LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM VOL. 9, ISSUE 9 | MARCH 9-APRIL 6, 2021
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
SUSAN YERKES | PG. 04
SEVERE WEATHER | PG. 09
ACTIVISM NOT SNOWSTORM DON'T FORGET A DIRTY WORD AFTERSHOCKS YOUR CHECKUPS
ALAMO HEIGHTS • KING WILLIAM • MONTE VISTA • OLMOS PARK • TERRELL HILLS
TALK LOCAL | PG. 02
CHECK THIS OUT NEW BLOGS DEBUT ON LOCAL'S WEBSITE
HEMISFAIR REDEVELOPMENT PICKS UP STEAM CIVIC PARK ON THE DRAWING BOARD
Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corp. had a recent briefing for the City Council on a plan to solicit bids from companies. The selected contractor would be responsible for Phase I of Civic Park, a 9-acre recreational venue with an expansive lawn, shaded promenade and water features. Work to continue revamping the 1968 World’s Fair site is estimated at $27 million,
Downtown streetlights getting smarter COULD HELP WITH PARKING, BUT ISN’T BIG BROTHER by SUSAN YERKES
CITY PLANNERS are looking to an old, ubiquitous standard – the streetlight – to harvest helpful data downtown thanks to enhancements using sophisticated technology.
by EDMOND ORTIZ
THE NONPROFIT AGENCY guiding redevelopment of Hemisfair hopes the planned Civic Park becomes the centerpiece of a yearslong remake of the downtown space.
MEDICAL SECTION | PG. 10
with some funds coming from the city’s 2017 bond issue. HPARC officials expressed confidence Civic Park will be as popular as Hemisfair’s Yanaguana Garden, likely to welcome its 3-millionth visitor this May. “We seek to deliver at least the success we have found at Yanaguana Garden, the BIG PLANS continues on pg. 12
Smart streetlights could soon even direct motorists to convenient parking spots and more, say officials with the city’s Office of Innovation. The initiative is part of the Smart INNOVATION continues on pg. 13
POLITICS | PG. 14
LET THE RACES BEGIN
CANDIDATES FILE FOR MAY 1 ELECTION
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MARCH 9 - APRIL 6, 2021
PUBLISHER Jaselle Luna EDITORIAL Editor
Thomas Edwards News Staff
Edmond Ortiz Contributing Writers
Miranda Koerner, Arthur Schechter and Susan Yerkes ART Designer
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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 SA: 78213, 78216, 78230, 78231, 78232, 78248, 78249, 78258, 78259 Metrocom: 78109, 78148, 78233, 78239, 78108, 78132, 78154, 78266 South San Antonio: 78204, 78210, 78214, 78223, 78235
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ON THE COVER – Hemisfair, the site of the 1968 World’s Fair that helped put San Antonio on the map, is undergoing a transformation to become a downtown oasis offering lodging, parks, entertainment venues and eateries. Shown is a conceptual rendering of Civic Park, including The Great Lawn to accommodate events. See the story on page 1. Courtesy image/GGN The LOCAL Community News editorial board includes Jaselle Luna and Thomas Edwards.
STAFF 3 TA LK LO CA L
Bloggers debut LOCAL Community News is taking another exciting leap into the digital age by introducing a slate of bloggers offering unique insights on parenting, beer, wine and more. We’re excited to present this diverse and talented group of writers to our growing online audience. The blogs are exclusive to the website and are not in our print products. Fresh columns will post each week at www.localcommunitynews.com. Always feel free to share them and make comments. Initial contributors include Olivier J. Bourgoin, alias “The Wine Guy,” sharing all he’s heard from the grapevine, plus food pairings, libations and more. Former television reporter and public-relations specialist Gina Galaviz Eisenberg details the fun and challenges of raising young children. Travis E. Poling, longtime business writer, beer expert and Texas-beerindustry author, serves up perspectives on what’s good to pour in a pint glass, happenings in the craft-beer market, and new laws affecting brewers. Thomas Edwards will resurrect his award-winning column, “From the Editor.” He’ll be offering his perspective on local news and politics, as well as observations on the state of journalism. In the coming weeks, we plan to introduce more blogs. They’ll be offering tips and comments on everything from great foods and making superb meals, to sports and even the best coffees and teas. We predict with a lineup like this, visiting www.localcommunitynews. com will become part of your routine. Prepare to be entertained, informed and enthralled.
LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
OPINION
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LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS MARCH 9 - APRIL 6, 2021
In praise of activists by SUSAN YERKES
THE YEAR OF COVID-19 also has been a year of political activism, from sweeping Black Lives Matter protests to storming the U.S. Capitol.
In San Antonio, thank God, citizen engagement is almost exclusively nonviolent. In fact, the most widespread and effective movements of the past months involved petitions to reform three of the city’s most powerful institutions. Only one — Fix SAPD — potentially succeeded. The group collected the 20,000 valid signatures required to get a proposal on the May 1 ballot limiting the San Antonio Police Officers Association’s collective bargaining rights.
