LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM VOL. 2, ISSUE 5 | JULY 6 - AUG. 10, 2021
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS HAPPENING | PG. 07
SOUTH SAN ANTONIO
Farmers and artisans market at Mission Marquee Plaza
SUSAN YERKES | PG. 06
ALAMO: ENOUGH HISTORY FOR ALL
SAISD leaders laud growth at Brackenridge School High
HEALTH CARE | PGS. 12-15
BLOOD SHORTAGE, COVID SHOTS
Mission Branch Library celebrates 10 years
by EDMOND ORTIZ
Mural asks: WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO INCREASE VACCINATIONS? by EDMOND ORTIZ
ARTWORK continues on pg. 18
WELCOMING MORE STUDENTS back to inperson classes, the San Antonio Independent School District is focusing on finishing bond projects and expanding academic programs at Brackenridge High School, among other campuses.
Superintendent Pedro Martinez led by EDMOND ORTIZ
PROJECTS continues on pg. 22
A LINGERING PANDEMIC isn’t keeping community leaders and the San Antonio Public Library from marking the 10th anniversary of the Mission Branch Library. DECADE continues on pg. 20
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LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS JULY 6 - AUG. 10, 2021 Controller
PUBLISHER Jaselle Luna EDITORIAL
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Editor
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Carry responsibly
The LOCAL Community News editorial board includes Jaselle Luna and Thomas Edwards.
A NEW LAW allowing Texans 21 and older to carry handguns without a state license or a permit doesn’t mean common sense should go out the window. While the constitutional-carry law eliminates a background check, instruction and proficiency on the shooting range, gun owners should still avail themselves of a free, online safety course to be provided by the Department of Public Safety. Texas joins 19 other states in approving open carry. There are naysayers, of course, including police and domesticviolence experts who say open carry will only increase gun violence. Still, there are safeguards to help ensure that wrongdoers don’t have legal access to a handgun including those convicted during the last five years of deadly conduct, a
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terroristic threat, an assault causing bodily harm or disorderly conduct. Proponents, meanwhile, argue Texas legislators only affirmed what is already the law of the land — the Second Amendment gives people the right to bear arms. Period. But even if open carry is the law, those who tote a gun have a moral and ethical obligation to learn how and when to use it. Or, more important, when not to pull the trigger. Carrying a pistol or a revolver shouldn’t be the fulfillment of some gunslinger fantasy. It’s serious business. Drawing and firing a weapon, even if it’s justified, can open one to criminal prosecution and costly civil liabilities. Protecting your life and the lives of loved ones and innocents is understandable. But if you’re going to carry a gun, be responsible and get the proper training. This is 21st century Texas, not the OK Corral.
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ON THE COVER – The Mission Branch Library is celebrating 10 years of existence, while also acknowledging a gradual return to normalcy after the COVID-19 global pandemic prompted months of limited access. See the story on page 01. Courtesy photo
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OPINION
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LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS JULY 6 - AUG. 10, 2021
The unforgettable Alamo by SUSAN YERKES
FOLLOWING YEARS OF STOPS AND STARTS, plans to preserve and maintain the Alamo are moving forward. After the Texas Historical Commission’s refusal to allow the Cenotaph, that 60-foot marble monument commemorating the Alamo defenders, to be moved from its prominent spot in Alamo Plaza, the ambitious plan to “reimagine” the Alamo stalled.
But it’s back on track, for the present. A big infusion of money is key. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has promised $50 million from the state, and Bexar County commissioners have pledged another $25 million over the next five years. Hope Andrade, a leader with decades of political experience, is chair
of the Alamo Management Committee overseeing the project. Former District 3 Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran, who claims Alamo defender Jose Toribio Losoya as an ancestor, is the vice chair. There are a lot of groups involved in this endeavor: the state, the historical commission, San Antonio, Bexar County, the Alamo Trust (charged with
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fundraising), the Alamo Management Committee and its executive committee, the Alamo Advisory Group and the Alamo Citizens Advisory Committee. The biggest point of agreement for all is the importance of preserving and maintaining the historic Alamo building. Other issues remain to be fought over — and they will be. It’s good news that Alamo Plaza, which some early planners wanted to close off, will remain open. It’s also wonderful to hear the historic Woolworth and Crockett buildings across the street from the Alamo will be preserved. Advocacy groups have been lobbying to save those buildings, which are also part of San Antonio history. The Woolworth building now represents a bright spot in the saga of the struggle for civil rights. It was one of seven downtown lunch counters during the early 1960s. On March 7, 1960, Black customers were served along with whites. The moment thrust San Antonio into the national news. Jackie Robinson, the first Black player to join a Major League Baseball team, told the New York Times the story “should be told around the world.” The Woolworth building is the only one of those seven lunch counters still identifiable after 60 years. Today, when the subjects of racism and diversity have become political flashpoints, the Woolworth lunch counter – still marked by a
red-tiled area that was the serving counter and holes in the floor where stools were bolted – is well worth commemorating. And the story, which was barely remembered by most for decades, still bears retelling as part of the continuing discussion about freedom and inclusion. When museum designer Patrick Gallagher, the program manager for the Alamo Trust, presented some preliminary plans for the Alamo Museum and Visitor Center in May, he stressed the Woolworth building will also house an exhibit on its place in civil rights history. There are still big battles ahead for the Alamo. The biggest is bound to be how the story of the Alamo will be presented in the new museum. In June, a new book with the provocative title “Forget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of an American Myth,” drew praise from revisionists and rage from traditionalists. It’s a fascinating, unsettling read. But given the worldwide popularity of the heroic Alamo narrative, it’s unlikely anybody is going to forget the Alamo. It’s also likely the vital role of Tejanos in Texas history, the history of slavery in the state and a host of other issues will be increasingly known and remembered. Texas is a big, very diverse state, with plenty of powerful myths. There’s room for all our history here. 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.
