csmonitor--2020-07-21--Europe’s tourism test: How do you bring in tourists and not an outbreak, too?

“ As this business in 2020 is highly last minute , it is difficult to make a prediction , but it is highly unlikely that they will have more than 50 % of their normal volume , ” he says .
“ Everyone is pinning their hopes on a return to a normality ( of sorts ) in 2021 .
Many of the bookings for 2020 have been moved into that year.
” Ultimately , 2020 will be at best a “ salvage operation , ” argues Tom Jenkins , CEO of the European Tourism Association .
Northern European beach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fare better , he says , while Mediterranean beach resorts , especially those dependent on airlines for access , will struggle .
But while resort towns like Spain ’ s Puerto de la Cruz , reliant on tourism , are keen to try to make ends meet by courting travelers who dare hop on a plane , they must balance that against the serious public health concerns that remain .
Though a vital source of livelihood for travel destinations , tourists also are a potential conduit for a COVID-19 outbreak to be introduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe tentatively returning to a semblance of normal life after several months of pandemic-induced lockdown , the opportunity for travel during the summer season has returned .
Alberto Coll Suárez races around the patio of Meraki , a disposable face mask hanging precariously in the balance as he clears coffee cups and saucers from a handful of tables .
Mr. Coll Suárez ’ s cafe-bar in this tourist town has been nearly full since reopening July 13. Business is better than expected , but concerns about the coronavirus linger on .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The movement of so many people means we don ’ t know what will happen.
” With much of Europe tentatively returning to a semblance of normal life after several months of pandemic-induced lockdown , the opportunity for travel during the summer season has returned .
But while resort towns like Puerto de la Cruz , reliant on tourism , are keen to try to make ends meet by courting travelers who dare hop on a plane , they must balance that against the serious public health concerns that remain .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
Though a vital source of livelihood for Puerto de la Cruz and its kind , tourists also are a potential conduit for a COVID-19 outbreak to be introduced into the community .
Or reintroduced in the case of the island of Tenerife , where Puerto de la Cruz lies , as the nearby town of Adeje was the site of one of the earliest major outbreaks in Europe .
“ I love being around people and I want to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , my son , friends and family , ” says Mr. Coll Suárez .
“ I could potentially be contagious to my loved ones .
… I need to open my business but the fear is always there.
” Spain ’ s Canary Islands region depends on airlines to bring tourists .
Only 341 routes are planned for the month of July , as opposed to the 770 before the pandemic .
The tourism sector is expected to operate at 30 % of capacity compared to last summer , when the loss of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cast a shadow across Spain .
Meraki had only been open for six months when the lockdown started on March 14 .
Mr. Coll Suárez had little time to prepare financially , but got by thanks to some savings and government aid .
With most of his money tied up in the bank loans that helped launch the cafe , he desperately needs the business to succeed .
Except for help on Sundays , he works up to 14 hours , six days a week solo .
Most of the clients at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hotel Turquesa Playa , one of the most successful hotels in Puerto de la Cruz , a town in the north of the island .
The doorman here takes the temperature of everyone who enters ; a mask is required in the common areas , and bottles of hand sanitizer sit just beyond the door .
While the hotel restaurant is open , clients are not allowed to touch anything and table service has replaced the traditional buffet dining .
Guests say these protocols make them feel safe .
One couple from Madrid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – where there are very few COVID-19 cases – than back home .
Eugenia Petrova , a German tourist who was among the first tourists to arrive in town July 1 , finds restrictions here similar to those in Berlin .
“ We were not so sure what to expect , ” says Ms. Petrova , who traveled with her husband and two children and whose need for a vacation proved greater than coronavirus fears .
“ When we arrived , there were only three or four families in the hotel .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many hotel services .
The shops were closed .
Now it ’ s starting to become more normal.
” Further south , Adeje boasts the highest concentration of five-star hotels in Europe .
It is fighting hard to restore its image after making headlines in February when the H10 Costa Adeje Palace had to confine over 1,000 people to their rooms after an Italian doctor and his wife tested positive for the virus .
“ We are working to show this summer that Adeje and the Canary Islands are a safe destination , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adeje councillor for tourism and sport .
To that end , the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hosted the head of the World Tourism Organization and dozens of travel journalists to showcase the health protocols adopted across the archipelago .
Greece is another destination trying to reassure tourists .
The tourism season officially opened on June 15 and international flights began reaching regional airports July 1 .
The Mediterranean nation boasts one key advantage : It defied expectations in its pandemic response .
The virus claimed fewer than 200 lives in Greece compared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Karaflos converted a disused wine factory and launched the beachfront Dexamenes Seaside Hotel in 2019 , near the town of Amaliada and the Olympia archaeological site , he was proud of its look .
The reception , bar , and restaurant are all open plan .
Guest suites are located in concrete former wine tanks – so no corridors , no elevators .
“ The setup of the hotel was in a magical way like a COVID-19 proof design , ” says Mr. Karaflos .
He is grateful to be open even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear a face shield to welcome guests ; waiters and cleaners sport masks and gloves .
Tables are spaced out beyond the recommended distance .
Visitors are gifted complementary masks .
And each room is assigned a specific sun lounger and umbrella .
Guests who cancel – and there have been many – are offered vouchers for 2021 .
“ It was a great shock in the beginning , ” he says , looking back to February and March .
“ Afterwards , it was a lesson in life , so that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see a good vibe from our guests , that [ is ] the most rewarding part of this season , ” he adds .
“ Everybody needed to let off steam , relax , … and eat well.
” Dimitris Mamadas has two hotels open year-round in mainland Greece .
They cater to a mix of tourists and business travelers .
He was expecting 2020 to be an “ extremely good year ” with a projected net profit of €1.2 million ( $ 1.37 million ) .
The coronavirus crisis means he is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million instead .
The Aegli hotel in the port town of Volos is faring best , with a 55 % occupancy rate , thanks to Balkan tourists who are coming overland .
However , a spike in COVID-19 cases associated with these travelers has led Greece to tighten restrictions – barring Serbians and requiring new arrivals from Bulgaria to present a negative COVID-19 test issued in the last 72 hours .
At the Porto Palace in Thessaloniki , experiences with guests have been frustrating , as some expect normal services and are disappointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and indoor pools are off-limits .
“ The bad thing is that people who are traveling right now are not afraid of COVID , ” says Mr. Mamadas .
“ They think that everything has passed but it is not the case.
” Giorgos Mylonadis , who runs studio apartments in the Greek island of Chios , is following government health protocols while waiting for ferry activity to resume with Turkey so longtime customers can visit before winter .
“ People are afraid to travel , ” he worries .
“ If people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whatever we do they will not travel.
” Ultimately , 2020 will be at best a “ salvage operation , ” argues Tom Jenkins , CEO of the European Tourism Association .
Northern European beach destinations that can be reached overland will fare better , he says , while Mediterranean beach resorts , especially those dependent on airlines for access , will struggle .
“ As this business in 2020 is highly last minute , it is difficult to make a prediction , but it is highly unlikely that they will have more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he says .
“ Everyone is pinning their hopes on a return to a normality ( of sorts ) in 2021 .
Many of the bookings for 2020 have been moved into that year.
” Back in Tenerife , the reopening of the European borders has sparked conflicting feelings among locals .
Maria Acevedo opened her artisanal jewelry shop Tuqueque in 2018 .
With one of the shop doors leading directly into the Hotel Turquesa Playa , she relies almost entirely on tourism to make ends meet .
Since reopening at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a strict health protocol .
Masks are required to enter , jewelry is disinfected and put on a tray for clients to try on , and the shop is constantly ventilated .
While she is excited to be back at work , the pace of business has been disappointing .
“ It ’ s been hard , ” says Ms. Acevedo , who scraped by on government aid during the lockdown period .
“ People are scared [ to travel ] and I ’ m a little scared too because I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go.
” Tenerife is taking no chances .
Masks remain mandatory in all indoor spaces .
Many grocery stores take temperature readings at the door .
And locals are increasingly wearing their masks to navigate the increasingly crowded town center .
Among those erring on the side of caution is Naomi Benavides .
“ My friends were teasing me , like why are you wearing the mask outside now ?
But I started to get nervous , ” says the Puerto de la Cruz native .
“ There are so many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know where they ’ ve come from or if they ’ ve brought the virus with them.
” Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .

“As this business in 2020 is highly last minute, it is difficult to make a prediction, but it is highly unlikely that they will have more than 50% of their normal volume,” he says. “Everyone is pinning their hopes on a return to a normality (of sorts) in 2021. Many of the bookings for 2020 have been moved into that year.”
Ultimately, 2020 will be at best a “salvage operation,” argues Tom Jenkins, CEO of the European Tourism Association. Northern European beach destinations that can be reached overland will fare better, he says, while Mediterranean beach resorts, especially those dependent on airlines for access, will struggle.
For Europe's resort towns, getting back to business requires a careful balance: embracing tourists enough to make a living, but keeping them at enough of a distance to prevent a new outbreak of COVID-19.
But while resort towns like Spain’s Puerto de la Cruz, reliant on tourism, are keen to try to make ends meet by courting travelers who dare hop on a plane, they must balance that against the serious public health concerns that remain. Though a vital source of livelihood for travel destinations, tourists also are a potential conduit for a COVID-19 outbreak to be introduced into the community.
With much of Europe tentatively returning to a semblance of normal life after several months of pandemic-induced lockdown, the opportunity for travel during the summer season has returned.
Alberto Coll Suárez races around the patio of Meraki, a disposable face mask hanging precariously in the balance as he clears coffee cups and saucers from a handful of tables. Mr. Coll Suárez’s cafe-bar in this tourist town has been nearly full since reopening July 13. Business is better than expected, but concerns about the coronavirus linger on.
“I’m anxious,” he says. “The movement of so many people means we don’t know what will happen.”
With much of Europe tentatively returning to a semblance of normal life after several months of pandemic-induced lockdown, the opportunity for travel during the summer season has returned. But while resort towns like Puerto de la Cruz, reliant on tourism, are keen to try to make ends meet by courting travelers who dare hop on a plane, they must balance that against the serious public health concerns that remain.
Why We Wrote This For Europe's resort towns, getting back to business requires a careful balance: embracing tourists enough to make a living, but keeping them at enough of a distance to prevent a new outbreak of COVID-19.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Though a vital source of livelihood for Puerto de la Cruz and its kind, tourists also are a potential conduit for a COVID-19 outbreak to be introduced into the community. Or reintroduced in the case of the island of Tenerife, where Puerto de la Cruz lies, as the nearby town of Adeje was the site of one of the earliest major outbreaks in Europe.
“I love being around people and I want to work but it’s dangerous for me, my son, friends and family,” says Mr. Coll Suárez. “I could potentially be contagious to my loved ones. … I need to open my business but the fear is always there.”
Caution in the Canary Islands
Spain’s Canary Islands region depends on airlines to bring tourists. Only 341 routes are planned for the month of July, as opposed to the 770 before the pandemic. The tourism sector is expected to operate at 30% of capacity compared to last summer, when the loss of 28,000 lives due to COVID-19 had yet to cast a shadow across Spain.
Colette Davidson View caption Hide caption Alberto Coll Suárez had just opened his cafe-bar, Meraki, in Puerto la Cruz six months before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Since reopening post-lockdown, business has been better than expected.
Meraki had only been open for six months when the lockdown started on March 14. Mr. Coll Suárez had little time to prepare financially, but got by thanks to some savings and government aid. With most of his money tied up in the bank loans that helped launch the cafe, he desperately needs the business to succeed. Except for help on Sundays, he works up to 14 hours, six days a week solo.
Most of the clients at Meraki have crossed the street from the Hotel Turquesa Playa, one of the most successful hotels in Puerto de la Cruz, a town in the north of the island.
The doorman here takes the temperature of everyone who enters; a mask is required in the common areas, and bottles of hand sanitizer sit just beyond the door. While the hotel restaurant is open, clients are not allowed to touch anything and table service has replaced the traditional buffet dining.
Guests say these protocols make them feel safe. One couple from Madrid finds it to be safer in Tenerife – where there are very few COVID-19 cases – than back home. Eugenia Petrova, a German tourist who was among the first tourists to arrive in town July 1, finds restrictions here similar to those in Berlin.
“We were not so sure what to expect,” says Ms. Petrova, who traveled with her husband and two children and whose need for a vacation proved greater than coronavirus fears. “When we arrived, there were only three or four families in the hotel. There were no people around, and not many hotel services. The shops were closed. Now it’s starting to become more normal.”
Further south, Adeje boasts the highest concentration of five-star hotels in Europe. It is fighting hard to restore its image after making headlines in February when the H10 Costa Adeje Palace had to confine over 1,000 people to their rooms after an Italian doctor and his wife tested positive for the virus.
“We are working to show this summer that Adeje and the Canary Islands are a safe destination,” says Adolfo Alonso Ferrera, the Adeje councillor for tourism and sport. To that end, the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hosted the head of the World Tourism Organization and dozens of travel journalists to showcase the health protocols adopted across the archipelago.
Frustrations in Greece
Greece is another destination trying to reassure tourists. The tourism season officially opened on June 15 and international flights began reaching regional airports July 1. The Mediterranean nation boasts one key advantage: It defied expectations in its pandemic response. The virus claimed fewer than 200 lives in Greece compared to nearly 35,000 in Italy.
When Nikos Karaflos converted a disused wine factory and launched the beachfront Dexamenes Seaside Hotel in 2019, near the town of Amaliada and the Olympia archaeological site, he was proud of its look. The reception, bar, and restaurant are all open plan. Guest suites are located in concrete former wine tanks – so no corridors, no elevators. “The setup of the hotel was in a magical way like a COVID-19 proof design,” says Mr. Karaflos.
Courtesy of the Dexamenes Hotel View caption Hide caption The Dexamenes Seaside Hotel in Amaliada, Greece, which opened last year, turned out to be designed in a way that is particularly friendly to COVID-19 regulations.
He is grateful to be open even if finances are tough. Front desk staff wear a face shield to welcome guests; waiters and cleaners sport masks and gloves. Tables are spaced out beyond the recommended distance. Visitors are gifted complementary masks. And each room is assigned a specific sun lounger and umbrella.
Guests who cancel – and there have been many – are offered vouchers for 2021.
“It was a great shock in the beginning,” he says, looking back to February and March. “Afterwards, it was a lesson in life, so that we appreciate what we have.”
“We see a good vibe from our guests, that [is] the most rewarding part of this season,” he adds. “Everybody needed to let off steam, relax, … and eat well.”
Dimitris Mamadas has two hotels open year-round in mainland Greece. They cater to a mix of tourists and business travelers. He was expecting 2020 to be an “extremely good year” with a projected net profit of €1.2 million ($1.37 million). The coronavirus crisis means he is facing losses to the tune of €500 million instead.
The Aegli hotel in the port town of Volos is faring best, with a 55% occupancy rate, thanks to Balkan tourists who are coming overland. However, a spike in COVID-19 cases associated with these travelers has led Greece to tighten restrictions – barring Serbians and requiring new arrivals from Bulgaria to present a negative COVID-19 test issued in the last 72 hours.
At the Porto Palace in Thessaloniki, experiences with guests have been frustrating, as some expect normal services and are disappointed to learn saunas, hot tubs, and indoor pools are off-limits. “The bad thing is that people who are traveling right now are not afraid of COVID,” says Mr. Mamadas. “They think that everything has passed but it is not the case.”
Giorgos Mylonadis, who runs studio apartments in the Greek island of Chios, is following government health protocols while waiting for ferry activity to resume with Turkey so longtime customers can visit before winter. “People are afraid to travel,” he worries. “If people do not stop having this fear, whatever we do they will not travel.”
Karen Norris/Staff
“Salvage operation”
Ultimately, 2020 will be at best a “salvage operation,” argues Tom Jenkins, CEO of the European Tourism Association. Northern European beach destinations that can be reached overland will fare better, he says, while Mediterranean beach resorts, especially those dependent on airlines for access, will struggle.
“As this business in 2020 is highly last minute, it is difficult to make a prediction, but it is highly unlikely that they will have more than 50% of their normal volume,” he says. “Everyone is pinning their hopes on a return to a normality (of sorts) in 2021. Many of the bookings for 2020 have been moved into that year.”
Back in Tenerife, the reopening of the European borders has sparked conflicting feelings among locals. Maria Acevedo opened her artisanal jewelry shop Tuqueque in 2018. With one of the shop doors leading directly into the Hotel Turquesa Playa, she relies almost entirely on tourism to make ends meet.
Since reopening at the end of June, she keeps a strict health protocol. Masks are required to enter, jewelry is disinfected and put on a tray for clients to try on, and the shop is constantly ventilated. While she is excited to be back at work, the pace of business has been disappointing.
“It’s been hard,” says Ms. Acevedo, who scraped by on government aid during the lockdown period. “People are scared [to travel] and I’m a little scared too because I don’t know which way things are going to go.”
Tenerife is taking no chances. Masks remain mandatory in all indoor spaces. Many grocery stores take temperature readings at the door. And locals are increasingly wearing their masks to navigate the increasingly crowded town center. Among those erring on the side of caution is Naomi Benavides.
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“My friends were teasing me, like why are you wearing the mask outside now? But I started to get nervous,” says the Puerto de la Cruz native. “There are so many people everywhere and you just don’t know where they’ve come from or if they’ve brought the virus with them.”
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.


csmonitor--2020-07-21--How a Chicago restaurant is feeding families during the crisis