With contract negotiations between the city and the police association just getting started, it’ll be interesting to see how San Antonians vote. Election success would certainly send a signal to SAPOA leaders, though not strip them of all power. Whatever the outcome, certainly thousands understand more about how public-safety unions work. They also know you can fight for change in a
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peaceful and informed way. The two other recent drives for reforms garnered much attention, although not enough signatures for ballot inclusion. Recall CPS, aimed at CPS Energy, and SAWS Accountability Act, targeting the San Antonio Water System, both sought major changes in the leadership of the city-owned utilities, rate structures and more. Even with little funding, Recall CPS organizers made waves. Maybe it’s just coincidence their calls to reveal plans for the utility’s coalfired Spruce plants preceded an overdue public release of records. Was it happenstance CPS leaders who previously pooh-poohed a citizen rate-advisory committee pivoted on their “flexible path” and established one? Or that CPS Energy President and CEO Paula Gold-Williams vowed to “expand the conversation,” and ensure the utility ramps up communication with ratepayers? Post “Snowvid,” better communication and resident involvement is critical. SAWS leaders garnered a lot of support for their handling of the weather crisis, but SAWS Accountability Act political action committee leaders intend to continue pressing for a public audit of the controversial Vista Ridge pipeline project and more. All three grassroots movements made some good points, and failures during the freeze that crippled
the area focused awareness on transparency and communication. Clamming up when criticized is a lousy strategy, especially for publicly owned utilities. Activism, after all, isn’t a bad word. I’m proud to tell friends in other cities about an incident last summer I believe says a lot about how people take action here. Soon after George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police, previously peaceful protests turned violent one night in Alamo Plaza. Here’s the part I love: After hearing about the rioting and looting, hundreds of regular people converged on downtown to sweep up broken glass, clean graffiti and fix anything they could. Like the innumerable individual acts of kindness during the power and water failures of the snowstorm, that was positive community activism in the finest sense. That’s the heart of San Antonio. The citizen groups petitioning for reforms at CPS Energy, SAWS and the San Antonio Police Department aren’t professional politicians or vandals. They’re showing up to help out on their own time, trying to improve situations they believe could and should be better. I don’t necessarily agree with all their ideas. I do believe their hard work and the legal, peaceful activism they practice are essential to a healthy democracy. syerkes@localcommunitynews.com
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MARCH 9 - APRIL 6, 2021
MARCH
PLAN YOUR MONTH WITH OUR CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
HAPPENING
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
Next City Council/School District Meetings
a.m. inside The Culinary Institute of America, 312 Pearl Parkway, but over Zoom during the COVID-19 outbreak. For updates or cancellations, call 210913-7448.
Broadway
FOR ART AND MUSIC FANS
Ave.
Southtown Arts District First and Second Saturday Markets is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Artisan, 1103A S. Presa St. See drawings, handcrafted items and more at the free event with music. For
Alamo Heights: 5:30 p.m. March 8, 22; 6116
Olmos Park: 6 p.m. March 17; 120 W. El Prado Drive Terrell Hills: 5 p.m. March 8; 5100 N. New Braunfels San Antonio ISD: 5:30 p.m. March 16, 22; 406 Barrera St.
Alamo Heights ISD: 6 p.m. March 25; 7101 Broadway North East ISD: 5:30 p.m. April 12; 8961 Tesoro Drive
MARCH 19 & APRIL 2 PEARL ROTARY
The group, dedicated to community service, normally meets on alternating Fridays at 11:30
MARCH13 & APRIL 3
updates or cancellations, email shop@ theartisansatx.com or call 210-962-5560.
MARCH 11
SHARE A LAUGH The Good Kind Southtown, 1127 S. St. Mary’s St., presents stand-up comedians at 7 p.m. For a list of entertainers, updates or cancellations, visit https://www.facebook.com/ GoodKindSouthtown/events. HAPPENING continues on pg. 06
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.
LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
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For more information, call 210-225-5323. WellMed does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in its health programs and activities. ATTENTION: If you speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Please call 888-781-WELL (9355). ATENCIÓN: Si habla español (Spanish), hay servicios de asistencia de idiomas, sin cargo, a su disposición. Llame al 888-781-WELL (9355). 請注意： 如果您說中文 (Chinese)，我們免費為您提供語言協助服務。請致電：888-781-WELL (9355)。
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nos importa
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LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
HAPPENING
MARCH 9 - APRIL 6, 2021
HAPPENING continues from pg. 05
MARCH 11
HERB SOCIETY The San Antonio Herb Society features refreshments and social time at 6:30 p.m. and a program at 7 p.m. at the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels Ave. For updates or cancellations, visit www. sanantonioherbs.org.
MARCH 11
SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS, CAMP 153 Hood’s Texas Brigade, Camp 153, gathers on the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. in Chester’s Hamburgers, 1006 N.E. Loop 410. No reservations required. For updates or cancellations, visit www. hoodstexasbrigade.net.
