April - June 2020 +
Neighborhood Selfie Station: Connecting while social distancing due to the coronavirus and stay-at-home orders……a work in progress.
Community….
remaining connected and sharing during a period of isolation due to COVID 19.
Thanks, Lucia for the beautiful lawn sign!
Susan
I enjoy walking in my neighborhood and as we stay home from work during the coronavirus order there is an increase in neighbors strolling outside. However, instead of greeting each other as we pass, with social distancing in place, we cross to the other side of the street. It’s a strange and unnatural response for me; therefore, I turned to my profession in photography to reconnect by asking all the dog walkers, joggers, and families to take a selfie when they pass my house to say hello!
I am posting their images here, along with a bit of their stories/thoughts to share with the neighborhood. I look forward to coming together on the sidewalk again soon, with an even more connected neighborhood through this shared experience.
Jay / Theo / Lucia
Jennie / Snugs
I am a doctor at Unity Hospital. This is undoubtedly a very scary and overwhelming time to be in health care. We are receiving emails/ participating in meetings often multiple times per day as the recommendations for how to care for the sick seem to change hourly, and we often have to navigate around having a limited understanding of this disease (which is really stressful and not what any of us are used to). I feel so fortunate to have such a great group of people working with me as everyone and I mean EVERYONE has really come together to support each other and our patients as we get through this challenging time.
In the end...I am looking forward to a day when I can pump gas free of fear!
Dulcy / Bailey
Being able to go out to walk is very important to me. Watching the changes in nature is balm for my soul.
The Peace of Wild Things
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life & my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
Wendell Berry
Tom
Frame by Frame guy and sometimes backdoor man.
(a stop motion animator and friend, Tom, before our restrictions, often would knock on my back door for a visit on his walks)
Michael
My husband and me
Stephanie / Brandon / Hank / Hattie
I miss being with my students. As Director of Special Programs, I hope that all of my students are doing well outside of school. I am settling into my life of Zoom meetings and hoping that I am silenced as the dogs bark at neighbors. I try to remain sane with a morning run and many walks with Hank and Hattie.
Brandon continues to go to work in healthcare, so that limits our social interactions more than most.
Elizabeth / Jimmy / Thomas
Although our habits have always been those of "home bodies", the adults pictured here have friends both in Rochester and other parts of the country (including rural Illinois) that have contracted Covid-19 and it literally brings home just how globally connected our world is. So we pray for the health & well being of all our neighbors, many who act as family to us, and for all the other neighborhoods in the world, as clearly, we are all in this together!
Dennis
Barb
Suited for a quick walk! The new normal. No, I’m not about to make a withdrawal from the nearest bank - just following orders. Though a raid on Tops or Trader Joes or Wegmans would be a most welcome excursion/diversion. How I miss the grocery aisles, good exercise, too!
Waelder Family
We are enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of Spring, re-learning to experience life with gratitude.
Olive
Perhaps this is my owner's projection but I am one of the many souls who is finding a real benefit in the age of Covid-19! I love having my family home all the time and comforting them with cuddles while they freak out about cleaning the door handles and everything else. Their increased cleaning habits have even spread to me....my nails have never been so trim and my teeth are actually getting brushed! I also find I'm a big hit when I join their zoom meetings!
I do pray first & foremost for the safety and health and financial stability of all those in the world (especially my neighbors), but I also pray that the increased TLC I've experienced lately continues forever, and that you too experience a silver lining in the new normal that will be the world in the post Covid-19 age.
Josh
Kelly / Dylan
Dylan does not miss school but he certainly misses his friends and his neighborhood running club, Monroe Milers!
Kelly / Sydney
This is a very tough time for Sydney, who just happens to be a social butterfly. She misses running up to and hugging her neighbors and friends terribly! We try to make it work with waving and yelling hello from across/down the street!
Jodi / Stefan / Tali
On a quick walk around the block before the sun goes down. Feeling lucky to be with each other and appreciating our beautiful neighborhood — but missing our son, Ethan, a sophomore in college who’s waiting out the pandemic with his apartment mates in Philly.
