Weathering the COVID-19 storm

Starting a restaurant isn’t always easy business.

That difficulty was no doubt multiplied in 2020 when businesses were ordered to shut down and limit capacity.

Cinderella von Hach and Steven Startz started Le Citron European Cafe and Bistro in 2019 with the original goal of serving cheesecake and coffee to the New Braunfels community, but the pair said those goals quickly changed.

“I said, there is no way that is going to pay the bills,” Startz said.

Startz and von Hach met when Startz was working nights in the oil business. Eventually the pair made their way to New Braunfels where von Hach found the building Le Citron now occupies vacant. She said she was too excited to wait on securing the property for the future restaurant.

“I just went ahead and did it,” she said.

The idea for the restaurant has evolved over time, originally being a small cafe. But the pair leaned into the idea of the European bistro, offering more and more items from the old continent to hungry New Braunfelsers.

Von Hach isn’t shy about originally being from Germany, and she is excited to now offer some of the European treats she enjoyed growing up.

Despite the French name, Startz emphasizes that the restaurant is actually European.

“The cool thing about it is it leaves us open. We could have Polish food if we wanted to,” Startz said.

The first year

Startz said many restaurants don’t make it through their first year. The odds are low, and when the pandemic hit, it posed all sorts of challenges for Le Citron, which had only been open for less than a year at that point.

The pair had spent months putting the restaurant together, painting the walls and imagining the layout.

“It took a while … nine months,” von Hach said. “It’s a family operation. We had our kids in here painting. … Everything here is hand made, even this,” she said, pointing to the decorative siding on the wall. “Me and my daughter, we painted this, we caulked it, we used tools we’d never used before.”

Startz and von Hach said they had never owned a restaurant, so when the pandemic hit, the found something wonderful in New Braunfels they hadn’t discovered before.

“We’ve made a lot of restaurant friends now because we reached out like, ‘Hey, how do we do this?’ … ‘What printing paper do you use?’ Simple things, but simple things will hold up production,” von Hach said. “So we made friends with all the restaurant owners downtown and they are super great. There’s a restaurant community, so when COVID hit and stores were closed … and they were out of cake boxes or napkins, there was a great community right there.”

According to von Hach, restaurants were pulling together in the worst of the pandemic to help each other out, and for the two owners who were new to operating a restaurant, that community was priceless.

“That was kind of behind the curtain, how every restaurant downtown was helping each other out,” von Hach said. “That was cool. That was really cool.”

Moving Target

Even after making it past the first year, the pair said they are still learning. Those lessons go just beyond what hours to be open or what supplies to order.

“We had a crepe maker out front where we could make crepes and people could watch,” von Hach said. “But then we had so many orders coming in and just that one little crepe maker didn’t cut it for our customer traffic any more.”

That change resulted in moving the kitchen and redesigning the front of the restaurant.

“Steven built everything in here,” she said.

Startz said he often deals with the team in the kitchen and suppliers.

“I watch the numbers like a hawk,” he said.

In those numbers, he said he’s learned some important lessons.

“There’s only a few ways you can control costs in a restaurant,” Startz said. “That’s food cost and labor cost. That’s it. Those are the only two things you can control in a restaurant.”

“We learned a lot from knowing nothing to calculating food costs and making sure how to staff properly,” von Hach said. “We’d never done that before. It’s not easy.”

The menu has also adjusted over time. 

Startz’ claim to fame was the American breakfast plate, which he said the restaurant lacked in the beginning. Adding bacon or sausage, hash browns and French toast to the menu has been a blessing, according to him.

Now as spring and summer approach, the pair are ready for the rush of visitors in New Braunfels who will hopefully come in droves after being stuck at home in 2020. 

New Braunfels Jeep group stepped up when winter storm shut down the city

As the saying goes, when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

That attitude was evident in New Braunfels when a winter storm shut down most of the state, leaving residents virtually immobile, powerless and without water due to freezing temperatures and ice blanketing the roads.

For some residents who depend on delivered meals and medical appointments, life shutting down for a few days just wasn’t an option. One group in New Braunfels heard that call and stepped up to deliver.

NB Trail Team 6 is an online community of Jeep enthusiasts who in their spare time enjoy taking their vehicles out on trails and helping the community.