MARCH 11-12
cancellations, visit https://sariverfound. org/events/the- peoples-clinic/.
GIRL POWER
The Girls Empowerment Summit for ages 13-18 is 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday and noon to 4:30 p.m. Friday. The focus is on skill-building opportunities, positive body image, self-care, socialmedia awareness and nontraditional career roles for women. For updates, cancellations and free registration, visit https://www.sanantonio. gov/ humanservices/educationservices/ GirlsEmpowermentSummit.
MARCH 13
‘THE PEOPLE’S CLINIC’ From 1-5 p.m., the Estela Avery Education Center inside Confluence Park, 310 W. Mitchell St., is home to traditional healing practices. For updates or
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MARCH 15
VIRTUAL GARDENING CLASSES Garden Volunteers of South Texas meet over Zoom from noon to 1 p.m. during the coronavirus pandemic. Free and open to the public, space is limited. For updates or cancellations, visit https:// gardeningvolunteers.org/.
MARCH 17
RETIRED TEACHERS Normally, the San Antonio Area Retired Teachers Association holds a 12:30 p.m. social and luncheon, followed by a 1 p.m. presentation and business meeting at the San Antonio Botanical Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels Ave. During the pandemic, conferences may be over Zoom. For updates, cancellations and guestspeaker data, visit https://localunits. org/SanAntonio/.
MARCH 23
NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY OF TEXAS The San Antonio chapter features a plant exchange at 6:30 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. program, at Lions Field Adult Center, 2809 Broadway. For updates or cancellations, visit http://npsot.org/wp/ sanantonio/.
MARCH 24
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A physically distanced fundraiser, “A Promenade Through the Park,” begins at 5 p.m. in the parking lot of the Tuesday Musical Club, 3755 N. St. Mary’s St. Presented by the Brackenridge Park Conservancy, the drive- thru excursion features live entertainment and a gourmet, prepackaged picnic from The RK Group. Tickets, costing $350, include two meals per couple. For updates or cancellations, visit brackenridgepark.org.
MARCH 24
LEARN ABOUT ANIMALS From 6-8 p.m., Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation offers educational, interactive workshops for children ages 8-10 at the Sherman Animal Care Complex, 1354 Basse Road. For updates or cancellations, visit wildlife-rescue.org.
MARCH
ONSTAGE PERFORMERS Shows at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, 226 N. St. Mary’s St., include “Anomaly: The Magic of Robby Bennett” (7 p.m. March 14) and “Sibling Rivalry: The Tour” (8 p.m. March 17). COVID-19 protocols enforced. For tickets, updates or cancellations, visit https://www. majesticempire.com/mobile/calendar.
MARCH/APRIL SPRING BREAK
Campuses are closed March 8-12 for Spring Break in the Alamo Heights and North East independent school districts and March 5-22 in the San Antonio Independent School District. All students also receive time off April 2 (Good Friday).
APRIL 1
NUTRITION DISCUSSION Live with Nature meets from 10-11:30 a.m. at San Antonio College’s Sinkin EcoCentro, 1802 N. Main Ave. For updates or cancellations, call 210-492-4620.
APRIL 1
AUDUBON SOCIETY The San Antonio Audubon Society gathers at 7 p.m. in the San Antonio Zoo Education Center, 3903 N. St. Mary’s St. For updates or cancellations, visit saaudubon.org or www. facebook.com/saaudubon/.
THROUGH APRIL 4
HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD The McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels Ave., hosts “Hollywood’s Sistine Chapel: Sacred Sets for Stage & Screen.”
MARCH 9 - APRIL 6, 2021
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
For updates or cancellations, visit https://www.mcnayart.org/.
THROUGH MAY 9 BLUE STAR
Blue Star Contemporary, 116 Blue Star St., presents four exhibitions offering contemplation of today’s tumultuous times. For updates or cancellations, visit https://bluestarcontemporary.org/.
THROUGH MAY 9 ON EXHIBIT
The San Antonio Museum of Art, 200 W. Jones Ave., hosts “No Ocean Between Us,” exploring the art of Asian diasporas in Latin America and the Caribbean. For updates or cancellations, visit https://www. samuseum.org/.
SUNDAYS
ALAMO HEIGHTS-AREA FARMERS MARKETS Vendors offer farm-fresh selections and more at The Alamo Heights Farmers Market, 255 E. Basse Road, Suite 130, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot in front of Whole Foods Market in Alamo Quarry. For updates or cancellations, call 210-704-8212 or contact AlamoHeightsFarmersMarket@ gmail.com. Also, Four Seasons Markets runs a vendor-oriented operation from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the Carousel Court shopping center, 1888 Nacogdoches Road. For updates or cancellations, visit www.fourseasonsmarkets.com.
SUNDAYS
GET CANINES MICROCHIPPED Dogs can receive free microchipping by
HAPPENING
Animal Patrol from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the San Antonio City Council District 1 Field Office, 1310 Vance Jackson Road. Please bring valid ID. For updates or cancellations, visit https://www.facebook. com/ RobertoTrevinoD1/.
