The Boerne Star (Boerne, Tex.), Vol. 92, No. 28, Ed. 1 Tuesday, May 7, 1996 Page: 4 of 16
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Tuesday, May 7, 1996
The Boerne Star
Page 4A
Opinion
SIDEWALK SURVEY
By Rebecca Dunn
DOODLES
Pointers
AAAM
AN
Parting has really been no sorrow at all
10 W^k
HO WOUA
Brittany Spaniel
Mt Dim Cy m
AC DO9C DDIGA
Stanley Hahne
Dogs and Cats
Linda Lott
Judy Snouffer
2
EDITORIALS
*ASKS at
Governmental Meetings
Lisa Dechert
Boerne
Bom Higgs
Fran Craig
Joe Lasiey
Worst: “One had a
litter of puppies.”
Rob D’Amico
Mike Galamneau
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Curt Littman, Eleanor Crow
Worst: “The cats
tore the front
screen off the door.”
Best: “They alert us
when someone’s
coming,"
Worst: “They tear
up our plants in the
garden.
By
Leon
Aldridge
Dogs, Rabbits
and Cats
THE BOERNE STAR (UPS 059-740) is published twice weekly for $28
per year in Kendall and adjoining counties, $35 elsewhere in Texas
and $50 per year outside of Texas by the Boerne Star, 282 N. Main,
Boerne, Kendall County, TX. 78006. Second Class postage paid at
Boerne, TX.POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to THE
BOERNE STAR, P.O. Box 820. Boerne, Texas 78006-0820
Best' “She’s a good
friend and takes
care of both of us.”
• The Boerne City Council meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, 402 E. Blanco. 249-9511
• The Fair Oaks Ranch City Council meets the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 at City Hall, 7286 Dietz Elkhorn. 698-0900.
• The Boerne ISD board of trustees meet the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Administration Office, 123 W. Johns. 249-2567.
• The Comfort ISD board of trustees meet the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Administration Building, 327 High Street.
995-3664.
• The Kendall County Commissioners’ Court meets the second and fourth Monday of each month in the Courthouse Annex, 204 E. San Antonio
Street. 249-9343.
EDITOR and PUBLISHER
Leon Aldridge
COLUMNISTS
Ken Nietenhoeffer, Mary Alice Yelverton, Vera
D’Spain, Regina Alexander, Carmen Langbein,
Louise Foster, Paul Kirtley, Joe Doenges
Wil II h
San Antonio,
formerly of
Boerne
Worst: "My
rabbit almost bit
my finger in half.”
Samoyed
nd Ch
Daniel 7e
Kelley Glick.
Katy Guerrero
Worst: “The worst
thing she does is chase
my daughter’s cats,”
NEWS
Managing Editor
News Editor
ADVERTISING
Director
Representative
Classified
CIRCULATION
Subscriptions
Distribution
BOOKKEEPING
Office Manager
PRODUCTION
Composing
FOR EXAMPLE,
ACCORDING TO OUR
NEW A. 77/GS SYSTEM
THERE ARE FOUR
INFRARED IMAGES
IN THE POODLES
LIVINGROOM POISED
ATTENTIVE)
BEFORE THE T.V.--
Best: “My dog
is always pounc-
ing at the door,
waiting for me ”
Member of
National Newspaper Association,
Texas Press Association,
South Texas Press Association,
Texas Gulf Coast Press Association
The Greater Boerne Area Chamber of Commerce
What kind of pet do you have? What’s the
best or worst thing your pet does?
The Boerne Star
282 N. Main, Boerne, Texas 78006-0820 (USPS 059-740)
phone 210-249-2441 Fax 210-249-4607
Tourism leads the way
in stated economic role
—.ourism is economic development And as the
third largest industry in Texas, travel and
I tourism is largely responsible for the state’s
strong economy. In 1994, tourism pumped $24.5 bil-
lion into the state’s economy and employed 435,000
Texans.
