Thanksgiving and COVID-19

Thanksgiving gatherings with family and friends are meaningful and fun but can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19. The safest way to celebrate is to celebrate with people in your household. If you do plan to spend Thanksgiving with people outside your household, take steps to make your celebration safer.

As cases continue to increase rapidly across the United States, the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with the people you live with.

Gatherings with family and friends who do not live with you can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu.

Read more on the CDC website.

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Ruth Bader Ginsburg Tribute/Hallelujah, Central Synagogue- Rosh Hashanah...

Ruth Bader Ginsburg (/ˈbeɪdər ˈɡɪnzbɜːrɡ/; born Joan Ruth Bader; March 15, 1933 – September 18, 2020) was an American jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1993 until her death in 2020. She was nominated by President Bill Clinton and was generally viewed as a moderate judge at the time of her nomination and eventually becoming part of the liberal wing of the Court as the Court shifted to the right over time. Ginsburg was the second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, after Sandra Day O'Connor. During her tenure, Ginsburg wrote notable majority opinions, including United States v. Virginia (1996), Olmstead v. L.C. (1999), and Friends of the Earth, Inc. v. Laidlaw Environmental Services, Inc. (2000). - wikipedia

Central Synagogue is one of the largest Jewish congregations in North America and the oldest synagogue in New York City in continuous use.

Every Friday evening, more than 500 people join us for Shabbat worship in our breathtaking Main Sanctuary (a National Landmark) and more than 1,000 virtual visitors join via live streaming.

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Hurricane prep 101: Updated with COVID-19 supplies

Hurricane Preparedness 101

NOAA, The National Weather Service / National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Season in the Atlantic runs from June 1st until November 30th

A hurricane is a type of storm called a tropical cyclone, which forms over tropical or subtropical waters. Tropical cyclones with maximum sustained surface winds of less than 39 miles per hour (mph) are called tropical depressions. Those with maximum sustained winds of 39 mph or higher are called tropical storms. When a storm's maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph, it is called a hurricane. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (SSHWS) is a 1 to 5 rating, or category, based on a hurricane's maximum sustained winds. The higher the category, the greater the hurricane's potential for property damage.

• Category One 74–95 mph
• Category Two 96–110 mph
• Category Three 111–129 mph 
• Category Four 130–156 mph
• Category Five ≥ 157 mph

Disaster Supply Kit

• Water - at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days
• Freezer - set to coldest setting
• Freeze gallon size ziplock bags and gallon water jugs with water, leaving at least 2 inches room in container for expansion when frozen
• Move frozen blocks to refrigerator when power goes out
• Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days
   -  non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices
   -  foods for infants or the elderly
   -  shelf stable juice and milk boxes
   -  snack foods, crackers & chips
   -  non-electric can opener / bottle opener / corkscrew
   -  cooking tools / fuel
   -  paper plates / plastic utensils / plastic cups
• Blankets / Pillows, etc.
• Clothing - seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoes
• First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs
• Special Items - for babies and the elderly
• Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes
• Rechargeable Portable Fan - make a breeze while power is out (Amazon has some)
• Flashlight / Batteries
• Radio - Battery operated and NOAA (weather radio)
• Telephones - Fully charged cell phone with extra batteries 
• A traditional (not cordless) telephone set. If your home phone works over the internet or cable, it won't work when power goes out.
• Cash (with some small bills) and Credit Cards - Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periods
• Keys - house, safety deposit box, car, shed, storage unit
• Toys, Books and Games
• Important documents - in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag - insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, proof of COVID-19 vaccination, utility bill for proof of residence, etc.
• Computer - charge up laptop and notebook, and take chargers
• Camera - charge camera, take cables, use to photograph damage for insurance claims, charger
• Tools - keep a set with you during the storm
• Hammer, Saw, Axe - if you think you will need to climb onto roof in a flood 
• Screwdrivers, screws, nails
• Duct tape and plastic sheeting to cover openings
• Extra zipper lock bags and trash bags
• Vehicle - fuel tanks filled, tires checked
• Pet care items
• Proper identification / immunization records / medications
• Ample supply of food and water
• Carrier or cage
• Muzzle and leash 

Coronavirus 😷  items for your checklist:

• Disposable face masks - plan for at least 2 masks per person a day
• Disposable gloves 
• Liquid or bar soap 
• Hand sanitizer  - at least 60% alcohol
• Bleach 
• Medication 
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination ?
• Paper towels 
• Toilet paper 

History shows a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are common threads among all major hurricane disasters. By knowing your vulnerability and what actions you should take, you can reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster. The NWS has a preparation page on their site. 

Live near the coast? Find Your Evacuation Zone on flash.org (PDF)

Hurricane Hazards

• Basics 
• Storm Surge 
• Marine Safety 
• High Winds 
• Tornadoes 
• Inland Flooding

Hurricane Information

• Forecast Process
• Disaster Preparedness
• Actions to Take When a Tropical Storm or Hurricane Threatens

You should be able to answer the following questions before a hurricane threatens:

• What are the Hurricane Hazards?
• What does it mean to you?
• What actions should you take to be prepared?

Resources

• Tropical Cyclone Preparedness Guide (pdf)
• Weather-Ready Nation Videos
• Ready.gov

Read more and get updates via nhc.noaa.gov

This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

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If you want to #BoycottGoya, here are options for Spanish Spice and Seasonings

Goya Foods is facing a swift backlash after its CEO praised President Donald Trump at White House event. Vote for who you want, shop where you want.  I'm just putting options out there for shopping. Links to Amazon are via my Amazon Associate links. 

Many were angered at the praise considering Trump’s history of derogatory comments and harsh policies toward Hispanics, most notably, the administration’s policy of separating immigrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border.  

Goya has a longstanding history of donating millions of pounds of food in times of disaster and desperate need through the company’s global program Goya Gives.  Goya recently donated thousands of pounds of food to families in the Bronx and Harlem who have been affected by COVID-19. 

#BoycottGoya, #GoyaFoods, #GoyaGives, #Goyaway 

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No Plastic kcups, get Compostable Coffee Pods!

Since the start of those kcups I have been bitching how much packaging is used for individual coffee pods. I just saw an ad for Compostable Coffee Pods - No Plastics used, Earthly freshness. Even works in Keurigs. Yay! So this isn't an endorsement, although links do use my Amazon Associate link, but I wanted to share my eco coffee pod excitement with everyone.  https://amzn.to/2BF2WPu

Stop contributing to plastic pile-up of k-cups by switching to Tayst Coffee's 100% compostable single serve coffee pods.

“If we can get just 1% of coffee drinkers to replace their plastic cup solutions with the high-quality coffee in our Tayst pods, we could reduce waste and divert up to 100 million pods away from landfills,” says Tayst Coffee CEO Greg Byrnes.

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