

These statistics are amaz-ing for sure. Moving onto the median Age of people living within the one-mile area is 34.1 while in the three-mile radius it is 35.1 and within the five-mile ra-dius 33.7.Finally, the Percent College Degree or above within 1 mile is 2%, within 3 miles 9% and 5 miles 8 %. Location does make a differ-ence.!!!

Compare the West Com-merce and Buena Vista Corridor with say Balcones Heights which is approxi-mately 7.1 in the area as well, shows a contrast. Most know Balcones Heights as the home of Crossroads Mall. As of the census of 2000, there were 3,016 people, 1,437 households, and 708 families residing in the city.

The racial makeup of the city was 69.66% white, 5.37% African American, 1.56% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 17.41% from other, and 4.84% from two or more races. Hispanics made up the difference. I lived there for nineteen years till 2008 when I became the Justice of the Peace for four years. I also served as a Councilman for 8 years as well with 3 Hispanics.

In the city, the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 14.5% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from

25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,452, and the median income for a family was $27,074. Males had a median income of $21,209 versus $18,944 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,529. About 18.1% of families and 21.1% of the population were below the poverty level, including 23.6% of those under age 18

and 15.2% of those were 65 or over.

Lyndon B. Johnson Ele-mentary, 6515 Commerce St. is part of the corridor. Some of their statistics include: Proficient Reading 44% state average: 44% Math 44% State average: 47%, Writing: 35%, State average: 32.

The City of San Antonio (COSA) Buena Vista Cor-ridor project is currently underway and is expected to continue through March 2020. Work, designed to improve pedestrian connec-tivity on Buena Vista Street between Frio Street and

Santa Rosa Street, includes new sidewalks, lighting en-hancements and the instal-lation of a HAWK signal at Buena Vista Street and S. Leona Street.

As part of the project, the Buena Vista Street entrance to the Cattleman’s Square parking earlier this month has been closed. The W. Commerce Street and I-10 frontage road entrances are now open and can be used to access the parking lot. Get ready for the change, it may be slow but it is coming.

Courtesy of the Collection of Tim Palomera

C O M M E R C E T O B U E N A V I S T AJust a Thought

West Commerce & Buena Vista Corridor

Steve Walker is a Vietnam Veteran, former Justice of the Peace and Journalist

Ricardo, do not use this one—card doesn’t give many clues to the buildings.East Commerce looking WestThis is view, circa 19OO, of East Commerce looking west showing the Joskes’ Bros. Store on the right with numerous model “T” cars starting to congest Commerce Street on both sides of the street: electric streetcars tracks are seen running down the center of Commerce Street. The small three story building is seen on the left had a painted sign identifying it as the Angelus Hotel. The other buildings are typical of the late 1800’s -1900’s.

TPIII 8

Ricardo, do not use this one—card doesn’t give many clues to the buildings.East Commerce looking WestThis is view, circa 19OO, of East Commerce looking west showing the Joskes’ Bros. Store on the right with numerous model “T” cars starting to congest Commerce Street on both sides of the street: electric streetcars tracks are seen running down the center of Commerce Street. The small three story building is seen on the left had a painted sign identifying it as the Angelus Hotel. The other buildings are typical of the late 1800’s -1900’s.

TPIII 8


FINANCIAL FOCUSWelcoming a New

Child? Consider These Financial Moves

By Edward JonesEdward Jones is a licensed insurance producer in all s tates and Washington, D.C., through Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. and in California, New Mexico and Massachusetts through Edward Jones Insurance Agency of California, L.L.C.; Edward Jones Insurance Agency of New Mexico, L.L.C.; and Edward Jones Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, L.L.C.

If a new child has entered your life, you are no doubt full of joy today and hopes for the future. And you can help make that future a brighter one for your child and your family by taking some important steps in these areas:

• College – Given the consistently rising costs of higher education, the earlier you start your savings and investment plans, the better off you will likely be. While it may be difficult to set aside money for education when you’re still a young family, planning to cram at the last minute is not a good idea. Time is one of your biggest assets, and delaying even a few years can have a big effect on your portfolio’s value.

