SCENE IN SA - Summer 2025

DELI BROS

Sakib and Saagar Shaikh

Berit Mason

SUMMER 2025

San Antonio’s Original Locally Owned and Grown City Magazine – Est. 1999

William Ziller | Publisher Ayesha M. Malik, JD | Executive Editor

Nick Blevins | Managing Editor

Kaylin Ledford | Associate Publisher

Luna Infante | Assistant Editor

Leslie Foley | Social Editor

Gabriella Martinez | Advertising Sales Director

Bethany Castro | Social Media

Carrie Rodriguez | Ad Designer

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Berit Mason Jules Aldaz Novasoul

ABOUT OUR COVER

Photography by Torry Sledge of Quantum Lotus Labs

Styling By Max Musas; Wardrobe courtesy Gautier

Magazine Layout and Design by Nick Blevins, Luna Infante, and Ayesha M. Malik WE'VE

District 8 City Council candidate Sakib Shaikh and Deli Boys actor Saagar Shaikh pose in front of a Pakistani truck art-inspired backdrop, painted by Shek Vega, inside of the D.R.E.A.M. art district's Gravelmouth Gallery in April.

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P.O. Box: 13423 Blanco Road #290, San Antonio, Texas 78216

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Scene In SA Magazine (ISSN 1942-6852) is published four times per year by Scene Monthly, LLC. Copyright © 2025 by Scene Monthly, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Printed in San Antonio, Texas by Shweiki Media.

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Celebrating over 80 years, the firm has represented corporate officials, doctors, lawyers, judges, legislators, journalists, athletes, entertainers, public officials and others. Dedicated to improving our Justice System and holding prosecutors accountable.

G&O represented exoneree Michael Morton, who wrongfully served 25 years for the murder of his wife, resulting in the reform of criminal discovery in Texas and the first ever criminal conviction of a prosecutor for the intentional suppression of favorable evidence. The firm represented exoneree, Hannah Overton, whose capital murder case was reversed and dismissed, got the first confession of error for Texas’ youngest death row inmate, and continues to seek vindication for Cameron Todd Willingham, whose wrongful execution was based on junk science.

iG&O has successfully represented prominent business, professional, and public figures facing criminal and regulatory difficulties, including a U.S. Congressman in the Abscam Scandal, wrestler “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, rappers 2 Live Crew, NFL and NBA players, former Panamanian President Manuel Noriega before the United States Supreme Court, a lawyer in Operation Brilab and Gonzo journalist Dr. Hunter S. Thompson.

So. Much. Good. Food.

We all love to eat, and our best people were on the job this season, tracking down the absolute tastiest bites. Fiesta’s Taste of the Republic and the Brighton Center’s Taste of the Northside both sourced a palate-pleasing array of talented chefs; and hey, if that snippet whet your appetite, check out my feature on the winner of Scene In SA’s first-ever Top Taste of Texas award to find out which dish was voted number one!

…Do you feel that? Did it just get a whole lot cooler out here? That’s right, Novasoul is bringing back his lovingly-curated, dance-inducing selection of tasteful tracks—the Summer Vibes playlist—just for you. Check out his thoughts on each selection in the pages ahead, and maybe find your new summer obsession. Queue it up at your next gathering, and enjoy the deeply satisfying experience of everybody asking you, “Who’s this?”

Hearing brothers Sakib and Saagar Shaikh tell their story for this issue’s Puro SA (and cover!) piece reminded me a lot of my brother and I growing up. To younger brothers everywhere: you are seen. You need not always play the Tails to their Sonic, the Luigi to their Mario; you, too, can be player one. Thanks again to Burgundy and Shek at the D.R.E.A.M. district’s Gravelmouth Gallery for opening up your space for a really fun interview.

Congratulations go out to our 2025 Best SA Lawyers! If you find yourself in need of various legal services, we’ve got a range of professionals nominated by their peers, ready to serve your needs. If your situation is more, let’s say, internal, our 2025 Top SA Surgeons will get you all patched up.

Finally, this letter was written in late June. For a number of reasons lately, I’ve been thinking about propriety; about the standards of behavior, and why we do what we do. Expression is a universal part of being alive. It contextualizes and personalizes each and every individual journey on this planet. A very special part of where we live is the freedom to be the people we choose to be, at home and in our community. As precious as that is though, it’s not a given. If you care about the health, happiness, and continued wellbeing of those around you, please make sure to stay informed, stay alert, and stay empathetic.

Hold your loved ones close,

Nick Blevins Managing Editor

Kudos

Thank you so much! We are so grateful for friends like you!!

~Diana Barrios Trevino

Los Barrios Restaurants

I absolutely LOVE the [Women Making Waves] article!! It was just perfect! Thank you so much for being a part of this journey!!

~Karen & Drew Meyer

The Mermaid Cafe

William Ziller Publisher Ayesha M. Malik, JD Executive Editor

Nick Blevins Managing Editor Kaylin Ledford Associate Publisher

Leslie Foley Social Editor Bethany Castro Social Media

Gabriella Martinez Advertising Sales Director Luna Infante Assistant Editor

Carrie Rodriguez Ad Designer

The 60s Sapphire Club

By Leslie Foley

This year, San Antonio Gardenia Fine Arts Club is celebrating six decades in the city, making the sapphire the symbol of its 65th anniversary. Julian Gold presented spring fashions, utilizing club members as models. The fashion show’s opening act—a musical number—was conceived, designed, and produced by Melissa Gonzalez and the Wonder Theatre, featuring club members Gonzalez, Mary Doggett, and Beth Erwin. Attendees, dressed in 60s-style attire and shades of sapphire blue, sipped, shopped, and socialized, raising funds for fine arts students and special events in San Antonio and its surrounding areas. ■

Clockwise from top left: Sophie Kocurek; Beth Erwin, Mary Doggett and Melissa Gonzalez; Kendall Mazurek; Floral Centerpiece; Caro Canales and Heather Miller Co-chairs Kori Williams and Renee Wright with Kathryn Howie, club president; Christi Tidwell and Barbara Zars; Karen Bonney and Janie Everheart

STAY INFORMED AND PREPARED WITH THE WEATHER EXPERTS ON

CHIEF METEOROLOGIST

RICKY CODY

Les Brunch des Chapeaux

By Leslie Foley

Les Brunch des Chapeaux celebrated the arrival of spring elegance to benefit the Autism Community Network. The festive, sold-out luncheon featured French flavors, refreshing cocktails, and the latest fashions from Julian Gold, featuring the Zimmermann line. Hosted at The Argyle, Violinist Brett Detweiler welcomed guests as they enjoyed a live painting courtesy of AnArte Gallery, and opportunities to purchase sparkly surprises generously donated by Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry. Guests sipped their glasses of bubbly retrieved from the strolling champagne table as they oohed and aahed over the fabulous event. Following brunch, fashions, speakers, and prizes, the celebration continued at the afterparty, where sips and snacks were served. ■

Clockwise from top right: Brooke Leddy and Eva Reza Holliday; Autism Community Network CEO Tiffany Fresher and Michael Fresher; Live painting, "Queen of Many Crowns" by Ana HernandezBurwell with AnArte Gallery; Jennifer Johnson and Kristan Northington; Sandy Saks, winner of the best chapeaux, with Carroll Dorsey Walker, who graciously donated Top Topper Prizes

Bottom Photo: Top: Kathryn Mollicone, Kay Harig, Kathleen Whittle, Maryanne Guido, and Mary Bartlett. Bottom: Erica Buttacavoli, Brett Soules Nuenhoffer, Jenness Gough Coelho, Ashley Timbrell, and Kathy Worth

Blooms B rims &

By Leslie Foley

The Winston School of San Antonio hosted its 39th Annual Gala & Auction, Blooms & Brims: A Toast to Growth. Guests were greeted by Mariachi performers before settling in for the evening program consisting of auctions, fine dining, and a VIP Casino Party. Dr. Mark Weinstein and Mrs. Ellen Weinstein were honored for their extraordinary impact and contributions to the Winston School. They shared how their experiences began with personal challenges.

In the early 1980s, the couple faced a frustrating reality familiar to many parents: their son had learning differences that were being inadequately addressed by San Antonio’s existing educational options. Rather than simply accepting this limitation, the Weinsteins embarked on a remarkable journey together. On September 4, 1985, their vision of a brighter educational future became a reality when The Winston School of San Antonio opened its doors to 75 students. Now, 39 years after its founding, the school stands as a living testament to Mark and Ellen’s belief that every child deserves an education that recognizes unique potential.

This premier fundraiser played a pivotal role in supporting the academic needs of the Winston School’s students, enabling the institution to offer tuition assistance to its students and professional development opportunities for its outstanding faculty. Funds raised enabled students to bloom to new heights. ■

Clockwise from top left: Sara Sarabia, President of Winston School Parent Association; Dawn Hooker, Director of Advancement; Patricia Butler, Winston Parent; Dr. Michelle Spoonemore, Head of School, and Veronica Saenz, Winston Parent; Kristian Shah, Dr. Ravi Shah, PharmD; Sarah Drake, DNP; Dr. Safa Rubaye, and Ashley Hernandez; Kristian Shah, Dr. Ravi Shah, PharmD; Sarah Drake, DNP; Dr. Safa Rubaye and Ashley Hernandez; Teacher of the Year, Carie Clewett, and husband Drew Clewett; Fiesta Royalty: Rey Feo LXXVI Fabian Castillo, Sr. and Prime Minister Javier Oliva

SABORMANIA! Fiesta 2025

By Nick Blevins

This year's Fiesta celebrations were a vibrant reminder of San Antonio's wealth of culture and delicious, inspired cuisine.

Your friends here at Scene In SA ventured out to a number of different events, and share all the highlights!

Photography by Nick Blevins, Bethany Castro, and Torry Sledge

Benjie's Munch Takes Home Scene In SA's Top Taste Award

By Nick Blevins

Chef Benjie De Los Santos, proprietor of the eponymous Benjie’s Munch located just off the intersection of Bitters and Blanco, has been on a tear for years. You may have seen his team in the Munch Truck criss-crossing San Antonio, or visited their Hops & Hounds location for a bite with your four-legged friend. “New American Global Comfort Food,” the term Chef Benjie uses, is apt: chickens-onsticks and giant corn dogs share menu space with Vietnamese-inspired Pok Pok chicken and spinach & artichoke dip; a fine foodie’s dream.

Hot off the heels of a busy Spring season, the award-winning chef continued his winning tradition by snapping up our very first Scene In SA Top Taste award at this year’s absolutely packed Taste of the Republic Fiesta celebration. In addition to taking home a very stylish and functional trophy, we wanted to catch up with Chef Benjie to understand not just the intent that goes into crafting innovative and exemplary dishes, but also the recipe for doing so year after year.

Representing Texas’ Gulf Coast region, Chef Benjie’s dish was a blackened shrimp and blue crab spinach spread, with black bean and roasted corn pico, served atop a crispy wonton.

“People know our spinach artichoke dip, and basically that’s what I used,” Benjie explained, noting “that’s the one that’s won all the competitions.” He then proceeded to enumerate three distinct types of crustacean used for the updated version, including fresh blue crab, “and we added like seven pounds to a double batch that came out really nice.”

Each element of the entree was mused over for months, from the succulent, spiced blackened shrimp placed prominently—jewellike—at the top of the dish, down to the crispy wonton base bravely holding the entire presentation aloft atop its golden shoulders.

“When they first announced who’s doing what region, we started playing with the food a little bit. We tried it with some red tostadas, we tried it with the flour tostada, we tried it with a fried flour tortilla; we even tried it with a spring roll wrapper, and that one didn’t work. We ended up settling on a crispy wonton, which is basically an egg roll wrapper that we cut into four and fried, and uh, I didn't realize how much work that was gonna be. [laughs] It was a lot of work.”

It paid off: Scene In SA was on site surveying the many attendees at Taste of the Republic, asking them to name who provided the dish they enjoyed most. Toward the end of the evening, a count confirmed the consensus, sending the Munch team home with a new, well-deserved award for their displays.

Benjie’s victory makes even more sense once he shared a bit more about the level of preparation that suffuses his team’s whole operation, the result of a decades-long culinary career spent climbing the ladder, rung by rung.

“I’ve been in food service since I was like 15 and started washing dishes, worked my way up to bus boy, and server, line cook, prep cook, culinary manager, front-of-house manager, executive chef, food service director; I’ve been all those things in different capacities,” he explained. “You learn how to put things together and how to manage.”

There’s a genuine affinity for the process that’s evident as well, like when he spoke about the work that’s gone into some of his past Taste of the Republic dishes. “I get to be creative with whatever I need to do, so it makes me think, it keeps me on my toes. I gotta figure out exactly what we’re gonna do and how we’re gonna do it, and put it together to make it go fast.”

Benjie also credited his team, citing the amount of work involved in making food that’s as delicious as the first time, every time.

“We work hard to make sure that the flavors are consistent, and we've been pretty successful because the people that help me work with what I ask them to do. I show them how to do it and they run with it. I've got a good group of people that help me out.” ■

Benjie’s Munch is located in the north central side of town at 1218 W Bitters Rd #107. Their south central “Munch Truck #2” at the pet-friendly Hops & Hounds is located on 119 Avenue B, and you can follow the original Munch Truck at benjiesmunch.com. Online ordering available on the website.

Courtesy Chef Benjie De Los Santos

The Master of Chicken

By Leslie Foley

Culinaria hosted its annual Master of Chicken competition at The Alley on Bitters to recognize tasty chicken sandwiches. Fried, grilled, smoked, or baked, the chicken was complemented with special sauces, surprising spices, and garnishes placed on different breads for guests to enjoy while the Masters golf tournament played in the background. Attendees were each given two green golf tees to drop in a bowl at their favorite restaurant. That’s right— the winner was selected by popular vote! Local chefs brought their best version of a chicken sandwich and competed for the title: The Master of Chicken Guests placed their votes for their favorite, and the winner, Meadow Neighborhood Eatery + Bar Chef/Owner PJ Edwards, was awarded the winning title and received recognition for his creative chicken sandwich recipe. ■

Clockwise from top right: The Master of Chicken winner is Chef/Owner PJ Edwards from Meadow at the Alley on Bitters with his green Master jacket and Master of Chicken trophy; Chef Aaron Juvera from Southerleigh at the Pearl served a famous fried chicken slider oozing with flavorful goodness; Phillip and Jessica Gonyea from Olmos Park's Krazy Katsu served a Samurai's favorite bite: Katsu Chicken, Nanban Glaze with Purple Slaw and Nori; Culinaria fans Dr. Pam Tackett and Neal Nations sampled all the chicken sandwiches; the Master of Chicken logo; Owners and husband/wife team at Bilia Eatery in Castle Hills: Bryan Rojas and Mariana Wong served a flavorful chicken sandwich with a touch of Miami flair; Letia Tenhave and Zachary Tenhave served samples of Surtierra Tequila created to support San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, proceeds of which support scholarships for Texas students; Abel Salazar and Ann Marie from Meadow at The Alley on Bitters served a Jalapeno Pimento Cheese + Fried Chicken Sandwich with Green Tomato and BBQ Sauce; A.C. III, from Bar Loretta in the King William neighborhood sampled a flaming hot Cheeto chicken sandwich with poblano ranch crema, cotija, jalapeno and micro cilantro; attendees browsing the offerings, deciding who will stand alone atop the culinary apex that is, the Master of Chicken

Central Texas Roots with a Statewide Reach, and Beyond

Our firm is proud to have ten attorneys recognized among San Antonio's Best Lawyers for 2025 by Scene in SA. At Valdez & Treviño, we specialize in insurance defense and complex civil litigation, providing clients with seasoned representation grounded in rigorous legal strategy and proven trial experience.

With a track record spanning thousands of successfully litigated matters, our attorneys deliver informed, precise advocacy across Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico and beyond. From personal injury and product liability to professional malpractice and insurance coverage, Valdez & Treviño remains committed to safeguarding our clients’ interests with clarity, skill, and unwavering dedication.

B e yo n d Borders

Redefining Fashion in the Heart of Texas

By Jules Aldaz

San Antonio, long known for its rich culture and colorful traditions, is stepping into a new identity—one stitched in creativity, diversity, and international design. At the heart of this evolution are four powerhouse visionaries: Saige Thomas, Rosa Isela, GeedaJ Fikes, and Max Musas. Together, they are transforming the Alamo City into a global fashion hub—one runway, one collection, one conversation at a time.

This isn’t just a fashion moment. It’s a cultural shift—and it’s happening now.

THE

WEARABLE ART WITH A MESSAGE

“San Antonio is unstoppable. We’re building with soul, talent, and purpose—and there’s no turning back.” – Rosa Isela

Rosa Isela is a Mexican-American milliner whose couture hats are more than accessories— they’re storytelling vessels. With every piece she creates, she honors her roots and invites others to do the same.

As the Regional Director of Fashion Group International for San Antonio and Austin, Rosa is not only elevating her own brand—she’s opening doors for others. “My brand carries soul,” she says. “Each hat connects cultures and empowers women.” To her, international fashion means freedom: the freedom to discover herself through other cultures and the courage to create with authenticity.

“Fashion is not just something you see—it’s something you feel,” Rosa shares. “Being yourself is your greatest luxury.” Her commitment to mentoring others, fostering collaboration, and bringing global conversation to local talent is why she’s one of the most respected figures shaping the region’s future.

ARCHITECT OF EXCELLENCE

“My work is about bridging cultural and creative visions with impeccable execution.” – Max Musas

Max Musas, founder of Musas Runway International, brings global elegance to San Antonio’s runways. With production experience spanning the U.S., Mexico, and Europe, Max understands the craftsmanship behind luxury fashion—and how to deliver it at the highest level.

His productions combine Milanese structure with Texan flair, elevating the standard for what fashion shows can be in the region. “Couture is not just about the clothing—it’s about the entire experience,” he explains. Max’s events reflect his commitment to precision, inclusivity, and luxury. From call sheets to casting, every detail is handled with care.

He believes San Antonio is on the brink of transformation. “There’s a hunger here,” Max says. “Designers, stylists, and producers are ready to rise—we just need to give them the right stage.”

