CASTLE HILLS • HILL COUNTRY VILLAGE • HOLLYWOOD PARK • SHAVANO PARK • NORTH SA
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS LOCA LCOMMU N IT YNE WS.CO M | VO L . 9, I SSUE 5 | NOV. 10 -D EC . 8 , 2020
HEALTH
NOW AND AHEAD by LEA THOMPSON
PANDEMIC ALTERS SA MEDICINE by TRAVIS E. POLING
THE OUTBREAK OF THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS is transforming the nature of health care delivery across both the planet and the greater San Antonio area.
As providers grapple with the current disease and its staggering impact, physicians and other medical professionals are formulating plans to combat future pandemics. Edith Ambrester went through breastcancer management, chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Everything ADAPTING continues on pg. 14
THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC has changed the way San Antonio-area schools conduct learning now and for the foreseeable future.
TRAFFIC
From public to private institutions, local communities face serious challenges including keeping students healthy, bringing learners back to campuses or instructing remotely, handling teacher brain drain and preparing for more shutdowns.
SPRING BREAK AND GOODBYES In Cibolo, when Watts Elementary School teacher Wendy Dylla said farewell to her second graders for Spring Break, she didn’t realize last March would be the final time she’d see them in person. “Before we left for break, (officials) told us, ‘Take your things with you because a COVID closure is a possibility,’ but we never
thought that this would happen,” Dylla said. But, within days, it did. Gov. Greg Abbott eventually ordered the shuttering of statewide campuses. Summertime saw the greater San Antonio area school systems — public and private and their corresponding new online classrooms — navigate constantly changing educational and safety guidelines, struggling to ensure a safe fall
LEARNING continues on pg. 16
PG. 10 | INFRASTRUCTURE
IN THE LOOP
Changes for 410/281 TRAFFIC continues on pg. 10
2 STAFF NOV. 10 - DEC. 8, 2020
PUBLISHER Jaselle Luna EDITORIAL Editor
Thomas Edwards News Staff
Edmond Ortiz Contributing Writers
Travis E. Poling, Noi Mahoney, Arthur Schechter, Lea Thompson and Susan Yerkes ART Designer
E. Fisher Contributing Artist
Jeremiah Teutsch ADVERTISING Senior Media Representatives
Dawn Radick and Joanne Torres Multimedia Account Representative
Michael Valdelamar Controller
Gracie Cortinez READER SERVICE Mailing Address
4204 Gardendale St., Ste. 107, San Antonio, TX 78229 Phone: (210) 338-8842 Fax: (210) 465-9455 ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Advertising@localcommunitynews.com STORY IDEAS: tips@localcommunitynews.com EDITOR CONTACT: tedwards@localcommunitynews.com OUR OTHER PUBLICATIONS North Central SA: 78204, 78205, 78209, 78210, 78212, 78215 Metrocom: 78109, 78148, 78233, 78239, 78108, 78132, 78154, 78266 South San Antonio: 78204, 78210, 78214, 78223, 78235 Reproduction in whole or in part without our permission is prohibited, 2020 Local Community News LLC, all rights reserved.
ON THE COVER – Many students are smiling — such as Deacon Cooke of Cornerstone Christian Schools — about returning to classroom instruction during the pandemic. The disease is forcing schools, parents and pupils to adapt to new patterns, both now and ahead. Coverage begins on page 01, with more content soon at www.localcommunitynews. com. Courtesy photo/Jaime Len Cooke The LOCAL Community News editorial board includes Jaselle Luna and Thomas Edwards.
TALK LOCAL
Cenotaph saved IT WOULD SEEM THE BATTLE OF THE ALAMO RAGES STILL, but the Texas Historical Commission made the right call denying a permit allowing revisionists to move the Cenotaph. Members of the Alamo Management Committee, the publicprivate partnership pushing a $450 million plan to renovate Alamo Plaza, said they wanted the Cenotaph relocated to restore the mission’s true historical legacy. The Spanish Empire, in concert with the Catholic Church, built missions just like the Alamo the world over to minister to Indigenous persons. Nothing unique there. What is memorable about the Alamo is its place in history as a battleground symbolizing man’s struggle for freedom against tyranny. The Cenotaph honors the heroes of all ethnicities who fought for independence in March 1836, inspiring those who strive for liberty for generations to come. It belongs front and center on the Alamo grounds, not moved south of the shrine. In addition, the monument could be damaged should it be shifted. The Cenotaph stands as a reminder freedom is purchased through blood and sacrifice. Those who desired relocation say they only wished to tell the “full” story of the 300-year-old mission. Instead, it appears they want to minimize the most important chapter in the Alamo’s history.
Approximately 70% of total hospitalized cases of COVID-19 are indicated to have some type of underlying condition (the other 30% either do not have an underlying condition or their status is unknown). Among these cases, diabetes is the most common, followed by heart disease and obesity.
CHANGE TODAY FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE. Make Changes • Reduce Risk • Take Control
DID YOU KNOW?
Almost 29 million Americans have diabetes – but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. About 84 million adults in the United States have prediabetes. The YMCA of Greater San Antonio and The City of The San Antonio Metropolitan Health Department have teamed up to fight diabetes from two fronts. Whether you are at risk for type 2 diabetes or if you have already been diagnosed, we have a FREE program for you! We can help you: · Make lifestyle changes to help prevent or delay the disease · Work with family members to reduce your entire family’s risk · Manage the disease if you have already received a diagnosis. We’ll teach you how you can take control of your health safely manage the symptoms of diabetes. Call 210-207-8807 or visit diabeteshelpsa.com for more information.
OPINION
4
L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S NOV. 10 - DEC. 8, 2020
Giving thanks, not COVID by SUSAN YERKES
WHEN THANKSGIVING APPROACHES I make a list of things I’m grateful for. At the top this year: I’m thankful 2020 is almost over. We
may not get back to normal in 2021, but it’s got to be better than the three Cs: coronavirus, closings and chaos. Thanksgiving is the definitive all-American holiday. The Norman Rockwell image of a family sharing a big, beautiful meal doesn’t seem so cozy with masks and gloves. Giving thanks is one thing, but giving COVID-19 is something else entirely. For months, most folks I know have been plotting alternative get-togethers, from Zooming the family feast to moving outside or doing drive-by food deliveries. The good news: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food and its packaging are low risk
for viral spread. The bad news: Saliva and breathing both increase exposure. Bummer. It’s one thing to wear a mask at the grocery store, but something else entirely to keep it on in a room full of people having a wonderful time. This year, many time-honored San
Antonio traditions of giving are canceled or altered. The Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving has morphed into a holiday-meal delivery. Air Force basic trainees at Lackland won’t enjoy turkey dinner with local families, since Operation Home Cooking is called off. Ditto the Army’s Mission Thanksgiving event. On the other hand, a Texas Thanksgiving isn’t necessarily traditional. You may have grown up with the tale of Plymouth Colony’s British pilgrims sharing a love feast with the happy Wampanoag tribe in 1621, but in these days of political correctness it’s hard to keep such a rosy scenario going, especially in light of how Native Americans ended up. In fact, if you want to talk turkey about Thanksgiving, look no further than El Paso, where true-blue Texans claim the first such feast was held in 1598, when Spanish conquistador Juan de Oñate and settlers found water and rest after a punishing trip through the Chihuahuan Desert. The El Paso Mission Trail Association commemorates the event, which has drawn controversy. A lot of things about Thanksgiving have a stormy history in the Lone Star State. In 1777, the Continental Congress declared the first national Thanksgiving, President George Washington affirmed it in 1789, and in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln officially made Thanksgiving the last Thursday in November.
