Special New Website Online for Caregivers  eMail News Blast 32    Working to Educate, Enlighten and Empower Caregivers Sign Up Now In order for this Blast to display correctly, please use the link below,"Forward to a Friend", when sending it to others. . (You may select multiple lists.)   View the Archive National Toll-Free Support Line for Caregivers of Military Veterans: 1 (855) 260-3274. Open Mon -Fri.: 8 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sat: 10:30 a.m.- 6 p.m. EST Greetings! New Stress-Busting Program Website A new website is now online for the Stress-Busting Program for Family Caregivers. It is located at:http://caregiverstressbusters.org.   The Stress-Busting program, white is free for participants, was designed to improve the quality of life for family caregivers who provide care for persons with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias by helping them manage their stress and cope better with their lives.   The Stress-Busting Program was developed through research conducted by Dr. Sharon Lewis and Dr. Denise Miner-Williams at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.   Caregivers who participated in this program in the past reported significantly lowered levels of depression, stress, and anxiety, and improvement in their quality of life. They also reported an enhanced ability to relax, manage stress, and an increase in self-esteem. For more details, see below. Below Is the Home Page for the New Stress-Busting Website: The web address (URL) is: http://caregiverstressbusters.org/. (also .net and .com).  A Brief Description of the Stress-Busting Program for Family Caregivers: The Stress-Busting Program provides caregivers information about stress (particularly stress associated with caregiving), how to deal with stress through relaxation and problem solving, and how to care for themselves while caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease or dementia. In addition, there is information about caring for a person diagnosed with one of these conditions.   The program consists of 90-minute sessions that occur once per week for 9 weeks, and is conducted in a small group setting with two group facilitators. Participants will be provided many resources including a handbook covering class material, a meditation CD, and a relaxation strategies DVD.   Currently, an ongoing series of sessions are scheduled in a variety of locations in Central and South Texas, including areas surrounding Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, the Lower Rio Grande Valley (Cameron, Willacy, and Hidalgo counties), as well as the South Texas Veterans Health Care System. To find a session near you, see below, or click on the Calendar link. In addition, more information is available from individuals in your area listed on the Contact Page. Examples of Upcoming Stress-Busting Programs: Please Note: Pre-registration is necessary.   For general information, or to be added to a wait list, please call 1 (866) 390-6491 (toll-free), or(210) 877-7987 (in San Antonio). Contact the listed facilitator to register for each specific session, such as those listed below. The comprehensive schedule in your area is listed on theCalendar link.      San Antonio Area:  When: Monday, October 3, 9 - 10:30 a.m. Where: Alicia Trevino Lopez Senior Center, 8353 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX (map) Description: Please contact Joye McQueen at (210) 558-0178 ext 231 or jmcqueen@wellmed.net to register, or for this session.   When: Monday, October 3, 1 - 2:30 p.m. Where: Caregiver SOS at Northern Hills, 14100 Nacogdoches, Suite 120, San Antonio, TX (map) Description: Please contact Rita Avendano at (210) 599-4614 or ravendano@wellmed.net to register for this session.   When: Thursday, October 6, 10 - 11:30 a.m. Where: Village at Incarnate Word, Garden Room dining room area, 4707 Broadway, San Antonio, TX(map) Description: Please contact Helen Flores, Director of Community Relations, Caring Companions, at(210) 764-8500 or hflores@ccofsa.com to register for this session. Flyer for printing/posting.   When: Friday, October 7, 10 - 11:30 a..m. Where: Bob Ross Senior Center, 2219 Babcock, San Antonio, TX (map) Description: Please contact Ginny Funk at (210) 822-6449 or ginny.funk@alz.org.   Lower Rio Grande Valley Area: When: Wednesday, October 26, 2 - 3:30 p.m. Where: Caregiver SOS, 5401 S. McColl St., Edinburg, TX (map) Description: Please contact Letty Guzman-Sanchez (956)-683-7180, (956) 238-0917, orlguzman@wellmed.net to register for this session, which is presented in English. Flyer for printing/posting.   Austin When: Thursday, October 13, 9 - 10 a.m. Where: Bethany United Methodist Church, 10010 Anderson Mill Road, Austin, TX 78750 (map) Description: Please contact Joan Conrad, (512)916-6180 or jconrad@capcog.org to register for this session. Please Note: Special sessions for caregivers of veterans will be announced as they are available. For more information, please contact Ronda Anderson, South Texas Veterans Health Care System,(210) 617-5300, ext. 13063, email: ronda.anderson@va.gov. Community Partnerships in Central and South Texas: Partners in this project include:  University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio South Texas Veterans Health Care System WellMed Charitable Foundation Alzheimer's Association, Star Chapter Area Agency on Aging of the Capital Area Area Agency on Aging of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Area Agency on Aging of the Coastal Bend Caregiver SOS by WellMed This project is supported in part by a grant from the U.S. Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Contact Information: Organizations, non-profits, and state, regional, and local agencies are encouraged to submit for consideration their information on meetings, educational presentation, or resources for caregivers (of seniors, members of the military, and children or adults who have a disability).   Please email details and pdf documents promoting the item, along with a contact name, email address, and phone number to: Sue Ellen Lewis, Editor, Caregiver SOS eNewsletters and eMail News Blasts, at:SueEllenLewis@msn.com; voice: 210-637-5116; fax: 210-493-2332. We look forward to working with you! Someone you know is a caregiver who is socially or physically isolated. We hope you will share information about the Caregiver Teleconnection, and help us build a circle of support for caregivers in our community.   Carol Zernial, Executive Director   WellMed Charitable Foundation