ELSEWHERE
MARCH
THE CARVER The Jo Long Theatre inside the Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry St., hosts Gabriel Royal (March 6), Cleo Parker Robinson Dance (March 13), and Christian Sands (March 27). Also, the Little Carver Civic Center (at the same venue) welcomes “Bad Mama Jama Remix: Let the Record Show” (March 20). All performances begin at 8 p.m. For more including tickets, updates
7
or cancellations, visit https://thecarver. org/season.
APRIL 5-JUNE 11
TECHNICIAN TRAINING For those 18 and older, a curriculum called TXFAST, or Texas Fame Accelerated Skilled Training, will be offered from 8 a.m. to noon weekdays at 2665 Flight Nurse St., Building 805 at Brooks. Learn skills in pneumatics, electrical components, gears, bearings, hydraulics and more. For details, call 210-452-6959 or email info@txfame.com.
SUBMITTING EVENTS: Email all the details along with your contact information two months in advance to tips@ localcommunitynews.com.
LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
Your generosity gives the gift of home In 2021 Habitat hopes to build affordable homes for 51 families in our community
Give Now For more information please visit: www.HabitatSA.org 210-223-5203
LOWDOWN
8
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS MARCH 9 - APRIL 6, 2021
TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT WHAT’S NEW IN THE COMMUNITY FROM OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS TO NEWS TIDBITS.
Emily Carpenter, and her husband, Houston, got the idea for their new Southtown restaurant Little Em’s Oyster Bar while on a honeymoon in Paris. Dishes on the half shell include a rotating variety of East Coast selections. Photo by Olivier J. Bourgoin
Open and Opening Soon LITTLE EM’S OYSTER BAR, 1001 S. Alamo St., offers lobster rolls, ceviche, salads and burgers in addition to several varieties of oysters. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and brunch 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more, call 210-257-0100 or visit https://littleemsoysterbar.com/ or email eat@ littleemsoysterbar.com.
REVOLUTION INDOOR CYCLING, 8418 Broadway, relocated from Stone Oak to this new site. Owned and operated by local fitness expert Molly Mandigo, Revolution is founded on the “principles of passion, integrity, discipline and hard work.” According to a release, “Located in a shared space with Leija Boxing on Broadway, Revolution is a state-of-the-art indoor cycling studio offering a transformative workout in just 45 minutes.” For more including times, visit www.ridewithrev.com or www.facebook.com/revolutionsanantonio.
Little Em's Oyster Bar 1001 S. Alamo St.
IN OTHER NEWS:
THE TEMPORARY ALAMO HEIGHTS BICYLE PARK will remain open through March 19. Afterward, the city will set up a permanent safe place nearby for cyclists to use bike jumps. The City Council voted Feb. 8 to extend the current temporary license agreement for a strip of land west of Alamo Heights Boulevard next to the Bark Park of Alamo Heights. The interim park opened in midDecember. The city originally intended to close it Feb. 8, while at the same securing adjacent property as a permanent spot. The council settled on a parcel of land between the dog park and the northernmost Alamo Heights Little League fields.
PHASE 1 WORK IS UNDERWAY ON THE Eisenhauer Road/ Northwood-Devonshire Drive area improvement project. Funded by the 2017 bond, the roadwork will relieve flooding, and include curbs, sidewalks and driveway approaches. Enhancements are designed to address drainage on Seidel, Eisenhauer and Vandiver roads. Construction is scheduled to end in spring 2022.
THE SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS LAUNCHED three new Pathways in Technology Early College High School, or P-TECH, programs, bringing the total to five in SAISD. The additions, housed at Edison, Highlands and Lanier high schools, are accepting applications for any Bexar County student entering the ninth grade in fall 2021. The Edison initiative focuses on business fields including marketing, accounting
and finance. San Antonio College is a higher-education partner. Industry contributors include H-E-B, Galan-Graphix and Tacit Growth Strategies. Learners also will engage in work-based training through job-shadow experiences, internships and apprenticeships. Visit https://schools.saisd.net/ page/003.ptech for details.
GRAYSTREET PARTNERS ANNOUNCED IN JANUARY IT’S SELLING 14.7 acres out of a 20-acre downtown tract where it had sought to build a mixed-use development east of Pearl. The $560 million project, according to reports, was to include a variety of multifamily housing units, retail and office space, plazas and parking space. However, GrayStreet intends to proceed with plans to partner with Encore Development to construct an apartment complex immediately south of the 1800 Broadway apartments.
THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY AND FRANKLIN DEVELOPMENT broke ground Feb. 4 on 100 Labor Street, a 220unit, multifamily complex that will provide affordable housing options for workers, officials said. The new Lavaca development will have on-site retail, and amenities such as a coffee bar, a pet-wash grooming area, a fitness center, two swimming pools and a plaza. According to SAHA, the project is designed to fit the lifestyles of downtown residents, especially those who work in and around the central business district. The 100 Labor Street project is also part of a bigger effort to redevelop the former Victoria Courts publichousing complex.