Madi / Jenny / Craig
With Hobbes Ignatius Jinx aka H.I.Jinx aka Iggy
Joe
It’s a unique birthday for Joe today! As he reflects on Covid 19, he feels this will bring people closer together. “We are all facing the same disease and we should try to help each other out.”
Claudia K
Today is a good day.
Super fortunate to be able to get out and walk the hood and take a much needed break from con calls and virtual meetings. I am grateful I live in this beautiful neighborhood and enjoy seeing spring bloom more and more each day.
Meredith
I have been running in the neighborhood since the pandemic started. I find it comforting to run by my friend’s houses even if I don’t say hello. It’s nice to know they are safe inside or somewhere else. I run by Susan’s house several times a week.
David / Pattie / Lillian
We are doing well, cooking and eating, staying healthy and fit, playing games and music, making art (Lillian), loving each other and working hard to keep our businesses afloat.
Alayna / Liz / Alex
Deb / Chris
Chris teaches Chemistry at The Harley School. Now he meets his students in the mornings online. He is doing his best to keep the students engaged and together. I am retired and I spend a lot of time in Golden, CO where our son and his family live. But for now, I will stay in Rochester until it is safe to travel again. I also volunteer for SewGreenRochester. We are selling fabric and mask kits at a very low price. So if you need something to do and have a sewing machine check out our website at sewgreenrochester.org. We moved many of our free sewing, knitting, and crochet lessons online too.
Elizabeth / Tucker
Adam had to take the pic as Tucker does not stay still.
(And this image marks Easter……note the paper egg in the window for our neighborhood Easter Egg hunt, can you spot it?!)
Amber / Lady / Hillary
We landed on earth yesterday…..our mission was to conquer the planet and return home, but once we arrived, it seemed like the inhabiting creatures were having a troubling time. We decided to let them chill for a little while and sort themselves out…..the last thing they need right now is an alien invasion! So we’ll be back in 30-300 years! Stay cool & have a great summer Earth! Hope you feel better soon!
Claire / Mersey
My husband and I are freelancers, we’re used to being home with the pups all the time, so this is not as big a disruption as it is for many. We also have a small poodle, Dusty, who didn’t make it into the photo - my arms just aren’t long enough. Dusty and I volunteer at St John’s nursing home; we really miss our friends there and worry for them. From our front windows, we can see the triage tent they have set up in front of the Highland Hospital ED. Still lots of ambulance traffic. It’s really sobering. We’re lucky to be healthy and live in such a great neighborhood. Love and wishes for good health to all.
Jen
I caught (hopefully) the last snow flurry for this spring. Best wishes to all my Rockingham neighbors! It’s good to see you out and about. Aren’t we lucky to have our cozy spot in this lovely neighborhood!
Susan…..
marking the mandatory NY executive order to wear masks in public. I didn’t mind wearing the mask on my ride, since it was 34 degrees when I left my house! Thanks to my friends for sewing masks to share with the community!
On the bike path I’ve observed a change in local wildlife, who seem so much more relaxed and active during the stay at home order. I saw a fox for the first time as I rode by the river. And the streets are quiet, which makes it easy to cross the roads on my way home.
Lillian / David / Pattie
Lillian’s nose clips have been unused and she had a last-minute inspiration to use them as part of our PPE. Great thought - but not very comfortable!
Aida / Boy
Aida taking her dog Boy for a “poo poo walk”
Niamh / Emmet
Love taking daily walks in the neighborhood.
Tracey / Bennet
Bennet is quite camera shy so it was a bit of a struggle to get him to cooperate! We take lots of walks around the block now on sunny days and are really enjoying our beautiful neighborhood. I’m a speech language pathologist and I love that I can walk back and forth to work, watch the slow emergence of spring, and relax and decompress during these difficult days.
Joe / Ryan / and most importantly Sherman
Kristina
Walking in the neighborhood has been a wonderful break from my new Zoom life. Thanks for bringing us together in this project.