Before coronavirus arrived , Manish Mallick 's trips to this city ’ s South Side had been limited to attending graduate classes at the University of Chicago .
Now Mr. Mallick is a South Side regular – and a popular one .
He regularly arrives bearing food for the hungry from his Indian restaurant several miles to the north , in the city ’ s downtown .
“ Thank you , sugar , for the meals .
They ’ re so delicious !
” one woman recently shouted to Mr. Mallick outside a South Side YWCA .
He recorded her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his staff .
“ God bless you !
” she added , raising her arms for emphasis .
Mr. Mallick has personally delivered thousands of meals cooked and packed by his staff – among them , chickpea curry and tandoori chicken with roasted cottage cheese , sweet corn , peas , and rice .
Volunteers from neighborhood organizations then take them to children , retirees , and the multitudes who ’ ve been laid off or sick during the pandemic .
“ We all need to help each other , ” Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best way to get through a crisis.
” His restaurant , ROOH , is one of more than 2,400 eateries , from New York City to Oakland , California , working with the nonprofit World Central Kitchen to provide meals to the hungry .
Traditionally , the organization has paid restaurants $ 10 a meal to feed people affected by natural disasters , such as Hurricane Maria , which devastated Puerto Rico in 2017 .
Now the organization is focused on this current crisis , as are many other entities that help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banks and other nonprofits , as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture , which is buying produce , meat , and dairy products from farmers for its growing food box program .
Many U.S. children also have been receiving meals provided by a large network of public and private sources at school pickup sites .
World Central Kitchen is among those that provide meals to schoolchildren .
But its leaders are worried about their ability to sustain the effort in an extended crisis .
So they 're lobbying Congress to provide federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ model to every state .
The idea is to help not only the hungry , but also restaurant workers and farmers , who 've been hard-hit by the impacts of coronavirus .
“ It ’ s a domino effect of impact , ” says Nate Mook , CEO of World Central Kitchen , which was founded by chef Jose Andres and his wife , Patricia .
They ’ ve tagged this latest response # ChefsForAmerica .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is expected to begin rolling out the Senate GOP bill soon .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ World Central Kitchen-inspired bill – originally called the FEED Act and sponsored by a bipartisan group of lawmakers – remains to be seen .
Congress resumes this week and lawmakers are on two-week sprint hoping to approve the next round of virus aid by month ’ s end .
Mr. Mook says the longevity of this crisis requires federal aid , and he and others anticipate food insecurity worsening in the months to come as unemployment benefits come to an end for some .
“ We feel like this is the calm before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , executive director of the Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee .
Ms. Tussler also is frustrated with the sometimes chaotic nature of donations in this current climate and the difficulty – partly due to social distancing – of determining the nature of people ’ s food emergencies .
Rather than the government distributing food boxes , for instance , she supports increasing food stamp assistance , also known as SNAP , to ensure that those most in need are fed .
Either way , Verna Swan , a retired nurse who lives in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ROOH and other restaurants , says the service is greatly appreciated .
She and her nephew , Israel Swan , took meals to seniors in their neighborhood in recent days .
“ We ’ re family .
We look out for each other , ” says Verna Swan , a volunteer for I Grow , an organization that serves the neighborhood , where she first moved when she was a teen .
She says these meals also have connected the residents with new people and cultures .
Several had never tasted Indian food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mallick , a longtime tech executive , had envisioned things going last year , when he first opened ROOH , which specializes in what he calls progressive Indian cuisine .
But he pivoted , first delivering meals to hospital staff when Chicago cases skyrocketed in the spring .
To survive , he has turned a parking lot next to his restaurant into an outdoor dining patio and beefed up delivery services .
And he ’ s looking to grow his mission with World Central Kitchen , which also has enabled him to hire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported by The Associated Press .
Lisa Mascaro , the AP 's AP chief Congressional correspondent , contributed to this story .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Before coronavirus arrived, Manish Mallick's trips to this city’s South Side had been limited to attending graduate classes at the University of Chicago.
Now Mr. Mallick is a South Side regular – and a popular one. He regularly arrives bearing food for the hungry from his Indian restaurant several miles to the north, in the city’s downtown.
“Thank you, sugar, for the meals. They’re so delicious!” one woman recently shouted to Mr. Mallick outside a South Side YWCA. He recorded her response on his phone to share it with his staff.
“God bless you!” she added, raising her arms for emphasis.
Mr. Mallick has personally delivered thousands of meals cooked and packed by his staff – among them, chickpea curry and tandoori chicken with roasted cottage cheese, sweet corn, peas, and rice. Volunteers from neighborhood organizations then take them to children, retirees, and the multitudes who’ve been laid off or sick during the pandemic.
“We all need to help each other,” Mr. Mallick says. “That’s the best way to get through a crisis.”
His restaurant, ROOH, is one of more than 2,400 eateries, from New York City to Oakland, California, working with the nonprofit World Central Kitchen to provide meals to the hungry. Traditionally, the organization has paid restaurants $10 a meal to feed people affected by natural disasters, such as Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico in 2017.
Now the organization is focused on this current crisis, as are many other entities that help feed the hungry. They include food banks and other nonprofits, as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is buying produce, meat, and dairy products from farmers for its growing food box program. Many U.S. children also have been receiving meals provided by a large network of public and private sources at school pickup sites.
World Central Kitchen is among those that provide meals to schoolchildren. But its leaders are worried about their ability to sustain the effort in an extended crisis.
So they're lobbying Congress to provide federal emergency funding to help bring the restaurant model to every state. The idea is to help not only the hungry, but also restaurant workers and farmers, who've been hard-hit by the impacts of coronavirus.
“It’s a domino effect of impact,” says Nate Mook, CEO of World Central Kitchen, which was founded by chef Jose Andres and his wife, Patricia. They’ve tagged this latest response #ChefsForAmerica.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is expected to begin rolling out the Senate GOP bill soon. Whether it will contain language from a World Central Kitchen-inspired bill – originally called the FEED Act and sponsored by a bipartisan group of lawmakers – remains to be seen. Congress resumes this week and lawmakers are on two-week sprint hoping to approve the next round of virus aid by month’s end.
Mr. Mook says the longevity of this crisis requires federal aid, and he and others anticipate food insecurity worsening in the months to come as unemployment benefits come to an end for some.
“We feel like this is the calm before the storm,” says Sherrie Tussler, executive director of the Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee.
Ms. Tussler also is frustrated with the sometimes chaotic nature of donations in this current climate and the difficulty – partly due to social distancing – of determining the nature of people’s food emergencies. Rather than the government distributing food boxes, for instance, she supports increasing food stamp assistance, also known as SNAP, to ensure that those most in need are fed.
Either way, Verna Swan, a retired nurse who lives in Englewood and volunteers to deliver meals from ROOH and other restaurants, says the service is greatly appreciated. She and her nephew, Israel Swan, took meals to seniors in their neighborhood in recent days.
“We’re family. We look out for each other,” says Verna Swan, a volunteer for I Grow, an organization that serves the neighborhood, where she first moved when she was a teen.
She says these meals also have connected the residents with new people and cultures. Several had never tasted Indian food before.
This is not how Mr. Mallick, a longtime tech executive, had envisioned things going last year, when he first opened ROOH, which specializes in what he calls progressive Indian cuisine. But he pivoted, first delivering meals to hospital staff when Chicago cases skyrocketed in the spring.
To survive, he has turned a parking lot next to his restaurant into an outdoor dining patio and beefed up delivery services. And he’s looking to grow his mission with World Central Kitchen, which also has enabled him to hire more kitchen staff.
“It’s a blessing,” he says.
Get stories that
empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. Lisa Mascaro, the AP's AP chief Congressional correspondent, contributed to this story.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-07-21--To cut emissions, could you give up living in a large house?

