North San Antonio | June 2025

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North San Antonio Edition VOLUME 4, ISSUE 9 JUNE 21JULY 21, 2025

2025 Health Care Edition

Reinventing an icon How the $550M Alamo Plan will fuel North San Antonio’s economy

INSIDE

Also in this issue

The Alamo Plan will reestablish the battleground’s original footprint and create new attractions, including the Visitor Center and Museum. RENDERING COURTESY THE ALAMO TRUST

Impacts: Learn about a Brazilian Steakhouse now open o N. Loop 1604 (Page 6)

Government : Read about the latest updates to Project Marvel in San Antonio (Page 10)

When it comes to vaccines, it's important to get the facts. The City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health District knows that life moves fast and the last thing you want is to miss out due to an illness. Vaccines are safe and help your immune system fight off serious disease that can stop or change your plans. They protect you, the people you love and can prevent you from getting sick. Let’s get vaccinated—because when it comes to your health, it’s time to get real about vaccines and get the facts. For more information, visit SA.gov/Health Let’s Get Vaccinated

Scan the QR to find the nearest pop-up clinic near you.

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About Community Impact

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Andrew Creelman Parks Kugle

Thomas Leer Maddy Morales Jarrett Whitener Graphic Designers Alissa Foss José Jiménez Chelsea Peters Senior Product Manager Breanna Flores Quality Desk Editor Deekota Diaz

Sierra Martin Managing Editor smartin@ communityimpact.com

Heather Demere San Antonio Market President hdemere@ communityimpact.com

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NORTH SAN ANTONIO EDITION

Impacts

2 Fogo de Chão Fogo de Chão offers an all-you-can-eat experience, with skewered meats delivered to the table. The restaurant serves sirloin, ribeye, lamb chops and roasted chicken. • Opened May 26 • 5546 NW Loop 1604, Ste. 160, San Antonio • www.fogodechao.com 3 The Honey Baked Ham Company The Honey Baked Ham Company sells full meals, sides and desserts. The company also sells whole honey- baked hams and turkeys. • Opened May 10 • 5535 W. Loop 1604 N., San Antonio • www.honeybaked.com

Stone Oak

CAMP BULLIS

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Shavano Park

4 Teriyaki Madness The restaurant features several teriyaki dishes alongside orange chicken, chicken katsu and appetizers. • Opening this fall • 18410 US-281 N. Ste. 106, San Antonio • www.teriyakimadness.com 5 Fatburger Known for serving grilled 100% pure lean beef patties built to order, the restaurant also serves chicken sandwiches and a variety of buffalo express wings. • Opening July 1 • 13480 N. US Hwy. 281, San Antonio • www.fatburger.com 6 Pinthouse Pizza The Austin-based brewpub serves salads, sandwiches, sourdough pizzas and shareables. • Opens early 2026 • 5546 N. Loop 1604 W., San Antonio • www.pinthouse.com 7 Sole Shoe Boutique Locally owned by Julio Escamilla, the store specializes in rare designer shoes, boutique apparel and accessories. The Sole Boutique offers a selection of

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ALAMO RANCH PKWY.

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and a vocational nursing program. • Opened May 27 • 13805 I-10 W., San Antonio • www.galencollege.edu

Now open

1 Galen College of Nursing As an affiliate of Methodist Healthcare, the new campus will offer a three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing

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footwear from Adidas, Nike, Municipal and more. • Opening in July • 5311 Loop 1604, Ste. 119, San Antonio • www.soleboutique.com

In the news

Coming soon

11 Monarch Mail In March, Thomas and Beth Hernandez took over ownership of the independent pack and ship store that can ship packages through USPS, FEDEX and UPS. The business also offers mailbox rental and notary services. • 20711 Wilderness Oak, Ste. 107, San Antonio • www.themonarchmail.com 12 Chick-fil-A, Stone Oak Chick-fil-A is no longer planning to pursue a new location on Stone Oak Parkway, according to a company spokesperson. • 20139 Stone Oak Parkway, San Antonio • www.chick-fil-a.com 13 Methodist Hospital Burn and Recon- structive Center Methodist Hospital recently celebrated the fifth anniversary of its Burn and Reconstructive Center, which has treated 15,000 patients since its inception. • 7700 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio • www.sahealth.com

