Prospective employee Luther Vanlandingham fills out application forms.
By Mike Reeder Staff Writer
Based on the overwhelming response, count on the first annual Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce Job Fair to be the first of many to come.
Job Fair Chairman Susan Allen, president of Texas Heritage Bank of Leon Springs, said job hopefuls were calling days in advance and were lined up several hours before the doors to the Boerne Community Center were scheduled to open Oct. 23.
“The lady in charge of the center said there were actually people here the day before looking for the job fair and that there were people here at 10 o’clock in the morning,” said Allen, noting the fair did not begin until 3:30 p.m. “That means there’s a need in the community for something like this.”
Stanbio Laboratories was one of more than a dozen businesses looking for new workers.
Malcolm Morris and Luther Vanlandingham were just two of the many prospective employees filling out applications and talking to potential employers. Both are 2007 Boerne High School graduates who are already working but are hoping to embark on a more rewarding career.
“People who don’t have jobs have more opportunities here than they would if they had to go find something on their own,” Morris said. “Instead of you going to find a job it comes to you.”
“I’m just looking for something full-time where I can maybe make some good money and advance in a career,” Vanlandingham said. “I live in Boerne, so it’s pretty cool that I can come here instead of having to drive into San Antonio.”
Employers appeared equally impressed with both the fair itself and the quality of the Boerne-area workforce.
Stanbio Laboratories was one of more than a dozen businesses looking for new workers.
“I think it’s going very well,” said Zane Cuevas, a human resources specialist with Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union, which will be opening a new branch office in Boerne in June. “It’s really great, because you have retirees who are looking for part-time work and then you have young folks who really don’t know what they want to do but are looking for a career.”
Cuevas said applications taken at the job fair will be considered for a number of positions coming open at the new Boerne branch, with hiring decisions expected at the first of the year.
“We’ll be looking for tellers, which basically means all the workers in the branch,” Cuevas said. “They’ll have different titles but they’re all in teller work, and then we’ll also need three managers.”
Kevin Farrell with Bandera Electric Cooperative also gave the inaugural job fair a thumbs-up.
“It gets us exposure and let’s everybody know what we do and where we serve the community,” Farrell said. “We’re looking for linemen, everybody really, and we’re hoping to hire today.”
The job fair replaces an employer shadowing program with the Boerne schools that was focused entirely on students, and was intended to alter and expand the chamber’s job outreach to include adults. Given the tremendous turnout, Allen says the chamber may reconsider the new program’s annual nature.
“It does need to be considered,” Allen said. “Maybe we need to look at it more than once a year.”
EDITORIAL CARTOON (PHOTO)
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Guest Commentary: Campaign season ending, so it’s time to vote
Thursday, 30 October 2008
By Jeff Wentworth Guest Commentary
After a lengthy election season, the end is in sight.
All across the country, early voters have been going to the polls in record numbers. In Texas, early voting ends tomorrow, Oct. 31.
Next week, on Tuesday, Nov. 4, Texans and all Americans will again have the opportunity to exercise their most precious right – voting – in what is one of our nation’s most historic elections. Everyone wants the election process to run smoothly.
To that end, this month the Senate State Affairs Committee met in Austin to hear testimony related to the security of our state’s elections. Some voters have expressed their concerns about the safety of electronic voting machines, which are now required as a result of Congress’ passing the Help America Vote Act in 2002.
According to state officials, electronic voting is secure and efficient. Ann McGeehan, director of the elections division for the Texas Secretary of State, testified at the hearing that there has never been a documented case of voting system manipulation in Texas.
While some voters may wish to return to paper ballots, others welcome the speed and ease of electronic voting. I just wish for an election day that sees a huge number of Texans going to the polls.
If you are not sure you have registered to vote, you may access the Secretary of State’s Web site www.sos. state.tx.us and follow the prompts to find out if you are registered. You also may call the voter registrar’s office in the county where you live. Those phone numbers and precinct voting locations are on the Web site.
You may vote without your voter registration card by providing some form of identification and signing an affidavit at the polls. Acceptable identification documents are: a driver’s license or personal identification card issued by the Department of Public Safety or another state agency; a form of identification that contains your photograph; a birth certificate; citizenship papers; passport; official mail addressed to you from a governmental entity; or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your name and address.
If your name is not on the registered voter list at the polling location, you may cast a provisional ballot. After the election, your voter records will be reviewed, and if you were registered, your vote will be counted.
Voters who moved within the same county during the year and failed to notify the voter registrar may return to their old precincts to vote. If you moved to another county and did not re-register by Oct. 6, you may be able to vote a limited ballot, but only by tomorrow. Information is on the Web site.
On Wednesday, I hope that reports show that at least 90 percent of the registered voters in Senate District 25 went to the polls. That would be a winning ticket.
