As the United States continues to engage in war in Iraq, several homes throughout Northwest San Antonio have a dark blue star surrounded by a red frame in their front windows. The star signifies having a child at war. Mark and Margaret Szyman of Helotes have two such stars in their front window.
“What they’re doing is just as important as any football player or anyone else out there who gets recognized,” Mark Szyman said. “The boys miss their Big Red, but they’re doing the right thing.”
Mark Jr., 24 and Nicholas, 23, are both in the Army. Mark joined the reserves in 2000 for school, but he was then activated and sent to Iraq for the first time. After his first tour, he came back and went to school off and on before joining the Army for good.
Nicholas joined the Army right out of high school, and both ended up in Hawaii with the same unit. Now they are stationed in Iraq only six or seven miles from each other.
“They’re in the same battalion. Nick is in the headquarters company, in what they call an infantry scout platoon, and they go scout areas,” Mark Szyman said. “And Mark’s a team leader in a line company. They go do all the dirty work. They’re both corporals, both leaders.”
It was the Szymans’ unit in March that found the remains of missing-in-action Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin, who was captured in Iraq in 2004. Footage of the captured Maupin aired on Al-Jazeera, and his story was followed at home nationally.
Both boys take comfort in the fact that they are together in a war-torn nation.
“When Mark went the first time it was harder because he was by himself, and it’s a little bit better for him because now they know if one of ‘em gets down the other one’s right around the corner,” said Mark Szyman said. “They’ll see each other and it’ll be good.”
Both boys followed in the family tradition. Mark Sr., who retired in 2003, was in the Army for 24 years. Margaret’s father and brother were in the Air Force. Mark Jr. was born in Germany and Nicholas and little brother Travis, 16, were born at Wilford Hall on Lackland Air Force Base.
“Mark always wanted to be in the Army,” said Margaret. “When he was little he drew pictures of helicopters and stuff all the time. Nicholas didn’t so much, but little Mark wanted to be just like Dad.”
“They would hold my feet and count my pushups,” said Mark Sr.
Now grown up, they boys get to play soldier for real.
“I get scared. More than their mother. What you see on TV with the guys going house to house breaking down doors? That’s what they do,” Mark Sr. said. “The job Nicholas does is they go out and look for things, and then Mark’s squad will come back and handle things.”
The father says it is a different war now.
“We were supposed to be able to differentiate between who was the enemy and who was not,” he said.
Between the action, though, the boys take the time to keep in touch with their parents.
“I talk to them almost too much. They’re able to call a lot, texting is good, they’ve both got their laptops, so they’re able to do a lot of the instant messaging on AIM,” said Margaret Szyman.
Mark Sr. said computers play an important role.
“They go on a mission when they’re away for a while, and that’s when you start the heavy praying,” he said. “But after a few days you hear the computer ping, and a message will pop up and they’ll be back.”
When asked if they are going to make careers out of the military, Mark Sr. said it was still up in the air.
“War is war, they happen now and then, but if there’s no war going on, you know. Everything I have I owe to the military. I stayed in, got my education and made my living.”
Round 2 for Bikini Car Wash
Thursday, 24 July 2008
By Sarah Snyder Staff Writer
The property on which the Northwest Side installment of the Bikini Car Wash resides is not zoned for a car wash, said District 7 Councilman Justin Rodriguez on Monday.
Objecting to its proximity to a day care (50 feet) and an elementary school (200 feet), Rodriguez says he is opposed to the establishment, which already opened on the South Side amid protest.
“I’m not trying to legislate morality,” Rodriguez said. “My concern is that this location isn’t the best location.”
Bikini Car Wash owner Ricardo Arsate said he has no doubt the city will try again to block his business when it opens on the Northwest Side in upcoming weeks.
The establishment, which features bikini-clad women who wash cars, reopened on the South Side in late May after being closed down by the city over drainage code violations.
“I’m sure they’re going to manufacture some (obstacles) and do whatever they can to keep me from opening,’ he said. “I’m trying to stay ahead and do everything I can.”
Longfellow Middle School, Glass Elementary School and the Learning Center are all a mile or less away from the Bikini Car Wash.
“There’s nothing illegal about it, but I think it’s in poor taste,” Rodriguez said, adding that if the establishment opens without the proper zoning, Arsate will be asked to shut it down.
The councilman said the “tedious” rezoning process would ultimately go to the San Antonio City Council for approval.
Arsate says there are no hard feelings against the city officials.
