Community briefs – Northeast Herald

Word of Life plans cornhole competition

The Word of Life Fellowship plans a Viva La Cornhole! competition for April 25 at the ministry, 213 Coy Lane in Cibolo. The event is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All levels of play are welcome to participate in the friendly competition.

A custom cornhole set will be awarded to the winning team. The event will also feature a silent auction, food, and a kidzone sponsored by Camp Gladiator.

Tournament registration costs $25 per team of two. Spectators can watch for free.

Proceeds benefit Word of Life youth on their mission trips and gatherings.

Go to www.cibolo.church to register.

AlamoPROMISE receives major gift

The Alamo Colleges District recently announced a major gift of $500,000 for AlamoPROMISE from local philanthropist Harvey E. Najim.

AlamoPROMISE is the Alamo Colleges District’s new initiative that provides last-dollar funding to pay tuition and mandatory fees at any of the district’s five college for seniors graduating in 2020 from 25 participating high schools.

“On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Mr. Harvey E. Najim for his continuing support of our colleges and our students, and especially for this very significant investment in AlamoPROMISE,” said Alamo Colleges Board of Trustees Chair Marcelo Casillas. “Without the generosity and support of exceptional individuals such as Mr. Najim, the AlamoPROMISE program would not be possible,” he added.

Already 8,000 eligible high school seniors have completed the first step to becoming AlamoPROMISE Scholars, and more than 4,500 have completed all three steps to be admitted to one of the colleges of the Alamo Colleges District this fall.

By the fall of 2021, the AlamoPROMISE program will be available to students graduating with a diploma from an additional 20 participating public high schools in Bexar County.

Gardening group hosts plant sales in March

The Guadalupe County Master Gardeners will host plant sales in March. The sales will feature spring vegetables, herbs, annuals and perennials.

The next sale is on Saturday, March 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Silver Center, 510 E Court St. in Seguin.

Another plant sale is on March 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Guadalupe County Community Garden, 1101 Elbel Road in Schertz. It’s behind the County Annex Building.

The Guadalupe County Master Gardeners is a non-profit, educational organization that aims to increase the public’s knowledge of gardening.

For more information on the group, go to guadalupecountymastergardeners.org.

Humane Society hosts K9 veterans event

The Humane Society of Live Oak will host its 4th annual K9 Veterans Day Celebration on Friday, March 13 at the Live Oak Fire Department, 8001 Shin Oak Drive. The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m.

K9 Veterans Day is celebrated on March 13. It was created to honor all dogs who serve or have served, including military and police dogs, search and rescue dogs and veteran assistance dogs.

Saturday’s event will include a recognition ceremony that is open to the public. Everyone is welcome, but please no pets.

Applications accepted for Junior Police Academy

Live Oak Junior Police Academy will be held June 22-26 for students ages 9-12.

The academy is from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and is limited to 40 students. Live Oak residents have priority registration. Applications are due May 4.

The Junior Police Academy brochure and application can be found on the police page of the City of Live Oak website www.liveoaktx.net.

For more information, call 210-945-1700.

Library group to have book sale

The Friends of Universal City Library are sponsoring a used book sale in April.

The sale is set for April 3 and 4 in the meeting room of the Universal City Library, 100 Northview Drive. Sale hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days.

Items for sale include used books in good condition, DVDs, CDs, and puzzles. A few sets of book club books also will be available for sale.

Applications accepted for Citizens Police Academy

The Universal City Police Department is taking applications for its upcoming 2020 Citizens Police Academy.

The 12-week academy is free. Classes meet from 6-9 p.m. every Thursday starting March 12.

The academy includes classroom instruction, hands-on exercises and demonstrations of specialized police activities.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old and live or work in Universal City.

For more information and to apply, go to the CPA tab at www.UCCPAAA.org.

Library offers free genealogy workshop

Universal City residents Frank and Linda Faulkner will offer a free genealogy workshops in June.

“Planning a Genealogical Trip, Including a Trip to Cemeteries” will discuss how to prepare for a successful trip to the library, courthouse or cemetery.

