March 19, 2020

OUT AND ABOOT … IN MUSKOKA TODAY

MUSKOKA — People are coming together to stay apart.

Slowly … if surely.

Families are even walking in staggered lines.

And it’s easier to do.

District streets are open — if quieter.

Many hours are being limited across the board — though YIG grocery stores are restricting their first hour at 7 a.m. for seniors and the disable.

Shopper’s Drug Mart is also reducing hours based on community needs.

Other pharmacies are also still open and are among many sectors with warning signs at entrances.

The Pharmasave at the Muskoka Wharf reminds customers that they have no supplies of masks toilet paper, hand sanitizer, alcohol, wet ones or thermometers

And while there’s no sign of masks outside hospitals, some in the community are donning rubber gloves as a precaution.

In offices people are using Lysol to wipe down desks for the public and using hand sanitizer before sharing pens.

Wahta resident Merv Dewasha was at the Gravenhurst Shopper’s buying three large bottles of Lysol for his Big Smoke cigarette sales business.

Sit-downs in restaurants may a thing of the past for the time being, but takeots continue to do brisk business.

Large groups of young people were seen Thursday afternoon jamming their way into a Pizza Pizza at Muskoka Road and Hotchkiss Street, while down main street south another man was munching a slice and and holding a flat box from Pizza Hut.

As the world turns … you bet.

It seems adjusting is taking some getting used to, but better get used to it.

Because the March Break will give way to more of the same ahead.

One can only hope springs eternal.

In Bracebridge signs of COVID are all over town, promenantly on sign boards around Memorial Park downtown.

The Norwood Theatre has two on its marqees: Closed till further notice, on front; and Enjoy March Break in Muskoka (if you can, ed.)

Across Manitoba Street on the other corner at Mary Street, the St. Thomas Anglican Church sign reads: This building is closed. We’re praying for all.

Say no more.

God bless us everyone!

See 10 photos below.

MORE:

Gas dips again, to 75.9 cents in Gravenhurst — more than 30 cents below the previous $1.07 just over a week or so ago.
ServiceOntario says that even though its offices are closed, it is providing extensions for people who need to renew licences. All governments say no one will face fines for not having timely documents.

CANCELLATIONS/POSTPONEMENTS:

The Muskoka Concert Association series has postponed its Brett Polegato concert April 5 at the Gravenhurst United Church. A future date to be determined.
And its Sultans of String concert will now take place July 24.
Let us know what’s open and closed — and what’s going on and how you’re coping.