A house with a white picket fence in the verdant suburbs has long been an American dream .
It could also be a major hurdle for the United States ' chances of cutting climate-warming emissions , researchers at the University of Michigan said in a study on Monday .
U.S. households account for one-fifth of the country 's total greenhouse gas emissions , thanks partly to Americans ' general preference for bigger houses and spacious suburbs .
Those preferences also translated into an emissions divide between the rich and the poor , with wealthier households in recent years emitting around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in smaller homes , the researchers said .
To bring down the country 's future emissions , Americans may need to rethink how they live , said Benjamin Goldstein , a co-author on the study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .
`` Structural change is going to be important and necessary , '' said Mr. Goldstein , a professor at the University of Michigan .
Developers might need to look for more options in already dense settlements .
Builders can consider reducing floor spaces .
And residential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fossil fuel , for heating and cooking , he said .
Such measures may be especially important , given that more than 100 million new homes are expected to be built in the next 30 years , while the country 's 328 million population is projected to grow by more than a third in that time .
Because the average lifespan of an American house is around 40 years , the U.S. risks a `` carbon lock-in '' unless it commits to more energy-efficient homes and neighborhoods , the researchers said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ smaller homes , '' said Mr. Goldstein , who said home sizes in the U.S. and Canada are abnormally large compared with other rich nations .
Policies should also tackle emissions from existing buildings , with measures like tax incentives to spur retrofits , he said .
The study estimated energy use by 93 million U.S. homes , based on details from tax assessor records for 2015 including a house 's size , age , location , and construction date .
Through analyzing ZIP codes , the study revealed a correlation between higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And poorer neighborhoods are more at risk to climate change , according to AP : However , there were also big differences depending on the U.S. state : Household emissions on both the East and West coasts were far lower than in states in the middle of the country , with North Dakota , Oklahoma , and Missouri having among the highest average household emissions .
There is a growing movement by U.S. municipalities to tackle emissions from residential and commercial buildings , starting with banning the use of natural gas in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest city to propose such a measure .
At the federal level , congressional Democrats unveiled a climate policy blueprint earlier this month that calls for an update of building codes to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions .
Builders say , however , that home sizes have been trending downward since 2015 , the year of focus in the study .
`` Our surveys consistently show that consumers want homes that are more energy efficient , '' said Liz Thompson , spokeswoman for the National Association of Home Builders , the lobby group for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , however , that the four-year trend toward smaller houses may end this year , as people have spent more time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic and may again seek bigger spaces .
At the international level , Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg said on Monday she would donate $ 1.14 million from a new prize she has won to groups tackling climate change and defending nature .
She said in a video posted on Instagram that the award was `` more money than I can even begin to imagine '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` do more good in the world . ''
This story was reported by Reuters .
Reuters writer Thin Lei Win in Rome contributed to this report .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

A house with a white picket fence in the verdant suburbs has long been an American dream. It could also be a major hurdle for the United States' chances of cutting climate-warming emissions, researchers at the University of Michigan said in a study on Monday.
U.S. households account for one-fifth of the country's total greenhouse gas emissions, thanks partly to Americans' general preference for bigger houses and spacious suburbs. Those preferences also translated into an emissions divide between the rich and the poor, with wealthier households in recent years emitting around 25% more than their lower-income counterparts in smaller homes, the researchers said.
To bring down the country's future emissions, Americans may need to rethink how they live, said Benjamin Goldstein, a co-author on the study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"Structural change is going to be important and necessary," said Mr. Goldstein, a professor at the University of Michigan. Developers might need to look for more options in already dense settlements. Builders can consider reducing floor spaces. And residential buildings might reconsider using natural gas, a fossil fuel, for heating and cooking, he said.
Such measures may be especially important, given that more than 100 million new homes are expected to be built in the next 30 years, while the country's 328 million population is projected to grow by more than a third in that time.
Because the average lifespan of an American house is around 40 years, the U.S. risks a "carbon lock-in" unless it commits to more energy-efficient homes and neighborhoods, the researchers said.
"We need to have denser and smaller homes," said Mr. Goldstein, who said home sizes in the U.S. and Canada are abnormally large compared with other rich nations.
Policies should also tackle emissions from existing buildings, with measures like tax incentives to spur retrofits, he said.
The study estimated energy use by 93 million U.S. homes, based on details from tax assessor records for 2015 including a house's size, age, location, and construction date.
Through analyzing ZIP codes, the study revealed a correlation between higher wealth and higher-per-capita energy use and emissions.
And poorer neighborhoods are more at risk to climate change, according to AP:
Even though richer Americans produce more heat-trapping gases, “the poor are more exposed to the dangers of the climate crisis, like heat waves, more likely to have chronic medical problems that make them more at risk to be hospitalized or die once exposed to heat, and often lack the resources to protect themselves or access health care,” said Dr. Renee Salas, a Boston emergency room physician and Harvard climate health researcher who wasn’t part of the study.
However, there were also big differences depending on the U.S. state: Household emissions on both the East and West coasts were far lower than in states in the middle of the country, with North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Missouri having among the highest average household emissions.
There is a growing movement by U.S. municipalities to tackle emissions from residential and commercial buildings, starting with banning the use of natural gas in new construction. San Francisco is the latest city to propose such a measure.
At the federal level, congressional Democrats unveiled a climate policy blueprint earlier this month that calls for an update of building codes to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions.
Builders say, however, that home sizes have been trending downward since 2015, the year of focus in the study.
"Our surveys consistently show that consumers want homes that are more energy efficient," said Liz Thompson, spokeswoman for the National Association of Home Builders, the lobby group for the home construction industry.
The group said, however, that the four-year trend toward smaller houses may end this year, as people have spent more time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic and may again seek bigger spaces.
At the international level, Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg said on Monday she would donate $1.14 million from a new prize she has won to groups tackling climate change and defending nature.
She said in a video posted on Instagram that the award was "more money than I can even begin to imagine" and she hoped it would help her "do more good in the world."
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This story was reported by Reuters. Reuters writer Thin Lei Win in Rome contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-07-21--EU leaders prove ‘progress’ possible, set $2.1 trillion budget

After four days and nights of wrangling , exhausted European Union leaders finally clinched a deal on an unprecedented $ 2.1 trillion budget and coronavirus recovery fund early Tuesday , after one of their longest summits ever .
The 27 leaders grudgingly committed to a costly , massive aid package for those hit hardest by COVID-19 , which has already killed 135,000 people within the bloc alone .
With masks and hygienic gel everywhere at the summit , the leaders were constantly reminded of the potent medical and economic threat the virus poses .
“ Extraordinary events , and this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all , also require extraordinary new methods , ” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said .
To confront the biggest recession in its history , the EU will establish a 750 billion-euro coronavirus fund , partly based on common borrowing , to be sent as loans and grants to the hardest-hit countries .
That is in addition to the agreement on the seven-year , 1 trillion-euro EU budget that leaders had been haggling over for months even before the pandemic .
“ The consequences will be historic , ” French President Emmanuel Macron said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of taking up loans together , of setting up a recovery fund in the spirit of solidarity , ” a sense of sharing debt that would have been unthinkable not so long ago .
Ms. Merkel added : “ We have laid the financial foundations for the EU for the next seven years and came up with a response to this arguably biggest crisis of the European Union.
” Despite Mr. Macron and Ms. Merkel negotiating as the closest of partners , the traditionally powerful Franco-German alliance struggled for days to get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even walking out of a negotiating session in protest together over the weekend , the two leaders bided their time and played their cards right in the end .
“ When Germany and France stand together , they can ’ t do everything .
But if they don ’ t stand together , nothing is possible , ” said Mr. Macron , challenging anyone in the world who criticized the days of infighting to think of a comparable joint endeavor .
“ There are 27 of us around the table and we managed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What other political area in the world is capable of that ?
None other , ” Mr. Macron said .
At first , Ms. Merkel and Mr. Macron wanted the grants to total 500 billion euros , but the so-called “ frugals ” – five wealthy northern nations led by the Netherlands – wanted a cut in such spending and strict economic reform conditions imposed .
The figure was brought down to 390 billion euros , while the five nations also got guarantees on reforms .
“ There is no such thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make progress , ” Mr. Macron said .
The summit , at the urn-shaped Europa center , laid bare how nations ’ narrow self-interests trumped the obvious common good for all to stand together and face a common adversary .
Rarely had a summit been as ill-tempered as this one , and it was the longest since a five-day summit in Nice , France , in 2000 , when safeguarding national interests in institutional reforms was a stumbling block .
Still , considering every EU leader had the right of veto on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to invest and spend such funds was hailed as a success .
Adriaan Schout , an EU expert and Senior Research Fellow at the Clingendael think tank in the Netherlands , said that the unusually acrimonious and drawn-out talks ultimately produced a typical Brussels deal .
“ The EU hasn ’ t changed .
This is always what it ’ s about – finding compromises – and the EU always finds compromises , ” he said .
“ And the compromise has been hard fought .
There are checks and balances in it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they will work.
” The days and nights of brutal summiteering will surely have left many wounds between member states , but as history has proven , the EU has an uncanny gift to quickly produce scar tissue and move on .
“ We all can take a hit , ” said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte .
“ After all , there are presidents among us.
” Despite bruising confrontations with Ms. Merkel , Mr. Macron , and his Italian counterpart , Giuseppe Conte , Mr. Rutte maintained that “ we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conte also didn ’ t have time to dwell on grudges .
With 35,000 Italians dead from COVID-19 and facing EU estimates his economy will plunge 11.2 % this year , he had to think ahead , of things big and small – from getting cash to businesses still trying to get a foothold after the lockdown to getting school desks .
In order to open in September , his country needs up to 3 million new desks , to replace old-fashioned double and triple desks so students can keep a proper distance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibility .
With 209 billion euros , we have the possibility to relaunch Italy with strength , to change the face of the country .
Now we must hurry .
We must use this money for investments , for structural reforms , ’ ’ Mr. Conte said .
Even if Tuesday ’ s agreement was a giant leap forward , the European Parliament , which has called the moves of the member states too timid considering the challenge , still has to approve the deal .
Mr. Rutte and others also wanted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of EU funds and the rule of law – a connection aimed at Poland and Hungary , countries with right-wing populist governments that many in the EU think are sliding away from democratic rule .
In its conclusion , the European Council underlined the “ importance of the respect of the rule of law ” and said it will create a system of conditionality aimed at preventing member states from getting subsidies from the budget and recovery fund if they don ’ t abide by its principles .
But Tuesday was a moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What was planned as a two-day summit scheduled to end Saturday was forced into two extra days by deep ideological differences among the 27 leaders .
The compromise deal they finally hammered out was one that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed as a victory .
“ We not just managed to get a good package of money , but we defended the pride of our nations and made clear that it is not acceptable that anybody , especially those who inherited ... the rule of law criticize us , the freedom fighters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regime in favor of rule of law , ” he said .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Mike Corder in The Hague , Netherlands ; Colleen Barry in Soave , Italy ; and Pablo Gorondi in Budapest , Hungary , contributed .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