In addition, just l ike regular attendance is crucial for success in school, setting aside money every month can help make a difference

in reaching your family’s education savings goals. Developing a strategy for achieving your education savings goal can help you stay on track. And if you have other goals, such as saving for retirement, it’s important to address how they fit into your overall financial strategy.

• Insurance – If you did not have life insurance before, you may want to consider it now. Ask yourself: If something happened to me, would my child be able to stay in the same house? Receive an education? Enjoy a comfortable lifestyle? Even if you have an actively involved co-parent with a steady income, it still might not be enough to take care of your child in the way you would have wanted. Consequently, you may need life insurance – and you might need other types of protection, too, such as disability insurance.

• Estate plans – With luck, you will live to see your children as adults who have found their way in the world. Still, it’s best to be prepared for anything – which means you should draw up your estate plans well before they are likely to be needed. Among other things, you may want to name someone to serve as your child’s guardian if you – and your co-parent, if one is involved

– are not around. And because a minor generally cannot inherit money or property, you may also want to appoint a conservator to act as a guardian over whatever financial assets your child might inherit until the child is of age, which will be 18 or 21, depending on where you live. Your legal professional can help you determine whether you should write a will and possibly create other estate planning documents, such as a living trust.

E v e n w h e n y o u devote the time and money necessary to your new child, you can’t forget about yourself and your own needs – in particular, you must save and invest for retirement. Contribute as much as you can afford to the retirement accounts available to you, such as your 401(k) and IRA. After all, the more you put away, the less likely the need for your child to help support you later in life.

You’ll have much to think about when you welcome a new child to your family – but by taking the time to make the appropriate financial moves, you can help make the transition a positive one.

For more information contact Ernest J. Martinez 210-354-4915 or [email protected]

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www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC

Ernest J Martinez Financial Advisor

1344 S Flores St Suite 205 San Antonio, TX 78205 210-354-4915


THIS DAY IN LA PRENSA HISTORY

By Jessica DuranGrowing up in San An-

tonio from the age of 5, all I’ve known is the greatest era in Spurs franchise his-tory and one of, if not the greatest trios of all time in NBA history – Tim, Tony, Manu, led by Coach Pop. Those three and Pop could be known as the Four Horseman.

While all three players have made an impact on the city of San Antonio

Gracias Manu


A U G U S T 9 , 2 0 1 9 @ 1 1 A MT H E W E S T I N R I V E R W A L K

State of Water

REGISTER ONLINEWestSAChamber.org/Events

Robert Puente

President & CEO

Roland Ruiz

General Manager

Suzanne Scott

General Manager

Featuring

Sponsored by:

W a t e r i s o u r m o s t p r e c i o u s r e s o u r c e . T h e W e s t S a n A n t o n i o C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e h o s t s l e a d e r s o f t h r e e

m a j o r o r g a n i z a t i o n s , a l l c o m i n g t o g e t h e r t o s h a r e c h a l l e n g e s &s o l u t i o n s t o p r o t e c t i n g t h e f u t u r e o f o u r v i t a l a s s e t .


Por Sendero DeportivoRed Sox (campeón tem-

porada 2019), continua im-parable en Veteranos Ve-rano 2019 Potranco Baseball League. Su timonel Pedro Espinoza, mostrando gran entusiasmo comparte su éxito con su coach René Juárez, y jugadores.

Red Sox se impusó 17 a 2 carreras contra Potosi-nos que dirige Catarino Ob-regón, anotándose la victoria el lanzador abridor Hilario Álvarez. Por otro lado el campeón (del playoff 2019), Broncos de Reynosa SA de Roberto Garza, su coach y jugador Rick Felán, dieron cuenta de Cardenales 11-2 y triunfo del serpentinero Gilbert Salazar quien en el sexto capítulo fue relevado por Felán. El boricua Israel González, ayudó al triunfo de Broncos, pegando jonrón (con dos compañeros en bases) al relevista rival Víc-tor Vázquez, quien entró al rescate del abridor Miguel Leija.

