TUESDAY
With Thanksgiving around the corner, and the price of turkey at a record high, Cortland Loaves and Fishes, for the first time in two years, will open its dining room to serve a free traditional holiday meal during its dinner service Nov. 18.
For some people, that couldn’t come at a better time. The food program reports that it’s already distributing nearly 70% more meals than a year ago at this time.
“We’ll still have all the typical Thanksgiving foods, turkey, mashed potatoes, fresh squash, corn and cranberry sauce,” Executive Director Kim Hill said Thursday. “It all comes with milk or a coffee. We'll have apple or pumpkin pie and cookies for dessert.”
The Cortland Loaves and Fishes dining room was closed for the last two Thanksgiving meals, but it served meals to-go from its kitchen, which remained in operation over the course of the pandemic.
“Last year we served 1,300 meals in October,” Cannon said. “This year, coming out of the pandemic and inflation, we served 2,200 this October. We also have helped feed 1,100 students 20,000 meals this year through our weekend meal backpack program.”
THURSDAY
Two years of social distancing, mask-wearing and hand-washing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 led also to massive reductions in the spread of influenza and other respiratory viruses, but those viruses are back.
Influenza cases in New York have begun spiking weeks earlier than previous seasons, the state Health Department reports. And the Cortland County Health Department issued a statement Wednesday warning people of an increase in respiratory syncytial virus, as well as the flu increase.
RSV is a highly contagious, common respiratory virus that commonly causes mild cold-like symptoms in older children and adults. Most people recover in one or two weeks, but RSV can become severe, especially for infants and older adults, and is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children under 1.
Its symptoms, in mild cases, are similar to flue and COVID, including a runny nose, coughing, sneezing, fever, wheezing and decreased appetite. However, more severe infections could create difficulty breathing and dehydration and could require hospitalization.
Preventing the spread, like preventing the spread of coronavirus or influenza, means avoiding the droplets: Avoid close contact; mask up; wash your hands; and stay away from people if you're sick.
SATURDAY
Dozens of tables were spread out Friday morning on the court of the McGraw Elementary School gymnasium to handle the overflow from the annual Thanksgiving Luncheon.
Parents, grandparents and other relatives joined the students during their 30-minute lunch periods to celebrate Thanksgiving and community a little early.
"I like it and I like the food," said Chevelle Nowalk, 10, of Solon. "I like spending the time with my grandfather."
Her grandfather, Roger Stanton, sat next to her in the gymnasium.
"They enjoy coming and I enjoy it, too," Stanton said, referring to his four children and six grandchildren. He's been coming since 1991.
Roger Bilodeau, the cook and manager of the cafeteria who is retiring after this school year and 20 years in the district, said the event dates back a little longer than his time at McGraw Elementary School.
"It takes a lot of hard work and planning," he said.
Bilodeau looked on as 6-year old Jaxson Stevens, a first-grader, selected an ice cream.
"I think this is amazing," said Jaxson's mother, Cynthia Lora. "It's great for the community, especially after COVID."
