HELLO
((ANCHOR 1–INSERT NAME HERE))
GOOD MORNING. I’M ______. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR MORNINGS ON THE HILL.
((ANCHOR 2–INSERT NAME HERE))
I’M ______. IT IS FRIDAY, APRIL 24TH, 2020.
((ANCHOR 3-)
I’M ____. AS WE ARE DEALING WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, OUR NEWSCAST IS CONTINUING OUR REMOTE COVERAGE.
((ANCHOR 4))
AND I’M ____. WE HAVE A PACKED SHOW TODAY, WITH STORIES RANGING FROM COVID-19 COVERAGE TO MENTAL HEALTH—ALL COMING UP ON MORNINGS ON THE HILL
((ROLL OPEN))
SENSORY DISORDER
TOSS: A MOTHER WILL DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT HER CHILDREN… ESPECIALLY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. OUR CHIANN NOBREGA SHOWS US THE JOURNEY OF ONE MOTHER AND SON WHO CONTINUE TO FACE LIFE CHALLENGES BEYOND THE PANDEMIC.
PKG:
WHILE MOST MOMS… OR DADS… COOK DINNER FOR THEIR FAMILIES ON SUNDAY NIGHTS… KELLI SCHMIDT DOES SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
SHE PREPARES A NEEDLE INFUSION.
A THREE HOUR LONG PROCESS DONE RIGHT ON HER KITCHEN COUNTER… BUT FOR WHO?
(“So it’s frightening and I’m thankful that Brennan is getting his infusions because that is making his immune system strong but it’s scary.”)
BEHIND THIS DOOR IS BRENNAN SCHMIDT… A 14 YEAR TEENAGE BOY WHO LOVES VIDEO GAMES, PLAYING HIS GUITAR AND HANGING OUT WITH HIS FRIENDS.
DUE TO THE POSSIBLE EXPOSURE TO COVID-19 I COULD NOT TALK TO HIM… BUT HERE IS HIS STORY.
AS A CHILD BRENNAN WAS VERY HAPPY. HE SPOKE SENTENCES AT TWO AND ALWAYS SMILED FOR HIS MOMS PHOTOS.
IT WASN’T UNTIL THE AGE OF FOUR WHEN HE REFUSED TO WEAR JEANS THAT HIS MOM KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
(“You just don’t know what’s wrong because he’s smart. He doesn’t have any diagnosis for you know, any any type of medical conditions and you just don’t understand why it is such a nightmare for your child to put on clothes.”)
IN THE THIRD GRADE BRENNAN WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER.
EACH PIECE OF CLOTHING HE PUT ON FELT LIKE A THOUSAND SHARDS OF GLASS SLOWLY CUTTING HIS SKIN.
(“I would drive him to school naked and fight with him. It was horrible.”)
THE ONLY SOLUTION WAS ONE PAIR OF BASKETBALL SHORTS AND A MEN’S EXTRA LARGE T-SHIRT.
THE NINE YEAR OLD WORE THE SAME OUTFIT FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
(“As a mom, you feel like it’s the it’s feels like failure. Like what’s wrong with my child?”)
AFTER NINE YEARS OF GOING TO HUNDREDS OF DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS AND THREE YEARS OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY…. BRENNAN’S CONDITION STARTED TO IMPROVE.
(“He wanted to buy a pair of jeans, which actually never thought we would see the day.”)
IT WAS A BIG STEP FOR BRENNAN… BUT HIS PROBLEMS DID NOT STOP THERE.
IN JANUARY 2018 KELLI SAW A DIFFERENCE IN HER SON’S BEHAVIOR… SOMETHING SHE HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
(“Something else was wrong. And as a mom, you just want to research…you want to look on the internet, you want to just I mean, I would stay up literally till three, four or five in the morning, researching and just trying to see what I could find.”)
A YEAR LATER IN JANUARY 2019… BRENNAN WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PANDAS, AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE.
HE HAD EXTREME OCD, COULD NOT SLEEP AND EVEN WORSE HE COULD NOT GO TO SCHOOL.
(“All you want for your child is to be normal. And it would cause a lot of fights because I would yell at him because I didn’t understand what was wrong.”)
THE ONE THING KELLI NEEDED TO HELP HER SON WAS THE RIGHT MEDICATION.
IN THIS CASE IT IS A NEEDLE INFUSION, WHICH PUMPS MEDICINE INTO A BODY TO IMPROVE THE IMMUNE SYSTEM.
BRENNAN STARTED THE YEAR LONG TREATMENT IN JANUARY 2020 AND CONTINUES TO DO IT EVEN THROUGH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
(“Right now working from home has been a challenge. On Sundays, I’m a nurse. And so I do Brennan’s infusions, which take about three hours.”)
