LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM VOL. 1, ISSUE 11 | DEC. 29, 2020-FEB. 2, 2021
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS SOUTH SAN ANTONIO
SUSAN YERKES | PG. 04
RESOLVED FOR 2021
HAPPENING LOCAL | PG. 06
PARADE OF LANTERNS
LOCAL LOWDOWN | PG. 10
HEALTHTEXAS MEDICAL GROUP
TALK LOCAL | PG. 02
SETTING THE AGENDA
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS SPECIAL SECTION
Programs offer help for kids stressed during COVID-19 by ANGELA COVO
FOR NEARLY A YEAR, adults have coped with the fears and lifestyle changes wrought by the coronavirus pandemic, but how are kids handling the new normal?
Constantly stressing about COVID-19, lockdowns and economic strife isn’t exclusive to grown-ups, experts said. As youngsters learn to deal with the yo-yo of virtual instruction or classroom environs, staying home, not seeing friends or relatives, and fear of illness, local professionals are working to help families COPING continues on pg. 08
New VIA chair has deep South Side roots REYES SEEN AS A BUSINESS INNOVATOR, COMMUNITY SUPPORTER
PROFILE by SUSAN YERKES
NEW VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT CHAIRMAN Fernando Reyes grew up on the South Side, where he grasped the importance of public transit early.
Today, Reyes is a powerhouse in the business community. As chairman of Reyes Automotive Group II and Reyes Hayashi Automotive, he is a key supplier to the far South Side’s Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas Inc. His other companies include Reyes Development, Reyes Properties and Site B Data Services LLC. His community involvement includes former board chairman of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, current CHAIRMAN continues on pg. 14
THE NEXT STEP DIFFERENCE
Where will your feet take you?
2
STAFF
DEC. 29, 2020 - FEB. 2, 2021
PUBLISHER Jaselle Luna EDITORIAL Editor
Thomas Edwards
You take an average of 15,000 steps every day.
News Staff
Edmond Ortiz
Is every step a painful one?
Contributing Writers
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5545 Fredericksburg Road, Suite 211, 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 North SA - Stone Oak: 78213, 78216, 78230, 78231, 78232, 78248, 78249, 78258, 78259 Metrocom: 78109, 78148, 78233, 78239, 78108, 78132, 78154, 78266 Reproduction in whole or in part without our permission is prohibited, 2021 Local Community News LLC, all rights reserved.
two locations
13525 Centerbrook, Suite 104 Universal City, TX 78148
phone: 210.375.3318 fax: 210.257.6931
409 N. Bryant Pleasanton, TX 78064
phone: 830.569.3338 fax: 830.569.6833
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
ON THE COVER – Fernando Reyes (pictured, center, with loved ones) is considered a South Side success story. He is chairman of Reyes Automotive Group II and Reyes Hayashi Automotive, key suppliers to Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas Inc. The former Rey Feo has also just been appointed chairman of the board for VIA Metropolitan Transit. He learned the value of public transit as a young man riding the bus to and from work, he says. Read more about his story on pg. 01. Courtesy photo
TALK LOCAL
Capitol priorities WHEN THE 87TH LEGISLATURE convenes in January, expect the usual high drama, hot air and occasional comedy typical of Texas politicians whenever they gather in Austin. However, while politics may be a spectator sport, there are still some serious issues legislators in the Republican-controlled Capitol must address. This session will be even more noteworthy than most, as the gavel comes down at the beginning of a postTrump era and under the cloud of a debilitating pandemic, vaccine or not. While all of this is going on, we would also like to suggest some initiatives lawmakers should consider as part of their agenda: Enact tougher criminal penalties when protests turn violent and/or destructive; take a step back from the “defund the police” rhetoric and instead focus on equitable criminaljustice reform, while also providing more resources to officers; pushing more law-enforcement accountability; decriminalize marijuana; eliminate or reduce reliance on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness; enhance public-broadband access; and create more assistance for small businesses and workforce development. The Legislature is scheduled to conclude May 31, barring a special session. Let’s hope they can get past the posturing and act on some of these measures. The LOCAL Community News editorial board includes Jaselle Luna and Thomas Edwards.
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we doing to help? Suspending service cutoffs in this time of emergency.
Worrying about paying your water bill doesn’t need to be an added stressor during this time of uncertainty. Your neighbors at the San Antonio Water System want to make sure no family ever has to be disconnected because they can’t pay their bills. Our Uplift program eases the burden of paying your monthly water bill with 14 initiatives to assist customers who need a little help. Learn how SAWS helps ensure your water stays connected during times of emergencies and financial hardship by calling 210-233-CARE(2273) or visiting saws.org/uplift.