What’s next

8 La Costa Grill The restaurant will serve coastal cuisine with a Mexican twist. According to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, construction will wrap up by Jan. 2026. • 5546 N. Loop 1604 W., Ste. 150, San Antonio • www.lacostagrill.com 9 Chick-fil-A, UTSA The construction of the new restaurant is estimated to be completed on June 11, according to TDLR. • 5722 UTSA Blvd., San Antonio • www.chick-fil-a.com 10 Swig The shop sells sodas, refreshers and energy drinks with added flavors, fruits and creams. Construction is slated to be completed in Jan. 2026, according to TDLR. • 3627 E. Evans Road, San Antonio • www.swigdrinks.com

14 La Panadería La Panadería offers a wide variety of authentic Mexican cuisine from tortas to dulces, as well as baked goods and specialty coffee. The restaurant has a breakfast menu along with everyday brunch options, plus a gourmet selection of specialized tortas. • Opening in late fall • 1011 N. Loop 1604 E., San Antonio • www.lapanaderia.com

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NORTH SAN ANTONIO EDITION

Reinventing an icon From the cover

The overview

The Alamo Plan

To reshape visitors’ perception of the Alamo, The Alamo Trust, state and city ocials are working on major expansions to drastically boost tourism. Je Webster, CEO and president of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, said the state projects that the plan will grow tourism at the Alamo by 56%. Known as the Alamo Plan, a series of projects aims to tell the full story of Texas history. The plan includes reestablishing the original four- and-a-half-acre footprint, building the Alamo Visitor Center and Museum, the Texas Cavaliers Education Center and a pedestrian mall. The roughly 160,000-square-foot Visitor Center and Museum will house over 5,000 artifacts and be divided into eight galleries, including the Indigenous Peoples, Mexican Rule, Texas Revolution and Civil Rights Era Galleries. Additionally, the center will have a 4D theater and a 700-person event space, with a wraparound terrace overlooking the church building. “[There are] so many things on the horizon that’ll be a game changer for the shrine of Texas Liberty,” said Jonathan Huhn, director of communications and community outreach for The Alamo Trust.

1 Alamo/Church 2 Long Barrack 3 Visitor Center and Museum 4 Event center

5 Education center 6 Collections center

MAP NOT TO SCALE

WILLIAM MENDEZ PHOTOGRAPHYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

SOURCE: THE ALAMO TRUSTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Funding the project

Zooming in

Huhn said the project is budgeted at $550 million and is estimated to stimulate the local economy. “Our economic studies show that the rst ve years of operation [after the] construc- tion of the museum has a total economic benet of $11.3 billion,” Huhn said. The state appropriated $400 million for the project, and Huhn said the trust has raised close to $90 million of the remaining $150 million needed.

Brett Finley, Metro SA Chamber president and CEO, said that the Alamo Plan will boost the city’s tourism industry, which saw a decline in 2024, and will create opportunities for North San Antonio businesses. “It’s going to have a ripple eect across the northern side of San Antonio. Anytime that you can reinvigorate downtown, it will have an eect from an economic development perspective, and really raise the tide for all businesses,” Finley said. Marc Whyte, District 10 council member, said North San Antonio will see increased tourist occupancy in the upcoming Morgan’s Hotel on Wurzbach Parkway, creating a wide range of business opportunities in the area. “With that hotel built, more families that require special accommodations will want to stay at Morgan’s Hotel, [and] because they want to visit the Alamo, people will stay here longer. [The local] market will develop around it,” Whyte said.

The Education Center will include classrooms, an orientation theater and an agricultural garden.

The breakdown

State: $400M Unraised funds: $60M Private donors: $90M

Total cost: $550M

The Visitor Center and Museum will feature eight galleries, including the Texas Revolution Gallery.