HAPPENING
JULY
PLAN YOUR MONTH WITH OUR CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
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School Districts Harlandale ISD: 6:15 p.m. July 19; 102 Genevieve Drive San Antonio ISD: 5:45 p.m., July 19; 414 W. Quincy St. Southside ISD: 6 p.m. July 15; 1460 Martinez Losoya Road
JULY 8
SOUTH SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER 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, visit https://www. southsachamber.org/ or call Jessica Furdock at 210-533-1600.
JULY 10
MOVIE IN THE PARK The Tower of the Americas at 739 E. César E. Chávez Blvd. presents “Toy Story 4.” Bring blankets and enjoy the free flick starting at sunset.
JULY 11
RANCHERA AT THE RANCHO LOS COMPADRES California-based band, Marca MP, is celebrating its Mexican roots through mariachi and ranchera music at 4 p.m. at 175 S. Loop 1604 East. For tickets, visit www. vividseats.com.
JULY 17
FARMERS MARKET A farmers’ and artisans’ market begins at 9 a.m. at Mission Marquee Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt Ave. For updates, call 210-207-3905 or visit https://www.missionmarquee.com/ HAPPENING continues on pg. 08
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
The key to finding work you’ll love tomorrow is finding a college that works for you today. And with the Alamo Colleges District, you have what it takes, because we give you everything you need on your first steps toward success. You have real accessibility. A family of five colleges conveniently located near you – Northeast Lakeview College, Northwest Vista College, Palo Alto College, St. Philip’s College, and San Antonio College. You have real choices. Select from a wide range of academic and career training paths. One of them is surely just right for you. You have real affordability. Thanks to low tuition and easily available financial aid, you can follow the first two years of your college dream with no money headaches. You have real help. Open enrollment means that getting into college here is a snap. And you’ll have your own advisor from day one until you graduate or finish career training. So, put in the work and in two years or less, you’ll have a real paycheck to take to the bank - or real college credits to take to a 4-year university. You have what it takes!
CALL 21-ALAMO AT ALAMO.EDU OR
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LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
HAPPENING
JULY 6 - AUG. 10, 2021
HAPPENING continues from pg. 07
EVENTS/Farmers-Artisan-Markets.
JULY 22-24
TCDA CONVENTION The Henry B. Gonzalez Center, 900 E Market St., hosts virtual choir performances as part of the Texas Choral Directors Association. Students selected for the choir learn one or two pieces of music to participate in the musical event. For more, visit 10times.com/tcda.
JULY 22-23
ANNUAL NARME SUMMIT Showcasing at the Sheraton Gunter Hotel, 205 E. Houston St., the annual National Association for Relationship & Marriage Education Summit paves a path for
relationship development, family formation and poverty prevention. The event highlights practical strategies in reinforcing positive workplace and community impacts. For more, visit http://www.narme.org/ conferences/.
THROUGH JULY 31
FREE SUMMER MEAL PROGRAM The San Antonio Independent School District will provide meals during the summer as part of the Texas Department of Agriculture’s “Seamless Summer Nutrition Program.” The program offers meals at no cost to children ages 18 years and younger. Also eligible for free meals are students who continue to be enrolled in school past the age of 18 but under the age of 21, and who are identified as disabled through a special education program. For more, call 210-554-2290.
THROUGH AUG. 7
SUNDAYS
The Alamo Kiwanis Club presents the 64th season of Fiesta Noche del Rio at 8:30 p.m. at the Arneson River Theater in La Villita, 418 Villita St., on Friday and Saturday nights. Enjoy the mariachis, flamenco guitar, singing, dancing and a cool drink or snack while supporting children’s charities through your attendance. It’s been a San Antonio tradition since 1957. For tickets, visit http://fiestanochesa.com or customer service at H-E-B.