When the Meals on Wheels program, which is operated by the Comal County Senior Citizens Foundation, was going to be unable to deliver meals during the winter storm, the Jeep group’s members were contacted about delivering the meals to seniors in need.

“I think because we’ve been doing it so often, a lot of people just know who to go to in the event that something like this takes place,” said Rebecca Price, one of the group’s members.

She said that while many members of the online group were stuck at home helping their own families, there was a subset who were able to pitch in and deliver the meals when most other vehicles were stuck in driveways.

“In particular, I think we had 15 people help out because we also had people helping out with the food bank,” Price said. “So, I’d say about 20 people from the area who were able to help during that time. Some people had some issues with their water or electricity, and they said we’ll come out and help.”

Price said she was no stranger to driving in snow, so she and her Jeep were prepared to lend a hand. 

She said besides just delivering meals, the group’s members found themselves getting calls to take residents to warming centers and dialysis appointments.

“There were some people who had to get their dialysis done. … We were able to take some people to the dialysis center in the morning too. You are talking being up at 4:30 in the morning to get them there by 6:30,” she said. “It was pretty crazy.”

“You don’t realize what people’s lives are like that still have to continue on when something like this happens,” Price said.

She said the group was first organized with the intent to help New Braunfels and its surrounding communities, and during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the recent storm, the group has found many opportunities to help out.

“It’s nice to have that type of connection with people so if something takes place, they have somebody they can call on to be able to help,” Price said. “We’ve helped out with Meals on Wheels. … We volunteer wherever we can. We put ourselves out there to be that type of group.”

Socialization, fitness are key to cognitive ability

With aging, an unpleasant side effect many people experience over time is cognitive decline. But cognitive activity is not limited to just what happens inside someone’s head.

External factors, such as socialization, nutrition and physical activity can be major factors in someone’s overall cognitive health. 

“We put on an Alzheimer’s symposium each year, and what we talk about in there are ways to keep your brain healthy and to avoid cognitive decline,” said Terry Jackson, director of independent living at Eden Hill Communities in New Braunfels. “I often cite a book written by some folks here in town called ‘Pillars of Brain Fitness.’ Whenever we are working on strategies or activities for folks here, we often go back to that.”

She said those pillars include physical exercise — the most important pillar — social activity, good nutrition, stress management and good sleep. 

But it’s not always as easy as developing a habit of crosswords or sudoku, she said.

“People talk about the mental activity with stuff like sudoku, and that’s good, but you often get better at sudoku rather than improve your overall brain health,” Jackson said.

Those mind games go back to rote activity or memory, which aren’t doing much to get the brain active, she said. 

The Centers for Disease Control says cognitive function includes language, thought, memory, executive function (the ability to plan and carry out tasks), judgment, attention, perception and remembered skills. According to the CDC, many people never develop serious decline in their cognitive performance, and cognitive decline does not necessarily develop into dementia.

So when developing activities at Eden Hill, Jackson said she focuses on physical fitness, social activities, nutrition and stress.

She said daily interactions are some of the most important, but often some of the easiest to lose later in life.

“This is really more in keeping the brain well to prevent mental decline. Physical fitness gets oxygen to the brain,” Jackson said. “Social activities are so important because the brain fires so rapidly when you are involved in social gatherings, that just being around other people is huge for your mental well being.

“Obviously that’s been so hard during COVID. We offer communal living at Eden Hill, and that’s part of it. We recently had a resident move in who said they are so tired of isolating at home and would rather isolate around friends. And we are finding that here, that people can stay robust as long as they are maintaining those good social interactions.”

Because of that, she said the programs offered at living facilities has become event more important.

“The idea is real conversation, whether that’s in the context of dining with somebody or taking part in classes you like to do together or exercising together,” she said. “Happy hours — anything where true communication is needed because there is that give and take where the brain has to process what you are hearing and then what you are saying before you say it. The idea is that true engagement in meaningful conversation is a goal of those social activities.”

But the COVID-19 pandemic might have brought the deficient social interactions in people’s everyday lives to light for some.

“Part of the pandemic is becoming more isolated is the norm for seniors, and it can kind of creep up on folks,” Jackson said. “All of the sudden they realize they haven’t talked to anyone in a few days, especially if a spouse passes in their home and they are just not out and about. That’s when you see not only increased depression, but increased cognitive decline when folks aren’t having those interactions.”