SOURCE: THE ALAMO TRUSTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY PARKS KUGLE

The outlook

Learn more

Webster said the Alamo Plan coincides with the other major development projects, such as the Missions Ballpark and the proposed Sports and Entertainment District. “What kills us here in San Antonio is we always want to think of a puzzle one piece at a time, instead of realizing a puzzle is not one piece, [but] multiple pieces. We are nally talking about a big

puzzle,” Webster said. Mario Bass, president and CEO of Visit San Antonio, said the plan is key to increasing tourism. “The Alamo Plan plays an integral role in this growth in ensuring not only new amenities and reasons to visit, but a new perspective on this renowned icon,” Bass said. Currently, Huhn said the Alamo receives 1.6 mil- lion visitors a year. Once the renovation is complete in 2027, the annual number is projected to grow to 2.5 million.

The Alamo Plan is an ongoing eort with projects already completed, such as the opening of the Ralston Family Collections Center on March 3, 2023, and the opening of the Mission Gate and Lunette on May 10, 2024. Huhn said the full project is estimated to be completed in 2027.

Project timeline

Nov. 2025 : Opening of the Alamo Promenade

2025

Annual number of San Antonio visitors

2026

March 6, 2026 : Opening of The Texas Cavaliers Education Center

50M

40M 30M 20M

“[The Alamo] is really an important piece of our history, and by telling that full story, people will understand not only the Alamo story, but the birth of the Texan identity.” ERNESTO RODRIGUEZ, SENIOR HISTORIAN AT THE ALAMO

Spring 2027 : Church building restoration begins TBD 2027: Opening of the Visitor Center and Museum

2027

20M

SOURCE: THE ALAMO TRUSTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

2019 2020*

2021

2022 2023

SOURCE: VISIT SAN ANTONIOCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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NORTH SAN ANTONIO EDITION

Government

BY PARKS KUGLE & SIERRA MARTIN

San Antonio plans funding source for Project Marvel

Mayor, District 8 and 9 seats secured in June 7 runoff election Bexar County has released results for the June 7 runoff election, where voters cast ballots for the San Antonio Mayor and San Antonio City Council District 8 and 9 positions. What you need to know After securing the majority vote against 26 other candidates in the May 3 election, Gina Ortiz Jones won the mayoral seat in San Antonio against runoff opponent Rolando Pablos with 54.3% of the vote. “I am grateful for the trust you have placed in me, and I look forward to being a mayor for all San Antonians,” Jones said in a post on Facebook. In District 8, Ivalis Meza Gonzalez beat opponent Paula McGee with 57.35% of the vote. Candidate Misty Spears pulled ahead of opponent Angi Taylor Aramburu with 56.74% of the vote, securing the District 9 seat. The background The June 7 runoff election occurred because candidates did not receive the majority vote in the May 3 uniform election. In total, 16.99% of San Antonio’s reg- istered voters cast a ballot in the runoff election, according to the Bexar County Election website. All results are unofficial until canvassed.

and the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center as qualifying projects. A PFZ allows the city to create a 3-mile zone centered around a convention center facility or venue, collect incremental state-associated hotel occupancy tax revenue over 30 years and use it for projects within the zone. According to city documents, the new conven- tion center complex would comprise the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, the Alamodome and the new sports arena. The new PFZ would begin capturing the state’s growth in hotel-associated revenues over 30 years, beginning in the calendar year 2026. The state comptroller would hold funds in a suspense account until the project commences. The creation of the PFZ does not commit the city to funding these projects but instead provides it with a new financial tool.

In a move to secure better funding for the proposed Project Marvel sports and entertainment district, San Antonio City Council voted to form a project financing zone, or PFZ, during its May 15 meeting. A closer look According to city documents, the city originally created a PFZ on Dec. 12, 2023, to take advantage of a new funding option available after the passage of Senate Bill 2220 during the 88th legislative session. The original PFZ designated the Alamodome

Project Marvel The proposed projects stretch from the Alamodome to the Henry B. González Convention Center

Entertainment and Sports District

Expansions/proposals

Alamodome Event Venue Entertainment Venue Henry B. González Convention Center UTSA School of Hospitality & Convention Center Hotel New Spurs Arena

SOURCE: CITY OF SAN ANTONIO/COMMUNITY IMPACT

City of Hollywood Park amends hiring procedures During its May 20 meeting, the Hollywood Park City Council amended the appointment and hiring procedures for municipal officers. The overview then I want to move on it [and] not wait till 30 days in order to [interview qualified applicants,]” Drash said.

