San Antonio Business Journal articles from December 2001

San Antonio Business Journal archives from December 2001

NY controversy follows new SATAI leader here: Tech-booster group backing their man.(Tony Fisher, San Antonio Technology Accelerator Initiative)
December 21, 2001... Tony Fisher thought he had stepped into the American dream in the summer of 1999 when he took a job as a compliance officer with a $900 million mortgage lending company near Albany, N.Y. But six months later, he found himself entangled in...

PacifiCare trims S.A. operations.(San Antonio)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Problems for PacifiCare of Texas continue to affect the company's San Antonio operations as the size of its local business office has been dramatically scaled back. And one company official says PacifiCare's long-term future in Texas is...

Local entrepreneur planning to bring back Solo Serve tradition. (The History).(Milton Goldstein)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... He waited almost seven years, but he finally got it. Last week, local businessman Milton Goldstein purchased a name that was a household word in San Antonio for more than 80 years: Solo Serve. Goldstein declined to divulge what he...

Alamo Bowl tackling the future in post 9-11 world.
December 21, 2001... Sylvania Alamo Bowl executives Derrick Fox and Rick Hill say they had a four-year plan in the works, and that this was the year that would catapult them forward. Then Sept. 11 happened. Fox, who is executive director of the Alamo...

Peace spray. (Talk Around Town).(Southwest Research Institute and the Marine Corps develops anti-traction spray)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 21, 2001... Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and the U.S. Marine Corps say they have developed an anti-traction spray to stop crowds and vehicles in their tracks. And it's higher-tech than a James Bond-style oil slick on the road. Called the...

SBC gifts Symphony. (Talk Around Town).(SBC Foundation gives $300,000 to San Antonio Symphony)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... The SBC Foundation has pledged $300,000 to the San Antonio Symphony over the next two years, according to symphony officials. The gift includes $200,000 for the orchestra in 2002, followed by $100,000 in 2003. The contribution is in...

Retail market. (Talk Around Town).(Fitch's predictions for Wal-Mart, Costco, Target)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Discounters like Wal-Mart, Target and Costco will continue to garner their share of the retail market in the coming year, according to a recent report from the trade publication Supermarket News. New York credit-rating agency Fitch...

Wrong photo. (Clarifications).
December 21, 2001... An item appearing in the Dec. 14 Talk Around Town column on page two mistakenly included a photograph of Eugene L. Ames Jr., the father of Gene L. Ames III. The item should have featured a photograph of Gene L. Ames III, president and founder...

Malls say Santa business is not in red this Christmas season.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 21, 2001... This year, Santa Claus only made only one stop at Rivercenter Mall. The, mall held a Santa arrival parade Dec. 15, and he was brought in on a river barge. Children who missed him that day will have to find him somewhere else in San...

Star Shuttle inks pact with VIA.(Star Shuffle and Charter, VIA Metropolitan Transit)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Star Shuffle & Charter has been awarded a multi-year contract by VIA Metropolitan Transit to provide service to the disabled that could generate as much as $25 million for the local company over the next five years. Board members with...

Engineering firm offering tech edge for unraveling city code.(Carter-Burgess Inc. helps break down the city's Unified Development Code onto a compact disc)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 21, 2001... Brenda Kelly's own version of the document is dog-eared and accented with highlight marker -- a sign of her efforts to study the 700-page document now known as the city's Unified Development Code (UDC). Given its cumbersome nature, Kelly...

Guadalupe electric co-op powers up for pending competition.(plans strategies)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 21, 2001... Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative Inc. (GVEC) is embarking on a series of strategic moves that are designed to make the power company more competitive if it ever decides to open its service territory to rival firms. While the...

New Century. (News Byte).(New Century Equity Holdings Corp. invests in Princeton eCom Corp.)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... New Century Equity Holdings Corp. is pumping $8.7 million in new financing into Princeton eCom Corp., an online billing and payment firm. The San Antonio company announced that it is investing $6 million, to be funded Dec. 14, and...

Grande Communications. (Week at a Glance).(awards contract to Marconi PLC)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Grande Communications Inc. has awarded a five-year, $80 million supply contract to Marconi plc of London for deep fiber. The San Marcos-based telecom service provider is currently deploying the fiber along the San Antonio-Austin corridor,...