(Thursday was “Lecture Day” for the Plymouth Puritans, and the start of the original, three-day celebration.) Texas went along with the national date, but from 1879 to 1882, Gov. O.M. Roberts refused to declare the holiday at all, calling it a “damn Yankee institution” and a “religious exercise.” In 1939, when President Franklin Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving up a week, to the next-to-last Thursday in November, Gov. W. Lee “Pappy” O’Daniel rebelled against the “New Deal Thanksgiving” and Texans got two celebrations. Some politicians framed the Texas Thanksgiving as a matter of states’ rights. Between 1939 and 1957 Texas observed seven years of double Thanksgivings. (Tough on turkeys, great for turkey breeders.) In 1957, Gov. Price Daniel signed a new set of holidays into law, aligning the state observance with the national one for good. Some staunch Southerners claimed treason; Daniel “went Yankee,” as one newspaper charged. Thanksgiving in 2020 may not be the same, but the spirit of the holiday has weathered plenty of changes over time. Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or the newer “Friendsgiving” (which still seems weird to me) or both, it’s all about being grateful for what we have, and sharing. That spirit prevails. I find it “hope-giving.” syerkes@localcommunitynews.com
One of the most well-respected and award-winning journalists in South Texas, Susan Yerkes pens a column each month for LOCAL Community News. A veteran of newspapers, television, radio and online, she calls San Antonio home.
NOV. 10 - DEC. 8, 2020
NOVEMBER
PLAN YOUR MONTH WITH OUR CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
HAPPENING
L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
City Councils/ School Districts
5
updates or cancellations, contact Sylvia Jolet at sjolet@earthlink.net or call 210497-3383.
cancellations, visit http://www.stoneoakpoa. com or call 210-490-9481.
Hollywood Park: 6 p.m. Nov. 17; 2 Mecca Drive Hill Country Village: 5 p.m. Nov. 19; 116 Aspen
NOV. 11
HEALTH TUTORIAL
Lane
The Stone Oak Neighborhood Representative Committee normally meets at 7 p.m. in The Club at Sonterra, 901 E. Sonterra Blvd. However, due to COVID-19 concerns, this session will take place via Zoom. For the link, plus updates or
Shavano Park: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 23; 900 Saddletree Court
Castle Hills: 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10 & Dec. 8; 209 Lemonwood Drive Northside ISD: 5 p.m. Nov. 24; 7001 Culebra Road North East ISD: 5:30 p.m. Dec. 14; 8961 Tesoro Drive
NOV. 10 & DEC. 8 SEWING CIRCLE
A sewing club meets from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Encino Park Community Center, 1923 Encino Rio St. Bring a power strip or extension cord. For LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
STONE OAK NEIGHBORS
NOV. 12
The San Antonio Chapter of Hadassah presents a Zoom meeting on pre-diabetes and healthy eating at 7 p.m. with longtime nurse and educator Barbara Walz. The free, virtual event is open to the public; advanced registration required. For HAPPENING continues on pg. 08 07
EDITOR’S NOTE: THE CALENDAR IS CURRENT AS OF PRESS TIME, BUT SOME EVENTS MAY HAVE BEEN POSTPONED OR CANCELED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS. ACCESS TO PUBLIC MEETINGS MAY BE LIMITED OR STREAMING ONLY. CHECK WITH THE LISTED CONTACTS FOR UPDATES.
LOWDOWN
6
L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S NOV. 10 - DEC. 8, 2020
Open and Opening Soon TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT WHAT’S NEW IN THE COMMUNITY FROM OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS TO NEWS TIDBITS.
CUISHE COCINA MEXICANA, 115 N. Loop 1604 East, Suite 1118, offers upscale Mexican dining in Stone Oak. Led by Toro Kitchen & Bar owner Gerardo De Anda and its executive chef Juan Carlos Bazan, Cuishe features more than 150 bottles of agave-distilled spirits. Hours are noon to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. Visit www.cuishemx.com for more.
GOLD FEATHER BIRDS AND BEERS, 834 N.W. Loop 410, Suite 106, in the Park North shopping center, serves chicken nuggets, tenders, wings, handhelds and combos, along with craft beer. Hours are 11 a.m. to midnight daily. For more, call 210-342-2437 or visit http://www. goldfeatherbb.com.
THREE CONVENIENT CAMPUSES SERVING SAN ANTONIO I
NORTH CENTRAL: 12222 Huebner Rd STONE OAK : 20615 Huebner Rd. DOMINION : 6185 Camp Bullis Rd.
LUSTEA, 602 N.W. Loop 410, Suite 130, in the Park North shopping center, debuted in October offering traditional Vietnamese tea drinks. According to a news release, Lustea uses real tea leaves imported from Taiwan, and its boba recipes call on fresh fruits, not powder. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. COVID-19 safety measures enforced. For more, visit https:// lusteasa.shopsettings.com.
daily. For more, visit guides.mysapl. org/covid-19/how-to.
DESPITE OPPOSITION FROM SEVERAL NEIGHBORS, the San Antonio City
Council recently approved rezoning a nearly 2-acre tract southwest of U.S. 281 and Interpark Boulevard to accommodate an affordable multifamily development. The city’s action also changes the future land use of the underdeveloped parcel north of Shearer SA SEAFOOD, 5222 De Zavala Road, Hills Baptist Church to high-density Suite 330, planned a late October debut residential. Florida-based developer at the Fiesta Trails shopping center with Atlantic | Pacific Communities proposes a menu focused on the ocean’s bounty. building Vista at Interpark, a 64-unit, Specials include snow crab and boiled four-story apartment complex on the shrimp with Cajun fried rice. Also, there plot. District 9 Councilman John are rice and noodle dishes, chicken Courage and local residents opposed wings, salads and children’s meals. the change in zoning and land use, Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. For expressing concern with traffic activity more, call 210-236-7777 or visit https:// around the property. Courage also said www.saseafoodsanantonio.com. the tract’s size, though adequate for NORTH CENTRAL:12222 Huebner Rd. 78230 I STONE OAK: 20615 Huebner Rd. 78258 parking, leaves little room for residential X-FACTOR PIZZERIA, 12072 Blanco amenities or green space. The Zoning Road, Suite 101, offers a range of Commission had recommended denial. pizzas and wings, Philly cheesesteaks Atlantic | Pacific applied for housing and gyros. Along with dine-in seating, tax credits from the state to help finance the eatery also delivers and provides the total estimated $17.9 million curbside service. Hours are 11 a.m. to project. Twenty-three units will be for 9 p.m. weekdays (temporarily affected individuals earning 50% or less of the by COVID-19), 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. area’s median gross income. Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. For more, call 210-377-2222 or 210-977THE CITY HAS FINANCING TO still create 7777 or visit www.xfactorpizzeria.com. more San Antonio trails, according to NOW ENROLLING CHILDREN 6 WEEKS - 5 YEARS OF AGE. reassurances to constituents Located in North Centralemailed San Antonio. IN OTHER NEWS: from District 8 Councilman Manny THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY Peláez. In Nov. 3 elections, voters T OCOL - 19 P R Oasked SYSTEM is beginning Phase 3 of were to weigh a proposal to D I C OV IS Y T its COVID-19 reopening plan in AFE T part of the local sales tax from Sredirect FIRS November, expanding services at all linear creekway trail development and branch locations, including Encino, Edwards Aquifer protections toward a Parman, Cody and Brook Hollow. newly dedicated monetary stream for Computer use by appointment and VIA Metropolitan Transit. San Antonio contact-free pickup for holds with Water System has pledged to continue standardized hours will continue. Wi-Fi supporting aquifer protections, and service outside 29 branch locations is Bexar County is crafting a funding plan. still available 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. However, the city remains committed
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G FRUITFUL CHILDREN
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Contact 210.694.0740 To Add Your Name To The Interest List
NOV. 10 - DEC. 8, 2020
L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
to pay for upcoming construction through 2022, according to Peláez, including connectors between The Rim and Eisenhower Park and the retail center to Raymond Russell County Park.
THE SECOND PHASE OF CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY for the U.S. 281 project in north San Antonio. Construction, started Oct.12, will put northbound commuters on a traffic switch from just north of Bulverde Road to the border of Bexar and Comal counties. Motorists traveling north will be moved onto the old southbound main lanes. Commuters headed south will continue using the recently created frontage road. The $532 million project is aimed at improving traffic flow.
