Get vaccinated - now!
Hockey season ticket sales are up
The Front Page
Morning Update
Monday, September 27, 2021
By Ken Tingley
Because of the high spread of Covid, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) advises that individuals - even those vaccinated - wear masks when out in public in Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties.
They rate the spread of the disease as “high risk.”
Yet, this past weekend there was a downtown festival in Glens Falls to celebrate the Adirondack Balloon Festival and thousands came from around the region to see the hot air balloons at the airport.
And a lot of motorcycles in Lake George.
Before the Adirondack Balloon Festival got under way last week, one person told me about his family’s annual tradition of going to the balloon festival and tailgating. They had been doing this for years.
The tradition paused this year.
HIs family decided it was too dangerous to be out in public.
Considering the uptick in Covid cases - a few of those who were vaccinated - it seems like a prudent decision.
The Post-Star reported on a man in his 50s who died of Covid this past week after he procrastinated and failed to be vaccinated. The family told the story in hopes that others who have not been vaccinated would not procrastinate any longer. They wanted to save lives.
There has been a steady stream of deaths reported locally over the past few weeks. Most have not been vaccinated. From my own observations, people are going about their business as if the pandemic is over. It is not.
Schools are convening crowds for athletic events and the Adirondack Thunder will be starting play in a few weeks as well. We all should be checking the rate of infection several times a week so we can make more informed decisions.
Our masks should be at the ready.
The rate of infection in Washington County was 44 per 100,000 people on Monday. In Warren County, it is 31 per 100,000. In Saratoga County it was 21 per 100,000. All these numbers are far higher than they were last year at this time.
Just 57 percent have been vaccinated in Washington County while 68 percent have gotten the shot in Warren and 70 in Saratoga.
We do know far more about the disease now. Masks should be mandatory indoors and when in close proximity to other people.
I’ve taken to wearing my mask out in public at the supermarket and other stores. Our lunches have been mostly outdoors, but of course the opportunity for that will soon be over and we will have to decide if we are safe.
I will be heading out for my booster shot soon, then my flu shot. Since I started taking flu shots 10 years ago, I rarely ever get sick during the winter.
We need to come together as a community and demand everyone get vaccinated. Unfortunately, most people thing the crisis has past.
Hockey tickets
I was talking to Jeff Mead over at the Cool Insuring Arena and he informed me that while season tickets were down all across the ECAC, season tickets are up for the Adirondack Thunder. Now, if we could just lick this virus.
Magic Forest auction
On a lark I showed my wife a few of the things that are up for grabs on the Magic Forest auction online. Next thing I know, she is talking about this very large elephant and then she registered for the auction.
Now, I’m very worried.
Battling Obama
A dozen locations are now selling my book “The Last American Editor.” After my book sold its first copy at the Albany-Rensselaer Train Station, they informed me that they had put it on display at the Friar Tuck Newsroom there. I asked them to send me a photo and they obliged where I was surprised to see me getting top billing with President Obama’s most recent book.
Considering the Republican ranks upstate, I think I might have a chance to outsell him.
Book signing
I will be holding a book signing for “The Last American Editor” on Saturday at the Book Warehouse at The Outlets in Queensbury from 1 to 3 p.m. I hope to see you there. Most of you may not have even been aware that there was a new bookstore at The Outlets.
<b>Just 57 percent have been vaccinated in Washington County while 68 percent have gotten the shot in Warren and 70 in Saratoga.</b>
Those are all too low. Those are fully vaxxed, I believe. Fully vaxxed in St. Lawrence is 53.5%, Jefferson is 46.7% and Lewis is 44.5%. I read WDT everyday and their case numbers reflect. The political split in the district is as distinct as it is in the country. That’s the reddest part of it. Fully vaxxed for Vermont is over 77%. Can’t believe we let those Ben and Jerry’s noshing hippies show us up.
If for no other reason, I wear a mask wherever the employees are required to wear them, out of respect. I started wearing it at the Y because I see they have been. Cumby’s and Mkt 32 as well.
Good, excellent thinking!