OPINION
4
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS DEC. 29, 2020 - FEB. 2, 2021
This year, dream more by SUSAN YERKES
IT’S A NEW YEAR, and for me, the best thing is saying adios to a nightmarish 2020. January may not bring immediate relief from the pandemic
and politics, but it does bring a pause to reflect and then move forward, which brings me to some of my New Year’s resolutions: • To get the COVID-19 vaccine soon. The more of us who do it, the more of us won’t contract the virus and spread it or die of it. • To be patient. The leading vaccine so far is two shots, weeks apart. Even after I'm vaccinated, to keep being cautious, to help protect others. • To keep the silver linings of the pandemic in mind and reach out to
neighbors in need; to volunteer with the Bexar Area Harm Reduction Coalition, the San Antonio Food Bank, Haven for Hope and any group reminding me of the blessings in my own life, and the healing power of compassion. • To thank doctors, health care workers, home-health aides, teachers, postal workers, H-E-B employees or the
A New Year Deserves a New Beginning. No one gets a diploma alone. Victory Learning Center has helped over 7,000 students earn their diploma. We are here to help you along the way to a better future and achieve your dream! • Upon Graduation, a Diploma and Transcripts will be Awarded • We offer flexible schedules and home based programs • Individualized Attention • Accredited & Experienced Instructors • The Program is offered in English and Spanish *VLC students are considered Non-Traditional Secondary Education students pursuant to the Texas Education Code, Section 51.9241 and has been approved through Texas Legislature House Bill 944 There are two graduation ceremonies a year, Spring and Fall As Required by the State of Texas, the program includes the completion of 24 Credits
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pharmacy; heck, all the great people I know. • To support at least one of the local nonprofits enriching my life, from the San Antonio Museum of Art and Musical Bridges Around the World to Texas Public Radio. • To spend at locally owned coffee shops, cafes, bookstore, hardware stores and more. • To finally achieve my goal of walking and biking every mile of the city’s fantastic greenway trails. Also, to stroll the beautiful River Walk more often. • To support the Conservation Society of San Antonio and others working to preserve the historic Woolworth Building, and those advocating to maintain Alamo Plaza as the historic heart of the city, not just a state-run tourist attraction. • To talk less and listen more, especially to folks I don’t agree with. To judge less and accept more. To say, “You may be right” and mean it. This year’s ninth annual DreamWeek San Antonio is a great way to start practicing some resolutions. Running from Jan. 14-24, it features more than 100 free public events hosted by amazingly diverse organizations. Live and virtual performances and exhibitions, panels, forums and programs are all aimed at fostering community in a bipartisan environment. (For more,
visit Dreamweek.org). Shokare Nakpodia, president and founder of DreamVoice (the organization that presents DreamWeek), exemplifies the word dreamer. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, educated in London, and spending years in New York City, he fell in love with San Antonio and moved here in 2002. He founded a graphicdesign agency, and started making friends with community leaders and building bridges. In 2012, during his involvement with the 25th anniversary of the Martin Luther King Jr. march here, his extensive research on the civil-rights leader and others inspired him to organize the first DreamWeek in 2013. “Nobody could really say why San Antonio had the largest King march in the nation. The closest answer I got was that people in this city have somehow learned to resolve crises with a lot less drama than other large cities,” Nakpodia told me. He added, “In 2021, coming out of a year when the pandemic swept the world and the struggles of minorities and the poor came into sharp focus through protest, and when many fear that government is eroding their individual liberty, it is more important than ever to seek peaceful paths for the pursuit of happiness for all.” That’s a dream worth working for in 2021. 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.
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HAPPENING
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS DEC. 29, 2020 - FEB. 2, 2021
JANUARY
PLAN YOUR MONTH WITH OUR CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
THROUGH DEC. 31
DAY OF THE DEAD DISPLAY A Día de los Muertos outside exhibit — “Alive in Memory and Spirit” — can be viewed at Mission Marquee Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt Ave., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For updates or cancellations, visit https://www.missionmarquee.com/portals/29/ Files/ALIVE-In-Memory-and-Spirit.pdf.
DECEMBER/JANUARY
ROTARY CLUB
JAN. 2, 9 Southtown Arts District First and Second
JAN. 9
Students in Southside (Dec. 21-Jan. 4); Harlandale (Dec. 21-Jan. 1); and San Antonio (Dec. 21-Jan. 11) independent school districts receive time off for Winter Break. Also, there are no classes on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 18).
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‘THE PEOPLE’S CLINIC’ The Estela Avery Education Center inside Confluence Park, 310 W. Mitchell St., is home to traditional healing practices from 1-5 p.m. For updates or cancellations, visit https://www.facebook.com/ YanawanaHerbolarios/.
JAN. 11, 19
SAISD BOARD MEETING San Antonio Independent School District trustees meet at 5:30 p.m. at 406 Barrera St. For updates or cancellations, visit www.saisd.net.
JAN. 14
SHARE A LAUGH
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JAN. 5, 19 & FEB. 2
The Rotary Club of San Antonio South normally meets at noon on the second floor of Stinson Municipal Airport, 8535 Mission Road. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, sessions may take place over Zoom. For updates or cancellations, visit https://portal. clubrunner.ca/8149.
SCHOOL’S OUT
ART FANS
Join
Saturday Markets take place at The Artisan, 1103A S. Presa St., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For updates or cancellations of the free event with music, email shop@theartisansatx.com or call 210-962-5560.
Interested?
Email your cover letter & resume to: Careers@localcommunitynews.com
The Good Kind Southtown, 1127 S. St. Mary’s St., presents standup comedians at 7 p.m. For a list of entertainers, updates or
cancellations, visit https://www. facebook.com/GoodKindSouthtown/ events.