Sultanes tras no completar su alineación, por reglamen-to perdió ante San Luis. Lo cual dejó molesto al timonel Gabriel “La Puntada” Ruiz Sr.

“Lo que pasó fue que juga-dores tuvieron que cumplir compromisos inesperados.

Sin embargo seguiremos ad-elante a pesar de que a última hora algunos elementos de-cidieron vestirse con otro uniforme. Sultanes, retomara su vuelo como siempre lo ha hecho”, dijo Ruiz Sr., quien cuenta con el respaldo de su hijo Gabriel Jr., y del experto receptor “Pimpollo” Toño García, con quienes aparece en la foto en la que García, tiene puesta una de las casa-cas que Sultanes vestirá por el resto de la campaña.

Rol de juegos: Campo 1 Potranco Baseball Field. 11 a.m. Red Sox vs. San Luis. 2:30 p.m. Broncos vs. Cachorros de Nava. Campo 2. 12 p.m. Cachorros vs. Sultanes. Descansa el club San Luis.

Resultados fin del rol regu-lar en la temporada domini-cal Abierta (onceava fecha). Indios 13-1 ante Cardenales. Jason Guerra fue el lanzador ganador y la derrota se la repartieron Nacho García y Alberto (Beto) Espino, quien lanzó dominando a los bateadores de potencia ofen-siva. Calavera predominó ante Highsox con pizarra de 7-6, con victoria para Al-fredo Obregón. Broncos con marcador de 5 a 3 carreras y picheo de Omar Solís, dob-lego al subcampeón Mineros de Jesús Ramírez Sr. Cabe

anotar que el capitán de Mineros, Marco García y el timonel Ramírez Sr., contestaron a opinión de Iván Rubinsky, coach y jugador del campeón Pira-tas, quien había dicho que Mineros continuaría siendo “cliente” de los bucaneros. Ramírez y García, coinci-dieron en sus opiniones, in-dicando que “por mientras” Mineros ya nada podrá hacer por desquitarse de las der-rotas ante Piratas que fueron en la final del pasado playoff y en su único partido del rol regular en la temporada Abierta 2019, la cual finalizó sin pena ni gloria para la no-vena minera. “La siguiente temporada va a ser diferente. Iremos con todo como es nuestro plan de juego”, dijo García, que es cuarto bate en la alineación y cubre el campo corto y la antesala. Águilas de Luis Cerros, dejó en el terreno a Rieleros con pizarra de 9-8.

En el clásico Leones dirigi-dos por los hermanos Tony y Joaquín Ramírez, derrotaron a Piratas 6-2, victoria que dedicaron en memoria a su señor padre Jesús Ramírez. Los seguidores de Piratas, aplaudieron la actuación de los hermanos Iván (lanza-dor) y Jonathan Vaquera (re-ceptor), lo cual es raro ver en

el béisbol regional indepen-diente. “Cerramos con éxito la temporada, ante duros rivales, pero siempre dedi-cando cada partido a nuestro padre. Agradecemos el res-paldo de nuestros jugadores, familiares y seguidores. Es-peramos buenos resultados en los playoffs”, dijo Tony Ramírez. “Hasta el cierre de temporada, defendimos el campeonato. Hubiera querido ganar el partido ante Leones, y además finalizar de líder en la temporada, pero no se logró, sin em-bargo concluimos en primer lugar de la Zona Norte, que nos dará buena posición en la postemporada (contra Águilas)”, apuntó Sergio De Luna, manager de Piratas club al que ha guiado a la conquista de cinco bander-ines.