Pedego rolls into New Braunfels with electric bicycles, tours and big plans

When visitors show up in New Braunfels, they find a picturesque American town with deep German roots. It almost makes a person want to glide on a bicycle, admiring the sights and sounds of the city.

That’s what Pedego New Braunfels owner Kristen Pokky hopes will bring visitors through her doors near Landa Park. The shop, located at 231 Landa St., is marked by a row of bicycles tucked beneath a small awning. But these bicycles have a secret.

They are electric.

Pokky said she hopes to bring her love of bikes to New Braunfels.

“I have always been a bike commuter. When I lived in Austin, I commuted on my bike whenever I could,” she said.

Pokky said after becoming ill she discovered electric bicycles could give her a freedom she felt had been lost.

“I became very ill with a muscle disease and could not walk or hike anymore,” she said. “I moved home to Texas where my friends and family were. It was here I discovered electric bicycles. A friend of mine named Matt let me ride his and it changed my life. Not only did I  feel I had no limitations, (but) I could park at the river easily and get in my daily swim at the Comal. I was gaining strength every day. E-biking healed me.”

But it was the charm of New Braunfels that brought her to open the shop after living in Taos, New Mexico and enjoying hiking in the wilderness for so long.

“I realized that what was missing from this charming town with a European feel was bicycles,” Pokky said. “And bicycle lanes, trails and bike racks. That’s when I started to look into opening a store here. I am not a business person. I am a nurse, but  I knew in my heart it would be a good fit for this town. 

“There are so many fun things to do here, whether you are visiting or live here. A bike is the best way to get around.”

Pokky said she ended up with Pedego bikes because she recognized it as No. 1 in electric bicycles in the United States. 

“Pedego has a variety of bikes for any of all of your needs, from folding bikes, to mountain bikes, commuters, cruisers and low step-through for people with physical challenges,” she said. 

“We strive to delight our customers and help them to choose the right bike for them.”

Pokky dreams of electric bikes zipping around New Braunfels and Gruene as residents and tourists enjoy the town. To help bring that dream to reality, she’s started a number of programs to get people off their feet and onto the electric bikes, which can be rented or purchased at the store on Landa.

“Pedego New Braunfels is offering a ‘Lunch n’ Ride’ every Wednesday. We will serve you lunch outside at our picnic table and afterwards you can take out the rental bikes and ride around Landa Park. It takes about an hour.” 

She said the tours can include up to four people but need to be scheduled in advance by calling 830-312-6704.

The shop also offers an antiques tour, guided history tour, food tour and river tour on the bikes, some with extra perks included. And Pokky says there is more to come.

Pedego will host an official grand opening April 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with surprises for visitors

EDITORIAL: New Braunfels Monthly March 2021

Hello New Braunfels, 

When I started working on this issue, I was stuck at home because of a pandemic. When I finished the magazine, I was stuck at home because the power was out and the roads were frozen. 

To put it simply, a lot can change in the span of a month. One minute you think the world is heading in one direction. A few ticks of the clock later and you are wrapped in a blanket waiting for the heater to kick back on. 

But sometimes you are measured by your resilience in the face of adversity, and this magazine is a testament to that. 

We didn’t allow the unique circumstances to deter us from bringing your attention to the bright and inspiring stories of New Braunfels. There’s too many to share. 

In this issue, you will find stories of an organization that helps people in difficult life situations, a new shop that will get New Braunfelsers and others onto two wheels and zipping around Landa Park, and two men who don’t get the recognition they deserve in the New Braunfels music scene.

***

As an aside: If you are a longtime reader of New Braunfels Monthly, you might be scratching your head about who is writing this editor’s note.

No, your memory isn’t failing you.

Yes, I was the previous editor of New Braunfels Monthly.

I’m happy to report that I have returned to serve as the New Braunfels Monthly editor. It turns out it’s difficult to get New Braunfels out of your system, and so I had no choice but to end up here again. 