THE

VISION: CULTURE MEETS COUTURE

“We aren’t just playing dress-up. We’re performing a full triage of the fashion entrepreneur.” – Saige Thomas

For Saige Thomas, President and Executive Producer of the Texas Fashion Industry Initiative (TFII), global fashion begins with community and purpose. “Why wouldn’t we want to share San Antonio’s beauty with the rest of the world?” she asks. Her journey—from producing NYFW shows for Mumbai’s Archana Kochhar to launching culturally rich runway experiences here in Texas—proves that international fashion and regional identity don’t have to compete. They can collaborate.

Through TFII, Saige is setting a new standard: one that supports designers from all backgrounds with education, contracts, transparency, and opportunity. “We include dietary preferences on our model forms because everyone deserves to feel seen and respected,” she says. Her attention to detail reflects a deeper mission—to create a sustainable, inclusive, and globally aware fashion ecosystem in San Antonio.

ISLAND TRADITION, WORLDLY DESIGN

“My goal is always to remind people of nature’s beauty—and to show them they can wear it.” – Geeda J. Fikes

GeedaJ Fikes, creator of Geeda J Fashions, brings her Caribbean heritage to life with every stitch. From fishing-net-inspired rope dresses to woven straw gowns seen at Texas Fashion Week, her designs merge natural elegance with avant-garde edge.

Raised in the village of La Plaine, Dominica, Geedaj grew up surrounded by vibrant wildlife and ocean landscapes, which still inspire her work. “I grew up watching fishermen mend nets and women braid straw. Those textures and stories live in my collections,” she says. Her custom design process is intimate and intentional. “They’re not just wearing a dress; they’re wearing a story,” she says. Her fashion classes at the San Antonio Public Library further her mission to inspire and educate the next generation of designers, proving that couture doesn’t have to come from Paris to be powerful. ■

Max Musas, founder of Musas Runway International

WISHLuncheon WomenInspiringStrengthandHope

By Leslie Foley

Giving back in style while making dreams come true!

Make-A-Wish Central & South Texas hosted the chic and charitable WISH luncheon in March, bringing together our community’s movers and shakers, AKA inspiring women. This group is making a difference and fulfilling the organization’s mission of granting life-changing wishes for children diagnosed with critical illnesses. Wish kids Kenzie and Xierra, alongside their families, shared their inspiring stories, demonstrating how a single wish can be life-changing and provide hope and joy during some of life’s toughest moments.

Attendees sipped and shopped at the exclusive marketplace filled with unique and stylish finds, viewing the latest spring fashions from Mayra Farret, founder of Fashion Taste Makers TX. Guests also had the opportunity to indulge in delicious cuisine paired with fine wines and signature cocktails, leaving them satisfied as they donated generously. The annual fundraiser was successful, prompting toasts celebrating 40 years of wishes. The foundation has granted more than 6,500 wishes in the local community since 1984! ■

Clockwise from top right: Sashaying the runway; Stylish from head to toe; Ready for the summer heat; Adriana Spencer, Leslie Lloyd, Lindsay Sebek and Melinda Cain; Table of attendees having a bit of fun; Christina Snell, Lorena Kieser, Andrea Taurins, Emily Franke and Amy King; Roxana Gomez selling products from WAPA Handmade; Bri Longoria purchased a new hat and band from West Hill Hat Collection

Summer Soirée Playlist 2025

Article & Selections by Novasoul

THE PLAYLIST

Artist Song (Record Label)

edbl Just You and I (EDBL Records)

Pieces Of A Dream Warm Weather (Elektra)

Kokoroko Closer To Me (Brownswood Recordings)

Michi, Gabriel de Rosa Memmy (Recuerdo) (Stones Throw)

Lewis Ofman, Alicia te quiero Siesta Freestyle (Profil De Face)

João Selva Quero Você (Underdog Records)

Sonya Spence Let Love Flow On (High Note)

Congratulations are in order, we made it to another sizzling Summer! Without exaggeration, I think we deserve a break from these intense headlining days, don’t you? Adults need Summer breaks too. And let there be no shame in how you choose to enjoy your time away; take a siesta, join one of the many trending running clubs, book a sojourn from our city, plan a staycation, touch some hot sand with bare feet, or catch some salty warm waves.

Speaking of waves, I have been honored to once again collaborate with my friends at Scene In SA to select some sound waves that I feel our souls need now more than ever. This year’s Summer Soirée Playlist was curated as melodic medicine with the intention of bringing us closer together through movement. Whether that be intimately to your significant other, or stepping in sync with a future friend on a dance floor as these tracks transition from breezy, simmering soul, to sprinkles of uptempo Afro-Latin baile and disco beats.

Disco, you say? Yes, the music that never dies (thankfully), and for good reason, since its four-to-the floor percussion patterns and infectious soulful vocals gave birth to several genres like house, techno, electro, early rap, nu-disco, and even hyper pop. Additionally, the opulent disco parties of the 1970’s popularized by our Black, Latin, Gay, and Queer communities helped usher in larger dance clubs and thus more advanced sound systems to accommodate these posh open spaces. Earlier this year, I was blessed to deejay a couple of personal ‘bucket list’ events, including The WEBB Party’s Studio 54 disco themed fundraiser! Alas, born decades too late, and not in New York, my feet would never glide across the dance floor at the infamous night club. However, these scintillating rhythms reached my ears via my parent’s immaculate disco and funk vinyl collection, and thus my passion poureth.

My second dream event was in February when I deejayed San Antonio’s unique annual Newlywed Block Party which occurs at midnight on the eve of Valentine’s Day. It's a truly magical occasion when dozens of couples simultaneously say “I do” on the steps of the Bexar County courthouse in front of a massive gathering of family, friends, and fans of romance. Being a native to SA and having provided music entertainment for a plethora of weddings, I have I always wanted to soundtrack this fiesta of love. Aphrodite must have heard me when I was hired for this year’s party at Main Plaza! Participating in commitment ceremonies has become grounding for me, as I am reminded of this eternal universal truth: LOVE RULES ALL.

Inspired by both of those euphoric experiences (and an ounce of naiveté), I selected these twenty songs of the Summer Soirée Playlist for their themes of love, self-love, celebration, and baby-making tempos, all sonic stimuli for us to get closer together. It seems nearly common knowledge by now, but thanks to decades of continuous scientific data, dancing has been shown to have positive psychological benefits, elevating our feel good hormones which can reduce our stress and increase our social connections. With that in mind, muévete, and blast this playlist everywhere! ■

George Benson Give Me the Night (Warner)

Curtis Mayfield Summer Hot (The Boardwalk Entertainment Co.)

Samantha Schmütz, Adrian Younge More Than Love (Linear Labs)

TOKiMONSTA, Oby Onyioha Enjoy Your Life (Young Art Records)

NxWorries Everybody Gets Down (Stones Throw)

Suté Iwar [escapism] (Outer South)

VHOOR, Mc Britney Desce Vai (Aquecimento)

Nubiyan Twist Breeze (Dub Version) (Strut Records)

Reyna Tropical Conocerla (Amantes Del Futuro Remix) (Psychic Hotline)

Durand Jones & The Indications Flower Moon (Dead Oceans)

Jenevieve Head Over Heels (Interscope)

Amaria All I’d Ever Known (Fashionably Early Records)

SAULT K.T.Y.W.S. (Forever Living Originals)

Note: this entire playlist is safe for work, featuring no expletives or provocative subject matter.

Novasoul, aka Robert Gonzales, is a San Antonio based DJ and independent record label owner/artist. For booking info: djnovasoul@gmail.com

Upcoming Novasoul DJ performances:

‣ How We Do at Jandro’s Garden Patio. A monthly hip hop and beats showcase hosted by Jose ‘Spy MC’ Perez.

‣ We Need SOULutions at Carmen’s de la Calle. Spoken word open mic monthly hosted by Andrea ‘Vocab’ Sanderson.

Follow on Instagram: @_novasoul for complete DJ schedule & event details.

THE LAW OFFICE OF Bobby Barrera

Past President of the San Antonio Bar Association

Super Lawyers ©

Rated by “Super Lawyers” 2016 - 2025 Criminal Law, State & Federal

Honored by his colleagues as one of San Antonio’s Top Five Criminal Defense Lawyers for 2017, 2018, Voted #2 in 2020 _________________________________

Top DWI Defense Lawyers for 2014 -2024

Voted #1 in 2022

Voted as one of San Antonio’s Best Criminal Defense Lawyers for the last 20 years

San Antonio Best Family Lawyers as published in Scene In SA Magazine

41 Years Jury Trial Experience

• Murder and Homicide Cases

• Sexual Assault - Domestic Violence Assault

• Federal Drug and Smuggling Cases

• DWI Cases, Intoxication Manslaughter

Best SA Lawyers 2025

In SA is pleased to honor lawyers in San Antonio and Bexar County who were nominated as Best SA Lawyers across various specialities in our 21st annual survey of their peers.

APPELLATE

Nadeen Abou-Hossa Gonzalez Chiscano Angulo & Kasson, PC

Zachary B. Aoki Thurman & Phillips, PC

Scott M. Bage Law Office of Scott M. Bage, PC

Gerald H.Goldstein Goldstein & Orr

Per Ann Hardy Law Offices of Per Hardy

Leslie Hyman

Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey, PC

Angela Moore

Angela Moore Attorney At Law

Michael J. Murray Guerra, LLP

Dan Pozza Pozza & Whyte

J. Caleb Rackley Guerra, LLP

Robinson C. Ramsey Langley & Banack, Inc

Eduardo Salazar Goldstein & Orr

Mark Stevens

Mark Stevens Law Offices

Catherine M. Stone Langley & Banack, Inc

ARBITRATION & MEDIATION

Hilary A. Bell

Bell Ripper, PLLC

Ronald Barry Brin Brin & Brin, PC

Aric J. Garza

Aric J. Garza Law, PLLC

Michael W. Jackson Law Office of Michael Jackson

Donald R. Philbin, Jr.

Donald R. Philbin, Jr, PC

John J. Specia Plunkett, Griesenbeck & Mimari, Inc

BANKING

Steven R. Brook Langley & Banack, Inc

BANKRUPTCY

Robert L. Barrows Langley & Banack, Inc

David T. Cain Law Office of David Cain

Allen M. DeBard Langley & Banack, Inc

David S. Gragg Langley & Banack, Inc

Randall A. Pulman Pulman Leflore Pullen & Reed, LLP

Kerry S. Alleyne Simmons Pulman Leflore Pullen & Reed, LLP

Natalie F. Wilson Langley & Banack, Inc

BANKRUPTCY / CONSUMER

David T. Cain Law Office of David Cain

William R. Davis Langley & Banack, Inc

BUSINESS & CORPORATE

Stephen A. Aguilar Michael Best & Friedrick, LLP

Kelli M. Borbon King & Sommer, PLLC

Tiffanie Clausewitz Clausewitz Reyes, PLLC

Kristen Elizondo Elder Bray & Bankler, PC

Grant M. Gaines Patel Gaines, PLLC

David Gard Langley & Banack, Inc

Katrina Leigh Hamrick Hamrick Law Firm

Kathlyn E. Hufstetler Patel Gaines, PLLC

Sarah R. Irwin Patel Gaines, PLLC

Leslie C. Kassahn Kassahn & Ortiz, PC

Janet L. King King & Sommer, PLLC

James K. Lowry Flume Law Firm

Rahul B. Patel Patel Gaines, PLLC

Ryan C. Reed Pulman Leflore Pullen & Reed, LLP

Shellie R. Reyes Clausewitz Reyes, PLLC

Eileen E. Sommer King & Sommer, PLLC

Eric Whittington Dublin & Associates

BUSINESS LITIGATION

Nadeen Abou-Hossa Gonzalez Chiscano Angulo & Kasson, PC

Michael Arispe

Aric J. Garza Law, PLLC

Kelli M. Borbon King & Sommer, PLLC

Elliott S. Cappuccio

Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey, PC

Jenna C. Castleman

Castleman & Associates, PC

Steve A. Chiscano

Gonzalez Chiscano Angulo & Kasson, PC

Tiffanie Clausewitz Clausewitz Reyes, PLLC

Stephen T. Dennis Clark Hill

Grant M. Gaines

Patel Gaines, PLLC

Aric J. Garza

Aric J. Garza Law, PLLC

Herbert S. Hill Curl Stahl Geis, PC

Joe R. Hinojosa Barkhurst & Hinojosa, PC

Kathlyn E. Hufstetler Patel Gaines, PLLC

Byron L. Leflore, Jr.

Pulman Leflore Pullen & Reed, LLP

Leslie C. Kassahn Kassahn & Ortiz, PC

Peter L. Kilpatrick Langley & Banack, Inc

Roger D. Kirstein

Langley & Banack, Inc

James R. Old, Jr.

Zackry Group

Rahul B. Patel

Patel Gaines, PLLC

Eric A. Pullen

Pulman Leflore Pullen & Reed, LLP

Randall A. Pulman

Pulman Leflore Pullen & Reed, LLP

Ryan C. Reed Pulman Leflore Pullen & Reed, LLP

Shellie R. Reyes Clausewitz Reyes, PLLC

Kelly Putney Rogers Rogers & Elliott, PLLC

Karen D. Smith King & Sommer, PLLC

Laura Garcia Smothers Clausewitz Reyes, PLLC

Barry Snell Bayne, Snell & Krause

Richard H. Sommer King & Sommer, PLLC

Luther H. Soules Soules & Wallace

Michael B. Thurman Thurman & Phillips, PC

Lauren Valkenaar Valkenaar PLLC

CITIES/MUNICIPALITIES

Fred Riley Jones Langley & Banack, Inc

Mark Kosanovich Fitzpatrick & Kosanovich

CIVIL LITIGATION

Casandra C. Ortiz Kassahn And Ortiz, Attorney At Law

Omar Ochoa Omar Ochoa Law Firm

CIVIL LITIGATION: DEFENSE

Jenna C. Castleman Castleman & Associates, PC

John H. Ferguson IV Drought, Drought, & Bobbitt, LLP

Henry B. Gonzalez Gonzalez Chiscano Angulo & Kasson, PC

Cathrin J. Martinez Benjamin, Vana, Martinez & Cano, LLP

Shellie R. Reyes Clausewitz Reyes, PLLC

Karen D. Smith King & Sommer, PLLC

Laura Garcia Smothers Clausewitz Reyes, PLLC

CLASS ACTION/ MASS TORTS

Carl J. Kolb Carl J. Kolb, PC

CLOSELY HELD BUSINESS

Tiffanie Clausewitz Clausewitz Reyes, PLLC

Sarah R. Irwin Clausewitz Reyes, PLLC

Janet L. King King & Sommer, PLLC

COLLABORATIVE LAW

Hilary A. Bell Bell Ripper, PLLC

COMMERCIAL INSURANCE DEFENSE: PI

Jennifer Neal Guerra LLP

COMMERICAL LITIGATION

Steven D. Browne Langley & Banack, Inc

Elliott S. Cappuccio Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC

Beto Lara Denali Law

Scott E. McCarty Valdez & Trevino

Ian McLin Langley & Banack, Inc

Brittany Olsen Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey, PC

Drew A. Senulis

Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC

Chris Trevino

Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey, PC

Stephen E. Walraven Langley & Banack, Inc

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

Matthew Gossen Edward L. Piña & Associates, PC

Edward L. Piña

Edward L. Piña & Associates, PC

CONSTRUCTION LITIGATION

Elliott S. Cappuccio Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC

Grant M. Gaines Patel Gaines, PLLC

Shellie R. Reyes Clausewitz Reyes, PLLC

Annalyn G. Smith Schmoyer Reinhard LLP

Laura Garcia Smothers Clausewitz Reyes, PLLC

Richard H. Sommer King & Sommer, PLLC

William W. Sommers Langley & Banack, Inc

West Winter The Winter Law Firm, PLLC

CONSUMER LAW

Kenneth Ernest Grubbs Law Office of Kenneth E. Grubbs

Wyatt Wright Wayne Wright, LLP

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE/ COMPLIANCE

Tiffanie Clausewitz Clausewitz Reyes, PLLC

Grant M. Gaines Patel Gaines, PLLC

Sarah R. Irwin Clausewitz Reyes, PLLC

Rahul B. Patel Patel Gaines, PLLC

Shellie R. Reyes Clausewitz Reyes, PLLC

CORPORATE LAW

Beto Lara Denali Law

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

Steven Arce Steven Arce Law

Christopher Michael Arce The Arce Law Firm

Anthony Bancroft Law Office of Anthony Bancroft

Bobby Barrera The Law Office of Bobby Barrera, PC

Robert J. Barrera The Barrera Firm

Roy R. Barrera, Jr The Barrera Firm

Celenne Beck Law Office of Jesse Hernandez

Caitlin E. Bennett Jean Brown Law

Alexis Biedrzycki Goldstein & Orr

Shawn C. Brown Law Office of Shawn C. Brown, PC

Alfonso Cabañas Cabañas Law Firm, PLLC

Kristin F. Dow Law Office of Kristin Fiacco Dow

Demetrio Duarte Duarte & Molina, PC

Derek W. Emmons Law Offices of Derek W. Emmons, PC

Robert H. Featherston Carroll & Hinojosa, PLLC

Beauregard Fiegel Fiegel Law

Patrick John Filyk Law Office of Patrick J. Filyk

Adrian Flores Trey Porter Law

John J. Fox

Law Office of John J. Fox

Andrew C. Froelich

The Law Office of Andrew C. Froelich

Marissa Lynn Giovenco

The Law Office of Marrisa L. Giovenco

Matthew Gossen

Edward L. Piña & Associates, PC

Kurt W. Gransee

Rush & Gransee, LC

Gerald H.Goldstein

Goldstein & Orr

Valerie A. Hedlund

The Law Office of Valerie Hedlund, PLLC

Jesse Hernandez

The Law Office of Jesse Hernandez

Stephen Howes

Law Office of Derek Ritchie

Patrick E. Hundley

Law Office of Patrick Hundley

John S. Gilmore III

Goldstein & Orr

Monica R. Khirallah

Law Office of Monica R. Khirallah

Michael De Leon Bexar County District Attorney's Office

Cleophus W. Marshall Marshall Law Firm

Richard Timothy Molina Duarte & Molina, PC

Ashley E. Morgan Soyars & Morgan Law, PC

Kaylie M. Morgan O'Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo Attorneys and Counselors At Law