These jobs range from those in high profile sectors
such as hotels, airlines, restaurants and attractions,
to less profile sectors like gas stations, bookstores,
film processing stores, construction and retail. It is
estimated that for every $56,250 spent by domestic
and international travelers in Texas, one job is creat-
ed.
Because of this vital industry, Governor Bush
declared May 5-11 Texas Tourism Week. I encourage
Texas communities throughout the state to unite and
recognize the importance of the Texas tourism indus-
try and how it affects the state economy.
Although we celebrate tourism week annually, this
industry is extremely important for our economy
throughout the year. In fact, tourism contributes a
substantial amount to state and local tax revenue.
Tourism produced $946.8 million in state tax revenue
and $709.4 million in tax revenues for local commu-
nities in 1994. Without this revenue each Texas
household would pay an additional $615 a year in
taxes, or an amount equivalent to approximately six
cart loads of groceries.
As the state's lead economic development agency,
the Texas Department of Commerce promotes Texas
as a premier travel and tourism destination through
national and international advertising, media rela-
tions, travel industry sales, and product development
programs. Texas is still solidly in front of Florida as
the second most visited state in the nation. In 1994,
166 million domestic visitors and 5.3 million Interna-
tiona! visitors traveled to Texas. Approximately 1.2
million domestic inquiries for Texas travel information
were received and fulfilled by the Texas Department
of Commerce and the Texas Department of
Transportation as a result of the state tourism adver-
tising campaign in Fiscal Year 1995.
By Brenda F. Arnett
Executive Director
Texas Department of Commerce
Wilbert Worley
Boerne
Best: “I enjoy bird
hunting with them in
South Texas.”
Karen Carlos |
Boerne -
Send your comments to
282 N. Main Street,
Boerne, TX, 78006.
Or F. X them to 249-4607.
Be sure an include your full name,
address and phone number.
Write a Letter...
Best: “The cats
are the best bug
catchers you can
have. If a moth
gets in ... it’s gone.”
opportunity to make nominations to
the advertising “Hall of Shame” —
the all-time worst type of television
ad — and to include any other com-
ment they desired about television in
general.
So how did television stack up in
this informal survey?
Respondents rated their area tele-
vision stations as ... excellent-08
percent; good-12 percent; fair-24
percent; not very good-34 percent;
and “lousy”-22 percent.
As for commercial time activity
...07 percent said they watched
faithfully; 09 percent walked the
dog; 44 percent headed for the
kitchen; 32 percent visited the facil-
ities; 08 percent did something else
away from the set.
Viewer’s reports on programming
in general offered that ...05 was very
good; 09 is good, but not outstand-
ing; 19 leaves a lot to be desired; 39
percent needs an overhaul; and 28
percent just “stinks.”
And finally, commercials rated
...08 informative; 12 percent “hit
and miss for intelligence; 22 percent
were an insult to intelligence, 30
percent should be ignored; and 28
percent said commercials were so
bad they should be ignored.
As for the “Hall of Shame?”
The overwhelming majority said
the worst television ads were the
variety where the business people
themselves tried to be the “star.”
They especially noted as “corny” the
type that featured the owner/manag-
er performing sensational stunts
such as smashing furniture, scream-
Village Band places city
on the international map
oerne can lay claim to many things that ‘put it
on the map,’ but at least one of the city’s claims
____no fame gives it a prominent spot on the inter-
national map.
The Boerne Village Band was honored Sunday
with Germany’s “Pro Musika-Plakette” making it the
first German band outside the Republic of Germany
to receive the prestigious award for German bands
in existence for more than 100 years.
This is just one more of several awards and hon-
ors the band has garnered in recent years. In addi-
tion, the 136-year-old band has been the feature of
several magazine and newspaper articles.
Local historian Col. Bettie Edmonds (USAF
Retired) deserves special recognition for her efforts
in helping to achieve this latest recognition for the
band.