Texas State Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) represents District 25, which includes part of Bexar County. He can be reached via e-mail at jeff.wentworth@senate. state.tx.us.
Kendall County to bring old courthouse to 1909 likeness
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Architect Barry Wagner stands in the courtroom of the historic Kendall County Courthouse. The facility is being restored at a $1.4 million projected cost. Photos by David Basarich
By Linda Byrne Editor
For defendants facing trial in the early 1900s at the Kendall County Courthouse, the venue must have been a stark contrast to the small, dingy cells in the jail next door.
The courtroom, a spacious 47 feet by 28 feet, boasts 14-foot ceilings. Banks of windows to the north, west and east let in plenty of sunlight. Justice was dispensed under an ornate ceiling, while underfoot, a traditional diamond-shape pattern imparted some structure to the space.
All these features, and more, are being restored and should be completed next year, in time for the 100-year anniversary of what’s called the Giles addition to the historic courthouse.
According to architect Barry Wagner, AIA, of the firm Wagner and Klein, Inc. in Fredericksburg, “it’s going to be one of the more unusual courtrooms we’ve seen in quite some time. The paint conservator said it started to look a little more like a beer hall than a courtroom.”
That may not be far-fetched; records show that the original courthouse, built in 1870, was constructed thanks to a $3,300 loan from August Staffel, saloonkeeper and livery stable operator. Those were the days before counties could issue bonds to pay for construction.
The original structure was expanded to two stories in 1885. In 1909, architect Alfred Giles oversaw an addition at the south end of the structure that faces San Antonio Street and the current courthouse. Wagner said the 1909 improvements are most significant architecturally and the building will be restored to that era.
Earlier this month, Wagner requested a building permit to remodel the exterior of the building. Boerne’s Historic Landmark Commission approved the permit by a unanimous vote.
“You won’t see any major change to the exterior appearance,” Wagner told the commissioners. “The building will be cleaned to remove algae and some repointing needs to be done.”
It’s the interior spaces that held the most surprises for the restoration team. Once a drop ceiling had been removed from the courtroom, Wagner got excited.
“In the courtroom upstairs we found this pattern on the original beaded board ceiling and we were fortunate enough to find a few pieces of what made up medallions that were quite ornate. ...It does appear that the courtroom had that ceiling in 1909 at least for a short time. We found a large diamond pattern, a checkerboard pattern, bright yellow paint, on the courtroom floor. It appeared that existed at the same time as the elaborate ceiling,” Wagner said in his presentation to the commission.
Pct. 2 Commissioner Gene Miertschin holds part of a wooden medallion from the ceiling of the old courtroom. The medallions will be duplicated as part of the courthouse restoration.
As he took additional measurements in the old courtroom last week, Wagner paused to take stock of the project.
“We have completed selective demolition, where we removed additions to the structure that came later,” Wagner said. We also removed asbestos and completed the paint analysis.
“I am hoping to get approval from the state to put the project out for bid, because it will have to be competitively bid.”
At a cost projected to run $1.4 million, the work will provide jobs for several successful bidders next year. All new air conditioning and heating will be installed, as well as a ceiling sprinkler system in the event of a fire.
“The specs will be written fairly tough …so that only those people that are skilled at this sort of thing will bid it. The electrical and mechanical can be done by any good subcontractor, but you’ve got to have really good painters. They’re the ones that have the most difficult job. You want people that are aware of historic finishes so they don’t damage anything,” Wagner said.
“On the historic vault downstairs, for example, there’s some historic lettering and stenciling that you want to protect.”
Throughout the 12,000-square-foot historic structure, wood floors will be refinished, walls will receive new coats of paint and crown molding will be restored. A new elevator also will be installed.
According to Wagner, Kendall County is supplying only 15 percent of the project cost. The remainder comes from a state Historic Courthouse Preservation Fund.
Kendall County Pct. 2 Commissioner Gene Miertschin hopes the project will be completed next year, in time for the centennial of the building, and opened to the public for tours.
“That was our hope, that it would be finished in time for the centennial, but the schedule is slipping in large part because of the ceiling medallions they found,” he said.
“They had to redo the drawings and send everything back up to Austin, and of course when you send something to Austin, you never know when you’ll hear back.”
CALENDAR: Thursday, Oct. 30
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Events listed in this calendar were provided by the sponsoring organizations and were e-mailed to the editor by the Friday noon deadline. For questions about events, contact the sponsoring organization. To be included in future listings, e-mail complete information to
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ONGOING
Boerne Parks and Recreation is taking reservations from groups wishing to be in this year’s Boerne Christmas parade on Dec. 6. Forms will be due to the Parks & Recreation office, 1017 Adler Road, by Nov. 20. Forms and fees can also be mailed to P.O. Box 1677, Boerne, TX 78006. Call Tori Bellos at (830) 249-9511 for more details.