JAN. 14
NETWORKING BREAKFAST The South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce holds a networking breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at Don Pedro Mexican Restaurant, 1526 S.W. Military Drive. Cost is $15 for members, $20 for nonmembers. For updates or cancellations, visit https://www.southsachamber.org/ or call Jessica Furdock at 210-533-1600.
JAN. 16
CALLING ALL SHOPPERS A farmers’ and artisans’ market is 9 a.m. at Mission Marquee Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt Ave. During the pandemic, service is drive-thru with preordering directly through vendors. For updates or cancellations, visit https://www.missionmarquee.com/ EVENTS/Farmers-Artisan-Markets or call 210-207-3905.
JAN. 16
YOGA AT THE MISSION Mission San José, 701 E. Pyron Ave., is the site of a free, one-hour community yoga session at 10 a.m. Meet outdoors in front of the church or inside the granary during inclement weather. For updates or cancellations, call 210-932-1001.
JAN. 19
HARLANDALE ISD BOARD MEETING Due to COVID-19 concerns, trustees will meet at 6:15 p.m. over Zoom. For
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.
DEC. 29, 2020 - FEB. 2, 2021
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
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JAN. 23
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JAN. 21
SOUTHSIDE ISD BOARD MEETING Trustees hold sessions at 6 p.m. from 1460 Martinez Losoya Road. For updates or cancellations, visit https:// southsideisd.org/.
JAN. 21
STROKE SUPPORT A stroke support group meets from 2-3 p.m. at Southwest General Hospital, Classroom A, 7400 Barlite Blvd. For updates or cancellations, and to RSVP, call 1-877-215-9355.
JAN. 23
ZUMBA, ANYONE? The Greenline, 2532 Sidney Brooks Drive, is the site of free Zumba classes from 9-9:45 a.m. Bring a water bottle and towel. For updates or cancellations, visit www.livebrooks.com.
THROUGH JAN. 29
SAISD MAGNET PROGRAMS Applications are being accepted from
pupils across Bexar County to attend San Antonio Independent School District magnet and choice programs in the 2021-2022 academic year. After the deadline, a waiting list will be created. For a list of options, plus virtual information sessions, visit https://saisdchoice.com.
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Collins Garden Branch Library, 200 N. Park Blvd., is home to SnackPaks 4 Kids. The program provides healthy nutrition for children and teens ages 4-18. Times of availability are noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Phone ahead. For more, visit guides. mysapl.org/snacks. For updates, cancellations and to leave a message upon arrival, call 210-207-9120.
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Blue Star Contemporary, 116 Blue Star St., presents four exhibitions HAPPENING continues on pg. 15
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Do you like to dance? Do you like exercise? Then try free Zumba lessons at The Greenline, 2532 Sidney Brooks Drive, from 9-9:45 a.m. every fourth Saturday of each month. Stock photo
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LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS
DEC. 29, 2020 - FEB. 2, 2021
COPING continues from pg. 01
confront the emotional toll. Before the crisis, 1 in 6 children faced mental-health challenges, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Now, professionals estimate the ratio is closer to 1 in 5. According to Dr. Barbara RoblesRamamurthy, child psychiatrist and assistant professor at UT Health San Antonio, national statistics also indicate an increase in emergency-room visits for mental health. “It’s important to differentiate mental health, or well-being in general, from mental illness,” she said. “Especially now, all of us have to engage in sustaining our mental health.” Getting enough sleep — especially
kids — is at the top of the list, plus limiting social media and screen time for children and at least 15 minutes of daily physical activity. “Kids need to use their bodies,” she said. “Get outside, take a walk.” Many youths she sees worry about finances. Parents try to protect their offspring by not openly discussing money issues, but this sometimes creates more stress. “Children are very perceptive and it’s more helpful to incorporate them into problem-solving,” she said. “They need to feel needed and useful, so make sure to find ways for them to help.” Above all, don’t be afraid to ask for assistance from professionals, she said. “There is no shame in getting help. This is an important skill we want
to model for our kids. They are watching us and learning from us about how to deal with stress,” she added. Camillia McKinney, chief operating officer of Laurel Ridge Treatment Center, which provides specialized behavioral-health care and addiction treatment, agrees. “Always ask for help if you aren’t sure,” she said. “No one could have prepared for this (pandemic). Parents are doing the best they can.” McKinney said some coping mechanisms kids normally use temporarily are gone. “There is no replacement for social interaction. Resources like church or even group therapy are not as accessible now, and for many kids,
Though a vaccine for COVID-19 is now available, it still could be weeks or even months before the general population receives inoculations. In the meantime, the pandemic is still causing widespread stress, including among children, experts say. Below are some easy-to-follow guidelines to slow the spread of the disease.
CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019
(CO V ID - 1 9 )
SLOW THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 6 ft
Behavior Changes in Your Child Not all children and teens respond to stress in the same way. Some common changes to watch for include: • Excessive crying or irritation in younger children. • Returning to behaviors they’ve outgrown (for example, bedwetting). • Excessive worry or sadness. • Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits. • Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens. • Poor school performance or avoiding school. • Difficulties with attention and concentration. • Avoiding activities enjoyed in the past.
