Morgan Outdoors eNEWS    17 April 2020

How have you been doing? We’ve missed you. We also miss being a part of our bustling Main Street filled with neighbors and friends.

This July marks our 15-year anniversary and we hope to celebrate it with you. Meanwhile, we promise to try as hard as we can to keep the good vibes flowing! So please enjoy our simple, heartfelt newsletter with 5 short bits to sample:

Back to Earth   My Aching Neck   Outdoors Update   Gift Certificate Bonus    Calendar

Check out our Instagram at morgan.outdoors

 

BACK TO EARTH      

We are in awe of Jessica Meir from the great state of Maine. At 1:16 am today, she landed in Kazahstan after almost 7 months aboard the International Space Station.

Earlier this week, Jessica did a 6-minute interview with a big fan – Stephen Colbert. Her insightful description of her time in isolation would be great for families to view together. It could also be uplifting to anyone having a tough time in quarantine – https://bit.ly/2xFgMPL. Warm Wishes Jessica!! What an interesting perspective she must have of our planet’s human challenge right now.

MY ACHING NECK

If you’re like many of us, you’re experiencing neck and shoulder discomfort which often affects sleep. Not good. So we went in search of help and found what might be a good explanation – our 10-pound heads are jutting forward so many more hours to read phone screens and computer monitors that something had to give.

Here’s a clear 10-minute explanation with three easy exercises!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C-wfV27bzI&feature=emb_rel_pause  See what you think.

OUTDOORS UPDATE

There’s no doubt that time spent outdoors is good for us. Wherever you live, we hope you will find a place to go witness something special unfolding all around us – SPRING!  To make you smile, we’ll recommend keeping “a turkey vulture’s wingspan” distance from others! (photo taken by a friend in a Maryland park.)

If you’re looking for guidance on hiking, the NYDEC website has helpful guidance at  https://on.ny.gov/2UCOYEn   DEC and State Parks launched a new hashtag – #RecreateLocal – and encourage New Yorkers to get outside and discover open spaces and parks close to home.

CLOSINGS: We regularly check the NY-NJ Trail Conference’s list of Trail Alerts: https://bit.ly/39HAgQO  It includes the 5 Catskill Firetowers and Mohonk Preserve.

They also have a thoughtful article “How to Hike a Trail Less Traveled”   https://bit.ly/3dRSLFq

There are some great alternative ways to explore the outdoors, such as through the Seek and iNaturalist apps.  Please let us know your favorites! We would love to try them.

GIFT CERTIFICATE BONUS

To help us stay on solid ground during the NY PAUSE, consider shopping locally by buying a Morgan Outdoors gift certificate for yourself or as a gift. It would be SO appreciated! We will gratefully accept your order by email and will send it to you or to someone special. Just follow the 1-2-3 steps on our website https://bit.ly/2WyJoEq

As a show of thanks for certificates of $100 or more, we want to treat you to a pair of fabulous Darn Tough socks (to be redeemed when we reopen).Thanks to all those who have stepped up already. We are so grateful for your good hearts!

CALENDAR 

Ongoing reminder: it’s TICK SEASON and tick checks are so important to our health. Please don’t forget! And check out the booklet “All About Ticks”. We put 10 copies in a ziplock bag in our flower box out front for anyone to take. The hands-on activities are great for kids!

Ongoing: NY’s Governor Cuomo directed all non-essential businesses to close and “PAUSE” starting Sunday, March 22 through May 15 (as of 4/17).

Ongoing: Local news & updates – tune to 90.5 FM for local public radio – WJFF. The website https://wjffradio.org also has archives of recent news. Click on the “Coronavirus Resources” tab on their homepage. Consider making a donation if you can. This small station does so much to foster a sense of community here; that’s why we’re a longtime underwriter.

Saturday, April 18th We had to cancel the “Tick Talk” with public health educator Jill Hubert-Simon. Rescheduling her terrific presentation sometime this summer!

 EVERY DAY: We are grateful to the front line healthcare staff in our community and around the world. What a big sacrifice they make each day!

Our best to you and your family. May you stay healthy and safe! 

Cheers,    Lisa  (with a shout out to staff Emma, Jan, and Conner)