Aptis Inc.. (Week at a Glance).(enters agreement with Cavalier Telephone)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... A Richmond, Va.-based telephone company has selected Aptis Inc.'s billing software, the San Antonio firm says. Aptis makes billing and revenue management software for telecommunications firms. Cavalier Telephone, a competitive local...

Harte-Hanks. (Week at a Glance).(Allink Daily Deposit Builder service)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Locally based Harte-Hanks Inc. has rolled out a new service designed to allow financial institutions to track customer transactions with the aim of retaining and bolstering accounts. The Allink Daily Deposit Builder is intended to analyze...

Development firm is staying with homes for the holidays. (Real Estate Roundup).(Texas Showcase Development L. L. C.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 21, 2001... Local real-estate development company Texas Showcase' Development LLC isn't slowing down for the holidays. On the heels of starting construction on two new retail centers here, Texas Showcase is also moving forward on infrastructure...

Finding direction. (Real Estate Roundup).(Compass Christian Lifestyle SuperStore opens in Castle Hills Market shopping center)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 21, 2001... A new retail store is hoping to inspire city shoppers. In the process, the business could also spur the rebirth of a once anchorless retail center. Compass Christian Lifestyle SuperStore recently opened its doors at 2211 NW Military...

The Home Team. (Real Estate Roundup).(HomeTeam Inspection Service opens office)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... There is a new real estate service in the city. The HomeTeam Inspection Service opened its first local office here on Dec. 1 at 2150 Pecan. Hollow, in North Central San Antonio. Clayton Campbell, who is the owner of the local franchise,...

S.A. nutritionist cooks up a 'monster' TV production. (Marketing & Media).(San Antonio, Mary Anthony demonstrates recipes on cooking segments)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Tis the season for holiday cooking -- which means cooks are hitting the road to demonstrate recipes on TV shows around the state. Mary Anthony, a local nutritionist and public relations account executive at Dublin & Associates, has been...

Speaking Of. (Marketing & Media).(television show information)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... "Speaking Of..." is a new addition to the CTSA-TV (Catholic Television of. San Antonio) weekly lineup. The live call-in show co-hosted by Father Edward Bernal, a well-known priest from St. Leo's Parish, and Steve Gengenbacher, director of the...

Creative Christmas. (Marketing & Media).(Creative Civilization introduces collective Christmas card)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Many people can barely manage to get their Christmas cards out, but Creative Civilization has upped the ante -- they compiled all the entries from the agency's Christmas Card Contest and packaged them into a wonderful booklet featuring 16...

IRS. (Washington Update).(and Treasury Department allow small businesses to use cash method of accounting)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department agreed to let service businesses with under $10 million in gross receipts use the cash method of accounting instead of the more complicated accrual method. Previously, the cash...

Bankruptcy filings. (Washington Update).(third quarter figures)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 21, 2001... A total of 359,518 new bankruptcy cases were filed in the third quarter of 2001, up 16.5 percent over the same period a year earlier. Bankruptcy filings this year are on pace to break 1998's record of 1.44 million. "Hangover consumer...

HUBZone money. (Washington Update).(finds two new outlets since funding stripped from Small Business Administration)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... The embattled HUBZone government contracting program won victories on two fronts on Dec. 7: The Senate added $2 million for the program to the $317 billion defense appropriations bill, and the General Services Administration (GSA) announced...

Realtors push bill to keep banks out of real estate. (Capitol Beat).(legislation introduced, powerful fight expected)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Congressional allies of the nation's 800,000 Realtors introduced legislation this month to prohibit banks from engaging in real estate brokerage or management, setting the stage for a major battle between two of Washington's most powerful...

Beware of junk-fee syndrome when refinancing your home. (Nation's Housing).(HUD investigating fee abuse; what you should know to avoid being a victim)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... If you refinanced a mortgage or bought a new home recently, were you mystified -- or angered -- by the number and costs of the fees you were charged? Were there some charges on the settlement sheet that you had never heard of before,...

What I really want for X-mas is useful technology.(technology for small business -- wishlist)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Dear Santa: Hey, it's me, "For the People" Patten. You know, the self-appointed, small-business technology advocate. I know this has been a tough year, Santa, with the terrorist attacks, the war in Afghanistan and the sinking...

