Issuu

SEPTEMBER 2026

CD Rate Comparison Chart APY%* 12 Months 4.00%

3.50%

2.50%

3.50%

3.00%

2.98 2.68

2.00%

1.50%

1.50

1.00%

0.50%

0.50 0.00%

Local Bank 2

Local Bank 3

Local Bank 4

Wells Fargo

Chase

0.25

0.03

Local Bank 5

Bank of America

*Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is effective on July 31, 2026. $1,000 minimum balance required. Penalty for early withdrawal may be imposed. Rates subject to change. Competitor rates as of July 29, 2026 based on published information.

EDITOR’S LETTER

September always feels like a month of transition, a time when summer begins to give way to fall, routines settle back in, and our community starts looking ahead to a busy season of events, gatherings and celebrations. In this issue of 78209 Magazine, we’re celebrating the people and places that make our neighborhood such a special place to call home. In our Meet Your Neighbors feature, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Mary and Lewis Fisher, a beloved couple whose longstanding commitment to San Antonio and Brackenridge Park has made a lasting impact on our community. This year, the Fishers will be honored by the Brackenridge Park Conservancy at its annual Party in the Park Gala on October 7. Their story is a wonderful reminder that the character of a community is shaped by the people who invest their time, passion and heart into it. We’re also shining a spotlight on Quality Research, a local business whose work may happen behind the scenes but plays an important role in advancing research and creating opportunities in the healthcare field. It’s always rewarding to discover the people and organizations doing meaningful work right here in our own backyard. And in Around ’09, we’re heading to the ballpark, or at least the batting cages, with Ball 2 Barrel Baseball Academy. More than a place to sharpen a swing, the academy is helping young athletes develop confidence, discipline and a love for the game. As always, we hope this issue gives you a deeper appreciation for the neighbors, businesses and community institutions that help define 78209. Thank you for reading, supporting local and being part of what makes this corner of San Antonio so vibrant. Here’s to a wonderful start to fall!

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Photo by Jorge Tamez

Try every class. Meet the instructors. Find your favorite.

@LagreeOnda

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CONTRIBUTORS PUBLISHER Las Tres Muchachas

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Taylor Lane

DIRECTOR OF SALES & PARTNERSHIPS Dale Lane

ADVERTISING SALES Dale Lane Layla Saldana

PRODUCTION | DESIGN Kimberly Pipes, PCM®, CDMP

WRITERS Bruce X. Forey Elizabeth Bobbitt

PHOTOGRAPHERS David Teran

For Advertising/Information (210) 236-5834 info@78209magazine.com

PUBLISHED BY A Las Tres Muchachas Production Cathleen & Dale Lane 7979 Broadway, Suite 109 San Antonio, Texas 78209 (210) 236-5834 | @78209magazine www.78209magazine.com

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FEATURES 10 Business Profile

For 30 years, Quality Research has helped bring promising new medicines to patients while making a meaningful difference in the San Antonio community. Meet the mother-daughter team behind this family-owned clinical research center and discover how their work is helping shape the future of medicine.

14 Meet Your Neighbors

As local authors and historians, Mary and Lewis Fisher have spent much of their lives telling the stories of San Antonio and Texas. Discover their own 78209 story, their upcoming projects, and their shared passion for uncovering the secrets of San Antonio’s past.

30 Around 09

At Ball 2 Barrel Baseball Academy, young athletes are learning that becoming a better ballplayer takes more than talent. It takes discipline, dedication and the right training. Discover how this San Antonio academy is helping players develop their skills, confidence and love for the game.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

In the Loop

18 On the Market 21 Love of Animals 22 School News 26 Church Directory 29 Police Blotter 30 Around 09 32 Fitness 34 Vintage View

On The Cover Some symbols become so woven into the fabric of a community that they feel as though they’ve always been there. For generations of Alamo Heights families, the Mule is one of them. A proud emblem of tradition, determination, and the unmistakable spirit of the Heights. Standing in front of the newly completed Alamo Heights High School building, the familiar Mule statue represents that spirit beautifully. Created by Alamo Heights High School graduate George Schroeder and unveiled in 2007, the statue has watched generations of students walk through the doors, celebrate victories, make lifelong friendships, and take their first steps toward what comes next. Now, it stands at the entrance to a new chapter. Our cover captures the intersection of past and future: a beloved symbol of the school’s history standing proudly against its newest backdrop. It’s a reminder that progress doesn’t mean leaving tradition behind. Sometimes, it means carrying the best of what came before into what comes next.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR / CONNECT To view us online, visit: 78209magazine.com Contact us: info@78209Magazine.com | (210) 236-5834

Find 78209 Magazine at your local grocery and retail locations serving Alamo Heights, Northwood Estates, Oak Park, Terrell Hills, and Olmos Park as well as area Twin Liquors stores and Jim’s Restaurants.