The Good Kind Southtown, 1127 S. St. Mary’s St., offers brunch and musical entertainment from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Also, come at 10 a.m. for exercise. For updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/ GoodKindSouthtown/events/.
FIESTA NOCHE DEL RIO
TUESDAYS ROTARIANS
The Rotary Club of San Antonio South normally meets at noon on the second floor of Stinson Municipal Airport, 8535 Mission Road. For updates, visit https:// portal.clubrunner.ca/8149.
WEDNESDAYS
OPEN-AIR CINEMA In concert with Slab Cinema, The Good Kind Southtown, 1127 S. St. Mary’s St., presents physically distanced, open-air cinema. Films start at 7 p.m. Cost is $8. For movies, updates or cancellations, visit https://www.slabcinema.com or https:// www.facebook.com/goodkindsouthtown.
SATURDAYS
OUTSIDE MARKET The Good Kind Southtown, 1127 S. St. Mary’s St., hosts bazaars featuring local vendors from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For updates, visit https://eatgoodkind.com/ upcoming-events/.
BRUNCH AND FITNESS
ONGOING
MISSION MARQUEE PLAZA Experience culture, art, education and more on the historic grounds of Mission Marquee Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt Ave. Also, until November, the seasonal, outdoor film series has returned. Movies begin 15 minutes after sundown. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. For times, plus updates or cancellations, visit https://www. missionmarquee.com/EVENTS/CulturalCommunity-Events.
ONGOING
ADULT-EDUCATION CLASSES The San Antonio Independent School District offers free online classes through its Adult and Community Education Department. Sessions include courses in citizenship, basic computer skills in Spanish, plus certifications in customer service and information technology. For updates and to register, call 210-554-2453 or 210-554-2450 or visit www.saisd.net/ ace.
ONGOING
WANT A TOUR?
YOGA CLASSES
Villa Finale Museum & Gardens, 401 King William St., has reopened its grounds. Visits are free and open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For updates, call 210-223-9800 or visit https://villafinale.org.
Community Yoga holds free classes 10-11 a.m. at Confluence Park, 310 W. Mitchell St., sponsored by the San Antonio River Foundation. For more, visit https:// mobileomtx.com.
SUBMITTING EVENTS: Email all the details along with your contact information two months in advance to tips@ localcommunitynews.com.
SUNDAYS
JULY 6 – AUG. 10, 2021
LEARN ABOUT THE NEWEST NEIGHBORHOOD PLACES FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER.
HOURS ARE CURRENT AS OF PRESS TIME, BUT CHECK WITH THE BUSINESS FOR UPDATES.
ROCKIN’ G’ GRILL 1250 Mission Grande at Mission Del Lago. For more, call 210-749-9839 or visit facebook.com/Rockin-GGrill-110721620727663.
EAT
9
Barbecue spot debuts at South Side links
NEW ADDITIONS TO THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC ART LANDSCAPE
by OLIVIER J. BOURGOIN
“Bloom” by Leticia Huerta at the River Walk Public Art Garden
TRANSITIONING FROM A FOOD TRUCK to a brick and mortar, the Rockin’ G’ Grill is teeing up to be the South Side’s next barbecue hot spot.
The eatery recently opened at 1250 Mission Grande at Mission Del Lago, one of eight San Antonio municipal golf courses managed by Alamo City Golf Trail. Prior to its debut, the operation catered to appetites as a food truck on the site, offering barbecue and other stick-to-your ribs grub. “Our plan was always to impress (ACGT) enough so that they would ask us to move inside (the building) and they did,” co-owner Alex Garcia said. His business partner is golfer Ray Garza, a Harlandale High School alum who returned to his alma mater as a golf coach after flirting with turning pro. Garza also started On Par Golf, a full-service, private golf school and instruction program also based out of Mission del Lago. Although he was trained as an electrician, Garcia is no stranger to the restaurant business, having previously owned a barbecue spot himself. He also worked at his wife’s family’s restaurant Estela’s Café, 114 Fredericksburg Road. The new, 3,000-square-foot eatery with large flatscreens serves an assortment of tacos, breakfast platters, burgers, wings and sandwiches and specialty barbecue items such as the popular Birdie Brisket Sandwich. “If all goes well, we would like to open more Rockin’ G’ Grill locations at some of the other (municipal) golf courses,” Garcia said. Hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday. Find this EAT Local at www.localcommunitynews.com. LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
“Innature” by Ashley Mireles at Phil Hardberger Park
“Star of Texas” by Sebastián at the San Antonio International Airport
“Najo Jām” by Carlos Cortés and Doroteo Garza at Comanche Lookout Park
LOWDOWN
10
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS JULY 6 - AUG. 10, 2021
TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT WHAT’S NEW IN THE COMMUNITY FROM OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS TO NEWS TIDBITS.
Open and Opening Soon
For more, visit https://gusfriedchicken. com/ or https://www.facebook.com/ GusFCSanAntonio.