After four days and nights of wrangling, exhausted European Union leaders finally clinched a deal on an unprecedented $2.1 trillion budget and coronavirus recovery fund early Tuesday, after one of their longest summits ever.
The 27 leaders grudgingly committed to a costly, massive aid package for those hit hardest by COVID-19, which has already killed 135,000 people within the bloc alone.
With masks and hygienic gel everywhere at the summit, the leaders were constantly reminded of the potent medical and economic threat the virus poses.
“Extraordinary events, and this is the pandemic that has reached us all, also require extraordinary new methods,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.
To confront the biggest recession in its history, the EU will establish a 750 billion-euro coronavirus fund, partly based on common borrowing, to be sent as loans and grants to the hardest-hit countries. That is in addition to the agreement on the seven-year, 1 trillion-euro EU budget that leaders had been haggling over for months even before the pandemic.
“The consequences will be historic,” French President Emmanuel Macron said. “We have created a possibility of taking up loans together, of setting up a recovery fund in the spirit of solidarity,” a sense of sharing debt that would have been unthinkable not so long ago.
Ms. Merkel added: “We have laid the financial foundations for the EU for the next seven years and came up with a response to this arguably biggest crisis of the European Union.”
Despite Mr. Macron and Ms. Merkel negotiating as the closest of partners, the traditionally powerful Franco-German alliance struggled for days to get the quarreling nations in line. But, even walking out of a negotiating session in protest together over the weekend, the two leaders bided their time and played their cards right in the end.
“When Germany and France stand together, they can’t do everything. But if they don’t stand together, nothing is possible,” said Mr. Macron, challenging anyone in the world who criticized the days of infighting to think of a comparable joint endeavor.
“There are 27 of us around the table and we managed to come up with a joint budget. What other political area in the world is capable of that? None other,” Mr. Macron said.
At first, Ms. Merkel and Mr. Macron wanted the grants to total 500 billion euros, but the so-called “frugals” – five wealthy northern nations led by the Netherlands – wanted a cut in such spending and strict economic reform conditions imposed. The figure was brought down to 390 billion euros, while the five nations also got guarantees on reforms.
“There is no such thing as perfection, but we have managed to make progress,” Mr. Macron said.
The summit, at the urn-shaped Europa center, laid bare how nations’ narrow self-interests trumped the obvious common good for all to stand together and face a common adversary.
Rarely had a summit been as ill-tempered as this one, and it was the longest since a five-day summit in Nice, France, in 2000, when safeguarding national interests in institutional reforms was a stumbling block.
“There were extremely tense moments,” Mr. Macron said.
Still, considering every EU leader had the right of veto on the whole package, the joint commitment to invest and spend such funds was hailed as a success.
Adriaan Schout, an EU expert and Senior Research Fellow at the Clingendael think tank in the Netherlands, said that the unusually acrimonious and drawn-out talks ultimately produced a typical Brussels deal.
“The EU hasn’t changed. This is always what it’s about – finding compromises – and the EU always finds compromises,” he said. “And the compromise has been hard fought. There are checks and balances in it. We don’t know how they will work.”
The days and nights of brutal summiteering will surely have left many wounds between member states, but as history has proven, the EU has an uncanny gift to quickly produce scar tissue and move on.
“We all can take a hit,” said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. “After all, there are presidents among us.”
Despite bruising confrontations with Ms. Merkel, Mr. Macron, and his Italian counterpart, Giuseppe Conte, Mr. Rutte maintained that “we have very good, warm relations.”
Mr. Conte also didn’t have time to dwell on grudges. With 35,000 Italians dead from COVID-19 and facing EU estimates his economy will plunge 11.2% this year, he had to think ahead, of things big and small – from getting cash to businesses still trying to get a foothold after the lockdown to getting school desks.
In order to open in September, his country needs up to 3 million new desks, to replace old-fashioned double and triple desks so students can keep a proper distance.
“We will have a great responsibility. With 209 billion euros, we have the possibility to relaunch Italy with strength, to change the face of the country. Now we must hurry. We must use this money for investments, for structural reforms,’’ Mr. Conte said.
Even if Tuesday’s agreement was a giant leap forward, the European Parliament, which has called the moves of the member states too timid considering the challenge, still has to approve the deal.
Mr. Rutte and others also wanted a link to be made between the handout of EU funds and the rule of law – a connection aimed at Poland and Hungary, countries with right-wing populist governments that many in the EU think are sliding away from democratic rule.
In its conclusion, the European Council underlined the “importance of the respect of the rule of law” and said it will create a system of conditionality aimed at preventing member states from getting subsidies from the budget and recovery fund if they don’t abide by its principles.
But Tuesday was a moment to revel in the achievement itself. What was planned as a two-day summit scheduled to end Saturday was forced into two extra days by deep ideological differences among the 27 leaders.
The compromise deal they finally hammered out was one that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban claimed as a victory.
“We not just managed to get a good package of money, but we defended the pride of our nations and made clear that it is not acceptable that anybody, especially those who inherited ... the rule of law criticize us, the freedom fighters that did a lot against the communist regime in favor of rule of law,” he said.
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This story was reported by The Associated Press. Mike Corder in The Hague, Netherlands; Colleen Barry in Soave, Italy; and Pablo Gorondi in Budapest, Hungary, contributed.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-07-21--Biden suggests a new focus for US economy: Elderly, child care