Wear a mask in public spaces
Stay at least 6 feet from other people
Frequently wash your hands Learn more about staying safe and healthy at
cdc.gov/coronavirus CS319482-H 08/04/2020
• Unexplained headaches or body pain. • Use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs. Source: CDC.GOV
DEC. 29, 2020 - FEB. 2, 2021
figuring out your role in society depends on that sense of belonging,” she said. Also, creative approaches are key to keeping youths engaged. “There’s no such thing as normal. Kids can hide their issues, so it’s important to notice variances in your child’s reactions, especially not doing something they usually do,” she added. Children often have different needs, said Jessica Knudsen, CEO of Clarity Child Guidance Center, a nonprofit mental-health institution. Clarity has a 66-bed inpatient unit and a day program dedicated exclusively to those ages 3 to 17. “When it comes to figuring out if your kid is in crisis, there’s no one-size-fits-all during this pandemic,” Knudsen said. Particular attention is needed to changes in youngsters’ behavior. Pandemic fatigue is challenging, she added. Plus, restricting students to virtual learning during the outbreak may adversely impact some, said Sarah Baray, CEO for Pre-K 4 SA. Nine-tenths of the brain’s structure forms in the first five years. “Kids do best in the
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID -19)
KEEP CALM AND
WASH YOUR HANDS DSS D
CS319482-G 08/04/2020
Learn more about staying safe and healthy at
cdc.gov/coronavirus
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS
classroom with highly skilled teachers. … It’s not good to miss this period of brain development,” she said. Coronavirus fears have already caused a 30% decrease in the city-based program’s peak enrollment. “Young children do best with predictable routines and schedules, and one of the greatest challenges is that the pandemic upended all that,” Baray added. “Everything has been retrofitted to take every precaution and schools are open and waiting – young children benefit from every moment of instruction.” To counter rising anxiety and depression in adolescents during the pandemic, city officials dedicated $256,000 for another vehicle to help kids ages 11 to 17 combat stress with help from their peers. Labeled Project YES, or Youth Empowerment and Support, it’s run by Stony Brook University scientists who’ll partner with UT Teen Health to expand the exercise. Dr. Kristen Plastino, program director of UT Teen Health at UT Health San Antonio, is hopeful Project YES can help fill gaps.
LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
“The most common referrals we’ve been seeing are for mental health and access to care, and while not the ultimate cure, this is another piece of the puzzle,” Plastino said. “We keep uncovering tools and seeking different avenues to help our youth.” Teens can try three different single-session experiences online anonymously and voluntarily. Each activity allows kids to learn different ways to think about and cope with everyday problems. Then, they can share their best advice with others who may be struggling, based on what they learned in the activity. If kids agree to share, their advice will be posted on the Project YES website for others to read. Jennifer Todd, program manager
9
at UT Teen Health, said the San Antonio version of Project YES would be launched via social media this spring. She’s looking for 3,000 teenage participants. “In San Antonio, we are recruiting Latinx youth and youth of color to make sure everyone is represented,” Todd said. For more on Project YES, visit UT Teen Health on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Also, prepared by the CDC, visit https://bit.ly/CDCKIT for the “COVID-19 Parental Resources Kit: Ensuring Children and Young People’s Social, Emotional, and Mental WellBeing.” Find this story and more at www. localcommunitynews.com.
$50 monthly allowance for groceries
The Healthy Foods Card provides money to purchase approved food at participating stores For qualified members the Humana Gold Plus SNP-DE H0028-036 (HMO D-SNP) includes a Healthy Foods Card to help pay for groceries at participating stores.
• • •
Each month, the Healthy Foods Card is automatically loaded with $50; unspent dollars don’t roll over to the next month. Shop at participating stores, including Walgreens, Walmart and others, for approved foods and drinks. Scan the barcode on the back of the Healthy Foods Card at the checkout to pay for purchases. Call a licensed independent sales agent Diana Casillas 210-838-6081 (TTY: 711) Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Humana is a Coordinated Care plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the Medicaid program. Enrollment in this Humana plan depends on contract renewal. Applicable to Humana Gold Plus SNP-DE H0028-036 (HMO D-SNP).For a complete list of available plans please contact 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov. At Humana, it is important you are treated fairly. Humana Inc. and its subsidiaries comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion. English: ATTENTION: If you do not speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1-877-320-1235 (TTY: 711). Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-877-320-1235 (TTY: 711). 繁體中 文(Chinese): 注意：如果您使用繁體中文，您可以免費獲得語言援助 服務。請致電1-877-320-1235 (TTY :711) 。
LOWDOWN
10
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS DEC. 29, 2020 - FEB. 2, 2021
TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT WHAT’S NEW IN THE COMMUNITY FROM OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS TO NEWS TIDBITS.
Open and Opening Soon BROOSTER’S BACKYARD ICE HOUSE, 815 Pleasanton Road, bills itself as an open-air beer joint. It’s petand kid-friendly, too. Norman Velez says he’s created a “laid-back” atmosphere featuring Lotería nights, yoga classes, chancla-throwing contests, and even turtle races. Hours are 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to midnight Sunday, and 4 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday. For more, visit www.facebook.com/BroostersBackyard. HEALTHTEXAS MEDICAL GROUP, 1910 S. New Braunfels Ave., features six exam rooms, plus a procedure room. Everything is on a single level, for easy access by older adults. Parking is also free at the physicianowned clinic offering primary care with an emphasis on seniors with Medicare benefits. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. For more, call 210-532-0891.