Rol de juegos postempo-rada Abierta de acuerdo al presidente Simón Sánchez, la serie será a ganar dos de tres partidos, el domingo 28 de julio en el campo 1, en el horario de las 11 a.m. se medirán los equipos de la Zona Norte, Highsox vs. Broncos. 2:30 p.m. Pira-tas actual campeón contra Águilas de nuevo ingreso. Zona Sur campo 2, 11:00 a.m. Leones vs. Bobcats. 2:30 p.m. Indios de Nava vs. Calaveras. En las fotos aparecen, Gabriel Ruiz Jr. Toño “Pimpollo” García, Gabriel Ruiz Sr. Acción en-tre los equipos Calaveras vs. Highsox. Brayan Guerrero, capitán de Piratas, bateando controvertida decisión del ampáyer en jefe ante Leones. (Fotos Franco).

Red Sox imparable en VeteranosIndios de Nava y Piratas de Sabinas rivales a vencer en playoffs Abierta


Por BylineLas ventas de casas en ju-

nio se estabilizaron después de un gran comienzo el mes pasado, con junio re-portando 3,306 casas ven-didas, una disminución del uno por ciento en según el Reporte de Servicio de Lis-tados Múltiples (MLS) de la Junta de REALTORS® de San Antonio (SABOR) que informa sobre Todas las áreas contenidas dentro de la MLS. Sin embargo, tanto el precio de venta promedio como el mediante experi-mentaron incrementos in-teranuales, con un aumento promedio del seis por ciento a $284,852 y un aumento de la mediana del cuatro por ciento a $241,000. La can-tidad de días que un hogar pasó en el mercado aumento dos días en comparación con el año pasado, con junio del 2019 que reporto 53 días en el mercado, mientras que los meses de inventario continuaron bajos con solo 3.8 meses disponibles.

“Cuando el inventario está por debajo de seis a ocho meses, se considera un mercado de vendedores. Pero los posibles compra-dores no deben dejar que eso les impida mirar,” dijo Grant López, Presidente de la Junta Directiva de SA-BOR del 2019. “En el área de San Antonio, las casas salen al mercado todos los días, a precios diferentes. Solo junio tuvo 10,407 lis-

tados activos, más de 4,000 de los cuales fueron listados nuevos. Sigue siendo mucho para elegir para cualquier persona interesada en com-prar “

De hecho, junio tuvo más de 700 listados más acti-vos en comparación al año pasado, ya que cada vez más vendedores ponen sus casas en el mercado este verano. De las casas vendidas el mes pasado, la mayoría tenía un precio entre $200,000 y $500,000 (62.5 por ciento). Otro 30 por ciento tenía un precio inferior a $200,000, y el 7.5 por ciento restante de las casas vendidas tenía un precio de más de $500,000.

Mientras tanto, el condado de Bexar continuó dem-ostrando su asequibilidad en comparación con otras ciudades del estado. Por ejemplo, el precio de venta promedio de una casa en el condado de Bexar fue de $229,000. En comparación, la mediana en el Condado de Travis fue de $400,000, mientras que en el Condado de Harris fue de $242,000 y en el Condado de Dallas fue de $269,990.

En Texas, se vendieron un total de 31,736 casas en junio, 4.5 por ciento menos que en el mismo mes del año pasado. El precio promedio de venta para el estado subió 3.3 por ciento a $311,524 y la mediana aumentó 2.1 por ciento a $250,000.

Las Ventas de Casas en San Antonio Siguen Subiendo este Verano

Reportes de la Junta de REALTORS® de San Antonio sobre la actividad más reciente del Mercado

Reporte del Servicio de Listado Múltiple de SABOR Resumen de Ventas


By R. Eguia The Southwest Workers

Union offers several pro-grams to get involved with the community. At 1416 East Commerce street you will find a Gallery and Garder maintained by the organiza-tion. Every Wedesnday from 5 pm to 8pm, community members are invited to work in the garden and learn about their local ecology.