Joe Biden wants to spend more than three-quarters of a trillion dollars to dramatically improve care for older Americans , bolster low-income families ’ tax credits , and provide preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds – part of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee ’ s larger plan to remake an economy ravaged by the coronavirus .
Unveiled Tuesday , the proposal is slated to cost $ 775 billion over 10 years and is designed to create 3 million new jobs caring for older people and providing improved early education to children .
Mr. Biden promises to pay for it by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with annual incomes of $ 400,000-plus , while also increasing compliance with existing tax law for high earners .
The former vice president is planning to provide more details during an afternoon speech near his home in Wilmington , Delaware .
“ The pandemic has laid bare just how hard it is for people in this country to find access to quality caregiving they need for themselves , or to juggle the responsibilities of working and also caring for family members , ” Mr. Biden campaign ’ s wrote in a 10-page announcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third plank of Mr. Biden ’ s larger plan to rebuild the post-coronavirus economy , following a $ 2 trillion environmental proposal he released last week and a $ 700 billion plan unveiled the week before seeking to increase government purchasing of U.S.-based goods and invest in new research and development .
Mr. Biden is attempting to illustrate for voters how the coronavirus can present opportunities for job growth and new policy priorities in contrast to President Donald Trump , who has promised to rebuild the economy stronger than ever but otherwise struggled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a second term .
Senior Biden campaign officials described the care-giving plan as a “ core pillar ” of their candidate ’ s economic recovery plan , saying on a conference call with reporters that it was an important key to “ getting people back to work ” in the wake of the pandemic and the rising unemployment it sparked .
Under the proposal , Mr. Biden vows to provide for the estimated 800,000 people waiting for home and community services under Medicaid .
He wants to expand alternatives to institutional care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by filling tens of thousands of vacancies at Veterans Affairs facilities around the country .
He also pledges to train and hire 150,000 new community health workers in underserved communities , and 35,000 more to combat the opioid crisis besides creating a 100,000-member public health job corps .
The Biden campaign noted that the coronavirus is forcing schools to close and has left many parents desperately juggling full-time jobs and child care , but its plan argues that “ even before the pandemic , millions of parents struggled to find a space for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ educational setting , keeping parents – primarily mothers – out of the workforce.
” Mr. Biden says he can fix that with a joint federal-state universal prekindergarten program while also offering low-income and middle-class families an up to $ 8,000 tax credit to help pay for child care .
He plans to offer pay increases to child caregivers and early educators and bonuses to child care providers working during nontraditional hours , while expanding families ’ access to after-school , weekend , and summer care .
Mr. Biden also plans to increase the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country by offering tax credits for and direct federal funding to businesses willing to build them .
“ Our nation faced a massive shortage of child care facilities before the pandemic , ” Mr. Biden ’ s plan announcement says , “ and the shortage has only intensified since then.
” This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Joe Biden wants to spend more than three-quarters of a trillion dollars to dramatically improve care for older Americans, bolster low-income families’ tax credits, and provide preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds – part of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee’s larger plan to remake an economy ravaged by the coronavirus.
Unveiled Tuesday, the proposal is slated to cost $775 billion over 10 years and is designed to create 3 million new jobs caring for older people and providing improved early education to children. Mr. Biden promises to pay for it by reducing tax breaks for real estate investors with annual incomes of $400,000-plus, while also increasing compliance with existing tax law for high earners.
The former vice president is planning to provide more details during an afternoon speech near his home in Wilmington, Delaware.
“The pandemic has laid bare just how hard it is for people in this country to find access to quality caregiving they need for themselves, or to juggle the responsibilities of working and also caring for family members,” Mr. Biden campaign’s wrote in a 10-page announcement of the plan.
It marks the third plank of Mr. Biden’s larger plan to rebuild the post-coronavirus economy, following a $2 trillion environmental proposal he released last week and a $700 billion plan unveiled the week before seeking to increase government purchasing of U.S.-based goods and invest in new research and development. Mr. Biden is attempting to illustrate for voters how the coronavirus can present opportunities for job growth and new policy priorities in contrast to President Donald Trump, who has promised to rebuild the economy stronger than ever but otherwise struggled to articulate what he hopes to accomplish with a second term.
Senior Biden campaign officials described the care-giving plan as a “core pillar” of their candidate’s economic recovery plan, saying on a conference call with reporters that it was an important key to “getting people back to work” in the wake of the pandemic and the rising unemployment it sparked.
Under the proposal, Mr. Biden vows to provide for the estimated 800,000 people waiting for home and community services under Medicaid. He wants to expand alternatives to institutional care for all older Americans while helping veterans by filling tens of thousands of vacancies at Veterans Affairs facilities around the country. He also pledges to train and hire 150,000 new community health workers in underserved communities, and 35,000 more to combat the opioid crisis besides creating a 100,000-member public health job corps.
The Biden campaign noted that the coronavirus is forcing schools to close and has left many parents desperately juggling full-time jobs and child care, but its plan argues that “even before the pandemic, millions of parents struggled to find a space for their child in a quality care and educational setting, keeping parents – primarily mothers – out of the workforce.”
Mr. Biden says he can fix that with a joint federal-state universal prekindergarten program while also offering low-income and middle-class families an up to $8,000 tax credit to help pay for child care. He plans to offer pay increases to child caregivers and early educators and bonuses to child care providers working during nontraditional hours, while expanding families’ access to after-school, weekend, and summer care.
Mr. Biden also plans to increase the number of child care facilities around the country by offering tax credits for and direct federal funding to businesses willing to build them.
“Our nation faced a massive shortage of child care facilities before the pandemic,” Mr. Biden’s plan announcement says, “and the shortage has only intensified since then.”
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This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-07-21--Home theater: Films bring Paris to your living room

I ’ ll admit it : I am perfectly content to see an otherwise mediocre movie as long as it ’ s set in an alluring locale .
Especially these days , movies can serve as passports to places otherwise out of reach .
Few destinations are more scenic or romantic than Paris , which is why I ’ ve chosen the City of Lights to kick off this itinerary .
So many films – good ones – have been set in Paris that untravelled moviegoers may nevertheless feel like they know the place .
Even if you ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as I did , that you experience the city through cinematic eyes .
Love of movies and love of Paris are , for many of us , inextricably entwined .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , all our coronavirus coverage is free .
No paywall .
There are so many movies I could cite that are much more than mere travelogues .
Jean-Pierre Jeunet ’ s “ Amélie ” ( 2001 ) utilized some 80 locations and yet never felt like a scenic tour .
The cameras in Jean-Jacques @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 1981 ) zoomed up , down , and around the fabled Metro stations .
Jean Renoir ’ s “ Boudu Saved from Drowning ” is a great comedy that is also a priceless photographic record of 1930s Paris .
Woody Allen ’ s “ Midnight in Paris ” ( 2011 ) contrasted the modern day city with re-creations of the bistros and drawing rooms of the expat Lost Generation of Hemingway and Fitzgerald .
Richard Linklater ’ s “ Before Sunset ” ( 2004 ) did for Paris what his earlier “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And of course , when Rick and Ilsa in “ Casablanca ” flash back to happier times , it ’ s Paris that we see .
Here are a few favorites for home viewing this week .
Stanley Donen ’ s 1963 romantic mystery caper , “ Charade , ” stars Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn at their most iconic .
Like all the films I ’ m citing in this column , it can be enjoyed apart from its Parisian pedigree , but why not take in the sights anyway ?
Con @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hepburn to retrieve a stolen fortune while pursued by a trio of menacing crooks .
All this and Henry Mancini ’ s famous theme song , too .
The Seine , as is true for just about every Paris-set movie , is on full view , along with an outdoor market and a Punch and Judy marionette show in a garden park in the Champs-Élysées .
My favorite dialogue exchange between the two stars comes during an evening boat trip on the Seine : Grant : “ Oh you should see your face.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ films set in Paris , some – like “ Sabrina , ” “ Love in the Afternoon , ” and “ Funny Face ” – memorable .
The latter , also directed by Donen , starring Hepburn and Fred Astaire , displayed in pleasingly untouristy ways the Louvre , the Eiffel Tower , Notre Dame , and the Arc de Triomphe .
( Unrated ) Most of “ An American in Paris , ” a 1951 Vincente Minnelli musical replete with great Gershwin tunes , was filmed not in Paris but on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only reinforces the idea that , for many of us , Paris is more a state of mind than an actual city .
The re-creations complement our romantic imaginings .
Gene Kelly plays a struggling expatriate painter and Leslie Caron , making her movie debut , is the winsome object of his amour .
( Caron had previously danced in Roland Petit ’ s Ballets des Champs-Élysées company . )
Seven years later she triumphed in another Parisian musical , “ Gigi.
” The Kelly-Caron pas de deux on the banks of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Here to Stay , ” is one of the most moving of all musical numbers .
The final 17-minute wordless ballet sequence incorporates the canvases of such great French painters as Renoir , Dufy , Utrillo , and Toulouse-Lautrec .
( Unrated ) Unlike “ Charade ” and “ An American in Paris , ” Jean-Luc Godard ’ s 1960 debut feature , “ Breathless , ” was filmed in black and white with lightweight equipment on the streets of Paris in an improvisatory style far removed from Hollywood .
And yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low-budget American gangster movies and Humphrey Bogart .
Jean-Paul Belmondo is an amoral drifter who hides out from the police in the Paris apartment of his sometime girlfriend , played by Jean Seberg , an American student at the Sorbonne who hawks copies of the International Herald Tribune on the Rue Campagne-Première .
The film is one of the crown jewels of the French New Wave .
( Unrated , with English subtitles ) “ Charade , ” “ An American in Paris , ” and “ Breathless ” are available on at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prime Video , YouTube , Google Play , iTunes .