Zacery Arick Munoz

The Law Office of Munoz & Paltz, PLLC

Bryan S. Orihel

Law Office of Shawn C. Brown, PC

Cynthia E. Hujar Orr

Goldstein & Orr

Amy E. Owen

Jean Brown Law

Adam J. Paltz

Law Office of Munoz & Paltz PLLC

Jonathan R. Perez

The Law Office of Jonathan Perez

Mary Pietrazek

Pietrazek Law, PLLC

Trey Porter Trey Porter Law

Kathleen Suzanne 'Katie' Roberts

South Texas Law Group, PLLC

Mark Stevens

Mark Stevens Law Offices

Stephanie L. Stevens

Center For Legal & Social Justice

Joseph Strickland

Trey Porter Law

Libby Wiedermann

Law Office of Libby L Wiedermann

Ronnie Wilkins Goldstein & Orr

CRIMINAL DEFENSE: DUI/DWI

Anthony Bancroft

Law Office of Anthony Bancroft

Robert J. Barrera The Barrera Firm

Shawn C. Brown Law Office of Shawn C. Brown, PC

Kristin F. Dow Law Office of Kristin Fiacco Dow

Derek W. Emmons Law Offices of Derek W. Emmons, PC

Robert H. Featherston Carroll & Hinojosa, PLLC

Adrian Flores Trey Porter Law

Justin Fowlks Lahood Law, PLLC

John J. Fox Law Office of John J. Fox

Hector Gonzalez Law Office of Hector Gonzalez, III, PC

Kurt W. Gransee Rush & Gransee, LC

Valerie A. Hedlund The Law Office of Valerie Hedlund, PLLC

Jesse Hernandez The Law Office of Jesse Hernandez

Stephen Howes Law Office of Derek Ritchie

Michael De Leon Bexar County District Attorney's Office

Cleophus W. Marshall Marshall Law Firm

Zacery Arick Munoz The Law Office of Munoz & Paltz, PLLC

Bryan S. Orihel Law Office of Shawn C. Brown, PC

Amy E. Owen Jean Brown Law

Adam J. Paltz Law Office of Munoz & Paltz PLLC

Trey Porter Trey Porter Law

Kathleen Suzanne 'Katie' Roberts South Texas Law Group, PLLC

Joseph Strickland Trey Porter Law

Libby Wiedermann District Judge, 175th Judicial District

CRIMINAL DEFENSE: WHITE COLLAR

Robert J. Barrera The Barrera Firm

Kristin F. Dow

Law Office of Kristin Fiacco Dow

Derek W. Emmons

Law Offices of Derek W. Emmons, PC

Robert H. Featherston Carroll & Hinojosa, PLLC

John J. Fox Law Office of John J. Fox

Patrick E. Hundley Law Office of Patrick Hundley

Abasi Daudi Major The Major Law Firm

Cleophus W. Marshall Marshall Law Firm

Thomas J. Mchugh The Law Offices of Thomas J. Mchugh, PLLC

Charles J. "Chad" Muller Chamberlain Hrdlicka

Zacery Arick Munoz The Law Office of Munoz & Paltz, PLLC

Cynthia E. Hujar Orr Goldstein & Orr

Adam J. Paltz Law Office of Munoz & Paltz PLLC

Libby Wiedermann Law Office of Libby L Wiedermann

ELDER LAW

Carol Bertsch Law Offices of Carol Bertsch, PC

George E. Carroll Carroll Law Group, PLLC

EMPLOYMENT LITIGATION: DEFENSE

Kelli M. Borbon King & Sommer, PLLC

Tiffanie Clausewitz Clausewitz Reyes, PLLC

Donna K. McElroy Dykema Gosset PLLC

Edward L. Piña Edward L. Piña & Associates, PC

Karen D. Smith King & Sommer, PLLC

Michael H. Wallis Langley & Banack, Inc

EMPLOYMENT

LITIGATION: PLAINTIFF

Anthony Bancroft Law Office of Anthony Bancroft

Edward L. Piña

Edward L. Piña & Associates, PC

S. Tyler Rutherford

The Rutherford Law Firm, PLLC

ENERGY, OIL & GAS

Stephen J. Ahl Langley & Banack, Inc

Zachary B. Aoki Thurman & Phillips, PC

Elizabeth Drought Burney Drought, Drought & Bobbitt, LLP

Sean M.Caporaletti Drought, Drought & Bobbitt, LLP

McKenna Crawford Langley & Banack, Inc

Drew Mallender Pulman Leflore Pullen & Reed LLP

Julia W. Mann Jackson Walker LLP

Les J. Strieber Brock Upham Yost & Strieber, PLLC

ESTATE

PLANNING & TRUSTS

Robert "Bob" Augsburger Werner & Augsberger

James J. Aycock Langley & Banack, Inc

David G. Balmer Balmer Law Firm, PC

William T. Bayern Langley & Banack, Inc

Arthur H. Bayern Langley & Banack, Inc

Hilary A. Bell Bell Ripper, PLLC

George E. Carroll Carroll Law Group, PLLC

J. Mark Edgmon Granstaff, Gaedke & Edgmon, PC

Tanya E. Feinleib Langley & Banack, Inc

F. Matthew Flores Langley & Banack, Inc

Gina B. Gaedke Granstaff, Gaedke & Edgmon, PC

Charles A. Granstaff Granstaff, Gaedke & Edgmon, PC

Chance Heinsohn Caritas Legal Services

Burt Alan Holland Private Practice

John H. Ferguson IV Drought, Drought, & Bobbitt, LLP

Roy A. Jeffries Granstaff, Gaedke & Edgmon, PC

Kristina L. Kunz Clark Hill

Maria T. LoRusso

Maria T. Lorusso, JD, MBA, PC

Todd A. Marquardt Marquardt Law Firm, PC

Bob Negley Catholic Charities Archdiocese of San Antonio

Daniel J. Palmer Marquardt Law Firm, PC

Samuel Tyler Peace Elder Bray & Bankler, PC

Jessica Pilar Rojas Quesada Weisinger Law Firm, PLLC

Ivan Ramirez Law Office of Ivan Ramirez & Associates

Alexander S. Roig Alexander S. Roig, PLLC

Martin (Marty) I. Roos Clark Hill

Joseph P. Rubin Law Offices of Joseph P. Rubin, PC

Hella V. Scheuerman Scheuerman Law Firm, PLLC

Laura Garcia Smothers Clausewitz Reyes, PLLC

Suzanne Leigh Coates Taylor The Law Office of Suzanne Coates Taylor

Heather Clement Tessmer Tessmer Law Firm, PLLC

Whitney Renee Thomas Whitney Thomas Law Firm

Alexandra Irene Tragos

Catholic Charities Archdiocese of San Antonio

Charles J. Weisinger Weisinger Law Firm, PLLC

Carl A. Werner Werner & Augsburger

Cameron Woo Langley & Banack, Inc

FAMILY LAW

Amber Liddell Alwais Orsinger Law

Kristy L. Arellano Law Offices of Kristy Arellano

Anthony Bancroft Law Office of Anthony Bancroft

Bobby Barrera The Law Office of Bobby Barrera, PC

Grace Barrera Law Office of Grace Barrera

Hilary A. Bell Bell Ripper, PLLC

Caitlin E. Bennett Jean Brown Law

Best Lawyers 2025 - Land Use & Zoning

Ken Brown - Partner

Caroline McDonald - Partner

At Brown & McDonald PLLC, we provide strategic land use and zoning counsel throughout San Antonio and Bexar County. With deep local experience and strong relationships, we help our clients navigate planning, permitting, and development with clarity, efficiency, and real results.

MiaMarie Pugh - Associate

Venessa Rodriguez Wurzer - Senior Associate

We are honored to be recognized by Scene in SA as 2025 Best Lawyers in Land Use & Zoning!

Brandt A. Bernstein

Bernstein & Bernstein, PLLC

Taryn O. Biasiolli

Biasiolli Law Firm

Mark E. Braswell

Law Office of Mark E. Braswell, PC

Jean S. Brown

Jean Brown Law Firm

Katherine Cabello-Flores Tessmer Law Firm, PLLC

Enriqueta A. Perez Carrasco

The Law Office of Enriqueta A. Perez

Rebecca J. Carrillo

The Law Offices of Rebecca J. Carrillo, PLLC

Chanda L. Clepper

Clepper Harrison & Duffy, PLLC

R. Porter Corrigan II Orsinger Law

Charla Davies

Goranson Bain Ausley, PLLC

Sarah C Davis Countdown City Family Law

Kayla Dietrich The Morales Firm, PC

Abel Aaron Dominguez

The Law Offices of Abel A. Dominguez

Ashley Duffy Clepper Harrison & Duffy, PLLC

Lisa Duke Lisa Duke Law, PLLC

Laura O. Duran Roberson Duran Law, PLLC

Ross Stewart Elliott Rogers & Elliott, PLLC

Beauregard "Beau" Fiegel Kell & Fiegel, PLLC

Patrick John Filyk Law Office of Patrick J. Filyk

Pauline Mae Garza Garza & Associates, PLLC

Jared M. Hall Soyars And Morgan

Per Ann Hardy Law Offices of Per Hardy

Amanda Clepper Harrison Clepper Harrison & Duffy, PLLC

Valerie A. Hedlund The Law Office of Valerie Hedlund, PLLC

Alison Hicks Alison Hicks & Associates

Stephen Howes Law Office of Derek Ritchie

James Hunt Private Practice

Linda Leeser Leeser Lawfirm PLLC

n Mediation since 2009

n In Office or Zoom

n Artificial Intelligence (AI) Drafting Assist Summaries

n On-demand Custom Clauses

n Color Coded Offers/Counter-Offers

n Cloud Based Practice Management Consulting (Clio Certified Consultant)

Jo Chris G. Lopez Langley & Banack, Inc

Jodi Head Lopez Jodi Head Lopez & Associates, PC

Muniza S. Malik The Law Office of Derek S. Ritchie, PLLC

Denise Martinez Martinez & Rodriguez Attorneys At Law

Karen L. Marvel Marvel Law Group

Rashin Mazaheri Dreyer & Mazaheri, PLLC

James E. Monnig Law Office of James E. Monnig

Aida Rojas Moore Rojas Law Firm

Chris H. Negem Law Offices of Chris H. Negem, PLLC

Theresa D. Nettles Nettles, Donaho & Dockery, PC

Richard Orsinger Orsinger Law

Amy E. Owen Jean Brown Law

Carla Ozuna Soyars & Morgan Law, PC

Amy Eubanks Perkins Roberson Duran Law

Mariana Posadas-Trevino Tessmer Law Firm, PLLC

Jacqueline Menefee Queen Tessmer Law Firm, PLLC

Grant Alexander Quimby Jamie Graham & Associates, PLLC

Tara D. Richardson Langley & Banack, Inc

James Rickerson

James A. Rickerson & Associates, PC

Derek S. Ritchie Law Offices of Derek S. Ritchie

Alexander S. Roig Alexander S. Roig, PLLC

Matt Sossi Law Office of Matt Sossi

Jodi Soyars Soyars & Morgan Law, PC

Ashley Christian Specia Specia Law Firm

Suzanne Leigh Coates Taylor The Law Office of Suzanne Coates Taylor

Heather Clement Tessmer Tessmer Law Firm, PLLC

Mark C. Thompson The Law Office of Mark Thompson

Kristal Thomson Goranson Bain Ausley, PLLC

Our Founding

Partners

Our job is to get you through the most difficult times, and our attorneys are well-prepared to do that. Congratulations to our attorneys for being named best lawyers in Scene In SA

Beto Lara Managing Partner

Desi Martinez Attorney

Our legal team is ready to fight for you.

We know what insurance companies and attorneys are capable of, and we have dealt with the most determined adversaries in the industry. We will ensure that your rights are protected and your matter handled with professionalism and care.

• Car Accidents

• Truck Accidents

• Slip & Fall Accidents

• Wrongful Death

Mark I. Unger

The Unger Law Firm, PC

Lisa A. Vance The Law Office of Lisa A. Vance, PC

Shawn E. Vandenberg Jodi Head Lopez & Associates, PC

FIDUCIARY LITIGATION

& PROBATE

Stephan Bruce Rogers Rogers & Elliott, PLLC,

GENERAL LITIGATION

David S. Angulo Gonzalez Chiscano Angulo & Kasson, PC

Tiffanie Clausewitz Clausewitz Reyes, PLLC

Stephen T. Dennis Clark Hill

Grant M. Gaines Patel Gaines, PLLC

Rachel McKenna Almanza, Blackburn, Dickie & Mitchell, LLP

Shellie R. Reyes Clausewitz Reyes, PLLC

Karen D. Smith King & Sommer, PLLC

Richard H. Sommer King & Sommer, PLLC

Marc K. Whyte Whyte, PLLC

GOVERNMENT

CONTRACTS

Ruben R. Barrera Langley & Banack, Inc

Casandra C. Ortiz Kassahn And Ortiz, Attorney At Law

HEALTH CARE

Edgar "Jed " C. Morrison, Jr. Jackson Walker LLP

Bruce M. Mitchell Kreager Mitchell, PLLC

HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

Brittany Olsen Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC

IMMIGRATION

Andrei Aranda Escamilla & Poneck, LLP

Arturo Garcia Attorney At Law

Fernando Martinez-Smith Escamilla & Poneck, LLP

Ruth A. McChesney

De Mott, Mcchesney, Curtright & Armendariz, LLP

Gerardo Menchaca Escamilla & Poneck, LLP

Marisol L. Perez De Mott, Mcchesney, Curtright & Armendariz, LLP

Shannon Salmon-Haas Salmon & Haas

Robert A. Shivers Shivers & Shivers

Nancy T. Shivers Shivers & Shivers

IN-HOUSE COUNSEL

Jennifer Ilene Bligh Valero Energy Companies

Kipling Davis Giles CPS Energy

George Ross 'Ross' Laughead Alamo Colleges District

Elizabeth O'Connell Perez University of the Incarnate Word

Monica R. Trollinger Southwest Research Institute

INSRANCE COVERAGE

Thomas H. Veitch Langley & Banack, Inc

INSURANCE DEFENSE: COMMERCIAL

Christopher M. Karl Valdez & Trevino Attorneys At Law, PC

Scott E. McCarty

Valdez & Trevino Attorney At Law, PC

INSURANCE DEFENSE: GENERAL

Celia E. Guerra

Brock Guerra Stranomo Dimaline Jones, PC

INSURANCE DEFENSE: PI

John Anthony Guerra

Brock Guerra Strandmo Dimaline Jones PC

Scott P. Jones

Brock Guerra Strandmo Dimaline Jones, PC

Brenda Montoya

Valdez & Trevino Attorney At Law, PC

Courtney J. Schroeder Valdez & Trevino Attorney At Law, PC

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Roman Aguilera The Aguilera Law Firm, PLLC

Nick Guinn Gunn, Lee & Cave, PC

Jorge Luiz Mares Guerra LLP

Edward B. Marvin Gunn, Lee & Cave, PC

INTERNATIONAL

Robert P. Braubach Law Offices of Robert P. Braubach

LABOR

& EMPLOYMENT

Tiffanie Clausewitz Clausewitz Reyes, PLLC

John A. Ferguson Schmoyer Reinhard, LLP

Malinda Ann Gaul Gaul And Dumont

Donna K. McElroy Dykema Gosset PLLC

Christine E. Reinhard Schmoyer Reinhard LLP

Shannon B. Schmoyer Schmoyer Reinhard LLP

Karen D. Smith King & Sommer, PLLC

Erica E. Valladares Langley & Banack, Inc

LAND USE/ZONING

Kenneth Brown Brown & Mcdonald Attorneys At Law

Paul A. Fletcher Langley & Banack, Inc

Fred Riley Jones Langley & Banack, Inc

Rob Killen Killen Griffin & Farrimond

Caroline McDonald Brown & Mcdonald Attorneys At Law

MiaMarie Pugh Brown & Mcdonald Attorneys At Law

Venessa Rodriguez Wurzer Brown & Mcdonald Attorneys At Law

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: DEFENSE

Peter Cario Wagner Cario Veale & Zuber, LLP

Nathaniel Mack Mack Injury Attorneys

Lucretia R. Marmor Langley & Banack, Inc

Richard A. McNitzky Langley & Banack, Inc

Daniel J.T. Sciano Tinsman & Sciano, Inc

James W. Veale Wagner Cario Veale & Zuber, LLP

W. Richard Wagner Wagner Cario Veale & Zuber, LLP

Edward P. "Joe" Waller Wagner Cario Veale & Zuber, LLP

Michael H. Wallis Langley & Banack, Inc

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: PLAINTIFF

Richard J. Kasson Gonzalez Chiscano Angulo & Kasson, PC

Thomas G. Kemmy The Kemmy Law Firm, PC

Erica Maloney Maloney Law Group, PLLC

George W. Mauze Mauze Law Firm

W. Lee Parsons Wayne Wright, LLP

S. Tyler Scheuerman Scheuerman Law Firm, PLLC

Laura G. Tamez The Herrera Law Firm, Inc.

