Boerne City Council on March 10 reviewed the draft Safety Action Plan being prepared with the Safe Streets for All Planning Grant, or SS4A. The plan helps receive federal funding for transportation and pedestrian safety projects.

The overview: Director of Engineering & Mobility Jeff Carroll said staff have been working on the plan since 2022, and, in 2025, City Council entered an agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. to complete the plan.

“This grant will put us to be ready for the future implementation grant,” Carroll said. “That’s where we can apply and get funds to design and potentially build these things we’re recommending.”

Between 2020 and 2024, 2,342 crashes were reported in the city of Boerne, with 36 of those crashes being fatal or resulting in serious injury. Around 48% of crashes were related to intersections.

“We are trying to get that 36 down to zero,” Carroll said. “And at the same time, putting a lot of effort into pedestrian and bike crashes.”

A food store offering organic and gourmet eats is about to celebrate a big milestone this spring in Boerne.

In case you missed it: Texas Gourmet Pantry celebrated its 10th anniversary with a special event on March 6, according to its Facebook page.

The shop first opened in 2016 and is located at 233 S. Main St., Suite B, on the Hill Country Mile in downtown Boerne. It’s locally owned by Melissa Stapleton.

The takeaway: Texas Gourmet Pantry offers a variety of gourmet food and snacks, home decor, collectibles and more, according to their website.

Some specific offerings include:

• Sweet treats
• Snack mixes
• Personal hygiene products
• Home goods
• Cooking and grilling needs

• 233 S. Main St., Suite B, Boerne

Families have until 11:59 p.m. March 17 to apply for the first year of Texas’ education savings account program, according to the state comptroller’s office.

The big picture: Under the $1 billion program, participating students will receive state funds for private education or homeschooling during the 2026-27 school year. It is unlikely that all applicants will be accepted, as application data shows more students have applied than the program can fund.

The program offers $2,000 to homeschooled students; $10,474 for private school tuition and related expenses; and up to $30,000 for students with disabilities. With demand set to exceed available funding, applications will be prioritized based on need and household income.

How we got here: State lawmakers created the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program in 2025, with proponents saying it will expand options for families who don't want to send their children to public schools. Critics of the program have said it will unfairly benefit students already in private schools and divert funding from public schools.