Highland Park Neighborhood Association

August 2003 edition in full

Jul 29, 2003

The Highlander Newsletter of the Highland Park Neighborhood Association August 2003

page 1
National Night Out Against Crime in Highland Park

Tuesday, August 5, 6 ?– 8 p.m.
Highland Park Neighborhood Association and Victory Outreach Inner-City Ministries are co-sponsoring this family-friendly event in Highland Park, 900 Rigsby Avenue.
Food is donated by Absolutely Everything! Catering and owner Diane Cortez.

HPNA Board of Directors decided to co-host this event for two hours, to encourage community residents to get together with their own neighbors in their own blocks after the event at the park.
Get to know your neighbors!
That?’s what it?’s all about!


?“How to Prevent, Recognize and End Substance Abuse?”
presented by
San Antonio Fighting Back
Highland Park Neighborhood Association
General Monthly Membership Meeting
Saturday, August 9
10 a.m.
James Bode Community Center
Highland Park
900 Rigsby Avenue


The Heroin Problem in Highland Park
by Rachel Cywinski, President
We have a heroin problem in Highland Park.
Did you realize this?
If not, it must be an unpleasant shock to you.
In December, Lou Gloria and I were in Highland Park waiting for other volunteers to go Christmas caroling. We noticed five men, each in his own pickup truck, just staring at one of the houses across the street.
I asked each of the men if they were there to volunteer. Most left, but one stayed fixated on the house, oblivious to us.
A few weeks later I was contacted by City employees who informed me that there had been arrests for heroin dealing and possession made in the parking lot at Highland Park. Addicts, desperate for a fix, use the parking lot to wait for heroin supplied by residents who live near the park.
W e can decrease this problem by reporting persons just ?“sitting and staring?” in the parking lot to 207-7273. Lawful activity in the park is also a deterrent.
Ultimately, the causes of such addiction have to be understood and the addicts helped to end it.
San Antonio Fighting Back was founded to assist neighborhoods fight such problems. SAFB helps us each month by printing our newsletter at no charge. Please welcome them August 9 as they provide information to help us deal with this problem!


page 2
Every time you visit one of our wonderful business sponsors, please tell them how much you appreciate their support of your community and the Highland Park Neighborhood Association!

County Judge Nelson Wolff

Brown's Mexican Food
(210) 533-8174
2405 South Hackberry Street
San Antonio, Texas 78210

Highland's Cafe
(210) 533-4700
2314 Steves Avenue
San Antonio, Texas 78210

La Madeleine French Bakery & Cafe
(210) 829-7279
4820 Broadway
San Antonio, Texas 78209
www.lamadeleine.com

Little Red Barn Steak House
(210) 532-4235
1902 South Hackberry Street
San Antonio, Texas 78210

Subway #18286
(210) 531-0320
2927 East Southcross
San Antonio, Texas 78223

Wallace Cook Agency, Inc.
(210) 534-9293
3902 Clark Avenue
San Antonio, Texas 78223
www.wallacecookagency.com

South East Community Credit Union
(210) 534-7221
123 Waleetka
San Antonio, Texas 78210

Michael's Child Care
owned by Mr. and Mrs. Victor Saucedo
(210) 533-3939
645 Kayton Avenue
San Antonio, Texas 78210

San Antonio Fighting Back
(210) 271-7232
2803 East Commerce Street
San Antonio, Texas 78203
CBonner@SAFB.org

Neighborhood Resource Center
(210) 735-0586
P. O. Box 120246
San Antonio, Texas 78212-0586
www.nrc-sa.org


page 3
Highland Park Neighborhood Association
Mid-Year report
From Rachel Cywinski

This year we began addressing several issues that had been major concerns voiced by many members:

Classes at the Bode Center
Meeting in February with San Antonio Parks and Recreation staff, we voiced our concerns. Brenda Burton and Mike Gonzaba, Regional and Executive Directors of Recreation respectively, asked us to fill out surveys to express desired classes or changes in programs. This survey was subsequently published in our newsletter and is posted on our website. Only two surveys have been filled out and turned in.

Cellular on Patrol
In conjunction with the Highlands Alliance, we hosted a class on July 12. The class was well-attended and included residents of the Highlands area, Pecan Valley area, and one officer of Riverside Neighborhood Association. With Highland Park members who had taken the class in the past, we now have enough for our own chapter with our own SAPD-issued phone.
HPNA member and COPS student Cecilia Guajardo really launched into the program and not only went on patrol her first week but has already organized a new Cellular on Patrol chapter at her parish in Iglesia Cat?³lica de Nuestra Se?±ora del Perpetuo Socorro.