I’ll admit it: I am perfectly content to see an otherwise mediocre movie as long as it’s set in an alluring locale. Especially these days, movies can serve as passports to places otherwise out of reach. Few destinations are more scenic or romantic than Paris, which is why I’ve chosen the City of Lights to kick off this itinerary.
So many films – good ones – have been set in Paris that untravelled moviegoers may nevertheless feel like they know the place. Even if you’ve been there, you may discover, as I did, that you experience the city through cinematic eyes. Love of movies and love of Paris are, for many of us, inextricably entwined.
Editor’s note: As a public service, all our coronavirus coverage is free. No paywall.
Why We Wrote This With international wanderlust on pause, especially for Americans, movies offer a way to travel to far-off locales. Film critic Peter Rainer suggests you begin the journey in Paris: “Even if you’ve been there, you may discover, as I did, that you experience the city through cinematic eyes. Love of movies and love of Paris are, for many of us, inextricably entwined.”
There are so many movies I could cite that are much more than mere travelogues. Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s “Amélie” (2001) utilized some 80 locations and yet never felt like a scenic tour. The cameras in Jean-Jacques Beineix’s thriller “Diva” (1981) zoomed up, down, and around the fabled Metro stations. Jean Renoir’s “Boudu Saved from Drowning” is a great comedy that is also a priceless photographic record of 1930s Paris. Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” (2011) contrasted the modern day city with re-creations of the bistros and drawing rooms of the expat Lost Generation of Hemingway and Fitzgerald. Richard Linklater’s “Before Sunset” (2004) did for Paris what his earlier “Before Sunrise” did for Vienna. And of course, when Rick and Ilsa in “Casablanca” flash back to happier times, it’s Paris that we see.
Here are a few favorites for home viewing this week.
“Charade”
Stanley Donen’s 1963 romantic mystery caper, “Charade,” stars Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn at their most iconic. Like all the films I’m citing in this column, it can be enjoyed apart from its Parisian pedigree, but why not take in the sights anyway? Con man Grant teams with the recently widowed Hepburn to retrieve a stolen fortune while pursued by a trio of menacing crooks. All this and Henry Mancini’s famous theme song, too. The Seine, as is true for just about every Paris-set movie, is on full view, along with an outdoor market and a Punch and Judy marionette show in a garden park in the Champs-Élysées. My favorite dialogue exchange between the two stars comes during an evening boat trip on the Seine:
Grant: “Oh you should see your face.”
Hepburn: “What’s the matter with it?”
Grant: “It’s lovely.”
Hepburn made quite a few other films set in Paris, some – like “Sabrina,” “Love in the Afternoon,” and “Funny Face” – memorable. The latter, also directed by Donen, starring Hepburn and Fred Astaire, displayed in pleasingly untouristy ways the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and the Arc de Triomphe. (Unrated)
United Archives/Newscom View caption Hide caption Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron star in the musical “An American in Paris” (1951).
“An American in Paris”
Most of “An American in Paris,” a 1951 Vincente Minnelli musical replete with great Gershwin tunes, was filmed not in Paris but on the soundstages of MGM. But this fact only reinforces the idea that, for many of us, Paris is more a state of mind than an actual city. The re-creations complement our romantic imaginings. Gene Kelly plays a struggling expatriate painter and Leslie Caron, making her movie debut, is the winsome object of his amour. (Caron had previously danced in Roland Petit’s Ballets des Champs-Élysées company.) Seven years later she triumphed in another Parisian musical, “Gigi.” The Kelly-Caron pas de deux on the banks of the Seine, choreographed to “Our Love is Here to Stay,” is one of the most moving of all musical numbers. The final 17-minute wordless ballet sequence incorporates the canvases of such great French painters as Renoir, Dufy, Utrillo, and Toulouse-Lautrec. (Unrated)
“Breathless”
Unlike “Charade” and “An American in Paris,” Jean-Luc Godard’s 1960 debut feature, “Breathless,” was filmed in black and white with lightweight equipment on the streets of Paris in an improvisatory style far removed from Hollywood. And yet the movie is a sideways tribute to low-budget American gangster movies and Humphrey Bogart. Jean-Paul Belmondo is an amoral drifter who hides out from the police in the Paris apartment of his sometime girlfriend, played by Jean Seberg, an American student at the Sorbonne who hawks copies of the International Herald Tribune on the Rue Campagne-Première. The film is one of the crown jewels of the French New Wave. (Unrated, with English subtitles)
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Peter Rainer is the Monitor’s film critic.
“Charade,” “An American in Paris,” and “Breathless” are available on at least one of these platforms: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play, iTunes.


csmonitor--2020-07-17--Trump ends CDC virus data collection. Who's filling in?

Hospital data related to the coronavirus pandemic in the United States will now be collected by a private technology firm , rather than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – a move the Trump administration says will speed up reporting but one that concerns some public health leaders .
The CDC director said Wednesday that he 's fine with the change – even though some experts fear it will further sideline the agency .
The CDC has agreed to step out of the government 's traditional data collection process `` in order to streamline reporting , '' Dr. Robert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set up by the agency 's parent , the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services .
HHS officials recently posted a document on the agency 's website that redirected hospitals ' daily reporting of a range of data meant to assess the impact of the coronavirus on them .
TeleTracking Technologies , based in Pittsburgh , will now collect that information .
However , if hospitals are already directly reporting to state health departments , they can get a written release from the state to keep doing that .
The information includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severity level of coronavirus patients , ventilators on hand , and supplies of masks , gowns , and other personal protective equipment .
The CDC will continue to collect other data , like information about cases and deaths , from state health departments .
Michael Caputo , an HHS spokesman , said the CDC has been seeing a lag of a week or more in data coming from hospitals and that only 85 % of hospitals have been participating .
The change is meant to result in faster and more complete reporting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how that will happen .
HHS officials on Wednesday did not answer questions about whether there would be added government incentives or mandates to get more reporting from busy hospitals .
A CDC official , who is familiar with the agency 's system , disputed Mr. Caputo 's figures , saying only about 60 % of the nation 's hospitals have been reporting to the CDC system , but most data is collected and reported out within two days .
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Healthcare Safety Network system was launched 15 years ago and is perhaps best known for its work gathering , and publicly reporting , data on hospital infections .
It has helped drive a successful push to reduce certain kinds of hospital infections .
The system started doing COVID-19 data collection in March .
Two other systems have been put in place since , one involving hospitals reporting directly to states and the other the TeleTracking system .
Administration officials put incentives in place to encourage hospitals to report through the other systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the coronavirus treatment remdesivir was sometimes allocated to hospitals based on whether they used TeleTracking .
Some outside experts expressed suspicion and concern about the decision to drop CDC from the data-collection mix .
The data `` are the foundation that guide our response to the pandemic , '' Dr. Thomas File , Jr. , president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America , said in a statement .
Collecting and reporting public health data has always been a core function of the CDC , he added .
`` The administration should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should strengthen the role of CDC to collect and report COVID-19 data , '' he said .
Gregory Koblentz , a biodefense expert at George Mason University , said the change appears to be consistent with administration moves in recent months that have sidelined the CDC from the role it has played in other epidemics , as the public 's primary source of information .
`` We know the administration has been trying to silence the CDC , '' he said .
`` Now it looks like the administration might be trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The White House directed a request for comment to HHS .
Mr. Redfield , the CDC director , said the agency will retain access to all the data .
He also said the change will enable it to focus on collecting other data , like information from nursing homes .
Still , his predecessor , Dr. Tom Frieden , expressed dismay at the decision .
`` Rather than strengthening the CDC public health data system to improve hospital reporting , the administration has handed data to an unproven , commercial entity , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency 's director during the Obama administration .
In April , the government awarded a $ 10.2 million contract to a TeleTracking Technologies , based in Pittsburgh .
At the time , the company was hired to gather data on things that were already being reported to the CDC , such as available hospital beds .
TeleTracking has won 29 contracts for federal government work stretching back to 2004 .
None of its previous contracts paid more than $ 300,000 .
The prior contracts were for computer systems and programming at Veteran Affairs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approval to tap a government loans program designed to help small business keep employees on their payroll during the pandemic .
The forgivable loan was from the Payroll Protection Program for between $ 5 million and $ 10 million .
TeleTracking indicated it planned to use the loan to help save the jobs of some of its 376 workers .
TeleTracking did not immediately respond to requests for comment .
The CEO of Teletracking , Michael Zamagias , also runs a real estate investment firm with several properties in Pittsburgh .
One of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LTD , was approved for a Payroll Protection Program loan for between $ 150,000 and $ 350,000 .
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
Editor ’ s note : As a public service , the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage .
It ’ s free .

Hospital data related to the coronavirus pandemic in the United States will now be collected by a private technology firm, rather than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – a move the Trump administration says will speed up reporting but one that concerns some public health leaders.
The CDC director said Wednesday that he's fine with the change – even though some experts fear it will further sideline the agency. The CDC has agreed to step out of the government's traditional data collection process "in order to streamline reporting," Dr. Robert Redfield said during a call with reporters set up by the agency's parent, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
HHS officials recently posted a document on the agency's website that redirected hospitals' daily reporting of a range of data meant to assess the impact of the coronavirus on them. TeleTracking Technologies, based in Pittsburgh, will now collect that information.
However, if hospitals are already directly reporting to state health departments, they can get a written release from the state to keep doing that.
The information includes bed occupancy, staffing levels, the severity level of coronavirus patients, ventilators on hand, and supplies of masks, gowns, and other personal protective equipment. The CDC will continue to collect other data, like information about cases and deaths, from state health departments.
Michael Caputo, an HHS spokesman, said the CDC has been seeing a lag of a week or more in data coming from hospitals and that only 85% of hospitals have been participating. The change is meant to result in faster and more complete reporting, he said.
It's not clear how that will happen. HHS officials on Wednesday did not answer questions about whether there would be added government incentives or mandates to get more reporting from busy hospitals.
A CDC official, who is familiar with the agency's system, disputed Mr. Caputo's figures, saying only about 60% of the nation's hospitals have been reporting to the CDC system, but most data is collected and reported out within two days. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk about it.
The CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network system was launched 15 years ago and is perhaps best known for its work gathering, and publicly reporting, data on hospital infections. It has helped drive a successful push to reduce certain kinds of hospital infections.
The system started doing COVID-19 data collection in March. Two other systems have been put in place since, one involving hospitals reporting directly to states and the other the TeleTracking system.
Administration officials put incentives in place to encourage hospitals to report through the other systems, the official said. For instance, the coronavirus treatment remdesivir was sometimes allocated to hospitals based on whether they used TeleTracking.
Some outside experts expressed suspicion and concern about the decision to drop CDC from the data-collection mix.
The data "are the foundation that guide our response to the pandemic," Dr. Thomas File, Jr., president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, said in a statement.
Collecting and reporting public health data has always been a core function of the CDC, he added. "The administration should provide funding to support data collection and should strengthen the role of CDC to collect and report COVID-19 data," he said.
Gregory Koblentz, a biodefense expert at George Mason University, said the change appears to be consistent with administration moves in recent months that have sidelined the CDC from the role it has played in other epidemics, as the public's primary source of information.
"We know the administration has been trying to silence the CDC," he said. "Now it looks like the administration might be trying to blind the CDC as well."
The White House directed a request for comment to HHS.
Mr. Redfield, the CDC director, said the agency will retain access to all the data. He also said the change will enable it to focus on collecting other data, like information from nursing homes.
Still, his predecessor, Dr. Tom Frieden, expressed dismay at the decision.
"Rather than strengthening the CDC public health data system to improve hospital reporting, the administration has handed data to an unproven, commercial entity," said Mr. Frieden, who was the agency's director during the Obama administration.
In April, the government awarded a $10.2 million contract to a TeleTracking Technologies, based in Pittsburgh. At the time, the company was hired to gather data on things that were already being reported to the CDC, such as available hospital beds.
TeleTracking has won 29 contracts for federal government work stretching back to 2004. None of its previous contracts paid more than $300,000. The prior contracts were for computer systems and programming at Veteran Affairs hospitals.
The company has also gotten approval to tap a government loans program designed to help small business keep employees on their payroll during the pandemic. The forgivable loan was from the Payroll Protection Program for between $5 million and $10 million.
TeleTracking indicated it planned to use the loan to help save the jobs of some of its 376 workers.
TeleTracking did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The CEO of Teletracking, Michael Zamagias, also runs a real estate investment firm with several properties in Pittsburgh. One of his companies, Michael G. Zamagias Interests LTD, was approved for a Payroll Protection Program loan for between $150,000 and $350,000.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.
Editor’s note: As a public service, the Monitor has removed the paywall for all our coronavirus coverage. It’s free.