KELLI ALSO WIPES DOWN HER GROCERIES AND LIMITS CONTACT WITH HER FAMILY IN ORDER TO KEEP BRENNAN SAFE…ALTHOUGH SOCIAL DISTANCING IS NOTHING NEW FOR THE TEENAGER.
(“Brennan said to me, wow now everybody actually knows how I feel, because he’s actually been living isolated for some time now, because when he’s out with people, he gets sick. So, it was quite shocking to me to actually feel what he feels every day.”)
KELLI’S JOURNEY WITH BRENNAN STARTED TEN YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS FOUR… BUT SHE IS HOPEFUL FOR THE FUTURE BECAUSE OVERCOMING CHALLENGES IS NOTHING NEW FOR THE MOTHER AND SON.
REPORTING FROM QUARANTINE… I’M CHIANN NOBREGA
TAG: BRENNAN IS CURRENTLY DOING ONLINE CLASSES ALONG WITH THE REST OF HIS CLASS… AND GRADUATING ON TIME IN 2023 IS AT THE TOP OF HIS LIST
THERAPY
TOSS: School may be closed for the rest of the year in Ohio, but it hasn’t stopped Occupational therapist Jourdan Lyons from having fun, learning with her students over the computer.
PKG: It’s a good thing all four of the Lyons kids are home during Covid-19 Not because of all the laundry they brought home for mom, But for the basket that holds it. ***NAT SOUND POP*** It’s a stop on an obstacle course. The oldest, Jourdan uses it and the blanket covered tunnels to teach occupational therapy to her students while under the stay at home order in ohio. The therapist says the course helps kids with sensory processing issues like kids with ADHD and those on the autism spectrum. SOT: “Doing those activities, they’re building on skills without them really knowing they’re building on skills. It shows you the importance of participating in those tasks as you grow up, as kids grow up.” It’s pretty easy to explain, especially when you have a younger brother who voluntarily does the course for fun. But, Lyons wasn’t always sold on becoming a doctor of occupational therapy. SOT: “The government started regulating therapy a whole lot more, which decreased the amount of OT’s in the medical world” Her other reason, Ray Yeazell. Or Grandpa. In his 20s, Yeazell had cancer
During his fight, he was administered too much radiation. It paralyzed him from the hips down. SOT: “We were figuring out ways to do OT things without even realizing it, we taught his family and his friends how to set up his environment so that he could participate as an individual and independently versus, constantly having someone do tasks for him.” Today, Lyons as the oldest granddaughter, keeps his memory with her, especially when teaching hands on students from a different location can be hard “Can you hear me?” But it does get easier, when she does have the help from her youngest brother Nick. SOT: “He wasn’t staying focused, or paying attention, so he needed someone to walk him through it and help him.” For preschoolers and kindergartners somedays its crafts working on fine motor and visual skills with bilateral movement- using both sides of the body together, like using two hands to cut shapes if you’re in elementary student, it’s using nuts and bolts to help with sequencing skills. And if you’re lucky, if your one of the older ones, you get to make pasta salad. ***NAT SOUND*** Making food, like pasta salad is an independent task Lyons gives to her older students to be successful…before they age out of the school system. SOT: “When they get older, you’re going back through skills with a fine comb, you’re trying to make them as independent as possible, and functional and safe as possible.” COVID-19 may have taken the classroom from the students, It hasn’t taken the fun out of learning. From the outside looking in, I’m Alyssa Lyons.
TAG: Those students will remain in virtual classrooms until the school year is over at the end of May, so a lot more obstacle courses coming their way soon.
PET MOM
TOSS: SOME STUDENTS ARE USING THIS NEW FREE TIME WITH VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS TO TRY NEW THINGS… AND FOR ONE TEENAGER, ITS MOTHERHOOD… But not how you think. MORNINGS ON THE HILL REPORTER MICHELLE KNEZOVIC EXPLAINS.
PKG:
TOSS: During quarantine many people are trying to figure out creative things to do to stay busy. This 14-year old is anything but bored she’s actually quite busy, taking care of all of her animals
NAT SOUND: “pans clashing,
dogs barking, and someone
yelling “MOM”
TRACK: DAY 6 OF THE CORONA VIRUS SELF QUARANTINE. MY 14-YEAR-OLD SISTER HAS JUST BECOME A FOSTER MOM.
SOT: (Me asking a question) “Christina how many animals do you have? Christina “you should know by now…do you have memory loss?”
Track: I probably should get that checked out then right Christina? Then I must’ve forgot how long you’ve been on the list…mom how long?