MARCH 9 - APRIL 6, 2021
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS SEVERE WEATHER
9
Storm aftermath by EDMOND ORTIZ
The effects of a punishing winter storm that left thousands of San Antonio-area residents without power or water for days will be felt for a long time, say officials looking for answers into why infrastructure failed during the crisis.
Meanwhile, San Antonio officials have been setting up an emergency fund to help residents recovering from property damage, as have other agencies. Municipal and state leaders also have demanded accountability from state government and energy providers, saying utilities must do a better job ensuring customers stay safe during prolonged periods of harsh cold. San Antonio achieved record low temperatures — all below freezing — Feb. 14-16, and two of the biggest snowfalls in at least 36 years. Spurred by a unprecedented high demand for power, CPS Energy and other providers statewide were ordered by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the state’s grid operator, to implement rolling blackouts to stabilize Texas’ energy supply. But rolling blackouts, coupled with damaged or frozen equipment, produced outages lasting days, exacerbating conditions and frustrating customers. San Antonio, Castle Hills and Converse opened public facilities as temporary warming centers, while several churches did the same. Because of power outages, water utilities such as the San Antonio Water System struggled to address low pressure or outages across many service areas, such as Castle Hills and Stone Oak. Mayor Ron Nirenberg promised San Antonio will help residents, many of whom now face the prospect of repairing broken water pipes and other damage. “There’s going to be an infrastructure issue that we need all hands on deck for,” he said. The City Council has grilled leaders of SAWS and CPS Energy, both city-owned utilities, saying the agencies should have
been better prepared ahead of the storm, and must do better to communicate with customers in emergencies. “Our residents expect and deserve better. I think my colleagues agree that we intend to do all we can to ensure that we aren’t in this vulnerable situation the next time a cold wave hits our city,” said the mayor. Nirenberg, his counterparts and Gov. Greg Abbott also slammed ERCOT for its response to the severe wintry weather. Abbott asked state lawmakers to order and fund winterizations of power plants and other equipment statewide. “What happened is absolutely unacceptable and can never be replicated again,” Abbott said. eortiz@localcommunitynews.com Find this story and more at www. localcommunitynews.com
LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
10
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
HEALTH CARE SPECIAL SECTION
MARCH 9 – APRIL 6, 2021
Don’t let pandemic interrupt routine medical care by MIRANDA KOERNER
WHILE MANY TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION to limit COVID-19 exposure, experts say delaying standard medical visits such as dental appointments or annual checkups is unwise.
Your health is our number one priority.
IMAGINE A HEALTH CARE TEAM THAT ACTUALLY WORKS TOGETHER.
Accepting New Patients
For for more information about WellMed, call 210-905-4270 (toll free). Calling this number will direct you to The Brokerage, a licensed insurance agency.*
AT ALAMO HEIGHTS
*The Brokerage, license number 2359, works with Medicare enrollees to explain Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement Insurance, and Prescription Drug Plan options. Enhealth WellMed, usted nos importa WellMed does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in its programs and activities. ATTENTION: If you speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Please call 888-781-WELL (9355). ATENCIÓN: Si habla español (Spanish), hay servicios de asistencia de idiomas, sin cargo, a su disposición. Llame al 888-781-WELL (9355). 請注意： 如果您說中文 (Chinese)，我們免費為您提供語言協助服務。請致電：888-781-WELL (9355)。 20_5454_WM_AD_AEPPROVIDER_ALL_JL_C073020
Medical professionals say they are witnessing patients putting health care on hold — from hearing tests to cancer screenings — often due to fears of contracting the novel coronavirus. Richard Whittaker, senior medical director and practicing physician with WellMed at Ingram Park, said even avoiding getting flu shots or canceling regular appointments could jeopardize overall health, particularly for heart patients or those with chronic conditions. “Patients should always get their preventative care because it’s proven that preventative care helps improve longterm health,” Whittaker said. “Not getting lab work or exams to monitor and control chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure poses a significant risk of having to go to urgent care, the emergency room or the hospital for treatment. These sites can expose you to a greater chance of
20% 27%
IN THE U.S. IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
MARCH 9 – APRIL 6, 2021
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
getting COVID than in your primary-care clinic.” Hospital emergency rooms are for the critically ill or wounded, not routine medical maintenance, physicians said. “This unnecessary care further increases the risk of overwhelming our hospital systems where they’re already struggling to care for patients with COVID. People need to know it’s safe to navigate our health care system,” Whittaker said. Moreover, today’s technology enables visits without going into the doctor's office. For those reluctant to travel to a medical building, many physicians and clinics offer telemedicine, such as CommuniCare Health Centers. A health care provider makes the diagnosis and treatment using remote or virtual technology, like an online consultation. These can replace many — but not all — consults by a practitioner or a provider. Dr. Carlos E. Moreno, vice president and chief clinical officer of CommuniCare Health Centers, said his company offers curbside and telemedicine visits ranging from family wellness to women’s health. “In the current era of COVID-19, having an annual physical or going to your doctor for medical care can be seen as another potential route of COVID-19 exposure,” Moreno said. “However, visiting with your physician for a routine checkup is a very important step in preventive care, and can help you improve your health. Your health care provider can sense physical or emotional changes in yourself that may signal a developing disease or a decline in health.” For the hard of hearing, masks that cover mouths and inhibit lip reading or volume levels can be an extra challenge, which is why audiology appointments are paramount, health care providers said. “We have a lot of patients that have been struggling to communicate due
