Coronavirus Hits Home Gloucester, Mathews Record First Positive COVID-19 Cases by SHERRY HAMILTON the Child Was Seen at a Pe- Was Confirmed Over the Week- Media
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me Limited Time Limited Ti Online Subscriptions $9 a year www.gazettejournal.net GLOUCESTER-MATHEWS THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2020 VOL. LXXXIII, no. 13 NEW SERIES (USPS 220-560) GLOUCESTER, VA. 23061 | MATHEWS, VA. 23109 three sections 46 pages 75 CENTS Coronavirus hits home Gloucester, Mathews record first positive COVID-19 cases BY SHERRY HAMILTON The child was seen at a pe- was confirmed over the week- media. diatric medical practice in end. Dr. Williams said that this In an email notification to The Middle Peninsula re- Gloucester and is at home second case involved a young supervisors and county staff, ceived its first confirmed with family recovering. Gloucester adult who is doing Mathews County Administra- cases of the coronavirus or “Given the nature of the cur- well and is recovering. tor Mindy Conner said that COVID-19 this past week, with rent outbreak, discovering Mathews case the 60-year-old employee, two cases now in Gloucester COVID-19 in our community On Tuesday morning, who has underlying health County and an employee does not come as a surprise Mathews County Public conditions, is currently un- of Mathews County Public and we expect to see more Schools was notified that an dergoing treatment at River- Schools testing positive on cases in the coming weeks,” employee in the system’s side Walter Reed Hospital. Tuesday. Three Rivers Health District transportation department The Virginia Department of The region’s first case was Director Dr. Richard Williams had contracted COVID-19. Health is in the process of confirmed last Thursday, a said following the first posi- School Superintendent Nancy contacting individuals who Gloucester child under the tive case. Welch shared the information may have come in contact age of 10, according to the His words soon proved true, in a message on the school Return of the osprey Three Rivers Health District. as a second Gloucester case system’s website and social SEE POSITIVE CASES, PAGE 15A Gwynn’s Island photographer Roxy Gwynn captured the return of ospreys to the island last week with several photos of the fish-eating bird of prey, includ- ing this one of what Gwynn called the bird’s “I don’t like you here” cry The mi- Governor bans public gatherings of more gratory bird, also known as a fish hawk, keeps its summer cottage atop the Gwynn’s Island bridge than 10; K-12 schools closed for year Virginia moved a step clos- closure of businesses is to that we can get through this issuing guidance to help divi- er to a complete shutdown remain in effect until April 23. together.” sions execute plans to contin- this week, with Gov. Ralph The governor is also urging all Public gatherings ue instruction, while ensuring Restaurants find Northam banning public gath- Virginians to avoid non-essen- All gatherings of more than students are served equitably, erings of more than 10 people tial travel outside the home, if 10 people are banned state- regardless of income level, and closing certain non-es- and when possible. wide. This does not include access to technology, Eng- ways to survive sential businesses. “This is an unprecedented gatherings that involve the lish learner status, or special He also extended the closure situation, and it requires un- provision of health care or needs. BY KIM ROBINS said Ward, who, along with of the state’s K-12 schools, ini- precedented actions to pro- medical services, access to This includes options for ad- his wife Karen, owns Olivia’s tially only for a two-week pe- tect public health and save essential services for low- ditional instruction through With restaurants closing in the Village and Scoot’s riod, for the remainder of the lives,” said Northam. “I know income residents, such as summer programming, in- their doors to the public and BBQ, both well known local 2019-2020 academic year. All the next several weeks will be food banks; operations of the tegrating instruction into relying on curbside pickup or dining spots. of these actions are being tak- difficult. These restrictions media; law enforcement agen- coursework next year, and delivered orders, Gloucester When times changed so en in response to the spread on non-essential businesses cies; or operations of govern- allowing students to make up restaurant owner Gary Ward did Ward’s businesses. “It’s of the COVID-19 pandemic. will create hardships on the ment. content. is among those thankful for usually crazy busy, and it’s Northam made his an- businesses and employees K-12 schools On Tuesday, Superintendent the local community’s help in still crazy in the kitchen, nouncement on Monday after- affected. But they are neces- All schools will remain of Public Instruction James keeping his staff