And all our hats are off to the Boerne Village Band
for not only this recent award, but for representing
the community, helping to preserve the area’s strong
German heritage, and for giving Boerne its rightful
“place on the international map.”
Leon Aldridge
Star Editor and Publisher
C ometime this fall will mark 19
years since the divorce.
W) Looking back, I can see where
the break up was necessary.
The whole relationship was a real
waste of time. While it seemed like
fun when we were together, after-
ward I felt cheated. I could never
feel good about the hours we threw
away with no lasting value at all to
account for the time — none.
Forty-eight hours of football on a
weekend. Three to four hours a night
of prime time. Hooked on mini-
series or a soap opera. What a waste.
Truthfully, correcting the situation
was easy. I needed no help to go
cold turkey. No counseling was
needed to simply switch the
damnable device off and walk away, its appeal with viewers, the resulting
Never had the first withdrawal pain, drop in ratings and the loss of adver-
Never the first regret. tising dollars squandered on televi-
But, as Shakespeare noted long sion.
before television, parting can be Especially interesting was an arti-
such sweet sorrow. In addition to cle in one of the big city papers
realizing how much time I had been reporting on a recent survey con-
wasting, I also had grown tired of ducted in another state up in the
having my intelligence insulted by mountain region, one of the Dakotas
the offerings pitched into my living I think it was.
room while I was married to a tele- The poll, although admittedly
vision set. somewhat unscientific, did shed
Oh sure, when VCRs hit the mar- some light on the average viewer’s
ket a few years later, I was weak- opinions that are most likely not
kneed. The allure was to much. I limited to the area where the poll
went crawling back to the “boob was taken.
tube. But only to watch taped ver- The survey asked viewers to rank
sions of the classic flicks from the the local television stations in one of
good old days. You know, the ones five categories — excellent; good;
made when acting made a movie fair; not very good; or just plain
great — not sex, violence and foul "lousy."
language. And the taped movies They were also asked to report on
were great. Free at last from ludi- their activities conducted when tele-
crous commercials, vision commercials come on. ing, throwing objects or performing
The split was also good for my Activities to choose from included otherwise “asinine” stunts.
family. Both my kids came along watching faithfully walking the Other added comments included
post t.v. and restricted television dog; heading for the kitchen; visit-
viewing was one of the best things I ing the “little room;” or leaving the "... all television is basically
did in the child rearing arena. television for other activities not lousy.
As teenagers today, they have listed above. "... local programming is the
select (and parental approved) pro- A survey of programming in gen- worst. If it weren’t for satellite, we
grams they watch, but they don’t eral was taken asking respondents to would not watch television.”
camp out in front of the idiot box offer opinion of programs as very ... I get embarrassed watching
every day. In fact, the television good; just good, but not outstanding; local news people.
often goes for days without being leaving a lot to be desired; needing •• I never watch commercials,
turned on. an overhaul; or just simply as They re hokey, stupid and not
And outside of taped oldies, “stinks” believable.
there’s been no reconciliation. Talk The next question asked viewers "... Too much repetition of the
to me about the weather, about a to qualify television commercials, in same old commercial over and over
good book, or about what my kids or general as very informative and and over.
my dog’s doing, but don’t ask me appealing to one’s intelligence; “hit Enlightening? Very. But the sur-
about what’s on television. I won’t and miss” for intelligence; an insult vey also confirmed my suspicion
have a clue, and I could care less. to the viewer’s intelligence* should that not much has changed in the
Maybe I was ahead of my time, be ignored; or they’re “so bad, I nearly 20 years since I walked out.
but it’s been interesting to read late- never watch them ” ′ Parting is such sweet sorrow — or
ly where television continues to lose Respondents were also offered the sometimes, no sorrow at all.
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Aldridge, Leon & D'Amico, Rob. The Boerne Star (Boerne, Tex.), Vol. 92, No. 28, Ed. 1 Tuesday, May 7, 1996, newspaper, May 7, 1996; Boerne, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1620080/m1/4/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Patrick Heath Public Library.