Noi Mahoney

Old coworkers

(Photo from the Charleston City Paper of Lorne Chambers, owner and publisher West Of Community News)

Anyone who's ever worked in journalism knows there's a lot of turnover in this business. People are always coming and going, especially now. Just recently, Eva Ruth Moravec, a good writer and friendly face in our newsroom left for bigger and better things. She'll be missed.

Theodore Kim, another coworker from my days at The Capital, is now a reporter for The Dallas Morning News.

I recently had a chance to briefly catch-up with Lorne Chambers, a guy I worked with oh-so-very briefly for a few months back in spring 1999. Lorne is now the publisher and owner of his own paper in Charlston, S.C.

In 1999, Lorne and I were both just out of college, working a for a small paper in Sarasota. The town was beautiful, cheap and unbearably boring. Everyone was 90-years-old, except me for me, Lorne, and a very few others.

If it hadn't been for Lorne, and later Warren Cobb, I would have lost my mind down there. As you can see from the photo of above, Lorne's a free-spirited dude.

Although we were only coworkers for about four months, I always got along well with Lorne and Warren. Both of them are from South Carolina, and live in Charleston.

I guess its like my late grandfather Jim Mahoney said, "you can make friends for life in an hour."

New Lowe's on S. Zarzamora Street

I got a call from an excited lady saying when's the new Lowe's on South Zarzamora Street opening?

I didn't know Lowe's was opening a South Side store. I found out not only were they opening one in July, they are opening another one on Goliad Road in 2009.

Here is an excerpt from my story:

A new Lowe’s is set to open on South Zarzamora Street near Interstate 35 South. The new 117,000-square-feet store will feature 40,000 products, as well as an additional 31,000 square foot garden center offering flowers, bushes, trees and garden supplies.

.  Officials for the national retailer said the new Lowe’s would open at the end of July.

"Construction is moving along smoothly at our south San Antonio site," said Maureen Rich, a spokeswoman for Mooresville, N.C.-based Lowe’s. "A store of this size represents an average investment in the community of approximately $18.5 million and creates up to 175 new jobs."

Gervin helps East Side inner city kids

Freelance writer Denise McVea wrote a good story on the Gervin Academy on the East Side. Here is an excerpt:

When people think about a youth center, they often see a small gym with a basketball court or a place for youth to hang out after school so that they stay out of trouble.

The George Gervin Youth Center at 6944 Sunbelt Drive has created a whole new standard. Incorporated in 1991 by basketball great George Gervin and his visionary sister Barbara Hawkins, the nonprofit organization was built without a basketball court.

Instead, they conceived the center as an innovative alternative to traditional education for disadvantaged and at-risk youth. The two founders have been masterful in securing private, local, state and federal funds, and in marshalling highly educated and skilled professionals to manage, teach at, and grow the center.

"We are fortunate to have found some people who believe in what we are doing," said Gervin Center Superintendent Barbara Hawkins.

Residents protest H-E-B closings

The S.O.S Group held a rally on Sunday at the H-E-B at 2701 S. Presa St.

Ruben Espronceda, chairman of the S.O.S. Group said no residents or neighborhood associations were given the opportunity to speak with H-E-B representatives on how closing the H-E-B supermarkets would impact the community.

San Antonio-based H-E-B supermarkets is shutting down two longtime South Side stores by July 31. The two closures are in advance of opening its new H-E-B Plus! at the old McCreless Mall, according to H-E-B officials.

The two H-E-B supermarkets that are closing are located at 3524 S. New Braunfels Ave., and 2701 S. Presa St.

Espronceda said H-E-B could harm the community by closing the stores.

"There are several key elements in keeping a neighborhood thriving and growing, including fire safety, educational opportunities and access to retail are the most important," Espronceda said. "Why would H-E-B want to disrupt this delicate balance?"

Espronceda said his group would speak with city officials to see if any compromise can be reached.

The closure of the two stores will likely affect many South Side residents who are used to shopping at them. Patrons of the South Presa Street H-E-B will be more affected, since the new H-E-B Plus! would be more than two miles away.

To help those people who may have a longer commute, H-E-B spokeswoman Dya Campos said H-E-B would be offering free shuttle service through VIA Metropolitan Transit Park & Ride within a one-mile radius of the South Presa Street location.

"We worked with VIA and worked out a plan offering all our customers at the South Presa location free shuttle service to McCreless Market," Campos said. "Customers can go to any bus stop within a mile radius of South Presa Street, and will be able to catch a VIA to McCreless. They just tell the bus driver they are going to H-E-B at McCreless and H-E-B will pick up the tab."

The new H-E-B at McCreless Market opens Aug. 1.

Gutierrez sworn in as State Representative

Roland Gutierrez, who was sworn in May 13 as the new Texas House District 119 state representative, talked about role models that have helped pave the way for him to the Texas Legislature.

"My parents (Fidencio and Bertha Gutierrez) came here to San Antonio because they loved this city," Gutierrez said last Wednesday during a packed ceremony at The Republic Golf Club on the South Side. "They raised six kids, put them through high school, college, they helped me through law school. Because of their hard work, they showed what’s possible."

Gutierrez, former City Councilman for the Southeast side, ran unopposed in his bid to succeed Robert Puente in the Legislature. Puente, who was dean of the Bexar County legislative delegation, resigned in October.

(U.S. District Court Judge Orlando Garcia swears in Roland Gutierrez as the new Texas House District 119 state representative. Courtesy photo)

H-E-B closes two Southside stores

San Antonio-based H-E-B supermarkets is shutting down two longtime South Side stores by July 31. The two closures are in advance of opening its new H-E-B Plus! at the old McCreless Mall, according to H-E-B officials. “We will close both those stores,” said Dya Campos, an H-E-B spokeswoman.

Bikini Car Wash reopens

The Bikini Car Wash on South Flores didn't stay closed for long. It's owner, Ricardo Arsate already bought the necessary equipment to reopen, much to the chagrin of many South Side Residents. (Kelsea Burgess cleans a truck at the Bikini Car Wash on South Flores Street last week. photo by Steve Valdez for the Southside Reporter)

West Side Chamber of Commerce

The Express-News' Adolfo Pesquera had a good piece on Mary Cruz. She's the new president of the West Side Chamber of Commerce. As anyone in SA can tell you, the West Side has some of the poorest and toughest neighborhoods in the city. It is also a unique area, with a lot of life and flavor.

Bikini Car Wash shut down

As of Friday afternoon, the city of San Antonio revoked the license of Occupancy for the Bikini Car Wash at 6010 S. Flores Street. Story here

Bikini Car Wash controversy

Some days, stories just fall into your lap. Like this one, about a controversial car wash on South Flores Street.

The new Bikini Car Wash has drawn the wrath of nearby residents and churches. They have said it is obscene and immoral to have women washing cars in skimpy bikinis.

City District 3 Councilwoman Jennifer V. Ramos is having a press conference at City Hall today at 3 p.m. regarding the car wash. I'll have a story of my own next week.

(Photo by Steve Valdez for The Southside Reporter)