The department head hiring policy includes:

Position must be posted for a minimum of 21 days

Mayor-appointed hiring committee to include one council member

The decision to codify hiring procedures for city department heads came after the fire chief, public works director, and city secretary resigned in late 2024. To ensure that high standards were main- tained during the hiring process, council voted to revise the city ordinance and change the personnel policy manual on Jan. 28.

No city employees on the hiring committee

Introduced by Mayor Chester Drash, the amend- ment alters the minimum number of days required for the job application to be online before city officials can contact applicants from 30 to 21 days. “What I want to do is, if in two weeks, we get a sufficient number of applicants that are qualified,

Hiring committee includes Alamo Area Council of Governments department head or one field professional

SOURCE: CITY OF HOLLYWOOD PARK/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Health care Health Care Guide

BY JARRETT WHITENER & PARKS KUGLE

2025

Readers, welcome to your annual CI Health Care Edition. In this year’s edition, we’ve highlighted a local nonprofit organization that provides respiratory support for the uninsured or underinsured in the San Antonio area. We also provide updates on some of our area hospitals.

Learn more about health care services in your area in this special guide. Having access to a diverse range of health care options is an essential aspect of life in the North San Antonio area for residents of all ages. In our health care guide, readers will have the opportunity to learn more about new technology offered at local regional hospitals and a nonprofit helping to support patients with respiratory issues.

Heather Demere San Antonio Market President hdemere@ communityimpact.com

Sierra Martin Managing Editor smartin@ communityimpact.com

For relevant news and daily updates, subscribe to our free email newsletter!

3 updates from North San Antonio hospitals

1 The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio The hospital has adopted deep brain stimulation, or DBS, technology. This technique uses electrodes placed in the brain and connected to a battery-operated generator in the chest to stimulate a specific area of the brain. The technology is relieving Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, epilepsy and essential tremor conditions. According to a news release, UT Health is one of the first hospitals in the nation to employ the new adaptive DBS system.

2 Methodist Hospital in Stone Oak The hospital will undergo a $104 million expansion project in fall 2025. Slated to be completed early 2027, the project will include adding 54 beds—raising the total bed count to 299—and 123 new surface parking spaces. It also includes constructing a fifth and sixth floor to the hospital’s west tower, adding 40 medical telemetry beds on the fifth floor and 14 critical care intensive care unit, or ICU, beds on the sixth floor. Estimated to take 17 months, construction will begin in October.

3 University Health At University Health, Artificial Intelligence is used to improve medical diagnosis. One of the key areas being advanced with AI is the ability to more accurately read mammograms and speed up magnetic resonance imaging, or MRIs, to be at least three times faster, allowing more patients to be seen daily. “Ultimately, radiologists still have to look at it and sign off on it,” said Bill Phillips, executive vice president and chief operating officer. “But we are finding it extremely accurate.”

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7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio www.uthscsa.edu

1139 E. Sonterra Blvd., San Antonio www.sahealth.com

4502 Medical Drive, San Antonio www.universityhealth.com

NORTH SAN ANTONIO EDITION

Health care

BY PARKS KUGLE

Nonprot Breathing Angels bridges the gap in medical care After 45 years in the biomedical industry, Johnny Rodriguez rst realized a need to provide aordable respiratory medical equipment in the San Antonio region in 2019, when hospitals began calling him about underinsured or uninsured patients who required equipment. In response to this need, Rodriguez began xing up broken equipment to either sell at a low price, rent out or donate to a patient. “[Breathing Angels is] basically like the Good- will of medical equipment,” Rodriguez said. The background Rodriguez said Breathing Angels received its name from grateful patients. ”During COVID-19, we started getting a lot of calls from hospitals [who] would have patients

