2 16 19 https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/51500/archive/files/efa39b130e27c7b0e47bcf6679575e52.PNG?Expires=1785369600&Signature=FxEeKuyd0Y0LCEYfGEnC989JisVTf%7ErkTnSEbS1Hk%7E-wTracZdlqIZ2CBHmUvxJ2gdrxAco8bd4GWnyR9hEy1MXLCOP3cYetvCNvY1WU0bfYXEPxuAydlu66Fovcw9i2iJULvQ5GtE%7EFWofvafr636Ezi9ukTdqQDUn6JvHtcfIXmZD8etuv0WBFlgmw3Qb1Grkn4N%7E2uN4s9ecb-CsvDe-fk-zz9VW5pUwr6X02d7I65dWZqODztSvkRq1rDiJ6b9vrKypxTFriIdRHgTsSKNtB7%7E-nGnQXpI1BI0EppVRVhWcXD747Nlah5XbRMjuIkpeuxsCgrHhyee-nGYxAgA__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM da0e37f7106a89a0dcabe1351b15309f Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Emergency Archive Description An account of the resource Writing, images, recordings, and other materials documenting life in Central Maine during the COVID-19 pandemic and other historic events that have impacted our communities. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020 2021 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Penobscot County (Me.) Piscataquis County (Me.) Somerset County (Me.) Subject The topic of the resource Communities COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hartland Public Library (Hartland, Me.) Newport Cultural Center (Newport, Me.) Pittsfield Public Library (Pittsfield, Me.) Skowhegan Free Public Library (Skowhegan, Me.) Thompson Free Library (Dover-Foxcroft, Me.) Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Text of your story DOVER-FOXCROFT -- Life has changed dramatically for families in the Piscataquis region, and around the globe. “I get to get out of the house by myself, and that’s about as much celebrating as I’m doing today,” said Christi Pingree on April 2, her birthday, while picking up pre-ordered groceries. The couple, who will be married two years in June, have two children, Jarad Pingree’s son, Kieran, 9, and Christi’s daughter, Jelena, 9. Pingree, a behavioral health professional, took a leave of absence when the school closed, even though she worries about her clients while she’s away. “My workplace is pretty understanding, and in my opinion, family comes first. I don’t want my kids shuffled around, especially at a scary time, an uncertain time. I want them to have stability, a strong routine. We do a whole school day and try to keep it as normal as possible,” she said. Jelena enjoys being home schooled, but Kieran doesn’t like it as much and misses his friends, Pingree said. Finding materials hasn’t been an issue, as the school sends homework, coloring sheets, links to word searches and other educational games. Art projects are also available online. School begins right after breakfast. “We do things in the same order every day,” said Pingree. “We knock out the hard stuff first, then go on to the easier things. If we can’t do recess, we do what I call movement – we put ‘Just Dance’ on the Wii to get all their wiggles out.” Pingree said she “never aspired to be a homeschool or stay-at-home mom, and I was right! This is not for me. I only work when they are at school. I take them to the library once a week, and I’m at every sports thing, but I like to get out and work, and I like having my free days here and there, too.” Financial concerns and COVID fears Pingree was a little apprehensive when she took her leave of absence. Then they found out Jared would also not be working. Jarad just finished work as a background investigator. His new job, forensic analyst at the Maine State Police crime lab, is on hold. “This is a little scarier because we don’t know how long this is going to go on for,” she said. “I don’t know if this will be a month or three months. I had heard with mortgage companies, if you needed to miss a payment or three, they would put it on the back end of the loan.” But when she called, she was told that they could take months off, but would owe back payments in addition to regular payments once they resumed. Fortunately, the couple’s income tax refund arrived recently. “That was a load off,” Pingree said. “I felt like the timing was pretty darn good. I think we’ll be okay. We’ll be fine.” Typically, Pingree shops at Sam’s Club and Walmart, supplementing with trips to Shaw’s and Will’s Shop n Save. Now, “I don’t want to go in anywhere. I pull in [at Walmart] and call and tell them I’m there, and they bring it out to the car. I don’t touch anything or talk to anyone. I wash my hands when I get home and I scrub everything down with antiseptic wipes, then I wash my hands again,” she said. Postage stamps are ordered online, as are photographs. Arrivals from Amazon get wiped down, too. Pingree is also uncertain how safe takeout food might be. “Everyone decides how much risk they want to take. Everyone has their ideas, but to me, it’s just not worth it. I am