In the year since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Vermonters have noticed the arrival of new neighbors — who chose to leave larger cities for communities they perceived as safer and healthier.Now, a prominent university researcher is suggesting the influx presents an opportunity for economic development for the state.”I think the potential here is enormous,” said Richard Watts of UVM’s Center for Research on Vermont, which conducted research … Read More
Business owners in Yakima, Kittitas counties tackle pandemic challenges in Enterprise Challenge | Local
Typically, contestants in the Enterprise Challenge business plan competition in Yakima and Kittitas counties would have numerous opportunities to connect in person.
The annual competition, co-organized by the Yakima County Development Association and the Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce, helps small businesses develop business plans, network and obtain advice from local experts. But because of the pandemic, organizers moved most things online.
Contestants took part in the various workshops and
Greg Abbott’s move to end Texas mask mandate puts him among GOP governors scorning pandemic restrictions
Abbott’s announcement came just days after two fellow governors seen as potential rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination took victory laps at the Conservative Political Action Conference by boasting of their efforts to resist the sort of restrictions that the Texas governor had imposed.
Gov. Kristi L. Noem of South Dakota said her hands-off approach had given her national name recognition. Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida greeted activists at
How the coronavirus pandemic has impacted education at Penn State one year later | University Park Campus News
In March 2020, students’ and teachers’ lives around the world were suddenly impacted in a way nobody could have foreseen.
Approximately one year ago, students were sent home from Penn State for two weeks, which would later turn into the remainder of the spring semester.
With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, education has become reliant on online platforms, and this has proven difficult for teachers and students alike.
Some
Recreation programs expand during pandemic despite severe revenue loss | Lifestyles
After the COVID-19 shutdown one year ago, Santa Maria’s Recreation and Parks Department saw revenue losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, leaving staff wondering how crucial community programs would be funded.
Although revenue remains almost nonexistent, even now, the department has found creative ways to continue serving the community with several new, COVID-safe programs over the past year.
In a presentation to the Santa Maria City Council on
Designer offers insights on items to have during pandemic
Stuck inside and going nuts? We’re with you.
Winter is hard enough as it is, but with COVID-19 restrictions in the mix, it can be hard to come up with new ways to enjoy time cooped-up. Fortunately, interior designer Alice D’Andrea has some ideas for items for the home that will entertain as well as bring the whole family together.
EXTRA REFRIGERATOR FOR BEVERAGES. A freestanding refrigerator is a great
The Day – Olde Mistick Village retailers learning to adapt during pandemic
Mystic — At R.A. Georgetti & Co., where they have been selling collectibles, fine gifts and jewelry since 1975, they had never made a sales pitch on a park bench outdoors.
But like so much else, the pandemic changed the way they do business.
When Connecticut’s governor forced retail venues to close their doors to indoor shoppers for two months last spring, Georgetti’s quickly beefed up its website for online
How North Vegas is helping students reverse learning loss in pandemic
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Across the country, students are struggling to focus and retain information with online learning, and many feel they are learning less than past years.
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While many other cities around the country seemed paralyzed by the pandemic, North Las Vegas decided to do something to help families.
Millions of children across the country
How Tampa Bay and the NFL pulled off Super Bowl LV amid a pandemic
TAMPA, Fla. — On the opening day of his 10th Super Bowl media day — the most of any NFL player ever — Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady took his seat under the bright lights, looked up to see 33 hands raised and said, “I’ve gotta get a picture of this.”
But there was no reporter dressed as a bride proposing to him (that was Glendale, Arizona in Super
Recreation Department had to adapt to pandemic | Local News
The recreation division of the Town of Fountain Hills Community Services Department has for almost a year now been working through the COVID-19 pandemic to maintain activities and education programs geared toward serving the residents of the community.
“The Community Services department had to cancel many events in 2020 due to the pandemic, such as Irish Fountain Fest, Music Fest, Back to School Bash, Fourth at the Fountain, Elfie’s Playground
Here’s how national park reservations have changed since the pandemic
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National parks have been a respite for United States travelers this year. As dozens of international borders remain closed and as cases continue to skyrocket, road trips and outdoor destinations have been the name of the game.
For
Appointments required as Saginaw County offices reopen to public during coronavirus pandemic
SAGINAW, MI – Saginaw County’s administrative offices re-opened to the public in a limited capacity as of Monday, Feb. 1 on an appointment-only basis.
The county released a statement stating that it believes it can return to in-person transactions by appointment only while maintaining a safe environment for its residents and employees. Saginaw County Health Department Health Officer Christina Harrington reported a decline in daily COVID-19 positive cases and increased
For some Skagit manufacturers, business has boomed during the pandemic | Local News
People have been buying more kayaks, luxury cruising boats, whimsical stickers, and salsa during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to four Skagit County manufacturers who make these products.
For Eddyline Kayaks, a kayak maker north of Burlington, the surge in demand started late last spring as many flocked outdoors, said Scott Holley, Eddyline Kayaks president.
The company is producing a record number of kayaks each week, but is still unable to
Even during pandemic, rec centers can be more accessible | Editorials
Patrons of the Genoveva Chavez Community Center and other city recreational facilities have questions about operations that deserve answers.
They believe too few people are being allowed in the one open facility — the Chavez Center — and that Fort Marcy Recreation Complex and Salvador Perez Recreation Center could and should be reopened for swimming. They are upset the ice rink at the Chavez Center remains shut down. They claim
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day events go virtual this year due to the pandemic
Due to COVID -19, this year’s celebration looks a little different, as several community events were hosted online.
MINNEAPOLIS — A day to remember and a day to reflect.
Today’s holiday, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy, is known as “a day on, not a day off.” A day of service for all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.
Due to COVID-19, this year’s celebration looks
Cleveland Orchestra clings to music education goals through pandemic
CLEVELAND, Ohio – When it comes to music education, there’s no such thing as a year off. Not in Cleveland.
Convinced that the need for music now is greater than ever, the Cleveland Orchestra is finding new ways to comply with pandemic restrictions and meet Cleveland’s children safely where they are, at home.
“The things that we’re committed to, those things haven’t changed,” said Joan Katz Napoli, the orchestra’s senior
Most Popular Restaurants That Won’t Reopen After The Pandemic
The long-predicted pandemic-fueled dark days of winter are upon us, and as COVID-19 cases spike around the country and the death toll continues to rise, the economic situation gets worse and worse. Some 140,000 nonfarm payroll jobs were lost in December, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in its early January Employment Situation Summary.
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The loss was much higher in
UF students turn to ‘comfort TV’ amid pandemic
When the world turns to chaos, the people turn to television.
The pandemic was enough to make stress a familiar feeling to 21-year-old UF biology junior Toshita Barve. While she said the early months of lockdown had her mostly bored and restless, the added academic pressure of online classes led her to feel overwhelmed toward the start of the Fall semester.
Barve said she discovered one of her favorite shows,
Rise of the rookie hikers: The pandemic pushed a new wave of people outside, for better or worse
For example, there are people who hit the trail wearing flip-flops, with no backpack or water, he said, or cars that show up to busy trailheads at 11 a.m. on a weekend, hoping to find a place to park. While there are always people making those rookie mistakes, there were far more on Mount Hood this past summer.
“Definitely a big portion of those people were first-time hikers,” Watts said.