Life goes on
By John Gregory
Life is different now as efforts to contain the coronavirus (COVID-19) worldwide pandemic have reached Scripps Ranch.
Residents are dealing with a prolonged period of relative isolation, planning emergency finances and caring for children who no longer have classes to attend for at least three weeks.
Word of the coronavirus already had the public on edge as everyone waited for new developments. Local shoppers followed the trend of bulk-buying as they stocked up in case orders were announced to restrict public contact. After all, similar declarations had been given in other countries and even in some areas of the U.S.
Then, the State of California instituted orders to limit all gatherings to 250 people, among other emergency orders. Major events were cancelled. Smaller events were cancelled. Then, the San Diego Unified School District ordered all its schools to close until April 6 pending further notice.
California Governor Gavin Newsom requested senior citizens in the state over the age of 65 to isolate to protect themselves against catching coronavirus. Seniors are particularly vulnerable to the virus. The governor also ordered bars, nightclubs, wineries and brew pubs to close. He stated restaurants should practice extreme social distancing by reducing current occupancy by 50 percent.
On March 16, The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency issued amended orders in response to the ongoing COVID-19 emergency. Among the orders effective midnight on Tuesday, March 17, were that all events with 50 or more people in a single space at the same time, are prohibited. All businesses that serve alcohol and do not serve food shall close. All restaurants and business establishments that serve food shall close all on-site dining. All food served shall be by delivery, pick-up or drive-thru.
Many adults must work from home, gatherings are limited and travel has been restricted. Families with parents required to report to work at their places of business, were struck with the dilemma of how to care for their children while schools are closed. Those able to stay home still face questions of how to keep their children occupied. It’s not easy since most events have been cancelled, museums and amusement parks have closed and some businesses offering activities for kids have been forced to shut down temporarily. Even taking children to the few venues still available offers the risk of exposure.
Local grocery stores were inundated with customers. Shelves of toilet paper and hand sanitizer were emptied. Cans of soup were grabbed up. Rows of shopping carts outside “new” Vons – normally plentiful – had disappeared. They were all in use. Shoppers inside waited in extended lines stretching up the aisles of merchandise.
Scripps Ranch shoppers – for the most part – remained polite, friendly and retained a sense of humor.
“Is there toilet paper? Is there water?” one shopper jokingly asked as he entered Trader Joe’s, 9850 Hibert St. “The heck with the water. Is there any wine left?”
Closings, cancellations
• The Scripps Miramar Ranch Library is closed through April 6. All programming and events have been postponed or cancelled. Online library services remain available.
• The Scripps Ranch Recreation Center and all programming has been cancelled until April 6.
• Jerabek Elementary School FFO’s Spring Fling gala and fundraiser was cancelled.
• The last few shows of the Scripps Ranch High Falcons Playhouse production of “Grease” were cancelled or postponed.
• The Jerabek Elementary School Daughter Date Night was cancelled.
• All high school sports have been stopped.
• The Scripps Ranch Band and Orchestra Festival was postponed.
• Scripps Ranch Little League will not hold any games or team activities until April 6.
• Scripps Ranch Softball Association cancelled all games and practices until March 29.
• The Scripps Ranch Friends of the Library cancelled the March 15, “Pleasure of Your Company” concert.
• The Scripps Ranch Swim & Racquet Club suspended preschool and childcare programs until April 6. The Easter Egg Hunt was cancelled. Fitness classes will continue, modified to fit the situation. See a detailed list at srsrc.com.
• City parks remain open.
Stay in touch
Scripps Ranch News will provide news updates about the coronavirus crisis each day, along with related feature articles on the Scripps Ranch News social media network – Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts. Readers may also visit scrippsranchnews.com.
Anyone may share new, local information regarding events that are cancelled, shortages, ways residents and organizations are continuing to keep progress moving and tips about how to cope are all welcome.
Scripps Ranch News will also send out a weekly e-news edition that will arrive in your email inbox. Sign up to receive this Scripps Ranch digital news digest for free at scrippsranchnews.com/signup.
In addition, Scripps ranch News is considering the resurrection of its Scripps Ranch Weekend report, which can be accessed on scrippsranchnews.com.
April newspaper: Residents can look for the printed edition of Scripps Ranch News in the mail as usual. Anyone with story ideas may send them to john@scrippsranchnews.com.
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