Updated 5:50 pm
Edgartown selectmen voted on Monday to cancel the Fourth of July parade and fireworks because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“That’s not unexpected, but disappointing news,” newly appointed selectmen chairman Arthur Smadbeck said.
The Edgartown Independence Day celebrations are the latest summer events to be canceled, following Beach Road Weekend, the Agricultural Fair, the Oak Bluffs fireworks, and many others.
Parade director Joseph E. Sollitto Jr. told selectmen the American Legion Post 186, which helps put on the parade, recommended canceling the events.
According to Sollitto, there are more than 1,000 participants, and more than 20,000 spectators. The massive number of people and all the candy being handed out wouldn’t be safe, Sollitto said.
Selectmen agreed that the fireworks would also be an issue, and prove difficult to enforce social distancing.
“There’s no way we can have fireworks and parades and things like that with the kind of recommendations coming out of the governor’s office,” Smadbeck said.
Sollitto said the Legion asked for people who would donate money to the parade in any way to instead donate to the Island Food Pantry, West Tisbury Congregational Church, the Good Shepherd Parish, or some other organization that is distributing food.
In other business, Alice Boyd, grant administrator for the community block grant program, told selectmen she is preparing an application for small business, homelessness prevention, and rental and mortgage assistance funds through the federal CARES Act.
The CARES Act included community block grant funds for each state to assist local communities of low- and moderate-income residents.
The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development is making $19.6 million available for communities across the state.
Boyd said she is applying for the maximum with the towns of Edgartown, West Tisbury, and Chilmark, and funds will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Boyd said she was working with Tisbury and Oak Bluffs on their own application.
Boyd said the applications have not yet been released, but she is preparing information to apply as soon as possible.
“We believe that this will likely be a first-come, first-served,” Boyd said. “We think the funds will be gone immediately.”
Boyd said it was not yet clear how much of the state funds could be applied for, but did break down where funds should be spent.
Boyd said it’s recommended that 50 percent of any funds received go toward rental assistance, 40 percent to small businesses assistance and microenterprises, and 10 percent go toward homelessness prevention.
Updated with more details. –Ed.
We know exactly who this flu targets. They by no means should attend any public event and should take every measure to self quarantine. The rest on us need to carry on and celebrate life. Celebrate this great country and celebrate moving on, perhaps somewhat dangerous, but nowhere near as dangerous as what was faced to create the greatest country on Earth. We are not subjects of our Governor, he is merely our elected servant.
Repeat after me: COVID -19 is not a flu. It is a virus. COVID -19 is not a flu. It is a virus. Chickenpox is not the flu. It is caused by a virus. Herpes Simplex I is not a flu. It is caused by a virus. Epstein-Barr is not a flu. It, too, is caused by a virus. Hepatitis B is not a flu. It is caused by a virus. AIDS is not a flu. It is caused by a virus. The greatest country on earth now has the highest death toll from COVID 19. Repeat after me: COVID -19 is not the flu. Many more than wise the number of Americans has perished from COVID -19 than from influenza A and B in 2019, and the years is less than half done. Why? COVID -19 is not the flu. Get off the soapbox. Use soap and water, and, put on a mask. Why? COVID -19 is not the flu!
BS, are you suggesting a virus is smart enough to target a particular demographic?
“We are not subjects of our governor, he is merely our elected servant”
True statement. However, he is taking precautions that the majority of those who elected him approve of.
The Edgartown selectmen did a fine thing in those cancellations, for reasons to them both known and unknown.
bs we do not know exactly who this virus targets– people die across all age groups, all ethnicities . all genders, all races. So you, BS should by no means, attend any public event and should take every measure to self quarantine. RIGHT ?
And really , you talk about “the greatest country on earth”
and what country is that ?
Look up the stats– U.S is not # 1 in any category–except corona cases and deaths,,,
And then you say that we are not subjects of the governor ?????
do you have any idea about our political system ?
if the duly elected governor says you can’t work or go to to a restaurant or a movie theater do you really think they are really just “our elected servant” ?
We elect these people to protect us, to guide us, and to try to make our lives better.
As our ‘elected servant” the governor is trying his best to keep you and your family alive, whether you and your family have enough common sense to take any precautions.– but even if you and your family choose to be ignorant, think that it will all go away , injecting bleach or believe Jesus will save you, you do not have the right to subject the rest of us to a deadly disease.