MERGERS

& ACQUISITIONS

Samantha Alecozay Alecozay Law Firm, PLLC

Tiffanie Clausewitz Clausewitz Reyes, PLLC

Sarah R. Irwin Clausewitz Reyes

NONPROFIT

Janet L. King King & Sommer, PLLC

J. Patrick Rouse Langley & Banack, Inc

PERSONAL INJURY: DEFENSE

Jenna S. Ard Valdez & Trevino Attorneys At Law PC

Meredith Cooper Valdez And Trevino

Josh Dinsmore Valdez And Trevino

Joseph S. Ellis Valdez & Trevino Attorneys At Law PC

Celia E. Guerra Brock Guerra Stranomo Dimaline Jones, PC

John Anthony Guerra Brock Guerra Strandmo Dimaline Jones PC

Scott P. Jones Brock Guerra Strandmo Dimaline Jones, PC

J.J. Trevino, Jr. Valdez & Trevino Attorneys At Law PC

Robert E. Valdez Valdez & Trevino Attorneys At Law PC

PERSONAL INJURY: PLAINTIFF

William "Will" Allan William "Will" Allan Law Firm

Christopher Michael Arce The Arce Law Firm

Steven Arce Steven Arce Law

David G. Balmer Balmer Law Firm, PC

Michael Baseluos Baseluos Law Firm

Alexander M. Begum Villarreal & Begum/ Begum Law Group

Jeasette Berríos-Martínez Guerra LLP

Lara Brock Espinoza & Brock, PLLC

Shawn C. Brown Law Office of Shawn C. Brown, PC

Robert Brzezinski Guerra LLP

Joseph Casseb Goode, Casseb, Jones, Riklin, Choate & Watson

Mario Alonzo Cisneros Begum Law Group

Will Clark Mission Injury Law

Donald L. Crook Wayne Wright, LLP

Omar Cura Law Office of Omar Cura, Jr, PC

Leon Dacbert Begum Law Group

Loc T. Dang DTD Law Firm

John A. Davis JA Davis & Associates, LLP

Sheyleon O. Davis Law Office of Shey Davis

Dante E. Dominguez The Law Office of Dante Eli Dominguez

Joseph Ecke Shipp Ecke, PLLC

Jon B. Ellis Sadovsky & Ellis, PLLC

Javier Espinoza Espinoza & Brock, PLLC

Rylee Estes Guerra LLP

Holly Fudge-Stokes Fudge Nieto Stokes Law Firm, PLLC

Leeann De La Garza Wayne Wright, LLP

Analisa Gomez Law Office of Shawn C. Brown, PC

Juan Gonzalez Villarreal & Begum

Guy J. Gorlick Wayne Wright, LLP

Frank Guerra Guerra LLP

Joshua S. Hatley KRW Lawyers

Jesse Hernandez The Law Office of Jesse Hernandez

Paola González Hernández Guerra, LLP

Jorge A. Herrera

The Herrera Law Firm, Inc

Frank Herrera The Herrera Law Firm, Inc

Javier L. Herrera

The Herrera Law Firm, Inc

Justin A. Hill Hill Law Firm

Derek B. Hilley Hilley & Solis Law, PLLC

Daniel H. Kellum III Raul B. Rodriguez Law, PC

Beth Janicek Janicek Law Firm, PC

Lance P. Kimbro Guerra LLP

Natalie K. Karam Wayne Wright, LLP

Benjamin Kemmy The Kemmy Law Firm, PC

Daniel C. Kemmy The Kemmy Law Firm, PC

Jacob Kemmy The Kemmy Law Firm, PC

Nicholas A. Kemmy

The Kemmy Law Firm, PC

Seamus G. Kemmy

The Kemmy Law Firm, PC

Thomas G. Kemmy The Kemmy Law Firm, PC

Vanessa H. Kemmy

The Kemmy Law Firm, PC

Beto Lara Denali Law

Jodi Head Lopez

Jodi Head Lopez & Associates, PC

Julian T. Lopez Villarreal & Begum

Steven A. Lopez Lopez Law Firm

Abasi Daudi Major The Major Law Firm

Jorge Luiz Mares Guerra LLP

Ruben A. Martinez Wayne Wright, LLP

Desi I. Martinez Martinez & Associates, PLLC

Chris Mazzola Patterson Law Group

Harold T. Mccall Wayne Wright, LLP

Shawn Michael Mechler Crosley Law Firm PC

Jessica Mendicutti Wayne Wright, LLP

Michael J. Murray Guerra LLP

Jennifer Neal Guerra LLP

Omar Ochoa Omar Ochoa Law Firm

Rebecca Page Guerra LLP

Jonathan R. Perez The Law Office of Jonathan Perez

Oscar Quiroz Guerra LLP

J. Caleb Rackley Guerra LLP

Melissa Robbins Villarreal & Begum, PLLC

Negin Roberts Villarreal & Begum

Raul B. Rodriguez Raul B. Rodriguez Law, PC

Erin Rogiers Guerra LLP

Michael R. Rowland Law Offices of Michael R. Rowland

Gable M. Sadovsky Sadovsky & Ellis, PLLC

George L. Salinas George Salinas Law

Victoria Santos Raul B. Rodriguez Law, PC

Bryan Schoeppey Villarreal & Begum

John W. Shaw The Law Office of John W. Shaw, PLLC

David Sierra Guerra LLP

Carlos A. Solis Hilley & Solis Law, PLLC

Kacie Starr USAA

Richard R. Storm Villarreal & Begum

Laura G. Tamez The Herrera Law Firm, Inc

Michael Trevino Villarreal & Begum

Renee Victoria Vasquez Law Office of Rudy Vasquez

Javier Villarreal Villarreal & Begum

David A. Volk Volk & Mcelroy, LLP

Shalimar S. Wallis Guerra LLP

NATIONAL TRIAL FIRM FIRMLY ROOTED IN TEXAS

BEST LAWYERS 2025

ROBERT BRZEZINSKI JEASETTE BERRÍOS-MARTÍNEZ RYLEE ESTES

PAOLA GONZÁLEZ HERNÁNDEZ FRANK GUERRA LANCE KIMBRO

JORGE MARES

MIKE MURRAY JENNIFER NEAL

Pedro Webber Wayne Wright, LLP

Wayne Wright Wayne Wright, LLP

Wyatt Wright Wayne Wright, LLP

Paula A. Wyatt Wyatt Law Firm

PROBATE LAW

Michael Arispe Aric J. Garza Law, PLLC

David G. Balmer Balmer Law Firm, PC

Walter W. Beuhler Law Office of Walter Beuhler

Elizabeth Drought Burney Drought, Drought & Bobbitt, LLP

Sean M. Caporaletti Drought, Drought & Bobbitt, LLP

George E. Carroll Carroll Law Group, PLLC

Sarah M. Dunn Drought, Drought & Bobbitt, LLP

J. Mark Edgmon Granstaff, Gaedke & Edgmon, PC

Ross Stewart Elliott Rogers & Elliott, PLLC

Gina B. Gaedke Granstaff, Gaedke & Edgmon, PC

Chance Heinsohn Caritas Legal Services

Burt Alan Holland Private Practice

Roy A. Jeffries Granstaff, Gaedke & Edgmon, PC

Bob Negley Catholic Charities Archdiocese of San Antonio

Daniel J. Palmer Marquardt Law Firm, PC

Joseph P. Rubin Law Offices of Joseph P. Rubin, PC

Robert L. Rush Rush & Gransee, Lc

Barrett Shipp Shipp Ecke, PLLC

Laura Garcia Smothers Clausewitz Reyes, PLLC

Suzanne Leigh Coates Taylor The Law Office of Suzanne Coates Taylor

Whitney Renee Thomas Whitney Thomas Law Firm

Alexandra Irene Tragos Catholic Charities Archdiocese of San Antonio

Renee Victoria Vasquez Law Office of Rudy Vasquez

Alexander Wright Vollmer Marquardt Law Firm, PC

Tammy L. Wincott Wincott Law Firm, PC

Cameron Woo Langley & Banack, Inc

Gregory B. Yost

Brock Upham Yost & Strieber, PLLC

PROF. LIABILITY: PLAINTIFF

Roger D. Kirstein Langley & Banack, Inc

Carl J. Kolb

Carl J. Kolb, PC

PROF. LIABILITY: DEFENSE

Herbert S. Hill Curl Stahl Geis, PC

PROPERTY & HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION RIGHTS

Caroline Henry Pulman Leflore Pullen & Reed, LLP

PUBLIC UTILITIES

Robert L. Rush

Rush & Gransee, Lc

REAL ESTATE & PLANNING

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PULMAN LEFLORE

DELI DESTINY from to

By Ayesha M. Malik

Two Pakistani American Muslims from Houston – whose lives seemingly paralleled my own – were trailblazing on the silver screen and the local political scene, cutting through the darkness of a rising trend of anti-immigrant sentiment and Islamophobia and providing a refreshing glimmer of hope. Brothers Saagar and Sakib Shaikh are a testament to the power of patience and perseverance.

On one of the first couple of nights of Ramadan this year, I broke my fast, finished up my night prayers, and per usual, found myself surfing the streams of content curated to me. My algorithm splashed Deli Boys’ Hulu debut across my home page. Like a moth to light, I pressed ‘Play’ without a moment’s hesitation and locked in for the next six hours until I had to fast all over again.

Deli Boys, a dark comedy starring actors Saagar Shaikh and Asif Ali, centers two Pakistani American trust fund bros who uncover the sordid secret behind their father’s wealth when their Lucky Aunty (portrayed by the inimitable Poorna Jagannathan), takes the lovably lost goofballs under her wing.

Though I was not born with a silver spoon, nor am I heir to a convenience store-slash-cocaine empire, this show reflected me as the daughter of Pakistani immigrants whose every move was grounded in making their children’s lives better.

Absolutely devouring the 30-minute episodes, I watched the whole thing twice within the same week just because I wanted more. Infinitely bingeable and brilliant, there was finally a show themed around South Asian-owned gas stations and delis that didn’t need to hit on Appu-from-the-Simpsons-level stereotypes to be hilarious. Deli Boys gives me Tan France fighting in a full three-piece suit instead. Being 1000% obsessed, I told all my friends to watch because I need a Season 2 like I need water.

One hunger-induced Wikipedia rabbit hole all about the creator and charismatic co-stars later, I discovered Saagar Shaikh had an older brother after whom he’d he loosely modeled his Deli Boys character Raj (with Saagar also playing older brother to the titular character in Disney’s Ms. Marvel). Then, it clicked that his brother, Sakib Shaikh, was a candidate for District 8 city councilmember.

The gears of my mind began to spin out of control.

Not only are Saagar and Sakib real-life brothers, but their family moved from Alief – the same little diverse immigrant enclave of Southwest Houston that I’m from – to San Antonio. My hands were suddenly compelled by the faintest of hope to message the Shaikh brothers for an interview.

A Ramadan miracle was born. Just a few weeks later, I would be sitting across from Saagar and Sakib in the incredible Gravelmouth Gallery in San Antonio’s D.R.E.A.M. Arts District for a Scene In SA exclusive.

Photography by Torry Sledge

Styling by Max Musas Wardrobe courtesy Gautier

SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM

Having just barely recovered from meeting Alief-raised Palestinian American comedian Mo Amer (who filmed part of his Netflix series Mo down the street from my parents’ house), here I was all over again—ecstatic about feeling seen in the mainstream and having stories that reflect the themes of my life. Sometimes, it feels like a simulation with how much talent comes out of that corner of Houston: Saagar, Mo, Tobe Nwigwe, Lizzo and Miss Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé Knowles herself. It’s hard not to feel pride.

Saagar—already on a first-name basis with one of my favorite comedians—expressed, “I was actually talking to Mo the other day and we were talking about [how] we’re so broke and so hungry [in Alief] that we feel this pressure of doing something so special. Pressure makes diamonds.”

Aside from representation in entertainment, I felt a distinct power in having someone who looked like a member of my extended family involved in local politics, particularly where San Antonio demographics don’t skew particularly South Asian.

Coming from Alief – a place where Hispanic, Black, Asian, and mixed people collectively make up 92% of the total population, the brothers recounted their jarring family move to the Alamo City.

“It was definitely a culture shock. In Houston, where we’re from, my neighbors were African, Filipino, from Thailand, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, you name it. Every house was a different nationality,” Sakib described. “When we came [to San Antonio], it was pretty much an equal split of, on the Northside, Caucasian and Hispanic.”

“We moved from Southwest Houston to Northwest San Antonio. Ten, eleven months after we moved here, 9/11 happened.” Saagar recalled sitting in the classroom early that morning and felt the eyes turn. “We were the only brown kids in our school and it was the worst time to be the only brown kids in a brand-new school. That was my introduction to San Antonio, really.”

Saagar elaborated, “For the first 14 years of my life, we only lived in Alief. We didn’t have a lot of money [growing up] to travel domestically. Any time we traveled, we would just go to Pakistan. So, when we moved to San Antonio, I had thought [all of] America was just like Alief. I didn’t know there was a city two-and-a-half hours away that would be completely different.”

But of course, it’s been a long time since 2001 and Northwest San Antonio has seen a demographic shift, especially with the Wurzbach corridor of the Medical Center now boasting a significant Middle Eastern, North African, and Asian immigrant population and small businesses.

A District 8 resident for nearly 25 years, Sakib shared his excitement about the cultural designation of the area as the Silk Road Heritage District, in which he played a role during his time working in the District 8 Council office. “There’s grocery stores, restaurants, bakeries, clothing stores. [The designation] gives us guidelines on what we want future development on the street to look like.”

BROTHERLY LOVE

Set in Philadelphia, Deli Boys is a tale of two brothers whose entire lifestyles are upended when they are forced to navigate the sudden loss of their guiding star, their father Baba Dar (played by the legendary Iqbal Theba). Mir Dar, portrayed by Asif Ali, is the brown-nosing younger brother who is – by most measures – “doing it right,” having gone to business school and following in his father’s footsteps and aspiring to be CEO of Dar Co.

Older brother Raj Dar, played by Saagar, is the exact opposite—a bewaqoof (Urdu for “fool”) and a hedonistic degenerate fully kitted with a gold Allah chain. One walks with purpose and the latter aimlessly operates on pure vibes (and lots of drugs).

Saagar recounted numerous conversations with his Deli Boys co-star about reversing the roles: “I could have played Mir and [Asif Ali] could have played Raj. I can do both and he can do both; we’re trained as actors. While the show still would have been good, it would have been a different show.”

Truly, Saagar’s versatility can be seen in his role as Ms. Marvel's Aamir Khan—not to be confused with the Bollywood megastar by the same name—is a sharif (Urdu for “respectable”) Muslim momma’s boy substituting the blinged-out Allah chain for a modest long beard and providing moral guidance to his sister, Kamala Khaan. The characters were so different that I didn’t even recognize Saagar played both.

His inspo for the straight-laced Aamir and absolute jester Raj? Shockingly, still his own reallife older brother. Saagar set the record straight about his Ms. Marvel character: “[Aamir’s] also goofy.” Saagar channeled Sakib’s goofiness in his acting roles, relaying, “Outside of the house, [Sakib’s] the more polished brother of the three of us, but inside of the house, he’s the loudest one. That’s the version of him I’m most familiar with.”

Commenting on how he made the characters of Aamir and Raj distinct, despite the common source material, Saagar exclaims, “I got raaange, man! I’ve been all these people before in my life. You learn by watching people who are similar archetypes of those characters and you just try to emulate them the best way you can while throwing yourself into that mix. It’s a lot of mirror conversations and [figuring out], ‘What would my version of this person be?”

In the most endearing moment, Sakib beamed proudly about his brother’s craft. “He’s a legit trained actor. He talks about range, but that’s something he learned. He went to LA to pursue Hollywood the classic way. He was there 10 years before he got his first shot, so in that time, he was training. I didn’t understand [Saagar’s] work ethic until he pursued acting.”

But brothers are brothers. With two myself, I just know they had petty brother fights, so I asked them to share if they had any memorable ones that they laugh about now.

“Every day was a stupid brother fight,” Sakib responds.

Saagar jested, “And I don’t laugh about any of em!” before launching into how he still has an ongoing “You pushed me!”–“No, you slipped and fell!” argument with their youngest brother, even in adulthood.

But as Baba Dar reminds in Deli Boys, “When it comes to your brother, leave the tiff in the tiffin.”

FROM SLACKER TO ACTOR

Ribbing his little brother, Sakib teased that Saagar was a bit of a kaamchor (Urdu for “slacker”). “The Saagar I knew pre-LA was the one that worked at the family gas station, deli, but the thing is that’s not what he wanted to do. Once he found his calling, I saw a totally different Saagar.”

“I’d say my brothers worked there—I just got in the way. It was a terrible idea to want me to be there.” Saagar fessed up, admitting, “I did what I could. I’m not the type to wake up early. I sleep really late; I wake up really late. My dad was like, ‘You need to open the store at 6 AM.’ I was like, ‘6 AM?! Can I do 8?’ He was like, ‘No, this is a business!’”

In the endless pursuit of pleasing the parentals, Saagar decided he would go to college at the insistence of his mother and with the assistance of older bro Sakib to help fill out applications. After spending three years at Northwest Vista, he joined some of his friends at UTSA.

However, his passion for school never fully materialized, even though he eventually earned his Bachelor’s in Business Administration. “I was more interested in taking classes with my friends than taking classes at all.”

“I was a business major and I remember sitting in class one day [thinking], ‘This cannot be my life.’” After reflecting on the simpler times of grade school and brainstorming what he enjoyed doing, Saagar came up with theatre, but hesitated because he “didn’t have the audacity to dream of doing something different because it didn’t make money or it’s not respectable.”

That didn’t stop Saagar from typing the most meaningful Google search of his life: how to become an actor.

Thinking pragmatically, Saagar marched down to his academic advisor and asked for internship opportunities just in case acting didn’t pan out and he needed real work experience. Unbeknownst to him, he had an interview at a place with headshots hung on the wall a week later: a local talent management company, as kismet would have it. “I was like, that’s crazy! I just Googled last week ‘how to become an actor’.”

He got the internship and was signed on as talent, discussing how he cut his teeth by doing local commercial auditions, self-tapes, and driving to Austin or Dallas multiple times a week to audition. “I would never do that today.”

Saagar gave his parents two years’ advance notice that he’d set out to follow his theatrical dreams in the City of Angels after graduating from UTSA.

“They thought [acting] was a phase. They were like, ‘We’ll see. Dekhenge.’ A year went by and I was like, ‘One year.’” Three months before graduation, Saagar moved out of his parents’ home into an apartment with friends. His parents thought that was the end of it, but he had a stubborn determination. Putting everything he owned in four trash bags into the trunk of his 2007 Toyota Camry, he set off to Los Angeles.

“I lived at home my whole life. I felt like I was abandoning my family to go do this thing that I didn’t know was going to pan out.” But after experiencing dissatisfaction with the traditional route, Saagar was even more resolute.