78209 MAGAZINE is published monthly by Las Tres Muchachas Enterprises (Publisher). Reproduction in any manner in whole or part is prohibited without the express written consent of the Publisher. Material contained herein does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher or its staff. 78209 MAGAZINE reserves the right to edit all materials for clarity and space and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors or omissions. 78209 MAGAZINE does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertisements or editorial, nor does the Publisher assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. Articles and photographs are welcome and may be submitted to our offices to be used subject to the discretion and review of the Publisher. All real estate advertising is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Printed in the U.S.A.

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IN THE LOOP

The DoSeum Extends Popular Opening Hours Through Fall The DoSeum announces its extended operating hours will extend into the fall season, allowing more time for play and learning. After piloting additional morning hours over the summer, The DoSeum is keeping its current extended hours due to positive guest feedback and enthusiasm from members. The DoSeum is planning additional programs and activities during its morning hours, with more details to be announced. Children can enjoy The DoSeum’s exhibits and programming that have been inspiring young minds and fostering creativity in San Antonio for the past 11 years. Members can enjoy a Members-Only Hour as part of their experience at The DoSeum. Other membership benefits include unlimited visits for one year, quarterly events, discounts at The DoSeum Store and more. For more information on membership, visit thedoseum.org/Member. WHEN: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tuesday: Closed Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sunday: 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Members Only between 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)

New Exhibition at the McNay Art Museum When artists from around the world flocked to Paris in the 1900s, they fostered imaginative innovation that shifted the trajectory of visual art. The McNay Art Museum celebrates the creativity that blossomed from their collaboration in “Modern Paris: A Century Begins,” on view Oct. 30, 2026-Jan. 24, 2027. The exhibition of more than 50 paintings, prints and sculptures draws exclusively from the McNay Art Museum’s permanent collection and showcases a range of artists, including Georges Braque, Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Amedeo Modigliani, Berthe Morisot, Pablo Picasso, Chaïm Soutine and Vincent van Gogh. The exhibition highlights Marion Koogler McNay as the Museum’s founding collector and opens with Alfred Sisley’s “The Route from SaintImage: Vincent van Gogh, “Women Crossing the Fields,” Germain to Marly” (1872). Sisley’s painting depicts the quiet villages on 1890. Oil on paper. Collection of the McNay Art Museum, the outskirts of Paris and was displayed in the first Impressionist exhibition Bequest of Marion Koogler McNay, 1950.49 in 1874. The evolution that followed is evident in works by Paul Cézanne, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Paul Gauguin and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. 8

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BUSINESS PROFILE

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BUSINESS PROFILE

Mother-Daughter Duo Help Bring New Medicines to San Antonio Through Clinical Trials at Quality Research By Rudy Arispe | Photography David Teran

llen Schrader recalls the 16-year-old boy, who was a participant in a previous clinical drug trial to establish the efficacy and safety of a new allergy medication. As part of the requirements to determine his eligibility to participate, the teen underwent a thorough health examination, which included an EKG heart check. To his surprise, the EKG revealed that the young patient had an underlying heart condition that had never been detected. “He had to go see a cardiologist,” Schrader said. “He would not have had an EKG with no symptoms unless he was in that drug trial. Sometimes, we discover unexpected things about a person’s health when they are doing a trial. In the past year, there have been five people who found out they have cancer after having imaging tests done as trial participants. When it’s found early, they can get treatment.” Lifesaving, early intervention for trial patients is just one of the rewards that come with the job for Schrader, president and CEO of Quality Research, which she founded in 1996. Over the past 30 years, the small, family-owned research center has conducted more than 300 clinical trials that have led to countless medications receiving FDA approval following rigorous testing. While Schrader serves as CEO, her daughter, Michelle Davis, is the Director of Operations. The former English teacher and Head of Middle School at Keystone School joined her mother 15 years ago after a successful career in the classroom. Davis was no stranger to the company. She and her two brothers spent many of their days during middle and high school helping at the business.

SEPTEMBER 2026 11

BUSINESS PROFILE

“I would make patient phone calls to see if they would be interested in participating in a trial,” Davis recollected. “I also did a lot of data transcription with triplicate copies. Now it’s done by computer. It was tedious, so they enjoyed giving me that job.” Today, Quality Research oversees clinical trials for drugs in development for diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver, hypertension, gout, and osteoarthritis, among others. Davis stresses the importance of the work that Quality Research does to help bring safer and more effective drugs to market. “One of the most rewarding things is to see drugs we have worked on now being available to the public,” she said. “It takes 10 years for that to happen before it goes to market, and it takes a lot of people on the back end to make that happen.” One such drug is Ozempic, used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes. “It’s been life-changing for a lot of people,” Davis said. “It’s exciting to know we played a small part in that.” In addition to monetary compensation, trial participants receive quality health care every step of the process, which they might not receive elsewhere. “Sometimes, we are their only care,” Schrader said. “Many don’t have insurance and can’t afford to go to the doctor. We are a way for them to get treatment, whether it’s for arthritis or diabetes, if not for clinical trials. They spend a lot of time with our physician and nurse practitioner. They like coming here. It’s warm and welcoming. We care about them.” Schrader, who is a licensed vocational nurse, had been working at a doctor’s office where some clinical trials were being conducted, and she assisted with them. After 11 years there, she asked the physician for a raise. When he turned down her request, Schrader decided it was time to leave and start her own clinical trial research center. She jokes that her first office was the size of a closet, although that was the least of her concerns. “I built the business by calling pharmaceutical companies and asking for their Research Department and asking them if they would throw some studies my way,” she explained. “If you do a good job, they’ll come back, and then word gets out in the industry about your work.”