THE SHAVANO PARK REINVESTMENT PROGRAM on Sept. 30 gave grants to Salon David, Soul Fitness, Polished Nail Lounge, Bill Rhodes & Son Electric Co. and Road Runner Research. On Aug. 24, City Council voted to authorize funds, supported by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act and Bexar County, to assist the town’s small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants were required to meet specific criteria and documentation to qualify. The five awards totaled $100,320.
THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION recently recertified Shavano Park as a Community Wildlife Habitat.
THE COMMONS OF CASTLE HILLS is getting a
LOWDOWN
multiuse water fountain, with spigots for humans and pets, accompanied by a red brick walkway. The Castle Hills Woman’s Club donated $3,000 toward its purchase.
THE CASTLE HILLS CITY COUNCIL recently approved the issuance of $8.25 million in certificates of obligation to support another series of street and drainage improvements citywide.
TWO ELECTRONIC MAST ARMS WITH FLASHING beacons and new school signage were erected at Hobby Middle School, 11843 Vance Jackson Road, after parents expressed worries about campus traffic. “There wasn’t any signage announcing a school zone on this side of Vance Jackson Road, and parents reported concerns of speeding cars,” said District
8 Councilman Manny Peláez. “Now, the intersection sports safety features that are keeping families and students safer.”
COUNCILMAN JOHN COURAGE RECENTLY HIGHLIGHTED DISTRICT 9 projects that received funding from the city’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget. Upgrades include replacing Brook Hollow Branch Library’s roof and air conditioning, updates for restrooms at Walker Ranch Park, a new playground at Encino Branch Library, and construction on Sonterra Boulevard to the Loop 1604 extension. The City Council also approved a $100 million program to continue to protect the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone from overdevelopment and contamination. Find Local Lowdown at www. localcommunitynews.com.
LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
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down the drain? Fats, oils and grease can clog pipes, causing nasty sewage backups and serious damage to your home. To help prevent disgusting and costly sewage spills:
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Scrape grease solids directly into a lined trash can.
Pour cooled liquid grease into a sealable container.
Wipe remaining grease and debris with a paper towel.
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Take advantage of benefits that go beyond Original Medicare.
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NOV. 10 - DEC. 8, 2020
HAPPENING continues from pg. 05
Now is the time to be sure your current Medicare plan is still a good fit for you. If your health needs have changed, or your current plan doesn’t offer the benefits and features you’re looking for, it may be time to take advantage of an AARP® Medicare Advantage plan from UnitedHealthcare. Plans may include: Yearly limits on out-of-pocket spending
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HAPPENING
$0 copay for Tier 1 drugs
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 3355 Cherry Ridge Drive, Suite 208, normally hosts monthly board meetings for members from 3-5 p.m., but sessions could be held via videoconferencing due to COVID-19. To register a day in advance, or for updates or cancellations, contact president@ bexarmg.org.
The Barshop Jewish Community Center will sponsor a virtual writer series from 7-8:30 p.m. On Nov. 18, video games are the topic with Alexander Kriss, clinical psychologist and author of “The Gaming Mind.” On Nov. 22, Esther Safran Foer, author of “I Want You to Know We’re Still Here,” tells her Holocaust story. For links, updates or cancellations, call 210-302-6820.
NOV. 14
NOV. 18
Battle of Leon Creek, a half-marathon, 10-mile or 5K run, begins at 8 a.m. at Hill Country Place Apartments, 6222 UTSA Blvd. For registration, updates or cancellations, visit https://www. athleteguild.com/running/san-antoniotx/2020-alamo-beer-series-race-4-battleof-leon-creek-5k-10k-12-marathon.
The North San Antonio Retired Teachers Association meets from 10 a.m. to noon at San Pedro Presbyterian Church, 14900 San Pedro Ave. For updates or cancellations, visit https:// localunits.org/NSARTA/.
Patty De La Garza If you have i card, d callll me today. ttoda d o ha e this card
p.delagarzainsurance@gmail.com Sí, hablo su idioma. Pl i d through h h UnitedHealthcare U i dH l h I Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/area. Limitations and exclusions apply. Plans are insured Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company pays royalty fees to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. AARP and its affiliates are not insurers. You do not need to be an AARP member to enroll. AARP encourages you to consider your needs when selecting products and does not make specific product recommendations for individuals. AARP does not employ or endorse agents, producers or brokers. AARP Medicare Advantage Walgreens (LPPO)’s pharmacy network includes limited lower-cost pharmacies in rural ID and OR. The lower costs advertised in our plan materials for these pharmacies may not be available at the pharmacy you use. For up-to-date information about our network pharmacies, including whether there are any lower-cost preferred pharmacies in your area, please call us or consult the online pharmacy directory using the contact information that appears on the booklet cover. Other pharmacies are available in the UnitedHealthcare network but you may not receive preferred retail pharmacy pricing. ©2020 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All rights reserved. Y0066_200717_100916_M SPRJ55532_002DB35E
Rich in tradition, Devoted to care, Together in community.
BEXAR COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS
OFF AND RUNNING
NOV. 16-23
HOLIDAY HELPING HAND
Faith Based INDEPENDENT LIVING • ASSISTED LIVING MEMORY CARE • EXTENDED NURSING CARE • In-Home Care provided by Sisters Care at The Village • Mass offered twice a day • Multiple floor plans • Learning opportunities at UIW
• All faiths welcome • Two locations for dining • Social & recreational activities • Transportation available six days a week
TheVillageIW.org Call Us Today! 210-610-8457 License
THE ‘WRITE’ STUFF
NOV. 12
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210-488-6826, TTY 711
NOV. 18, 22
Credits to buy over-thecounter products
It’s time to take advantage. Licensed Sales Agent
updates, cancellations, a link and to register, email Joan Westgor at joanwestgor@gmail.com.
stoneoakpoa.com or call 210-8588508.
#’s 000777 (AL-A) 101505 (AL-B), 100473 (ALZ), 011872 (HCSSA)
Bring a shoebox with toys, school supplies and hygiene donations as part of Operation Christmas Child to Community Bible Church, 2477 N. Loop 1604 East, or Shearer Hills Baptist Church, 12615 San Pedro Ave. For drop-off times, visit https:// www.samaritanspurse.org/operationchristmas-child/drop-off-locations/.
NOV. 18
STONE OAK POA BOARD MEETING Due to COVID-19 concerns, the meeting — normally held at 3:30 p.m. in the Property Owners Association office, 19210 Huebner Road, Suite 100 — likely will take place place via Zoom. For updates, visit http://www.
RETIRED TEACHERS MEETING
NOV. 19
KUBOTAN WORKSHOP The Well Armed Woman, a nonprofit firearms chapter, meets at Buck & Doe’s Mercantile, 24250 U.S. 281 North, from 6-8 p.m. The focus will be on a self-defense key-chain stick. For updates or cancellations, visit facebook.com/ license2kari.
NOV. 19
RAINWATER SYMPOSIUM A Bexar County Master Gardeners virtual seminar from 6-8 p.m. will cover “Rain Gardens for Wildlife and Water Quality.” Guest speaker is restoration ecologist Lee Marlowe. For a link, updates or cancellations, visit https://www.bexarmg.org/event/ bcmg-november-monthly-meeting-raingardens-for-wildlife-and-water-qualityzoom-mtg/.
NOV. 10 - DEC. 8, 2020
L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
NOV. 21
DISTRICT 9 CONVERSATION Councilman John Courage from 10-11 a.m. will host a virtual “Stone Oak Neighborhood Coffee and Zoom.” The link is tinyurl.com/StoneOakZoom. For updates or cancellations, call 210-2070955 or email district9@sanantonio. gov.
NOV. 21
CALLING ALL SUPER SENIOR SINGLES If you’re single, divorced, widowed and 50 or older, fellowship, games, fun and lunch await from noon to 4 p.m. at Cornerstone Church’s Bythel Hagee Life Center, 18755 Stone Oak Parkway. For registration, updates or cancellations, visit https://www. sacornerstone.org/Ministries/singles/
HAPPENING
NOV. 25
super-senior-singles.
DISTRICT 9 NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE
NOV. 23-27
SCHOOL’S OUT Students in Northside and North East independent school districts get time off to enjoy Thanksgiving.