Breathing Angels supplies a wide range of equipment: • Oxygen concentrators • Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machines • Bilevel positive airway pressure machines • Child-friendly respiratory equipment • Nebulizers • Hospital beds • Suction machines for tracheotomy patients • Suction catheters for tracheotomy patients • Oxygen tank reills

waiting in the hallways to go home, but they didn’t have money to go home [with proper med- ical equipment] or they didn’t have oxygen. A lot of patients started saying ‘you’re my breathing angel,’ so that’s how we got the name,” Rodriguez said. The nonprot helps provide medical equip- ment for patients falling between the gaps in coverage. “We have patients that a lot of times have an accident, [where] they weren’t insured, but they couldn’t apply for Medicaid [because] they’re too old. They couldn’t apply for Medicare, [because] they’re too young, so we have to wait for them to get disability. During that gap, you’ve got to cover the patient’s [needs], so we cover those gaps,” Rodriguez said. Rodriguez said Breathing Angels provides equipment at a very aordable rate. “One [patient] needed a CPAP and [another company] was charging her $1,400 for it here in Austin, and I got her a machine, not brand new, of course, that’s working perfectly and we told her it was $275 to buy,” Rodriguez said.

From 2020-23, Breathing Angels assisted over 1,300 patients, covering roughly $500 per indi- vidual in medical expenses and distributing over 5,000 pieces of equipment. In 2024, the nonprot assisted approximately 400 patients. As of June, Rodriguez said that they have helped around 500 patients so far in 2025. “We service San Antonio and the surrounding suburbs, sometimes we make special trips to Uvalde, to Kerrville, to Floresville. I get a few calls from Houston; I get requests from MD Anderson Cancer Center ... I [also] have a com- pany in Austin, Texas that we’re going to help with nebulizers for pediatric care,” Rodriguez said. Currently, the nonprot has aliations with 11 hospitals in the San Antonio region, including University Health, Mission Trail Baptist Hospital, Christus Health and Methodist Hospital in Stone Oak. Stay tuned Breathing Angels plans to expand its operations to Austin by the end of the year.

SOURCE: BREATHING ANGELSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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11844 Bandera Road, Ste. 186, Helotes www.breathingangels.org

Johnny Rodriguez rst realized a need to provide aordable respiratory medical equipment in the San Antonio region in 2019.

Breathing Angels helps to provide equipment for patients falling between gaps in coverage.

PHOTOS COURTESY BREATHING ANGELS

STONE OAK 23026 US Hwy 281 N (210) 497-1322 DE ZAVALA 5219 De Zavala Rd (210) 561-0900

VINEYARD 1309 N Loop 1604 W (210) 408-8206

RECTOR 819 E Rector Dr (210) 340-2244

LEGACY 2003 N Loop 1604 E (210) 494-8600

Transportation

BY THOMAS LEFFLER

San Antonio’s largest transportation project has passed the halfway mark, according to Texas Department of Transportation ocials. The overview Marco Galindo, TxDOT alternative project deliv- ery supervisor, said the I-35 NEX Central project is now at 55% completion and is estimated to be nished by fall of 2027. The $1.5 billion project aims to add capacity to I-35 by constructing elevated lanes between main lanes and frontage roads, Galindo said. Project limits are between I-410 North in Northeast San Antonio and FM 3009 in Schertz, impacting 9.5 miles of I-35. What’s happening Nearly three years since the beginning of construction in June 2022, the I-35 NEX Central project has made progress on bridge elements for the elevated lanes. Galindo says bridge bent caps on NEX Central are half pre-cast o-site and half traditionally done on-site. Pre-cast caps are brought to the project site and placed overnight, whereas some caps are too big to be shipped to the project, which is one of the main transportation issues the TxDOT crew faces. “Right now, the biggest challenge with this and [next steps] is trucking, now that we have more projects online ... getting that coordinated avail- ability of resources to get these elements out to the I35 NEX project over halfway completed

I35 NEX Central elevated lane elements

Portions of the elevated lanes are under construction, and range from 7% to 52% complete. According to ocials from the Texas Department of Transportation, the overall project is 55% complete and is projected to be nished by late 2027.

WURZBACH PKWY.