SOT (Mom): “We have been on the list since December to foster a cat and her kittens and then we got the call as soon this quarantine started.”
TRACK: A HOUSE FULL WAS HEADING OUR WAY.
1-Rosebud (dog)
2-Dante (dog)
3-Princess (bunny)
4-Snickers (bunny)
5-Iceberg (bunny)
6-Peanut (bunny)
7-Baby (bunny)
8-Lexi (dog)
9-Thanos (guinea pig)
10-Phantom (guinea pig)
11-Ash (bunny-fostering)
12-Charcol (bunny-fostering)
TRACK: AND — THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY.
13- Irish Paws (cat)
14- kitties
15- kitties
16- kitties
17- kitties
18- kitties
19- kitties
20- kitties
TRACK: …THEY ARRIVED ON ST. PATRICKS DAY. (WAIT A BEAT) LOTS OF THEM.
SOT(mom): “In a time of so much uncertainty and scariness getting these kittens definitely was a blessing.”*
TRACK: SHE TREATS THEM LIKE ANGELS WITH WHISKERS.
SOT: “here are all of their different foods we have for them. Shrimp/Salmon, Chicken & Beef Feast, Chicken & Tuna feast, I think this is the fancy fancy one because its called White meat chicken Florentine with garden greens in a delicate sauce”
SOT: (me): “Christina do the kittens make you happy? (Christina) “obviously they do.”
TRACK:ASK HER AGAIN IN JUNE. THEY’LL BE QUARANTINED WITH THE REST OF US AT LEAST 3 MONTHS.
NAT SOUND: MEOW.
TRACK: THERE’S NO SPRING BREAK FOR SOMEONE WHO IS A FOSTER MOM TO KITTENS.
SOT:(mom) “It is already hard for her to pay attention in class and with school online now, there are so many distractions at home.”
TRACK: THEY’VE MADE HER A BETTER STUDENT. SHE CREATED A SPREADSHEET TO RECORD HER KITTENS’ WEIGHT.
SOT: (Christina) “We had to weigh them in grams first because they were so small.”
TRACK: SHE’S LEARNED TO WATCH OVER THE LITTLEST ONES — EVEN WHEN THEY ARE ASLEEP.
STAND UP: CHRISTINA SET UP THIS BABY CAMERA IN HER ROOM AND — LIKE MOTHERS EVERYWHERE — LISTENS THROUGH THE NIGHT. CORONAVIRUS AND HER FOSTER CARE WON’T LAST FOREVER.
SOT: (Mom): “I know it will be a hard goodbye for her. She is so loving and caring and has such a mother-like instinct at only 14 years old.”
TRACK: Christina is thankful she got the kittens during quarantine, WHEN HER TIME IS NOT SLICED TOO THIN FOR CARING. SHE AND HER MOM ARE POSTING THEIR PICTURES ON FACEBOOK TO FIND THEM A FOREVER HOME.
SOT: How do we want to end this story? Christina says “the end…”
Track: …HOPEFULLY, A STORYBOOK ENDING: “THEY ALL LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.”
Michelle Knezovic Mornings on the hill
TAG: MICHELLE TELLS US The kittens will be heading back to the Saratoga County Animals shelter in just under 2 months to hopefully find their forever home”
DOG BUSINESS
TOSS: During this troubling time, we are all are feeling a little down. Reporter Jillian Andrews shows how we can look to our four-legged friends for a little optimism.
PKG:
Track 1
Quarantine has been…. ruff
Especially when you’re the only dog in a boarding facility.
Like Fritz here.
SOT
4:30 “I have never seen a situation in my business this bad.”
Track 2
My mom, Jennifer, own’s Shadowbrook boarding.
And when people need someone to watch their pet, that’s where we come in.
Except with the Covid-19 Pandemic, no one seems to need our services… ‘
Even though were considered essential according to the American Kennel Club.
SOT
1:15 “With the changes from covid-19 we’ve basically gone from a very full amount of dogs to two dogs.”
Track 3
In addition to Frtiz, some days during quarantine, we’ll have a groom client.
But the grooming side of the business has dropped too, and even during peak season grooming only makes up a small percentage of Shadowbrook’s revenue.
SOT
“Virtually were down to zero percent”
STANDUP
“During this time of year a walk behind the facility would be full of barking dogs… but during covid-19 all you can here is the water running behind.”
Track 3
To make things more difficult, the lack of clients isn’t the only thing my mom has to worry about.
SOT
We don’t want the staff to suffer the consequences of not having any hours for their normal work week, yet I cant justify having them come in when there’s nothing to do. So we’re going back and forth between what were doing, right now my staff has been calling in week to week and we’ve been making decisions as to whether we can find some odd jobs and work.