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It helps, too, that Quality Research partnered with a family practice physician, Dr. Robert Morin Jr., to provide expertise as principal investigator. “That leads a lot of ability to go into different therapeutic areas, so that you can follow market trends better when you have leeway like that to diversify,” Schrader said. “We want to spread out in case there’s a lull in one area.” Schrader notes that the industry has certainly changed since she opened Quality Research 30 years ago. “There are very few independent research centers like ours. They are being bought up by large investment firms and big research groups,” the CEO said. “We get offers almost every day. We’re competing for enrollment with these huge corporations. So I have great pride when I see our enrollment numbers up there with the giants.” Quality Research is also proud of an accolade they received last year, said Davis, a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. The company was honored with a 2025 Longhorn 100 Award, a recognition of the fastestgrowing businesses owned by UT Austin alumni, and ranked No. 48. Although Schrader has no plans to retire anytime soon, her daughter has been handling more of the day-to-day operations to allow her mom a bit more freedom in her schedule and more personal time off as desired. For Davis, she’s grateful to be working alongside her mom and mentor. “I don’t think I’ve ever yelled at you, have I?” Schrader jokes. “I think I might have been grounded a few times,” Davis quips. Kidding aside, the mother-and-daughter duo believe they have a great working partnership. “I’ve been fortunate to be in her shadow and learn everything that she does, from managing payroll and HR to mentoring people and the logistics of running the business,” Davis said. And both agree that because Quality Research is a smaller company with a staff of 10, they have the capacity to have a greater impact on people’s lives through their clinical research.

CELEBRATE A YOUNG CHANGEMAKER! NOMINATE THEM BY DECEMBER 4, 2026 Do you know a young leader, 5 - 14 years old, who sparks positive change through creativity, kindness, and innovation? Celebrate them with a Dream Leader nomination today! © THE DOSEUM 2026, IS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT

MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS

Campfire Tales with Mary and Lewis Fisher By Elizabeth Bobbitt | Photography by David Teran

ary and Lewis Fisher have spent much of their lives telling the stories of San Antonio and Texas. While they are both decorated authors and historians in their own right, it is their shared drive for uncovering the secrets of the city’s past that continues to inspire their work as a team. “I am always fascinated by the myths of San Antonio’s past,” Lewis says. “Our city typically told its stories through the spoken word. People told each other campfire tales, stories that were recorded by early reporters who came to visit San Antonio when it was still considered the ‘Wild West.’ In my books, I have gone back to dig up written records of these founding myths, and they are often quite different from the stories that have been handed down to us. There is always something new to discover.” In the past 30 years Lewis has written 14 books on San Antonio, several of them published by Maverick Publishing Company, which he established in 1996 – there was no regional press in San Antonio – and later by Trinity University Press, which purchased his company in 2014. His books span topics as diverse as Brackenridge Park, the San Antonio River, the Chili Queens of the city’s Spanish plazas, and the enduring legacy of the Maverick Family and its name, synonymous with the fierce independence of the Texan

spirit. Mary is herself a descendant of Texas pioneer Samuel Maverick, who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence in 1836. She is named after Samuel Maverick’s wife, the “first” Mary Maverick, who chronicled her life on the Texas frontier in her diaries. In 1889, Mary Maverick published an account of the fall of the Alamo. The Fishers’ Texas roots and literary legacy runs deep. Mary has written widely as a columnist for the San Antonio Express-News and for the North San Antonio Times, founded by Mary and Lewis in 1971. She has penned a history of Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children, a children’s book based on the life of Tejano singer Rosita Fernandez, and a centennial retrospective of the Alamo Heights Independent School District. “I was fortunate to have known Bishop Everett Jones and his friend Clifton George, who shared their early memories of Alamo Heights. They rode their horses to school in the 1910s – the area was very rural in those days. I also relied on school board minutes and miscellaneous materials. I had to piece each superintendent’s tenure together like a checkerboard, but, during any research project, there were always fascinating little tidbits that keep you going. I see it with Lewis’s work all the time,” Mary says.

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MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS

Lewis’s next book, Texas Trails and Glass Pyramids: Creating the San Antonio Botanical Garden, will be published this October. He is currently at work on a second book for Texas Tech University Press, entitled Icon of the Skyline: San Antonio’s Tower Life Building, to be published in the summer of 2027.

friend, Mary’s grandmother Maverick. “She found out that I had been an English major in college, and said, ‘Oh! I have a granddaughter who’s an English major at the University of Texas right now.’ We met in her grandmother’s living room,” Lewis says. “Soon after that he was stationed in Izmir, Turkey, followed by Wiesbaden, Germany.”