ROCKIN’ G’ GRILL, 1250 Mission Grande at Mission del Lago
IN OTHER NEWS
Golf Course, offers a full menu featuring barbecue, burgers and wings. It also has beer and wine, catering and an outdoor entertainment area where visitors can bring lawn chairs and enjoy live music. Hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. For more, call 210-749-9839 or visit www.facebook. com/Rockin-G-Grill-110721620727663. (See story on page 09)
GUS’ FRIED CHICKEN, 812 S. Alamo St., serves hormone-free chicken and appetizers such as fried pickles and fried green tomatoes, and sides such as baked beans, potato salad, macaroni and cheese and seasoned fries. The Southtown spot is the Memphis-based restaurant chain’s 32nd nationwide and fifth in Texas. The company donated all profits from its June 20 soft opening to local charities. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
THE CITY HAS BEGUN A BOND-FUNDED PROJECT on Southcross Boulevard. Improvements include new sidewalks, curbs and driveway approaches, as well as traffic-signal upgrades and relocating utilities between Roosevelt Avenue and Pleasanton Road. Work is expected to last a year. The city is also designing another bond-funded project that will provide new sidewalks, curbs, driveway approaches and bicycle lanes along Roosevelt from U.S. 90 to Loop 410. That project will include a new pedestrian/bike bridge along the west side of the Roosevelt historic bridge across the San Antonio River.
FORMER DISTRICT 3 CITY COUNCILWOMAN REBECCA VIAGRAN IS NAMED FOR NEW ROLES WITH Texas A&M University-San Antonio and the Alamo Management Committee. Viagran is A&M’s inaugural workforce development and community partnerships director. Officials said she’ll lead the South Side university’s strategy for advancing initiatives and partnerships to increase educational attainment and enhance the talent pipeline in south Bexar County and across the region. She also was named vice chair of the panel overseeing redevelopment of Alamo Plaza, working alongside new committee Chair Hope Andrade, the former Texas secretary of state.“The stories of the Alamo are an essential part of history, not only to Texas and
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The owners of Rockin’ G’ Grill, 1250 Mission Grande at Mission del Lago Golf Course, said in time they may open additional eateries at other municipal golf courses, including Brackenridge Park and Olmos Basin Park. File photo
Rockin’ G’ Grill
Hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. For more, call 210-749-9839 or visit www.facebook.com/Rockin-G-Grill-110721620727663
JULY 6 – AUG. 10, 2021
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
America, but to the entire world,” said Viagran, who claims Alamo defender José Toribio Losoya as an ancestor.
THE NEW SOUTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL CARDINAL MONUMENT ON CAMPUS WILL NOW HONOR THE TOP 10% of each graduating class. In an end-of-schoolyear ceremony, Southside Independent School District Superintendent Rolando Ramirez congratulated the Class of 2021, and recognized the Class of 2020. Both classes now have plaques honoring their members. Donations made the monument possible.
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD’S SCHOOL OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE RECEIVED FULL ACCREDITATION from the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on
LOWDOWN
Osteopathic College Accreditation. The medical school is based at Brooks.
reporting.” A full report is at https:// tinyurl.com/4uasncau.
THE SOUTHSIDE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION DELIVERED $20,000 IN INNOVATION GRANTS
SENIOR PLANET FROM AARP HOSTED A FREE POP-UP EVENT MAY 14 AT SOUTHSIDE LIONS SENIOR CENTER, teaching attendees
to several teachers. Prizes ranged from $933 to nearly $6,000. In spite of the pandemic, the foundation raised money from small fundraisers with additional support from donors, officials said.
who brought their electronic devices how to use social media to connect with other older adults, family members and the community. Humana Foundation and the city’s Health and Human Services Department assisted with the event, which included a how-to Zoom lesson and a virtual scavenger hunt. Older adults can participate in free multiweek courses to learn technology applications ranging from computer basics and social media to designing a website. For more, visit www. seniorplanet.org.
STANDARD & POOR RECENTLY UPGRADED HARLANDALE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT’S finances from negative to stable. According to a release, the rating agency’s new assessment is based on HISD’s implementation of “stronger processes and training around governance, procurement and
11
CUISINE SOLUTIONS, THE WORLD’S LARGEST SOUS-VIDE COMPANY, HOSTED A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY in May for its new facility at Brooks. ThenDistrict 3 Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran, French Ambassador Philippe Étienne, Cuisine Solutions Chairman Stanislas Vilgrain, and company President/CEO Felipe Hasselmann attended.
ALL SOUTHSIDE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT CAMPUSES WILL HAVE STEAM ACADEMIES starting fall 2021. Academy programs covering science, technology, engineering, art and math begin in elementary and continue on through middle school and high school. Find LOCAL Lowdown at www. localcommunitynews.com.
LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
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LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS MEDICAL SPECIAL SECTION JULY 6 – AUG.10, 2021
PANDEMIC TAKES TOLL ON BLOOD SUPPLIES by JOSE T. GARZA III
WHILE COVID-19 cases have waned, area bloodsupply levels remain critically low.
Because there is less than two days’ worth of stock, the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center is urging Texans to roll up their sleeves and donate plasma, said
spokesperson Francine Pina. About 600 donations a day are needed to rebuild reserves and support hospital patients, she added. Roughly 400 donors daily visit the center’s seven locations. The spike in need can be traced back to postponement of surgical procedures due to the coronavirus pandemic. Pina said plasma demand
from hospitals is 20 percent higher than it was a year ago, and because of that, the center is mostly requesting Type O blood donations. That blood type is most commonly used for transfusions and trauma situations. The center encourages donations of other blood types as well. Because of the plasma shortage, University
PEOPLE ARE OUT DOING OTHER THINGS SO THEY ARE NOT COMING IN TO DONATE.” FRANCINE PINA, SOUTH TEXAS BLOOD & TISSUE CENTER Hospital physicians decided to create an hourly timetable for when patients receive transfusions, while also determining whether medical procedures need to be delayed, said Dr. Leslie Greebron, director of transfusion medicine. “We have to ensure we are triaging inventory of our precious resource to make sure it goes to the
right people who need it at that moment,” she said. The COVID-19 pandemic posed a plethora of challenges to the center’s supply this past year. The organization was unable to host blood drives at businesses and schools, as most employees and students worked or studied remotely. Collections from such events made up 60
JULY 6 – AUG. 10, 2021
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LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS MEDICAL SPECIAL SECTION
5
LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
University Health System nurses and medical assistants administer the second dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to12- to 16-year-olds at Wonderland Mall of the Americas June 4. While many are still receiving inoculations to stave off the disease, area blood banks say donations of blood are running low. Courtesy photo/University Health System
percent of its stock, Pina said. Currently, that figure represents its donations from in-house, she added. The crippling February winter storm and annual holidays also slowed down plasma collections. “People were not able to donate blood during the storm,” said Pina, who noted that no-shows have also been an issue. “(During holidays), people are out doing other things so they are not coming in to donate. They may seem like minor things, but we need to catch up (on donations).” The center relaunched its mobile drive events in the fall, Pina said, and due to the drop in COVID-19 cases, it has been able to fill existing appointments and not extend hours. To reward donors, the organization gave away a Fiesta medal in June to commemorate the longtime celebration’s return after its cancellation last year due to
the pandemic. An electronic gift card valued at $10 awarded to donors after each visit is redeemable with 100-plus retailers. Vaccinated and unvaccinated donors are eligible to give blood as long as they are healthy, Pina said. Unvaccinated guests, though, are required to wear face masks and practice physical distancing, she added. “There is no waiting period after you have received (the COVID) vaccine to give blood,” Pina said. “The vaccine doesn’t interfere with a blood donation. It could be compared to getting the flu vaccine, as they still continue to give blood.” For more on being a donor, visit https://donor. southtexasblood.org. Find this story and more at www. localcommunitynews.com.
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LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS MEDICAL SPECIAL SECTION JULY 6 – AUG.10, 2021
by RON AARON EISENBERG
NEARLY 50% OF THE ELIGIBLE population in Bexar County and the surrounding area have received at least one vaccination against COVID-19, but more needs to be done, health officials said.
According to figures current at press time, of the 1.9 million inhabitants in the greater San Antonio area, 781,524, or 40.58%, are fully vaccinated. An estimated 951,867, or 49.43%, people have had one dose of the double-shot vaccine to limit the spread of a novel coronavirus that triggered a planetwide pandemic a year and a half ago that has killed millions. Scientists say more
vaccinations create herd immunity and give the virus nowhere to go. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, by late June 65% of the U.S. population was partially vaccinated; in Texas, that number was 56%. In spite of the rising numbers, there remain many people on the fence about taking shots, and labs have required additional research to determine if vaccines used by adults are safe for adolescents. Attendance at clinics has also slowed in the past few weeks, as those who wanted the vaccine have gotten inoculated. Now it’s a question of getting others to show up who are not so sure. “We have plenty of work to do to get everyone vaccinated, but I’m pleased that we’re keeping pace with every major metro area in Texas,” said Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “I’m impressed with the pop-up program
5%
%
BL AC K
COVID-19 VACCINES
ASIAN 2
ABOUT HALF OF THE AREA POPULATION HAS RECEIVED
CASES BY RACE/ETHNICITY (*TOTAL AVAILABLE = 135,262)
WHITE 18%
HISPANIC/LATINO 75%
*Table shows percentages based on COVID-19 cases with race/ethnicity data available at time of analysis. Data will be updated 4th Monday of every month. Demographic breakdown in Bexar County is 75% Hispanic, 5% Black, 18% White, 2% Asian, and 0% Other.