On Saturday, October 22^nd, 9:00am – 2:00pm, District 6 will be hosting a Fall Fido Festival & "Paw"-rade at the San Antonio Fire Academy , 300 Callaghan (back of building).  Please share this information with your community.  We plan on having the Paw-rade at noon.  Please come by, visit, show off your pooches, and take advantage of the many goodies, information and services available.  We'll have 100 trees to give away also!  Hope to see you and your costumed pooch!  

 

CIMS Projects in your neighborhood-Updates

I know that we are all back on track for our regular NA meetings and the first few meetings they will be filled with speakers and array of questions. I would like to update you on some important projects that are in your neighborhood. Some questions might come up and many should not since we have had various meeting with the NA"s and have responded to various media request as well. I hope that the information provided is of some use to you now or in the future. I will keep you posted if any changes occur.

 

Lackland Terrace Skate park-district 4

 

As you know by now they have started doing the concrete work in the early mornings to avoid the heat. Within the next week or so it should start taking shape where we can see the progress of this project. I will have more information for the meeting since this will be the first meeting for the new council in district 4. I do not know who will be attending from their staff.

 

Tom Slick Creek Park

 

Park improvements such as pavilion, playground, dog park, dog run, parking lot enhancements and security lights with additions such as the public art at the pond/late and installation of a new canvas material to existing playground shade structure.

Completion of the work should be on October 17^th. ( Dog Park completed; art enhancement component in the pond are ongoing; Pavilion is in place with footing/stab being poured today; restriping and resealing of park area on Timbercreek is scheduled for 9-19-11; canopy is being manufactured). Soon we will look at a ribbon cutting event at this location once all the major parts are in order.

 

Marbach Drainage

 

Reconstruction and Widen Marbach road from Military to Meadow Way to include 2-14ft wide outside lanes (bike accommodation lanes) with curbs and gutters, 2-12-ft wide inner lanes, 14-ft wide intermittently raised median with left turn bays and/or center turn lane and 6-ft wide ADA compliant sidewalks with wheel chair ramps, necessary drainage and traffic signal improvements. On August 18^thwe had a meeting with CIMS,NISD police, NISD (John Jay administration), NISD central office, construction company and others to discuss student walkway, barriers for entrance/exit, driveway openings, signal lights, emergency vehicle availability, bus routes for both school and VIA and temporary off-duty officers. We have answered all calls both positive and negative. The work for this much needed project is slated for completion on September 2012

 

 

Leon Creek Greenway loop trail

Design and construction of hike and bike trails along the Leon Creek area including all associated trailheads, trails and amenities for a stretch of creek approximately 2.3 miles in length. Pre-construction to begin late this week and project to be completed within a year