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Complete

Remaining

Drill shafts bridge foundation

Bridge decks

Bridge columns

Bridge bent caps

Steel bridge girders

25%

52%

26%

30%

70%

75%

58%

93%

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SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONCOMMUNITY IMPACT

projects,” Galindo said. To address the myriad of road closures through- out Northeast San Antonio, Galindo said TxDOT has been trying to place beams over the weekends to minimize trac impacts. Next steps Eventual bridge deck pours will be another “time-consuming” step, according to Galindo. He added that he has been working with a contractor on better strategies to “get in and out” on future construction, as well as nd a balance between frontage road closures and main lane closures. Though the fall of 2027 is the completion target, Galindo added that his conversations with a contractor also include “any opportunities” to open up elevated lanes sooner.

The I35 NEX Central project is being constructed on 9.5 miles of roadway and is projected to be completed in late 2027.

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DETOURS: The Botanical Gardens of Orange CRITTER: Bottlenose Dolphin OUT THERE: Meanwhile, in Texas MADE IN TEXAS: Copper Craftsman FEATURE PREVIEW: Juneteenth’s Hero, Opal Lee

Above: The Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center.

NORTH SAN ANTONIO EDITION

DETOURS

A Green Refuge In Orange

Northwest of downtown, alongside Adams Bayou.

BY DANIEL VAUGHN

FOR FIFTY YEARS the gates of Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center were closed. A bitter freeze in 1958 killed much of founder H.J. Lutcher Stark’s plant- ings, including his prized azaleas. Decades later, reopening plans spearheaded by his namesake foundation were also thwarted by nature, first by Hurricane Rita, in 2005, and then by Ike, in 2008. Finally, in 2009, the 252-acre park opened once again to visitors. Gravel paths wander along- side some three hundred plant species, and everywhere are contemplative spaces that feel far removed from the surrounding city, which lies just across the Sabine River from Louisiana. At the placid Pond of the Blue Moon is the towering Cypress Gate, a platform designed by San Antonio–based architecture firm Lake Flato from logs salvaged after Rita. At Ruby Lake, you’ll find a bird blind for viewing the many varieties of waterfowl that come through, and you just might see an alligator sunning on the dock nearby.

About 51,000 bottlenose dol- phins—the most common spe- cies o the Texas coast—are frolicking in the northern Gulf as you read this. Occasionally, though, one of them ends up on land. The Texas Marine Mam- mal Stranding Network, based in Galveston, responds to an average of 134 strandings per year. Executive director Heidi Whitehead says that after hur- ricanes, she and her colleagues have even rescued dolphins from fields and ditches as far as seventeen miles inland. So before you head to the beach, learn what to do if you come across one.

it can be rescued. Then try to keep it shaded and wet.

IF I FIND A STRANDED DOLPHIN, SHOULD I PUSH

CRITTER OF THE MONTH

Bottlenose Dolphin

IT INTO THE WATER? Often, says Whitehead, a

HOW EXACTLY DOES ONE MOISTEN A DOLPHIN ? You can pour seawater over it or cover it in wet towels. Just be sure to avoid the blowhole. MAY I PET IT? Definitely not. Wild dolphins are a protected species, and any form of harassment (such as trying to touch, feed, or swim with them) is illegal. Whitehead says the best thing you can do is be quiet and keep pets and other people at a distance. —Lauren Larson

beached dolphin is su ering from a lung disease brought on by exposure to bacteria, viruses, or fungi, and it must be treated and rehabilitated. If you try to Free Willy a dolphin back into the Gulf, it is unlikely to survive. WHAT SHOULD I DO? First, call 800-9MAMMAL, which is like a dolphin 911, and someone from Whitehead’s group will talk you through keeping the animal safe until

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Inside a Copper Mind Jonathan Beall makes modern kitchenware, barware, and water dispensers that last a lifetime.