In 2006, Southwest Work-ers Union began an Eastside sustainability initiative in response to the struggle to defeat further development of fuel storage tanks. An integral part of the local movement for climate justice in San Antonio has been the development of home-grown solutions that are culturally-appropriate and led by those who are most affected by the local causes of climate change. While the potential for a vibrant green economy in San Antonio is growing, the grassroots communities have little to no access to low cost methods for sustainabil-ity and “green” technology. SWU has won significant campaigns to increase con-servation programs, passed a sustainability plan and shifted policy to support lo-cal food system.

To date, the SWU com-plex has acquired over an acre of unused, brownfield land. In 2006, they began

the process of transforma-tion into a functioning com-munity garden, the first food producing community space in the city. The name Roots of Change developed from the realization that the long term transformation of our neighborhood will come from within the community. The aim to build upon this success by further develop-ing the SWU complex as the first grassroots-level sustain-ability center in San Antonio.

The Roots of Change Co-op gives you access to annual seeds, plants, and consulta-tion on your own garden project. Membership access is $30 a year.

There is also the option to join the Co-op member-ship at a reduced rate by volunteering some time in the garden. Send us a email to schedule any garden work time to ensure the discount on the membership.

Roots of Change, a project of Southwest Workers Union, works to address environmental racism issues directly through the development of urban food growth. More

than a garden we believe in food sovereignty - the right to choose cultural appropriate food grown through

sustainable, traditional methods. Our aim is to building a strong community armed with skills and knowledge to

create a food system that puts people first.

Intergenerational, multi-cultural sharing is critical to localized food systems. A key element of building

a strong community is sharing best practices, seeds, traditional and medicinal knowledge, and skills. These are

all needed for the continued benefit of our families and sustainable food systems.

1416 E. Commerce StSan Antonio, TX 78205

Call 210-299-2666www.rootsofchangecoop.org

NON- PROFIT HIGHLIGHTRoots of Change Community Garden Work Days

at the Southwest Workers Union


DoCC meetings 2nd Tuesday each month6:00pm at CCDP Headquarters. Website: democratsofcomal.org

Comal County Democratic Party (CCDP) Headquarters :

1592 W. San Antonio St, New Braunfels,TX

Phone (830) 620-5739 Website: comalcountydp.org Contact County Chairman,

Bob Rogers

We welcome visitors at the CCDP Hqs and at all DoCC and DWCC meetings!

DWCC – Democratic Women of Comal CountyWebsite: democraticwomenofcomalcounty.com

DWCC Monthly Meetings:

Canyon Lake 2nd Friday each month,10:30am at Tye Preston Me-

morial Library in Canyon Lake.

New Braunfels 3rd Monday each month, 6:30pm at New Braunfels

Public Library

Spring Branch/Bulverde - 4th Friday 6:00pm at River Crossing Clubhouse, 500 River Way, Spring Branch.

(No meeting June 2019)

Is soliciting sealed proposal for RFP-219-07-019-SVC

Worker’s Compensation Medical Cost Containment Services

DUE DATE: August 22, 2019 at 2:00 P.M.

OPEN DATE: N/A

www.universityhealthsystem.com/bidsBid packages will not be mailed to Vendors, RFP number is required to appear somewhere on the

FedEx waybill. No unlawful discrimination will be made against bidders, vendors, or contractors.

www.universityhealthsystem.com/bids

Pharmacy Technician Dental Assistant

Find Out More - Call Today! 210-407-0162 https://www.neisd.net/Page/876

BEGIN YOUR NEW HEALTHCARE CAREER TODAY!

Classes begin September, 2019


Por Rachel CywinskiMiembro vitalicio de la Sociedad de plantas nativas de TexasTraducido del inglés al español por LPT

Cientos de publicaciones en-tusiastas en línea de propi-etarios de viviendas atestiguan la belleza y la durabilidad de Callicarpa Americana (símbolo USDA CAAM2), haciendo que su nombre común “American Beautyberry” sea apropiado. El nombre del género “callicarpa” es dos palabras griegas, callos (“belleza”) y carpos (“fruta”), combinados.

