San Antonio Register (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 68, No. 8, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 19, 1999 Page: 2 of 10
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: San Antonio Register and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UT San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Page 2-San Antonio Register Newspaper- August 19, 1999
LEGISLATIVE- REPORT
JOocUA,
STATE REPR!
Parking strategies for inner-city
businesses
"i«I..
OW3!)3fI
Ruth's column returns
next week....
The second in a year-long series
of forums designed to help create
reinvestment in San Antonio’s
inner-city commercial districts is
scheduled Friday. August 27 at
9.00 am. at the San Antonio
Central Library, 600 Soledad. This
series is being conducted by the
City of San Antonio’s
Neighborhood Commercial
Revitalization (NCR) Program
Entitled “Parking Strategies,”
this NCR networking forum will
SAISD parent training program begins
Aug. 19; UNT teams with school district for
early childhood education
DENTON (UNT), Texas Parents
of preschool children can learn
how to help their children succeed
in both school and life with the
help of their children’s teachers in
10 evening family training
sessions starting Aug. 19
( Thursday).
More than a dozen preschool
teachers have been trained to lead
the sessions, which will be held at
five elementary schools in the
South San Antonio Independent
School District. The school sites
participating in the program are:
Palms Hutchins. Kindred
Olivaries and Palo Alto.
The session leaders were trained
by experts from the University of
North Texas’ Velma E. Schmidt
Early Childhood Programs, which
teamed with SSAISD to train
parents of preschoolers to help
their children succeed in both
school and life through activities
in the home.
The family education and
support program developed in this
collaboration is serving as a
prototype for a national program.
Success For Life: Exito Para Todo
La Vida, Educacion y Apoyo Para
la Familia (Success For Life -
Education and Support for the
Family) is a model program in
which parents of preschool
children will be invited during the
school year to training sessions.
The sessions will teach them how
to hel^ their children le,am at home
with various activities, which
coincide with Success For Life
instruction received at school. The
program will target Hispanic and
low socioeconomic families in the
area, but all families can benefit
from the program instruction.
Ten family education/training
sessions will be offered at five
locations as part of the Success For
Life program, (see attached
schedule) All of the programs will
be presented in both English and
Spanish.
Success For Life is at the heart of
the Velma E. Schmidt Programs in
Early Childhood Education. The
Success For Life program uses
teaching methods which feature
cognitive, linguistic, social,
physical and emotional
development for children from
birth to age 8.
The Success For Life program is
already in use in many SSAISD
classrooms. All 50 SSAISD
kindergarten teachers will be
trained in early literacy and
reading readiness activities this
fall. The goal of this training is for
all kindergarten children to be
reading by the end of the year. The
family education and support
program is an extension of those
currently in use.
“The family training sessions
will help parents assist their
children in getting ready for school
and for life,” said Dr. George
Morrison, professor and Velma E.
Schmidt Endowed Chair in UNT’s
College of Education. “We are
building and developing ongoing
types of collaboration which will
make a difference in the lives of
these children over the long-term.”
Morrison, a national expert on
early childhood education, heads
the university’s efforts to pioneer
new early childhood education
initiatives.
Sessions include a variety of
information for parents to help
support their children’s
development. The information was
developed as a result of
neuroscience research, which has
shown the importance
enriching a young child’s
environment to promote optimal
development and behavior
outcomes. The evening sessions
will train parents in a number of
areas from nutrition and safety to
literacy and fine arts.
The program is designed to be a
community outreach program,
which also involves other
resources to inform parents about
the program in this traditionally
underserved population. The
Women, Infant and Children
(WIC) Nutrition Program, The
Birthplace, and the Health
Department will provide
information about the parent
education sessions as well as
distribute home learning kits to
families.
The home learning kits, which
were developed by the Success
For L~fe researchers, will be free
to the session participants. The
kits include educational materials
like books, puppets, activity cards
and more for parents to use at
home with their children.
“We want the parents to have the
resources to reinforce what the
children are learning in school,’
said Reina I. Davison, project
director for Family Education and
Support for the Velma E. Schmidt
programs. “This kit will support
literacy with its activities. Literacy
is important in language and
reading development and lays the
foundation for school success.”
“Literacy is the pathway to
school success,” Morrison said.
“Literacy enables every child in
America to access the American
dream. It is the new civil rights
movement of the new millennium.
