Healthcare Workers?: The pictures of two persons blocking the “Operation Gridlock” protestors became international news. They identified themselves as Covid-19 nurses at a local Denver hospital. Others have claimed they were allegedly workers at a strip club in Adams County.
Balancing Act: Governor Polis has a difficult job trying to balance safety from the Covid-19 virus with the economic well-being of the state. He has been giving regular press conferences on the Covid-19 pandemic in Colorado, from the Governor’s Mansion.
Commercial and social life is slowly opening up in the Cherry Creek Valley from downtown Denver to the dam. Governor Polis issued his stay at home order on March 26, 2020, which was largely obeyed, but on Sunday, April 19, 2020, a large rally attended by over 1,000 people protested the restriction at a rally at the State Capitol titled “Operation Gridlock.”
The next day Governor Polis declared that stay at home order would not continue past its revised ending date of April 26. Curbside delivery for retail could also open that day and other retail on May 1. Large businesses would be allowed to open May 4 at 50 percent capacity while restaurant, bars and clubs are anticipated to open mid-May with various restrictions.
Restaurants in the Cherry Creek Valley worry that the restrictions may be so onerous that they cannot make a profit, thus making it unwise to hire back workers until they understand what the regulations entail. David Peterson, owner of the Bull & Bush Brewery on Cherry Creek Drive South, stated that he does not expect restaurants to return to pre-pandemic revenue levels for at least a year, if then.
Normal Or Bygone Era?: It is not clear whether what was once a normal scene prior to the Covid-19 pandemic will ever return totally.
Jeff Allen, COO of the Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce noted: “The problem is that the restrictions/regulations will be made by those who do not own and operate the businesses. Alternatively, those businesses with political connections will influence the decisions to benefit themselves and hinder their competitors.” Others fear once the most draconian restrictions are lifted, businesses will play fast and loose with the remaining constrictions and risk the re-spreading of the COVID-19 virus.
Nurse Or Stripper?
In a presidential election year, virtually any controversy quickly becomes political, and the COVID -19 Pandemic is no exception. At the aforementioned Operation Gridlock protest held on April 19, a man and a woman dressed in nurses’ scrubs blocked a crosswalk at 12th and Grant Street where protestors were trying to drive through. A freelance photographer took pictures that some people claimed were staged. The photographer, Alyson McCaren, denied the allegation by controversial Channel 9 anchor Kyle Clark whose reporting is generally viewed by some with great suspicion. The pictures went around the world and the two nurses/physician assistants were lionized in much of the world press.
Another Clark Hoax?: Controversial 9News Anchor Kyle Clark has been accused by some of possibly being part of a hoax to portray the counter protestors at the Capitol as healthcare workers.
The counter-protestors told a Westword representative that the two of them worked at a Denver hospital with COVID-19 patients. They indicated that they wanted the Operation Gridlock protestors to know that they were the ones on the front line fighting the pandemic. The man has been identified allegedly as a disc jockey at a strip club in Adams County, Colorado, and the female purportedly is his girlfriend and a stripper at that club as well as in Denver. The pair has also been purportedly involved in harassing recall Polis petitioners.
Regardless of who people were or were not, the political parties have lined up on either side of the debate. Democrats have stressed public safety and minimizing the spread of the virus with less regard to the immediate economic impact. Republicans have noted that severe economic impacts also have their health risks including increase in drug and alcohol abuse as well as spikes in suicide rates. It is unlikely either side will convince the other to see it their way.
Rally At Capitol: Over 1,000 protestors showed up at the Capitol on Sunday, April 19, 2020, to protest the strict economic lockdown by Governor Polis. The following day, the Governor announced a gradual lifting of the economic lockdown.
Long Term
The long-term questions are whether COVID-19 will return stronger than ever this fall without a vaccine being developed and what are the permanent economic consequences of suddenly shutting down a once booming economy. No one has an answer to those questions on which the lives and livelihoods of so many will depend.
It’s common to want to make sure there is plenty of food in the house, especially in light of recent times. Still, no matter what’s going on in society, it’s also common to not know exactly what you should stock up on — especially when you want to make healthy decisions and provide nutritious options for your family. Focusing on foods in these three main categories can help.
Assortment of fruits and vegetables
Whole Grains
Whole grains are a type of complex carbohydrate that are important because they contain fiber, which can decrease the risk for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Grains that aren’t whole, such as white bread, white rice, white pasta, and sugary cereals, are a type of simple carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates can raise blood sugar and insulin levels quickly and then crash, leading to decreased energy and hunger. Foods that are full of fiber will increase fullness and slow down the release of blood sugar, giving us sustained energy throughout the day.