“The moment I started acting, I knew that I’d rather be broke, with a roommate – maybe I’ll never own a house, maybe I’ll never have a nice car, but I’d rather be pursuing the things that I wanted to do.”

is complete reliance on God and trust in the divine plan: the idea that what is written for you is already yours. For Saagar, his hard work and patient belief paid off. After a decade in LA and nearly giving up on the dream when COVID hit, his prayers

Though Saagar envisions starring in an indie romcom or writing, producing, or directing in his can have a Season 2 (inshallah), so to everyone that reads this: boost those numbers and binge the whole thing on Hulu—Disney+

Politician is also among paths less traveled for Pakistani Americans. As ubiquitous as political commentators, pundits, and talking heads yelling at each other on TV news networks are in

For every Indian politician or government official (Kash Patel, Nimarata “Nikki” Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ajit Pai, and Bobby Jindal, to name a few, whom Saagar cheekily labeled “losers”), there’s only a handful of Pakistanis and the name recognition among those few is incredibly low,

Fresh off the heels of Zohran Mamdani’s historic campaign (and recent clinching of the Democratic mayoral primary in New York City), the closest we could get was an Indian-Ugandan Muslim. Saagar put his hand over his heart and proudly proclaimed Zohran as “One of us.”

Sakib earned his Bachelor’s in Political Science from UTSA and Masters’ in International Economics. Being a double-major in PoliSci and Anthropology myself before going to law school, my mom 1) had no clue what Anthony-pology was and 2) showed great concern about

Sakib explained his parents similarly questioned, “‘What job can you get with this [degree]?’ . . . Especially coming from an immigrant background where you’re supposed to do the stable path,” which in Asian families is often the prestige professions: doctor, engineer, lawyer—in that order, with lawyer at the bottom tier. “The truth is: at the time, I didn’t know what I wanted to do [with a Political Science degree]. I just knew I had an interest in politics and

Saagar added, “[Sakib] was the teenager that – when he got over his NBA dreams – if you asked him what he wanted to do or be when he grew up, he was like, ‘I’m gonna be president one day.’”

On pursuing political office, Sakib said it all stemmed from his interest in community organizing. , he endeavored to assume a public relations role, inviting political candidates, councilmembers, and state reps to the mosque to introduce them to the Muslim community in San Antonio and encourage the Muslim community to get involved locally.

“I hosted the first District 8 Candidate forum [at the Islamic community center] in 2017,” which was normally hosted by neighborhood associations and very sparsely attended. “We had close to 200 people at ours. It was the first time the mosque was considered a place where community affairs are discussed.”

Sakib poignantly discussed what politics is versus what it’s supposed to be. “We talk about politics and we think elections. We don’t think governance. We don’t think constituent services, which is what I did [working at the District 8 Council office]—making sure that city services are being delivered to the taxpayer in a timely and efficient manner. That’s what government is.”

KING KHAN

Now, I had to ask if Saagar and Sakib watched Bollywood movies growing up, especially since Saagar is an actor. To this, Saagar quickly reacted, “I know way more about Bollywood than I want to know. I know way more songs than I want to know, but I love it.”

The brothers began naming their Bollywood faves. Saagar started ratling off, “Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan…” before Saagar cut off his older bro.

“Salman Khan is not my idol.”

Sakib waxed a little nostalgic about the golden era of Khans of 1990s Bollywood, “You’re obligated to include him in that list…”

Shaking his head, Saagar quickly corrects the record. “You are NOT obligated to do that,” he laughed. “That’s a choice.” You see, dear reader, even if you know nothing about Bollywood, cancellations cross cultures—and Saagar’s gonna explain it all anyway.

In that moment, I found it heavily amusing that I’m witnessing two Pakistani brothers arguing about “Salman bhai”, a moniker given to the most controversial Khan since bhai means “brother” and Salman Khan has acted in a higher-thanaverage number of movies about brothers, including in the 1992 classic Hello Brother (which is a bootleg Ghost, except with a ghost Salman pestering his real-life older brother, Arbaaz). (Say brother one more time.)

Saagar lays out a timeline, solidifying his earlier statement that he knows way more about Bollywood than he wants. “Salman Khan fell off in 1999, maybe 2000. His best work was in 1994. Andaaz Apna Apna with Aamir Khan and it was only as good as it was because both of them were in it.” He shrugs smirking, “Some could say, if it was Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan [acting in it], it might’ve been a better movie.”

As for the top Khan: For Saagar, it’s clearly the King Khan, SRK. Sakib named Aamir Khan (yes, the one in a whole host of media, but not Ms. Marvel) as the GOAT. (And no, none of the aforementioned Khans are related.)

But Saagar is a well of appreciation for the three two Khans. While Aamir is the true artist—best writer, director, producer—but that Shah Rukh has that undeniable superstardom. I mean, he’s got uncountable fans clamoring outside his mansion every morning hoping to catch a glimpse of him doing his trademarked open-arm pose on the balcony.

“That stance is getting so popular on TikTok,” Sakib added.

“He’s got the gravitas, the bravado. He’s just got that Tom Cruise charm.”

ABC DELI TO ABCDs

As American-born Pakistanis, it was important to tease apart the idea of ABCDs, or “American Born Confused Desi,” referring to the “Americanization” of South Asians born in the United States. The term is certainly divisive and inescapably hints at a perceived lack of competency with your own culture. The other side of the term is to describe one’s rejection of their country of origin, culture, or language in favor of American attitudes and practices.

Sakib attributed trauma, with others imposing an identity crisis on him by calling him an ABCD. “To imply that someone’s confused is to imply that they don’t know who they are. I know who I am. I’m just different. I’m not an ABCD, I’m an ABD.”

“It is what it is,” Saagar puts it. In the context of his character Raj, “Raj knows who he is. He wears it on his sleeve. He is far too rich to care what anyone thinks about him or how good or bad his Urdu is. He’s not an ABCD, but he works at ABC Deli!”

And sure enough: never pay any mind to the log kya kahenge because people will always talk—you just have to keep doing you. ■

Top SA Surgeons 2025

Scene In SA is pleased to honor those in San Antonio and Bexar County who were nominated as Top SA Surgeons across various specialities in our 6th annual survey of their peers.

Adam Harris, M.D.

Gerardo Zavala II, M.D.

Antonio Webb, DO C. Stuart Pipkin III, M.D. Paul Geibel, M.D.

James Simmons III, DO Kevin Richardson, DO

Brandon Broome, M.D.

Marshall-Rodriguez, M.D.

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Grace Hsiung, MD General Surgical Associates

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Haley Daigle, MD UT Health Science Center

Richard Peterson, MD UT Health San Antonio

Kent Van Sickle, MD UT Health San Antonio

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Maryam Elmi, MD, MSc, FRCSC, FACS The Start Center for Cancer Care

CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY

Masaki Funamoto, MD, PhD Methodist Heart and Lung Institute

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Brano Djenic, MD, FACS, FASCRS Texas Oncology

Jackie Hopper, MD University Health Science Center

Chris De Jesus, MD UT Health Science San Antonio

Michael Anton Rodriguez Keller, MD Texas Oncology

William Cannon Lewis, MD, FACS, FASCRS Start Center Surgical Consultants

Alicia Logue, MD UT Health San Antonio

Randal D. Robinson, MD UT Health San Antonio

Maria Martinez Ugarte, MD Gonzaba Medical Group

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Ronald M. Stewart, MD, FACS UT Health San Antonio

DERMATOLOGICAL SURGERY

Thushan DeSilva, MD DeSilva Dermatology

Valerie Fisher-Shiu, MD UT Health San Antonio

John LeVasseur, MD UT Health Science Center

Brittany Lenz, MD Dermatology San Antonio

Byron L. Limmer, MD Limmer Dermatology

John Martin, MD Desilva Dermatology

Stephen Miller, MD Dermatology San Antonio

James R. Neiner, MD, FACMS Sonterra Dermatology

Ana T. Sauceda, MD, FAAD Alamo City Dermatology

Michael A. Sorace, MD Mohs Micrographic & Skin Surgery, PLLC

Terri J. Nutt-Taylor, MD The SkinMD Clinic

Catherine M. Tisdall, MD Dermatology San Antonio

Holly Volz, MD DeSilva Dermatology

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Sharron K. Acosta, MD Eye Associates of South Texas

Christina Bui, MD

Eye Associates of South Texas / I Care Affiliate

Jason D. Burns, MD Eye Associates of South Texas

John A. Campagna, MD Ophthalmology Associates of San Antonio

Christopher M. Debacker, MD Eyeplastx

William J. Flynn, MD Rashid, Rice, Flynn & Reilly Eye Associates / I Care Affiliate

Kristen Held, MD Stone Oak Ophthalmology

David E. Holck, MD, FACS, FASOPRSCS, ABFCS Eyeplastx / I Care Affiliate

Joseph T. Kavanagh, MD, FACS Eye Associates of South Texas

James Lehmann, MD Focal Point Vision / I Care Affiliate

Josh Iltis, MD Focal Point Vision

Lisa Marten, MD South Texas Eye Institute

Kenneth Maverick, MD Focal Point Vision

Calvin E. Mein, MD Retina Consultants of Texas

Arlo C. Terry, MD Ophthalmology Associates of San Antonio

Allison P. Young, MD Stone Oak Ophthalmology Center

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Christine B. Taylor, MD UT Health San Antonio

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Brittany B. DeBerry, MD

The Start Center for Cancer Care

Travis L. Holloway, MD

General Surgical Associates

Joe E. Johnston, MD The Start Center for Cancer Care

Jason Kempenich, MD UT Health San Antonio

Patrick Nguyen, MD UT Health San Antonio

Jorge L. Rincon, MD

Jorge L. Rincon MD, FACS, PA

Russell Woodard, MD General Surgical Associates

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Troy Robbin Hailparn, MD, FACOG Cosmetic Gynecology Center of San Antonio

Kathryn S. Holloway, MD Women’s Health Texas

Georgia McCann, MD UT Health San Antonio

Randal D. Robinson, MD UT Health San Antonio

Belinda Yauger, MD UT Health San Antonio

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Mark R. Bagg, MD The Hand Center of San Antonio

Mickey S. Cho, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Kunj K. Desai, MD The Hand Center of San Antonio

Stephen C. Drukker, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

David P. Green, MD The Hand Center of San Antonio

Lauren E. Karbach, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Anthony Montanez, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

David Person, MD The Hand & Upper Extremity Center of San Antonio

Alexander S. Rowland, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Ramesh Srinivasan, MD Hand Center of San Antonio

Michaelia Sunderland, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Christian A. Woodbury, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

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Jennifer L. Bergeron, MD Ear Institute of Texas

Lance E. Jackson, MD Ear Institute of Texas

Jeffrey S. Rosenbloom, MD Alamo ENT Associates

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Ellen Wantin Lin, MD Advanced Spine & Pain Center

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Carolina Arias-Cuello, MD South Texas Renal Care Group

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Osama Ahmed, MD Brain & Spine Institute San Antonio

Michelle Cecchini, MD Texas Neuro Spine

George M. Galvan, MD Texas Neuro Spine

Juanita Garces, MD Texas Neuro Spine

Ryan McDermott, MD UT Health Science Center

Daniel Monsivais, MD Texas Neuro Spine

Ryan Morton, MD Texas Neuro Spine

Juan Padilla, MD Texas Neuro Spine

Sandip Savaliya, MD Texas Neuro Spine

Collin Son, MD

Neurosurgical Associates of San Antonio, PA

Arnold B. Vardiman, MD Neurosurgical Associates of San Antonio, PA

Sebastian Villareal, MD Texas Neuro Spine

ONCOLOGY SURGERY

Carissia Calvo-Strube, MD UT Health San Antonio, Zeller Building

Dennis Rousseau Jr., MD Surgical Oncology Associates of South Texas (Affiliated with Baptist Health System)

Morton Shawn Kahlenberg, MD Surgical Oncology Associates of South Texas (Affiliated with Baptist Health System)

Frank Miller, MD UT Health San Antonio

Alexander R. Miller, MD The Start Center for Cancer Care

ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY

Steven C. Albright, DDS

Steven C. Albright, DDS

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY

C. Brandon Broome, MD San Antonio Orthopaedic Specialists (Affiliated with South Texas Spine & Surgical Hospital)

Elliott Clemence, MD

South Texas Center for Orthopedics

Gregory D. Gordon, MD

Premier Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Health

Matthew M. Dwyer, MD Orthopedic Performance Institute

David L. Fox, MD

Northeast Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine (Affiliated with Baptist Health System)

Frank J. Garcia, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Stephen Gates, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Robert "Bob" Girling, MD Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio

Geoffrey P. Glebus, MD Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio

Adam Isaac Harris, MD

San Antonio Orthopaedic Specialists (Affiliated with South Texas Spine & Surgical Hospital)

Robert U. Hartzler, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Dennis Rousseau Jr., MD

Surgical Oncology Associates of South Texas (Affiliated with Baptist Health System)

Bryan W. Kaiser, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Joseph T. Kavanagh, MD, FACS Eye Associates of South Texas

Amanda Marshall-Rodriguez, MD

Tru Ortho - Affiliated With South Texas Spine & Surgical Hospital

Emmanuel C. Nwelue, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Christopher Phelps, MD Orthopaedic Performance Institute

Dustin B. Rinehart, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Eric Raymond Ritchie, MD Trinity Orthopedic Specialists

Richard L. Ursone, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Sergio Viroslav, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

David E. Vizurraga, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

ORTHOPAEDIC FOOT AND ANKLE SURGERY

Marque Allen, DPM Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio

David T. Hughes, DPM TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Kevin L. Kirk, DO TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Randall C. Marx, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Justin Robbins, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

ORTHOPAEDIC SPINE SURGERY

Husain Bharmal, MD

Brooke Army Medical Center

Adam Bruggeman, MD

Texas Spine Care Center

Christopher Chaput, MD UT Health San Antonio

Jonathan S. Duncan, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Shane C. Eizember, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Paul T. Geibel, MD South Texas Spinal Clinic, PA (Affiliated with South Texas Spine & Surgical Hospital)

Richard Hurley, MD Brooke Army Medical Center

C. Stuart Pipkin III, MD South Texas Spinal Clinic, PA (Affiliated with South Texas Spine & Surgical Hospital)

Kevin Richardson, DO San Antonio Spine Center (Affiliated with South Texas Spine & Surgical Hospital)

James W. Simmons III, DO South Texas Spinal Clinic, PA (Affiliated with South Texas Spine & Surgical Hospital)

Matthew C. Swann, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Gerardo Zavala II, MD Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants (Affiliated with South Texas Spine & Surgical Hospital)

Antonio J. Webb, DO South Texas Spinal Clinic, PA (Affiliated with South Texas Spine & Surgical Hospital)

ORTHOPAEDIC SPORTS MEDICINE SURGERY

B. Christian Balldin, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

S. Josh Bell, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Amanda Ivy, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Jamie L. Lynch, MD Tru Ortho

Richard Nauert, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

G. Lane Naugher, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Eloy Ochoa, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Harrison Scofield, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Jeffrey B. Shroff, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Casey D. Taber, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Christopher Tucker, MD TSAOG Orthopaedics & Spine

Celebrating Excellence in Orthopaedics

San Antonio’s Best Orthopaedic Doctors

Joint Replacement

Frank J. Garcia, M.D.

Bryan W. Kaiser, M.D,

Emmanuel C. Nwelue Jr., M.D.

Dustin B. Reinheart, M.D.

Richard L. Ursone, M.D.

Sergio Viroslav, M.D.

David E. Vizurraga, M.D.

Hand & Upper Extremity

Mickey S. Cho, M.D.

Stephen C. Drukker, M.D.

Lauren E. Karbach, M.D.

Anthony Montanez, M.D.

Alexander S. Rowland, M.D.

Michaelia Sunderland, M.D.

Christian A. Woodbury, M.D.

Foot and Ankle Orthopaedics

Kevin L. Kirk, D.O.

Randall C. Marx, M.D.

Justin Robbins, M.D.

Chiropractic Care

Nicholas Nira, D.C.

Scott R. Seidel, D.C.

Podiatry

David T. Hughes. D.P.M

Jessica F. Rutstein, D.P.M

Cory J Moczygemba, D.P.M

Sports Medicine

B. Christian Balldin, M.D.

S. Josh Bell, M.D.

Amanda M. Ivy, M.D.

Richard Nauert, M.D.

G. Lane Naugher, M.D.

Eloy Ochoa JR., M.D.

Harrison Scofield, M.D.

Jeffrey B. Shroff, M.D.

Casey D. Taber, M.D

Christopher J. Tucker, M.D.

Primary Care Sports Medicine

David R. Espinoza, M.D.

Pain Management

Patrick Ahern, M.D.

Ephraim Brenman, D.O. RMSK

Charles E. Bryant, M.D.

Orthopaedic Spine Surgery

Jonathan S. Duncan, M.D.

Shane C. Eizember, M.D.

Matthew C. Swann, M.D.

Shoulder & Elbow Orthopaedics

Stephen I. Gates, M.D.

Robert U. Hartzler, M.D.