csmonitor--2020-07-22--How a childhood dream came true

How a childhood dream came true

Beginning with “ Black Beauty , ” most children ’ s horse books include a dramatic night ride – to fetch help , to warn of impending disaster , to escape from evildoers .
As a horse-crazy child , I was a connoisseur of those night rides .
It wasn ’ t just the speed and the danger ; it was the bond with the horse .
I could only dream of what such a ride would be like until one summer night many years later .
My cousin Emma and her husband were new to the farm in Herefordshire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I arrived to stay .
They grew barley , kept a small flock of sheep plus a few cattle .
Emma and I decided our three girls were the right ages for ponies .
We already had one , Emma ’ s childhood pony , Cherry Pie , now snow-white , woolly as a camel , and spirited as ever .
Emma had located another pony and a horse in a field two miles away .
Cream the horse was a palomino , heavily built .
Twinkle the pony was a bright @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it appeared that they were gorging themselves in the small pasture , and the farmer who owned them was only too glad to have them taken off his hands for the summer .
A fourth pony , Hansel , was a full-blooded Dartmoor .
He was shipped to us in a proper horse trailer that arrived in the farmyard one morning .
He was a beautiful dark brown with a tail that swept the ground and a forelock that fell over his eyes .
He was also so round that we had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crupper to keep it from sliding forward .
Nothing else fit .
The children seemed blasé about the ponies .
I , of course , was thrilled anew every morning to see them grazing in the big field : golden Cream , dark Hansel , bright Twinkle , and snow-white Cherry Pie .
After breakfast , I would marshal the children to clean tack , catch the ponies , and tie them up in the farmyard to be groomed .
The youngest child was the most amenable , brushing the rotund Hansel as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night the cows got out there was a full moon .
The bedroom was almost light as day when Emma woke me .
“ The cows got out , ” she said .
“ They ’ re trampling the barley .
We ’ ve got to round them up !
” I jumped out of bed .
This was like a scene from the books , a midnight ride to save something .
I threw on jeans , a T-shirt , a jacket .
Emma was already in the pasture , shaking oats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ halfway down the hill , bunched shadows .
At the rattling of the oats , Hansel gave a soft whicker and , followed by Cream , trotted toward us .
They shoved their heads in the bucket , pinning back ears and nipping at each other .
We slipped the reins over their necks , the bits in their mouths , bridles over their ears .
We led them through the gate and mounted bareback , Emma on Cream and I on Hansel .
In the moonlight , the field was golden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its harmony violated by a trampled path .
The errant cows were huddled at the far end .
By silent agreement , Emma and I each rode up one side of the field .
Hansel blew softly through his nostrils .
He seemed surprised to be ridden in a moonlit field , but willing .
As we closed in on the cows , they turned and stared at us .
Cream snorted loudly and tossed his silvery mane .
Hansel stamped a forefoot .
The cows crowded nervously together .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Emma called .
A human voice sounded strange , otherworldly .
With Emma and I coming behind them in a pincer movement , the cows moved clumsily forward .
The lead cow , a red and white Hereford , started back down the trampled path through the barley .
The others followed .
Emma and I held back till they were almost at the end of the field .
Then , wheeling , we cantered back along the perimeter .
We persuaded the cows toward the open gate of their field .
Once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strike the concrete , they bolted through .
Emma and I paused astride our mounts in the middle of the farmyard .
Behind us the timber-framed farmhouse slept ; ahead of us , the fields rose steeply to the shaggy woods .
Everything was bathed in moonlight .
It was several moments before we slid down and stood again on ordinary ground .

Beginning with “Black Beauty,” most children’s horse books include a dramatic night ride – to fetch help, to warn of impending disaster, to escape from evildoers. As a horse-crazy child, I was a connoisseur of those night rides. It wasn’t just the speed and the danger; it was the bond with the horse. I could only dream of what such a ride would be like until one summer night many years later.
My cousin Emma and her husband were new to the farm in Herefordshire, England, the summer my daughter and I arrived to stay. They grew barley, kept a small flock of sheep plus a few cattle.
Emma and I decided our three girls were the right ages for ponies. We already had one, Emma’s childhood pony, Cherry Pie, now snow-white, woolly as a camel, and spirited as ever. Emma had located another pony and a horse in a field two miles away. Cream the horse was a palomino, heavily built. Twinkle the pony was a bright bay and delicate. On investigation, it appeared that they were gorging themselves in the small pasture, and the farmer who owned them was only too glad to have them taken off his hands for the summer. A fourth pony, Hansel, was a full-blooded Dartmoor. He was shipped to us in a proper horse trailer that arrived in the farmyard one morning. He was a beautiful dark brown with a tail that swept the ground and a forelock that fell over his eyes. He was also so round that we had to use an old felt saddle with a crupper to keep it from sliding forward. Nothing else fit.
The children seemed blasé about the ponies. I, of course, was thrilled anew every morning to see them grazing in the big field: golden Cream, dark Hansel, bright Twinkle, and snow-white Cherry Pie. After breakfast, I would marshal the children to clean tack, catch the ponies, and tie them up in the farmyard to be groomed. The youngest child was the most amenable, brushing the rotund Hansel as high as she could reach.
The night the cows got out there was a full moon. The bedroom was almost light as day when Emma woke me.
“The cows got out,” she said. “They’re trampling the barley. We’ve got to round them up!”
I jumped out of bed. This was like a scene from the books, a midnight ride to save something. I threw on jeans, a T-shirt, a jacket. Emma was already in the pasture, shaking oats in a bucket. The horses were halfway down the hill, bunched shadows. At the rattling of the oats, Hansel gave a soft whicker and, followed by Cream, trotted toward us.
They shoved their heads in the bucket, pinning back ears and nipping at each other. We slipped the reins over their necks, the bits in their mouths, bridles over their ears. We led them through the gate and mounted bareback, Emma on Cream and I on Hansel.
In the moonlight, the field was golden, the barley like some mythical grain, its harmony violated by a trampled path. The errant cows were huddled at the far end. By silent agreement, Emma and I each rode up one side of the field. Hansel blew softly through his nostrils. He seemed surprised to be ridden in a moonlit field, but willing. As we closed in on the cows, they turned and stared at us. Cream snorted loudly and tossed his silvery mane. Hansel stamped a forefoot. The cows crowded nervously together.
“We’ll go around behind them,” Emma called. A human voice sounded strange, otherworldly.
With Emma and I coming behind them in a pincer movement, the cows moved clumsily forward. The lead cow, a red and white Hereford, started back down the trampled path through the barley. The others followed.
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empower and uplift daily. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads.
Emma and I held back till they were almost at the end of the field. Then, wheeling, we cantered back along the
perimeter. We persuaded the cows toward the open gate of their field. Once they heard the hooves of our horses strike the concrete, they bolted through.
Emma and I paused astride our mounts in the middle of the farmyard. Behind us the timber-framed farmhouse slept; ahead of us, the fields rose steeply to the shaggy woods. Everything was bathed in moonlight. It was several moments before we slid down and stood again on ordinary ground.