PERCENT FULLY VACCINATED (POPULATION 12+)
> 75 - 100
> 50 - 75
> 25 - 50
> 0 - 25
that (Metropolitan Health District) is coordinating to meet people where they live in order to equitably and completely distribute our regional vaccine supply.” The mayor said he realizes there are many residents who still have questions or concerns about getting the shots. “This targeted rollout phase will be critical in developing trust with San Antonio residents who may be a little more hesitant to get the jab,” he added. “If we continue to build that trust and visit every neighborhood in our community, we will be able to avoid another surge.” The number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic nationwide is staggering. More than 600,000 people have fallen prey to the virus and its complications, according to the CDC. And many more – who are not vaccinated — are expected to succumb to the disease in the coming months, officials said. In Bexar County, according to Metro Health, nearly 3,600 people have died from COVID-19. Of that number, 53% were females. An estimated 75% of victims who died from the virus were Hispanic, 18% were Anglo and 5% were African-American. Some 28% of the fatalities were age 50 and over. However, nearly 19% of those who succumbed were 19 and younger. Anyone age 12 and over can be vaccinated. Vaccine developers are currently conducting tests to determine proper dosing, efficacy
JULY 6 – AUG. 10, 2021
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
MEDICAL SPECIAL SECTION
and safety to inoculate youngsters from 2 to 12 years of age. By mid-June, University Health System had vaccinated 15,500 youths ages 12-17, officials said. Locally, Metro Health, UHS and WellMed Medical Management and the WellMed Charitable Foundation have administered vaccines across Bexar County. The vaccinations are free to all. No insurance is required. George B. Hernandez Jr., president and CEO of UHS, said, “Getting people vaccinated has been an important objective for UH since we received the vaccine in late December 2020.” UHS will continue to offer the Pfizer vaccine at the Robert B. Green Campus Pharmacy, 903 W. Martin St., on a walk-in basis from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays for
those 12 and older. Metro Health offers vaccinations in a variety of pop-up locations across the community. Find a vaccine site at https://tinyurl. com/3whxreth. Metro Health is also offering incentives to those who get vaccinated – with a ticket to Six Flags Fiesta Texas for each vaccination at the Alamodome or pop-up clinics, plus free Fiesta medals at pop-up locations, while supplies last. A spokesman for Metro Health said, “Our vaccination rate is pretty evenly tied with Houston’s, and second to Austin’s, when we
look at big cities in Texas.” While experts agree San Antonio is on the right track, there is still concern over those who refuse to be vaccinated. That includes parents who resist having their children get shots. One parent, who asked that her name not be used, said she is not planning to get her two sons — both over the age of 12 — inoculated. “I just think there needs to be more testing to prove the shots are safe for my kids,” added the mother, who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. According to the Metro Health official, “To
15
persuade people who are still on the fence, it’s more about one-on-one conversations at this stage, and public health can’t do that alone.” He urged people to check out the CDC’s suggestions on talking to those who are vaccine resistant by visiting https://tinyurl. com/42y8y46j. New, more transmissible strains of the virus could prove even more harmful to those who haven’t taken the jab, he warned. For more on COVID-19, go to www.cdc. gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq. html. Find this story and more at www. localcommunitynews.com.
COVID-19 HOTLINE The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District has opened a COVID-19 Hotline for residents to ask questions about the virus. The hotline is available in English and Spanish. Residents can call 311 or 210-207-6000 and select option 8. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday.
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LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
POLITICS
JULY 6 - AUG. 10, 2021
Viagran, Castillo join City Council by EDMOND ORTIZ
ANOTHER MEMBER of the Viagran family now occupies the District 3 City Council seat.
Phyllis Viagran, sister of former Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran, received nearly 60% of the vote to defeat Tomas Uresti in the June 5 election runoff. Elsewhere in the area, teacher and community organizer Teri Castillo claimed 57% to clinch a District 5 runoff win against Rudy Lopez, a retired city employee. Term limits prohibited Rebecca Viagran from seeking another two years in office. The election of her sister sets the stage for a South Side political dynasty. Phyllis Viagran, a community outreach
coordinator with Older Adults Technology Services, emerged from the May 1 election without enough votes to best Uresti, formerly a state legislator and an ex-Harlandale Independent School District trustee.