NOV. 23-25 FALL J-CAMP
Three days prior to Thanksgiving, the Barshop Jewish Community Center will sponsor activities for kids. The JCC is on the Campus of the San Antonio Jewish Community, 12500 N.W. Military Highway. For registration, updates or cancellations, visit https:// www.jccsanantonio.org/pages/jcamp/#fallj-camp.
The group gathers at 7 p.m. in Stone Oak Methodist Hospital, 1139 E. Sonterra Blvd., classrooms No. 1 and No. 2. The hospital is just off U.S. 281 North. For updates or cancellations, call Art Downey, alliance president, at 210-497-8873.
NOV. 30 & DEC. 7
CHRISTMAS IS COMING For the holidays, the Castle Hills Woman’s Club will decorate the City Hall Community Room, 209 Lemonwood Drive, from 2:30-5:30 p.m. Nov. 30. Also, from 11-11:30 a.m. Dec. 7, the women and Santa Claus will sing carols and deliver bags of supplies to senior residents
9
at Ventura Hills, 1207 Jackson Keller Road, an assisted-living facility. For updates or cancellations, contact castlehillswomansclub@gmail.com.
DEC. 3
HOLIDAY CELEBRATION An adults-only Hanukkah get-together takes place from 7-9 p.m. at the Barshop Jewish Community Center. The JCC is on the Campus of the San Antonio Jewish Community, 12500 N.W. Military Highway. Beer and potato pancakes served; tickets cost $15. Social distancing enforced. For updates or cancellations, visit https://www.jccsanantonio.org/ index.php?src=events&srctype=detail&category=Adults&refno=6452. HAPPENING continues on pg. 19
LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
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L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
INFRASTRUCTURE
NOV. 10 - DEC. 8, 2020
Officials look forward to 410/281 upgrades CONGESTION ISSUES ARE BEING ADDRESSED by EDMOND ORTIZ
NORTH SIDE RESIDENTS recently had the opportunity to provide input on proposals designed to improve traffic flow in the Loop 410/U.S. 281 area.
The Texas Department of Transportation held a virtual public meeting in October to discuss an estimated $67 million in upgrades to 410 between West Avenue and Broadway, to U.S. 281 North near 410, and at San Pedro Avenue and 410. After the Oct. 13 session, TxDOT provided a two-week period for comments from the
public. Over the years, elevated ramps at 410 and 281 have eased traffic congestion around one of the city’s busiest freeway interchanges.
However, vehicles often jam in places such as the westbound 410 ramp from southbound 281, creating choke points on 410 where entering motorists merge with drivers exiting to San Pedro and other intersecting streets. According to TxDOT, there was an average of three car accidents daily on this stretch from 2014 to 2018. The stretch saw nine traffic fatalities during the same time. This roadway section ranked 46th on the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s list of the 100 most congested in Texas. “Motorists currently experience excessive queuing, or backups, along main lanes and at intersections throughout the project area,” the TxDOT virtual presentation stated. “With continued growth in the region, these conditions are not expected to improve.”
Proposed fixes to 410 from West Avenue to Broadway include: • Removing or relocating ramp locations and alignments • Building new ramps • Constructing auxiliary lanes and concrete median barriers • Widening and realigning frontage roads • Upgrading intersections • Re-striping roadways
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“Improvements include reconfiguring ramp, lengthening and/or removing and weaving merging segments, improving intersections and removing bottlenecks,” said Laura Lopez, a TxDOT spokeswoman. 410 would retain four to six main lanes with two- to four-lane frontage roads, plus intermittent, noncontinuous auxiliary lanes. Direct connectors and ramps would still link motorists with major intersecting roads. As LOCAL Community News previously reported, the plan no longer contains the permanent closure of Honeysuckle Lane at 410. Many Castle Hills residents balked
when TxDOT originally aired the idea. Neighbors said closing Honeysuckle would impede travel to the north and south sides of the city, which is bisected by 410. TxDOT listened and nixed the closure, delighting Castle Hills leaders and residents. But Castle Hills City Council still passed a resolution Oct. 26 expressing their concerns about the plan’s potential impact on traffic between West Avenue and Blanco Road. “Issues of concern include greater traffic use and congestion on our access roads, the increased danger to pedestrians, particularly near Castle Hills Elementary School, overall noise levels, restricting access to Blanco Road from Northwest Military southbound, and increased vehicle use of Honeysuckle Lane,” Alderman Joe Izbrand said. In addition, the proposed enhancements would contain modifications at the Northwest Military Highway/410 interchange.
The highway department also proposes betterments to 281 from 410 to East Nakoma Drive, including: • Changing ramp locations and alignments • Removing some ramps • Adding auxiliary lanes • Re-striping roadways • Constructing a southbound collectordistributor 281 would generally consist of three to four main lanes, plus intermittent, noncontinuous auxiliary lanes, with oneto two-lane frontage roads. Also, proposed improvements include reconstruction of the Rhapsody Drive bridge over the existing southbound 281 main lanes and the prospective southbound collector-distributor. TxDOT also wants to upgrade San Pedro at 410 by improving intersections,
NOV. 10 - DEC. 8, 2020
L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
building turn lanes and re-striping roadways. San Pedro would retain three lanes in each direction with new additional turn lanes. Although extra rights of way would be required, residential or commercial-business displacements aren’t expected. State officials said if action isn’t taken, morning peak travel times on westbound 410, from Broadway to West Avenue, could increase from eight minutes to nearly 22 by 2045. San Antonio District 1 Councilman Roberto Treviño, who represents communities inside 410, said infrastructure must grow to match the needs of residents, commuters to jobs at San Antonio International Airport and other employers along the loop. “As this project moves forward, consistent
INFRASTRUCTURE
communication with surrounding neighborhoods and businesses will lead to a smoother construction schedule and a safer, more efficient final product,” he said. “I will ensure affected District 1 neighborhoods are aware of this effort and have a voice in the process.” The final schematic design is due early in 2021. TxDOT anticipates receiving environmental clearance in the spring. Highway officials then will spend a year acquiring necessary rights of way and relocating utilities. If all goes well, phased construction could begin as soon as early 2023. For more, visit www.txdot.gov and search keywords “I-410 at US 281.” Find this story and more at www. localcommunitynews.com.
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An artistic rendering of U.S. 281 North from Loop 410 shows the proposed removal of both the existing San Pedro Avenue exit and the East Nakoma Drive entrance. Courtesy photo/Texas Department of Transportation
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L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
GROWTH
NOV. 10 - DEC. 8, 2020
North Side projects seeing fruition PARKS IN STONE OAK, NEAR CAMP BULLIS ON THE LIST; SENIOR CENTER, TOO by EDMOND ORTIZ
A PARK AND A COMMUNITY CENTER, a restored creek and flowerinspired art are among new or ongoing public projects currently underway on the North Side.
Design work is finished on both the Classen-Steubing Ranch Park in Stone Oak and a District 9 senior facility, San Antonio officials said. north San Antonio park. The city planned to begin accepting bids Nov. 3 on development of Classen-Steubing
Meanwhile, planning is underway on the Panther Springs Creek project, and a Helotes artist is helping to enhance another
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Ranch Park, which covers 39 acres of former Classen-Steubing family ranch land near Huebner Road and Hardy Oak Boulevard. Rialto Studio oversaw the design for the city’s newest park. The space is envisioned as a recreational destination for far North Siders, complete with trails, athletic fields, a playground and possibly areas for educational activities and small community gatherings. With a local office near Mahncke Park downtown, the design firm also was responsible for the Hardberger Park land bridge scheduled to open later this fall. San Antonio conducted a virtual meeting Sept. 8 to update residents and other stakeholders about the 2017 bond-funded Classen-Steubing project. The referendum set aside $9.4 million for acquisition of ranch land and for initial public-parkland development. Bidding will commence soon, followed by evaluations and staff recommendations to City Council. “Once we receive City Council approval, construction will begin. We are targeting construction beginning in 2021,” said Paul Berry, chief communications officer for the Public Works Department. Beaty Palmer Architects has finished the design for another 2017 bond project, the District 9 multigenerational center to be built on a vacant lot at 840 W. Rhapsody Drive. The city had received and evaluated general-contractor bids by mid-October, and as of press time was negotiating with the top one. Berry said San Antonio should be ready to award the construction project with the council’s OK at the end of the year. Work is slated to begin in early 2021 and last nearly one year. Designed to primarily serve older adults, the $14.6 million facility will also accommodate youths and younger grownups, plus offer the District 9 community municipal information and links to municipal services.
