From the Editor

Boos, Breasts, Bolts, & Votes!

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it illness, death, and a “new normal” that includes social distancing and wearing masks—not to mention significant disturbances to many families’ every day lives.

With fall already here and the countdown to Halloween on, many parents are left wondering, is Trick-OrTreating canceled for 2020?

The short answer would be, probably not. The long answer; it’s not going to be the same. It’s going to look and feel very different than in previous years, and it will vary a lot depending on where you live.

In Pinellas County, where I currently reside, we have a Facebook group for our community to stay on top of whatever is going on in our neighborhood. Some concerned parents decided to get online and ask if there would be anyone interested in still celebrating Halloween this year. The response was incredibly positive despite the pandemic situation. Many neighbors were open to trick-ortreaters knocking on their doors, while others informed everyone that they would be placing bowls with candy outside their homes for the little ones to pick a few and move on to the next property.

Whether you decide to partake on the Halloween festivities this year, don’t forget coronavirus guidelines are still in effect, social distancing, wearing a mask, and properly sanitizing/hand-washing.

Try considering costumes with masks already incorporated, or that would allow a mask to be worn appropriately against the face to provide the best protection, and always allow proper hand hygiene to be performed after every house visit. Experts also agree that all adults should even be wearing masks if going door to door to help reduce transmissions of the coronavirus.

Another thing you could try would be making individual baggies containing a few pieces of candy for every kid, and instead of having them place their little hands in your candy bowls, hand them each a goodie bag and a sanitizing wipe to go along with it!

This month let’s also try to focus our attention on something else aside COVID, Trump, and Biden. Whether you identify as a Republican, Democrat, or Independent, always be respectful and kind to everyone, because you don’t know their struggles. There is never a need for name-calling, bullying, destroying property, or belittling anyone because their beliefs differ from yours. Remember, we all want what’s best for our loved ones and our country, even if we disagree on how to get it.

Let’s shift our attention to more prominent causes that can bring us closer as a community instead of dividing us! Did you know that October is known as Breast Cancer Awareness month? It’s a yearly international health campaign organized by significant charities all over the world to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure. The campaign also offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer.

Together, we can raise awareness by participating in different local walking/ running events, by donating to various charities, by providing emotional support to those affected by the disease, by sharing valuable information, by promoting health check-ups with our friends all over social media, or only by repping pink.

Every year, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer events unite communities with a shared determination to save lives from breast cancer - all while raising money to help the American Cancer Society fight breast cancer through research and early detection. Through October, tune into www.facebook.com/ TampaStrides to participate in several fun virtual activities that support this vital cause.

I want to conclude by saying Congratulations to our Tampa Bay Lightning for becoming Eastern Conference Champions and making it to the Stanley Cup Finals! By the time you read this, hopefully, the Stanley will be tanning on our beautiful Florida beaches soon. Go Bolts!!!

Until next time,