Jason / Theo / Lucia
Brian
Quite honestly, I knew I was a social butterfly but had no idea of the degree until my whole social circle was removed! I am fortunate to be able to work at home; however, my house has now become my office and no longer a sacred space. People are socializing with zoom parties, which is the same thing as work these days. I am very Jamaican, I have eaten Jamaican patties every day since I was born until now because when I went to the store they were all gone! I remain positive and know that we are going to be fine, we will figure this out and defeat it.
Joyce
I am pleased to be in New York State and am confident that we will come out of this crisis in the best way possible because I trust Governor Cuomo’s leadership. He is respectful, encouraging, knowledgeable, practical, and is considering all New Yorkers.
Emma / Giancarlo
Tom
My nature is to be a bit of a loner so I don’t mind time alone at home. Since I teach animation at RIT I do spend a little too much time on “the box” but I reward myself with long solo urban walks down to the Genesee River and around the city center where it is very quiet. I love seeing the power of the river and remembering how awesome nature is (in ALL ways.) I usually don’t wear a mask during these jaunts but when I come across pedestrians on my walks, I cover my breathing holes out of respect for others and to show how serious I take these precautions.
Community….
coming together with creative solutions to celebrate graduation, from virtual ceremonies to car parades and one of my favorites, a principal in cap and gown who surprised his graduates by delivering personalized lawn signs.
Congratulations to all our 2020 grads, you are truly unique!!
Jennie / Emma / Wyatt / Oscar / Maxi the dog
Rob is the photographer, not pictured, the way he prefers. This is day 57 of isolation for us and we’ve walked by dozens of times and finally took a pic. The kids are enjoying home learning and sleeping in, but miss their friends. We love this neighborhood for things like this! We walk everyday and it’s difficult now to have to avoid neighbors and cross streets, only waving or shouting hi instead of stopping to chat and give a hug. If you see us out walking when this is all over and we can safely be within 6 feet of each other, stop and say hi and share a hug. I’m sure we’re all deprived of actual social contact at this point and we look forward to getting back to a “new normal” when quarantine is lifted.
Thomas / Elizabeth / Baby
Happy Mother's Day to the neighborhood! Here we are: my 7 month bump and my four year old, who refuses compliance orders and immediately rips off his face mask whenever I put it on him! I had serious reservations about bringing children into the world before the age of Covid-19, between global warming and late stage capitalism....and now we get to add a full blown world pandemic to the many parts of navigating parenthood! But in the end, I'm an optimist and despite all fears, I think human beings can & do make the world a better place. I think all children stand a good chance of not only surviving this world, but have the unique opportunity to make serious differences for the better, and I intend to do everything I can to help us all get there....even if I clearly can't convince my child that he might be an asymptomatic carrier and to WEAR HIS MASK!!!! Sorry Neighbors...We'll try & keep our distance in the meantime!!!!
Paula / Kate / Carol
This is me, Paula with a couple of my girlfriends Kate and Carol. We walk in Highland Park every Tuesday morning. It’s wonderful to watch the park come alive even though spring is taking its sweet time this year. Other than walking, I am working on a quilt, working in my garden, working at the greenhouse and taking care of my dad a bit. He’s 87 and doing quite well... but we won’t let him go to the grocery store! Stay safe neighbors and I look forward to my first summer on Rockingham Street.
Susan
5/15/20 Rochester is among five regions in NY state that have met the criteria necessary to reopen with PHASE ONE, while continuing to practice social distancing and wear a mask when out in public. There are still no gatherings permitted, and playgrounds remain closed. However, beginning today the following can open:
· Retail stores – including clothing, appliances, electronics, sporting goods and furniture stores (I ordered a mattress, my back will be happier)
· Residential construction and landscaping can resume (sorry only grass gets a hair cut for now)
· Greenhouses and nurseries can reopen
· Drive-in movie theaters can reopen statewide (are those still around?!)
· Outdoor, low-risk recreational activities such as tennis (not doubles) are permitted statewide
Stay safe everyone!
