The Padres’ new manager
Good Morning, I’m Debbie Cruz….it’s Wednesday, November 22nd.
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More about the Padres’ new manager.
That’s next. But first... let’s do the headlines….
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The number of people getting flu-like illnesses is starting to increase, as we approach the holidays.
Cases of covid, the flu and R-S-V have been rising slightly, recently.
But Kaiser San Diego’s assistant chief of staff, Dr. William Tseng says, we’re in a good place compared to the last several years.. with lower numbers overall.
“All three symptoms are exactly the same -- runny nose, sore throat, fevers, body aches so we don't know exactly which one is which unless you test for it.. I think we’re still doing well, we do have to watch for flu because that’s going up faster than covid and the rest of them.”
Tseng says if you have a cough or flu-like symptoms, masking up can help protect others.. and getting vaccinated can help reduce the chance of severe illness.
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The Auto Club of Southern California is predicting a record-breaking number of Thanksgiving drivers in the region --- for the second year in a row.
“The Auto Club projects 4.6 million Southern Californians will take a trip, which is a 3% increase from last year's numbers and a 3.5% increase from 2019.”
That’s the Auto Club’s Anlleyn Venegas, who says while travel will be up… gas prices will be 30 to 40 cents a gallon less than last year.
The Auto Club says the roads will be busiest today, Sunday and Monday, from about 10 a-m to 5 p-m.
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All county offices, public health clinics, family resource centers, libraries and animal shelters will be closed tomorrow and Friday for Thanksgiving.
But law enforcement, emergency animal control and other essential services will continue through the holiday.
County parks, campgrounds and neighborhood parks will be open, but some community centers will be closed… including the Fallbrook, Lakeside and Spring Valley community centers.
County animal shelters will resume their regular business hours on Saturday.
And all County offices will resume normal business hours on Monday.
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From KPBS, you’re listening to San Diego News Now. Stay with me for more of the local news you need.
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The San Diego Padres have chosen a familiar face as the team’s new manager.
As reporter Alexander Nguyen (Wynn) tells us, it was not the first time Mike Shildt was offered the job.
Two years ago … padres general manager aj preller approached former st. louis cardinals manager mike shilldt about the padres manager job. according to preller, shilldt said he wasn’t ready then. but he’s ready now. expectations are high next season … after the padres failed to make the playoffs this year. but shildt knows how to win. in his four years as the cardinals' manager, he led the team to back-to-back playoffs from 20-19 to 20-21 … and a franchise-record 17 straight wins in 20-21. “i'm really grateful for a second act. not everybody gets it. you take it for granted. there's only 30 of these jobs, and i can promise you i won't take this one for granted. and i'm excited about our team.” still .. the padres have a rough road ahead next season. the friars' best pitcher blake snell is now a free agent. an/kpbs.
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For thousands of San Diegans who live in financially disadvantaged areas, there’s limited access to fresh produce.
Reporter John Carroll tells us about a program that is changing that... one neighborhood corner store at a time.
At the ideal market on the corner of national avenue and 31st street in logan heights, the door chime is going off every few seconds on this tuesday morning. but it’s not customers making it sound… it’s staff and student interns with a nonprofit called brightside produce, delivering healthy food. “in 2017, we launched our produce distribution service specifically designed for small markets, corner stores, liquor stores, to help them carry fresh fruits and vegetables for community residents.” that is iana castro, a marketing professor at san diego state, who co-founded brightside produce. its mission is to eliminate so-called “food deserts” in the county… areas where there are no stores that carry healthy fruits and vegetables. anywhere between 10 and 15 student interns work in the program, gaining valuable experience, cultivating empathy. “social justice, social entrepreneurship, sustainability while working with us and they get out in the community.” when brightside started, they delivered food to just five stores. it’s now up to 29. the goal is to reach a point where there is healthy produce available within a 10-minute walk, everywhere in the county. jc, kpbs news.
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December Nights returns next week, and with it, the annual traffic nightmare through Balboa Park.
Metro reporter Andrew Bowen says the park's new bus-only lanes won't be much help.
AB: For the past nine months, MTS buses have had their own lanes on Park Boulevard. The goal was to give transit riders a faster and more reliable trip through Balboa Park. But when San Diego's annual holiday fair returns on December 1st and 2nd, the southbound bus lanes won't be used by any buses. That's because the new bus only lanes don’t run all the way down Park Blvd. City traffic engineers left gaps, so buses will be rerouted. AS: If you have essentially a piecemeal bus-only lane that forces the bus to merge in and out of traffic, it makes the bus just as inefficient as it would be without that bus-only lane. AB: Anar Salayev is executive director of BikeSD, which will be hosting group bike rides to and from December Nights. They'll also be running a valet service to give cyclists secure bike parking. He says it's a shame the city hasn't prioritized completing the bus-only lanes. AS: Because again, you see these bottlenecks throughout that network or that corridor that maybe incrementally aren't that bad but when summed up together results in delays that wouldn't happen if the bus-only lane ran contiguously. AB: MTS will still be running regular bus services on the west side of Balboa Park, as well as a free shuttle to December Nights from downtown. You can plan your trip at SDMTS.COM. Andrew Bowen, KPBS news.