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They were the top two vote-getters from a field of 12 candidates. Viagran’s key campaign issues were bridging the digital divide, addressing domestic violence, caring for older persons and creating jobs in the post-pandemic era. “I am so humbled and grateful,” Phyllis Viagran said. Rebecca Viagran used one of her final email messages as a council member to thank constituents. She said her office staff and residents worked together during her tenure to address getting stray and abandoned animals off the streets, stopping code violations, making road fixes, and pushing economic development and cultural preservation. “I know you will be in good hands with the incoming councilwoman, and I am looking forward to seeing District 3 continue to thrive,” she said. Meanwhile, Castillo succeeds Shirley Gonzales, who was prohibited by term limits from seeking another two years as the District 5 representative. Castillo pledged to focus on affordable
housing, fighting gentrification, reforming public-safety practices, and improving public health, transportation and roads. Her grassroots progressive campaign got support from the likes of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, and former Mayor Julian Castro, who ran Housing and Urban Development under President Barack Obama. Critics late in the campaign denounced Castillo as an anti-police socialist or Marxist. “It is because of you that we are so much closer to realizing our vision of a local government that works for us, that puts the needs of the people before all else. It is a vision of a government that is not just possible, but necessary and long overdue,”Castillo said. The new council will spend the summer developing the city’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget, and gauging potential projects for a planned city bond election in 2022. The city is also talking with the San Antonio Police Officers Association to hammer out a new contract. eortiz@localcommunitynews.com
Educator and community organizer Teri Castillo (right), seen here with Texas Organizing Project organizer Sofia Sepulveda, won the District 5 City Council election runoff on June 5. Courtesy photo/Teri Castillo
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LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
ART AND HEALTH
JULY 6 - AUG. 10, 2021
Paintings take a poke at COVID-19 by EDMOND ORTIZ
A PAINTING ON THE WALL of a Lone Star neighborhood store is among six new murals in a city-sponsored campaign encouraging residents to help contain COVID-19 by getting vaccinated.
City leaders and local artist Alex Rubio gathered at La Norteña Fruit and Grocery, 2202 S. Flores St., on May 14 to unveil the painting of noted San Antonio Independent School District trustee Arthur Valdez as part of the city’s COVID-19 prevention campaign, “What Will It Take.” Mask-wearing rules and other restrictions have eased, and San Antonio continues to make strides with vaccinations and lowering the coronavirus positivity rate locally.
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Mayor Ron Nirenberg, however, said he hopes the community won’t let its guard down. “The more people who get vaccinated, the more our hopes of getting back to life as we knew it can become a reality,” he said.
Artist Ana Laura Hernández created this mural at Highland Food Mart, 2402 Hicks Ave., as part of the city’s ‘What Will It Take’ COVID-19 prevention/ awareness campaign. Courtesy photo/Ana Laura Hernández
The murals make up Phase 2 of the city’s pandemic prevention campaign. Phase 1 involved area artists performing in music videos to stress wearing masks, physical distancing and sanitizing. The second phase also features a partnership with the arts organization Supporting Multiple Arts Resources Together, or SMART. Then-District 5 Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales said her community, which includes the West Side and parts of the South Side, has been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. “In many ways it’s because of living in multigenerational households,” she said. “We’ve been the essential workers. We’ve been on the front lines of all the essential work happening in the city.” Gonzales lauded participating artists and the city’s Metropolitan Health District for using various ways to reach out to economically disadvantaged residents. The other murals can be viewed at Highland Food Mart, 2402 Hicks Ave.; KIM Store, 5401 S.W. Military Drive; the Marriage and Family Institute of San
Antonio, 1528 N. Main Ave.; First Stop, 2553 E. Houston St.; and Jefferson Bodega, 1005 Donaldson Ave. According to Assistant City Manager Colleen Bridger, the murals are located in some of the city’s most vulnerable communities, and pay homage to people, places and memories revered in those neighborhoods. Valdez, a retired aircraft engineer, is the SAISD District 4 trustee. The South Flores mural depicts him wearing a red mask bearing a cardinal, a bird that his late wife Teresa enjoyed watching. “I designed this mural in hopes it will encourage San Antonio communities most affected by COVID-19 to protect each other by getting vaccinated,” Rubio said. Metro Health continues working with community agencies to host free COVID-19 pop-up vaccine clinics focused mainly on boosting lowincome/less-mobile populations. Residents with questions may call 311 or email COVID-19@sanantonio. gov for details. eortiz@localcommunitynews.com
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LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
COMMUNITY
JULY 6 - AUG. 10, 2021
DECADE continues from pg. 01
The continuing celebration is mainly on the library system’s website, where city officials and supporters offer brief remarks about the history and impact of the facility, which opened at 3134 Roosevelt Ave. on April 30, 2011. Visitors have been dropping by the library to pick up anniversary goodie bags and take “Star Wars” themed photos. Guest speakers describe Mission Branch as a “firmly established” and “beloved” place in the Mission San Jose neighborhood. A group called Friends of Mission Branch Library led the effort more than a decade ago to get the city to
open a library in South Central. The city built the 16,400-square-foot library on the former Mission Drive-In site, between a restored movie marquee and Mission San Jose. Friends Vice President Marcie Anguiano recalled her late father-in-law, Roberto Anguiano Sr., who advocated for a library along the historic missions corridor. “He understood that having a library would have a positive impact on South Side families,” Marcie Anguiano said. Terry Ybanez, Friends of Mission Branch Library’s president, has been with the group since its inception. “Our beautiful library is a community center in our Mission San Jose neighborhood,” she said. The area’s heritage and community
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Mission Branch Library, seen here in a recent photo, accommodates a range of community activities and preserves neighborhood heritage. Courtesy photo/ Google Street View
engagement are reflected in the construction of the library, and in the activities and programming there, officials said. A series of artworks created by San Antonio native Chris Sauter can be seen at various parts of the site, including a mural depicting the library and Mission San Jose above layers of San Antonio history. Visitors can also find two outdoor sculptures embedded with fossils and artifacts, as well as a playground, exercise equipment and a rock garden.
