ARTICLE
For a short few minutes I would like to take a pause. I am taking a divergent path away from the coronavirus stories and reports that dominate the headlines in daily newspapers, TV, and every imaginable media outlet worldwide. The month of May brings us closer to the warmth of summer, but the usual sounds of spring are absent from our daily lives. No senior prom night. No high school and college graduation ceremonies where smiles and cheers abound at the outdoor venues - where memories are forever etched in a young student’s mind. No young students saying goodbye to their teachers and looking forward to a summer and thoughts of their bright future. Instead, we see an artfully painted 2020 Santa Cruz High Grad sign planted on a front lawn reminding us of a proud family Sheltered in Place honoring their child. The students are tepidly excited about their next adventure even though the future for all us is on a path that we never imagined. Summer is that special time of year, where we kick off our school and work shoes, replace them with sandals and bare feet, boogie board and surfboard. We meander onto the beach to relax and hang out. We venture off for a hike in the mountains to the quite swimming hole hidden behind a dense forest of trees. Families are preparing their summer vacation plans, enjoying neighbor gatherings and BBQs. They are out and about attending music, art and wine festivals — the many rituals of summer that are now a distant memory. Our new normal is unchartered at the moment. We learned last Saturday that Santa Cruz County and the Community Foundation have formed an Economic Recovery Council (you can read more about that below). This is welcome news and like all businesses in the County, we are eager to see where this roadmap to recovery slowly takes us. But the focus of today’s eNews is to dream about the past as if it will be here tomorrow. Summertime in the City by the Bay - where at least twice a year I head to the baseball park to enjoy a day in the sun and marvel at the talented players on the field. If and when that day might happen is still in debate between the major league owners and the players. All told when a negotiated deal is done, it is hopeful that baseball will return in July. However, it will be played in empty ball parks. No fans. No smell of the hotdogs, popcorn and all the aromas we love at the ballpark in the fifth inning of the game. What is baseball without the national anthem and the seventh inning stretch? Somewhere, everywhere, young baseball fans dream of baseball where they can get lost in the sounds of the pitcher throwing a fast ball, the bat cracking the baseball, the outfielder gliding effortlessly to catch the ball at the centerfield fence and the fans cheer the home team to victory. The baseball movies are alive for baseball fans waiting for the season to begin — For the Love of the Game, Field of Dreams, Sandlot, 42, The Natural, the Bad News Bear, MoneyBall. We can’t wait for the real games to begin. Thanks for letting me take a short pause — now back to the coronavirus headlines: --As coronavirus deaths mount, California is still very much in a danger zone (LA Times) --Most Californians remain uncomfortable going to restaurants, gyms, according to poll (San Jose Mercury News) --Uber reportedly seeks to buy Grubhub as food delivery rises during coronavirus (SF Chronicle --Newsom joins 4 governors in seeking $1 trillion in federal relief for all states (LA Times, Sacramento Bee, San Jose Mercury News) --Palm Springs projects $76 million shortfall due to coronavirus pandemic (Palm Springs Desert Sun) Can’t wait for July to roll around. Be Calm, Stay Safe and Buy Local.
For a short few minutes I would like to take a pause. I am taking a divergent path away from the coronavirus stories and reports that dominate the headlines in daily newspapers, TV, and every imaginable media outlet worldwide.
The month of May brings us closer to the warmth of summer, but the usual sounds of spring are absent from our daily lives. No senior prom night. No high school and college graduation ceremonies where smiles and cheers abound at the outdoor venues - where memories are forever etched in a young student’s mind. No young students saying goodbye to their teachers and looking forward to a summer and thoughts of their bright future. Instead, we see an artfully painted 2020 Santa Cruz High Grad sign planted on a front lawn reminding us of a proud family Sheltered in Place honoring their child. The students are tepidly excited about their next adventure even though the future for all us is on a path that we never imagined.
Summer is that special time of year, where we kick off our school and work shoes, replace them with sandals and bare feet, boogie board and surfboard. We meander onto the beach to relax and hang out. We venture off for a hike in the mountains to the quite swimming hole hidden behind a dense forest of trees. Families are preparing their summer vacation plans, enjoying neighbor gatherings and BBQs. They are out and about attending music, art and wine festivals — the many rituals of summer that are now a distant memory.
Our new normal is unchartered at the moment. We learned last Saturday that Santa Cruz County and the Community Foundation have formed an Economic Recovery Council (you can read more about that below). This is welcome news and like all businesses in the County, we are eager to see where this roadmap to recovery slowly takes us. But the focus of today’s eNews is to dream about the past as if it will be here tomorrow. Summertime in the City by the Bay - where at least twice a year I head to the baseball park to enjoy a day in the sun and marvel at the talented players on the field. If and when that day might happen is still in debate between the major league owners and the players. All told when a negotiated deal is done, it is hopeful that baseball will return in July. However, it will be played in empty ball parks. No fans. No smell of the hotdogs, popcorn and all the aromas we love at the ballpark in the fifth inning of the game. What is baseball without the national anthem and the seventh inning stretch? Somewhere, everywhere, young baseball fans dream of baseball where they can get lost in the sounds of the pitcher throwing a fast ball, the bat cracking the baseball, the outfielder gliding effortlessly to catch the ball at the centerfield fence and the fans cheer the home team to victory. The baseball movies are alive for baseball fans waiting for the season to begin — For the Love of the Game, Field of Dreams, Sandlot, 42, The Natural, the Bad News Bear, MoneyBall. We can’t wait for the real games to begin. Thanks for letting me take a short pause — now back to the coronavirus headlines:
--As coronavirus deaths mount, California is still very much in a danger zone (LA Times) --Most Californians remain uncomfortable going to restaurants, gyms, according to poll (San Jose Mercury News)
--Uber reportedly seeks to buy Grubhub as food delivery rises during coronavirus (SF Chronicle --Newsom joins 4 governors in seeking $1 trillion in federal relief for all states (LA Times, Sacramento Bee, San Jose Mercury News) --Palm Springs projects $76 million shortfall due to coronavirus pandemic (Palm Springs Desert Sun)
Can’t wait for July to roll around.
Be Calm, Stay Safe and Buy Local.