The Fishers in ’09

“Lewis wrote his first book while he was stationed in Izmir,” Mary says. “It was a guidebook called Introducing Izmir. He wrote it during his off time.”

Mary and Lewis have lived since 1973 in the same house in Terrell Hills, where they raised their two sons, William and Maverick. Today, visitors are welcomed by a xeriscape front yard adorned with native plants and a screened front porch designed in 2010 by architect John Grable, where their chihuahua mix, Sita, guards the front door. The house was custom-built by lumberman Vaughan Meyer in 1951. “I grew up on Sunshine Ranch, a Maverick family compound on Babcock road. When I was in sixth grade, we moved across town to Terrell Hills. It was a huge adjustment for me because I was so used to running around barefoot out on the ranch. I think I needed that polish,” Mary laughs. Lewis, originally from Rochester, New York, came to San Antonio for officer training at Lackland Air force Base. It was during his training that he first met Mary through a family

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It was not until Mary, who was teaching English at Jefferson High School, took a trip to Europe with a friend that Mary and Lewis reconnected. “It was Cupid, I guess,” says Mary. “I decided to stay in Germany, and I got a job at the Air Force Base Exchange. He was about to leave the Air Force, and soon after we were married in San Antonio.” “We spent our first year in New York while I earned my master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University,” says Lewis. “The idea was that I would give her a year in her home state after that, but marriage is about compromise, so we compromised and I stayed in Texas,” he laughs.

MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS After moving to San Antonio, Lewis worked as a reporter for the San Antonio Express News for two years, before Mary and Lewis founded the North San Antonio Times. “At the time, there was no subscription-based, suburban weekly in San Antonio, so we decided to start one,” Lewis says. The North San Antonio Times grew into a group of suburban newspapers, which Lewis published for 21 years. “Alamo Heights was an ideal place to start a suburban newspaper because it has always been a close-knit community. Like the older suburbs in the Northeast of the country, 78209 has been an established community for over a century, where new generations of families continue to settle,” Lewis says. Looking Forward with the Fishers Dubbed a Texas Preservation Hero by the San Antonio Conservation Society in 2014 and a member of the board of the Texas State Historical Association, Lewis has a keen eye for local sites at risk of being lost. For the Fishers, Brackenridge Park is one of San Antonio’s unique amenities. Lewis currently serves on the advisory board of the Brackenridge Park Conservancy, while Mary has also served on its board. They will be honored October 7th at the Brackenridge Park Conservancy’s annual gala for their dedication to preserving the park’s landmarks and recording its storied past. “Growing up, Brackenridge Park was our conduit to culture,” Mary recalls. “Once a month, my family and I would go down to the park. It was always my happy place. I took pottery with Harding Black at the Witte Museum, we would listen to the organ grinder at the Zoo, and we would take a ride on the miniature train. I even remember the founder of the Witte, Mrs. Ellen Quillin, greeting us at the door.” Looking ahead to preservation challenges in 78209 as its neighborhoods grow older, Lewis observes that it is easy to demolish landmark homes in Alamo Heights and Terrell Hills. “Neighborhoods within the City of San Antonio have welldefined, strict, historical preservation ordinances to protect their landmarks. There are no such ordinances in our separately incorporated suburbs, yet we have the Argyle Hotel, built in 1854, and numerous homes of architectural significance of later eras that are worthy of protection,” Lewis says. The work of Mary and Lewis Fisher has contributed immeasurably to the written record of San Antonio and its surrounding communities. Visiting with them in the Fishers’ living room, it is clear they share the same enthusiasm for storytelling as those early Texas pioneers did with the campfire tales that would become defining myths of San Antonio’s history.

SEPTEMBER 2026 17

ON THE MARKET

78209 Real Estate Market Update: July 2026 By Bruce X. Forey, REALTOR®

he 78209 real estate market delivered a strong summer performance in July, with several key indicators trending in the right direction for both buyers and sellers.

Closed sales climbed to 42 in July, up slightly from 40 in June, pushing total dollar volume to $34.5 million compared to $30.7 million the prior month. The average sale price rose to $822,083 from $767,470 in June, while the median sale price softened slightly to $632,750 from $649,950 — a typical mid-summer fluctuation in this zip code. The most compelling data point? Median days on market plummeted to just 30 days in July, down dramatically from 46 in June — signaling that serious buyers are acting decisively on well-priced 78209 properties. Sellers are also capturing 97.8% of their last list price, up from 97.1% in June. Inventory remained essentially flat at 170 homes, with housing supply tightening slightly to 6 months from 6.3 months. Price per square foot rose to $299 from $289. 78209 continues to demonstrate the resilience that makes it one of San Antonio’s most sought-after zip codes. Bruce X. Forey helps San Antonio buyers and sellers navigate shifting market conditions with local expertise and a clear strategy. Reach out to discuss your next move: bruce@ bruceforey.com San Antonio Area Home Sales Are Slowing — And That’s Good News for Buyers Source: Redfin, “Home Sales Drop to Lowest Level in Nearly 2 Years” by Dana Anderson, August 2026.)