BY AMANDA ALBEE

When Beall launched Sertodo Copper, in 1997, he traveled the U.S., cold-calling ho- tels and restaurants to sell Mexican-made copper cookware and chafing dishes. Three years later, he moved to Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacán, a town with a coppersmithing tradition that predates its founding nearly five hundred years ago. There, he joined a copper community led by James Metcalf, the late sculptor and educator who reinvigorated local artisanal traditions. An apprentice- ship with copper maestro Máximo Velázquez Correa had Beall forging hundreds of nails and tools, including hammers and chisels, to cultivate a “manual intelligence” that he says is in decline among modern American creators, who sidestep material knowledge for computer-aided design. To read the full story, please subscribe to Texas Monthly.

IN HIS AUSTIN warehouse, Jonathan Beall sips water from one of his copper cups, an Ayurvedic practice said to stimulate diges- tion and increase immunity. He points to a hand-carved solid-copper vase made us- ing traditional techniques, such as melting recycled copper into ingots and repeatedly annealing and forging the mass into shape, a skill he learned in Mexico. It reminds him of a similar piece he encountered on a trip to Sayulita, on that country’s Pacific coast, almost thirty years ago—he can still see it glittering in the dawn light among a peddler’s wares. “I had never seen anything like it,” he says. “I didn’t know what was happening, but I had a big feeling.”

OUT THERE

Meanwhile, In Texas A man dressed in shorts and sneakers was seen cruising down the center lane of westbound Interstate 40 in Amarillo on an electric scooter . In a cave near Marfa, archaeologists discovered remnants of an atlatl, a straight-flying boomerang, and other components of whatmay be the oldest intact hunting kit found in North America. Almost four thousand Kerrville residents lost power for two hours after a ringtail came into contact with equipment at a substation. On National Beer Day, a train collided with the trailer of a semitruck near Saginaw, spilling hundreds of cans of beer around the tracks. Nearly three thousand people and 1,300 dogs descended on a ranch in Bee Cave for Texas’s largest annual golden retriever meetup . Hoping to steal a car, a man threw a rock through the window of a Tyler dealership, injured himself while entering through the broken glass, and called 911 for help getting out of the building, even though several doors were unlocked. Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was bitten by an ostrich while visiting a wildlife park in North Texas. —Meher Yeda

Jonathan Beall polishes a copper vessel at his com- pany’s workshop in Austin on April 24, 2025.

NORTH SAN ANTONIO EDITION

Opal Lee at her Fort Worth home, in front of a painting of her family tree.

advantage of the specials. At least four con- versations are happening at once, all of them somehow meeting at a center point, briefly, beforebouncingooneanotherandcontinu- ing in their own universes. When Lee, 98, emerges from a back room, glass of milk in hand, she is vibrant, smiling widely, and moving gingerly, but no one fusses over her. They all seem to know she moves at her own pace, on her own time. “Old people ain’t got nothing but time,” she tells me, set- tlingintoachairinanocethatisoverflowing with honors and ephemera: a signed basketball from the New York Knicks, photos with Pres- idents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, various awards from women’s groups and colleges and civil rights organizations. When I ask Lee how she’s feeling, she tells me she’s wearing a back brace, so she’s feeling good. Her back has been hurting, but it ain’t nothing special. Old people have aches and pains; most of them don’t even know why or where they came from. I want to know what keeps her going, and she smiles. “I feel like I’m everybody’s grandma. And I had good grand- mas.” She recalls her grandparents always findingwaystohelpfolksintheircommunity. “My mom was like that too,” she says. “It’s just part of your makeup.” To read the full story, please subscribe to Texas Monthly .

OPAL LEE LIVES on the same property where her childhood home once sat, inside a house recently built for her by Habitat for Hu- manity. On the front door is a purple wreath. In the center of the wreath is a quote from Lee herself: “If people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love.” Inside, the house buzzes with Lee’s friends and family. There’s excitement in the air, in part because it is Veterans Day, and at least two veterans are in the home, preparing to circulate through several restaurants to take

FEATURE PREVIEW

Opal Lee Marches On The 98-year-old activist partly

responsible for Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday says, “I got work to do.” BY HANIF ABDURRAQIB

