No, this is not a political comment about Joe Biden and Super Tuesday – it is an observation about how different our lives are than they were just several days ago!
THEN we knew that Penn State students were going to be learning remotely after spring break until April 6th. NOW the students will be remote through the entire remaining semester and their commencement is “postponed.”
THEN we had just begun to learn about the Coronavirus and COVID-19. NOW we can’t escape it in the news and in every day conversation.
We are all expected to practice social distancing and some (like my daughter and her family in the San Francisco Bay area) are now sheltering-in-place in their homes!
We are all becoming conversant about the difference between quarantine and isolation. We are regularly checking trusted information sources like the World Health Organization, the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, and the PA Department of Health! I am probably not the only one who has become an Anthony Fauci groupie, am I?
Massive numbers of people with few financial resources are not allowed to go to work. Business owners are forced to close. Investors are in a panic. Grocery shelves are empty of many products. Weddings and special occasions are being postponed indefinitely. Travel plans are being canceled. Children are home from school which creates havoc for many parents who are still working. Church services, Lenten fish frys, and Bingo are all being canceled. All of this is causing considerable stress which is compounded by not having any idea when the end will be in view!
Impact on ASAP
Since our After School Arts Programs are scheduled to be held after school, some of which are in school buildings and one in a library – our After School Arts Programs are now suspended until the schools and libraries reopen. We will keep you posted once we have any information to share.
Doug’s DAWGS
Doug decided to open on March 16th and offered a nice discount for children’s meals because, at that point, we were unaware of any other assistance for kids lunches. By the time he got to the site we had learned that the Nehemiah Project was offering meals at the Wright Place for Kids. Then the Altoona Area School District announced that they would make food available also. So Doug decided to wait until his original target opening date of April 1st. Then within a couple of days the Governor announced that restaurants are to close. So now Doug’s DAWGS is closed until further notice. Please Like and Follow his Facebook pages Doug’s Dawgs and Doug Rhodes Piano. Please also check out his blog DougHugs.com and consider subscribing. Doug has many talents as you can tell!
Be safe. Wash your hands. Sneeze or cough into your elbow. Stay away from people. This too shall pass!
Until next time,
Donna Gority,
President ArtsAltoona Board