San Antonio Places of Worship.(ranked by total individual membership)(Directory)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
December 21, 2001... SAN ANTONIO PLACES OF WORSHIP Ranked by total individual membership Name Address Total Total Average Telephone, Fax individual family Sunday Rank (Year est....

Advisory board. (Resource File).(San Antonio's Downtown Advisory Board accepting applications)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... The city of San Antonio is accepting applications for individuals interested in serving on the Downtown. Advisory Board. The, board oversees implementation of the downtown strategic plan and advises the city and other groups on policy matters...

Applications. (Resource File).(being accepted by St. Mary's University Small Business Institute; small business consulting services)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... The St. Mary's University Small Business Institute is presently accepting small-business applicants for the Spring 2002 semester. The Institute, which offers consulting services to local businesses, is specifically looking for businesses...

Banquet. (Resource File).(San Antonio Manufacturer's Association)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... The San Antonio Manufacturer's Association (SAMA) will have its 88th Annual Membership Banquet on Jan. 16. The event will be held at the Sonterra Country Club from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and will feature state Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander...

Second cut makes diamond of a business: Mom and pop make jewelry store shine. (Small Business Weekly).(Texas Diamond and Jewelry)(Brief Article)(Company Profile)
December 21, 2001... With the growth of traffic in the city, the expansion of Loop 410 from six lanes to 10 lanes will be a good thing. But if you're a business along the highway, making it through the construction may not be easy. This turned out to be the...

Montemayor y Asociados. (News Byte).(hires Zifa Esparza)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Montemayor y Asociados, a San Antonio advertising and marketing agency, has announced the hiring of Taco Cabana's former senior director of marketing as its new president/director of account development. According to agency officials,...

Toyota MR2 spyder can play with the porche boxster. (Auto Review).(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
December 21, 2001... Call this column "Return of the MR2 Spyder." But it's certainly no horror flick. In fact, car fans are cheering the return of an old favorite from Toyota. MR stands for Midship Runabout, the two-for-two seats. Oh, so it's another...

CRV Inc.. (News Bytes).(signs marketing contract with ManageSoft Corp.)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... CRV Inc. of San Antonio has signed a marketing pact with Nashua, N.H.-based ManageSoft Corp., a corporate software management firm. Under the agreement, CRV will offer ManageSoft's software warehouse and management system to its large...

United Way. (News Bytes).(of San Antonio and Bexar County brings in $38.4 million)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 21, 2001... United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County brought in pledges totaling $38.4 million this year, beating its 2001 expectations despite fallout from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the campaign's chairman announced. Officials had set a...

People on the Move.(includes multiple San Antonio-area hirings)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... ARCHITECTURE Rehler Vaughn & Koone has announced the recent addition of Gavin Daniels as a part of the architecture department. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University and has design and construction management experience. Insite...

If Santa had a jump shot, we might all get coal this year. (Sports View).
December 21, 2001... If Santa could knock a few down from three-point range, he could land an indoor gig with any of a dozen or so NBA teams and give up the cross-country haul and frostbite that has to be wearing on his old bones after all these years. ...

Bowled over. (Short Gainers).
December 21, 2001... As San Antonio prepares to host the ninth Sylvania Alamo Bowl, other games are ducking for cover from pundits who have less than glowing previews to offer. Alamo Bowl officials have high hopes. But some of Texas other bowl games are...

Pregame activities create excitement for fans and sponsors alike. (Alamo Bowl 2001 Preview).
December 21, 2001... The Texas Tech and Iowa fight songs will blast many times throughout San Antonio before the Sylvania Alamo Bowl's kickoff on Dec. 29. The songs will resonate during pregame events that will not only pump up the bowl's fans, but expose...

Alamo Bowl Calendar of Events.
December 21, 2001... SBC Southwestern Bell Alamo Bowl Pigskin Preview Site: The Alamodome Date: Aug. 8, 2001 H-E-B Texas Football Classic Site: The Alamodome Date: Aug. 31,2001 Alamo Bowl Hole-In-One Contest Site: Polo Field at...