to universal masking,” said Dr. Phallon Doss at Doss Audiology & Hearing Center. “They now realized they were not hearing well and relied on visual cues. Patients are very happy to be able to communicate again easily, even when others are wearing masks.” She’s pleased folks realize the value of regular exams, even during a pandemic. “We have also diagnosed several pediatric hearing losses that would have otherwise gone untreated if their parents had delayed care,” Doss said. “Untreated pediatric hearing loss has significant education implications and delays speech development.” Although many clients deferred appointments last spring at the outbreak’s outset, Pearl Molina of Cambridge Family Dental said they’re returning, albeit cautiously. “It’s important to keep up your regular, routine checkups because the doctor can find problems before it’s an acute or emergency situation,” Molina said. Fearing infection, many folks are bypassing gyms and studio classes, but physical therapists are seeing problems when those suffering from health issues shirk fitness. “Overall, people are generally moving less (and) working from home, (so they’re) less out in the community and that equals less exercise,” said Mike McTague, regional managing partner of Texas Physical Therapy Specialists. “Our biggest concern are the patients where movement and education are needed to reduce potential ‘chronicity,’ (like) low back pain, neck pain and generalextremity pain.” Postponements now could lead to trouble later, added the doctor of physical therapy. “Long-term health will be affected if conditions and pain that effect movement persist, such as chronic conditions of heart disease, (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), diabetes are all LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
HEALTH CARE SPECIAL SECTION
controlled with some form of consistent exercise. Physical therapy is designed to get patients back to moving,” he said. February was National Cancer Prevention Month, but according to GenesisCare officials, any time is right to highlight the importance of screenings. Reports indicate late-term cancer screenings have risen due to COVID-19, as patients wait until the last minute. Late-term cases jumped 20% in the U.S., and 27% in the United Kingdom, with an increased mortality up to 3.2%, according to officials. Dr. Trevor Lim with GenesisCare said he’s seen many people delay screenings, only to receive an updated diagnosis of metastatic cancer, or spreading cancer. He said due to such inattention, it’s
11
estimated that thousands more could die of breast and colorectal cancers. But, Lim said, there’s still hope. “There is an elderly woman I met recently who was a survivor of three different cancers over the past 20 years,” he said. “When a spot in her lung grew suddenly, she quickly underwent the appropriate evaluation and was found to have an early stage non-small cell lung cancer. Because of her diligence in following her doctors’ recommendations, her cancer was caught before it had spread and we hope to put her in remission a fourth time.” Lim added, “Witnessing cancer success stories such as this one are especially encouraging during this pandemic.” Find this story and more at www. localcommunitynews.com.
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LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
URBAN RETREAT
MARCH 9 - APRIL 6, 2021
BIG PLANS continues from pg. 01
second busiest park per acre in the state of Texas, and a truly beloved space,” said HPARC CEO Andres Andujar. If all goes well, HPARC officials said, Civic Park construction will start this fall. The Shallows will be a key water feature there, featuring an artificial stream cascading through limestone blocks. Guests can dip their hands or toes into the water, unlike Yanaguana Garden where visitors are allowed to run around the existing splash pad. The Shallows will be in the park’s southern end near The Great Lawn, a 2-acre bowl-shaped green space accommodating concerts and other events, with 15,000 as capacity. Next to Civic Park is a dedicated tract of
land where a new, mixed-use development was supposed to be completed this summer, but those plans are delayed. The city in 2017 tapped Zachry Corp. to build the component, but for now the site lies underdeveloped and quiet as the company retools. Zachry envisioned restaurants, shops, cultural and educational amenities, an office tower, apartments and a boutique Hilton hotel — all to complement Civic Park in the shadows of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. The firm has yet to announce specific changes to its proposed development, estimated at $200 million at one point. According to HPARC’s real estate director Omar Gonzalez, the COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on the hospitality industry, and retail and office occupancy, forcing Zachry
to rethink objectives. “It’s just about recasting their obligations based on today’s market conditions,” Gonzalez said. “We’re keeping the same structure, one of urban mixed-use development. We’ll just have to define how much, how big — it’s more of a conversation about that than completely changing (Zachry’s) role.” Plans for Tower Park, the third and final park within a redeveloped Hemisfair, are proceeding. HPARC received responses to a request for qualifications for designers to handle its conceptual design, which would enhance dedicated parkland between Yanaguana Garden and the Tower of the Americas. Andujar said even in the middle of a global outbreak, it’s important to maintain momentum by developing centrally
The planned Civic Park development at Hemisfair will be built in the shadow of the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Amenities will include The Shallows, a key water feature, and The Great Lawn, a 2-acre green space that can accommodate concerts. Courtesy image/GGN
