Justice Catherine Stone fundraiser, June 25th @ Villita Hall

Rockin with Stone, Wednesday, June 25th from 6-9 p.m. @ Villita Assembly Hall. Justice Catherine Stone, candidate for Chief Justice, 4th Court of Appeals.

Entertainment by Music Legend Ray Wylie Hubbard. Call for sponsorship @ 732-8111.

Gov. Perry & 5,000 Texans run 5th Annual Texas Roundup

Texas First Lady Anita Perry (photo @ Fiesta opening ceremony) Gov. Rick Perry (photo) Joined 5,600 Texans to Run 5th Annual Texas Round-Up

Annual fitness festival also hosts 2008 USA Track and Field Masters 10K Championships

Gov. Rick Perry joineds 5,600 Texans and 80 track and field champions to run the 5th Annual Texas Round-Up. Thousands took part in the annual fitness festival’s 5K, 10K, family mile walk and fun zone.

"Working regular exercise and a balanced diet into daily life can yield significant benefits not only for individuals, but the state too," Perry said. "Obesity and obesity-related illnesses affect too many Texans. Initiatives like the Texas Round-Up encourage Texans to shed lethargic lifestyles by offering a fun, family-friendly venue to begin, or continue, a health lifestyle routine."

The governor was joined at the race by the individual, city and agency winners of the Governor’s Fitness Challenge. These include "Fit Texan" Norman Langwell, Jr.; the cities of Manor, Pflugerville, Huntsville, Abilene and Austin; and the Cancer Council, Veterans Commission, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and Department of Transportation.

Additionally, First Lady Anita Perry recognized Michael Pennington of San Antonio, whose t-shirt design was chosen for the family mile race.

This year, Texas Round-Up was chosen by USA Track and Field to host the Masters 10K Championships. USA Track and Field is the national governing body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the U.S. Competing in the race are Olympians Sean Wade and Colleen De Reuck, national champion Dennis Simonitis and 71 USA Track and Field Masters.

Since 2004, more than 66,000 Texans have participated in the Texas Round-Up. The initiative includes GetFitTexas, a free online training program where members can track their exercise progress and access training tips.

Each participant who completes the online training program receives a signed certificate from Gov. Rick Perry. Overall, participants in the Governor’s Challenge have logged over 55 million minutes of exercise in 2008. This year, 25 Round-Up affiliate cities led efforts to make Texas the fittest state in the nation.

An avid runner, Gov. Rick Perry has made the promotion of fitness and healthy lifestyle choices an important part of his healthcare initiatives. Too many Texans face serious health problems as a result of poor nutrition and lack of exercise. Complications from being obese cost the state more than $10 billion each year due to lost productivity and increased burden on the healthcare system.

For a complete list of Texas Round-Up affiliate cities and fitness events, please visit www.texasroundup.org.

First Official Hispanic Heritage Center of Texas in SA

Rudi Rodriguez (photo)
TexasTejano. com

Wednesday April 30th, 5:30 p.m.

Texas Tejano.com, along with prominent State of Texas and San Antonio community leaders respectfully requests your presence at a historic announcement to launch the concept of establishing the first official Hispanic Heritage Center of Texas to be located in San Antonio.

Please join us at this important event on Wednesday April 30th at 5:30 p.m. at San Fernando Cathedral's City Centre Cafe on newly renovated Main Plaza. Refreshments and hors'doeuvres will be served.

Rudi R. Rodriguez is the President/Founder.

For more information and to RSVP, contact TexasTejano.com at (210) 673-3584 or via E-mail at publications@texastejano.com

Auditions for "The Senator Wore Panty Hose," Stoli Playhouse

Steven Stoli (photo)

Steven Stoli Playhouse

The Senator Wore Panty Hose - Auditions by Billy Van Zandt and Jane Milmore

The Steven Stoli Playhouse Audition Dates: Sunday, May 4th @ 6 p.m., Auditions to be held at: The Steven Stoli Playhouse – 11838 Wurzbach at Lockhill Selma.

Seething with political and religious scandals, this comedy revolves around the failing presidential campaign of Gabby Sandalson, a regular guy whose integrity has all but crippled his bid for the White House.

His unscrupulous campaign manager trumps up an implausible sex scandal to garner votes, a scheme that gloriously backfires. "The characters swap beds, identities and jabs in what may be a flawless sex farce."

