Letter to the Community: Mayor Wood's Statement, Working Hard and Front Line HEROES - by Community Contributor

April 5 COVID-19 Statement

Dear Salida,

Well, here we are, it has been another interesting week of COVID-19. Things I think we should pay attention to right now:

Salida Mayor P.T. Wood

First, while we are discouraging visitors from out of town, some of them have a legitimate reason to be here. Please try to be kind and graceful to anyone riding this pandemic out in Chaffee County.
I have been spending some time out seeing what is going on and I must thank the vast majority of you that are doing this right – keep it up and we will get through this sooner than later.
To those that have yet to take this seriously, please do! The sooner we all get on board with the appropriate behavior, the sooner we come out the other side of this.
Check in on your neighbor, be it a phone call, a shout across the fence or patio, or a wave from a far. It doesn’t matter the form – what matters is that we are reaching out and helping each other right now. We are rightfully scared, alone and some of us are sick. Community has never been so important as in times such as these. Go out on your porch and sing, dance, wave, share poetry, and be amazing.
Plant a garden.
Wear a face mask when you go out.
WASH YOUR HANDS!
Remember the people you live with are your people. You need each other right now, take a deep breath and remember that, now more than ever.

We are all working really hard on this. A huge thanks to the folks at the grocery stores, convenience stores, the Police and Fire Departments, Chaffee County EMS, the Sheriff’s Department, State Patrol, all our nurses and doctors, the team at CDOT, our United States Postal Service carriers, our City team from Public Works to Parks to Administration, and everyone else I failed to mention.

These are the front line HEROES that are holding our community together and giving us at least some semblance of normal.

As Reinhold Niebuhr said so beautifully:
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.”

Above all – stay healthy!

I, for one, cannot wait to greet each of you with a handshake and hug, but until then I will send distance fives, remote elbow bumps and jazz hands to each of you. This will take strength and fortitude from each of us, and I have no doubt that you are up to it.

Sincerely,

Mayor P.T. Wood

For more information, please contact City Hall at 719-539-4555.