Merry Christmas from Cobourg News Blog

It looks like we are now in a “Post-Covid” era. Enough people are sufficiently vaccinated – or have caught the bug and recovered so are close to immune – that most activities are getting close to normal. Cinemas and theatres are operating although not quite at normal schedules (see Rainbow’s schedule) and most people (although not all) are leaving masks at home. Although this time of year is when cases of respiratory diseases increase, it is also a “time of good cheer”.  As I said last year at this time: “it’s a time when we put any animosities behind us, any differences are not important – what’s important is that we are all special and deserve happiness despite any problems we might have.”

ReindeerLet me review the good (and some debatable things) from 2022:

  • Covid-19 no longer dominates what we do
  • The Beach was open and there’s a solution (that not everyone likes) to waterfront parking
  • On call Transit was introduced although handicapped by a shortage of drivers
  • Starbucks came to Town – does this mean we are now “cool”?
  • There are some new faces on Council
  • Once again we had a Canada Day Parade and Waterfront Festival (but no Sandcastle festival)

There were two elections which were significant but by their very nature, not everyone is pleased with their outcome.

But let’s look forward – Christmas for most people is a time of good cheer with family gatherings.

First, I must thank my subscribers and those who read the posts without subscribing. Without this community, the Cobourg News Blog would be pointless. Thank you.

And I’ll repeat what I said in 2018:

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Great New Year – there’s an old cliché that says something like “May your Christmas and New Year be the best you’ve ever had” – but as you learn to mellow (or chill) out and stop worrying, this can actually happen.

Merry Christmas

Resources

Announcement by the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope on Dec 22

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the cancellation of all remaining performances of SLEEPING BEAUTY: A PANTO AWAKENING. We thank all those who have been a part of making this production happen.

Unfortunately the pandemic is not over.

Ticket holders will be contacted by our box office.

It seems that despite most restrictions being lifted and most people acting accordingly (per my comments above), an outbreak of Covid has caused disruption per above notice.

Print Article: 

 

20 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Informed
1 year ago

Covid is not over. It’s just being normalized. One thing is for sure… Christmas is coming and it’s the time to celebrate with family and friends regardless of everything else. Merry Christmas everyone!

Tucker
1 year ago

Happy Holidays to you and your family. I truly enjoy the information you present in your blog and the “back and forth” opinions of your readers. Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas season and best wishes for 2023.

Carmel Murphy
1 year ago

Wishing you and your family a very Happy Christmas and Love, Peace and Happiness for the New Year.
Thank you so much for your blog, it is a great help in keeping up with all the “goings on” in Cobourg.
With best wishes ….. Carmel

Patricia
1 year ago

While I enjoy your blog and wish you a Happy, Healthy 2023, John, I must disagree with you: the pandemic is not over! How ironic that Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre cancelled their Christmas Panto just yesterday! More people have been ill and more people have died in Canada with Covid-19 in 2022 than in either of the previous 2 years. As long as people are lax with mixing and mingling indoors, the coronavirus will continue to spread and mutate; More than 1 million Canadians are already suffering the ill effects of Long Covid. The more often you are infected, the greater your odds of contracting Long Covid. Wearing a mask indoors is no hardship; Oakridge Chorus sang at a show in Peterborough Nov. 26th wearing masks to an audience wearing masks! Better safe than sorry in my estimation!

Jeffy
1 year ago

Thanks for the work you do John, you helped me with my move here a great deal.

I agree covid is over, even though we just had it at the end of October. A couple of days of sniffles and headaches. It’s over, but the Order of the Branch Covidians refuse to admit it.

Informed
Reply to  Jeffy
1 year ago

I bet everyone in China right now wouldn’t agree with you

Anne
1 year ago

Covid is definitely NOT behind us. We are heading into a particularly risky time when attention to masking and vaccination recommendations is essential to keep people safe. Our hospitals continue to be overwhelmed and understaffed. Keep well everyone.

JimT
Reply to  Anne
1 year ago

It’s over. Covid is behind us. Check out the data provided by the CDC showing “Excess Deaths Associated with COVID-19” in graphic form.
If deaths are any indication, then we are practically back to normal, for whatever reason – vaccines, boosters, masks, herd immunity – whatever.

Last edited 1 year ago by JimT
Constance Mealing
1 year ago

Merry Christmas Jon to you and Alma. I miss sharing a table with you but with the state of my lungs I cannot be in crowds. Thank you for the hard work you put in keeping us informed. I frequently pass your blog along.

Moxy
1 year ago

Hi John. Your blog is informative and very helpful, especially because we are newcomers. We think you provide an important public service. There is no newspaper in Cobourg, but you perform that role for us.

I have only one concern about your blog and that’s from today: COVID is not behind us. Recent water studies on Ontario show COVID is still very much with us. We know several people in Toronto who had five shots but still got COVID and got very sick with it. I think your declaration that COVID is behind us is premature. Saying that most people have stopped wearing masks is also not true. In Toronto and Cobourg we’ve been observing about one-third of people masked and we’re grateful for that. I wish everyone here was taking masking and getting vaccinated more seriously. We have family working in health care who have had to go on stress leave and many health care workers have been leaving the field due to burnout. With more caution from all of us we could protect our fellow citizens and health care workers. Our efforts would help ease pressure on our health care system so we can access some of those hospital procedures delayed by COVID patients taking priority.

Last edited 1 year ago by Moxy
Jayne
Reply to  Moxy
1 year ago

Apropos your comment about Covid not being over. As of yesterday all remaining performances of the Panto at Capitol Theatre, Port Hope, cancelled because of Covid. We attended on the 20th and about half the audience wore masks.

Abby
1 year ago

I echo the good and positive things others have said, John. Thank you for keeping us informed so well and objectively. Merry Christmas!

Russ
Reply to  Abby
1 year ago

I’ll second that ….. Happy Holidays John & Alma !

Cobourg citizen
1 year ago

You provide an excellent and informative service to those of us that care about what happens in Cobourg. I read your blog faithfully and will continue to do so in 2023!
Merry Christmas, and thank you!

Cobourg taxpayer
1 year ago

Thank you John for all you do. Merry Christmas!

Old Sailor
1 year ago

John:

As much as we are allowed to freely grumble and complain about Cobourg and our Council on your blog, any friends or ours who visit the Old Doll and the Old Sailor from the GTA feel like they have just received a free pass to Heaven for the few days of their visit.

So another tip of the hat to you and to what makes our town a special place to visit. Especially at Christmas time.

Geo
1 year ago

John, thank you for all the reporting you do. If you didn’t do this I wouldn’t know what is going on in Cobourg. Job well done. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Rustler
Reply to  Geo
1 year ago

Well said Geo, I agree wholeheartedly. Merry Christmas John and keep up the good work.

Diana
Reply to  Geo
1 year ago

I echo what many have said. Thank you, John, for the incredible and invaluable service you provide…at no charge!!

Happy holidays to you and Alma.