La cosecha estadounidense de Beautyberry después de las abundantes lluvias de este año se está preparando para ser abundante. La cosecha del año pasado fue mi desayuno diario durante tres meses. El continuo aumento de las frutas no madu-radas en las plantas este año pa-rece prometedor para una larga cosecha para los seres humanos y la vida silvestre.

La primavera de color rosa pálido y ahora las floraciones de verano serán seguidas por grupos de bayas, generalmente magenta pero a veces blancas. Cualquier fruta que no se coma cuando madura por primera vez se quedará en las ramas después de la caída de la hoja de otoño, haciéndola visible para los pája-ros que buscan fruta en un clima más fresco; y también deleitando los sentidos de los humanos.

El sabor de Beautyberries se debate en los blogs en línea, ya que los jardineros no están de acuerdo sobre si saben mejor si crecen a la sombra o al sol. Como con todas las frutas, el sabor y el valor nutricional variarán depen-diendo de la disponibilidad de nutrientes que la planta necesita en el suelo. La mermelada y el vino Beautyberry son algunas formas tradicionales de preser-var una buena cosecha. Hoy, los bloggers comparten recetas de panqueques Beautyberry.

Beautyberry es una planta de sotobosque que crece bajo plantas más altas, como los ár-boles. En la naturaleza, cumple ese papel tan importante de so-tobosque, las plantas que están protegidas por árboles y, a su vez, protegen a las comunidades de plantas más pequeñas que crecen debajo. El sotobosque es vital para la existencia de po-linizadores y la salud de la vida silvestre y los microorganismos que participan en el proceso de

descomposición, que transforma las hojas y otras materias orgáni-cas en alimentos disponibles en el suelo para que las plantas se nutran.

La escasez de sotobosque en nuestros paisajes modernos y áreas recreativas mata la vida silvestre y los microorganismos más pequeños y, en última instancia, perjudica la salud humana. Un césped de solo grandes árboles y pasto ofrece poco para los polinizadores. La falta de plantas debajo de los ár-boles expone a los árboles a más calor y heridas potencialmente fatales por el equipo de césped.

A veces los propietarios de-ciden llenar el vacío, pero lo hacen con especies invasoras. En secciones enteras de San Antonio, la Nandina domestica invasiva está presente en lugares donde las aves nativas están buscando Callicarpa americana y otras frutas nativas; y así las aves son atraídas a la muerte por envenenamiento por cianuro porque comen Nandina cuando no pueden encontrar sus fuentes de alimentos naturales. Más de 40 especies de aves comen arán-danos, incluidos los pinzones, los sinsontes, los petirrojos, los cardenales y los salteadores.

Plantar un sotobosque nativo como Beautyberry es una forma patriótica de mostrar aprecio por nuestras tierras y plantas nativas. Callicarpa americana es originaria de todos los estados de la costa del Golfo y su rango se extiende un poco más al noreste

a lo largo de la costa este.Las tribus nativas americanas

utilizaron Beautyberry de mu-chas maneras, utilizando cada parte de la planta. Las tribus que hicieron medicina de Beautyber-ry incluyen Alabama, Choctaw, Creek, Koasati y Seminole, según la Asociación Nacional de Jardinería. Los tratamientos para el reumatismo, la malaria y la fiebre se hicieron hirviendo raíces y hojas y bebiendo el té. El cólico y la enfermedad se trataron con té hecho de bayas y raíces en ebullición. Los prob-lemas estomacales, la disentería y los mareos se trataron con té hecho de raíces. La corteza se usaba para aliviar la picazón.

La creencia de que las hojas de Beautyberry repelían a los mosquitos, garrapatas, moscas y otros insectos que picaban, lo que llevó a los granjeros de hace un siglo a aplastar las hojas y colocarlas debajo de los arneses de sus caballos y mulas, y frotar las hojas sobre su propia piel. Los bloggers comparten información sobre sus perros que yacen bajo Beautyberry, que creen que es para protegerse de los mosquitos.