employed. and then I walk in the dining noon, with the changes going sary, and we do not undertake closed through the end of this Lane announced that he is us- “Restaurants in general are into effect the following day. them lightly. I am calling on academic year. The Virginia pretty much in dire straits,” SEE RESTAURANTS, PAGE 15A The ban on gatherings and Virginians to sacrifice now, so Department of Education is SEE PUBLIC GATHERINGS, PAGE 18A Bread for Life finds way to help during this time BY KIM ROBINS House and at Providence The Bread for Life commu- Baptist Church at 3501 Provi- nity food pantry in Gloucester dence Road, Hayes. has been closed due to CO- Raposa said the Gloucester VID-19 directives, but has Community Emergency Re- found a way to reopen and sponse Team, or CERT, has distribute food to those in been working with Bread for need this week. Life to obtain food for this Bread for Life will hold a drive through local churches. In bloom public food distribution today She said CERT volunteers will We asked readers to send photo- for local residents beginning also be at the distribution at 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at two sites to help with traffic con- graphs of daffodils to brighten these different drive-thru locations. trol. dark days Many of them are printed Each distribution session will Bread for Life will addition- on page 1B Photographer Karen last approximately 90 min- ally hold a distribution for its Nowak took this photo of daffodils utes, according to Bread for clients only beginning at 10 of an unnamed variety in Gloucester Life Executive Director Mo- a.m. Monday in the Newing- nique Raposa. ton Baptist Church parking Food will be distributed in lot. She said a meeting will be KIM ROBINS / GAZETTE-JOURNAL Coloring contest the parking lots at Newington held Tuesday to decide how Bread for Life food pantry volunteers, from left, Chris Brown, Debbie Brown and Mike Miskowsky joined Executive Director Looking for something Baptist Church at 6169 Main Monique Raposa and her husband Jim Raposa in sorting a food delivery from local churches on Tuesday The food is set to be for your young ones to Street in Gloucester Court SEE BREAD FOR LIFE, PAGE 17A distributed to local residents today using a drive-thru system in two Gloucester church parking lots do during this time of en- forced social isolation? The Gazette-Journal may have something for you. Hands Across Mathews experiences food shortage In this week’s paper, the newspaper is holding its BY SHERRY HAMILTON getting better anytime soon. gets most of its food from the ning low on food because of ting less.” annual Easter coloring con- A non-profit charitable orga- Peninsula Food Bank, which the current rise in demand, He said he expects the test, open to boys and girls Just like everyone else, nization that assists people in gets its food from large gro- and they’re not able to pro- problem to get worse as the ages 4-8. April 10 is the Hands Across Mathews is hav- need, Hands Across Mathews cery chains such as Food Lion vide as much to the food COVID-19 pandemic worsens. deadline to submit entries. ing a challenging time finding has been distributing food and Kroger. banks as usual. While individuals routinely For details (and the Easter all the groceries it needs, and to qualifying residents every The problem, said Jackson “There was very little at the come by every week with Bunny drawing to color), food distribution chairman Wednesday for many years. on Wednesday morning, is food bank yesterday,” said see ad on page 10A. Carroll Jackson doesn’t see it Jackson said the organization that grocery stores are run- Jackson. “People will be get- SEE HANDS ACROSS MATHEWS, PAGE 17A INSIDE THIS WEEK TO REACH US: Phone: 804-693-3101 Gloucester 2A Obituaries 8A Sports 16A Special pages Mathews 3A Schools 10A-11A Community News 1B Be sure to see this week’s Women in Business special, Pages 2B-6B Also, Fax: 804-693-7844 Gloucester Point 4A Public Record 11A Business 8B Gloucester and Mathews children designed ads for local businesses in a Editorial 5A Days Past 12A Variety 9B special pull-out section, Pages 1C-16A On the web Arts 7A Church News 13A-14A Classifieds 9B-12B www.gazettejournal.net INSTALL A TRANE HOME COMFORT SYSTEM NOW HOME IS YOUR TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY COOL ALL SUMMER LONG! HAPPY PLACE Take advantage of current Locally owned and trusted since 1955 special-term financing and rebates! MAKE SURE IT’S COMFORTABLE Call to schedule a FREE in-home Call (804) 642-6163 AND ENERGY EFFICIENT! consultation today!* or visit pha4u.com *Subject to credit approval. See store for details. Y M C K 2A GLOUCESTER-MATHEWS GAZETTE-JOURNAL Gloucester GleaninGs THURSDAY MARCH 26, 2020 County meetings cancelled in wake of COVID-19 spread Because of the continuing —The board’s budget work tised in local media outlets istrator, County Attorney stated.