There always seems to be a lot of hoopla over the Edwards Aquifer -- what is being added to it, what is already in it, is the filtration process good enough?

Now you can find out exactly what is in the water here in San Antonio, and if it is bad for you or not. The Environmental Working Group has published the findings of a stringent series of tests on all major municipalities' water supplies.

San Antonio ranked 29th on the list out of  100 cities studied. Being in the top 1/3 of all water in the US doesn't seem so bad, particularly since our water doesn't go through nearly as many treatments as other major cities.

If you are wondering exactly how San Antonio ranked 29th, there is a breakdown of the test results from each city. The San Antonio breakdown includes a list of the contaminents that were found.

Read the reports and decide for yourself if you are going with tap or filtered water from now on.

The SAWS board has agreed to an increase in your monthly water bill, and it is a result of a state fee. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has assessed new fees, and SAWS has decided to pass that cost on to the consumers by starting  a separate line item on your monthly bill to explain the increase in fees.

Luckily, the fee won't be much, as each household should only see an increase of less than .50. However, SAWS themselves plan on a small fee increase sometime in 2010 as well, meaning your bill could be raised twice next year.

Though both fee raises should be rather small even when combined, with CPS fees being raised as well, one has to wonder how much we will be paying for our utilities by the end of next year.

For the full breakdown of the fee increases and why they are needed, see the article in the San Antonio Business Journal.

It's that time again! Though a few places like Windcrest don't begin for a few more days, most of the big displays of holiday lights have begun here in the Alamo City!

My newest article has the rundown from the lights on the River Walk to drive-thru parks and displays across some of the nearby suburbs should you be in the mood for a short road trip.

If you have been to any of the displays or know of any others, let us know! Post a reply to this blog post below and have a happy holiday!

Have you ever thought of working in the hotel/resort industry? If so, one of the giants in that very arena will be holding a whopper of a job fair-- with 500-600 jobs expected to be up for grabs.

Even if you haven't thought of hotel/resorts as a career, if you are in need of a job like many who have been laid off, perhaps this is a way to start a new career or get at least a part-time job to tide you over until you find what you really want.

The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa will open on January 22nd, but many positions are needed sooner than that. These include management, guest services, spa, engineering, housekeeping and more. With two golf courses, seven restaurant/lounges, and over 1,000 rooms, there are jobs related to many fields that need to be filled.

The job fair is a three-day event starting tomorrow (Thursday) December 10th and going on through December 12th. For more information about jobs available and the hours of the job fair, go to the official website for the resort at www. jwsanantonio.com.

With the airing of the  BCS Announcement Show last night, the Valero Alamo Bowl matchup has finally been announced-- it will be Texas Tech vs. Michigan State.

As I previously blogged, this will be the final season where you see the matchup configured this way. Starting next year, the Bowl participants will be chosen from higher-ranked teams, giving the Alamo Bowl a higher profile amongst BCS Bowls.

For ticket information, visit the official Valero Alamo Bowl site to see what's available. Tickets start at just $25. You can also order by phone by calling (210) 704-6666. You will also find links to Ticket Exchange to buy and sell tickets from other fans as well.

It seems like all the weather types in town and nationally think that it's not a matter of IF it will snow here in San Antonio tomorrow, but how much and the ultimate question around here-- will it stick?

See, it has snowed a few times here in the Alamo City, but it rarely if ever sticks to the ground. You might see some accumulation on cars because the metal is super cold. But the ground? Not so much.

With predictions anywhere from 1/2 to a full inch of snow tomorrow, how much (if any) will stick? I am hoping for all of it-- what's the use of dealing with cold weather and rainy conditions if the snow doesn't stick so you can have snowball fights? That's my take, at least. What is yours?

For you early birds out there, if you have some time you may want to tune into "Good Morning America" on Wednesday, Dec. 2nd. That is the day that San Antonio will be featured as a part of the "Holiday Windows" series.

"Pride, Passion and Pinatas" is the name of the window designed by local artist Jill Giles. It features many aspects of San Antonio life and culture including the River Walk and Mission Trail.

Mayor Julian Castro will be on hand for the unveiling along with all-female mariachi band Las Altenas. For more information about the holiday window or the festivities surrounding the GMA visit, see yesterday's SA Business Journal article.

It's been a big year for David Robinson. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and now he is being honored by the only NBA team he ever played for, the San Antonio Spurs.

At tonight's game vs. the Philadelphia 76ers, the Spurs will honor the man known as the Admiral not only for his play on the court but especially for the good things he does off the court. In fact, the ceremony is called a Special Tribute to the Admiral and the Carver Academy. The Carver Academy is a school on the East Side that Robinson and his wife opened up to help underprivileged kids get a structured, private education.

Tickets are still available for tonight's game and start at just $10. If you can't make it out to the AT&T Center you can watch on FSN Southwest or listen in on the radio on WOAI AM 1200.

It is an annual treat for needy families that goes all the way back to 1969--the Elf Louise Christmas Project is a true San Antonio tradition. Last year, the project gave over 19,000 gifts to 5,800 underprivileged families.

This year as the down economy and unemployment continue to hit some families hard, donations are needed now more than ever. You can rest assured that over 99% of all money donations are spent on gifts and wrapping supplies, with less than 1% going to administrative fees like postage and envelopes. This truly is a non-profit that doesn't waste a penny of your donations.

To find out about the Elf Louise Christmas Project, read the new article about the Project that includes a short history and all the ways you can donate including Amazon, eBay and PayPal.

Before you tear into your turkey and feel the inevitable sleepiness that comes from the tryptophan, I would like to wish each and every one of you a Happy Thanksgiving.

From occasional readers to loyal ones, newsletter subscribers to those who may have just barely stumbled upon the site today-- I am humbled by your readership and can't thank you enough. All of you are one of the things I will most certainly be thankful for this holiday season.

Stay tuned to this blog for the latest in information about Christmas in San Antonio, and of course New Year's! I look forward to writing for you through this season and into 2010!