So, Patriots’ Day came and went this week with little fanfare and fuss, and no Boston Marathon, all because of the social distancing requirements cause by the coronavirus threat. We understand the importance of keeping everyone safe, yet we can’t help but miss these grand old traditions that most of us look forward to. It’s unfortunate that we have to give up so much for now, but these events and special occasions will return. For now, be safe and ride this thing out with patience and good humor. After all, what’s the alternative?

Turn your stay at home time into a “staycation” by following some of these useful tips. — Photo © RossHelen / iStock via Getty Images Plus

While vacations sound like the best chance to unwind, planning a trip out of town — and getting there – can sometimes be more hassle than it’s worth.

Here’s how to turn your home into a staycation “destination” that can be enjoyed any time you feel like it:

It began after a bad oil spill that took place in 1969 off the coast of California. A year later, the first annual Earth Day was celebrated to demonstrate universal support for environmental protection and responsible stewardship of the planet and its inhabitants.

Since then, public and official awareness of the negative impacts of human activity – such as air and water pollution – have been raised to a level where concrete action is being demanded to mitigate those effects and heal the ills that have been inflicted on our world.

— Photo by Doug Holder

Old Man Winter took a late bow as it graced the city with a mid-April snowfall last Saturday.

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From the introduction by Megan Marshall:

“Scott kept writing. In the early 80’s, encouraged by the Somerville poet Doug Holder, a co-worker at McLean, he published three poems in the Somerville Community News, including Somerville, Again, and Somerville and Farther North, reprinted here. Denise Levertov, then living in Somerville, sent Scott a postcard saying she “really liked” the second of these; he saved the postcard. His only other publications were two music reviews of Suzanne Vega and Leonard Cohen for the Boston Phoenix.”

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Poet Tyler Comito writes, “I am a senior at Endicott College pursuing my bachelors in Biology/Biotechnology and seeking to continue my education at Merrimack College to get my master’s degree in secondary education. I am originally from Clifton Park, NY, where I grew up, and was lucky enough to have the opportunity to move to the North Shore for four years of my life. I’ve always been interested in writing and being able to express my thoughts in another way. This class with Doug Holder, along with my own initiative, have allowed me to do just that.”

Dear Community Members,

Statement from Mayor Joe Curtatone on the closure of all public and private schools through the end of the school year:

I fully support Governor Baker’s decision to keep Massachusetts schools closed for the remainder of the school year. It is the only sensible decision as we find ourselves in the surge phase of this pandemic. We simply cannot secure public health at this time by sending thousands of students, teachers and staff back to school in our community.

Mayor Joe Curtatone talks about how Patriots’ Day give us some perspective on the trials we face with coronavirus.