Track 5
Its certainly getting difficult to stay positive
SOT
“Right now we have 3 dogs.. but they’ll probably cancel…”
Track 6
Especially when there with out many outlets for good news.
SOT
“Look to the business and how we can prepare for something like this in the future.
Track 7
And while most of the world seems to be looking to the future, Fritz here is living in the moment.
He’s a dinner bowl half full kind of guy
And definitely taking advantage of the single dog life style.
Reporting from Shadowbrook, I’m Jillian Andrews
TAG: Unfortunately, for businesses like Shadowbrook, there is no end in sight. There is no word yet on when New York State’s social distancing regulations will be lifted.
BUSINESSES
TOSS:
THE CORONAVIRUS HAS NOT FAILED TO REACH AS MANY HOMES AS POSSIBLE. BUT LIKE WE SAW WITH THE PET BOARDING FACILITY, IT IS HURTING BUSSINESSES. COLE JOHNSON IS IN MORAVIA, NEW YORK WITH MORE.
Pkg:
(TRACK 1)
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON EVERYONE’S LIFESTYLE. A NEW LIFE OF FACEMASKS AND HOME QUARANTINE.
(NAT SOUND)
(TRACK 2)
BUT A LARGE CONCERN IS THE FUTURE OF BUSINESSES AND THEIR EMPLOYEES.
(TRACK 3)
AND THAT’S SOMETHING THAT HAS REACHED MY OWN HOME IN MORAVIA, NEW YORK.
(NAT SOUND)
(TRACK 4)
MY FATHER BEING KEPT HOME FROM WORK SINCE MARCH ().
(MARK JOHNSON—“I CAN’T IMAGINE BUSINESSES RUNNING DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS WITHOUT PROPER STAFF. FOR EXAMPLE, I’M A FORKLIFT OPERATOR AND I MOVE PARTS ALL AROIUND THE PLANT.”)
(TRACK 5)
AUTOMOTIVE COMPANY, BORG WARNER, BEING ONE OF THOSE.
(MARK—“IT’S BEEN TERRIBLE BECAUSE I WANT TO WORK. I’M JUST WAITING FOR A PHONE CALL.”)
(TRACK 6)
BUT THERE IS SOME GOOD THAT HAS COME FROM IT.
(MARK—“THE ONLY GOOD THING ABOUT IT IS I’M GETTING A LOT OF STUFF DONE AROUND THE HOUSE…LOTS OF YARDWORK, INDOOR STUFF, PROJECTS I’VE BEEN WAITING TO GET DONE FOR MONTHS.”)
(STAND-UP)
(TRACK 7)
AND WITH AN EXECUTIVE STAY AT HOME ORDER FROM GOVERNOR CUOMO THROUGH MAY 15, SCHOOLS ARE CONTINUING TO OPERATE FROM HOME.
AND MY MOTHER IS A TEACHER, DEALING WITH THOSE STRUGGLES AS WELL.
(KRISTIN—“THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS TRYING TO REACH EVERYONE. NOT EVERYONE IS ACCESSIBLE THROUGH TECHNOLOGY. AND JUST THE STRUGGLE OF NOT SEEING OUR KIDS EACH DAY IS THE WORST PART FOR ME AND A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES.” )
(TRACK 8)
AND WHILE RECOVERING FROM HIP SURGERY, SHE TOO IS EAGER TO GET BACK TO WORK IN THE CLASSROOM.
(KRISTIN—“I AM SO EXCITED TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL. I CAN’T EVEN TELL YOU. IT’S BEEN A STRUGGLE BEING HOME FOR THE HIP SURGERY ANYWAY BUT I’VE TRIED TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH MY KIDS. THE THOUGHT OF NOT SEEING THEM FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR IS KILLING ME SO I CAN’T WAIT TO GET BACK IN AND TEACH THEM LIVE.”)
(TRACK 9)
IN MORAVIA. COLE JOHNSON. MORNINGS ON THE HILL.
TAG: THANK YOU, COLE. THE CORONAVIRUS IS CLEARLY HAVING AN IMPACT ON EVERYONE IT CAN POSSIBLY REACH FROM WORK LIFE TO HOME LIFE.
WHEN MORNINGS ON THE HILL CONTINUES—A MILESTONE REACHED FOR THE NEW STADIUM PROJECT. WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK.
PSA BREAK?
DOME RDR
WELCOME BACK TO MORNINGS ON THE HILL….IN CAMPUS NEWS, A MAJOR MILESTONE IN THE NEW STADIUM ROOF PROJECT–AND WE GET A BIRDS-EYE VIEW!