The city is currently working with the San Antonio River Authority on designs for revamping Stone Oak’s Panther Springs Creek. Improvements to the existing natural channel, including a water-flow upgrade and removal of standing water, is in order for the $1.1 million 2017 bond project. Flowing through the heart of Panther Springs Park, a public green space, the stream is part of the upper Salado Creek watershed. “The next steps for this project is to finalize design, then advertise and seek bids for a construction contractor, and start construction,” Berry said. “The consultant and (SARA) are planning to finish (the) design by the end of the year and start construction early next year around February 2021.” Added SARA engineer Christine Clayton, “The (Panther Springs Creek) project will alleviate excessive ponding in the channel and improve drainage at the upstream and
NOV. 10 - DEC. 8, 2020
L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
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Not Your Average Med Spa Nestled on the Northside of San Antonio, Turquoise Springs Medical Spa is a direct reflection of the passion and zeal that has driven the founder and medical director, Dr. Bill Murphy, throughout his life. Dr. Murphy is a San Antonio native who graduated from Lee High School before attending the University of Texas in 1971. He graduated with a degree in Pharmacy and worked as a pharmacist while attending medical school at UT Southwestern in Dallas. Upon graduation in 1980, he moved back to the Alamo City for an internship in Internal Medicine and specialty training in Anesthesiology. He has extensive experience in many fields of medicine. During Dr. Murphy’s professional career, he has had the pleasure of being a pharmacist, a surgeon, an anesthesiologist and is double board certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Management. He has practiced in San Antonio for over 36 years, and has now shifted his focus and passion to the field of aesthetics and wellness. His qualifications and experience make him uniquely capable of leading Turquoise Springs Medical Spa. He is able to blend his knowledge of various medical disciplines and uses this to realize excellent results in all areas of aesthetics for his patients. Since opening Turquoise Springs Medical Spa in 2017, Dr. Murphy has been a member of the American Association of Anti-Aging Medicine, the American Society of Lasers in Medicine and Surgery, and the American Society of Facial Esthetics.
A rendering of San Antonio’s planned District 9 multigenerational center. Courtesy illustration/Beaty Palmer Architects
downstream culverts on Blanco Road.” If all goes well, the restoration will be complete by September 2021. A little to the south, at Eisenhower Park near Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, another undertaking is shaping up. The city has commissioned Helotes’ Leticia Huerta, a public-art specialist, to help lead “Bloom,” a series of artistic endeavors highlighting park trailheads and informing visitors about the environs. At the city's request, Huerta already created three flowerlike sculptures for a McAllister Park trail. Inspired by the cyclists riding its routes, the flowers are made from recycled bicycle parts. The city has commissioned Huerta to do the same at Eisenhower Park, with hopes to place similar 14- to 16-foot-tall “Bloom” sculptures all along the Howard
W. Peak Greenway Trail System. Debbie Racca-Sittre, director of the city’s Department of Arts and Culture, described the floral images as worthy additions to the trailheads. “When people are going on these trails, it’s like way-finding,” she added. The McAllister Park flowers also have educational elements explaining the history of that park’s floodplain history. A comparable installation is planned for the River Walk where the Torch of Friendship is located. The trail eventually will encircle the city. “We want to connect all the city, all the way, and through downtown,” Racca-Sittre said. Find this story and more at www. localcommunitynews.com. LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
Dr. Murphy is known for his meticulous attention to detail, which is apparent from the minute you step into his exquisitely designed spa. His team of aesthetic professionals compliment his expertise which leads to outstanding treatment results and to the loyalty of his longstanding clients. Dr. Murphy’s motto is “One Body. One Life,” and he is passionate about helping his patients achieve and maintain health and wellness while providing them with top of the line, FDA approved technology in a first-class environment. From the most advanced anti-aging and cosmetic technologies and treatments, to body contouring, hormone replacement therapy, injectables and laser treatments…. Turquoise Springs Medical Spa provides it all. Schedule a free consultation today with Dr. Murphy and come experience his luxurious and personalized five-star care.
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HEALTH
NOV. 10 - DEC. 8, 2020
ADAPTING continues from pg. 01
not requiring in-person consulting, from treatment-preparation instructions to followup, was done by talking to doctors and nurses using a computer from the comfort of her Stone Oak home. “It was actually kind of fun,” said the 58-year-old survivor, recalling her telemedicine visits over the last few months. “I see people doing more of this in the future. It was no different than sitting in front of Dr. (oncologist Sylvia) Zubyk in an office.” Dr. Lynnette Watkins, Baptist Health
by TRAVIS E. POLING
ALL IS QUIET IN THE ROOM where walls of screens stacked at six workstations monitor 26 vital signs of 96 intensive-care patients in a kind of mission control for the critically ill located in various hospitals. At the Baptist Health System, this electronic intensive-care unit could be the model for future remote monitoring, with software helping specially trained medics keep a constant finger on the pulse of the sickest patients. Silent alarms are triggered at the eICU, housed in an office building next to Northeast Baptist Hospital, when a troublesome trend in vital signs emerges in an ICU bed at one of five Baptist hospitals in San Antonio. Cameras can zoom in on instrument panels inside the room and staff can interact with the patient by screen or voice and notify on-site personnel quickly if something is
System’s chief medical officer, has seen admission questions at hospitals and clinics change from: “Have you traveled anywhere recently?” to “Are you sick?” Routine temperature checks, triage to send people to different waiting rooms depending on possible diagnosis and masks for all could be the order of the day for a long time to come, she added. Dr. Robert Leverence at UT Health San Antonio and chief medical officer of UT Health Physicians no longer wears ties at University Hospital or the Medical Arts & Research Center. They’re not washed like
amiss. The computer prompts workers’ next moves from conversations with patients to summoning physicians, eICU registered nurse Richard Jaroszewski said. While Baptist’s eICU has been around for 10 years, bulky computer monitors have given way to 40 large flat-screens and improved monitoring capabilities, both predictive and preventive. With hospital staff at times stretched to the limit during the summer, the darkest point of the COVID-19 crisis in Bexar County, the reliance on remote technology and all its promise makes the eICU look more like the future of health care. Texas only sports a handful of eICUs, and a small percentage of hospital systems nationwide have taken the leap to centralized monitoring, said Jill Scott, a Baptist RN who is the program’s supervisor. The computer network shows staffers a list of the 20 most-ill patients across all of the ICUs so they already know where to focus attention between the personal visits of ICU personnel. If something goes wrong, RNs in the eICU core can give advice and protocols to health care workers in the room. Most eICU registered nurses possess at least a decade of intensivecare experience or advanced training, and encountered more situations than most of in-hospital staff, Scott said. In overnight hours, three RNs,
scrubs and other clothing and are now considered repositories for harmful microbes. Gone also are the handshakes among colleagues. These are all signs of the times thanks to COVID-19. By mid-October, the outbreak contributed to more than 1,200 Bexar County residents’ deaths and 60,000-plus positive cases, which hospitalized thousands and put hundreds in intensive care. “The pandemic has touched just about everything that we do,” Watkins said. Many precautionary measures from screening to conferring with patients over the internet are
a patient-support specialist and a physician known for dealing with critical patients – an intensivist – man the core. San Antonio, home of many military medical missions, is pioneering similar programs for armed-services hospitals from a nerve center at Brooke Army Medical Center. “The Military Health System is investing in the expansion of telecritical care and Brooke Army Medical Center is at the center of the expansion with the installation of monitoring systems for 66 beds,” said Army Col. Sean Hipp, director of the Virtual Medical Center. “BAMC will have the most monitored beds in a military hospital, but is also using the subject matter expertise of critical-care nurses and physicians to support other military hospitals without the same critical-care capabilities,” he said. “The goal is to give high quality and consistent critical-care oversight throughout the Military Health System.” Scott said she foresees the technology and the concept of monitoring from a core location extending into non-ICU patient rooms with the use of a mobile unit with cameras in cases where a closer eye is needed. Plus, Scott believes mobile monitoring technology might one day be in homes. “I can see it being used more and more for prevention,” she said.
likely here to stay. While this infection is considered a once-in-several-lifetimes event, increasing population density and new pathogens mean humanity could see similar emergencies stretching the health care system to crisis levels more often. “You can’t predict any of this. We have to rely on science to drive policy” and stay prepared, said Dr. Ian Thompson, president of Christus Santa Rosa Medical Center. “As humans, we are incredibly resilient and adaptive. A lot of this will be short and intermediate impacts.” Without ongoing vigilance, however, “we will have to learn all over again in 10, 20 or 100 years,” he said. Fifteen San Antonio doctors, nurses and health care executives surveyed by LOCAL Community News outlined what things could look like for the next few years. The consensus was health screenings upon entry, wearing masks – especially at flu season– and employing telemedicine, are here to stay.