Para explorar esta tradición, el Servicio de Investigación Agrícola probó las hojas de Cal-licarpa americana y encontró dos compuestos que repelen a los in-sectos que pican: el callicarpenal y el intermedeol. Otro hallazgo de investigación en las hojas de Beautyberry fue terpenoides, que repelen a las hormigas de

fuego.Estos hallazgos revelan

cómo, al extirpar nuestras plantas nativas, realmente nos

hemos estado matando, a veces literalmente. ¡Piense cuántos menos problemas de salud po-drían haber experimentado los humanos, y cuántas toneladas de pesticidas no se habrían usado, si los humanos simplemente no hubieran eliminado American Beautyberry de lugares donde crece naturalmente!

¡Buenas noticias! Muy re-cientemente, el comercio de plantas comerciales ha respon-dido a la demanda de los con-sumidores para que Callicarpa americana esté disponible en la mayoría de los lugares que venden plantas en el área de San Antonio. A menudo, los centros de jardinería de propiedad local son más capaces de responder a las preguntas de los clientes que aseguran que las plantas se culti-varon sin el uso de pesticidas sis-témicos y, por lo tanto, brindan a los jardineros la seguridad de que no llevarán la planta a casa para atraer la vida silvestre y, en cambio, causarán daños. Debido a que el mismo nombre común se puede aplicar a varias plantas, la forma segura de obtener la planta que está buscando es pre-guntar por un nombre científico, como Callicarpa americana, en lugar de un nombre común.

Callicarpa americana es origi-naria de áreas boscosas y áreas cercanas a cuerpos de agua en el ecosistema Blackland Prairies. San Antonio está cerca del borde occidental de su distribución nativa. Si no tiene sotobosque en su jardín y está listo para mejorar

sus plantaciones, Beautyberry es una buena planta para comenzar la transformación. Los bloggers en línea están de acuerdo en que es una de las plantas más fáciles de trasplantar y crecer. En una zona urbana, es una buena op-ción comenzar a rellenar debajo de un árbol donde tiene un baño para pájaros, de modo que utilice el agua salpicada del baño para pájaros cuando lo limpie.

Una Beautyberry en mi jardín ha estado creciendo bajo árboles sin agua suplementaria durante 16 años, y hay otra de la misma altura que obtiene agua casi a diario cuando se limpian y rel-lenan los baños de aves o cuen-cos para perros. Tienen la misma altura y ambos proporcionan abundante fruta cada año. En una sequía, el que no recibe agua suplementaria cultivará hojas más pequeñas y las dejará caer temprano durante una sequía de verano, mientras que el otro tiene hojas verdes consistente-mente llenas. Es un testimonio de la adaptabilidad de Beau-tyberry que tanto estas plantas como otras plantadas debajo de los árboles en todo el patio, son saludables y fructíferas.

El archivo de la Red de in-formación de plantas nativas es un buen punto de partida para obtener más información sobre Callicarpa americana: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CAAM2

El Servicio de Conserva-ción de Recursos Naturales del USDA proporciona una Hoja de Datos de la Planta: https://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_caam2.pdf

Fruta NativaCallicarpa Americana

Las hojas verdes de Callicarpa americana aparecen primero en primav-era, seguidas de una serie de flores de color rosa pálido y grupos de frutas. Las ramas arqueadas de esta planta de sotobosque protegen el suelo y las plantas que crecen debajo de él; y protege todo lo que se encuentre debajo

de él de mosquitos, garrapatas, pulgas y hormigas de fuego.

Callicarpa americana aparece en la plaza entre edificios en Palo Alto College donde estas frutas moradas eran visibles en las ramas arqueadas cuando las hojas comenzaron a amarillear y caer en octubre

de 2018.

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