For more information on the
Velma E. Schmidt Programs,
contact Kay Barrett at (940) 565-
4477.
fydsAjncfCon,
pppapp
I i (, I i 11-: 11 i I. i., i-ifiHiiifii ill»'} 11 IVi i, ilii|i|i|ii lif'iijB'lil 1iW •'
LEAVE THE LEGACY
OF LITERACY
By Congressman Ciro D. Rodriguez
The Giving Tree, a children's s
book written by the late Shel
Silverstein. tells of the relationship
between a tree and a young boy.
The tree gives the boy apples to
eat, leaves to play in, and shade to
rest under when he is tired. As the
boy grows older and his needs
change, the tree offers him its
branches to build a home, and its
trunk for the construction of a boat
to travel the world. Even when the
boy seems to take the tree for
granted, the tree continues to love
the boy and is most content when
he is happy. This story reminds me
of a parent's love for their child.
Mothers and fathers work long
hours and make many sacrifices to
ensure that their children’s
lifetime will be better than their
own. A child’s legacy is a parent’s
labor of love.
Unfortunately, not all parents
have the same opportunities to
pass the gift of literacy to their
children. Today, more than 20
percent of adults read at or below
the fifth grade level, a status which
limits job options and earning,
potential. Forty-three percent of
adults with the lowest literacy
Skills live in poverty, and 70
■; George Knox receives
' Award
•— On behalf of the National
■ Urban League, the Business Policy
Review Council (BPRC)
presented the Herbert H. Wright
percent have no job or only a part-
time job. Texans especially are
struggling under the weight of
severe illiteracy. Only three other
states have a higher number of
illiterate adults than Texas.
The vicious cycle of illiteracy
perpetuates itself Children’s
literacy levels are strongly linked
with the educational levels of their
parents. Children whose parents
are unemployed and have not
completed high school are five
times more likely to drop out of
high school than children of
employed parents. Wee need to
reverse this alarming trend.
As the long, sunny summer days
here in Texas draw to a close and
kids return to school we are
reminded of the importance of
instilling an enthusiasm for
learning in our children, Reading
is a child’s most fundamental
academic skill, and no factor is
more essential to his or her
development than family
involvement. Fostering your
child's reading skills can be as
simpte as reading aloud together
regularly, playing vocabulary
I Community Service Award to
George Knox, Vice President of
Philip Morris Companies Inc., and
Roy Levy Williams, Senior
Manager of Community Relations,
DaimletChryslef Corporation, at a
breakfast during the National
Urban League Convention in
Houston..
The award was created by the
games, and registering for summer
and school year reading programs
at the library.
Our struggle to tight illiteracy
should not end there. After all, it is
never too late to learn. Just as new
worlds open up for children who
are learning to read, adults who
show the courage to learn to read
will find endless opportunities
before them. A return to school or
entering into a local reading
program is a contribution to family
and community.
Children are the future, and
developing their abilities is crucial
to the weft being of society Even if
you aren’t a parent, you too can be
a part of the solution. Volunteer
with tutoring programs and
spelling bees at local schools.
Support friends who wish to return
to school or participate in a
literacy program by offering
childcare or transportation. If you
arc too busy to donate time,
consider donating old office
equipment or money. While the
federal and state government
provides millions of dollars for
adult and family literacy
programs, all literacy programs
combined serve fewer than 10
percent of people with literacy
needs. More resources allows
more outreach to those who need
it.
Today one million American
children between the ages of 12
and 17 cannot read above the third
grade level. This is everyone’s
problem. Let’s work together to
break the cycle and leave a new
legacy of literacy to our children.
National Urban League and is
presented by the NUL in
partnership with the BPRC. The
National Urban League created the
award as a way to recognize and
encourage exemplary community
service and was named for former
Philip Moms executive, Herbert
H. Wright, who personified that
cont on Page 6
explore the parking obstacles
many older, inner-city commercial
districts face in their efforts to
revitalize neighborhood shopping
districts and compete with malls
and big-box developments. A
variety of short- and long-term
solutions to the parking problems
that confront many inner-city
businesses will be provided.
Thomas J. D’Arcy, immediate
Past Chairman of the Parking
Consultants Council of the
National Parking Association, will
be the featured speaker. D’Arcy is
a principal in the firm of
Consulting Engineers Group, Inc
specialists in parking structure
design and he is the president of
CEO of Texas. A graduate in
structural engineering from the
University of Illinois, D’Arcy is a
registered structural and
professional engineer in 19 states
The NCR Program was created by
the City to preserve, protect and
revitalize the economic and social
fabric of San Antonio’s older
neighborhood shopping areas by
attracting consumers, spending
and business investment. NCR
Networking Forums provide an
opportunity for training, education
and assistance and promote
discussion and cooperation in
meeting revitalization challenges.
