Hello D6,

I'm going to start this week by recognizing some of the most valued members of our District 6 community. 

Our seniors deserve all of our love and support because of everything they’ve done for us. So this week, the District 6 team organized a senior bingo event at the San Antonio Food Bank.

I love the joy and enthusiasm they bring every time they’re together. If you remember, Wednesday morning was stormy, and we thought few, if any, seniors would come to our event. But once the weather cleared, they showed up!

It was a wonderful event!

Thank’s to the San Antonio Food Bank for being such a wonderful host, and the Gonzaba Foundation for providing the great prizes.

On their way out, they asked when the next bingo event would be.

We're working on it..

Our seniors' well-being was part of an important conversation I had this week with the Bexar Senior Advisory Committee (BSAC).

BSAC is a committee of 30 volunteers and nonprofit leaders who advise the Alamo Area Council of Governments on matters concerning our community’s seniors.

We talked about the support that the City has in place for our senior citizens and the gaps that exist in our senior services, as well as the lessons we learned from the pandemic and winter storm Uri.

The best part for me was listening to their suggestions and ideas about how we can work together to help them live their best lives.

Saturday is National First Responders Day!
 

The District 6 staff got an early start on the celebration on Friday by personally delivering treats to every police substation in the city and every fire station in District 6.

It’s a small token of appreciation for everything they do to keep us safe. The best part was seeing their smiles!

Make sure you take time on Saturday to thank our first responders for the sacrifices they make every day of the year.

This was a milestone week for our City!

It was 20 years ago this week that Toyota Texas broke ground on their assembly plant on the city’s south side.

Today, the San Antonio plant is the only place in the world that produces the Tundra and Sequoia on the same production line. The economic impact of Toyota has elevated the quality of life for thousands of families in our community, and their contributions to local nonprofits total more than $50 million.

Congratulations! And here’s to the next 20 years of continued growth and success for Toyota and San Antonio.

I also want to send a special congratulations and thank you to the Endeavors Veterans Wellness Center.

Endeavors has been part of our community since the 1960s, and its footprint will soon grow to include the city of El Paso.

The Center offers a long list of wellness services for veterans, active duty personnel, first responders, and their families.

I had the pleasure of visiting their headquarters to learn more about what they do and find ways to integrate their experience and knowledge into the city's efforts to support our veterans' community.

We have a lot to learn from their successes in mental health, physical health, housing, and employment.

Public safety is always a top concern for everyone in San Antonio.

This week, I caught up with News4 San Antonio’s Jordan Elder at the Darner Senior Center to discuss the San Antonio Police Department’s Violent Crime Reduction Plan.

The first phase of the plan, the Hot Spot Strategy, has been in place since January and has already yielded some positive results.

We talked about how the strategy is working and the need to remain vigilant about any unintended consequences.

The strategy's final report will be delivered in January. As chair of the City’s Public Safety Committee, I will be closely examining the plan's successes and challenges.

You can watch the News4 story HERE.

I also want to send a very special shout-out to our San Antonio Spurs!

On Wednesday, the Spurs celebrated the official start of the new season and the new "Wemby" era!

The arena was packed and filled with excitement for the tip-off.

Good luck, guys. And Go Spurs Go!

And, a reminder.

Saturday, the 28th is District 6 Movie in the Park day!

We will have a special showing of the movie, Ghostbusters, along with hotdogs, treats, and, most importantly, you will have the opportunity to share your ideas and vision for the new destination park in District 6.

Funding for the new destination park was approved by voters in the past bond election, and the park's design will soon get underway.

Information is in the flier below.

Have a great week and be safe!!

Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda

Construction and Maintenance Notices

MILL and OVERLAY

• Westcliff - from Westplain to cul-de-sac
  • October 31, 2023 to November 13, 2023
• Westbluff Dr from Westcliff to Westlawn Ln
  • November 1, 2023 to November 30, 2023
• West Valley Dr from Westcliff to Westlawn Ln
  • November 1, 2023 to November 30, 2023
• Rockgate Dr from HWY 90 Access to W. Military Dr
  • November 1, 2023 to November 30, 2023
• Westplain from Westcliff to Westlawn
  • November 3, 2023 to November 16, 2023          

FIBER OPTIC INSTALLATION PROJECTS

5950 Les Harrison Dr. - Great Northwest from 8/14/2023 to 12/24/2023

9203 Ridge Grove St - Great Northwest from 08/28/2023 to 12/29/2023.

10603 Culebra Rd - Mtn View from 08/28/2023 to 12/29/2023.

7543 Grissom Rd - Lindsey Pl, Misty Oaks from 08/24/2023 to 12/24/2023.

Council Meetings and Committees

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETINGS WEEK:

• Public Listening Session (Virtual) #3 - 2023 SBEDA Ordinance Amendments
• INFO. SESSION (Virtual): RevitalizeSA: Corridor Leadership Program
• Economic and Workforce Development Committee
• Historic and Design Review Commission
• Public Comment Session
• Linear Creekway Parks Advisory Board Meeting
• Building Standards Board
• City Council Zoning and Land Use Session

Community Bulletin Board

The Linear Creekway Parks Advisory Board (LCPAB) will hold its OCTOBER Meeting on Wednesday, November 1st and they will combine the November/December Meeting which will be held on Tuesday, December 5th. 

SAWS is currently seeking applications from D6 customers who are interested in serving on the Community Conservation Committee. Below are some helpful links and info to help advertise in our newsletter:

Sponsorships are now OPEN!

It’s TIME to support and collaborate for the 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King March! Please see the attachment where we have outlined sponsorship levels and benefits.

Deadline to submit is Wednesday, November 15th.

COSA Construction Resource Toolkit

As progress continues in our City so does construction.  I am reaching out to remind you that COSA has a Construction Resource Toolkit to help small businesses impacted by construction in their area.  This guide includes contacts, strategies, and other resources to help small businesses prepare and navigate the construction experience. This Toolkit is available digitally at the links listed below. 

• EDD Programs & Grants page
• Construction Resource Toolkit-ENGLISH
• Construction Resource Toolkit-SPANISH

The Texas Legislature recently enacted HB 114 requiring all school districts to implement mandatory disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP) placement for students found in possession of, using, selling, giving, or delivering e-cigarettes or vaping devices on school grounds or at a school-related event.

This alternative school placement, required by law, is made regardless of whether the substance being vaped is a controlled substance or not.

We ask that you discuss this new state law with your child(ren).

Pack your school bag with resources from San Antonio Public Library!

Local libraries offer school resources for students of all ages

The school year is once again upon us, and San Antonio Public Library (SAPL) wants to remind students and their families of the educational resources available at your library year-round. Throughout the year, SAPL is packed with free resources to support children, teens, and adults on their educational journeys.

In addition to a collection of over 2 million items and dozens of free online databases, SAPL offers online tutoring, Wi-Fi, low-cost printing services, and more for all ages. Sign up for a free SAPL card today to kick off the school year and enjoy several services and resources to assist in your educational pursuits. Visit MySAPL.org/CardSignUp or stop by your nearest SAPL location to register.

SAPL’s educational resources include:

Read-alongs

Available at all SAPL Locations

Do you have a young child learning to read or reading English or Spanish for the first time? Read-alongs, print books with built-in audio narration, are available in a range of English and Spanish titles. They are an entertaining, self-guided way to help enhance your little one's literacy skills. To borrow a read-along, visit the read-along shelf at your nearest SAPL location. Introduce children to the pleasure of independent reading and let them embark on a delightful literary journey with read-along stories. To learn more about these selections and to browse them in our collection, visit the children's services section of the SAPL website.

MySAPL App

Download instant access to the San Antonio Public Library collection on your phone or mobile device. The MySAPL app is free, easy, and available for both iOS and Android users — take the library wherever you go!

PrintOnline

Available at all SAPL Locations

PrintOnline is a mobile printing service available to all library cardholders. Get printing in four simple steps:

1. Access the PrintOnline portal
2. Upload documents from home, the office, a coffee shop, or anywhere you have internet access
3. Visit your nearest branch library to print your files
4. Enter your SAPL card number into the print kiosk at your library to finish printing your documents.

Free Indoor & Outdoor Public Wi-Fi

Available at SAPL Locations

You’ll always have the Wi-Fi password at SAPL! Wi-Fi is available at all SAPL locations daily.* Indoor Wi-Fi is available during normal service hours and outdoor Wi-Fi is available from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. every day.

* Locations undergoing building improvements or other projects may have adjusted hours. Details listed at MySAPL.org.

Ask a Librarian
Call (210-207-2500) or chat online (Ask.MySAPL.org)
Librarians are teachers in disguise. They’re available to make book recommendations for your next research project or help with account questions.

Homework Help

Daily | 11 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.

Connecting you to Homework Help heroes is what we do. Free online homework help from professional tutors is available in a variety of subjects for students in kindergarten through college. Available 11 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., seven days a week in English and Spanish. For more information, visit SAPL’s expert help website.