(TAKE VIDEO)(VO)
LAST WEEK, THE FINAL PIECE OF STEEL WAS CAREFULLY LOWERED INTO PLACE, COMPLETING THE CROWN-TRUSS. THIS STEEL FRAMEWORK WILL SUPPORT THE BRAND NEW ROOF THAT WILL SOON BEGIN TO TAKE SHAPE. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS VIDEO, THE NEW BEAM WAS LOWERED INTO PLACE AND FEATURED A PINE TREE ATTACHED TO IT.
THIS IS A TRADITION DURING CONSTRUCTION, AS PART OF THE “TOPPING” CEREMONY—WHEN THE FINAL PIECE OF THE PROJECT IS TOPPED OFF. THE NEW ROOF IS SCHEDULED TO BE IN PLACE BY THE FALL SEMESTER.
(BACK ON CAMERA)
AND SINCE THE CROWN TRUSS IS COMPLETE, WE WILL FORMALLY BID FAREWELL TO WALT THE CRANE-THE HUGE CONSTRUCTION CRANE THAT WAS USED IN THE PROJECT. THE CRANE IS COMING DOWN AND WILL SOON BE MOVED TO IT’S NEXT BIG CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.
MENTAL TOLL OF PROTESTING
Toss: The dome was not the only part of Syracuse University to get a change this year. Protest movements shook the campus this fall and early spring. When one student followed his heart and stood up to racism, his whole body ended up suffering.MORNING’S ON THE HILL EXECUTIVE PRODUCER MORGAN TRAU HAS MORE.
Pkg:
Tag: The Not Again SU Protests have continued while the school has been online, with Azarius leading the fight.
SENIOR YEAR QUARENTINE
Toss: A senior who covered the protests has had her senior year full of unexpected twists and turns. Gabrielle Caracciolo reports on how following the New York stay at home order took a turn.
Pkg:
Tag: After graduation, Ally will start a job with the prestigious TEGNA producer in residence program in Denver Colorado.
FAITH
TOSS: While most churches across the country have closed their doors due to COVID-19, some members are still attending Sunday services. They’re just sitting on their couches instead of the pews. Our reporter, Lilia Wood, takes us into her room where her dad is fostering his faith from their living room.
Pkg:
TAG: Pastor Jay Unzaga is unsure on when Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will be able to reopen its doors.
WEDDING
TOSS: CHURCHES, SYNAGOGUES, HOTELS, ARE ALL CLOSED… SO WHAT DO PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY ARE TRYING TO GET TOGETHER FOR A SPECIAL EVENT? A couple was set to get married on Good Friday, but the coronavirus pandemic had other plans. Reporter Nicole Weavings tells the story of two families coming together to prove that love can overcome any obstacle.
TAG: Dave and Heather do hope to take a honeymoon when life returns to normal… and they aren’t moving Morgan and Kaitlyn into college…
Maria piece??
GRADUATION
TOSS: Marriages have been derailed, but so have funerals. Reporter Marsha Augustin spoke with a Syracuse woman who suffered not one, but two losses on the same day.
TAG: Please reach out to your loved ones during this difficult time, and for SU students, the barnes center is available virtually to help out.
SENIORS SAY GOODBYE
TOSS: WE WANT TO END ON A HIGH NOTE. Across the country seniors had their final year on campus cut short. But reporter Alexandra Jennerjahn reminisces with many, about their favorite moments in their favorite place.
TAG: seniors are still holding out hope that they can return to campus in the fall to celebrate their accomplishments.
GOODBYE
ANC 3:
WELL THAT WAS SWEET. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR TEAM FOR PUTTING THIS SHOW TOGETHER EVERY WEEK.
ANC
OUR THREE SENIORS – EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS MORGAN TRAU AND TOM VIELKIND PLUS REPORTER ALLIE JENNERJAHN– WE WILL MISS YOU. WE ALSO WISH ALL OF OUR GRADUATE STUDENTS THE BEST OF LUCK!!
(ANC)
THATS ALL WE HAVE FOR MORNINGS ON THE HILL FOR THIS SEMESTER. PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR DIGITAL CONTENT ONLINE ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA @ MORNINS ON THE HILL. WE HAVE NEW CONTENT EVERY WEEK.
ANC 4:
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TUNING IN. PLEASE STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY. AND FOR THE LAST TIME, THANK YOU, SYRACUSE.
Our Morning’s on the Hill team of reporters continues coverage from communities around North America. This episode involves our Master Storytelling class with details on how the pandemic affects us all. This episode first aired April 29, 2020.