Characters: Chauncy Quince - a fussy, excitable gossip and Inn Keeper 40’s to 50’s
Gabby Sandalson- Senator running for President 40’s to 60’s
Susan Sandalson - Gabby's loyal wife – 40’s to 60’s
Paddy McMutton- Escaped Convict – 20’s –50’s
Reverend Johnny Burgermeister - TV Evangelist 40’s - early 50’s
Honey Pie - The Reverend's wife, A Tammy Faye Bakker type – 30’s –50’s
Tony – Gangster – 20’s –50’s
Don "Scoop" Bother - Geraldo Rivera/Dan Rather -type Journalist 30’s – 50’s
Nellie - Wayward Single Girl – 20’s – 30’s

Executive Producer: Steven Stoli

Director: Kathleen Lovejoy

Performances: June 21st – July 20th, Contact: 210-408-0116

Contact Email: steven@stolientertainment.com

Religion, Science & Evolution: Showdown in Texas Education

Annalisa Peace (photo)

April 29th
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Chapman Auditorium
Trinity University

Religion, Science and Evolution:
The Pending Showdown in Texas Science Education

A Panel Discussion sponsored by:

Texas Freedom Network
The SoL Center at University Presbyterian Church
Trinity University, Departments of Biology & Education

The state of Texas is currently undergoing a review of its science curriculum with an eye towards adopting new standards and selecting new science textbooks by spring of 2010. Please join us for an engaging discussion about evolution and the future of science education in Texas .

Panel Moderator:
Eliza Sonneland
Talk radio host
Panelists:
Rabbi Barry Block
Temple Beth-El
Carol Brown
Saint Mary’s Hall science teacher and Presbyterian Elder
Ryan Valentine
Deputy Director , Texas Freedom Network
Dr. David O. Ribble
Chair, Department of Biology, Trinity University

Reception to follow.

For more information call the SoL Center at 732-9927 or Email solcenter@upcsa.org

St. Louis Alderman says "nothing would happen" with cameras

L-R: Sign in Balcones Heights

Drivers often ignore fines from red-light traffic cameras
By The Associated Press
April 27th

St. Louis — Red-light traffic cameras have generated a steady stream of revenue for cities in the St. Louis area as motorists caught running red lights pay fines of $100 per violation. But cities that installed the cameras are finding it’s not so easy to collect from those who refuse to pay the tickets.

For a regular traffic ticket, failure to respond often results in a judge ordering a warrant to arrest the driver. But on the majority of red-light camera tickets, the court cannot be sure that the registered owner of the vehicle was driving, making it difficult to issue an arrest warrant. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Sunday that chronic red-light violators represent a weakness in photo-enforcement programs.

Other drivers appear to be changing their habits: A sharp decline in camera citations has been reported at several St. Louis intersections.Because most red-light cameras take a picture only of the car — not the driver — it’s difficult for cities here and around the country to make people pay. Officials acknowledge that, for now, there’s little they can do.

“If you threw it in the trash,” says St. Louis Alderman Freeman Bosley Sr., chairman of the aldermanic Traffic Committee, “nothing would happen.” In St. Louis, the cameras have raised more than $1.4 million since they were activated nearly a year ago.

But many of the fines are going uncollected. In Arnold, about 30 percent of the citations issued from October 2005 through January had not been paid. The nonpayment rate in St. Louis is about 35 percent.

“Right now, we have no active program to go after these people other than request that they comply with the law,” said Timothy W. Kelly, the municipal judge in Florissant. Kelly presides over red-light camera court, held four times a month in Florissant. There, drivers contesting tickets face what is often fairly convincing evidence of a video of them cruising through the light.

But if a driver decides to ignore the ticket altogether, the next step is typically just another letter requesting that they respond. Some cities have sought to address the shortcomings by employing a creative definition of what it means to run a red light, or making it a separate crime to ignore the violations notice.

Last year, the St. Louis suburb of Creve Coeur established the infraction of “violation of public safety at intersections,” committed when a “motor vehicle of which that person is an owner is present in an intersection” while the traffic signal is red.The law applies only at intersections with cameras. It also allows the city to prosecute individuals for simply not responding to a citation notice.

More on Red-Light Cameras from Blogger Mis-Behavin

L-R: Red-Light Camera in Balcones Heights

Trash those tickets In Red light scam Tags: Red light cameras, St. Louis

Red light tickets were declared unenforceable by St. Louis courts and alderman this past Sunday. To quote: “If you threw it in the trash,” says St. Louis Alderman Freeman Bosley Sr., chairman of the aldermanic Traffic Committee, “nothing would happen.”