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If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to buy a home in San Antonio, the July market data is speaking directly to you. Sales are slowing, homes are sitting longer, and sellers — including those competing with new construction builders offering incentives — are increasingly motivated to deal. Buyers haven’t had this much negotiating leverage in years. Slower sales mean more choices, longer market times, and sellers who know they need to compete. That’s the definition of a buyer’s market — and San Antonio is squarely in it. What the July Numbers Show According to Redfin data journalist Dana Anderson, U.S. home sales fell to their lowest level in nearly two years in July. San Antonio led Texas in the decline, with closed sales dropping 12.6% year over year — the steepest slide among major Texas metros. Homes sat on the market a median of 87 days, and national mortgage rates climbed to a one-year high of 6.54%. Prices, however, held firm. San Antonio’s median sale price rose 3.3% year over year to $320,243 — a sign that while volume has slowed, the market’s underlying value hasn’t collapsed. Pending sales are also up 2.8% year over year, suggesting buyer interest is still there — just more deliberate. San Antonio July 2026 Market Snapshot Metric San Antonio — July 2026 Median Sale Price $320,243 Median Price Y/Y Change +3.3% Homes Sold Y/Y Change -12.6% Pending Sales Y/Y Change +2.8%

New Listings Y/Y Change Active Listings Y/Y Change Median Days on Market

-7.6% -1.6% 87 days (+3 Y/Y)

The Bottom Line Slower sales are not a market in crisis — they’re a market rebalancing. Years of aggressive homebuilding have given San Antonio buyers an abundance of inventory, reduced urgency, and real room to negotiate. Sellers who price competitively and market effectively are still closing. Those who don’t are contributing to the days-on-market count. For buyers: this is your window. For sellers: smart pricing and strong presentation are more important than ever. Have a 529 College Savings Account? A New Bill Would Let You Use It to Buy Your First Home. Source: Realtor.com, “New Bill Would Let College Savers Use Leftover Money to Buy a First Home” by Tristan Navera A bipartisan bill working its way through Congress could open a new path to homeownership for first-time buyers. The First-Time Homebuyer Empowerment Act would allow people to withdraw up to $35,000 from a 529 college savings account — tax and penalty free — to use toward a down payment on their first home. 529 accounts are tax-advantaged savings plans typically used for tuition and education expenses. Under current law, withdrawals for non-education purposes trigger taxes and penalties. This bill would eliminate those penalties for firsttime homebuyers, letting families put years of careful saving to work toward another major life milestone. “Down payment hurdles continue to block many families from owning a home. This is a common-sense solution that empowers first-time buyers to use their own savings — at no cost to taxpayers.” — Bill Killmer, Mortgage Bankers Association The bill follows closely on the heels of the recently passed 21st Century Road to Housing Act — part of a broader bipartisan push in Washington to address housing affordability and help younger buyers break into the market. Bruce is a skilled real estate agent serving 78209 and beyond. He excels at helping clients market and sell their property, find a dream home or discover investment opportunities. He offers advanced training in luxury and historic homes, military relocation and more. bruceXforey.com email: bruce@ bruceforey.com.

BRUCE X. FOREY

Bruce X. Forey REALTOR ©

Expert Real Estate Management – Sell, Buy, Invest. Complimentary Market Report of Your Property Connected to Our Community: 78209 Resident Local Volunteer Luxury Home Specialist - Military Relocation Professional - Pricing Strategy Advisor 78209 Magazine Real Estate Market Report

bxforey@kw.com (210) 551-1625 bruceXforey.com SEPTEMBER 2026 19

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Johnny Kothmann, DVM Chris LaBrie, DVM 1051 Austin Highway, San Antonio (210) 828-3935

September Animal Pain Awareness Month September 28: World Rabies Day SEPTEMBER 2026 21

SCHOOL NEWS

Welcome to the new Alamo Heights High School! After two years of construction, the new academic building at Alamo Heights High School opened for staff and students in August. Designed by LPA Design Studios and built by Bartlett Cocke General Contractors, the building incorporates nods to the past with modern learning spaces. The new building is three stories tall, though from the front entrance, it looks strikingly similar to the original two story building. It’s anchored by the beloved Mule statue that was returned to the front of the school this summer, after spending almost two years at the entrance to Henry B. Orem Stadium. “Together, we will make this beautiful new building more than a school - we will fill it with learning, belonging, excellence, memories, and a legacy that will endure for generations,” said AHHS Principal Cory Ann Smith. Classrooms are on average 150 square feet larger than in the previous building and there are numerous collaborative learning spaces, multipurpose classrooms, and professional development spaces on each floor. There are two outdoor learning spaces in the courtyard leading to the Oaks cafeteria and 2 outdoor decks on levels two and three. By expanding upward to three floors, the building is approximately 30,000 square feet larger than before with 68 classrooms. There’s also an additional 100 parking spaces, with the removal of the mods and the Broadway South parking lot added during construction. The entrance features a secure vestibule to control access to the building, one of several safety features throughout. The College Center and Library are prominently located near the entrance. Visitors to the library will notice the old letters from the previous building’s exterior on display, one of several elements of the past. To the left in the main hallway is a walk down memory lane with the alumni class photos on display and a recreation of the ‘Bucking Mule’ mural. Up the main stairs from floor 2 to floor 3 is a sweeping new mural highlighting AHHS through the decades. This is Melissa Meza’s 21st year teaching at AHHS, but she said with the opening of the new building she feels just as excited as when she began teaching.