It will be held June 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Universal City Public Library, 100 Northview Drive.

Frank Faulkner was the genealogy librarian at the Central Library branch of the San Antonio Public Library for many years. The Faulkners are authors of the book, “San Antonio Cemeteries Historic District,” published by Arcadia Press.

The Universal City Public Library subscribes to Ancestry.com, a major resource for genealogical research, for use within the library. Ancestry.com includes census records, vital records, military records, and a wealth of other materials to reconstruct your family’s history.

For more information, call Susan Ennis, library director, at 210-659-7048.

TOPS wellness group meets weekly

The local TOPS chapter holds its weekly meetings every Thursday at 7 p.m. at Windcrest United Methodist Church, 8101 Midcrown Drive.

Those attending should drive around to church’s back parking lot; entrance to the meeting room is through the back entrance double doors. Visitors to a TOPS chapter are welcome to attend their first meeting free of charge.

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is a volunteer-run, nonprofit organization. Founded more than 70 years ago, TOPS offers an individual approach to weight loss and overall wellness with thousands of chapters in the U.S. and Canada.

For more information, visit the TOPS Club, Inc. website: tops.org

Plant sale set for March 20 and 21

The San Antonio Garden Center’s Annual Plant Sale is set for this month at the center, 3310 N. New Braunfels Ave.

The hours of the sale are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, March 20, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or until sold out on Saturday, March 21.

The event is held indoors.

Shop for your spring garden with annuals, perennials, natives, daylilies, succulents, herbs, hanging baskets, vegetables and more.

For more information, visit www.sanantoniogardencenter.org or look for the San Antonio Garden Center on Facebook.

Animal Care Services seeks feedback on law changes

Animal Care Services has teamed up with SASPEAKUP to gauge public opinion on proposed revisions that could mean big changes for local pet sales law.

An initial public survey done last summer garnered more than 3,200 responses with a majority of respondents indicating unregulated pet sales in San Antonio contribute to local animal overpopulation. In response to that feedback, Animal Care Services has drafted a number of proposals revisiting the ordinance. Proposals include enhanced penalties for violators and additional pet sales restrictions.

A survey, available in English and Spanish, can be accessed by San Antonio residents by logging onto www.saspeakup.com; visiting www.saacs.net and clicking the Pet Sales Survey Highlights banner; going to the ACS Facebook page @SanAntonioACS; or using the special QR code on flyers posted at ACS

The survey runs through March 23.

It’s currently illegal to breed or sell dogs or cats, puppies or kittens without a permit from ACS. In addition to mandating humane care requirements like proof of the pet’s rabies vaccinations and microchips, sellers are also required to display their permit numbers anytime they offer the animals for sale.

Grants launched to support performing arts in San Antonio

The city’s Department of Arts & Culture has announced two new grant programs to support the local performing arts community.

The grants aim to assist arts nonprofits and individual professional artists to provide high-quality, innovative and accessible performing arts programming in San Antonio.

The grants were developed through the Department’s Performing Arts Strategic Plan, as a result of multiple community meetings and discussions with performing arts organizations, artists and patrons. These grants provide assistance for costs associated with producing performing arts programs as well as performing arts venue improvements.

Each grant has specific eligibility and application requirements, which can be found at SanAntonio.gov/artgrants.

More information about the Performing Arts Strategic Plan can be found at https://www.getcreativesanantonio.com/CulTUArt.

San Antonio to host tribute concert for Selena

Selena’s family and the city of San Antonio are teaming up to bring fans a new way to celebrate her legacy: a star-studded tribute concert May 9 at the Alamodome.

Performers will include Pitbull, Los Tucanes de Tijuana, A.B. Quintanilla and the Kumbia Kings, Becky G, Elida Reyna, Gilbert Velasquez, Pete Astudillo and San Antonio native Ally Brooke.

The finale will be a laser light show presented by H-E-B.

Tickets are available at Selena25.com, the Alamodome box office and at Ticketmaster.com.

Compiled from staff reports