Forums are free and open to any
members of the community
interested in the revitalization
process.
One hour of free parking will be
available at the Central Library
Garage with a validated ticket.
For more information, please
call the Economic Development
Department at 207-8080.
■> '■ . ' <YVf Lk
.. ^ "
Community leaders and elected of-
ficials came together this week to
discuss the county's plan for the
building of the Spurs arena, and
The Democratic National Commit-
tee (DNC) commended DNC Gen-
eral Co-Chair Detroit Mayor Dennis
Archer for taking a leadership role in
passing a measure opposing racial
profiling during the Annual Ameri-
can Bar Association (ABA) meeting
in Atlanta.
Minorities, particularly African
Americans, have complained that
they are routinely detained, frisked
and even handcuffed by authorities
for no apparent reason.
Mayor Archer initiated the American
Bar Association profiling resolution
as he described personal incidents
that have affected him and his son.
The resolution, unanimously passed
by the ABA on Tuesday, urges local
state bar associates to press their
local governments to collect data
about traffic stops in efforts to de-
termine whether minorities are being
racially targeted.
”1 highly commend Mayor Archer
for taking a leadership role in ad-
minority participation in that plan.
District 2 City Councilman Maria
Salas called the meeting at Mt. Zion
First Baptist Church in order to dis-
cuss pians for presentation to the
Spurs ownership for the hiring of
minority contractors in the areas of
construction, professional services,
design, management, concessions,
operations, and ancillary develop-
ment.
Those in attendance were: Arlene
Washington of the San Antonio
Eastern Economic Development
Corporation, Gil Murrillo, Tommy
Adkisson, Precinct 4 County Com-
missioner, District 2 City Council-
man Mario Salas, Rev. Claude Black,
Carlos Richardson of the Navada
Street Neighborhood Association,
District 2 Edwards Aquifer Repre-
sentation J. H. Sanders Jr., Oscar
Vicks, and Tommy "T.C" Calvert
President of the Neighborhoods Fust
Alliance. This group same together
to address minority participation in
dressing a national problem that is
victimizing millions of innocent
Americans," said DNC National
Chair Joe Andrew. "Our nation's top
attorneys are now united In naming
dilemma that could affect anyone we
know."
"Mayor Archer's determination and
commitment to addressing the
problem of racial profiling will help
end discriminatory practices that are
plaguing our society," said DNC
General Governor Roy Romer. "I
praise Mayor Archer and the
American Bar Association for mak-
ing this issue a priority and taking
the initiative to help resolve iL'r
The drive to end racial profiling has
been gaining momentum in the past
few months. In June, President
Clinton directed federal law en-
forcement authorities to gather data
about the gender and ethnicity of
people being detained, and an-
nounced that the Justice Department
will analyze the data.
the Spurs arena and the Dallas model
as perhaps a starting point for dia-
logue with Spurs ownership.
The group decided on a joint state-
ment which says: "If this effort, the
building of the Spurs arena, is going
to have full community support it
must provide economic advantages
and opportunities for the total com-
munity. The Alamodome did not do
this and many in the community re-
member quite clearly the trail of
broken promises made by the City in
regards to the Alamodome. If the
Spurs want community sup-
port then they have to be willing to
address the issues of diversity in the
areas mentioned." This group is ex-
pected to meet again in about a week
with Spurs representative Leo
Gomez.
County Commissioner Tommy
Adkisson and Councilman Salas wil
be providing the group with more
up-to-date information in recards to
con't on Page 6 r
Public Hearing
We Need Your Input
The Texas Commissipn on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (TCADA) Is seeking
public comment of testimony on issues pertaining to the provision and
delivery of substance abuse services in Texas. Through a series of Public
Hearings, coordinated with Regional Advisory Consortia (RAC’s) in all 11
Health and Human Service Commission regions, TCADA is soliciting public
input on various issues.
The Public Hearing in your area is scheduled for 9 a.m. to Noon, Friday
Aug. 20 in Boardrooms 1010A and 1010B at the University Center for
Community (Texas Diabetes institute), 701 S. Zarzamora.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
San Antonio Register (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 68, No. 8, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 19, 1999, newspaper, August 19, 1999; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth841866/m1/2/?q=%22%22~1: accessed August 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UT San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.