perfectly capable of preparing our food. To me, better safe than sorry. That’s just my personality.” Mental health matters Talking to the kids about what’s going on can be tricky, Pingree said. “I don’t want to lie to them that it’s all sunshine and rainbows, but I don’t want to scare them, either. We tell them that everything is going to be okay, that we are doing everything we can to protect ourselves, and just following [recommendations] to keep ourselves healthy.” Pingree, who works part time, misses having a few hours to herself while the kids are in school. “I really, really miss having time to myself one or twice a week,” she said. Fortunately, her husband helps her carve out a couple of hours to watch TV by herself, and she helps him find time for a nap once in a while. Jarad Pingree, a veteran, is missing pain management treatments normally received through a VA hospital in Boston. Pingree said she misses attending church in person rather than via Facebook Live. And she misses dinners with her in-laws, who live nearby. “It’s been kind of weird and hard not to be able to do that. Yesterday, my mother-in-law put some masks in the mailbox, and waved through the window,” she said. “I try to keep things as normal as possible,” Pingree said. “Other than that, we are just kind of winging it and doing our best like everyone else and hoping this thing will pass.” Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper article Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Striving for Normalcy in the Time of COVID Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grant, Sheila D. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020-04-10 Subject The topic of the resource Pingree, Christi Families Education--Parent participation Home schooling COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- Newspapers Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Dover-Foxcroft (Me.) Piscataquis County (Me.) Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Creator retains copyright. Item may be used for noncommercial purposes under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Gazette Inc. (Dexter, Me.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Eastern Gazette, Vol. 168, No. 15 Language A language of the resource Eng Description An account of the resource Life has changed dramatically for families in the Piscataquis region, and around the globe. Writer Sheila Grant profiles Christi Pingree, a behavioral health professional who took a leave of absence when her children's school closed. 2020 Change Childcare Families Remote Learning Students Work https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/51500/archive/files/a026ad352f9dba75e8374444c298613a.PNG?Expires=1785369600&Signature=PRnmdr%7ENBgFOXjfalKcVfPaJH4NAFuaj1pCPx6rIy64as%7EQrnTiJCqHqaYaQj0td2TRApqR6Rt-FeD7sE%7EhMualWPJz6RxNB1JQxGEAXwdymMmO%7EBmLlsCQbhHR17OM81eV28oxyoGij3bG1F45ePA8f5wSelb5Qo%7EyWu8eH4JRHIyz%7Ee9qL%7E2mwLLTnpbO5JcNCn2eUWfVaKeNNadiGLCsRphLOM18ofFGLXp%7EQQNcIqh0DsMB2BndEJBM2UU2ez%7EbVCYZ1tqhlYwF9%7EpUAOzX9YyugIYVAI02T16gJ2halhf6sIcfkpmrUkF33ScVnY9OR0euUiBzcCozVnrvW8A__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM cee982cbbd4bd6706c5d41c7cb613807 https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/51500/archive/files/cc8d79054ffd6b4ba78c243cd0e5553f.PNG?Expires=1785369600&Signature=OO86H2H0fYkuGblQbzwNO-ho-JKw%7EvfpnrwwthQxtzr0NJrNbZcS2G%7E9YOszNBLeCwHqy0IOTuHM6k4YMw6Xav5qUd8RtxlzXhsvASR1Wo1iUg3YbJUCXxGAbNQErOLejDG7Aw-FMOPN43HaVCQq16hJxA2NPNEc0L1%7E3WbIjpJ19iC27rL0Bu6oHy%7EaorYlibyCKyyg8FhfZhIQbU4YadDPPQORuufTYxoigzWx5qtnZm1LFLYfXiqLkrXhVhithIsvrmnx-X8x1ZMWhAG8X20w3oDrpw020LZaAW1N2uacNK8SEXH2zAlI0br1jtLSurj91ZEpAFcQWFDfjhDxOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM 40786d612a5c4d0cf49ecc22703f1644 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Emergency Archive Description An account of the resource Writing, images, recordings, and other materials documenting life in Central Maine during the COVID-19 pandemic and other historic events that have impacted our communities. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020 2021 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Penobscot County (Me.) Piscataquis County (Me.) Somerset County (Me.) Subject The topic of the resource Communities COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hartland Public Library (Hartland, Me.) Newport Cultural Center (Newport, Me.) Pittsfield Public Library (Pittsfield, Me.) Skowhegan Free Public Library (Skowhegan, Me.) Thompson Free Library (Dover-Foxcroft, Me.) Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Text of your story If people in the Piscataquis region know me at all, they know me as a writer for local newspapers and magazines. What most folks don’t know is that I grew up without a lot, as did many Mainers in this neck of the woods, and I struggled with poverty off and on for years before finding my financial footing. I’ve even been a welfare recipient, though I’ve tried to pay those funds back, either directly or by paying it forward to other families and organizations in need. I did not realize until this past two weeks, when friends and family have asked me (because I am known for my research skills) if it was safe to freeze, or how to extend the life of some food item, that I may have acquired some useful skills during my journey. Everyone wants to make their fresh food last and to make as few grocery shopping excursions as possible these days. In the late 1970s/early 1980s, as stepmom to three growing kids, the book “Putting Food By” taught me how to can vegetables and make pickles. It also features chapters on drying, freezing, and storing in a root cellar, to name a few. It’s an “oldie but a goodie,” and has been updated a few times over the years. Copies are available on eBay and Amazon. I buy my blueberries and many of my vegetables already frozen. For items I do buy fresh which are not pre-washed, I like to soak in a solution of three parts cool water, one part white vinegar for 15 minutes, rinse, dry and then package for use. I don’t know if vinegar kills COVID-19, but it does have disinfectant properties, and this kind of a wash also helps berries stay fresh longer. Bananas turn dark faster in the refrigerator, but the insides stay firm and fresh far longer – and when they become too mushy, mash up three and store in the freezer in a small plastic container to thaw for banana bread later! Also, don’t separate bananas (or grapes) until ready to consume, as connection to stems keeps them fresh longer. Celery lasts longer wrapped in tinfoil. Lettuce won’t get soggy as fast if it is stored with a paper towel. I bought some green and yellow peppers last week for recipes I won’t get to for a while, so those got chopped, pre-measured and stored in small plastic containers in the freezer. It’s important not to leave too much “head room,” the space between the food and the top of the container, when freezing, to reduce the risk of freezer burn. But you do need a little room, or items that expand when frozen could burst out of containers. People have asked me how to make milk last longer, and eggs. Both can be frozen. Eggs should be removed from shells and frozen in whatever quantity required for various recipes. It’s best to use previously frozen eggs only in recipes that require a lengthy cooking time, in case of any bacteria that might otherwise cause intestinal distress. Thaw them in the fridge, and never re-freeze eggs. And the milk? Just give it a really good shake once it’s thawed. I also freeze the last of a gallon of fresh milk if it’s starting to sour, measured out for future baking needs. Other items that can be frozen include butter, margarine, shredded cheese, spaghetti sauce, chicken broth, and most stews and casseroles. I have to experiment to find which dishes freeze well. My Italian meatball soup is fine frozen, but my taco bean soup, not so much! Baked goods can be frozen, as well. Putting a paper towel in with a loaf of bread will keep it from getting soggy as it thaws. Putting a slice of bread in with cookies will keep them softer as they thaw. It’s best to use frozen breads and muffins within 30 days, as the quality begins to degrade after that. Cookies seem to last a little longer. We were still eating my molasses holiday cookies in February. Apples are another fresh food that does well in the freezer. I slice mine into pie-sized batches and freeze. Or, if I have some that are looking a little worse for wear, I peel, slice and cook on low heat, adding sugar and cinnamon to the applesauce to taste, cool, and freeze. Our grocery store workers are doing their best to keep the shelves stocked and oft-touched surfaces cleaned. I figure I can do my part by not visiting them any more often than I have to until COVID-19 concerns have passed. Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper article Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Being a Penny Pincher Pays Off in the Time of COVID Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grant, Sheila D. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020-04-03 Subject The topic of the resource Food--Preservation Frozen foods COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- Newspapers Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Creator retains copyright. Item may be used for noncommercial purposes under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Gazette Inc. (Dexter, Me.