Community briefs – Southside Reporter

AlamoPROMISE receives majot 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.

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.

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.

S.A.’s River City Rockfest canceled

San Antonio’s River City Rockfest has been permanently canceled, Spurs Sports & Entertainment has confirmed.

The hard rock music festival had taken place at the AT&T Center annually between 2013 and 2018. In 2019, the event was postponed until September of this year because of issues booking a top-tier lineup, the entertainment company said at the time.

The headliners for the show in 2018 included Nine Inch Nails, Stone Temple Pilots, Primus and Bush.

The rock music festival had been the largest of its kind in South Texas, bringing in 145,000 fans, according to the entertainment company.

Sacred Art of Altars exhibit on display March 19

Sixty San Antonio artists have created and donated their work for annual Sacred Art of Altars exhibit and silent auction benefiting Celebration Circle of San Antonio, a non-profit interfaith community.

One People, Many Paths is the theme of this year’s exhibit, now in its 16th year.

The exhibit will be on display March 19 from 3 to 9 p.m. at The Brick, 108 Blue Star. An artist reception is from 6 to 9 p.m. and auction closings are at 8 and 8:30 p.m. Donations accepted at the door.

Some of the artists included in the exhibit are David Anthony Garcia, Jon Hinojosa, Sarah Lyons and Enedina Vasquez.

The exhibit is a reflection of the growing popularity of “nichos” or small, personalized shrines, in the Southwest.

Celebration Circle was founded in 1992, and offers a creative approach to spirituality with upbeat Sunday services, meditation circles, retreats and various music and art events, supporting the creative community in the Alamo City.

For more information, visit www.celebrationcircle.org or call 210-533-6767.

Palo Alto College celebrates Women’s History Month with event series

Palo Alto College will celebrate Women’s History Month through March 31 with several events.

On March 18, a Women in STEAM event honoring the first U.S. female astronomer, Maria Mitchell, will include a poetry reading and an astronomically inspired art activity.

On March 26, there will be panel discussion about the representation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) industries.

On March 30, there will be a Health and Wellness Fair featuring representatives from local health agencies, healthy food demonstrations, and on-site health services such as mammograms.

All 2020 Women’s History Month events are free and open to the public. A full list of events is available at alamo.edu/pac/WHM.

Mission San Jose celebration planned

A 300 Celebration of Mission San Jose Neighborhood will take place Saturday, March 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Harvey Najim YMCA at Mission Marquee Plaza, 3122 Roosevelt Ave.

There will be a blessing by the Native American inter-tribal group, an honoring of legacy families and Alvino Hernandez and Alvino Pacheco for their contributions to CYO in Mission San Jose Neighborhood.

There will be music by McCollum High school mariachis, Conjunto heritage taller, and others.

A potluck picnic will be served with hamburgers and hotdogs provided by the Roland Gutierrez family, aguas frescas from La Fruteria Mission, rice and beans provided by Nicha’s, and birthday cake provided by HEB. Neighbors should bring side dishes, including chips, dips and salads.

The afternoon celebration will end with a softball game.

Compiled from staff reports