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“The natural light brings me so much joy and all of the collaborative spaces and stairs make me feel like I am in a college-like environment,” said Meza, AP World History and AP US History Teacher and Social Studies Department Chair. “I’ve always felt happy coming to work because of my coworkers, but this year, with the addition of the new building (that includes shared department workspaces), I feel like I just have to smile all of the time!” This year’s senior class has seen each phase - one year in the previous building, two years in the modular classrooms, and now one final year in the new building. “Everyone who’s seen the new building knows it is absolutely incredible - the artwork, the furniture, the new technology in the classrooms - everything is a huge upgrade and will definitely make not only learning for students a more enjoyable process but I have already seen the positive impact it has on staff,” said Veer Patel, senior and Student Council President. The new building was funded by School Bond 2023. Additional bond construction updates around Alamo Heights ISD can be found on the district’s website.

SCHOOL NEWS

SEPTEMBER 2026 23

SCHOOL NEWS

Before the Day Begins, There is a Story. At The Circle School, children didn’t begin their school year by settling into rows of desks. They gather together to listen, imagine and remember. For a few minutes each morning, the whole school becomes an audience then, gradually, a community. The entire school -- children from PreK-8th grade, teachers, staff, and many parents too -sits in a circle on the floor and listens to a teacher share a story from cultures around the world. Oral storytelling nurtures language development by expanding vocabulary, strengthening engaged listening and comprehension, and helping children develop a lifelong connection to language. Stories are selected that teach peace, empathy, openmindedness, and cultural awareness, carrying each week’s

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wisdom lessons into the curriculum and classes for that week. “The stories reveal the similarities and diversities of human experience and interpretation. They open us up to our place in the human community and to the strength and existence of other cultures.” - Isabeth Hardy, Circle School Founder Before the curriculum, there is the Circle. It’s a place where children learn not only their letters and numbers, but how to listen, wonder, contribute and belong. We’re proud of our students for settling into routines that will serve them throughout the school school year as they learn together.

CHURCH DIRECTORY ALAMO HEIGHTS BAPTIST CHURCH 6501 Broadway St. San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 824-9539 Services: Sunday 11:00am Wednesday 6:30pm Praise and Prayer ALAMO HEIGHTS CHRISTIAN CHURCH 6435 N. New Braunfels Ave. San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 828-5728 alamoheightscc.org Services: Sunday: 10:50am ALAMO HEIGHTS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 6201 Broadway St. San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 824-0271 alamoheightspres.com Services: Sunday 8:30am and 11am ALAMO HEIGHTS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 825 E. Basse Road San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 826-3215 ahumc.org Services: Sunday 8:30am, 9:30am and 11am CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 510 Belknap Place San Antonio, TX 78212 (210) 736-3132 cecsa.org Services: Wednesday 11:00am, 6:00pm Sunday 7:30am, 9am, 11:00am, 5:00pm CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH 6720 Broadway St. San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 822-3394 clcah.org Services: Sunday 8:30am and 10:30am MOUNT CALVARY LUTHERAN CHURCH 308 Mt. Calvary Drive San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 824-8748 mtcsa.org Services: Sunday 8:30am and 11am NORTHWOOD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 518 Pike Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 824-7238 Services: Sunday mornings at 11am 26

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NORTHROCK CHURCH MIDTOWN Meets at San Antonio Academy 117 E. French Place San Antonio, TX 78212 northrocksa.com Services: Sunday mornings at 10am, 11:30am PEARL STREET CHURCH 400 Pearl Parkway San Antonio, TX 78215 (210) 504-8897 Services: 9:00am, 10:30am,12pm, 1:30pm ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH & SCHOOL 722 Robinhood San Antonio, TX 78209 standrews09.org 210-824-2465 Services: Traditional 9:15 Contemporary Worship 9:30 & 11:00am ST. ANTHONY DE PADUA CATHOLIC CHURCH 102 Lorenz Road San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 824-1743 stanthonydepadua.org Services: Monday thru Friday 9am, Saturday 5pm Sunday 7:00am, 8:30am (Spanish), 10:30am, 12:30pm ST. DAVID’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND SCHOOL 1300 Wiltshire Ave. San Antonio, TX 78209 saintdavids.net (210) 824-2481 Services: Sundays at 8am & 10:30am ST. LUKE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 11 Saint Luke’s Lane San Antonio, Texas 78209 slecsa.org - (210) 828-6425 Services: Sunday 8am, 9am, 11am and 6pm Wednesday Eucharist at 8am during the school year ST. PETER PRINCE OF THE APOSTLES CHURCH 111 Barilla Place San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 822-3367 stpeterprinceoftheapostles.org Services: Saturday Mass 5:30pm Sunday 9am, 11am, and 5:30pm Tuesday and Thursday 7am Wednesday 5:30pm, Friday 8:00am ST. PIUS X CATHOLIC CHURCH & SCHOOL 3303 Urban Crest Dr San Antonio TX 78209 (210) 824-0139

