In the past five months, two life-changing events rocked the world. COVID-19 brought serious health challenges and is still taking far too many lives. The virus exposed our vulnerabilities, from hospital capacities to assisted-living safety protocols. Also exposed were the slender margins of our economic system.
Then came the horrendous murder of George Floyd and the mobilization of the Black Lives Matter movement. Millions peacefully protested against racial injustice in our city, state and nation.
Readers know my passion for local small businesses. Sacramento merchants make immense contributions to our neighborhoods. Our sense of community, lifestyles and health depend on their “open for business” signs.
The past four months have frayed the protective fibers of our community. Businesses and schools were shut. Healthy lifestyles disrupted as gyms and fitness centers closed. Self-isolation. Families and friends kept apart.
When gyms, playgrounds, pools and parks are closed and everyone told to stay home, exercise opportunities are foreclosed to all but the resourceful.
One activity I managed to continue during lockdowns was tennis. In the first month of shelter-in-place, courts in public parks closed one by one. Many older players dropped out. Our tennis club was the last to bar play, but thankfully, they let family members still share the courts. My adult son had to be convinced to play tennis with his mother.
Twenty-five years ago, my husband and I went into the local publishing business for two reasons. First, we saw the need to connect neighbors to one another, which helps folks build stronger ties to their communities.
Second, we love and value small businesses. We want to help local merchants reach their neighbors and grow their businesses.
100% Local Pledge! Working together, our neighborhoods will come back By Cecily Hastings May 2020 Inside Sacramento provides readers with 100-percent local content unavailable elsewhere. When the massive small business shutdown was ordered throughout California, my...
Essential Gardening Local nurseries provide life, beauty and new growth By Cecily Hastings May 2020 Taking to a garden in the midst of a crisis is not a new concept. My mother got her first start with gardening by creating her own “Victory Garden” of edibles during...