IN OTHER NEWS:
CITY COUNCIL AND SCHOOL BOARD HOPEFULS HAVE FROM Jan. 13 to 5 p.m. Feb. 12 to file for a ballot spot ahead of the May 1 elections. The mayor’s seat
Norman Velez, a South Side resident who ran North Side lounges for years, has debuted Brooster’s Backyard Ice House. He says the family-friendly place will have much to offer guests, including chancla-throwing contests. Courtesy photo
and all 10 council slots are open for applications. Two councilwomen — Rebecca Viagran in District 3 and Shirley Gonzales in District 5 — cannot run again due to term limits. The District 1 seat on the San Antonio Independent School District board is also available. The city positions carry two-year terms; an SAISD board seat has a four-year limit.
WORK RECENTLY BEGAN TO EXTEND Inner Circle Road at Brooks from Louis Bauer Drive to Research Plaza. The project creates a halfcircle loop in the middle of the growing mixed-use campus. Officials said the extension would feature a three-lane roadway with bicycle paths, curbs and sidewalks, plus utility improvements. There also will be low-impact development along the roadway to enhance drainage, and landscaping features. Yantis Company is the general contractor, with completion scheduled in late 2021. The project budget is $3.83 million, with $2.64 million coming from the city’s 2017 bond program, and the remainder from the Stinson Corridor Project. “The South Side continues to flourish and attract new residents and employees at a rapid rate,” District 3 Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran said. “This project will not only improve connectivity today, but will also help us to address future mobility needs as we continue to add jobs and housing.” Added Brooks President and CEO Leo Gomez, “Improving connectivity and traffic mobility continues to be one of our top priorities.” Brooks previously underwent another 2017 bond project, extending Lyster Road from Aviation Landing to South New Braunfels Avenue, where work should conclude in early 2021.
DURING THE PANDEMIC, BRACKENRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL AND MISSION ACADEMY ARE AMONG 57 San Antonio Independent School District campuses implementing COVID-19 testing programs free to district residents. The exams are at institutions located in ZIP codes with the highest positivity rates.
THE HARLANDALE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD approved settling a lawsuit with Jasmine Engineering, the district’s now-former engineering firm, which filed the legal action in response to trustees’ 2018 decision to cancel a yearslong contract. The agreement ended while the Texas Education Agency investigated HISD’s procurement practices. According to a news release, the district paid the company $700,000.
THE SAN ANTONIO STREET ART INITIATIVE RECENTLY PARTNERED with Community First Health Plans to paint a mural on an exterior wall of E-Z Wash at 1519 W. Southcross Blvd. The artwork is the first of many SASAI plans for the South Side.
DISTRICT 3 COUNCILWOMAN REBECCA VIAGRAN RECENTLY participated in Valero’s Blue Santa event. Partnering with the San Antonio Police Department, Valero helped provide 30 families with food, clothing, and gifts to ensure they have a memorable Yuletide experience. “This year has been especially hard for families and gifting them with essential items offers a huge sense of relief and some holiday cheer,” Viagran said. The Blue Santa Program serves as many as 8,000 needy families a year in the San Antonio area.
HARLANDALE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TRUSTEES NOT LONG AGO approved an additional $400 to the previously authorized $600 retention
DEC. 29, 2020 - FEB. 2, 2021
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
stipend for all full-time employees. The new $1,000 total is a one-time December payment. “We know that this year has been challenging for all of our staff,” said Superintendent Gerardo Soto. “We want to continue to encourage everyone during these uncertain times and know that their work is extremely valued.” All fulltime HISD employees as of Nov. 8 received the compensation.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY HAS BEEN REINSTATED AS A SCHOOL HOLIDAY in the Harlandale Independent School District. The federal observance honoring the slain civil-rights leader is Jan. 18. District officials had previously announced MLK Day was being
LOWDOWN
removed from the holiday schedule to make up for taking an Election Day holiday earlier in the year. “While we believe that having our students take part of the MLK virtual events during a school day was going to be a great learning opportunity to honor and understand more about Dr. King’s legacy, we have decided to keep Martin Luther King Day a holiday and instead add an extra day to our school calendar at the end of the school year,” the district said in a statement. HISD’s academic year now ends June 7.
teacher Eryn Escobedo, who recently graduated from Our Lady of the Lake University, but couldn’t participate in a commencement ceremony due to COVID-19 protocols. Escobedo’s colleagues hosted a celebration with her parents in attendance. “This young lady is a graduate from McCollum (High School) and it warms my heart that her team wants to do this for her,” said Adams Principal Julia Gimbel. “In just the little time Eryn has been here with us, she has excelled in the classroom, has built great relationships with our students, and is a team player.”
ON, NOV. 20, ADAMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STAFFERS HELD A SURPRISE
THE SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOUNDATION IS GIVING Book
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Buddies a fresh start. The program
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provides free books to SAISD students from prekindergarten to eighth grade, offering reading material for home use. Port San Antonio donated new space at 311 N. Frank Luke Drive to receive and sort the volumes. During the current academic year, Book Buddies will distribute 100,000-plus books to more than 16,000 pupils in 35 SAISD campuses. “By providing books before key breaks, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break and Summer Break, Book Buddies is helping kids start and grow their own home libraries and fostering a lifelong love of reading,” said Judy Geelhoed, executive director of the SAISD Foundation. Find Local Lowdown at www. localcommunitynews.com.