located public spaces, and creating new places for businesses. “Construction of a large park is going to bring jobs to the community and that’s urgent because of the effects of the pandemic,” Andujar said. He and Gonzalez said Hemisfair’s redevelopment has so far been successful, given the numbers of Yanaguana Garden visitors, completion of The `68 apartment complex and efforts by small businesses to call Hemisfair home. Re:Rooted 210 Urban Winery is opening at Hemisfair, followed by a brick-and-mortar spot for Box Street Social food truck. Bombay Bicycle Club, a busy Brackenridge Park restaurant, will launch a second location there, too. Meanwhile, existing tenants such as Paleteria San Antonio and CommonWealth Coffeehouse & Bakery have adapted to the pandemic, serving a steady stream of customers who take their food and drink outdoors. Gonzalez admitted things seem muted around Hemisfair because of an absence of tourists and conventioneers, but added, “Fingers crossed, the world gets back to 2019 levels in the next year or two.” Andujar said 84% of Hemisfair guests are locals, noting the staff works to ensure safety during the outbreak. Gonzalez echoed the summary of a City Parks Alliance 2020 report stating public parks should be considered critical infrastructure because folks see them as safe outlets. “People are now really inspired to go outside and be safe outside, and go to spaces to relax and reset, kind of like (addressing) mental health,” Gonzalez said. eortiz@localcommunitynews.com Find this story and more at www. localcommunitynews.com.
MARCH 9 - APRIL 6, 2021
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
INNOVATION continues from pg. 01
Streetlight Technology program, a pilot project involving the city, CPS Energy and two prospective vendors — international tech giants AT&T and Itron. “I look forward to seeing the results,” Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. “The possibilities – from energy savings to valuable data collections that will inform city services – are extraordinary.” The ongoing endeavor entails mounting an array of high-tech sensors on CPS Engery streetlights in three innovation zones — downtown, the South Texas Medical Center and Brooks. The gadgets will collect environment, flooding, ambient noise and temperature data. At least in the pilot program, only downtown lights will include the parking sensors. Vendors are also equipping the LED photocell lights with digital connections to CPS Energy's Smart City grid, to help with more efficient management and maintenance. Keen observers might spot some sensors on a few streetlights on Market Street between South Alamo and Bowie streets, and César E. Chávez Boulevard between South Alamo and Interstate 37. The sensors aren’t some invasive, Orwellian undertaking, city officials said. They’re not cameras. “They just detect the presence or absence of on-street parking,” said Smart City Coordinator Emily Royall. “They don’t do anything like reading license plates or recording the make and model of vehicles. They just tell us whether a space is vacant or not.” Data from the parking sensors could provide the most user-friendly benefit for folks seeking parking downtown, said San Antonio’s Chief Innovation Officer Brian Dillard. “We really want to look at how people are parking downtown, to help us determine real-time parking, and what areas are used more than others to help direct our
transportation policy,” Royall added. The project’s genesis began in 2018, when Dillard and his team examined ways to use technology to improve city services, starting with the innovation zones. “When we asked the communities about challenges that we might address with technology, we heard pedestrian safety, environmental quality, downtown congestion, and parking,” Royall said. After studying other municipalities where streetlight sensors collect various data, city staff worked with CPS to find prospective vendors interested in showing San Antonio their capabilities in the free pilot. “This project really has two components,” Dillard said. “CPS needed to have the smartstreetlight-control system installed, so they’re piloting that technology. And, we developed five ‘use cases’ for streetlight sensors to collect data different city departments could use to improve planning and policy.” CPS Energy President and CEO Paula Gold-Williams called the project “a great example of how the right coordination between the city of San Antonio and CPS Energy will help create workable solutions to turn the challenges of developing a smart city into new opportunities for success.” Different sensors on each of the pilot streetlights collect real-time stats on temperature, air quality, ambient noise and flood control; parking apparatus are only implemented downtown. “Since the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality recently downgraded our clean-air rating, that’s important to get more information about where and when pollution occurs to mitigate that,” Royall said. “With temperature sensing, we’re looking at the urban-heat-island effect, which can raise temperatures up to two degrees. The city’s new shade-equity plan and tree-planting initiatives can help with that.” She added, “We’re partnering with the San Antonio River Authority on the flood data. Their goal is a predictive flood model that can create an algorithm that predicts LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
INFRASTUCTURE
flooding when a rainstorm is detected.” Both AT&T and Itron devices were installed last fall – all except the parking sensors, which are only on the 30 pilot streetlights downtown. Those were placed in late January and early February. Ideally, they can push data into the city’s extant parking app, SAPark, which currently allows users to pay for parking and add time. “We could feed the sensor data to the app, so that you could check for available parking spots before you make the trip downtown,” Dillard said. Parking information, like data from other instruments, would be available through the city’s online portal, data. sanantonio.gov. “We care about all the cool things we may get from these features, but we are particularly interested in seeing where the
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hiccups can occur,” he added. For instance, in early February, work on a city bond project closed part of a street where some parking sensors had just been installed. “Luckily, the vendor was willing to shift those sensors to another area,” Dillard said. “That’s another reason we’re doing this, to find flexible and innovative ways to pivot when things change – and city operations are constantly changing.” Dillard said testing should conclude this summer. Then, city staff will decide whether to contract with AT&T or Itron to expand. “If it’s successful, then we need to ask if residents think it is worthwhile to include in the city budget,” he said. syerkes@localcommunitynews.com Find this story and more at www. localcommunitynews.com.