Top SA Surgeons 2025

PEDIATRIC SURGERY

Jennifer L. Bergeron, MD Ear Institute of Texas

Marissa Early, MD University Health Science

Jay K. Ferrell, MD UT Health San Antonio

James Fowler, MD The Ear Institute of TX

Lance E. Jackson, MD Ear Institute of Texas

Jessica Kepchar, MD Ear Institute of Texas

Nayel Khan, MD Texas Oncology

Jeffrey S. Rosenbloom, MD Alamo ENT Associates

Anand Shah, MD American Sinus Institute

Christian Stallworth, MD Stallworth Plastic Surgery

PEDIATRIC ORTHOPAEADIC SURGERY

Steven Gibbons, MD UT Health San Antonio

Barry Cofer, MD

San Antonio Pediatric Surgery Associates

John Doski, MD

San Antonio Pediatric Surgery Associates

Joseph Kidd, MD

San Antonio Pediatric Surgery Associates

Michael Megison, MD

Mednax Inc./San Antonio Pediatric Surgery Associates

Tate Nice, MD

Mednax Inc./San Antonio Pediatric Surgery Associates

Frank Robertson, MD

San Antonio Pediatric Surgery Associates

Robert Powell Thomas, MD

San Antonio Pediatric Surgery Associates

A. Francois Trappey, MD San Antonio Pediatric Surgery Associates

PLASTIC SURGERY

William Albright, MD Alamo Plastic Surgery

Jose E. Barrera, MD, FACS

Jose Barrera, MD, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon

Jessica M. Belz, MD

Jessica M. Belz, MD, Plastic Surgery

Matthew Bindewald, MD San Antonio Plastic Surgery Center

Megan Burgess, MD

Plastic and Reconstructive Institute of Texas (affiliated with Baptist Health System

Regina M. Fearmonti, MD Alon Aesthetics Plastic Surgery & Skin

Earl E. Ferguson, MD Ferguson Plastic Surgery

Alejandra Garcia de Mitchell, MD San Antonio Pediatric Surgery Associates

Suresh Koneru, MD Advanced Concepts in Plastic Surgery, PA

Peter R. Ledoux, MD Prma Plastic Surgery

Manuel A. Lopez, MD Advanced Aesthetics Lopez Plastic Surgery

Amita Shah, MD Hill Country Plastic Surgery, PLLC

Christian Stallworth, MD Stallworth Plastic Surgery

Lauren Whipple, MD Prma Plastic Surgery

TRANSPLANT SURGERY

Greg Abrahamian, MD UT Health San Antonio

VASCULAR SURGERY

Thomas Gianis, MD Medical Vein Clinic

From left to right: Juanita Garces MD, FAANS (Spine Scoliosis Specialist), Ryan Morton MD, FAANS, Juan Padilla Maiz MD, FAANS (Brain/Spine Specialist), George Galvan MD, FAANS (Spine Specialist), Daniel Monsivais MD, FAANS (Brain/Spine Specialist), Sebastian Villarreal MD (Brain/Spine Specialist), Michelle Cecchini MD, FAANS (Brain/Spine Specialist)

The Dry Truth: South Texas

Drought Threatens Water and Way of Life

By Berit Mason with research contributed by Kaylin Ledford

Aquifers are bodies of rock, sand, gravel, or sandstone, saturated with water, in and around them. They are not underground rivers or lakes.

The 2022 Water Use Survey shows about 55% of Texas water resources are groundwater (aquifers), 42% are rivers, streams, and lakes (surface water), while 4% is recycled.

With most of our water coming from an aquifer, it’s no wonder meteorologists cite the levels daily, and they have been on a wild ride. In May alone, the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) was at Stage 4, falling to Stage 5, rising back to Stage 4 on May 29th, when rains came.

You can’t fool Mother Nature, but she sure can fool us.

Roland Ruiz is the General Manager of the EAA. He says despite spring showers, we’re years behind the needed rainfall. “We need a season of rain,” he says. And rainfall patterns are going in the wrong direction.

“Over the past century, rainfall has increased in South-Central Texas, but the trend over the past 30 years is negative,” says State of Texas climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon, Director of the Southern Regional Climate Center. “Climate change can change rainfall amounts and patterns.”

EAA stages and San Antonio Water System (SAWS) stages are different. An EAA Stage 5, for example, signifies that aquifer water levels are below 625 ft., measuring the amount of water in the aquifer. SAWS stages are the rules restricting water use, like Stage 3 Restrictions, where households are allowed to water once a week in the early mornings or late at night.

SAWS Director of Communications Anne Hayden says water conservation runs contrary to a homeowner’s desire for a thick green lawn. “It used to be a typical house did not come with a sprinkler system; these days, almost every new house comes with a sprinkler system.” Hence, SAWS staffers go out, looking for anyone breaking water rules, according to the water conservation stage the city is in. “We go out to businesses and neighborhoods and look for infractions of the rules,” says Hayden. “We always have to witness conservation violations.” Violations have sent people to court, but now they appear as fines on your SAWS bill.

Even at EAA board meetings, “over-pumpers,” aquifer permit holders who pump from the aquifer, must answer to a stern 17-member EAA board when using more than their fair share.

Late spring and early summer, the U.S. Drought Monitor map showed the searing dark red of extreme drought in the U.S. Southwest, including Southwest Texas. Thus, this spring’s 2025 89th Texas legislature saw politicians scramble to pass water infrastructure bills. The Texas Senate approved legislation allocating $1 billion on new infrastructure and water pipes to buy cities’ water, also approving the transportation of water from rain-soaked counties to parched southwestern ones.

The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) stage guide displays varying levels of waterflow, and their

Outside the suburbs’ hissing summer lawns is the far more serious world of Texas agriculture.

“Ranchers and land managers have conservation methods in play no matter the weather conditions,” says Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association’s Paige Holbrook. “Without the land and natural resources, they lose their livelihood.” The May 2025 theme of their magazine, The Cattleman, was water.

Farm and ranch lands rely on water wells, but in drought, those wells may emit fewer gallons per minute.

Even the Trump administration strong-armed Mexico to make good on a 1944 US-Mexico water treaty.

“The recovery of Rio Grande Valley agriculture will take time after years of hardship,” says the president of the Texas Farm Bureau, Russell Boening. “The immediate deliveries of water, and the deliveries of water in the next six months, will be critical for farmers and ranchers.”

One method being touted to conserve water is regenerative farming.

“Texas is getting drier every year,” according to Trinity University’s Dr. Kelly Lyons, a PhD in ecology.

A close-up of Edwards Aquifer limestone (courtesy Edwards Aquifer Authority)

“Exotic annual grasses, annual ryegrass, [and] winter wheat are creating much drier soil conditions.” Lyons says regenerative farming keeps greater levels of vegetation cover, so less moisture evaporates from the soil.

“The best way to sustain soil water content is to keep the soil organic matter levels high.” Today’s nutritionists worry that poor soil quality means our food lacks proper vitamins and minerals.

The Texas ‘drought of record’ was 1949 to 1957. These were the 2nd, 3rd, and 8th driest years ever, “the most costly and one of the most devastating droughts in 600 years.” It taught Texas tough lessons.

In the 1990s, the state legislature created the EAA that spanned eight counties, from Uvalde up to Austin. The Comal and San Marcos springs are under its jurisdiction, part of our water supply.

“They’re critical because those two communities, New Braunfels and the city of San Marcos, have grown up and developed around those two spring systems,” says Edward’s GM Ruiz. Arriving to share in that water are the nine million new residents who have moved to Texas since 2000.

Scientists at the Texas Water Development Board have been busily figuring out 50-year plans for our regional and state water supply.

Texas man-made lakes are also reservoirs, holding pens for rainfall.

However, “Higher temperatures also lead to greater evaporation rates,” explain climatologists, proving true at Canyon Lake and Medina Lake, where white rocky shorelines have been evident, even though they are usually submerged. “We’re growing by leaps and bounds,” says President of the Canyon Lake Civic Association, Gayle Green. “Which means more water is needed to accommodate homes with families and businesses.”

Canyon Lake evaporated so much that Canyon Lake Fire/EMS

lost five homes to fire when the water pressure from their water hoses was too low. Boat ramps have been restricted.

Medina Lake has risen due to recent rains, struggling with a “dead pool” status. Some Lakehills residents like Rachel Mulherin say they’ve been deprived of the lakefront views they pay for. “It’s the lake property we pay taxes on … for a waterfront property. But that’s not what I have.”

Mulherin belongs to “Save Medina Lake.” She and fellow Lakehills property owner Henning Eilert-Olsen want the state to modernize area infrastructure, conserving water.

“There are some 300 canals,” says Henning. “But they are very old and very inefficient, and approximately 75% of the water is lost on its way from Medina Lake to farmers.”

Save Medina Lake proposes new wells to supply water to farms instead.

Texas’ wide and empty spaces have attracted the construction of data centers, servicing the increasing use of AI. SAWS reports fifty new such customers in Medina County, raising the ire of agriculture producers.

Medina Lake in 1924

A dried-out Medina Lake

“We’re already under Stage Five drought restrictions, allowed 44% of the water we used to use. These developments might bring jobs, but without water, they won’t last—and they might push out the rest of us, who’ve been working the land for generations.”

Nickel has been forced to downsize his goat and cattle herd.

“The soil’s tired, and it hasn’t been the same since the canals from Medina Lake went dry,” says Nickel.

“I lived off 471 near what used to be Cliff, Texas, on the way to Medina Lake. The creeks and rivers always ran deep,” says Helen Marie Nickel, 92. She says in her 77 years there, San Geronimo Creek and Medina River were never dry.

“We swam in cold spring holes and never had to worry about water for the cattle. But about 15 years ago, everything started to change I worry there won’t be enough water left for the generations to come.”

She’s right, as 2010 was Texas’ last most severe drought.

Texas is the second-largest state, so caring for the fate of tiny creatures living in our springs takes imagination.

But the Comal Springs Salamanders are among “indicator species.”

When these pale fish show distress, biologists know springs’

Our state environmental agency, the TCEQ, oversees the western region of the recharge zone, scrutinizing building and development. Today’s building materials can be laden with chemicals, sinking into our groundwater. Concrete slab foundations stop rain from adding to our groundwater.

“The more we can do to address what is happening on the surface of the recharge zone, the better off we’ll be in terms of drinking water supply,” she says.

Drought played a big role in January’s Los Angeles wildfires. L.A. had had significant rainfall. But it stopped raining.

Senior Director for Aquifer Science Research & Modeling Paul Bertetti, says we face similar climate patterns.

“2021 was a year in which we received normal rainfall in the San Antonio region.”

Early 2022, the aquifer was “Stable,” falling to Stage 1. Then, no more rainfall came. 2022 ended as one of the driest years on record. That’s how fast our environment and climate changes.

The EAA “Critical Period Management Plan” ranges from “Stable” at 660 ft., to Stage 5, 625 ft. and below. ■

For the latest Edwards Aquifer levels, visit saws.org/your-water/aquifer-level-statistics

Texas wild rice (courtesy Edwards Aquifer Authority)

Texas Blind Salamander (courtesy Edwards Aquifer Authority)

Preserving the Past Amid Modern Growth

By Berit Mason with research contributed by Kaylin Ledford

In what critics call a troubling new precedent, the Texas Pavilion, former home of the Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC), was approved for demolition by both the Texas Historical Commission (THC) and the City of San Antonio, despite the structure’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places and its official designation as a State Antiquities Landmark.

The action, which preservationists cite in new concerns, is part of Project Marvel, a downtown revitalization effort that UTSA and the City say will transform the area around the Tower of the Americas. Critics of the project argue this change will come at the expense of the city’s architectural and cultural heritage.

“It is infuriating,” says Lewis Vetter, president of the Conservation Society of San Antonio, who filed a lawsuit in an attempt to prevent the demolition. He says the Society’s suit was defeated by the powerful legal argument of sovereign immunity.

“Under that, no matter how good your argument is or how meritorious your claim is, it will not be heard if the state chooses not to be sued,” Vetter explains. In a meeting this past April, the THC voted to grant UTSA a demolition permit for the ITC building, which was designed by architect Caudill Rowlett Scott. The permit request was made as the building’s future was still in litigation.

“Federal law has requirements that before a project can get federal funds, a federal agency must do an environmental review and determine if there will be an adverse effect on historic property,” says attorney Catherine E. Courtney, with the firm of Denton Navarro Rocha Bernal & Zech. According to Courtney, there has been no such federal review to date, and she contends that approval of the demolition may ultimately prove to be unlawful.

San Antonio historian Stephen Fox, a Fellow of the Anchorage Foundation of Texas, says the ITC is unique as a Brutalist building and a state pavilion from the 1968 Hemisfair. He says its concrete material and its placement at the east end of the Hemisfair site was intended to reflect a sense of gravitas and institutional dignity.

“It was meant to be a major public building, and to lose that is a tragedy,” says Fox. “It was meant to be monumental.” He believes that more public input is needed before any redevelopment takes place.

To date, it is unclear whether this will occur, although UTSA and the City say they intend to include the public in the project’s future development.

Architectural preservationists say that the city and UTSA are being disingenuous in their redevelopment campaign, using buzzwords like “revitalization” and “sustainability” while sidestepping legal and ethical obligations to historical stewardship.

While the ITC crumbles under modern development pressures, the San Antonio Missions, now part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and protected by the National Park Service, stand resilient thanks to decades of foresight, advocacy, and archaeological leadership.

In the early 1980s, Anne A. Fox, a respected archaeologist and a direct descendant of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams, conducted pivotal excavations at Mission Concepción and its surrounding grounds. A pioneering force in San Antonio’s cultural preservation, Fox uncovered buried histories beneath the city and championed practices that safeguarded its heritage for future generations.

Her work under the National Park Service and the Texas Antiquities Code preserved the architectural blueprint of the Missions, including the excavation of irrigation canals, buried roadways, and colonial structures beneath Main Plaza and Alamo Street. Fox also laid the foundation for the Missions’ 2015 inclusion as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and went on to receive the title of 1992 Archaeologist of the Year by the Texas Historical Commission. Even amid recent debates over federal defunding of the National Park Service, the Missions remain protected thanks in large part to the groundwork Fox helped establish. Her approach emphasized careful mitigation to protect historical layers beneath modern development—an ethos that could help guide current projects like Project Marvel. This designation, combined with federal and state protections, shields the Missions from the same fate as the ITC. Fox’s legacy proves that proactive preservation—not reactive litigation—offers the strongest defense against cultural erasure. Her discoveries revealed multiple American historical layers predating 1845 beneath downtown San Antonio—structures that would have been lost without archaeological foresight.

Historians say that cultural memory is not just about nostalgia; it’s about identity, continuity, and understanding who we are as a people. When we tear down the physical embodiments of our shared past, we risk severing the ties that connect generations.

As the bulldozers line up to take down the ITC, many are left wondering: If a landmark with both state and federal protections can be demolished so easily, what does that mean for the rest of our city’s heritage? The San Antonio Missions survived because their protectors got there first. The ITC may not be so lucky. ■

The Emotional Intelligence Gap in Texas Schools

Emotional intelligence—often called EI or SEL (Social Emotional Learning)—isn’t a buzzword. It’s a proven framework for helping children build self-awareness, empathy, resilience, and healthy communication skills. But in Texas, there’s no formal statewide requirement for SEL instruction. While some school districts are stepping up locally, inconsistent implementation and lack of funding mean thousands of students are missing the benefits. A 2022 survey by Raise Your Hand Texas revealed that while 68% of educators believe emotional health should be a top priority, only 11% say their schools have the resources to

Reforming Education: From Standardized Stress to Emotional Health

By Jules Aldaz, with research contributed by Kaylin Ledford

Texas public schools are at a breaking point—caught between state mandates, budget constraints, and a generation of students emotionally overwhelmed by a system built for compliance, not care. From excessive standardized testing to underfunded support services, students are navigating a landscape more focused on performance metrics than personal growth. And while lawmakers debate cell phone bans and school vouchers, many educators and families agree: we’ve lost sight of what truly matters—mental well-being, emotional intelligence, and authentic support for diverse learners.

deliver on that promise.

While Texas Education Code §22.904 now requires school staff to undergo mental health training, prevention is more effective than reaction—and the most vital mandate still missing is one that ensures students themselves are taught how to understand and regulate their emotions within the school day.

Why Mental Health Education Should Be Required for Students

• Teaching students how to understand, express, and regulate emotions can help prevent crises, self-harm, suicide, bullying, and

violence before they happen.

• Kids are often unaware of what they’re feeling, why they feel it, or how to ask for help. Educating them early promotes self-awareness, help-seeking behavior, and empathy for others.

• Students who understand emotional regulation perform better academically and socially. It reduces disruptions, aggression, and school avoidance caused by anxiety or trauma.

• Teaching mental health topics helps normalize them, reducing shame and stigma and encouraging students to speak up early.

Fractured Reflections, by North East School of the Art artist Isabella Peña

A Veteran Teacher’s Perspective

To understand how these issues play out in real classrooms, I spoke with Jeff Campbell, an awardwinning, master-certified U.S. History teacher with over 39 years of teaching and coaching experience in Texas public schools. While he’s proud of his students and their consistently high STAAR pass rates, Campbell expressed concern about the nature of the tests themselves and the pressure placed on both educators and students.

“Sometimes the questions focus on very specific facts that many teachers just don’t have time to cover— especially in smaller or non-advanced classes. It can be frustrating, because the tests don’t always reflect the broader learning that’s happening in the classroom.”

Campbell shared that for students who are doing well in class but don’t perform well on standardized tests, the experience can be discouraging. “If a student has an A in my class but struggles with the STAAR, that doesn’t mean they haven’t learned. Some kids just aren’t great test takers—and that’s okay.”

He also emphasized that many students come to school carrying emotional burdens from home—and may not have the support systems they need outside the classroom. “We have kids dealing with a lot—family stress, financial pressure, even caring for siblings. Not every student has someone at home who knows how to help them process what they’re feeling. That’s why it’s so important that schools step up to provide that support.”

For Campbell, teaching has never been just about tests—it’s about connection, trust, and helping students become emotionally and intellectually confident.

A Student’s Voice: What Kids Really Need

Madison Ledford, a 10-year-old fifth grader at Coker Elementary, knows this pressure firsthand.

“If I get something wrong, I feel like kids look at me like I’m dumb. That makes school harder.”

Madison dreams of a space where students can draw or write their feelings in private, sit on beanbags, and take breaks when overwhelmed. She’s not asking for anything extravagant—just a safe space to feel seen and understood.

“Sometimes I shut down because I feel too many feelings at once. I wish adults knew that I need time and space—not to be yelled at.”

Phones in Schools: Lifeline or Distraction?

While the Texas legislature considers a bill to ban student phone use during the school day, reactions remain mixed. Campbell uses a shoe organizer system to store phones in class—but recognizes that for some students, phones are more than distractions.

Student Interview Summary

Emotional Intelligence & Learning Challenges (Madison Ledford, age 10, 5th grade)

What are some things you feel at school that are hard to explain to your teachers or classmates?

Sometimes I feel really nervous when I have to answer questions in class. I get scared that I might get it wrong and other kids will look at me like I’m dumb. It makes me feel sad, even if I usually get it right. There’s a lot of pressure to be perfect, and that makes school harder.