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LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
PARKS
DEC. 29, 2020 - FEB. 2, 2021
History lives for new SA missions superintendent
LOVE OF SERVICE, PRESERVATION DRIVES JACOBS by EDMOND ORTIZ
PRIDE IN PUBLIC SERVICE and an appreciation for cultural preservation have steered Christine Jacobs to her new role overseeing San Antonio’s missions.
“I have always been interested in shared public spaces — museums, parks, etcetera, and the discourse that happens in those community places,” said Jacobs, who began working as the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park superintendent on Oct. 25. Jacobs’ father was a Marine Corps reservist and police officer. She credits him with inspiring her to seek a livelihood serving the public. “Both of my parents really empowered me by giving me the sense that I could be/do anything for a career, provided I help people,” she added. Jacobs recalled frequent family vacations outdoors, including camping around the Great Lakes and regional road trips. “Because I am passionate about people, I am particularly drawn to the meanings that these types of spaces hold for individuals, families
and cultures on local, national and international scales, and the role that historically significant places have in identity and cultural continuity,” Jacobs said. She took a course in National Park Service history while majoring in art history at the University of ColoradoDenver. There, she realized the importance of anthropologists, historians and museum curators in government agencies. A follow-up internship at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site in Colorado further fueled her interest in understanding what impact over time
people’s activities and decisions have on the land. Jacobs worked in cultural resources at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming from 2002-2004. Next, she joined the Office of Tribal Relations and American Culture for the NPS’ regional office; she was the tribal liaison and managed the cultural anthropology and Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act programs. After that, in 2014, Jacobs was acting superintendent at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area in Colorado. She then spent five years with the American Battle Monuments Commission in Paris, working as an attaché to the U.S. Embassy on ABMC’s behalf. Jacobs is familiar with San Antonio, first visiting in the early 2000s as part of a museum seminar offered by the Texas Historical Commission. “I fell in love with the city, the history, and the genuine hospitality of Texans and knew I would be back one day,” she said. When the missions’ position became available here, Jacobs jumped at it. “San Antonio Missions National Historical Park embodies a combination of everything I am passionate about and I feel as though I am exactly where I am supposed to be, doing what I am supposed to be doing, with the people I am supposed to be with,” she said. “I have never felt more inspired.” NPS officials praised Jacobs’ return to the agency and heading the South Side missions. The Spanish Empire established the five church outposts more than 300 years ago. Some of the Catholic parishes are still in service. “Christine’s prior experience with World Heritage Sites will be a great asset at the park,” said NPS Regional
Director Mike Reynolds in a statement. “She has shown exemplary leadership and expertise in partnerships, operations and resource management.” Jacobs’ arrival comes at a crucial time for the missions which, along with the Alamo, were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015. Plans are underway to preserve the Spanish colonial missions and promote their histories through various initiatives. Jacobs called the locales “a vibrant, living site.” According to her, “While the historic mission-related structures, acequias and related features on the landscape provide the internationally significant backdrop and historic context, it is the enduring connection of the mission descendants, the active mission parishes, the school groups who visit in person and virtually to learn about Texas history, and those who recreate along the river and trails that continue to give meaning to the park.” She added, “I think it is critical for us to continue to remain engaged with the surrounding community — as a good neighbor, as a unit of the National Park System, and as a key partner within the World Heritage Site.” Understanding those past historic connections and appreciating the existing neighborhoods’ link to the missions are vital, according to Jacobs. She leaned much in her past employment with ABMC, and managing an NPS’ Native American affairs and American Culture office. “It was reaffirmed for me that meaningful relationships and having the long view are the keys to success, and that persistence and positivity pay off,” she said, especially of her work with indigenous peoples. Find this story and more at www. localcommunitynews.com.
DEC. 29, 2020 - FEB. 2, 2021
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
Panelists: South Side has health care crisis by EDMOND ORTIZ
TWO SOUTH SIDE PHYSICIANS and a City Council member say the area needs more health care services, health literacy and web access.
All these tools are instrumental in fighting prevalent chronic illnesses and better addressing the ongoing pandemic and its impact, they said during a Nov. 12 panel discussion, “The Infinite Crisis: Healthcare on the South Side.” District 3 Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran teamed with Dr. Lyssa Ochoa, founder of San Antonio Vascular and Endovascular, and Dr. Rajeev Narayan of San Antonio Kidney. The virtual discussion was part of the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce’s Feel Good Festival. Narayan, a nephrologist, said many South Siders “live paycheck to paycheck” and are underinsured or have no health insurance. District 3 is home to about 168,000 people, 31,000 of whom are uninsured. Narayan said such cost-burdened individuals are reluctant to leave work or find time to regularly visit primary physicians or specialists to treat chronic maladies, such as diabetes, vascular disease, hypertension or kidney disease. He added, “It’s very hard for them to do that as well as afford medications, and when health care problems become more significant, these patients may end up losing their job or losing their insurance, so it dramatically affects their access to care.” Diabetes, according to Ochoa, exists at “a profound level,” which falls disproportionately on Hispanics, especially in the urban core and across the South Side. San Antonio Metropolitan Health District data reveals more than 14% of Bexar County residents are diagnosed diabetics. “But, I can tell you that in ZIP codes on the South Side, that percentage is a lot higher,” Ochoa said. Ochoa said she often treats diabetics who suffer additional problems, such as amputations, blindness, heart attacks, strokes and a need for dialysis.