98.6 DEGREES AND 6-FEET APART Screenings with instant-read thermometers have been used since March to detect fevers, which could be a telltale
EDITOR'S NOTE FOR ADDITIONAL STORIES AND OTHER MATERIALS ON THIS SUBJECT, VISIT LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.
NOV. 10 - DEC. 8, 2020
L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
coronavirus symptom. Such measures are likely to remain even past the pandemic, especially during flu season, medical professionals said. “The hospital is a safe place,” Watkins said. “That vigilance won’t let up. Besides controlling spread of infections, screenings and preadmission or visit questions need to persist so patients can trust the care.” Because those with other ailments postponed doctor appointments or treatment, due to fears of contracting COVID-19, “we’ve seen a rising severity of patients with heart attack or other issues,” she said. Dr. Katherine Whiteley, who practices at University Health System’s Family Health Center-Southwest, said folks should know they could safely tend to preventive procedures such as mammograms, bonedensity tests and colonoscopies. After arriving at a clinic or hospital, patients and visitors are often directed to one of several waiting rooms, depending on the condition. These spaces are no longer a sea of chairs separated by an occasional end table filled with magazines, but appropriately distanced seating with those symptomatic sent to another area. In some clinics, guests fill out paperwork on computer tablets and stay in cars until called. While screenings won’t stop, and forms will more often be done beforehand over the internet, Whiteley hopes parking-lot waiting disappears as the pandemic dissipates. At University Health System’s ExpressMed clinic at the downtown Robert B. Green campus, front-door analysis determined if the visitor was a candidate for a telephone conversation where prescriptions could be made, or whether future tests needed scheduling. Maintaining two separate lobbies allowed staff to put those with COVID-19 symptoms into immediate isolation to be seen by a doctor in full protective gear, while nonCOVID-related patients went to another area. “This is going to leave a footprint for a long time,” said Dr. Bhoja Katipally, ExpressMed medical director. Plus, wiping chairs, counters and exam-room surfaces
likely will linger for some time. To limit exposure with one another, physicians call patients after tests to discuss results and next steps, even if the patient is still on the grounds, Katipally said. “I think this (protocol) may continue. I can’t tell you how long,” the physician added. The clinic now employs an online app check-in process, which lets providers know when patients are en route, how long until arrival and assigns them a time to minimize waits. An atrium kiosk has been installed for registration without staff contact. Implementation of electronic medical records and providing a seamless transition from clinic to hospital emergency room, and then, if necessary, to an inpatient bed, was already envisioned as a streamlined UHS service. “We had to close all the gaps to make all the parts move more quickly and efficiently,” Katipally said. “The patient experience is the heart and soul of all of this. It didn’t happen overnight and we didn’t plan it for the pandemic,” but it was put to the test to relieve the extreme stress on the system from as many as 250 patients a day, just coming through the downtown clinic. When hospitals were pushed to the brink with most beds full, the governor ordered all elective surgeries halted. Christus Santa Rosa-Alamo Heights, a 36-bed surgical hospital, took on the role of performing necessary surgeries that couldn’t be put off while COVID-19 patients went to Christus Santa Rosa Hospitals in the South Texas Medical Center and Westover Hills, said administrator Sherry Fraser. “This hospital is growing, and we remain a safe-services site,” Fraser added. While hospital systems with multiple locations were able to establish some facilities as sites without COVID, developing freestanding contingency infirmaries to keep elective surgeries going in future epidemics is unlikely. Thompson said staffing such a facility would be a stretch. More likely is a continued effort to build patient rooms to quickly
HEALTH
transform into intensive-care unit beds as his hospital did, expanding from 14 ICU patients to 52 over the summer.
DOCTORS GO DIGITAL Military medicine has long been on the cutting edge when it comes to adapting technology fully, often after being tested in battlefield conditions and training a massive medical staff across many countries. Telehealth was no exception when it came time to put it to use on a larger scale for more patients at Brooke Army Medical Center. “Like many other facilities, we expect to be able to translate lessons learned around the use of telehealth to stay in place for the foreseeable future,” said Air Force Col. Dr. Heather Yun, deputy commander for medical services at BAMC. “While we were using telehealth before the pandemic, this has greatly accelerated utilization across the disciplines and has enabled us to reach patients in ways that are efficient, convenient and effective for them.” Air Force Col. Dr. Patrick Osborn, deputy commander for surgical services at BAMC, said they’ve increased virtual health visits 50-fold since the pandemic’s start “and it is not going to go away.” Yun said after the crisis, the use of telehealth will continue to evolve and become even more convenient for patients so they don’t have to travel to the hospital or clinic and take time from work, school or family. “As we continue to refine our use of telehealth, we expect it will translate into an increasingly patient-centered experience,” she said. The Methodist Healthcare System, with hospitals and clinics throughout the city, saw doctors use telehealth methods sparingly in January. However, by April, they conducted 10,000 remote visits, and year-to-date through September, the number swelled to 55,000. While online scheduling to mitigate waiting-room crowds and interactive registration for an ER visit has helped,
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virtual conferences have been an important part of the mix for medical personnel and patients, said Brandon Webb, senior vice president of strategy and business development for Methodist. Fields employing online visits the most were cardiology and primary care, which combined accounted for 96% of telehealth utilization, Webb said. Most of those were existing scheduled patients or follow-ups after discharge. For in-person guests, Methodist is adding more access points to the system, which will make for distanced isolation from potentially sick patients and shorten waiting-room downtime. That includes the acquisition earlier this year of five freestanding ERs. After remodeling, each will have seven to nine treatment rooms with on-site pharmacy and lab rooms. “These are a little bit smaller, so we’re spending a lot of time on workflow and patient flow through the clinic,” Webb said. UT Health’s Leverence said that while telehealth has been around in some form since the 1980s, the technology has only been good enough to make it work well for the last decade. Access to a good online connection and a video device such as a smart phone, tablet or laptop also has grown by leaps and bounds across the city. “The next step is to add more tools,” such as inexpensive stethoscopes with connectivity to computers for patients to transmit heartbeats or breathing to doctors, Leverence said. The same could be done with at-home otoscopes to let physicians see inside a baby’s ear via computers. For medical professionals meeting with online clients, the process is better if there’s an existing relationship, said Dr. Hilda Draeger, a rheumatologist at University Family Health Center behind North Star Mall. “Once they know each other from a personality standpoint, then they prefer telehealth,” she said. “Patients are more ADAPTING continues on pg. 18 LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
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EDUCATION
NOV. 10 - DEC. 8, 2020
LEARNING continues from pg. 01
reopening. The COVID-19 crisis created new obstacles for schools. Suddenly, teacher-student communication needed reinvention, requiring campuses to launch online classes for the first time, as officials looked to maintain pupil safety, follow state directives or risk losing essential funding. In reality, the pandemic didn’t create disparities in local educational systems. It magnified them. “I think we’ll be learning to live with the virus until there is a widely accessible, safe and effective vaccine. In the short term, the vaccine could take months,” said Dr. Junda Woo, medical director of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. “On the long
EDITOR'S NOTE
The coach at (Advanced Learning Academy) in (San Antonio Independent School District) has done a phenomenal job with creating ageappropriate activities for the remote kids. The school gave us some resources during a driveby school pickup. Each kid got a special bucket with a tennis ball, scarves, a pool noodle cut into rings and a set of drumsticks. I didn’t know what to expect. They use the drumsticks and
side, that could be years. Of course, we all hope it’s not that long.” The outbreak has inordinately affected area minorities. According to Rogelio Sáenz, a professor of demography at the University of Texas at San Antonio, local Latinos are more likely to be frontline workers, live with preexisting conditions, share homes with older family members, and less inclined to have health care access. They’re also more susceptible to contract or die from COVID-19. In addition, reports show the younger Latino population is more vulnerable nationally. “Children across the U.S. have shown relatively low COVID case numbers and mortality rates, but nationwide, the death rates for Latino children are nearly seven times that of their white or Black counterparts,” Sáenz said. “These are not things that just happened today or within the
last few months. These are long-term health qualities and inequalities that have been here for years.”