Do you think kids are taught how to understand their feelings at school?

A little bit. Like, our counselor comes to talk to us once a month and teaches us about stuff like bullying or sharing. But I don’t think it happens enough for us to really remember how to handle big feelings.

If you could design a class to help kids deal with hard feelings, what would it be like?

I would make a class where kids could write or draw their feelings on the wall in private. There would be calming smells and soft stuff to help us feel better. Maybe a beanbag or a place to sit quietly. It would be a peaceful room just for calming down.

Have you ever had a big feeling that got you in trouble or made you shut down? What did you wish adults knew in that moment?

Yeah, sometimes I shut down because I feel too many feelings at once. I wish adults knew that I need time and space and not to be yelled at. I trust my mom the most. At school, I don’t always feel like I can trust teachers.

What makes you feel really safe and understood?

I feel safe when I’m with my friends. Teachers are okay, but I don’t trust all of them. Some of them don’t really understand what I’m going through. I trust people in my family more than anyone else.

If you could create a 'Kindness Club' at school, what would you want it to do?

It would help kids be nicer to each other and remind them to treat others how they want to be treated. I would want to ask people to join, but I’m kind of scared they’ll think I’m weird.

How do you feel when other kids can read things faster or easier than you?

It makes me feel like I’m behind. Like they’re better than me at reading. I don’t think they mean to make me feel bad, but I still feel kind of sad about it.

Would it be easier for you to have someone to talk to at school about your feelings regarding reading?

Not really. I don’t want to talk to a counselor I don’t know. I talk to my mom about it. I feel better when I can talk to someone who really knows me.

What would you change about how reading is taught at school?

I wish teachers would slow down and explain things better. They talk really fast and I can’t always understand. Everyone learns differently, and I think they should try different ways to help all kids.

Do you think kids understand what dyslexia is? How would you explain it to them?

Some kids know what it is, but not everyone. I would tell them it just means it’s harder for some kids to read or spell. It’s not a bad thing or a disability—we just learn in a different way. And that’s okay.

SOLUTIONS & STRATEGIES

HOWTEXASSCHOOLSCANIMPROVEEMOTIONALINTELLIGENCE

Texas schools can improve emotional intelligence (EI) by shifting from a test-centric model to a whole-child approach—one that prioritizes emotional well-being alongside academic performance. These actionable steps offer a roadmap to make that shift possible:

1. Integrate Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) into the Curriculum

• What it looks like: Regular class time dedicated to selfawareness, empathy, emotional regulation, and conflict resolution.

• How to do it: Adopt evidence-based SEL programs like Second Step, RULER, or Leader in Me—already in use in some Texas districts.

• Why it matters: SEL programs consistently improve grades, reduce behavioral issues, and boost long-term well-being.

2. Train Teachers in Emotional Intelligence

• Provide professional development in trauma-informed practices, teacher self-awareness, and classroom emotional climates.

• Emotionally intelligent educators model calm, compassion, and clarity—creating safer, more supportive classrooms.

3. Create Emotional Check-In Systems

• Tools like “how are you feeling?” boards, mood meters, and daily journals normalize emotional expression.

• Early check-ins help identify students in distress before crises develop.

“They’re a comfort. I get it—especially with everything going on in the world.”

Parents of students with anxiety echo this. For them, the ability to reach their child during a break—or in a crisis— matters more than classroom uniformity. A growing number of advocates support middle-ground policies: phones put away during lessons, accessible during noninstructional times and emergencies.

The Tea Party Club: Student-Led Innovation

At Lee High School, one student quietly transformed mental health support—by starting the Tea Party Club. She didn’t brand it as a mental health group to avoid stigma. Instead, she created a fun, inviting space where all students could decompress and connect.

“Some people came just for the food and drinks. Others came to meet friends, take a break from stress, or play bingo. It was a way to be in a positive environment.

4. Prioritize Mental Health Support Services

• Increase the number of counselors, social workers, and school psychologists—Texas currently ranks among the worst in student-to-counselor ratios.

• Provide age-appropriate mental health education starting in middle school.

5. Shift from Punitive to Restorative Discipline

• Replace zero-tolerance and suspensions with restorative circles, peer mediation, and reflection-based consequences.

• These practices foster empathy, accountability, and personal growth.

6. Encourage Student Voice & Agency

• Involve students in decision-making and goal setting.

• Create safe spaces—like advisory groups or mental health clubs—where students can share feelings and stressors without fear of judgment.

7. Support Families & Caregivers

• Offer family workshops on emotional development, stress management, and using EI tools at home.

• Strong home-school partnerships amplify support and consistency.

8. Track Emotional Wellness Like Academic Data

• Use anonymous surveys and self-assessments to measure belonging, stress levels, and emotional engagement.

• This data can guide district decisions and highlight campuses needing additional support.

If you needed to talk or just wanted a reason to smile, you could come to the Tea Party Club.”

The result? A student-led movement that modeled the kind of connection schools too often overlook. Sometimes, all it takes is snacks, laughter, and a safe place to be yourself.

The Path Forward

If we want better academic outcomes, we must begin with emotionally safe environments. Texas must move beyond test scores and daily attendance metrics and ask: Are we raising resilient, emotionally intelligent individuals—or just compliant ones?

Madison said it best:

“It’s not a bad thing or a disability—we just learn in a different way. And that’s okay.”

That’s the message every student deserves to hear.

A Call for Compassionate Reform

The path forward in Texas education isn’t about choosing sides—it’s about coming together. Students, teachers, parents, and policymakers all play a role in creating learning environments that nurture not only academic growth, but emotional well-being. Real change will take more than legislation; it requires compassion, understanding, and the willingness to truly listen.

We need to invite decision-makers into classrooms—not just to observe, but to connect. When leaders see the pressures teachers face and hear firsthand what students are carrying emotionally, they can begin making more mindful, humancentered decisions.

Because at the end of the day, education isn’t just about passing tests—it’s about preparing young people to thrive, with confidence, empathy, and resilience. And that’s a goal we can all stand behind. ■

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* allenmarque@gmail.com

Specialties: Foot and Ankle Surgery

Dr. Marque Allen is fellowship-trained and double Board Certified in both Foot & Ankle Surgery. He has over 20 years experience in practice in San Antonio, TX and is one of the four founding partners of Sports Medicine Associates. Dr. Allen and his partners have been team physicians for the San Antonio Spurs for over 20 years. Dr. Allen is also an expert in the cutting-edge bunion procedure, 3D Lapiplasty, which has revolutionized the successful treatment of bunions. He is one of the top 20 surgeons in the US in the number of successful Lapiplasty procedures performed. Dr. Allen believes that every patient is an athlete because life is a competitive sport.

Ellen Lin, MD

2025 Outstanding Woman in Medicine

2025 Top Surgeon Advanced Spine & Pain Center ( (210) 690-0777

6 (210) 545-3671

* paindoctorellen@gmail.com

Specialties: Pain Management

Dr. Ellen Lin is a graduate of the University of Texas Health Science Center of San Antonio. She is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with a subspecialty certification in Pain Medicine and is the founder of Advanced Spine and Pain Center in San Antonio, Texas. She was the first person in the history of the program to graduate from the Department of Anesthesiology Pain Management Fellowship with a background in PM&R.Dr. Lin is now a part of the team at Advanced Spine and Pain Center as the board-certified, fellowship-trained interventional pain management specialist and enjoys serving the San Antonio area providing the latest in medical treatment for acute and chronic pain conditions. Dr. Lin has been recognized by her peers for the past 17 years as a Top Doctor in San Antonio.

Troy Robbin Hailparn, MD, FACOG, FAACS

2025 Outstanding Woman in Medicine

2025 Scene In SA Top Surgeon

Cosmetic Gynecology Center of SA ( (210) 615-6646

6 (210) 615-6846

* drhailparn@cosmeticgyn.net : CosmeticGYN.net

Specialties: Gynecologic Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery

Dr. Hailparn offers sensitive and customized care with surgical and non-surgical options to address bladder, bowel and sexual function problems, as well as labia minora and majora reductions for comfort, function, and appearance concerns. Hormone replacement, incontinence, weight loss, and skin tightening are also provided. Her goal is to help women improve the quality of their lives and have bodies they can depend on. Check out her educational and entertaining TedTalk on YouTube.

J. Antonio Lopez, MD

Nuevo Leon Monterrey Immigrated OBGYN Practitioner

2025 Best SA Doctor 2024 Top Family Doctor Lopez Family Practice ( (210) 534-8906

* antonio.md@lopezfamilypractice.com

Specialties: Family Medicine

Dr. Lopez has been practicing medicine for over twenty years. After graduating from the Nuevo Leon Medical University in 1990, he practiced in Monterey, Mexico for a year. Dr. Lopez then immigrated to the US, and received a second degree from the University of Illinois in 1996. Though he enjoyed a successful career as a cardiologist and obgyn as well as a family practitioner in Illinois, Dr. Lopez moved his family to San Antonio in 2001 and is proud to be a part of the Texas community. Since opening the doors to Lopez Family Practice, Antonio has won several awards, including Outstanding Leadership of the Community in Doctoral Achievement (Chamber of Commerce 2008), America's Top Family Doctors (Consumer's Research Council of America, 2009), and Best Physicians as Chosen by Their Peers (Scene in SA, 2020-2025).

As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, we honor our deep-rooted commitment to the health and well-being of our local community. Thank you for your trust and for allowing us to serve you and your loved ones all these years.

Together we look forward to building a healthier future for all of us.

Top Lawyer Profiles

Zachary Aoki

2025 Best SA Lawyer

Thurman & Phillips ( (210) 341-2020

6 (210) 344-6460

* zachary@thurmanphillips.com : thurmanphillips.com

Areas of Practice: Litigation, Collections, Community Associations

Zack focuses his practice on Community Association law and general litigation matters in state and federal court. He represents his clients in state, federal, and alternative dispute forums and has significant trial and appellate experience.

Examples of industries he has represented include: transportation, oil and gas, real estate, insurance, media, accounting, construction, financial and lending institutions, and technology companies.

Bobby Barrera

2025 Best SA Lawyer

2024 Top Criminal Lawyer

The Law Office of Bobby Barrera, PC ( (210) 227-7372

6 (210) 224-5890

* bobbybarreralaw@gmail.com : bobbybarrera.com

Areas of Practice: Criminal Defense, Murder, DWI, Family Violence, State & Federal

Grant Gaines

2025 Best SA Lawyer

Patel Gaines ( (210) 460-7787

* ggaines@patelgaines.com : patelgaines.com

Areas of Practice: Business, Real Estate, Litigation

Grant Gaines is a founding partner of Patel Gaines and a driving force behind its rise as one of Texas’ top business law firms, representing over $16 billion in commercial property. Known for his command in the courtroom and clarity in legal strategy, Grant serves as lead counsel in all trials, where he crafts results through litigation, negotiation, and practical deal-making. He is a trusted advisor to businesses across industries, handling everything from high-stakes disputes to complex commercial leases, purchase agreements, and government negotiations. Grant has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer, Scene In SA Best Lawyer, National Outstanding Lawyer, and 40 Under 40 honoree by the Business Journal. His work has been featured in Forbes, Bloomberg Business, Texas Monthly, and Texas Lawyer, reflecting a career built on legal excellence, entrepreneurial leadership, and unwavering client advocacy.

Bobby has been practicing criminal law for over 40 years. He has been recognized by his fellow lawyers as one of San Antonio’s “Top Ten Criminal Lawyers” and as one of San Antonio’s “Top Five DWI Lawyers.” He has been on Scene In SA’s “Best Lawyers” list for the last 20 years. He is the Past President of the San Antonio Bar Association and Director of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. He is a frequent lecturer and course director for the T.C.D.L.A and State Bar of Texas CLE’s. Bobby has been included in the “ Texas Super Lawyers” listing in criminal law for the last 10 years.

Alexander Begum

2025 Best SA Lawyer

2024 Top Personal Injury Lawyer

Villarreal & Begum ( (210) 800-0000

6 (210) 233-8278

* abegum@texaslegalgroup.com : texaslawguns.com

Areas of Practice: Personal Injury

Alexander Begum is a founding shareholder of the Villarreal & Begum Law Firm, with offices in San Antonio, Laredo, and McAllen. Mr. Begum earned a double major in Marketing and Finance at Trinity University. He then attended Harvard University where he studied finance and legal writing. Alex acquired a Doctorate of Jurisprudence and a Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Texas Tech. Alexander Begum has devoted his career to helping those injured by negligent drivers, 18-wheelers, and bad corporate actors. Scene In SA has named Alex Begum Best Injury Lawyer for years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Gerry Goldstein

2025 Best SA Lawyer

2024 Top Criminal Defense Lawyer

Goldstein & Orr, PLLC ( (210) 226-1463

6 (210) 226-8367

* gerry@goldsteinorr.law : goldsteinhilley.com

Areas of Practice: Criminal Law & Appeals

Gerry Goldstein is a past President of the National Association of Lawyers and the Texas Lawyers Association. Goldstein is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, was named a Texas Lawyer Legal Legend by the State Bar, and was named to the Texas Lawyers Hall of Fame. He was named to the Top 100 list in Super Lawyers and recognized as the outstanding attorney by the State Bar of Texas. He is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow in the American Board of Lawyers, and a prestigious Robert C. Heeney Memorial Award recipient.

John S. Gilmore, III

2025 Best SA Lawyer

2024 Top Criminal Defense Lawyer

Goldstein & Orr, PLLC ( (210) 226-1463

6 (210) 226-8367

* johnstuartgilmore@gmail.com : goldsteinhilley.com

Areas of Practice: Criminal Law & Appeals

John Gilmore is the Senior Associate at Goldstein & Orr. His practice focuses on state and federal criminal litigation, appeals, and asset forfeitures. He takes pride in discretely resolving allegations in

Francisco Guerra, IV

2025 Best SA Lawyer

2024 Top PI Lawyer Guerra LLP ( (210) 447-0500 6 (210) 735-2235 : guerrallp.com

Areas of Practice: Personal Injury, Mass Torts, Product Liability, Commercial Litigation

Francisco “Frank” Guerra, IV is a capital partner at Guerra, LLP, has over 25 years of experience as an attorney, and is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. During his career, Frank has litigated, tried and arbitrated cases all over the country.

Guerra LLP specializes in Civil Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury, Product Liability, Class Actions, Environmental Torts, and Mass Tort cases.

Kathlyn Hufstetler

2025 Best SA Lawyer

Patel Gaines ( (210) 460-7787

* khufstetler@patelgaines.com : patelgaines.com

Areas of Practice: Property Tax

Kathlyn Hufstetler is a partner at Patel Gaines and head of the firm’s Property Tax Division, where she leads one of the most successful practices of its kind in Texas. Under her leadership, the division has grown rapidly, expanding its representation from $5 billion to over $11 billion in commercial property value. Kathlyn is known for securing major reductions in high-stakes litigation, including over $22 million in taxable value reductions in landmark cases such as Houston House v. HCAD and Redford Owner v. HCAD. She brings strategic precision and relentless advocacy to every case, earning her recognition as a Scene In SA Best Lawyer and a “10 Extraordinary Women to Watch” honoree by EliteX. As a member of the 2024–25 TAPTP Bridge Committee, Kathlyn continues to shape the future of property tax law in Texas with results that speak for themselves.

Beto Lara

2025 Best SA Lawyer 2024 Top PI Lawyer

Denali Law PLLC ( (210) 934-7000 * betolara@lawdenali.com : lawdenali.com

Areas of Practice: Corporate Law, Civil Litigation, Commercial Litigation

Beto Lara has over seventeen years’ experience in the legal field and has been recognized for his leadership and tenacity. Prior to establishing Denali Law, Mr. Lara counseled high profile clients on domestic and international foreign legal matters. He holds a Master’s in Tax Law and a L.L.M. in American legal studies from St. Mary’s School of Law. Mr. Lara is also affiliated with the State Bar of Texas and has been certified by the Supreme Court of Texas as a Foreign Legal Consultant. He is a passionate advocate for UTSA football and resides in San Antonio with his family.

Maria T. LoRusso

2025 Outstanding Woman in Law

2025 Best SA Lawyer

Maria T. LoRusso, P.C. ( (210) 404-9200

* maria@lorussobusinesslaw.com : lorussobusinesslaw.com

Areas of Practice: Business & Corporate Law, Finance Law

At the intersection of law & finance lies my role as a Business/Corporate Law Attorney. This niche position allows me to develop economic/financial strategies to successfully integrate and coordinate the management of business affairs, analyze contracts and leases, manage litigation, and assist CEOs, CFOs, tax professionals, banking/investment advisors and insurance representatives into the legal and financial infrastructure of a business. Law & finance become the compass and road map to navigate a successful business course.

Desi I. Martinez

2025 Best SA Lawyer

2024 Top PI Lawyer

Martinez & Associates, PLLC ( (210) 337-1111

6 (210) 359-8255

* desi.martinez@martinez-law.com : martinez-law.com

Areas of Practice: Personal Injury

Martinez & Associates has been recognized by TopVerdicts.com and VerdictSearch for obtaining several noteworthy verdicts and settlements for 7 out of the previous 10 years. Desi Martinez credits this recognition to Martinez & Associates’ ability to capably litigate a case through to trial. Known to have precipitously walked out of mediations and into trial, the years have tempered Mr. Martinez’ gallop but afforded him the opportunity to impress upon the attorneys in his firm with this belief.

Karen L. Marvel

2025 Best SA Lawyer

2025 Outstanding Woman in Law

2025 Top Family Lawyer

Marvel Law Group, PLLC ( (210) 446-4561

6 (210) 774-4610

* karen@marvellaw.com : marvellaw.com

Areas of Practice: Family Law, Child Support Collection

Karen is a board-certified Family Law Specialist with over 35 years experience. Her cases at the Texas Supreme Court changed the law on child support collection and interest. As the mother of a son with special needs, she knows your struggles and wants to help you resolve your case for the best interests of your children. She is respected for her advocacy skills and her depth of legal knowledge.