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Events

BY ANDREW CREELMAN & PARKS KUGLE

June

June English Country Dancing English Dance S.A. will host dance lessons at the Memorial Library. English County Dances, dating from the 1500s to the 1820s, range from elegant court dances to circle and square dances. • June 21, 3-5:30 p.m. • Free • Memorial Library, 3222 Culebra Road, San Antonio • www.mysapl.org The Prisoner Wine Dinner Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse is hosting a four- course dinner with special wines from The Prisoner Wine Company and gourmet dishes such as Pan-Seared Sea Bass and Wagyu Porterhouse. Reservations are required. • June 26, 7:00 p.m. • $89 (entree) • 5546 N. Loop 1604 W., Ste. 160, San Antonio • www.fogodechao.com Independence Day Picnic at the Park The City of Shavano Park is hosting an Independence Day celebration parade and community picnic, along with a baking contest and bike decoration contest. Preregistration is required for contests. • June 28, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (picnic) • 10:15 a.m. (baking contest inside City Hall) • 10:30 a.m. (parade start and bike contest outside City Hall) • Free • City Hall, 900 Saddletree Court, Shavano Park • www.shavanopark.org

Fiesta Noche del Rio The event lights up the historic Arneson River Theatre at La Villita. The 68th Fiesta del Noche del Rio features music, dancing and colorful costumes that celebrate the unique culture and heritage of San Antonio. Fiesta Noche del Rio runs from June 6-Aug.

3 every Friday and Saturday night. • June 27- Aug. 3, 8:30 p.m. • $10-$25 • La Villita, 418 Villita St., San Antonio • www.fiestanochesa.com

Market Square Fourth of July Celebration The celebration includes food, artisan vendors, performances from local bands, face painting and

a stars and stripes concert at the Alamo, live music from the U.S. Air Force Rock Band and a drone show. • July 1-6, event times vary • Free • www.visitsanantonio.com Salute at Sunset River Parades Four free river parades will be held over the July Fourth weekend. The parades will feature patriotically decorated floats each evening at 8 p.m. Attendees can view the parades anywhere along the downtown River Walk. • July 3-5, 8 p.m. • Free • www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com

themed character visits • July 4-5, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. • Free • 514 W. Commerce St., San Antonio • www.marketsquaresa.com

July

First Friday Artwalk at Blue Star On the first Friday of every month, Blue Star hosts an art walk with multiple studios and galleries open to the public. The event also features live music and arts and crafts vendors. • July 4, 6-9 p.m. • Free

Stars & Stripes on Houston Street Held by the City of San Antonio, Centro San Antonio, the Alamo and Visit San Antonio, the Stars & Stripes on Houston Street features a series of events along the historic promenade. These free events include family- friendly picnics in the park, festive brunches, themed movie nights, paleta and popsicle pop-ups, live music and parades. On the Fourth of July, attendees can catch

• 1414 S. Alamo St., San Antonio • www.bluestarartscomplex.com

All Instruments All Ages All Skill Levels 1-on-1 Lessons

2540 Thousand Oaks Dr #109 San Antonio, TX 78232 (210) 201-5275 www.stjohnmusic.com

NORTH SAN ANTONIO EDITION

Real estate

Homes in the North San Antonio area were listed on the market for between 46 and 86 days in April, according to data from the San Antonio Board of Realtors. Residential market data

Number of homes sold

April 2024

April 2025

-20.51%

-30%

+29.16%

-23.53%

-31.11%

-15.38%

+26.92%

78230

78231

78232

78248

78258

78259

78260

281

78260

78258

78259

Median home sales price

1604

78248 78232

April

2024

2025

$409,900 $287,250 $399,700 $539,500 $499,000 $416,450 $557,950

$445,000 $375,000 $425,000 $594,900 $475,000 $412,450 $522,500

78230 78231 78232 78248 78258 78259 78260

78230

78231

Homes sold by price point

April 2025

$800,000+

$600,000-$799,999

Average days on market

$400,000-$599,999

+44.64%

+34.78%

-1.85%

+36.17%

-12.82%

+4.76%

-6.98%

$200,000-$399,999

<$199,999

MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY THE SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS • 9110 W. I10 2105931200 • WWW.SABOR.COM

78230

78231

78232

78248

78258

78259

78260

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

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