I’m a big fan of hiking, and sometimes when I’m on an unfamiliar trail, the path takes me in an unexpected direction. I’ll meander toward the sun while I know my destination is in another direction, but what I’ve learned is to trust that the trail will eventually wind its way back around and bring to where I intend to be. That might not be the way I envisioned my trip, but it can be a necessary step in growth or adjusting for unforeseen obstacles out of my sight. 

In the case of hiking, it doesn’t hurt to bring a map, but in life there is no map, just an element of trust that you’ll end up where you need to be. 

My previous time in New Braunfels brought me to meet people and enjoy experiences that I won’t soon forget, and I hope serving as this magazine’s editor will once again bring me more of those. And I hope that I will be able to bring to readers the untold stories of this town that need to be shared with its many residents and visitors alike.

There’s no town like New Braunfels, and we need to make sure its history and current story are shared with all who discover it.

Lake Jackson man swims, rescues drowning boy

FREEPORT — When Randy Wilkinson reached his friend’s house Monday, he was greeted by a scream.

What started out as a trip to visit his long-time friend from college ended up being the difference between life and death for a child who had gone over a nearby bridge and plunged into the Old Brazos River.

Wilkinson had just arrived to help his friend, Brad Stephens, work on his hot tub and other projects around the house at about 5 p.m. Monday in Freeport near the Velasco Boulevard bridge when a scream that could be heard from Stephens’ property prompted him to hop back in his car and search for a source.

First thinking the sounds were coming from a nearby bait shop, he sped over and searched for an injured person.

“When I got on that side (near the bait shop), I heard it from the bridge and just jumped in (the river) and swam toward the bridge and saw this kid hanging onto the wood underneath the bridge,” Wilkinson said.

Underneath the bridge was a child, who Wilkinson estimated to be about 11 to 13, keeping his chin above the surface of the water after falling from the bridge and into the river.

“I was in shock that he was in there,” Wilkinson said.

As Wilkinson swam toward the child’s voice, a nearby man on the bridge hollered that a kid had fallen in the water, Stephens said. Just as Wilkinson had done, he headed for the source.

“I took off my boots and shirt and dove in from the T-dock sign to get to the center of the river,” he said.

Under the bridge, Stephens found his friend with the boy clinging to his back as Wilkinson rested on a pylon.

“So I made my way over there and we both just kind of slowly swam back over there toward the T-dock and both of us just pushed him out of the water and onto the … dock,” Stephens said. “(The child) suffered some serious leg damage. He broke his ankle, broke his knee, broke his pelvis.”

The child had hit his leg on what they believe to be a pylon in the water, causing enough damage to make it hard for him to swim out by himself, Freeport police said.

The 11-year-old boy was taken to CHI St. Luke’s Health-Brazosport hospital in Lake Jackson, Freeport Police Chief Ray Garivey said. The child’s right leg and ankle were fractured in five spots.

“It was such perfect timing, with everything that happened throughout the course of the day in general,” Stephens said. “If I hadn’t asked Randy to come over to help around 5 p.m. with some electrical issues — he pulled up at the right moment to hear that kid scream. Then one thing led to another and both of us were blessed to be there to save the kid’s life.”

Wilkinson, a resident in Lake Jackson, said he had never experienced a moment like that, describing the series of events of him diving into the water simply as “instinct.”

“I helped out during the hurricanes with a boat, but nothing serious like that,” he said. “Nothing life or death. I feel like he was just barely hanging on for dear life.”

The two men have been described as heroic by police department officials after the events that transpired.

“It’s amazing to see citizens risk their own lives to save someone else,” Garivey said. “I am very proud to be a part of a community with heroes like these two men.”

The difference between life and death for the child might have only been seconds if not for Wilkinson’s actions, Stephens said.

“Everything was so perfectly timed that if Randy didn’t make it over there, literally maybe five seconds after that it would have been too late,” he said. “The kid was hanging on by his fingertips. The only thing sticking out of the water was basically the kid’s chin because he had his head straight up.”

But even with his help, Stephens said, Wilkinson was the one responsible for saving the child’s life.

“Randy, he’s the hero,” he said. “No doubt about it. I made it out there to support him if he got in trouble or needed a breather.”

The situation could have been very tragic if Stephens and Wilkinson had not been there to save the day, Garivey said.

Wilkinson is a maintenance electrician in Freeport and has a 1-year-old daughter.