Home Care In Bulverde, TX

SAN ANTONIO - Homeowners in Bulverde are voicing major concerns over drought conditions and the water supply in their neighborhood.

The water provider for that area has been taking water from one neighborhood to supply other neighborhoods.

“First time we’ve had issues like this,” said Dan Sawyer who has been living in the Rim Rock Ranch Neighborhood in Bulverde for four years.

Sawyer said he knew aquifer levels were low and has been trying to conserve water.

“If you notice we’re not irritating, most of the places here have stopped watering their grass,” said Sawyer.

Recently, Sawyer said he realized trucks were pumping water from a nearby water hydrant to supply other neighborhoods.

“If we’re giving water to other places, how do we know that there is going to be enough water for our needs? Not necessarily our desires,” said Sawyer.

Texas Water Utilities released a statement that reads in part:

“Due to Rim Rock Ranch’s adequate well supply, we are confident that the system has enough water to share with its neighbors who are in need. To maintain water supply in neighboring communities, which are under stage four water restrictions, Texas Water Utilities is transporting water as needed from its system in Rim Rock Ranch, which is not under any drought restrictions.”

The Vice President of Operations at Texas Water Utilities, Tim Williford, said that because the water well at Rim Rock Ranch has adequate supply right now, the company is using that well to supply water for the Windmill Ranch Neighborhood and the Kestrel Airpark Neighborhood.

“If the water has been depleting in other places, then it may be depleted here,” said Sawyer.

Sawyer said he understands other areas need water but fears that if the well at Rim Rock Ranch drops too low, something catastrophic can happen.

“If there is a fire and there is no water or insufficient water for the pumpers to pump water up here then the ire department just watches the house burn,” said Sawyer.

In the statement released by Texas Water Utilities, the company said:

“Extreme drought conditions and reduced water in the upper and middle levels of the Trinity Aquifer are affecting well water production in some of Texas Water Utilities’ Comal County systems. The good news is that the wells located in Rim Rock Ranch have enough water supply.”

At Texas Carpet Baggers in Bulverde, a small town 25 miles north of San Antonio, Becky Feeley designs and sells custom, handcrafted handbags made from fine leathers and fabrics. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced retail shops to close temporarily, Feeley, who runs her store in the downtown artisan hub called Old Village, feared she would have to close her business for good.

“I’m having a hard time promoting bags because they mean nothing right now with all the horribleness and the pain,” she says. “It’s been hard to walk the ethical line between real suffering and trying not to lose my business.”

Jane Wood, who has owned Old Village for the last 60 years, and her grandson Charlie Wood, who helps run the complex, decided to assist the village’s 16 businesses with their rent during the pandemic, assuring that they won’t be kicked out. “Charlie told us to take rent off of our plates until we can get through this, which gives us the energy to be strong and push through,” Feeley says.

This break on rent has allowed Feeley enough time and creative energy to make 50 face masks, which she gave away in exchange for donations to Provisions, a local food bank. Feeley raised $600 for the food bank, and she is now transitioning back to making bags in hopes that her customers will be able to return to the majority women-owned shops and restaurants at Old Village. While there isn’t a set reopening date for all of the businesses, many, including Texas Carpet Baggers, are serving customers curbside. “There is hope in the Village,” she says. “We’re fighters, and we’re supported by a great landlord.”

Provisions has seen its operations change significantly since COVID-19, as many of the volunteers are elderly and staying at home. “I’ve lost about half of my volunteer staff,” says Weslea Miller, the executive director of Provisions. “But every day someone calls and asks if they can come volunteer, or send their teen to volunteer.”

The food pantry has shifted to minimum-contact drive-up service, where volunteers bring food to vehicles. In the last nine business days of March, Provisions signed up 56 new families in need. “That’s not a huge number, but considering we’re only open 20 hours a week, that’s a lot for us in a nine-day period,” Miller says. “And I anticipate that if guidelines loosen up, we’ll start seeing more people for a longer period of time. We’re here and happy to help, and boy, have we had great support from the community.”

