The kids are back to school this week, but, alas, still at home. Here are seven things to do that may help stave off boredom and perhaps even count as real educational opportunities. At minimum, you may come out of social distancing with a few new skills.
1. Learn to bake. Turn your Great British Bake Off fantasies into a semi-risen reality with online baking instruction. Let’s face it, when are you going to have this kind of time again to knead and rise your dough? One of our favorites: https://www.kingarthurflour.com/learn
2. Finally start that garden you’ve been dreaming of or rehab the one you have. The Cooperative Extension brings back its popular annual “Grow Your Own!” classes, this time online. Check out the full schedule and register here: http://thisisreno.com/2020/03/cooperative-extension-brings-grow-your-own-classes-online
3. Attend a virtual story time. Washoe County Library this week launches a virtual story time via Facebook. Join the group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/washoevirtualstorytime/?source_id=91396597006. And get more reading time in – with Betty White. Storyline Online offers dozens of titles read by celebrated actors and accompanied by illustrations, all on demand. Visit https://www.storylineonline.net/
4. Learn a language. American Sign Language is having another moment thanks in part to Nigel Howard, whose next level interpretation for Canadian officials has gone viral. You can start learning sign language online at http://www.signlanguage101.com/.
5. Take your floor routine beyond the sprinkler and the running man. The Peloton app is offering 90 days free and just added cardio dance to their lineup of online workouts. Bonus, you can use the app with the Amazon Fire Stick – family workouts! Sign up at https://www.onepeloton.com/app
6. Make a travel bucket list. Break out a world map and start plotting out all the places you’d like to go, sights to see, and foods to try. We may be experiencing some dark times now, but it won’t last forever, and planning for the future may bring hope and enliven your spirits. Bonus: we think this activity counts as geography class for your kids.
7. Coronavirus haiku. And, go!
This Is Reno’s COVID-19 news coverage
COVID-19 cases in Washoe County: 1,685 total, 65 dead, 1,070 recovered
Health officials now say anyone in Washoe County can get tested for COVID-19 for free, regardless of whether they have symptoms.
International students are adapting, some leaving the U.S.
The pandemic situation has dealt a hard blow to the international student community of the University of Nevada, Reno.
Nevada to ramp up COVID-19 contact tracing
Nevada is preparing to accelerate its COVID-19 contact tracing efforts and will hire some 250 workers and ramp up testing.
William of Occam must be crying (opinion)
OPINION: When it comes to the pandemic, we’ve been guessing all along, but we’ve also gathered enough data to approach the problem rationally.
Vaccinations, other public health efforts still vital during pandemic
Pediatric vaccinations for preventable diseases such as measles, meningitis and whooping cough have decreased nationally this year, likely as a result of stay-at-home orders.
Nevada enters phase 2: Bars, gyms, spas, gatherings of 50 people to begin Friday
Nevada will enter phase 2 of Sisolak’s reopening plan on May 29, which will allow a significant number of businesses to reopen with restrictions, as well as gatherings of up to 50 people.
A pesar de la pandemia, Tu Casa Latina sigue proporcionando información, recursos para los latinos
Recientemente, Tu Casa Latina comenzó a celebrar “cafecitos” quincenales. Se trata de eventos en directo en Facebook a través de los cuales la organización proporciona recursos e información actualizada sobre temas importantes para la comunidad latina.
Small businesses wary of government loans, face loss of income
Small business owners across Nevada convened virtually to talk about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and how long they estimate recovery will take.
Reno allows businesses to get creative in order to stay afloat
The City of Reno is allowing restaurants and retailers to operate outside in their parking lots to allow more social distancing and increase business during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grassroots Books staff harassed over mask policy
Grassroots Books took to Facebook after several of their employees were harassed over the bookstore’s mask policy on May 21.