Code Compliance
Taking Patrick Sandoval up on his suggestion, we placed him in charge of our Volunteer Code Compliance Team. Highlands Alliance sponsored an education class and divided the area into zones. Patrick needs more zone volunteers to work with him in Highland Park; call him at 533-1726.


Those who have passed on during 2003:

Ruth Tarrillion is survived by her husband Paul Tarrillion.

Stephanie Alvarez is survived by her brother Melvin Alvarez.

We share in your loss and are thankful for what our neighbors meant to those who knew them.


Your Board of Directors
Have met to deal with the regular business of the association, and hammered out a 2003 budget in two sessions, to set out our priorities for this year.
These priorities reflect our concern that we train and develop future leadership.
At my suggestion, we have also considered draft expenditure policies and codes of ethics for association officers, directors and members; and we plan to finalize these policies by the end of the year.
Among other major decisions made by the directors:
* A sound system was purchased for $500, to use at National Night Out, Highland Park Spring Festival and other events as needed. Over the years, HPNA has spent thousands of dollars to borrow other sound systems, so now we don?’t have to.
* Diane Cortez and I were sent to a class in the process of finalizing our application for 501(c)(3) status formal determination by the Internal Revenue Service. The Board and membership had voted in previous years to apply for formal determination, and we plan to finalize the application this year.
Highland Park Children?’s Garden
was planted in conjunction with Highland Park Spring Festival, using monies appropriated from previous awards. As a result, Mayor Ed Garza selected it as the recipient of this year?’s ?“Community Spirit Award?”. We also received first place in template-based website during the Neighborhood Conference, winning a total of $500 cash (and thus money for the new sound system.). We thank you, Neighborhood Resource Center!


page 4
A Special Person
Lou Gloria has always been a dependable volunteer in the Highland Park Neighborhood Association and helps whenever called upon. In addition, he likes to share ideas for events he has attended and ways they might work for HPNA.
Mr. Gloria recently underwent several surgeries, but he still hauls mulch and weeds with the other volunteers in the Highland Park Xeriscape Garden.
And of course at every Spring Festival you can find him at his own booth selling some of the plants that have overflowed from his garden?—a favorite spot.
Every year Lou gives an extra donation to assist with sending the newsletter to persons who cannot pay their association dues. This year he has also donated door prizes for a monthly meeting, and donated the paper on which this newsletter and last month?’s edition were printed.
Lou Gloria is looking forward to celebrating his 81st birthday soon. And he celebrates being a senior himself by assisting five other seniors with their daily tasks, including volunteering with Meals on Wheels. He is an inspiration to us all.
We thank you, Lou Gloria!


Volunteer for National Night Out!
Call Eric Kauska at 534-5253 or 533-7060
or contact Eric at eric_kauska@yahoo.com
Help needed at Highland Park Tuesday, August 5.


Meet a neighbor: Toni Villarreal
Toni Villarreal?’s first job with the City of San Antonio was to work as assistant to Felipe Castro at the James Bode Community Center. After graduating from McCollum High School and earning her bachelor?’s degree, Toni made her permanent home in Highland Park where she raised her son who also lives in the area now. Toni became a career municipal employee and currently works as a landscape inspector, reviewing landscape plans for proposed developments, in San Antonio?’s Development Services. Toni is also working toward a second degree in landscape architecture, looking ahead toward the day when she will retire from City government and work as a consultant from her home. Ms. Villarreal also owns land in the hill country and goes there, on the weekends when you do not see her volunteering in the Highland Park Xeriscape Garden or hosting a garden party for a co-worker or relative around the oasis in her yard.
Toni coordinated the Xeriscape Home Garden Tour for Highland Park Spring Festival in April, attended classes at the Neighborhood Resource Center with other HPNA members this spring, and is interested in further responsibilities as an HPNA volunteer and potential director in the future.
Toni Villarreal, we are pleased to know you!


2003 Highland Park Neighborhood Association Board of Directors
President Rachel Cywinski HighlandParkNA@satx.rr.com
Vice President Madeline DeLaO mdelao2001@yahoo.com
Secretary Loyd Le Blanc 532-9225
Treasurer Bertha Saucedo 533-3939
Directors:
Al Lindsey, Diane Cortez, Eric Kauska,
Lydia Romo, Rita Pe?±a

Newsletter and Website Editor: Rachel Cywinski
HighlandParkNA@satx.rr.com
http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/sat/hparkna


THE HIGHLANDER
Highland Park Neighborhood Association
PO Box 10210
San Antonio TX 78210-0210