After the announcement went out that schools were to close for the rest of the school year, Reverend Lupita Ecoff, executive director of Childrens Centre Los Niños, began receiving phone calls from people worried because their children wouldn’t receive school meals. The nonprofit, which usually provides weekend care packages of breakfasts and lunches for impoverished children, is now providing weekly care packages to ensure those in need are receiving protein, dairy, produce, and essential health items.

In the last three weeks, Childrens Centre Los Niños went from serving 50 families to 100 families with weekly care packages. “The families we were seeing were impoverished and free- and reduced-lunch families,” Ecoff says. “Now, since COVID-19, it’s families whose parents are unemployed and seniors who live alone and haven’t left their houses at all.”

Childrens Centre Los Niños, which is accepting online donations, has seen an increase in support from citizens volunteering to make meals and collecting clothing and produce. “It’s an interesting network of people coming together,” Ecoff says. “One retired couple wanted to adopt a family during COVID, with an emphasis on a family with teens. And we have a high school senior who volunteered to take meals out to families with parents who were working or don’t have transportation. I’m grateful because our community is seeing the need and responding without any prompting.”

Bulverde – At an arena, just north of San Antonio you’ll find a rodeo that puts the bull in Bulverde. The Tejas Rodeo Company offers a regularly occurring rodeo from March to November each year and it herds in people from all over the place.

“If you haven’t seen a rodeo and you’re from Texas, you haven’t lived life,” said Yancey James. James makes up half of the team that put this little show together. “We’re just part of each other’s life on a daily basis,” said Trey Martin. Trey Martin is the other half. “We each bring different things to the table,” stated Trey.

These two Texans came up with an incredible concept, a weekly rodeo that takes place at a venue that takes Texas culture to the extreme. It’s like a Lone Star State theme park. “We really do offer a true taste of Texas here,” said Trey.

Now Trey, grew up in Devine, went to Sul Ross and became a big-time lawyer. In 1993, he bought 71 acres in Bulverde not knowing one day it would turn into one of the most sought-after places on Saturday night.

“I can’t really call it a job, because I’m doing what I love,” expressed Yancey. James is from Kerrville and he was a professional bull rider a few years back. But in 2006, they found themselves in a team event they never expected. “We kind of joined forces, and the next thing I knew, in a big whirlwind, I’m knee deep back in the rodeo business,” joked Yancey.

Watching bulls and blood and the dust and mud and hearing the roar of the Saturday crowd isn’t the only reason to get out to Tejas, they also have one superb steakhouse. “What we’re known for is our KC steak. And that stands for Kansas City. Well, believe it or not, that’s a west Texas method of cooking. They would take a piece of meat, and they would heavily season it, and they’d pan sear it. And it’s that seasoning and the pan searing where you lock in that flavor,” explained Trey.

“When these people come, they want to drink, they want to eat. They want some entertainment, and so that’s what intrigued us to go on and build various different venues inside of the big venue itself,” said Yancey.

There’s even history on the walls of the restaurant. From Winchesters, Colts, to turn of the century chaps. “Most of the stuff was in my house. And so some of it’s my father’s, so I know it all and I like it all or I wouldn’t have had it there, wouldn’t have put it here. So we got a lot of favorites,” explained Trey.

Despite the darn good steak and the amazing mac and cheese, you just can’t come out of the chute and say the Tejas Rodeo Company is an amazing restaurant because it truly is so much more than that. “So everybody looks at us as a rodeo and a steakhouse, but we’re a working ranch. So our day starts at seven in the morning and it doesn’t end until seven at night. We house about 50 head of horses. Probably 20 head of cattle and sheep. The whole nine yards. So it’s a full-time job in itself,” said Yancey.

