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SW Rochester is a remarkable place that has survived years of struggles and still is remarkable. Right now the Country, the State, the County, the City, and our neighborhoods and indeed the world at all extremely panicked. We are facing a global flu pandemic, and until a vaccine is created and widely distributed most of us are likely at some point to get it, and for most of us, it will be a very bad flu. For others, a much smaller number, it can be fatal. At the same time, listening to Governor Cuomo today, due to this flu, we are likely heading towards a severe recession if not a depression. Some of you may already have lost hours at work, and maybe are now unemployed. We are also told to avoid others and to self-isolate in our homes. It is vital that we follow the health guidelines from NY State and our County.

It is also important that we not feed into the panic. Panic in any disaster always makes things worse. When someone yells fire in a theater, many more people die from the crowd trampling each other trying to get out and then blocking the exists, then from the fire. There is a group panic mentality that occurs in times of disaster. You can look around and see it now, hello toilet paper. This can lead to many bad things, such as group shaming and a mob mentality. You can see this now when people are publically shaming others for going out for a walk or a run. We are not on lock down nor in quarantine. Until, and if that happens, it is good for people to get out and walk and run, or take their kids for a walk, or just walk the dog. You never know what is in someone else’s head. If that person wasn’t out for a walk, they may be home beating a family member, or taking up a bottle after years of not drinking.

It is also very important that we be kind to our family members, our neighbors, and ourselves. It is important that we not panic. Families are struggling right now, do not judge, just see what you might be able to do. If you are going shopping see if the disabled neighbor, an elderly neighbor, or a Mom or Dad home with three kids, may need something picked up for them.

When you do go out, be nice to others, they are probably just as stressed or more stressed than others. Thank the cashier who checks you out, thank the people you talk to on the phone. With Spring here, you can still get together with friends, but outside and leaving lots of social distance around you. Sit in a circle with chairs far apart. Not seeing other people or communicating with others can lead to all kinds of negative outcomes.

Check in on your neighbors. Check in on yourself. Take care of yourself, you are not alone. Look out for others. Don’t let panic make this situation worse. In a time of stress, thinking of, or helping someone else, is a great way to help yourself.

Stop checking the news minute by minute, it is just a way to stress yourself out. Read a book. Write that book. Start meditating. Begin to plan a garden. In a few weeks it will be time to plant a garden. This may go on for months and months. Being able to plant, grow, eat, and store food for next winter is a fantastic way to take charge of your and your family’s lives.

While the libraries are closed you can still order and pick up books at the central library. While many of our neighborhood restaurants are not doing seat service, you can still order and pick up or have food delivered.

Find a way to be engaged. Donate books to one of our little free libraries. Let’s work on finding a way to do a toy exchange in SW Rochester now that the Toy Library is closed. Who wants to work on that?

Watch this page for suggestions. Post suggestions. We are all in this together, even if we are social-distancing ourselves from each other.

While you do that, do one of the most important things you can do, complete the census online information when it comes to you. We need to all be counted! Then absolutely vote in November! Look for ways to vote by mail early.

Lastly, do not let our politicians and others not support our neighborhood, our children, or ourselves. SW Rochester has been historically left out of the conversation, and out of needed services, and supports. We need to proactively demand that our elected officials not leave SW Rochester behind. We should be at the front of the list for support (or at least in the top 5). If you hear of things being offered to our suburban neighbors, demand that they are offered here.