We need a more cohesive regional and national approach to the pandemic

Date: 2/1/2021

There are a lot of things to ponder this week.

One of our fine reporters Sarah Heinonen was putting together a story about a Wilbraham business, an indoor roller skating center, not being allowed to open at a time when ice rinks are open.

Aren’t both essentially the same activity? I’m sure you wear a mask for both, maintain certain capacities and maintain social distancing?

Apparently, the commonwealth has deemed one desirable and the other not desirable.

This is inherently unfair and it is hurting a local business in an unnecessary way. We don’t need to be throwing up roadblocks in addition to the pandemic itself.

I’m not an advocate for stupidity. People should mask up, wash their hands and avoid contact. At the same time, businesses – and the people those businesses employ – should be treated fairly.

Take food courts for instance. Late last year Gov. Baker’s administration declared that food courts should be closed. I don’t see a difference between a food court in a mall serving take-out food and any other restaurant serving take-out food.

Were food courts proven through contact tracing to be a major spreader of the pandemic? I never heard that.

While food courts were banned in shopping areas, the food court at MGM Springfield stayed open.

I’m glad that food court was allowed to remain in operation, but I didn’t get why it was deemed safe and the others weren’t.

In some communities a business remains open with conditions. The same type of business is closed in other communities.

It is the confusion such decision-making causes that continues to be a problem, making the effects of the pandemic worse.

I get that many of these type of decisions have come about because we are still learning about the disease. Our policies have changed based on the increasing amount of knowledge we have gathered. They will change even more in the future.

 A little more fairness should be applied, though.

Can’t see my fellow geezers

I just wish we had had a more cohesive regional and national approach to the pandemic. Of course, we now have the opportunity to start fresh in that regard.

I certainly would like to see two old friends who live in Vermont, but of course that is still impossible. It’s been a year since I’ve seen either of them and we’ve been forced to insult one another through social media.  We’ve been stockpiling our affectionate jabs for an in-person meeting.

Through Feb. 15, The Green Mountain  is continuing a policy that requires any traveler from the hinterlands to undertake a 14-day quarantine.

Massachusetts for example has travel rules but not as strict as that. Considering the commerce between Massachusetts and Connecticut, for example, a travel ban would be tough to enforce and again kick many businesses squarely in the throat.

Perhaps that has helped Vermont in combating the pandemic, although I wonder how it has affected the ski industry as tourism in the state is vital to its economy.

I am certainly on the side of caution, though. I think it would have been helpful for New England’s governors to have worked together as a team determining regional policies to help stem the spread of the virus. Too late for that, I’m afraid.

Wait for it

Several people have told me they appreciated my story about the return of Necco Wafers. I’m glad we’ve found some fans for the New England treat.

I love regional food items. It speaks to the history and culture of an area.

For instance, I adore B&M brown bread, the stuff in the can. It can be as divisive though as Necco Wafers. Some people find the concept of bread baked in a can a repellant, while others love it. The raisins they add to it seem to be a deal breaker for some.

Try to explain it to people who have never heard or seen it. It’s a challenge I’ve undertaken several times.

Here’s another: Moxie. Explain that one to people who never tried it. I’ve been told I should drink a can a day because it’s not a soda, it’s an elixir. It’s supposedly good for me, according to a local Moxie advocate. I can’t say I’m a fan of the taste.

I’m not sure of those claims, either.

So, here is the next story I want to do: Sky Bars are coming back and being manufactured by a business here in the Bay State. If they are like the original, I’ll be a happy old man.

Don’t know what a Sky Bar is?  You’re going to have to wait for the story.