In 2013, a library courtyard was dedicated to the late Monsignor Balthasar Janacek, who served as archdiocesan director for the Spanish missions. Two years later, a mission community garden group was formed and a library space was created for them. In 2016, the library began hosting a project to preserve and share heritage of local indigenous people. In 2018, the library’s meeting rooms were renamed after Roberto Anguiano.
JULY 6 – AUG. 10, 2021
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
21
THE LASTING EFFECTS OF ANKLE SPRAINS
ANKLE SPRAINS: "IT'S NOT THAT SERIOUS..."
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Your ankle is a network of bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles.
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not so fun facts about ankle sprains
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Mission Branch Library today contains 50,000 items and 24 publicaccess computers. Between 2018 and 2019, the library saw nearly 226,000 visitors. SAPL Director Ramiro Salazar recalled hundreds of South Side residents filling the library grounds on opening day and celebrating the launch of a community library. “We’re proud that after 10 years, the Mission Branch Library continues to be the center for the community there in South San Antonio,” he said. Josie Martinez, District 3 trustee with the San Antonio Public Library board, was a founding member of the Friends of Mission Library. She commended library staff for working
through the pandemic. “The staff of Mission Library did not let a little thing like a worldwide pandemic interrupt services the community has come to expect,” Martinez said. She added, “This wonderful staff proved that the library is more than just a physical building, and while day-to-day procedures may have looked a little bit different, that same heart for service and a dedicated spirit has been steadfast throughout these difficult times.” The online anniversary videos can be found at https://guides. mysapl.org/mission10th. eortiz@localcommunitynews. com LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
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LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
EDUCATION
JULY 6 - AUG. 10, 2021
PROJECTS continues from pg. 01
OUR KIDS DESERVE ALL OF OUR SUPPORT TO SET THEM UP KIMBLERY ASH, FOR SUCCESS.” BRACKENRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
recent “State of the District” town halls at each SAISD high school, including a gathering at Brackenridge. At every event, he said the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions, in addition to mass vaccinations of employees and older students, means the district can better concentrate on pre-outbreak functions. Roughly half of SAISD students were attending school in person by mid-April. Mass testing of employees and students, too, has helped matters. “We’re one of the few school districts in the country, of our size, that does COVID testing at every school,” Martinez said. The district serves 47,000 students and has 90 campuses.
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SAISD plans to offer remote-lesson options for the 2021-2022 school year, but in-person attendance is highly encouraged. “We’ll have dedicated teachers for any student who needs to start remote or stay remote during the year,” Martinez added. Martinez said SAISD will work to ensure each student has a digital device to use at home, and a free reliable online connection. The district is also expanding mentalhealth care services at every campus to help students struggling to return to the
rhythms of school life. According to Martinez, the pandemic has had little to no effect on the completion of 2016 bond projects or the start of 2020 bond upgrades. Attendees at each town hall got to see completed bond construction at the respective high school they visited. Work at Brackenridge includes upgrading the school’s infrastructure, replacing windows and the roof, and modernizing classrooms. Then-District 1 trustee Steve Lecholop spoke to the audience about an increase in academic performance at
JULY 6 – AUG. 10, 2021
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS
EDUCATION
Brackenridge. He hailed as successes the campus’ Early College High School, and a science, technology, engineering and math duallanguage program offered to sixth graders in Brackenridge’s feeder-school zone. “It’s just continuing to grow and improve,” Lecholop said of the high school’s Early College program. Brackenridge was also presented with SAISD’s inaugural College Cup, sponsored by the district’s Advanced Academics and Post-Secondary Initiatives, for having the highest college enrollment rate of neighborhood schools in the district. Interim Principal Kimberley Ash, who retired at the end of the school year, expressed pride in the Brackenridge students’ achievements.
23
The San Antonio Independent School District’s 2016 bond funded window replacements, upgraded infrastructure and other improvements at Brackenridge High School. Courtesy photo/SAISD
“It was thrilling to be the inaugural recipient of the College Cup,” she said in a statement. “Our kids deserve all of our support to set them up for success
in postsecondary next steps. Also, it is always wonderful to see our students showcase their programs.” eortiz@localcommunitynews.com
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