Games gone by: Alamo Bowl History. (Alamo Bowl 2001 Preview).
December 21, 2001... The Ninth Annual Sylvania Alamo Bowl promises to be another exciting college football contest when Texas Tech meets Iowa on Dec. 29 in the Alamodome. In last year's game, a crowd of 60,028 watched No. 8 Nebraska upend No. 19 Northwestern...

School spirit: Masked Rider and a Hawkeye named Herky; The University of Iowa Hawkeyes. (Alamo Bowl 2001 Preview).
December 21, 2001... Colors: Black and gold Stadium: Kinnick Stadium Capacity: 70,397 Web site: (www.hawkeyefootball.com) Floyd of Rosedale To the winner of the Iowa-Minnesota football game goes possession of a statue of a pig named "Floyd...

Texas Tech University Red Raiders. (Alamo Bowl 2001 Preview).
December 21, 2001... Colors: Scarlet and black Stadium: Jones SBC Stadium Capacity: 62,000 (upon completion of renovation in August 2002) Web site: (www.texastech.com) Masked rider The tradition of the Masked Rider began at the Gator Bowl in...

Records & Statistics. (Alamo Bowl 2001 Preview).
December 21, 2001... Texas Tech Red Raiders * 1996 Alamo Bowl vs. Iowa; (L) 27-0 * Total bowl appearances: 24 * Bowl record: 6-17-1 * Largest bowl attendance: 70,218; 1994 Cotton Bowl vs. USC * Average bowl attendance: 34,622 * Obscure...

Red Raiders' King of Comal County at home in the dome. (Alamo Bowl 2001 Preview).
December 21, 2001... Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury once said that the downside to playing high school football in New Braunfels under a head coach that was also his father was simple: He was, he said, having to play for the livelihood of his family. ...

Year of uncertainty ends with familiar Alamo Bowl foes.
December 21, 2001... Almost nothing in America is the same as it was prior to Sept. 11. Terrorists and a failing economy have teamed up to see to that. But in San Antonio, at least on the gridiron, familiarity will help quell some of the disarray. When...

Dugas' playbook with Bowl extends beyond chairmanship. (Alamo Bowl 2001 Preview).(Alamo Bowl 2001 chairman, Norman Dugas Jr)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Securing a bright future for the Alamo Bowl has been the focus of its 2001 chairman, Norman Dugas Jr. His greatest work, he says, has been his involvement in current negotiations that would extend the bowl's agreements with the Big Ten...

Iowa faithful Betts on Hawkeyes' chances in the Alamo Bowl. (Alamo Bowl 2001 Preview).
December 21, 2001... This season started out as a bumpy ride for the Big Cruiser. But by the time the dust settled, Ladell Belts was only 474 yards short of becoming the leading rusher in Iowa Hawkeyes history. It's been that kind of a year for fans in...

Spotlight on Tech difference between Knight and day. (Alamo Bowl 2001 Preview).(Basketball and Football see major adjustments at Texas Tech)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Texas may be a football-frenzied state. But it is basketball that is attracting the biggest attention at Texas Tech. And that attention -- generated by the hiring of one Bobby Knight as head coach of the Red Raiders' men's basketball...

Texas Tech Red Raiders Head Coach: Mike Leach. (Meet the Coaches).(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Mike Leach, named head football coach at Texas Tech University in December 1999, knows he has a big pair of shoes to fill. After all, Leach now occupies the spot on the sidelines where legendary Head Coach Spike Dykes strode before his...

The University of Iowa Hawkeyes Head Coach: Kirk Ferentz. (Meet the Coaches).(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Coach Kirk Ferentz was named Iowa's 25th head football coach on Dec. 2, 1998. He joined the Iowa staff after serving as assistant head coach and offensive line coach of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He had been a part...

College Bowl Games. (Alamo Bowl 2001 Preview).(Brief Article)(Illustration)
December 21, 2001... College Bowl Games Bowl MATCHUPS New Orleans North Texas (5-6) vs. Colorado State (6-5) GMAC E. Carolina (6-5) vs. ...