Nothing would happen?! You hear that folks? An unenforceable mandate by the government. Go crazy, shred that stupid ticket and refuse to pay the spy camera’s fine.

Beware: Other cities are resolving “shortcomings” in the plan by creating yet more stupid laws to penalize not responding to the ticket. Apparently the government still doesn’t understand that “two wrongs don’t make a right.”

Red light cameras sued as unconstitutional In Red light scam lawsuit, Mark Cevallos, right light camera

Citizens in Balcones Heights are rejoicing. Mark Cevallos filed a lawsuit against the City of Balcones Heights, claiming the city violated his rights by taking his picture with a red light camera and sending him a traffic ticket.

In his words the red light cameras violates the plaintiff’s due process rights under both the Texas and United States Constitutions. “You don’t have any right to a trial, a right to confront witnesses,” Cevallos said referring to the red light camera tickets.

Former Balcones Heights Councilman Steve Walker, a lone dissenter against the installation of the cameras and voted against the ordinance in 2006 says, “From what little I know about the alleged lawsuit, it appears that Mr. Cevallos is saying exactly what I maintained back when we voted to allow the cameras.”

Go and get ‘em Cevallos.
Cool stuff

Cinco de Mayo Celebration @ Jefferson High School

District 7 Councilman Justin Rodriguez introduces the San Antonio Symphony for the Cinco de Mayo Concert Series, Thursday, May 1st @ 7 p.m. @ Jefferson High School, 723 Donaldson. Free Admission. Call 733-7525 for more information.

Shavano Park Business Association to host mixer, May 7th

Danny Rodriguez (photo )

Shavano Park Business Association is inviting everyone to their 5th mixer of 2008. No cost to attend!

Please join us to mix, mingle and meet new business partners.

Wednesday, May 7th
From 5:30 p.m.- 7:30 p.m.

16535 Huebner Rd., Suite 112
(Corner of Huebner & Bitters)
(210) 479-5955
Mel Williams, Owner

Please RSVP at: shavanopark@gmail.com

Mission: The mission of the Shavano Park Business Association is to empower Shavano Park and surrounding area businesses to achieve their business goals by providing education and networking opportunities for the community. We value the free exchange of ideas in an environment that embraces honesty and personal responsibility, as well as intellectual and cultural diversity.

Vision: To explore and develop strengths and unique potential in every business and business professional. To inspire people to make the courageous choice to network, grow and support the community.

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation kicks off Great Strides Walk

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Kicks off the Great Strides Walk in San Antonio
Local Fund-raiser Part of National Effort to Fight Life-threatening Disease

The Lone Star Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation announced the kick-off of Great strides, the largest CF fund-raiser in the country. Great Strides raises critical funds for life-saving research, education and care programs for cystic fibrosis, a fatal genetic disease.

In San Antonio participation in Great Strides is expected to break attendance records this year. The walk is scheduled at the Arneson River Theatre and will coincide with Cystic Fibrosis Awareness month in May. The route will start at the lovely Arneson River Theatre, move along the picturesque San Antonio Riverwalk, into the Hemisfair Park and then head into the King William neighborhood and conclude back at the Arneson River Theatre.

Saturday May 3rd, Arneson River Theatre 9 a.m.

Corporate sponsors of the San Antonio Great Strides include American Airlines, Solvay, Airgas, Oak Farms, Axcan Pharma, Allstate, Custom Fitness Center, Nerd Energy, Tower of the Americas, Security Service Federal Credit Union, Starbucks, and Valero.

This year we are proud to have San Antonio City Manager Sheryl Sculley as the Honorary Chair, NEWS 4 anchors Randy Beamer and Delaine Mathieu will be our emcees and the band The Harley’s will be performing for all the walkers and attendees. The HE ‘Buddy’ and McGruff the Crime Dog will entertain children.

The CF Foundation has been recognized as one of the most efficient charities in the country. Nearly 90 cents on the dollar raised by the CF Foundation is available to fund CF research and care programs.

http://greatstrides.cff.org/.
About the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
http://www.cff.org/.

Contact:
Hugh H. Farr, Executive Director
Lone Star Chapter Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
8620 North New Braunfels, Ste 110 San Antonio, TX 78217
Phone: (210) 829-7267, E-mail: hfarr@cff.org