Find the Helpers
This is the Bay Weekly edition we never imagined producing. The entire state is under a “stay at home” order to slow the spread of a deadly pandemic. Not even the experts are willing to guess how long it will take.
Like many businesses, Bay Weekly operations are just about completely remote. We’ve adopted video conference calls like so many others. We’re now conducting interviews entirely by phone or FaceTime. Even getting the paper into your hands becomes a challenge.
(Note: We’re now supplementing this newspaper with an online, digital edition you can find on our Bay Weekly Newspaper Facebook page and at www.bayweekly.com so you don’t miss an issue while staying at home.)
Rest assured, we’re pushing on with the kind of community stories you expect from us. And we’re committed to finding the positive in all of this.
Over the weekend, while a lot of America escaped their own reality with a bizarre Netflix show about tiger breeders, I watched A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, the 2019 Tom Hanks movie inspired by the life of children’s television host Mr. Rogers. It reminded me of an often-cited quote from Fred Rogers.
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”
That approach is especially useful now, as the pandemic we’ve been preparing for is officially here and the statistics get more frightening. CBM and Bay Weekly are taking the Mr. Rogers approach, looking for “the helpers,” and telling their stories.
In this issue, area distilleries quickly pivoted to producing hand sanitizer in a move reminiscent of America’s industrial war effort during World War II. Calvert County medical organizations call on neighbors to donate supplies.
Even for those of us not directly affected by COVID-19, these are trying times. Just when we think restrictions have been placed on every part of our lives, additional social distancing orders come out. This week, we’re still processing the executive order requiring everyone to stay home except for essential activities. Recreational boating (with the exception of kayaking/paddleboarding for exercise and fishing to feed your family) is not allowed. On the Chesapeake Bay–think of it!
In a topsy-turvy world, we hold onto whatever normalcy we have left. At Bay Weekly, that normalcy is the annual Home and Garden Issue. You will still find home and garden resources inside, but instead of in-person services, these local businesses are offering online tutorials, DIY advice and help in planning future projects. They are all useful right now, even amid social distancing.
We invite you to get inspired by this issue’s quarantine-friendly home ideas. A successfully completed house project can bring a feeling of accomplishment and fresh starts—something we can all use at this moment when looking ahead may seem futile.
We urge you to stick with us as we seek out “the helpers” in Bay country—shedding light on the people and businesses who are making this pandemic feel less scary.