“That challenge — how do we manage diabetes and prevent those complications from happening — is very important,” she added. Ochoa said it’s one thing to help patients understand what diabetes is and how it affects their body, but another to educate those at risk of developing the disease. “We need to start way up front so we can prevent (diabetes) from getting there,” she noted. “Some kind of educational effort to decreasing carbohydrates and increasing exercise will do dramatic things to decrease the incidents of diabetes and its complications,” Narayan said. Healthy outcomes, Ochoa said, tend to be tied to locales and clinical-care access. According to the doctor, public and private sectors could bolster resources across the South Side to improve residents’ health literacy and access to health care services, including getting more general practitioners in the area. Ochoa opened the SAVE Clinic at 4025 E. Southcross Blvd. in 2018 to serve residents who long have had little access to health care choices over the years. “We have deficit of over 150 primary health care doctors on the South Side,” she added. The region has only two full-fledged, stand-alone hospitals: Mission Trail Baptist LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
DISCUSSION
and Southwest General, but the panelists said more services are sought locally. SAVE Clinic plans to open the 10,500-square-foot Mission Surgery Center at 601 E. Amber St. in spring 2021, launching the South Side’s first Medicareaccredited ambulatory surgery center. The University of the Incarnate Word also intends to extend its South Side academic medical offerings. UIW bought seven buildings at Brooks to accommodate more health-professions programs. The university’s School of Osteopathic Medicine currently occupies four structures. In addition, the speakers urged Texas leaders to consider escalating Medicare and Medicaid during the 2021 legislative session. “As a state, we’re leaving millions of dollars on the table, and we’re putting
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people’s lives at stake, too, without that expansion here,” Viagran said. The panelists also agreed more digital access would help South Siders who cannot consult with a physician during the COVID-19 pandemic. “To get a patient to do telemedicine takes a skill. It’s not easy,” Ochoa said. As a result, she added, early in the coronavirus outbreak many showed signs of delayed critical care. “Now I’m seeing them in the emergency room or my clinic, and my option now is to send them to the hospital because they’re so sick,” she said. The Chamber tentatively plans a follow-up health care panel and luncheon in January at Brooks, with COVID-19 protocols included. Find this story and more at www. localcommunitynews.com.
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LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
PROFILE
DEC. 29, 2020 - FEB. 2, 2021
CHAIRMAN continues from pg. 01
vice president of the Greater Chamber of Commerce, past president of the San Antonio Fiesta Commission and former Rey Feo. Friends and supporters say his story exemplifies homegrown success. “I’m a South Side kid – I graduated from Harlandale (High School),” Reyes said. The family home was on Linden Avenue near Shelby Drive and West Southcross Boulevard. His father worked as a butcher at the old Swift Armour Meat Packing Plant; his mother was a housewife. “Her biggest job was on the Mama Patrol (school crossing guards) at Somerset (Road) and Southcross,” he added. As a sophomore at Harlandale, Reyes
got his first real job at the iconic Naples Restaurant on Broadway. The experience impressed upon him the need for comprehensive mass transit. “We couldn’t afford a car for me to get to work, so I took the bus,” he said. His next job was at the old Kline’s Clothing Store downtown, and he took the bus there, too. “The Klines were really good to me. I was 16, and learning about inventory and payroll while I was helping out,” Reyes said. “I had no idea what great experience they were giving me for the future. I learned how to run a small business there, and what it takes to do it.” He added, “My first goal when I graduated from Harlandale was to get a job at Kelly Air Force Base. My mom always said the families who worked at Kelly
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seemed to be a little better off. When I started, I was tearing out and rebuilding carburetors for airplanes, and then I got a job in administrative. I met the head of training, and he told me, ‘Fernando, if you want to move up, you need to expand your horizons.’” Reyes contacted a man in personnel at the Defense Contract Management Agency. At first nothing was available, but he remained persistent, following the contact’s instructions to check back. “The fourth month he had a job for me,” Reyes said. His career took off from there; first in Dallas, then Washington, D.C., where he studied the ins and outs of government contracting. He used the know-how to open his first business, a plant in Laredo manufacturing equipment for the military, from beds to backpacks, for 28 years. When Toyota presented the opportunity to put his résumé to use as a Tier I parts supplier, Reyes and his wife of 28 years, Norma, returned to San Antonio. His son, Fernando III, or Fred, is involved with the family technology business; his other son Jason works with Toyota joint ventures; and daughter Allison Kara, a recent St. Mary’s School of Law graduate, is a trusted adviser. “I’ve worked with my dad since I was 25 – going on 20 years,” Fred Reyes said. “He casts a very long shadow. He taught me not just how to do business, but also that business is more than just dollars and cents. It needs to be a win-win for everybody.” Another South Side native, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, joined Mayor Ron Nirenberg in nominating the senior Reyes to head VIA’s board. “As a fellow son of the South Side, I have the utmost confidence in Fernando and his ability to lead,” Wolff said, citing Reyes’ skill in leadership and “the muchneeded perspective of someone who knows