Starting Lineups. (Alamo Bowl 2001 Preview).(Brief Article)(Illustration)
December 21, 2001... Iowa. (STARTING LINEUPS) OFFENSE: WR 9 Kahill Hill (6-3, 195, Sr.) LT 78 Robert Gallery (6-7, 300, So.) LG 56 Eric Steinbach (6-7, 284, Jr.) C 72 Bruce Nelson (6-4, 290, Jr.) RG 74...

Calendar.
December 21, 2001... The TOPS Leads Club meets every Friday at 11:30 a.m. at La Posada Del Rey Mexican Restaurant in the Lincoln Heights Shopping Center. For more information, contact Ed Guildersleeve at 666-6683. The Sundance Golf Course in New Braunfels...

Awards & Achievements.(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... The San Antonio Police Department received a $300 check from the Rainbow Hills Neighborhood Association in honor of the deceased police officer Sandra Johnson. The money was used to cover the costs of the West Side police substation's annual...

San Antonio Area Public Stocks. (Records & Leads).(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
December 21, 2001... SAN ANTONIO AREA PUBLIC STOCK. FINANCIAL DATA PROVIDED BY US GLOBAL INVESTORS INC. WEEKLY STOCK UPDATE Market Data as of 12/18/01 1 WK YTD 30-day Company ...

S.A. Money Rates. (Executive Home Showcase).(savings, loan and mortgage rates)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
December 21, 2001... S.A. MONEY RATES Savings Money Market 1 Year 2 Year Financial Institutions $2,500 (1) CD (2) CD (2) Acacia Federal Savings...

Being responsible. (Viewpoint).(auto insurance regulation in Texas)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Last month, the Texas Department of Insurance raised the benchmark auto insurance rates by a statewide average of 5.3 percent. It was the first time since 1996 that the state raised the rates, which take effect at the end of the month. ...

Following the road to what we do. (Guest Comment).(Brief Article)(Column)
December 21, 2001... You never know how anyone got to here. I guess you would call C.J. a beer drinking buddy. He and I cross paths fairly regularly at the same neighborhood bar and grill. It's at the point on the way home where I usually get fed up with the...

Economic outlook: Texas' metro areas still solid. (Economist).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 21, 2001... Back by popular demand, here's a look at economic projections for Texas' largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs). Forecasting is a difficult blend of art and science in the best of times. Given the current environment, it becomes an...

Top 50 Private Companies. (Opinion).
December 21, 2001... Andersen (formerly Arthur Andersen LLP) and the San Antonio Business Journal have teamed up again to provide a very special way to recognize San Antonio's leading privately held companies -- the Eighth Annual Top 50 Private Companies Awards....

Boards & Directors.(appointments)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Nancy Ann Brown Loeffler was elected a member of St. Mary's University's board of trustees. The following were elected to the San Antonio Group/Texas Chapter of The Risk Management Association's 2001-02 board of directors: Rebecca Jordan...

Wireless Internet. (Clarifications).
December 21, 2001... A story on page 10 in the Dec. 7 edition of the San Antonio Business Journal about wireless Internet service should have stated that San Antonio-based Hyperoam is also a local provider of high-speed wireless Internet services.

Scare tactics. (Capitol Beat).(banks in real estate brokerage and management)(Brief Article)
December 21, 2001... Large banks have a competitive advantage over local real estate brokerages because banks can access capital at lower rates, Edwards says. But Realtors contend they are not just defending their turf by trying to keep banks out of real estate...

Torpedoed G-man unit rising like phoenix from its ashes.(U.S. Customs Service agent blows whistle on agency corruption)
December 14, 2001... A former Internal Affairs agent for the U.S. Customs Service has come forward to shine a light on a sordid tale of alleged law-enforcement corruption, cover-ups, drug trafficking and suspected murder. The former agent, Steven Shelly, is...

Designing a better shoe.(graphic art services from Bradford Lawton Design Group Inc.)
December 14, 2001... Breadford Lawton prides himself on seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary details of life. In fact, it's that trait that keeps clients calling on Lawton and his graphic design firm, Bradford Lawton Design Group. Just take his...

Austin real estate group buys prime 430-acre site: Land surrounds Canyon Springs Golf Course.(HPK Ventures Inc. plans housing development)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... A limited partnership out of Austin is banking on the continued housing boom in San Antonio's Hill Country to bring success to its latest investment. Late last month, HPK Ventures of Austin purchased 430 acres out of the master-planned...