NOVEMBER
Boerne Public Library in November will be honoring American veterans of all the major conflicts in the past century by showing a war movie each Monday evening at 6 p.m. Veterans, as well as the rest of the community, can enjoy a movie from World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The first screening, on Monday, will be a 1930 Howard Hughes production featuring Jean Harlow. Refreshments will be served. For details, call the library at (830) Natalie at the library for more information.
THURSDAY
Boerne Public Library offers a computer class Thursday, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Students will learn to get creative with the Microsoft Office program, Publisher. Students need to know how to use a mouse, as well as have at least a working knowledge of Microsoft Office products in order to take this class. On Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., students will learn how to manage their digital images with the Internet program Flickr. Participants must know how to use a mouse and have a working knowledge of the Internet in order to take this class. Each class is taught on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to sign up about 15 minutes before class. If you have taken the classes twice before then you are no longer eligible to take them. Stop by the library to pick up a complete schedule. For details, call (830) 249-3053, or visit www.boerne.lib.tx.us.
SATURDAY
Leon Springs Farmer’s Market is held every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Leon Springs Baptist Church, 24133 Boerne Stage Road, behind H-E-B. Vendors offer plants, herbs and a variety of edibles, from fresh produce to honey, nuts, breads, jams and jellies. Live music will be heard all morning. Call Mario Obledo Jr. at (210) 823-3393 with questions regarding the Leon Springs Farmers Market or visit www.LeonSpringsFM.com.
Friedrich Wilderness Park offers an interpretive walk 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday. A donation of $2 per person is suggested. Participants will learn about the plants, animals and rocks of the park and are limited to 15 people per hike. Call (210) 372-9124 or (210) 564-6400 for reservations.
SUNDAY
Boerne Bed and Breakfast Tour is set 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Seven distinct B&Bs will be featured, and each will be paired with a local restaurant that will provide a selection of delicacies. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance or from noon to 3 p.m. on the day of the event at Boerne Visitor’s Center, 1407 S. Main. Call (830) 249-7277 for more information.
NOV. 5
Boerne Farmers Market is held Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. through Nov. 26 at Kendall Co. Fairgrounds, Texas 46 east of Boerne. Home grown vegetables, local pecans, breads, canned fruits and vegetables, plants, aromatherapy and other fresh seasonal farm products will be offered. All products are fresh and high quality. The market will not be held over the winter, but will resume in March when fresh vegetables are available again.
NOV. 6
Cibolo Nature Center presents “Geology Short Course Part 3: Field Trip to Canyon Lake Gorge” from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 6. Carpool from CNC promptly at 9 a.m.
The great flood of July 2002 created Canyon Lake Gorge. With guidance from Dr. Bill Ward, this unique Glen Rose limestone outcrop provides insight into the mysterious character of the Trinity Aquifer and reveals a fascinating history of the early Cretaceous seas. Cost: Members $15 a person and non-members $20 a person per session. Limited to 24. To register, call 249-4616 (preference given to those who attended classes on geology and hydrogeology).
NOV. 7
Grey Forest Farmers Market is held 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. the first and third Friday of each month at a new location on Scenic Loop Road, across from the Grey Forest City Hall and next to the fire department at the corner of Scenic Loop and Sherwood Trail. Shop for fruits, jellies, veggies, eco-tote bags, plants, pecans, peaches, breads, cookies, note cards and locally produced goods of all types.
Boerne Community Theatre will present Neil Simon’s comedy, “The Last of the Red Hot Lovers,” directed by Larry Beauchamp. The cast features Paul Godfrey (who left audiences howling from the last show), veteran BCT performer Keisha McFerrin, and two new faces to the BCT stage, Kaitlin Campbell and Allison Dietz.
The story follows the trials and tribulations of Barney Cashman, a middle-aged seafood restaurant owner, who decides his life is a little boring and that he should have an affair. His inept attempts at this clandestine affair occur in his mother’s New York apartment, while she is out doing charity work.
Performances begin Nov. 7 and run through Nov. 22. Reservations are recommended; call the box office at (830) 249-9166 or visit in person Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon. A credit card is necessary to reserve seats or you may pay in advance at the theatre. Thursday evening shows are at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday performances are at 8 p.m., and Sunday matinees begin at 2:30 p.m.
NOV. 13
Messiah Lutheran Church will be holding the first meeting of a new support group on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. This faith-based support group is for families and friends who have a loved one with depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or anxiety disorders. The intent of the group is to provide support and information so we can better care for our loved ones. Participants will view the video “Creating Caring Congregations.” All information shared at this meeting will be kept confidential. For more information call Messiah Lutheran Church at (830) 755-4300.