SORA App

SAPL has partnered with every public school district in the area to offer students unlimited access to age-appropriate materials in our digital library even if you don't have a SAPL card. Thanks to the Sora app by OverDrive, San Antonio students at participating schools can easily browse our extensive library. Head over to Sora’s website to see if your school is participating!

FAFSA Assistance   

Monday – Thursday, 1 p.m. - 10 p.m.

College preparation just got a little bit easier! Brought to you by Brainfuse, FAFSA tutors are available for live assistance Monday through Thursday, 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Visit SAPL’s featured services page for details.

Database Access
Looking for the August 1973 issue of National Geographic for a research project? Need access to over 60 years of articles about rock music? From Aardvarks to ZZ Top, San Antonio Public Library is your doorway to over 170 online databases, including popular news databases like the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Some databases are library-use only, so visit your nearest SAPL location for these resources. To get started visit our database guide.

For more information on Back-to-School resources provided by SAPL, visit our guide.

Animal Care Services Extends Shelter Hours to Encourage Lifesaving

 San Antonio Animal Care Services (ACS) has expanded shelter hours to give would-be adopters, fosters, and rescue partners more opportunities to help pets in need. The municipal shelter will be open two additional hours, with adoptions and other services now available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. Weekend hours remain unchanged, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The $25 special adoption rate continues through the end of July. This special rate applies to dog, cat, puppy, and kitten adoptions. 

Fosters Desperately Needed to Help Local Pets in Need

 San Antonio Animal Care Services (ACS) and local animal welfare partners have been flooded with pets in need, including dozens of puppies and kittens. Fosters are urgently needed to provide temporary care for pets as they become adoption ready. Foster applications are available via the following links:

• Animal Care Services at: www.saacs.info/foster
• San Antonio Pets Alive! at: www.sanantoniopetsalive.org/programs/foster
• Animal Defense League at: www.adltexas.org/foster-application/

Fosters will receive food and other supplies for their temporary pets including medical care and vaccinations. Interested residents should check with the program of their choice for additional resources. 

Always dispose of pesticides properly

Pesticides and herbicides can be a convenient way to protect plants from pests and weeds. But when used or discarded incorrectly, these chemicals pose great risks not only to our ecosystem and wildlife, but also to our water, soil, air and human health.

The best way to avoid the perils of pesticides and herbicides is to stop using them altogether. But if you must use them:

• Always carefully read the product label and follow the disposal instructions exactly.
• Only purchase what you need and use it until it’s gone to avoid leftovers.
• Never discard these items in your trash bin for regular collection.  
• Don’t ever pour them down sink drains, toilets or storm drains.

Pesticides and herbicides must be disposed properly at a household hazardous waste site. For a schedule of monthly drop-off events, visit sa.gov/swmd.

A higher-paying career is now within your reach. San Antonio’s unprecedented Ready to Work program offers tuition assistance for education and job training.

Career coaches are with you from start to finish to evaluate what you need now to get started, guide you through career planning and get you enrolled to begin your path to securing a quality, higher-paying job.

No other program offers more support to ensure participants reach success. If you are ready for a change, take advantage of this opportunity now.

There are three easy ways to learn more and apply:

      1. Online: Visit readytoworksa.com

      2. Phone: Call 3-1-1 and ask for Ready to Work

          3. In Person: Visit Alamo Colleges District, Project Quest, Restore Education or Workforce Solutions Alamo

Animal Care Services joins Daisy Cares to feed hungry pets in San Antonio 

Pet food donations sought as holidays near and needs increase   

The San Antonio Animal Care Services (SAACS) team is joining Daisy Cares, a local non-profit, to host a holiday pet food drive that will help both organizations support pet parents in need by filling their pet pantries.    

Bags of dog and puppy food are especially needed in addition to other new or gently used pet items. All donations will be divided between the Daisy Cares pet food pantry and the SAACS Community Animal Support and Assistance (CASA) program, which uses a case management approach to assist pet parents in need with food, humane care support, and veterinary resources.   

Residents can bring pet food donations through the end of November to Animal Care Services during regular business hours. SAACS is located at 4710 State Highway 151 and is open on weekdays from 1 - 7 p.m. and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on weekends (except on City holidays). All donations are tax-deductible.

CPS energy has launched an updated webpage with information to help keep customers safe in the event of an outage: www.cpsenergy.com/prepare and in Spanish www.cpsenergy.com/preparar.

Customers are also encouraged to update their emergency contact information with CPS in case of an emergency.

For more information visit http://cpsenergy.com