Examples of whole grains are foods that have 100% whole wheat, including cereals, breads and pastas, steel-cut oats, waffles with whole grains, whole grain pancake mixes, whole grain tortillas, quinoa, and brown rice. Be sure to read labels and look for 100% whole wheat.
Sweet potatoes are a complex carbohydrate that is another great choice from this category.
Fruits And Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are super important because they are full of fiber, plus vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that boost the immune system. It can be challenging to stock up on fresh vegetables and fruits, but frozen and canned vegetables work just as well. These options are usually picked at their peak of freshness and then frozen or canned, so they can actually be higher in vitamin and mineral content than fresh varieties.
Fresh produce that tends to have a longer shelf life are: apples, oranges, grapefruit, cabbage, beets, potatoes, spaghetti squash, onions and garlic.
Frozen berries can be thawed and added to cereals and whole wheat muffin mixes, or used frozen to put in smoothies. Extra fresh spinach, kale and overripe bananas are great to bag up and freeze for future smoothies.
Dried fruit can be a good option as long as it does not contain added sugar. When looking for canned fruit, check that it’s not packed in heavy syrup. For canned vegetables, look for “no salt added” or be sure to rinse veggies first before cooking. Canned pumpkin is a fun way to get more vegetables by adding it to soups, chilis and pancake/waffle mixes.
Protein
The last category is protein, which helps build and maintain muscle. Protein helps us feel full after meals and build antibodies, which is very important in fighting off infections. There are many sources of protein that you can stock up on in your pantry, fridge and freezer. Great sources of protein are chicken breasts, fish, turkey, eggs, Greek yogurt with no sugar added, and canned chicken or tuna packed in water and not oil.
Plant-based sources are beans (look for no-salt-added or rinse beans before cooking), edamame, lentils, nuts and seeds. When making good nutrition choices for your family, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Narrowing your focus to these three areas can help eliminate the confusion and keep your nutrition on the right track. To learn more tips for eating right, contact the nutrition experts at your local YMCA.
A former pediatric nurse, Liz Bravman, RN, is a cycling instructor, nutrition educator and personal trainer at the Susan M. Duncan Family YMCA in Arvada. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and a Master’s degree in nutrition education.
Up and down the Front Range and around the world people are beseeching the heavens. How could this great medical crisis befall the most refined, politically correct, loving generation of all times?
People are asking isn’t there some sort of medical breakthrough that could have us all returning to get haircuts, playing tennis at the park, and getting together for a few drinks after work at Elway’s? How dare this strike down God’s favorite people, the Front Range yuppie puppies?
Well folks, I know this is a tough go for many of you who, on Easter Sunday, turned on TV and watched what my Grandma used to view, Mass for Shut-ins, and searching the internet for a visit from Bishop Fulton Sheen appearing in his cape, little red hat and a blackboard.
People ask what medical advances could be made so they can play pickleball again with their inner circle of friends?
You know guys, I spent a couple of evenings reading about medical advances in our country. The one that stands out in my slightly diminished memory is 1954 when a remarkable scientist-physician named Jonas Salk defeated a far more deadly disease, polio. Why don’t I remember my mother, father and grandfather blaming Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower for polio?
Because, as you know, this current virus carries heavy politics, known on most media outlets as Trump’s virus. When almost every other major disease or plague rips through humanity it is rare that it picks up politics like this disease has. I recommend everyone read Randy Shilts’s book “And The Band Played On,” about how the horrible disease of HIV/AIDS became politicized.
Spend a little time reading about 1846 anesthesia. 1861 germ theory. 1895 medical imaging. 1928 penicillin. 1954 organ transplants. Stem cell therapy and immunology in the 1970s. Artificial intelligence in the 21st century and my personal favorite of all, birth control pills. Now that folks is a medical breakthrough.
Our nation has come through, in my father’s generation, the Great American Depression. No one was ever quite sure of the total cost of the Great Depression in 1929 when the stock market crashed, the roaring twenties came to an end, the life toll, the destructiveness, and as many historians believe, really doesn’t end until Pearl Harbor. How, oh my God, did families survive all of that? Then comes December 7, 1941. Our nation spent more than $4 trillion, more than 400,000 U.S. troops’ lives were lost . Then comes the Cold War. How many snuck up and covered up, rolled up and kissed our behinds goodbye under a desktop. That was fear factor.
This nation has gone to the moon, this nation has helped cure AIDS, polio and incredible lists of diseases. As a grandparent I no longer fear that my grandson or anyone’s grandson will contract polio.