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Coming up.... A conversation with my producer about Thanksgiving plans and traditions…
“Typically what I do is I’ll put a little card on the table for everyone to write out what they’re thankful for, so I wanted to change it up this year.”
We’ll have that and more, just after the break.
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Imagine a museum that exposed unique contemporary art to more than 50 thousand visitors a day.
But it’s not a museum— it’s the San Diego International Airport.
Arts producer Julia Dixon Evans takes a closer look at the unexpected public art, travelers might see.
It's safe to say that virtually nobody visits an airport just to see some art. But In some ways, that’s the point. This unintentional, unwitting glimpse of art and culture is part of the lure of airport arts programs around the world. The San Diego airport’s environment means people are hyper-focused on the tasks in front of them, like getting through security or catching a flight. Daniel Dennert is curator of its arts program. DANIEL DENNERT, SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT "There's all of those kind of inputs going into a person's mind. [1:41] So finding ways. That create this moment where people are like 'Oh wait,' and they kind of come out of this maybe subconscious rhythm and they really say, 'Oh that is different.'" Katie Norman, Airport Arts program manager, says the art has tangible purposes, beyond the aesthetics. KATIE NORMAN, SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT "Airports across the country have actually started creating these art programs that include public art largely because they provide a sense of place There are certain elements to our collection that create calming because this can be a very tough experience for some people traveling." Art in the San Diego airport costs just over 2 cents for each passenger who boards a plane. In terms of economic benefits, when passengers linger in terminals, they spend more on airport concessions. The program also creates jobs and pays artists. San Diego's airport art program includes temporary art exhibits. Plus performing arts and over 50 works more integrated into the architecture. KATIE NORMAN, SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT "we do have a robust collection here. I would say that there are about 15 other airports across the country that also have airport programs of a similar caliber" The temporary exhibit on view now is called "A Necessary Departure," spotlighting what artists went through during the pandemic. Some of the works are pre-security, but others are post-security, so visitors need a plane ticket to see them. In one example, by Terri Hughes-Oelrich, hundreds of lids and caps from single-use plastics are mounted on the wall and suspended from the ceiling like tiny works of art. It draws attention to the increased use of disposable products during the pandemic, and the increased urgency for change. DANIEL DENNERTS "The idea was you were looking at all these single-use plastics as if we were 10 years down the road and the only way you would be able to see plastic — because you couldn't see it in the store anymore — is by actually going to a museum" There's also a gravity-defying sculpture made of old folding chairs by Jamie Franks. Puzzle-like wooden portraits by Christopher Lloyd Tucker, and cosmic sculptures by Rebecca Webb. Border artist Alvaro Alvarez's "Imperfect Boundaries" is a series of seven framed pieces, tucked away in the airport’s "Be Relax" lounge. Shapes are formed from a crowded tangle of painted black ink lines and symbols — the edges created by the many lines represent human and community borders. Borders and boundaries are a big theme for Alvarez. He says it means more that his work is experienced by viewers outside of traditional art boundaries. Alvaro Alvarez, Artist "You know, when I describe imperfect boundaries, I use our border as a metaphor between Tijuana and San Diego but to have an airport setting as a gallery, that is a transient space. That filter — is a passageway for people everywhere " "An airport is essentially, you know, every literal gate to a plane is a threshold to cross." "A Necessary Departure" will be on view throughout Terminal 2 until the end of the year. So harried holiday travelers still have time to take it in. An unexpected piece of art may grab their attention as they dash to their gates. jde kpbs news.
TAG: The airport’s next temporary exhibit, "Espacios and Lines" will be unveiled next year.
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The holidays are already here and Thanksgiving is tomorrow. We’re doing something a little different today on the podcast. San Diego News Now podcast producer Emilyn Mohebbi is joining me to talk about our traditions and how we plan to spend the Thanksgiving Holiday.
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After a day of feasting with family and friends, the county is encouraging you to get outside with your family on what they’re calling Green Friday.
Parking fees will be waived the day after Thanksgiving, so visitors can picnic, play and explore the trails at dozens of county parks without worrying about fees!
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That’s it for the podcast today. As always you can find more San Diego news online at KPBS dot org. I’m Debbie Cruz. Thanks for listening. Our team will be taking time off for Thanksgiving and Black Friday, and the podcast will be back on Tuesday. Talk to you next week!