PRIVATE SCHOOLS Private schools were also affected by state-mandated closures in March, with most pivoting to offer students a choice between in-person or remote education in the new grading period, semester or school year. For Jaime Len Cooke, a mother of two who owns a local event-planning company, face-to-face education was best for her family. Her sons — Deacon, 5, and Aden, 12 — attend Cornerstone Christian Schools and Keystone School, respectively. The boys were ready to return to the classroom, she said. Cornerstone initiated two critical lawsuits this past summer. In one, the institution sought to dismiss a local ordinance banning
FOR ADDITIONAL STORIES AND OTHER MATERIALS ON THIS SUBJECT, VISIT WWW. LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM.
beat the bucket as a drum, and the pool noodle to catch and work on hand-eye coordination; they use scarves to practice catching and the tennis ball to practice bouncing on the ground and try to land in the bucket. It’s a cool way to use super simple things and learn good motor skills. One day they’ll ball up a piece of paper and practice throwing, another day they’ll practice balancing in PE with yoga poses. Their teachers create innovative things to do at home with things they already have.”
NIKI BURNHAM, former elementary school teacher and stay-at-home mother to kindergarten students
The (North East Independent School) district still has all the same rules and expectations for our schools, and we wear masks every day, at all times. At Stone Oak, we have masks and sanitizing stations around the school. (There are) single-use cups next to the water fountain now, that can be disposed after. The students are very mature about following the new rules; they knew changes were coming. They still run around on the playground, except now we have stations so not everyone is playing on monkey bars or the slides all at once. Their imagination is amazing.”
ANA RAMONES, fourth grade dual-language teacher, Stone Oak Elementary School, San Antonio
public and private schools from holding in-person classes before Labor Day, citing a violation of the campuses’ “religious freedom.” In the second, Cornerstone deemed a Metro Health directive for both public and private schools to post COVID-19 case numbers on their website as “unconstitutional.” Cornerstone won both suits, effectively allowing all private, faith-based Texas institutions to resume in-person classes on their own timetables. While both private and public school administrators must still report all coronavirus case data to Metro Health, the agency dropped its order requiring the figures to appear on school websites. “Deacon went back, in person, on Aug. 17, and it felt almost like any other first day of school. I still cried as he walked away,” Cooke said. “The only difference is I couldn’t walk him into the classroom. All the students were wearing little masks and looked like little zombies with their arms out, walking and making sure they were 6-feet apart.” She credits her boys’ smooth campus
I currently teach my classes remotely, but at the end of every Zoom I tell them to take a break from the screen. ‘Don’t sit in front of the Xbox or PlayStation.’ We are in stressful times, so it’s important for them to hydrate themselves and their brains. I tell them to get outside. ‘Please, just jump outside and be kids.’ Back at school, I know they’ve created mask-free zones so students (can) step into a space, one at a time, and get in some deep breaths before recess ends.”
HEATHER THORNBLOM, third grade English language arts and reading teacher, Watts Elementary School, Cibolo
NOV. 10 - DEC. 8, 2020
L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
transition with their administrations’ daily communication updates, resources to build and create new COVID-19-friendly learner spaces, and access to student advisers and medical professionals within the parent population. “We’ve been blessed, and we’ve had it easy, considering our schools are just so focused on safety precautions, communication throughout the processes and protocol plans. My heart breaks for the parents who can’t afford to stay home or keep up with school meetings and changes. There’s definitely a gap between the parents who can and those who can’t.”
and Bernal’s learning management system to adapt lessons for the 78 he sees in person, and the remainder online. “I’m trying to make it as engaging as possible, and I try to keep them motivated to keep them coming back,” he said. “I have a few kids that I’ve never seen who are still turning in work, and a few that have not. We reach out to students and parents, and they know we want to see them. But, we know that every home situation is different. I want them to know that we are here to help if they need assistance with internet, a hot spot, or anything.”
WHO’S LEFT BEHIND?
Texas school districts have long struggled to retain experienced and engaged educators, even before the crisis. According to state records, one in 10 Texas teachers quits after the first year. More alarming, as the pandemic continues, the problem could deepen. Last July, the Trump administration mandated campuses to reopen nationwide. Abbott soon followed the president’s lead, urging school officials to begin plans to bring Texas’ teachers and students back to the classroom safely. Educators, health experts and parents responded with concerns. Zeph Capo, union president to the Texas chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, warned of inevitable mass resignations and strikes unless safety conditions and instructor access to personal protection equipment improved. “We’ve heard from a significant number of (Texas teachers) who say they’re just not going back, or they’re taking leave for the rest of the year, or will return to teaching once it’s safe again,” Capo said. Capo also noted an uptick in state educators ordering retirement packages — nearly 4,000 more than same time last year — ahead of the fall semester. “They haven’t all necessarily acted on them yet, but it is worrying because each teacher that’s eligible to retire is another
Most San Antonio-area schools began remote learning in August prior to reopening classrooms in early September. Some offered a choice of distance or face-toface learning, following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Metro Health guidelines as they continue populating campuses incrementally. Following the initial school shutdown in March, districts struggled to reconnect with thousands of pupils citywide. In San Antonio, where one in four households lack internet access, it’s not surprising several districts have yet to account for all learners. “There’s a myriad of reasons that certainly attribute for the loss of those kids, certainly there are some who are not engaged,” said Barry Perez, a Northside Independent School District spokesman. “Early on, our fear was loss of connectivity and technology so the district has provided Wi-Fi hot spots, Chromebooks and laptops to those students that request them.” For Heriberto Castro, a science teacher for seventh and eighth graders at Bernal Middle School in NISD, the key to connecting with those missing students is a mix of persistence, engagement and understanding. Instructing more than 150 students this year, Castro uses apps such as Zoom, Google
SAN ANTONIO’S BRAIN DRAIN WORRIES
EDUCATION
teacher that we could lose any day now,” Capo said. While definitively determining why one leaves a profession is difficult, local records indicate that more than 40 San Antonio-area district teachers resigned between August and September 2020. Citing issues such as a lack of readily available personal protection equipment, longer workdays and increased workload, the Northside AFT union is trying to improve communications between district personnel and instructors, plus demand the district allow more members to work remotely when dealing with preexisting health conditions or issues regarding family safety. “Things are not looking good for local education,” said Northside AFT President Wanda Longoria. “We are already seeing the loss of incredible longtime teachers in the district. COVID-19 will go away eventually, but good luck filling those positions. The thing is that these problems didn’t start with COVID; teachers haven’t been funded adequately for over a decade.”