There is a great line through history, life finds a way. Find one. Let’s get the lights back on. Compare men and women who came through the Great Depression in America, took on the Axis, returned to build a country and do all these wonderful things we listed to the young people today that require a soft warm puppy and a quiet place to go to because
they heard a discouraging word. Who now pick up telephones and rat out neighbors, who become social scolds on neighborhood networks? My God, that’s the kind of stuff that made the old Europeans proud.
I ask you, as my father would ask, what the hell is wrong with you? This is a virus folks. It’s nasty and it does kill people. But civilizations, nation states and individuals need to be challenged in order to grow and mature. These people claim they want to make a difference in our society. I wonder if the young kid who went down to the Marine Corps on December 8, had the same mindset?
I leave you with this. Are we good enough, are we tough enough, do we care enough to come through this? My answer is yes and the history of our nation makes the case.
(BPT) – The sounds of birds chirping, longer daylight hours, and budding trees and flowers are early signs that warmer weather and spring are on the way. That means more time outside to enjoy nature, but it’s also a sign it might be time for a little spring cleaning.
“Cold temperatures, snowfall and winter rains can have a big effect on houses and landscaping, so now’s the time to check for potential home repairs and maintenance,” said Christopher O’Rourke, Mercury Insurance vice president of property claims. “Spring cleaning isn’t just about getting rid of belongings you no longer want or need – it’s also a time to get your home in tip-top shape so you can enjoy it throughout the rest of the year.”
Here are four tips O’Rourke recommends to welcome the new season and save some money down the road.
Clean your gutters.
Gutters collect debris over time, especially when rain, snow and wind causes twigs, pine needles and leaves to settle on your roof and in your rain gutters. Accumulated debris can create blockages that direct water into the home or, in areas without much precipitation, can act as kindling in the event of a fire. Buildup also allows mildew and mold to develop, which can slowly decay a home’s exterior and roof.
“Preventable damage like mold or mildew that develops and rots a home’s exterior isn’t covered by homeowners insurance,” said O’Rourke. “It’s important to routinely clean out gutters – even if you have gutter guards installed, they don’t completely protect against debris building up eventually. An hour or two spent cleaning or checking your gutters is time well spent compared to the alternative.”
Trim branches and remove dangerous trees.
Thunderstorm frequency picks up in summer months, and high winds can occur year round, so it’s best to get a jump on tree maintenance in early spring. Regularly trimming tree branches reduces their chance of breaking during a storm, which could cause power outages or property damage.
“Properly trimmed branches present a lower risk of falling onto your home, power lines or possibly injuring someone on your property,” said O’Rourke. “Also, in areas that are prone to wildfires, trimmed trees create a buffer zone to help lower the chances of flames easily jumping onto your roof.”
Consider having the trees on your property inspected by an arborist to determine their health and have diseased trees removed before they topple over unexpectedly. Removal costs vary depending on height and difficulty, but range from $100 to around $1,800. These preventative costs are not covered by your homeowners policy, but can be a wise investment that saves you time, money and anxiety.
Watch out for service lines.
Homeowners who want to plant gardens, trees or install additional landscape features to enhance their outdoor living space should be aware of potential underground utility lines. Most service lines – a network of exterior, underground utility lines or pipes that supply a home with electricity, gas, water and sewer functions – are only buried a few inches beneath the ground. Accidentally hitting one when digging can result in loss of service, expensive repairs or a serious injury.
If a break to a service line happens on a homeowner’s property, special machinery may be needed to excavate pipes from beneath the ground, which may require digging under your home, garden or driveway. The homeowner is responsible for repair or replacement costs, and this damage can be inconvenient, expensive and isn’t covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy.
“The average cost to repair a break to a service line is about $5,000 and most Americans wouldn’t welcome such a large surprise bill,” said O’Rourke. “Homeowners should definitely consider purchasing an endorsement to their insurance policy to protect against losses of this nature. Mercury offers this coverage as an addition to our home insurance policy and it costs as little as $8 a year, depending on the home’s age.”
To be safe, homeowners should call 811 before digging so the utility companies can send a locator to mark the approximate locations of underground service lines.
Service your air conditioning unit.
Regular maintenance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems is essential to ensure the equipment is in proper working order, which can save money on energy bills, as well as protect against expensive repair and replacement costs.
“No one wants to unexpectedly find themselves living in a sauna during the dog days of summer, so the start of spring is a great time to have your air conditioner inspected,” said O’Rourke. “You should also change your air filter to make sure it’s operating at its highest efficiency, so when that heat wave hits you’ll be nice and cool inside your home.”
Have a professional inspect your HVAC unit to make sure its exterior condenser coil and compressor are clean and free from blockages – the average cost for an inspection is about $300.
Your home will bring you security and joy for many years to come. Taking the time to maintain it is well worth the investment.