“They’re just doing their job. They’re not going to roll over and say ‘OK, here you go,’” Arsate said.
“It’s going to bring some jobs to the area. We’re going to spend money in the area.”
He added that they are hiring.
Proposed mixed-use development for Leon Valley
Thursday, 24 July 2008
By Sarah Snyder Staff Writer
Developers met with city officials on a proposed mixed-use development at the corner of Evers and Huebner roads.
The builders described the project as having a town-square feel to it that would appeal to the medical center community.
“That would be a highly traveled and highly desirable location,” said City Manager Lanny Lambert.
“They had a really neat design,” he added, pointing to a region on the schematic that he said could be the location of a city “entryway” monument.
Mayor Chris Riley shared Lambert’s enthusiasm.
“It’s an exciting, wonderful project, so we’ll see,” she said.
The “Las Palmas” development would be the first mixed-use project in Leon Valley and features four buildings between 2,500 and 6,000 square feet with 73 parking spaces, and 80 townhouses.
The city is currently working on a variety of initiatives to revitalize the city, including a new park, new trails, both a sustainable-living and a pedestrian-friendly study and a fourth attempt to implement an economic development tax.
The American Institute of Architects’ Center for Communities by Design has selected 10 cities, including Detroit, Fort Worth, Kauai, New Orleans, Tampa and Leon Valley to receive technical assistance under the Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) Program. The program brings together experts around the country to provide a game plan for each city. Sustainability, as described by AIA, is “defined by a community’s ability to meet the environmental, economic, and social equity needs of today without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their needs”. The city anticipates the SDAT’s second visit to the city in the near future.
Meanwhile, Crystal Hills Park, a joint venture between the City of San Antonio and the City of Leon Valley, is currently in its planning stages, and the Metropolitan Planning Organization has visited the city to study how Leon Valley can be more pedestrian-friendly.
The city recently had a second public hearing on the possibility of having a 4B sales tax proposition on the next election ballot. The tax would provide funding for economic development projects, but the effort has since failed three times.
Identity theft does exist in your backyard
Thursday, 24 July 2008
By Sarah Snyder Staff Writer
According to the Better Business Bureau, 8.1 million Americans became victims last year to the tune of $45 billion.
Canceled checks, banking, credit and debit card receipts, credit card and bank statements, credit card and loan contracts, documentation of major purchases and sales, paycheck stubs and bills are just some of the documents that carry personal information and should be guarded closely.
Sgt. Charles Fleckenstein of the Helotes Police Department said that as his community grows, so does the threat of identity theft.
“(The) theft problem in Helotes is a growing one … as the city adds new homes and businesses,” he said, adding that offenses using Helotes residents’ names are happening as far away as Canada, Michigan, Minnesota, Louisiana, Tennessee and New York.
“Most of our victims don’t know how the bad guy got their info,” he said.
The BBB recommends the shredding of: any documents that include Social Security numbers, birthdates, Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) or passwords; banking documents or other financial information; leases, contracts or letters that include signatures; pre-approved credit card applications; medical or dental bills; travel itineraries; and used airline tickets.
It is also crucial to erase all data on the computer before the system changes hands. Another way to get in trouble: Revealing your personal information on the phone when you’re not the one who initiated the contact.
SENIOR BRIEFS: Thursday, July 24
Thursday, 24 July 2008
Bob Ross Senior Center, 2219 Babcock Road, will celebrate its one-year anniversary from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. The event also marks the opening of “Leeza’s Place,” a clearinghouse for seniors with chronic disease and disabilities and their caretakers. The center will also be dedicating the Ross family art collection. For more information about the Bob Ross Senior Center, call 207-5300.
Casa Helotes Senior Citizens Center, 12070 Leslie Road, serves lunch for seniors Monday through Friday for $3. On Thursdays, it’s $2. Breakfast, $2.50, is served Tuesday and Friday from 8 to 9:15 a.m. Casa Helotes also offers: Fitness for Seniors with Jose every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 to 11:30 a.m.; Domino 42 games at 9 a.m. every Tuesday and Friday; and Bingo most Thursdays after lunch. Call 695-8510, e-mail
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or visit www.casahelotes.org.
The Great Northwest Senior Center, at the Leon Valley Community Center, 6427 Evers Road, offers free activities such as Bunco, cards, bingo, exercise classes and more. The center also provides monthly luncheons.
Must be a member. Call 522-9966 for more information.
To get your event or center advertised on the Northwest Weekly calendar page, please e-mail editor Lauri Gray Eaton at
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or call 453-3300.
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