Ad hominem attacks do little to advance your argument.
Bs — what ad hominem attack ? is stating the obvious that if someone chooses to be ignorant an “attack” ?
My family is not ignorant, we don’t inject bleach and aren’t particularly religious. We do understand facts and we are all under the age of 60 so in Massachusetts our chances of dying from this virus is roughly one hundredth of one percent. We’ll take those odds any day. For those in the high risk category by all means quarantine yourselves until we have better treatments or a vaccine.
BS — sorry to hear your ancestors seem to die young.
Older people have much to tell us if we care to listen.
Calling this virus the “flu” is willfully ignorant.
Someone with a master’s degree should know that.
Thank you for not listening to our great leader about the bleach.
The hospital does not need the patients.
I am certain you worked hard to get your master’s. Congratulations.
Another Trump supporter who is pro-choice. His body, his choice to do what he pleases.
Just for kicks and giggles I looked up how many Americans have reached the same degree of education as I have. Roughly 8 percent.
Relevance?
Bs doesn’t seem to understand that a formal education does not stop ignorance. He proves this by bragging about his education.
There’s a decent chance more than 8% of the Island population is better educated than you, either formal or informal education.
First, this is NOT a flu. And second, it targets everyone. Children are dying from this. Perfectly healthy people in their 20’s & 30’’s are dying from this. We don’t know who will have mild symptoms, who will have severe symptoms and who will die. I feel sorry for people like you who value pomp and fake patriotism over people’s lives.
Let us all rein in the exorbitant rhetoric for a bit. There is no accurate information being published, anywhere, about this virus. There is not an accurate death count; there is not an accurate method of determining antibodies in people; there is not an accurate means of testing the level of antibodies in people; the experts tell us it is targeting certain groups over other groups, age, condition, etc., but no one has a number that is accurate. Therefore, people are running around with incomplete information, making great pronouncements that affect all of us. Take a deep breath, garner what EXPERT information available and govern yourselves accordingly. I have a plan for myself and I have followed it scrupulously. May everyone do the same. Stay calm and carry on.
There are some resources that are publishing accurate information about COVID-19. They are not free. If one is interested in, can analyze the information provided, and is willing to pay for it, https://www.jimmunol.org/ (The Journal of Immunology) is a great resource. This site has a lot of accurate information about SARS COVI-2 and about the assays that collect antibodies. https://www.unboundmedicine.com/ (Unbound Medicine) has not only accurate information about serology, but also, access to article and information updated in real time. https://jamanetwork.com/, (The Journal of American Medicine) has an extensive network to collect analyze the most current information. Again, these are not free, or, cheap. To access them one must log in, which can only be done after subscribing.
Burlington, thank you. As I understand it from my medical people in my family and from information from physicians and other health care people, this virus is acting differently from any they have seen before. It is presenting physical manifestations in patients not seen before. Our information from communities is scattered as to testing results, deaths, etc. There is much we simply do not know about this particular manifestation.
Just when you thought it wasn’t safe to go back in the water:
https://youtu.be/Avc6_ftzk3w
Thank you Sal!
She is just fascinating. She feels wearing a mask is entirely the wrong thing. Because, it impedes the air supply to your lungs. Everyone has latent viruses in their body and because you are under oxygen stress it enables viruses which were latent. Because you’re under stress, it decreases your immune system.
And she also feels that social distancing is the wrong approach. Only TB, small pox and Ebola requires social distancing. You get COVID-19 from droplets on door handles?
This really makes me curious because her credentials are second to none.
:-^
And I only got halfway through it…
Cherokee Sal, do you know of a website or publication where I can find some answered questions about the video? Not meant as an attack on anyone. Just sincerely would appreciate a bit more explanation. (i.e., If the virus is ‘latent’ in all of us, which means by the definition of latency that it is detectable, why aren’t titers detected in everyone?) Things of this nature have piqued my interest. I saw a lot on her political activities on google, but not much by way of research beyond 2015. I saw something that may address the aforementioned question, on interactions of the corona of nanomaterials, but nothing beyond this. I could only view the abstract on the paper. Wish I had the time to pursue further, so I would be grateful if you could share if you come across anything. Thank you.
Could we skip virus conspiracy theories from far-right fanatics? Let’s just give them a break for this pandemic, then you can get back to it.
require not requires…
Good move Edgartown.
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