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LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
POLITICS
MARCH 9 - APRIL 6, 2021
Ready to Rumble by EDMOND ORTIZ
VOTERS CASTING BALLOTS in May 1 local elections will see many political leaders, past and present, vying for another term in office.
In San Antonio, seeking a third term, Mayor Ron Nirenberg faces multiple challengers, most notably former District 6 Councilman Greg Brockhouse, whom Nirenberg beat in the 2019 mayoral runoff. Nirenberg has weathered criticism for the city’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, while also weighing calls for more police accountability. Employment creation and economic development are among Brockhouse’s campaign priorities. “Recovery is all about jobs. We must take the approach that every job is important, both now and especially post-pandemic,” Brockhouse said.
The former campus radio-station manager wants to continue initiatives he’s overseen, including those designed to boost workforce training and affordable housing. “I know that by working together, we’ll come back from this even stronger than where we started,” Nirenberg said.
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Other mayoral hopefuls are Ray Basaldua, Joshua Jones Galvan, Michael “Commander” Idrogo, J. Miller, Frank Adam Muniz, Tim Atwood, Denise Gutierrez-Homer, Gary Allen, Antonio “Tony” Diaz, Justin Macaluso, Dan Martinez and John M. Velasquez. Project manager Mario Bravo, environmental consultant Matthew Gauna, retiree Raymond Zavala, attorney Lauro Bustamante, and financial professional Cyndi Dominguez look to unseat District 1 Councilman Roberto Treviño, who seeks a fourth full term. Several residents oppose District 2 Councilwoman Jada Andrews-Sullivan’s bid for a second term: tax preparers Dori Brown and Walter Perry Sr.; teacher and Andrews-Sullivan’s former aide Jalen McKee-Rodriguez; teacher Norris Tyrone Darden; Michael John Good; entrepreneurs Kristi Villanueva, Chris Dawkins and Nneka "Miss Neka" Cleaver; chef/caretaker and Black Lives Matter organizer Pharaoh Clark; Army veteran Andrew Fernandez Vicencio; and publisher Carl Booker. Term limits prohibit District 5 Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales from seeking reelection. Eleven residents filed to succeed her: Realtor and Lone Star resident Marie Crabb, attorney David Yanez, nonprofit executive Jason Mata, operations executive Norberto “Geremy” Landin, teacher Teri Castillo, retirees Ray Garza, Rudy Lopez and Jesse J. Alaniz, Harlandale Independent School District trustee Ricardo Moreno; and business owners Anthony Gres and Irma G. Barron. Educator Alexander Svehla, grassroots activist Emily Norwood, Army reservist Gabrien Gregory and Administrative Law Judge Ezra Johnson oppose District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry’s shot at a third term. Perry beat Johnson in a 2017 runoff.
Voters also will mull two City Charter amendments. One repeals police officers’ collective bargaining rights, a goal for police reformers. Some City Council members have questioned the second proposal, which would let the city issue bonds for permanent public improvements or others not prohibited by the Texas Constitution. In Alamo Heights, the lone applicants are Mayor Bobby Rosenthal, Place 1 Councilman Lawson Jessee and Place 2 Councilman Wes Sharples. The town also proposes reauthorizing part of a sales tax to fund road maintenance. The city of Olmos Park saw only incumbents Erin Harrison, Juliana Dusek and Sharon Plant file. The political lineup in Terrell Hills includes Peter Mako, who applied for a full term as Place 4 councilman. Kristyl Smith and Emmy Rogers Ballantyne, daughter-in-law of former Mayor Anne Ballantyne, filed for Place 3. Races in the Alamo Heights Independent School District include Place 5 candidates general contractor Clay Page and nonprofit executive Elissa Sangster. Incumbent Lisa Krenger filed for Place 6. Place 7 contestants are engineer Travis C.E. Wiltshire, and community volunteer Carey Watson Hildebrand. In the San Antonio Independent School District, Lavaca resident and COVID-19 case investigator Sarah Sorensen opposes District 1 trustee Steve Lecholop, an attorney and King William Historic District resident. April 1 is the last day to register to vote. Early voting takes place April 19-27. eortiz@localcommunitynews.com Find this story and more at www. localcommunitynews.com.
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