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Eastern Gazette, Vol. 168, No. 14 Language A language of the resource Eng Description An account of the resource Everyone wants to make their fresh food last and to make as few grocery shopping excursions as possible these days. Writer Sheila Grant provides tips on extending the life of food items, including fruits and vegetables, milk, eggs, and baked goods. 2020 Food Learning Recipes https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/51500/archive/files/f51fabc9c741659251b27a7b41004868.PNG?Expires=1785369600&Signature=eGLEFnFDBqw05bM92AsNqfuARqr0AcYW88xrAWaSfUBk9iJN3hJv9Nhq5thAHEU4ysd8cn1Vxo5uoObRrJecIxT32xkRSHKmECB7OEBnnH248rzAX97vATwJ8T%7EWEd-2DUKXBRLj0S%7EN3rAFudDCVRznKkc3vpT39lEepWXRbudJGGTpLBxEzgQCyZhU3pNSuKcJCSZIX-u%7EVhMcyHVG86xBAVGXlhBsTeWtJubYitBMtm5bTC-RfmN8ijHRncd3Mdt557ZRpty0PHNNIligLddTWPSnmILtUwcNN4957kVb9xZ6ieG3-q0WFcZpxokx6fExXghZbjfxucKPCEtEag__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM c5b69401a1635474bfaf0595fc5e6886 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Emergency Archive Description An account of the resource Writing, images, recordings, and other materials documenting life in Central Maine during the COVID-19 pandemic and other historic events that have impacted our communities. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020 2021 Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Penobscot County (Me.) Piscataquis County (Me.) Somerset County (Me.) Subject The topic of the resource Communities COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Hartland Public Library (Hartland, Me.) Newport Cultural Center (Newport, Me.) Pittsfield Public Library (Pittsfield, Me.) Skowhegan Free Public Library (Skowhegan, Me.) Thompson Free Library (Dover-Foxcroft, Me.) Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Text of your story MAINE -- There are far fewer vehicles on the road these days, but the trucks are still rolling. From log trucks supplying manufacturers of toilet paper to trucks hauling components of COVID-19 tests and personal protective equipment to those keeping our grocer’s warehouses stocked, truck drivers are very essential workers. Thomas Moss returned to long-haul trucking after a career as a PET/CT technologist. That medical background makes him all the more aware of how easily he could transport COVID-19 from one side of the nation to the other. “I don’t have a regular route,” Moss explained. “I go wherever they tell me to go. My last run was from Pennsylvania to Lewiston. Before that, it was from Maryland to Pennsylvania.” During his travels, Moss has noticed that there is no one set of safety protocols. “There’s no consistency,” he said. “It kind of makes me worried that the government isn’t making a consistent type of emergency plan. When I worked in the medical field, there was a standard set of protocols and most hospitals were pretty much the same.” One state might have stringent safety rules in place during this pandemic, while another might be more lax, or lack any guidance at all. In response, Moss said, truckers need to develop their own safety standards. “I wash my hands [with hand sanitizer] before I get out of my truck and again when I get back in,” he said. “That’s basically my way of making sure I don’t get it – but there’s no guarantee of that. It is constantly on your mind, because you see it everywhere. I’ve been mostly up in the northeast, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and back into Maine, and I’ve gone through New Hampshire and Connecticut. Sometimes you have to stop for fuel or a meal and you see different precautions in different places. But, I applaud that they are taking precautions.” Most truckers don’t have a television on board, and may not catch the latest news via the radio. Moss has been observing a three-foot distance from other customers when he does stop, unaware until he arrived home on March 27 that the recommendation had been changed to six feet several days ago. Every fuel pump or door handle Moss touches reminds him of the risk to himself, his family when he arrives home, and everyone else along his route, as well as a sense of responsibility to keep himself and everyone else safe. “You don’t know who was pumping fuel last. And how do you know that person you’ve talked to [at shipping and receiving areas] isn’t positive? Truck drivers travel from state to state. I can be in California two days from now. And if even a quarter of truckers tested positive, they would have more than a pandemic on their hands because shelves would be empty. That is on my mind a lot.” One saving grace is that truckers don’t really mingle like other coworkers, Moss said. They pull in for fuel, for food, and to sleep before