the needs of the community.” Added Wolff, “Fernando is a prime example of the great leadership that comes from the heart of San Antonio.” Al Aguilar, founder and CEO of Creative Civilization, an advertising and publicrelations agency, serves on the board of the Harlandale Education Foundation with Reyes. He echoed Wolff’s comments. “Both Fernando and I are products of the South Side, in the Harlandale area,” Aguilar said. “It’s something we share – we never forget where we came from. There has been a misperception in some parts about that area, but leaders like Fernando are helping to change that, and to mold San Antonio’s future, both in his business and in his new role as chairman of VIA.” Reyes takes the wheel at VIA’s board from another powerful leader, Hope Andrade — the former Texas secretary of state, co-founder of Go Rio San Antonio River Cruises and 2021 chairwoman of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. Reyes got a head start on VIA’s issues in his role as treasurer of the recent successful initiative to dedicate an additional 1/8 cent of the sales tax to VIA starting in 2026. The measure is predicted to raise $40 million annually for the city-owned transit company. Reyes’ long history with government contracting may serve well in strategizing how to leverage those added dollars into additional federal grants. While there’s no specific agenda regarding his new position yet, he’s open to all ideas. “With Toyota, I am in the mobility business,” he said. “And, with so much new technology, in the next 10 to 20 years mobility will be constantly changing. It’s not just a matter of driving or taking the bus, but of how we get a person from one place to another in the most effective, efficient and safest way. That is our mandate from the people.” Find this story and more at www. localcommunitynews.com.
DEC. 29, 2020 - FEB. 2, 2021
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
HAPPENING continues from pg. 07
offering contemplation of today’s tumultuous times: “Sanctuary City Project;” “Ryan Takaba: A Relationship with Flight;” “Theresa Newsome: Objects of Aggression;” and “Please Form a Straight Line.” For updates or cancellations, visit https:// bluestarcontemporary.org/.
WEDNESDAYS GOOD VIBES
The Good Kind Southtown, 1127 S. St. Mary’s St., hosts “Wednesday Vibes in the Garden.” Experience music, yard games and more from 6-10 p.m. For updates or cancellations, visit https:// eatgoodkind.com/.
SUNDAYS
BRUNCH AND MORE The Good Kind Southtown, 1127 S. St. Mary’s St., offers brunch and musical entertainment from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For updates or cancellations, visit https://www.facebook.com/ GoodKindSouthtown/events/.
ONGOING
MISSION MARQUEE PLAZA Experience culture, art, education and more on the historic grounds of Mission Marquee Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt Ave. For updates or cancellations of events and times, visit https://www.missionmarquee. com/EVENTS/CulturalCommunity-Events.
ONGOING
FREE SCHOOL MEALS Under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, Harlandale Independent School District offers free school
meals to students. For updates or cancellations, call Marcos Rodriguez at 210-989-4252 or email Marcos. rodriguez@harlandale.net. Also, qualifying campuses in the San Antonio Independent School District serve breakfast and lunch to all children at no charge and eliminate the collection of meal applications for free, reduced-price and paid student meals. For updates or cancellations, call 210-554-2290.
ONGOING
GOODWILL PICKUPS Goodwill Industries offers donation pickup services for large amounts of clothing, household items and furniture. For updates or cancellations, call 210-271-8881 or fill out pickup forms at https://www. goodwillsa.org/donate/home-pickup.
ELSEWHERE IN SAN ANTONIO
JAN. 15-24
PARADE OF LANTERNS Depending on COVID-19 conditions, the River Walk will be the site of a free spectacle from 6-9 p.m. when boats carry large illuminated lanterns. For the parade route, updates or cancellations, visit TheSanAntonioRiverWalk.com/events.
THROUGH JAN. 17 TRIBAL ART
Briscoe Western Art Museum, 210 W. Market St., presents “Visual Voices: Contemporary Chickasaw Art.” See the collection of work by tribal artists. During the COVID-19 pandemic, health and safety protocols are enforced. For updates or cancellations, visit https://www.briscoemuseum.org.
JAN. 30
TOWER CLIMB Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the 36th annual Lone Star Tower Climb LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
HAPPENING
& Run to raise money for cystic fibrosis will be virtual in 2021 with an 8:30 a.m. opening ceremony on Facebook Live. For more including registration costs, visit https://fightcf.cff.org/site/ TR?fr_id=8272&pg=entry.
THROUGH JAN. 31
KAYAK ON THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER The San Antonio River Walk Association in partnership with the city and the San Antonio River Authority offers River Walk kayaking on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. For reservations, updates or cancellations, visit www.
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thesanantonioriverwalk.com/ events/kayaking-river-walk/.
ONGOING
KIDNEY SCREENING The Texas Kidney Foundation is offering free, drive-up testing in the parking lot at 4204 Gardendale St., Suite 106. To make a required appointment, call 210-3968440. To fill out a needed form in advance, visit https://bit.ly/ TKFScreening. For more about the Texas Kidney Foundation, visit www.tx.kidney.org.
SUBMITTING EVENTS: Email all the details along with your contact information two months in advance to tips@localcommunitynews.com.
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