Page 5 - HH_5_23

The Maternal Optitimist:A Tribute to My Mom CBy Sonny MelendrezIF IT BUGS YOU... IT BUGS APPLE!!!EST. 1984 Honesty & DependabilityYES! ORGANIC SERVICES NO EXTRA CHARGE!NO! CONTRACTSEndorsed by DAVE RAMSEYTry Our Wallet Friendly Organic Pest Control ServiceQuotes by Phone(210) 695-8946Family Owned & Operatedwww.ApplePestControl.comarmen Melendrez spent her whole life encouraging my brother and me.She was a cheerleader without the routines. No matter the crisis, she’d always find a way to get us through it.When my mom wasn’t praying for a happy ending, she was taking matters into her own gentle hands.One Mother’s Day I wrote her the following letter. It best explains what she has meant to me.Dear Mom,You always knew what to say when I needed comforting. I’d still hurt, but just knowing you were there made life a little easier.You always encouraged me to dream, cheered when I succeeded, and urged me to try again when I failed.You helped me save for my first radio, $19.95 plus tax. A lot of money back then, but you knew I just had to have it.When I needed Dad’s permission to spend the night at a friend’s house, you lobbied on my behalf.When I made my First Communion you asked me to make I wish. I wished for a little brother. Nine months later, my brother Rick was born. Was there anything you wouldn’t do for me?I can still see your face the day I got the measles. You would have gladly traded places with me, just to take away the pain. I would have let you.You told me we couldn’t afford a bicycle for Christmas. It was true. Yet, there it was on Christmas morning, exactly as I had dreamed it.Optimist - continued on page 10 Reprint Due To Publisher’sError Of OmittingRead Tom Schoolcraft’s Complete Answer To First Question In The April IssueVOTETOM SCHOOLCRAFTFOR MAYORKeep Helotes “Small Town America”• Bring Back Movie Nights at the Park (5 movies each summer)• Bring Independence Day Celebration Back to City Hall Featuring a Patriotic Concert by the Helotes Area Community Band and Free Hot Dogs, Apple Pie,and Ice Cream• Bring Back kids sitting on Santa’s knee with toy list at the Lighting of the Lights• Bring Back Outdoor Warning Siren Testing at Noon (part of emergency mgmt. plan)• Bring Back Full Support to the Helotes Area Community Band• Introduce Two New Community Building Events - One in Old Town Helotes• Build Party Pavilion at the Helotes City Park PlaygroundBring Honesty, Integrity, Trust and Respect Back to Helotes City HallEarly Voting: April 24-May 2 Election Day: May 6Pol. Adv. by Tom Schoolcraftwww.VoteCommonSenseHelotes.comTomForMayor2023@aol.com VoteTomSchoolcraftYou’ve always loved making mehappy. How could I have survived my first heartbreak without you? At the time, I was sure you didn’t understand. Looking back, I know you did.I can still taste the filling you’d leave for us in the pan after putting a lemon meringue pie in the oven. No one can make them like you.Cub Scout Den Mother, Safety Patrol Mom, PTA, Home Room Mom: You were always ready to help. How could we not be proud? We belonged to you.My sense of humor, outlook on life, love for children...they all come from you.You’ve always taught me to give back and to put things in God’s hands through prayer and faith.Question: The incumbent touts his financial prowess as restoring financial reserves from 2 months to 8 months and decreasing property taxes by 8%. Was the city, under your administration, under dire financial stress? Answer from Schoolcraft: Absolutely not! Whitehead walked into City Hall on May 12, 2021, looking at the highest property and sales tax revenues in our history, a low debt ratio, a “healthy” reserve fund balance, superior bond ratings, and 13 years of clean audits, yet all he’s done for 21 months is complain about financial problems. Regardless of what Whitehead says, during my 14 years as Mayor, our reserves never dropped to two months of expenses. In fact, for fiscal years 2013-2021, our reserves averaged 5.2 months with a high of 10.5 in 2014 to a low of 2.9 in 2019. A city’sgeneral fund reserves are public money that should be used to operate the city, not be squirreled away just in case something unexpected might happen. According to our auditors, a “rule of thumb” is no less than two months of average operating expenses is sufficient for a reserve. More than three to five months reserve is excessive.Visit my website at VoteCommonSenseHelotes.com for details.In 2019, the Texas Legislature changed the rules for calculating property tax rates. Those changes forced the council to lower the property tax rate to the “Voter Approval Rate” each year to avoid special elections. They could have lowered the rates more but chose not to, therefore they have no “bragging rights” for lowering the rates.May 2023www.heloteshighlights.com 5