spxsa.church Services: Saturday - 4:30pm Sunday - 8:00am, 10:15am, 12:00 pm, 1:30pm (Sp), 5:00pm Daily Masses: Monday - 6:30pm Tuesday-Friday - 8:15am TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH 319 E. Mulberry San Antonio, TX 78212 (210) 733-6201 trinitybaptist.org Services: Mulberry Service 9am Bible Study 10:15am TriPoint Service 11:30am UNITY CHURCH 8103 Broadway San Antonio, TX 78209 unityofsa.org (210) 824-7351 Services: Sunday 11am Children’s Church 11am If you are unable to make it to a service, check your church website and see if they are livestreaming so that you can worship from home.

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ALAMO HEIGHTS POLICE DEPARTMENT SERVICES Solicitors Information The new city ordinance regulating peddlers, itinerant vendors, hawkers, solicitors, and canvassers was passed and approved on April 24, 2017. The following information is being provided in order to assist the residents of Alamo Heights in preserving their privacy. The changes in the new ordinance are a result of legislation and court rulings challenging over regulation of peddlers, etc., but allowing balance to the interests of peddlers and homeowners alike. Click here to download all forms and information. Crime Prevention Programs A Police Officer can inspect your home or business and discuss various methods of burglary, theft, and robbery prevention. This service is free of charge to residents and businesses in Alamo Heights. Vacation Watch Citizens who will be leaving their homes unattended while on vacation or during extended trips may request additional patrols. Officers will stop by your residence periodically during your absence and will report suspicious findings to your designated contact person. Submit Form. Fingerprinting The Alamo Heights Police Department only provides fingerprint services to residents and businesses of Alamo Heights. Requestors who do not live in Alamo Heights or are not employed by a business in Alamo Heights may be referred to the San Antonio Police Department, the law enforcement agency in their jurisdiction or to Region 20 Education Service Center.

LINCOLN HEIGHTS

Fingerprint services are available on Wednesday from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. There is a $10 fee for each fingerprint card processed. Requestors must provide their own fingerprint cards. The Alamo Heights Police Department is not equipped for electronic fingerprint submissions. Residents in need of this service should contact the San Antonio Police Department or Region 20 Education Service Center. For more information about any of the listed Police Service Programs, please contact the Police Administration Office at (210) 822-6433 or email gleal@alamoheightstx.gov.

Just a Reminder: Please Don’t Drink & Drive. Download these apps for your local ride sharing services at the App Store or Google Play.

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For young athletes who dream of taking their game further, baseball development is about more than spending hours in a batting cage. At Ball 2 Barrel Baseball Academy, San Antonio players are getting a more comprehensive approach—one that combines traditional fundamentals with technology, individualized coaching and a focus on the complete athlete. Located at 9111 Broadway, Ball 2 Barrel opened its doors in 2025 with a mission to create a serious training environment for players ranging from elementary school athletes to elite high school competitors. The academy’s philosophy is summed up in three words: Discipline. Develop. Dominate. Every athlete begins with an evaluation designed to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Coaches use tools including HitTrax, Rapsodo and K-Motion technology to gather measurable data on everything from swing mechanics and exit velocity to pitching and movement. That information helps coaches create customized training plans rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.

Training extends well beyond hitting and pitching. Players can work on fielding, throwing mechanics, arm care, catching, strength and conditioning, agility and even the mental side of competition. Smallgroup sessions keep instruction personal, while individual lessons allow athletes to focus closely on the areas where they want to grow. For Ball 2 Barrel, however, development isn’t measured solely by statistics on a screen. The academy places equal emphasis on work ethic, confidence, resilience, leadership and sportsmanship: qualities that can follow young athletes long after they leave the diamond. With year-round programs, camps, clinics and competitive teams, Ball 2 Barrel is building more than better baseball players. It’s creating a community for San Antonio families who want their athletes to work hard, play smarter and discover just how far their potential can take them.