Margie
I don't mind the slower pace of life. But I miss my kids and grandkids, who all live out of town. I worry about them and I worry about when I will see them again. Reading and communication technology have been my salvation.
John
Trying to keep busy with projects. Had the two maple trees by my driveway cut down. So I came up with this. All is leftover lumber from other projects except for the 6x6 timber. The swing had been on my porch.
(In lieu of a selfie, John asked to post his home project…..I’ve notice an increase in garden swings on my walks and John’s is one of the best!)
John
Denise
Just finished getting grades submitted for the semester and am now able to finally emerge from hibernation! Perfect timing - the sun is out and the neighborhood looks so lovely! Looking forward to seeing my neighbors (from a distance) again!
Susan
It’s been a historic weekend…..May 29-31, 2020
Continuing all week, COVID masked peaceful protesters swept the nation calling for racial justice after the police killing of George Floyd. This weekend riots broke out and curfews were set to contain the violence. For me, it brought back the Rodney King riots at home in LA and a sad recognition of how little has changed.
We marked a new chapter in space travel, the first private crewed spacecraft, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon lifted off at Cape Canaveral to the International Space Station.
And locally our region’s Phase Two reopening was activated, which includes professional services, finance and insurance, in-person retail, administrative support, real estate, rental and leasing. Social distancing, masks, and density reduction measures must be in place and testing is recommended.
For me, this meant back to the eye doctor for periodic imaging. The new routine requires a cell phone check in from the parking lot and car park waiting for permission to enter the building.
Amanda / Dan
Working from home has really lost its charm, but the sunshine has been uplifting! We love going for walks, especially around the park, surrounding neighborhoods, and the cemetery. We appreciate the little things quarantine has given us, like more time with each other and our beloved cats, and the reminder to reach out to friends and family.
Jim / Jen
Enjoying being back in the neighborhood on such a beautiful day.
Linus
aka Doppelgänger, identical to another cat on the block. Linus is a friendly cat who stopped by today for a selfie.
At this time, there is no evidence that animals can spread the virus that causes COVID 19, therefore Linus can roam around the neighborhood, mask free, greeting everyone along the way.
Harriet / Thomas / Elizabeth
Welcome to the neighborhood!!
Harriet Wallis Dugdale, born June 22, 2020
(photo by Dad on June 25th)
Susan
June 26, 2020
We are entering Phase 4 in our region today.
NY hit another record low of COVID hospitalization, however the coronavirus is on the rise in many other states.
The test, trace and isolate strategy continues and the following can reopen in our region:
Higher Education / Low-Risk Outdoor Arts & Entertainment / Low-Risk Indoor Arts & Entertainment / Media Production
However gyms must remain closed, therefore my dumbbell delivery today was timely! These have been on back order for months and now my home gym continues to expand……..first workout, getting the box off the front porch, he he!
Community
July 13, 2020
Gov Andrew Cuomo unveiled this historical-styled posted. I thought this was a nice timeline to lineup with our selfies.
You can find a copy of the full size here: https://tinyurl.com/y98mhe28
Meanwhile……
A formula was announced for how and when to safely reopen schools.
A travel enforcement program begins at NY state airports to ensure quarantine protocols.
NY State deploys testing and contact tracing teams to Atlanta.
The number of total hospitalizations declined.
Steve
7/30/20 Geocaching in the neighborhood!
I finally went today to grab that geocache a couple of blocks away, so I came by for your project. Geocaching encourages you to get outside (responsibly masked, of course!), visit new places, and socially engage online at geocaching.com. This geocache was very cleverly and creatively hidden along the curb lawn, that strip between sidewalk and road, on Mulberry Street. There was no need to leave the sidewalk to find this one. It might be a bit high for younger people to reach by themselves.
Susan
8/17/20 “RIT Ready”
Rochester Institute of Technology fall term began today with hybrid learning. The university sent all faculty, staff, and students customized masks plus thermometers to report your daily temperature…..just one example of the preparedness.