STAYING REMOTE While NISD began welcoming students back to campuses Sept. 7, parents such as Drue Placette opted then to continue remote instruction for his kids. Placette, a venerable San Antonio tech titan, shares custody of his four children with his ex-wife. He credits their teamwork, along with his mother, a former teacher, and his wife, Debra, with making the children’s school year successful. However, he realizes living, working and learning during these times is daunting. “On the first day of remote learning, the NISD systems were crashing from an overload of students trying to log in at one time,” he said. “It’s not the teachers’ fault that this is what the school year looks like, but the constant changes and inconsistencies that happen every day make school super hard for the kids. These teachers are trying to do everything
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virtually, even PE, and it doesn’t always work.” Each weekday, the children undergo remote learning from Placette’s offices at CANopener Labs, a startup-friendly development space opened on the North Side in 2019. Though the district offered 10-inch tablets for students to access Zoom classes and homework, Placette’s connections allowed him to create a custom, multiplemonitor workspace for each kid. Ella, 4, has since begun attending local day care, while Liam, 9, Sean, 12, and Payton, 15, log in to their respective remote classes at Aue Elementary School, Rawlinson Middle School and Clark High School. Placette knows distance learning inhibits his children’s social interaction with their contemporaries, but he’s also seen how families have been devastated by COVID-19. There are still many unemployed San Antonians, and in other families, many pupils may navigate remote learning alone while parents work. “We are lucky because we have the ability to take care of the kids, and we’d rather keep them home and keep some consistency,” he said. “If they were to start in-person classes and a week later, the school closed again because of an outbreak, it would just stir up everyone’s schedules.”
SPECIAL-NEEDS STUDENTS ADJUST As youngsters began returning to campuses this fall, most schools brought back struggling and special-needs students first, giving teachers more time for one-on-one questions and attention. But for some, remote learning means more opportunities to ask questions and practice skills, even if it's outside regular school hours. Amber, 14, a freshman at Founders Classical Academy of Schertz, usually wrestles with her schoolwork. As a pupil with learning disabilities, she follows a detailed 504 plan. Federal Section 504 requires that children who do not quality for special-education services still receive accommodations for an LEARNING continues on pg. 18 LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
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ADAPTING continues from pg. 15
relaxed and they’re more talkative.” Also, the doctor can see the patient’s in-home environment and know if it could have had an impact on the client’s condition. Telehealth is less successful if there are a lot of complicated issues and possible causes need to be individually eliminated, Draeger said. In-person visits also are key if folks are downplaying chronic diseases, such as arthritis. Lorri Dinkins, a registered nurse who is an oncology nurse navigator for the Baptist Network for Cancer Care, assists breastcancer patients to maintain treatment plans, connect with community resources, provide emotional support during the caring process, and act as liaison between patients, family, doctors and other providers.
In the last six months, all this has been done mostly online. “The technology has proven itself, but people have been reluctant,” Dinkins said. “COVID changed a lot of things, though. I don’t know why it took a pandemic.” While some of the visits are over the telephone, she prefers to do them in a virtual face-to-face online meeting, such as Zoom, so she can see if the patient is upset or pensive about something. Telehealth won’t completely replace in-person connections for those who need physical reassurances, but the tradeoff is a more efficient system for patient and provider. “Not being able to give that big hug to a woman in my office crying just breaks my heart,” Dinkins said, “but we’re able to help so many more people now.”
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education equal to nondisabled students. Though more than 60% of those enrolled at Founders are once again on-campus students, Crystal Moubray, Amber’s mother, wasn’t ready for her schoolchildren to go back yet. “Our family has taken nearly every possible precaution, but we still tested positive for COVID. All of us — myself, my 6-year-old son and my significant other — except for Amber,” Moubray said. “She had to get tested for the virus, and I don’t think she wants to go through that again. She would rather be home.” As the family recovers, Moubray is able to oversee the remote-learning process. She was surprised how drastically Amber’s grades improved via distance learning. “At home, Amber doesn’t have the anxiety of worrying about what everyone around her is doing. She doesn’t have to read out loud; she isn’t wondering, ‘Am I the last one done?’ She can take breaks throughout the day,” Moubray said. “It works for her; she’s getting A’s in subjects that she’s never gotten before.”
THE NEW NORMAL At San Antonio Independent School District’s Schenck Elementary School, teachers are supplied with sanitizing sprays, personal protection equipment and face shields for students who need them. “Still, I was nervous to come back,” said Danielle Elizondo, a kindergarten teacher at Schenck. “My mother, who’s also a teacher in SAISD, has underlying health conditions. I worried I might spread COVID to her or my family. The district and our superintendent have made this process manageable for us.” Only six of her 25 students have returned for in-person instruction, the others are remote. The district wanted to bring back more in early October, but a coronavirus surge squelched those plans. For the pupils who do return, kindergarten is a very different place.
Gone from Elizondo’s classroom is the colorful clutter and carpeting, now replaced by taped X’s on the floor alerting pupils to stay apart. Students share no materials; instead, each has a personal supply bin. A plastic divider surrounds every table. “They’re 5 years old, and they want to know when (the virus) will be gone,” she said. “Still, the kids are resilient. They’re really making me proud, reminding each other and working together to wash their hands, keep at a distance. This is the new normal at school. We’re just trying to figure out different ways to keep the kids safe.”
WHAT COMES NEXT There’s no end in sight for the pandemic. In fact, a Texas Education Agency recent public-health notice stated, “there will almost certainly be situations that necessitate temporary school closure due to positive COVID-19 cases in schools.” The warning urges parents, teachers and administrators to continue enforcing strict health and safety actions to mitigate and prevent the spread, but those recommendations could change in the months ahead. “It’s hard for the (Schertz-CiboloUniversal City Independent School) district to anticipate what’s going to happen next, but we’ve worked hard to create a plan for any event,” Dylla said. “My hope is that we can keep the kids on campus here and keep remote learning available for others through the end of the year.” Dylla realizes San Antonio-area teachers must be flexible if a coronavirus spike forces another round of closings. She believes the district and schools are prepared, and students have everything they need to succeed remotely. “Still, they tell us to take our laptops home with us every day just in case that happens,” she added.
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DEC. 3
AUTHOR, AUTHOR The San Antonio Chapter of Hadassah in partnership with the Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio presents writer Rhonda Fink-Whitman discussing her Holocaust-themed novel, “94 Maidens,” at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom conferencing. Register for the virtual session by Nov. 23. For reservations, contact hlb@texas.net. For a link, plus updates or cancellations, contact Debbie Linck at marketinglinck@yahoo.com.
DEC. 5
SHAVANO PARK WINTER WONDERLAND The sixth annual holiday event is from 2:30 p.m. to dusk at City Hall, 900 Saddletree
HAPPENING
Court. More details to come concerning COVID-19 protocols. For updates or cancellations, visit www.shavanopark.org or contact ztedford@shavanopark.org.
visit sachordsmen.org. Meantime, The Friends in Harmony Chorus also exercise vocal cords at 6:45 p.m. in University United Methodist Church, 5084 De Zavala Road. For updates or cancellations, contact Wendell Peters at wendellpeters@sbcglobal. net.
DEC. 5
AMERICAN LEGION BREAKFAST All military members and guests are invited to an 8-10 a.m. meal at Lupe Tortilla, 21103 U.S. 281 North. For more, contact www.post10.weebly.com.
TUESDAYS AND SATURDAYS
San Antonio Chordsmen, a barbershop chorus, rehearses at 7 p.m. in “The Backdoor” youth center behind Colonial Hills United Methodist Church, 5247 Vance Jackson Road. Newcomers urged to audition. For updates or cancellations,
SATURDAYS
FARMERS’ MARKETS
LOCAL PRODUCE Drop by St. Matthew Sports Complex
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The San Antonio Farmer’s Market Association offers area growers’ farm-fresh produce from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 100 Jackson Keller Road. For updates or cancellations, visit sanantoniofarmersmarket.org.
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& Recreational Area, 11121 Wurzbach Road, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. as San Antonio Farmer’s Market Association presents fresh foods. For updates or cancellations, visit sanantoniofarmersmarket.org.
Come to 16607 Huebner Road from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for local and organic produce, plus baked goods and handcrafted products. For updates or cancellations, visit hillcountryfarmersmarket.org. Also, Four Seasons Market, 11602 Huebner Road in Huebner Oaks shopping center, is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For updates or cancellations, call 972-884-0680. Find Happening Local at www.
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