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FITNESS

How One Mom Beat Chronic Back Pain with Strength Training

By: Dylan Casey, owner of CASE Personal Training

Have you ever had such bad back pain that you could barely get out of bed? If so, you probably know how hopeless and scared it made you feel. Crippling back pain can totally interrupt your ability to work, be there for your family, and enjoy the moments in your life that should otherwise be fun. It’s the last thing anyone should want to deal with when they wake up in the morning. This is exactly what McLean was dealing with. As an inshape 47-year-old mother and attorney, she felt completely blind-sided when she had multiple severe episodes of low back flare-ups. From simple things like sitting on a long plane ride or moving boxes around her house, she could become bed-ridden for days in agony, wondering how and why this kept happening. We tend to take our health for granted. However, when we get sick or hurt, we would do just about anything to feel like ourselves again. When your back is in excruciating pain, you cannot “show up” for your kids, spouse, or job like you want to. That pain is all you can fixate on. But why did these back flare-ups keep happening for McLean? She avidly walked, ran, and ate healthily. She thought that was checking the health and fitness box. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough. The problem for McLean was that she lacked strength in her back. Although she appeared to be healthy, and lived an active lifestyle, her body was not as strong and resilient as it needed to be to protect her spine. She needed a coach to build a strength training program designed for her body, age, and injury history. McLean didn’t even realize that her muscle tone and strength had steadily been dropping over time. But this was directly tied to her injuries and long-term health. She learned that being strong is about protecting the life she wanted to live. Strength training is no longer a luxury - it is essential. Especially as the body starts to slow down after 40. Strength training is the path to rebuilding movement, health, and longevity. For McLean, we prioritized full-body movements that strengthened her core and lower back. The main movements

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that we used were Romanian deadlifts, planks, and 90/90 hip rotations. After 6 months of consistently training twice a week with us, McLean’s back pain got night and day better. While her low back still flares up from time to time, her body is stronger and more resilient, and the flare-ups don’t completely sideline her for days like in the past. Besides being more productive at work and able to be fully present for her kids (since she is no longer facing bouts of severe pain), McLean was able to recently travel to Spain with her daughters and had an amazing time. While the idea of sitting on a plane for 10 hours, walking 20,000 steps a day exploring new cities, and hauling her three daughters’ suitcases around could have left McLean on edge about whether her body could keep up with those demands, she didn’t have to worry. With her newfound strength, McLean can spend less time in pain and worrying about being a burden, and more time doing the things that she loves, like traveling, with her family. Strength didn’t just give McLean a stronger back. It gave her a fuller life. What if McLean’s story became yours? She didn’t have to become an expert in exercise science or know exactly what to do. She just had to take the first step in reaching out for help. Maybe your low back is constantly in pain too. Maybe you’ve been gaining weight since COVID and are scared that you’ll never lose it. Or you worry about becoming weak and frail and being a burden on your family. Regardless of what you’re struggling with, getting professional help could be your breakthrough like it was for McLean. At CASE Personal Training, every member begins with a conversation - not a workout. We learn about your goals, health history, and injuries, and make a custom training program for you.

FITNESS

If McLean’s story resonated with you, and you’d like to write your own, we’d like to invite you in to CASE Personal Training for a complimentary fitness assessment. As a 78209 reader, your assessment includes: • Strength testing to identify your weak points • Mobility and flexibility assessment • Personalized 30-day plan to get stronger and lose weight Your first visit isn’t a workout. It’s a conversation. Ready to write your own success story?

Scan here to get started:

(Offer expires September 30) CASE Personal Training www.casepersonaltraining.com (847) 804-4632 2250 Chipley Cir unit 2, San Antonio, TX 78217

SEPTEMBER 2026 33

VINTAGE VIEW

1971 Alamo Heights High School senior class officers pose for a yearbook photo.

Since 1954, the CBA has channeled its collective passion into distributing over $33 million for local Bexar County children’s charities. Driven by dedicated volunteers, the organization maximizes monetary and material impact. 100% of all donations directly fund local youth agencies.

This life-changing support is delivered through three precise financial pathways:

The Annual Grant Funding Cycle: Providing vital annual financial support to vetted local organizations.

The Children’s Opportunity Fund: A year-round emergency lifeline for previous grant recipients facing time-sensitive needs.

The Significant Impact Gift (SIG): Transformative awards ranging from $500,000 to $1,500,000, distributed every few years to anchor major capital projects. We are pleased to announce the Significant Impact Gift will be distributed in December of 2026.

the annual Patron’s Campaign At the heart of these efforts is our 100% tax deductible donation campaign, the Annual Patron’s Campaign. This runs alongside the highly anticipated CBA raffle. This year, the legendary prize lineup features a Rolex from Lee Michaels, premier shopping sprees at Julian Gold, Kelly Wade Jewelers, and Neiman Marcus, and the grand prize: an all-electric Cadillac Optiq, generously donated by our long time supporters, the Cavender Auto Group. To join the mission and learn more about our efforts, visit www.CBAofSA.org or scan the code to donate to the Patron’s campaign or try your luck in the CBA raffle.

“CBA’s unparalleled passion and dedication has transformed hundreds of thousands of tiny lives.” —Shannon Gilliland Nisbet, Family Service Association