Top Lawyer Profiles

Harold McCall

2025 Best SA Lawyer

2024 Top Personal Injury Lawyer

Wayne Wright, LLP ( (210) 888-8888

6 (210) 734-9965

* hmccall@waynewright.com : waynewright.com

Areas of Practice: Personal Injury

McCall handles complex trucking accident cases resulting in serious injury or death, as well as dangerous product and drug cases. Mr. McCall is licensed to practice law in 6 states, including Texas; is a life member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum; is listed as a Best Attorney in San Antonio by Scene In SA magazine; and is past President of the San Antonio Trial Lawyers Association.

Gavin McInnis

2025 Best SA Lawyer

Wyatt Law Firm, Ltd

( (210) 340-5550

6 (210) 340-5581

* gmcinnis@wyattlawfirm.com : wyattlawfirm.com

Areas of Practice: Plaintiff Personal Injury

Gavin, who has been nicknamed “the Law Library” by some of his peers, concentrates his practice in the representation of plaintiffs in serious personal injury, trucking accidents, wrongful death, carbon monoxide exposure, and oil field injury cases. Born and raised in Latin America until the age of thirteen, Gavin speaks English and Spanish. Honors and recognitions include: Super Lawyers, Scene In SA’s Best Lawyers, Top 50 Verdicts (Texas); Texas Bar Foundation Fellow; Order of the Barristers.

Aida Rojas Moore

2025 Best SA Lawyer

Rojas Law Firm ( (210) 299-4600

6 (210) 299-4600

* aidarojas@aidarojaslaw.com : aidarojaslaw.com

Areas of Practice: Family Law

has over 20 years of qualified experience in dealing with family law cases such as divorce, custody, domestic violence, CPS, child support, and adoptions.

clients, Ms. Rojas has gained the reputation of a lawyer who will always fight for justice and will protect the legal rights of Texas families and children.

Ashley Morgan

2025 Best SA Lawyer

Soyars & Morgan Law ( (210) 568-9400

6 (210) 858-5181

* ashley@soyarsmorganlaw.com : soyarsmorganlaw.com

Areas of Practice: DWI & Criminal Defense

Ashley Morgan is a highly educated and highly experienced trial attorney. She has hundreds of trials under her belt and her ability to communicate clearly and effectively with jurors is second to none. Ashley has the unique ability to empathize with clients – a skill often overlooked by other attorneys. She is a fierce advocate and will vigorously defend you. As a former prosecutor, she is able to anticipate strategies and tactics you will face, and this insight into preparation will serve you well. It also means she has the experience needed to negotiate with the State.

Kaylie M. Morgan

2025 Best SA Lawyer

2024 Top Criminal Defense Lawyer

O’Hanlon, Demerath, & Castillo ( (210) 310-3030

6 (512) 494-9919

* kmorgan@808west.com : 808west.com

Areas of Practice: Criminal Defense, Criminal Defense: Appellate, Criminal Defense: Juvenile

attorney at O’Hanlon,

& Castillo in San

Texas. Her current practice focuses solely on juvenile and adult criminal defense, representing clients charged with misdemeanors and felony offenses. Kaylie also handles state and federal appeals and post-conviction writs of habeas corpus cases. Kaylie has been selected as a Rising Star Lawyer and an Outstanding Woman in Law in San Antonio, Texas.

Cynthia Orr

2025 Outstanding Women in Law

2025 Best SA Lawyer

Goldstein & Orr, PLLC ( (210) 226-1463

6 (210) 226-8367

* whitecollarlaw@gmail.com : goldsteinhilley.com

Areas of Practice: Criminal Law & Appeals

Cynthia Eva Hujar Orr is the past Chair of the ABA Criminal Justice Section and in its House of Delegates, on the Texas Board of Law Examiners, is past President of the NACDL and TCDLA. She founded the San Antonio Lawyers Association and the Texas Innocence Network. She is listed in the Best Lawyers in America, is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and is a Texas’ Top 100 Trial Lawyer. She is in the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame, she was TCDLA 2015 Pro Bono Lawyer of the year, clerked for federal Judge Emilio Garza and is Board Certified in Criminal Law and Appeals. She is listed in the Best Lawyers in America and is AV Rated by Martindale Hubble.

Kaylie M. Morgan is a criminal defense

Demerath

Antonio,

Harold

Aida Rojas Moore

Throughout the course of representing

Richard Orsinger

2025 Best SA Lawyers

2025 Top Family Lawyers

Orsinger Law

( (210) 225-5567

6 (210) 267-7777

* richard@orsinger.com : ondafamilylaw.com

Areas of Practice: Family Law

Richard Orsinger is well regarded as one of Texas’ top family law and appellate lawyers. He offers clients unparalleled experience gained over the course of an esteemed 48-year career. In that time, his peers have repeatedly recognized him for his legal acumen, dedication to hard work and to the integrity of his profession. The list of awards bestowed upon him from a variety of legal organizations and publications is impressive. Richard has been named to The Best Lawyers in America in Family Law listing each year since 1987 and in Appellate Law since 2007.

Rahul B. Patel

2025 Best SA Lawyer

Patel Gaines ( (210) 460-7787

* rpatel@patelgaines.com : patelgaines.com

Areas of Practice: Business, Franchise, Hospitality, Property Tax

Rahul B. Patel is the founding and managing partner of Patel Gaines, a Texas-based law firm representing over $16 billion in commercial property. He is a respected authority in property tax litigation, commercial real estate, and franchise law, with major victories including a $9 million tax reduction and a full dismissal in a high-stakes ADA lawsuit. Clients such as the Federal Reserve Bank and Magnolia rely on his legal strategy and business insight. Rahul serves as Chairman of Alamo Angels, Vice Chairman of the F45 Franchisee Advisory Committee for North America, and sits on the Board of Directors for Gleantap. His leadership has earned honors including Super Lawyer, Scene In SA Best Lawyer, National Outstanding Lawyer, and South Texas Power Player. He was also named Best Mentor by Texas Lawyer for his work in guiding the next generation of attorneys. His insights have been featured in publications such as Forbes, Texas Monthly, Texas Lawyer, Bloomberg Business, and USA Today.

Derek S. Ritchie

2025 Best SA Lawyer

The Law Office of Derek S. Ritchie, PLLC

( (210) 775-2000

6 (210) 592-4370

* derek@derekritchielaw.com : derekritchie.com

Areas of Practice: Criminal Defense, Family Law

Derek is the founder and managing attorney of the Law Office of Derek S. Ritchie. He earned his law degree in London, then made his way to the United States and earned his LLM from the University of Texas School of Law. He handles DWI's, intoxication manslaughter, murders, and sex crimes, as well as all areas of Family Law. He is available to his clients every day, including weekends.

Raul B. Rodriguez

2025 Best SA Lawyer

2024 Top PI Lawyer

Raul B. Rodriguez Law, P.C. ( (210) 899-0300

6 (210) 899-0500

* raul@rodriguezlawtx.com : raulbrodriguez.com

Areas of Practice: Personal Injury

Raul is a proud San Antonian. His firm focuses on helping injured San Antonians and Texans. He handles all types of personal injury matters, from car wrecks to wrongful death cases. Raul has worked for and tried cases for both insurance companies and injured victims. This experience adds a unique insight to the entire personal injury process. No matter how hard the fight, Raul and his firm won’t back down!

Alexander S. Roig

2025 Best SA Lawyer

Alexander S. Roig, PLLC ( (210) 377-2529 Ext. 201

6 (210) 340-1346

* alexander@roiglaw.com : roiglaw.com

Areas of Practice: Probate Law

Alex graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and Thomas M. Cooley Law School, in Lansing, MI. He has been a licensed attorney in the State of Texas since 2002 and admitted to the Federal District Court of the Western District. His experience includes estate planning and litigation on trusts, guardianships, and estate disputes. Mr. Roig also has extensive experience representing military clients in both disability claims and estate planning matters.

Hella V. Scheuerman

2025 Best SA Lawyer

2025 Outstanding Woman in Law

Scheuerman Law Firm, PLLC ( (210) 741-2233

6 (210) 735-2235

* hella@sch-lawfirm.com : sch-lawfirm.com

Areas of Practice: Personal Injury, Probate, Trust and Estate Litigation

Hella is originally from Managua, Nicaragua. She immigrated to the United States with her family at a young age as a result of the political and economic climate in war-torn Nicaragua. Spanish is her first language and she continues to speak Spanish fluently. In her 27 years of practice, she has obtained significant trial experience as lead attorney in more than 50 jury trials to verdict. Hella is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and frequently counsels and represents clients in both State and Federal Courts. She is licensed in all Texas State Courts, as well as the Western, Northern, and Southern Districts of Texas of the United States District Courts.

Top Lawyer Profiles

Jodi Soyars

2025 Best SA Lawyer

Soyars & Morgan Law ( (210) 568-9400

6 (210) 858-5181

* jodi@soyarsmorganlaw.com : soyarsmorganlaw.com

Areas of Practice: Criminal Defense, Family

Jodi Soyars has gained a reputation for being a strong trial attorney who is not afraid to vigorously defend her clients’ rights. Over the past 15+ years, she has represented defendants accused of misdemeanors and felonies throughout Central Texas. She graduated with honors from law school and was a member of the prestigious Houston Law Review. She has been admitted to practice in the U.S. Western District Courts (federal court). Her practice emphasizes personal attention to each client’s case and prompt communication with her clients. Jodi attributes her success to her pretrial case preparation and her “think outside the box” trial approach.

Michael B. Thurman

2025 Best SA Lawyer

Thurman & Phillips, PC

( (210) 341-2020

6 (210) 344-6460

* law@thurman-phillips.com : thurmanphillips.com

Areas of Practice: Property Owners Associations

Michael B. Thurman is Managing Shareholder of Thurman & Phillips, P.C. Michael is Board Certified by the State Bar of Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the areas of Real Estate Law: Residential and Property Owners Association Law. Michael’s primary practice is Property Owners Association Law with a focus on representing associations and developers. Michael is AV-rated, which is the highest rating bestowed by Martindale-Hubbell on attorneys considered to have “Very High to Preeminent Legal Ability” with the highest Standard of ethical and professional conduct.

Javier Villarreal

2025 Best SA Lawyer

2024 Top Personal Injury Lawyer

Villareal & Begum ( (210) 800-0000

6 (210) 233-8278

* texasattorney@hotmail.com : texaslawguns.com

Areas of Practice: Personal Injury

Javier Villarreal received his bachelor’s degree from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA in 1995. He then continued his education at Tulane School of Law, where he obtained his Juris Doctorate in 1998. Upon graduation, he served as a Briefing Attorney for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. In 2001, Javier opened his private practice in Brownsville, Texas and developed his plaintiff personal injury practice. He is licensed to practice law in both the State of Texas and the State of Arizona.

Ronnie Lee Mark Wilkins

2025 Best SA Lawyer

2024 Top Criminal Defense Lawyer

Goldstein & Orr, PLLC ( (210) 226-1463

6 (210) 226-8367

* ronnie@goldsteinorr.law : goldsteinhilley.com

Areas of Practice: Criminal Law & Criminal Appeals

In 2014, Ronnie was selected as a Rising Star Lawyer in San Antonio, Texas.

Wayne Wright

2025 Best SA Lawyer

2024 Top Personal Injury Lawyer

Wayne Wright, LLP ( (210) 888-8888

6 (210) 734-9965

* wwright@waynewright.com : waynewright.com

Areas of Practice: Plaintiff Personal Injury

Wyatt Wright

2025 Best SA Lawyer

2024 Top Personal Injury Lawyer

Wayne Wright, LLP ( (210) 888-8888

6 (210) 734-9965

* wyatt@waynewright.com : waynewright.com

Areas of Practice: Plaintiff Personal Injury

Ronnie Wilkins is an associate attorney at Goldstein & Orr in San Antonio, Texas. His practice focuses on state and federal criminal defense. Ronnie has experience in handling a variety of adult and juvenile cases.

Laude,

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Directory Local Business

DENTAL

Zam Dental 1202 W Bitters Rd Building I, Suite 1207

San Antonio, TX 78216 (210) 494-2206 zamdental.com

ENT

Ear Institute of Texas 18518 Hardy Oak, Suite 300 San Antonio, TX 78258 (210) 696-HEAR eioftx.com

FAMILY MEDICINE

Lopez Family Practice 601 Labor St San Antonio, TX 78210 (210) 534-8906 lopezfamilypractice.com

FOOT & ANKLE SURGERY

Marque Allen, DPM, FACFAS SportS Medicine ASSociAteS 21 Spurs Lane, Suite 210 & Suite 300 San Antonio, TX 78240 (210) 699-8326 sportsmedsa.com

KIDNEY SPECIALIST

South Texas Renal Care (8 locations) (210) 212-8622 texaskidneycare.com

MEDICAL ONCOLOGY

Edsel L. Hesita, MD

texAS oncology WeStover HillS 11130 Christus Hills, Plaza III, Suite 210 San Antonio, TX 78251

Phone: (210) 245-2000

Fax: (210) 245-2020

edsel.hesita@usoncology.com texasoncology.com

OPHTHALMOLOGY

I Care

1779 NE Loop 410 Access Rd Suite 100

San Antonio, TX 78217 (830) 229-1779 icare-sa.org

Jay M. Rubin, MD

eye clinicS of SoutH texAS, pA 999 E Basse Rd., Ste. 128-B San Antonio, TX 78209 Phone: (210) 826-2012 Fax: (210) 829-8349 jrubinmd@eyeclinicsofsouthtexas.com eyeclinicsofsouthtexas.com

Ophthalmology Associates (6 locations) (210) 223-5561 ophthalmologysa.com

PLASTIC SURGERY

Earl E. Ferguson, MD, FACS derMAtology ASSociAteS of SAn Antonio Dr. Earl E. Ferguson Plastic Surgery 15900 La Cantera Pkwy. Ste. 20270 San Antonio, TX 78256 Phone: (210) 290-9078 fergusonplasticsurgerySA.com

PRIMARY CARE

Health Texas Primary Care Doctors (18 Locations) (210) 731-HTMG healthtexas.org

SENIOR HEALTHCARE

Gonzaba Medical Group (9 Locations) (210) 728-3392 gonzaba.com

THORACIC SURGERY

Masaki Funamoyo MD, PLD MetHodiSt HeArt And lung inStitute 7726 Louis Pasteur Dr San Antonio, TX 78229 Phone: (210) 575-8485 masaki.funamoto@hcahealthcare.com sahealth.com

BUSINESS LITIGATION

Olga Brown

Law Offices of Olga Brown

Phone: (210) 226-1550

Fax: (210) 226-1884 argyle2@sbcglobal.net

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

Goldstein & Orr

Phone: (210) 226-1463

Fax: (210) 226-8367 goldsteinhilley.com

FAMILY LAW

Rojas Law Firm

Phone: (210) 299-4600

Fax: (210) 299-4601

aidarojas@aidarojaslaw.com aidarojaslaw.com

Orsinger Law

Richard Orsinger

Phone: (210) 225-5567 orsinger.com

Soyars & Morgan Law

Phone: (210) 985-1698 soyarsmorganlaw.com

Goranson Bain Ausley (Multiple locations across Texas)

Phone : 210-405-6881 gbafamilylaw.com

PERSONAL INJURY PLAINTIFF

Mack Injury Attorneys

Phone: (210) 333-6225 333mack.com

Scheuerman Law Firm

Phone: 210-469-1980 sch-lawfirm.com

Villarreal and Begum

Phone: (210) 800-0000 vblawgroup.com

Wayne Wright

Phone: (210) 888-0078 waynewright.com

Louis Durbin

Phone: (210) 340-5550

Fax: (210) 340-5581

ldurbin@wyattlawfirm.com wyattlawfirm.com

HOSPITALITY

Helotes Haciendas 18603 Bandera Road

Helotes, TX 78023

Phone: (210) 381-8140

HEALTH & WELLNESS

MD Spine Care Wellness Center

3503 Paesanos Pkwy Suite 210

Shavano Park, TX 78231

Phone: (210) 640-9048

SPA

The One Beauty Bar Wellness & Med Spa

3503 Paesanos Pkwy Suite 210

Shavano Park, TX 78231

Phone: (210) 745-1120

NOTARY

Erica Losoya

Phone: (210) 570-3154

erica@levelupconsultinggroup.net levelupconsultinggroup.net/notary

MOVING

Heritage Moving & Storage

13709 Topper Circle

San Antonio, TX 78233

Phone: (210) 888-4241

Email: larry@heritagemoving.us.com

Scene In SA thanks our community partners, Gravelmouth Gallery and San Antonio Street Art Initiative, for their support in the production of our cover story!

’09 a fun new novel now on Amazon

Local journalist and reporter Berit Mason writes a fast-paced tale of galas, party girls, mean girls and old doyennes in this summertime poolside companion.

’09 is riveting escape, where one’s luxurious Mexican retirement is ruined when you’re kidnapped by a drug lord, where infidelity and divorce run rampant, where kind veterinarians rescue wildlife, and where a lost lazy news girl is forced from L.A. back home to ’09, to face the matrons, school teachers and mothers, whom she swore she’d left behind.

Foundations crack wide open, and Estes Lita and Jane, grand dames who rule ’09 society, topple onto unstable ground, and are finally kicked out, to make way for next-level socialites.

But insiders mean nothing in this fast growing town, where Californians, developers, and Mexican nationals don't care who used to be in charge— cause they’re the ones in charge, now.

Leila Meacham, author “Titans” “Roses” “Dragonfly”

“Stories of how the ‘other half lives’ ... a great story.”

Pam Morsi Kiel, author “Simple Jess” “Sealed with a Kiss” “ ... very good writing ... great characters ... kept me turning the pages.”

Visit the Twig Book Shop on Saturday, October 4 at 11am for a sit and sign with author Berit Mason!

Twig Book Shop (306 Pearl Pkwy #106, San Antonio, TX 78215)

BOUTIQUE STYLE IMAGING

EXTENDED WEEK AND WEEKEND HOURS

FAIR & AFFORDABLE PRICING

OFFERING PAYMENT PLANS & ACCEPTING MOST INSURANCE

SAME DAY SCHEDULING

STATE OF THE ART PACS WITH FAST ACCESS TO IMAGES & REPORTS NOW WITH 2