Tech-security center at UTSA may soon secure funding in Congress.(University of Texas (San Antonio) (UTSA))(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... The defense appropriation bill that passed the U.S. Senate last week contained $5 million for the Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS) at the University of Texas at San Antonio. While that is only half the amount that...

IntelliSolve Group. (Talk Around Town).(Intellisolve Group Inc. forms partnership with Congnos Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... San Antonio-based IntelliSolve Group Inc. is entering into a product partnership with Cognos, a leading provider of business intelligence solutions to some of the world's largest and most successful organizations. According to company...

Ames appointment. (Talk Around Town).(Eugene Ames appointed to Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... Eugene Ames, president and founder of San Antonio-based Ames Energy Corp., is one of 24 people appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. The commission promotes conservation and the efficient recovery...

SBC snags Moby. (Talk Around Town).(SBC Communications wins award for sales force automation)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... SBC Communications Inc., in conjunction with several other companies, has won honors for its use of wireless technology in its workforce. The San Antonio-based telecommunications company landed a 2001 Moby Award in the category of sales...

Talking point. (Talk Around Town).
December 14, 2001... CineSA is celebrating its third anniversary beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 21 at the Blue Star Brewing Co., located in the Blue Star Arts Complex in San Antonio. The event is free and open to the public. The organization provides...

Vista Insurance. (Talk Around Town).(Vista Insurance Partners Inc. opens office in Florida)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... Vista Insurance Partners Inc. of San Antonio, a wholesale insurance broker, has opened full-service office in North Palm Beach, Fla., expanding its reach to the Southeast. The firm provides underwriting and brokerage service on a number...

Development group plans two neighborhood retail centers.(Texas Showcase Development L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... Two neighborhood, retail projects are in the works here. The smaller project is located in central San Antonio -- in an area that has been hard-pressed for new retail development for some time. The larger project is located in North...

Gas prices. (News Byte).(in Texas)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 14, 2001... The price of gasoline continued to drop from November to December, according to a new monthly report by the American Automobile Association Texas in Houston. In December in San Antonio, the cost of a gallon of regular self-serve gas hit...

HomeSide. (News Byte).(Washington Mutual Inc. of Seattle acquisition)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 14, 2001... Washington Mutual Inc. of Seattle has agreed to acquire HomeSide Lending Inc., the U.S. mortgage arm of National Australia Bank Ltd. The sale includes HomeSide's servicing center in San Antonio and Jacksonville, Fla., where the unit is...

Local congressman plays critical role in anti-terrorism legislation.(U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith's bill on cybercrime)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... While most lawmakers saw the legislation they had been shepherding through Congress shelved immediately following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, saw his bill on cybercrime suddenly speed up and then break...

Foundation taps giving spirit to help lift community's spirit.(San Antonio Area Foundation)(Statistical Data Included)
December 14, 2001... Since 1964, the San Antonio Area Foundation has been making philanthropy easier for people who want to do good works in their community. The foundation is a repository and distribution source for all types of gifts and donations to...

H-E-B builds on new approach for its future store construction. (Real Estate Roundup).(conservation techniques)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 14, 2001... Locally based grocer H. E. Butt Grocery Co. is adopting some new construction techniques for its future stores. The buzz word in these new measures: conservation. For example, the company has put in place new landscaping and site designs...

Shopping around. (Real Estate Roundup).(Equity Residential Properties looking for takers)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 14, 2001... Chicago-based real estate investment trust (REIT) Equity Residential Properties is looking for takers for its multifamily portfolio. According to the latest issue of Real Estate Alert, the REIT is looking to sell a total of 23 apartments. The...

Anything but drab. (Real Estate Roundup).(Speegle Architecture's colorful touch on new retail projects)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 14, 2001... Local firm Speegle: Architecture has had the unique opportunity to put a colorful touch on some new retail projects. Speegle is doing the design for Dominion Advisory Group's newest retail projects: The Village at Ingram Park and Cross...

In other news. (Real Estate Roundup).(housing market is resilient)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2001... Despite the now-official recession and the economic fallout from the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the sky has yet to fall in terms of home buying. Inman News recently reported that the National Association of Realtors (NAR) has once again...