hitting the road again. It was that way before the pandemic, too, but now, “I see truckers with masks and gloves. They don’t want to spread this. We are trying to do our part to prevent [spreading] it.” Bringing the virus home to his family is a concern, and so is becoming ill out on the road. “Even if I don’t have symptoms, am I positive or negative,” he wonders. “I was listening to a podcast while coming home, talking about a testing facility for doctors and nurses. Why isn’t there a testing site for truck drivers? I could be positive here, not know it, and go out to wherever and touch a door handle and the virus has traveled across the country. I believe that’s on every trucker’s mind. I can see it in the truck stops. How do you know?” Also a concern is the lack of a plan if a trucker does become ill on the road. Company guidance is usually to follow the advice of your physician, but if you’re in New Jersey and your physician is in Maine, and you’ll be contagious the entire way, or too ill to drive that far, then what? “I am more concerned for him than I have been,” said wife Christi Moss. “I know he’s cautious, and he’s always been a hand washer, but he comes into contact with multiple people where he is picking up, delivering and trying to get meals. We continuously try to plan for should he get ill on the road. I don’t have an answer for that.” Christi Moss said she’s not in a panic about either of them getting sick, even though they “crossed into the [60+] danger zone a couple of years ago,” but the uncertainty does bother her. “What’s the plan” she wonders. She only began her job as administrative assistant for a large property management company at the beginning of March, so Christi Moss is juggling that new-job learning curve along with concerns about her husband on the road, a grown daughter with pre-existing conditions who works at a large grocery store; a grown son whose work hours and income have been impacted by COVID-19, and her youngest, a busy high school junior now cooped up at home instead of participating in the band and sports activities she loves. Asked what she does to keep herself sane and healthy, Moss laughed. “I don’t think I’m doing that much different, not that I’m consciously aware of, anyway.” At work, they are taking every precaution possible. And with her husband away, a new job, a teenager, two very large dogs and one cat to keep track of, she said, “I think, because of starting the job at about the same time this broke loose, I can’t say if I am doing things differently because of one or the other!” Thomas Moss said that while he doesn’t meditate, he does, “a lot of positive thinking. I am hoping we do get over this without more fatalities. Right now, from what I see at stops and on the road, truckers are trying to do our part.” Another thing that helps Moss, and that he said would help other truckers, is some simple appreciation. “I don’t want to toot my own horn or anything,” he said. “But in the last week and a half, I stopped at least once every day, and I had one person thank me out of at least 100 people.” And that one person, or the friendly wave or thumbs up to truckers as they pass by, makes all the difference, he said. “When that young lady at the truck stop thanked me, it made me feel kind of appreciated,” Moss said. “I’m not asking to be glorified, but to be respected, and to get a ‘thank you.’ It does make us feel good. We are out there trying to do the best we can for you.” Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data Newspaper article Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Truckers Face Isolation and Worry as They Keep America's Supply Chain Intact Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Grant, Sheila D. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2020-04-03 Subject The topic of the resource Truck drivers Moss, Thomas Moss, Christi COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- Newspapers Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Creator retains copyright. Item may be used for noncommercial purposes under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Gazette Inc. (Dexter, Me.) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived The Eastern Gazette, Vol. 168, No. 14 Language A language of the resource Eng Description An account of the resource There are far fewer vehicles on the road these days, but the trucks are still rolling. From log trucks supplying manufacturers of toilet paper to trucks hauling components of COVID-19 tests and personal protective equipment to those keeping our grocer’s warehouses stocked, truck drivers are very essential workers. Writer Sheila Grant profiles long-haul truck driver Thomas Moss. 2020 Essential Workers Safety Travel Work