COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

 
 
 
GUINN FAMILY WRITES ABOUT FIRE AND EMS

GUINN FAMILY WRITES ABOUT FIRE AND EMS

ALAMO HEIGHTS FIRE AND EMS

On a quiet summer morning, my family was making breakfast in the kitchen when my daughters heard and saw fire trucks zoom down the street. We walked outside and quickly noticed numerous Alamo Heights Fire and EMS vehicles parked just three houses down. With their lights flashing and crew on the move, my youngest daughter looked up and explained to me that she was scared. Following the day’s events, I did not want words like “scary” to be the primary terms that my kids associate with fire trucks and first responders. So, our family—a team of two elementary-aged daughters, one newborn son, and coffee-toting parents—scheduled a trip to the Alamo Heights Fire and EMS Department.

MEET THE GRATEFUL GUINNS!

MEET THE GRATEFUL GUINNS!

THE GRATEFUL GUINNS

Evy (daughter, 7) tosses the football to Trey (dad) who has Oliver (infant son) strapped to him by baby carrier. The dad-son combo make it about five yards before being brought down by a playful tackle made by the opposing team, Joy (daughter, 9) and Shannon (mom). All are laughing, except Evy who was expecting a touchdown. It’s a Tuesday, the Guinn family is home from school,  and the only thing on the itinerary it seems is to play, do homework, and eat dinner. 

GUINN FAMILY WRITES ABOUT HIDDEN PARADISE

GUINN FAMILY WRITES ABOUT HIDDEN PARADISE

CATHEDRAL PARK, A HIDDEN PARADISE IN ALAMO HEIGHTS

There is a stillness and a wave of calm that hits you the moment you enter the hallowed grounds. A stone pathway weaves you through magnificent oak trees and colorful native plants, taking you by a hidden fountain, an antique-looking, charming Chapel House, and a baptismal font. You’ll reach a wonderful overlook that peers down to a lush green lawn that stretches wide. As you make your way down to the lawn, you’ll go by sacred areas that remember loved ones who have passed, along with a wall where you may submit letters or prayers to God. Once you reach the sea of grass down below, you may choose to sit on a bench and enjoy the view, or you may cross a small bridge and make your way over to an open pavilion, often used for yoga or meditation. Within the springtime, you may witness fresh spring water flowing through the area, and below the pavilion, you may choose to dip your feet in. It is nineteen acres of paradise. 

 
 
GUINN FAMILY WRITES ABOUT AWAITING OASIS

GUINN FAMILY WRITES ABOUT AWAITING OASIS

AWAITING OASIS

While Shaw and “the pool guys,” as they are often referred to,diligently manage and care for the pool’s environment and aesthetic,the city’s recent investment ensures that your family and mine will have the Alamo Heights Pool for this generation andthe next one to come.

My family is enormously grateful to Rick and his team for the time and energy they have given to overseeing this massive overhaul of our summer retreat. But when I catch Rick around town and try to thank him for all he is doing, he quickly gives all the credit to the City of Alamo Heights for seeing the benefits of the pool and making the needed investment.