For the cowboys and cowgirls showcasing their grit and guts, this great venue is also a proving ground to get to the next level. “When you’re a rodeo cowboy, you’re trying to rodeo somewhere every day. That’s your job. That’s your life. That’s what you do. It’s no different going to the office. You miss two or three days, you don’t get paid for two or three days. So it’s a good filler for the pro cowboys. And it’s a good stepping stone for the younger athletes coming up, trying to go into the professional ranks,” explained Yancey.

Keeping things country and keeping up with the traditions we’ve had in Texas all these years is what the Tejas Rodeo Company is truly trying to rein in. “I don’t want to say the Western lifestyle’s a dying breed, but it’s definitely not as prevalent as it was 30, 40, 50 years ago. And so it struggles a little bit, but it’s a true way of life for people still to this day,” said Yancey.

“Keeping the Western heritage alive, I think is important to both Yancey and I, and really just putting on a good show and keeping it all clean,” stated Trey.

Want something sweet after the Thanksgiving holiday? A new sweet spot in the Hill Country has warm cookies and cold ice cream sandwiches that could satisfy any sweet lover's cravings. Confetti and Cream will hold its grand opening on Saturday, November 26 in Bulverde, according to a social media post.

The ice cream shop is located at 2420 Bulverde Road, Bulverde, TX 78163. The 996-square-foot building was renovated on August 15. The scope of the work included painting, replacing fixtures, adding lights, and adding commercial sink and kitchen appliances, according to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing.

Confetti and Cream will have ice cream, of course, but the shop will also have freshly baked cookies, brownies, mini pies, small cakes, milkshakes, floats, hot cocoa, and lattes, according to the website menu.

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The Niznik family, the owners of the ice cream spot, moved to Bulverde from San Antonio in 2021. Jessica Niznik, the mind behind Confetti and Cream, grew up surrounded by desserts. Her mother was in the cake business and her father was in the ice cream industry. Confetti and Cream is her dream finally come to life, according to the Confetti and Cream website.

MySA reached out to Confetti and Cream for comment on the new store.

Another ice cream spot, Handel's Homemade Ice Cream will soon be bringing its grape-flavored scoops to the Alamo City in early 2023.

Despite the damage, the owners of The Makery and Verde Bistro said they feel supported by the community after the fire.

BULVERDE, Texas — After a fire ripped through a building in the Old Village in Downtown Bulverde on Saturday morning, the owners' say it reignited overnight causing more damage.

On Sunday, the owner of The Makery, a metalsmithing studio, said the fire burned through the rafters making the roof unstable and building unsafe to look inside.

"The fire flared up again overnight," said Francesca Watson. "They [firefighters] think it started up in the attic space which is where most of the damage was yesterday."

Watson said her phone notified her of motion detected inside the studio on Saturday morning. When she pulled up the video to watch it, she saw fire and smoke inside her business.

"By the time we got here the worst of the fire was out but the damage was extraordinary," said Watson.

Among the things Watson lost included antique jewelry benches, student workspaces, specialized equipment, a wash stand from her grandmother and photo of her mother. Her husband lost his entire unsold catalog of paintings.

The couple also lost their studio cat Sterling.

"Unfortunately, she didn't make it. That's the worst because everything else can be replaced but I can't help but think she must've been so scared," said Watson.

The Makery wasn't the only business affected by the fire. The Verde Bistro, which is owned by Mari and Oscar Olivas, also suffered from heavy damaged and a collapsed roof.

"There is no way to walk around it. It's really bad," said Mari Olivas.

Despite the damage, both women are remaining optimistic, grateful to the firefighters who helped and have received support from the community. Watson said friends showed up to help board up windows and Olivas said others are helping them raise money to rebuild.

"With everybody's support I know that we'll be able to do that," said Olivas.

The Bulverde Spring Branch Area Chamber of Commerce has established a donation site to help with immediate needs and employee assistance.

There is also another fundraiser for The Makery.