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Shedding masks, rules: Lots to celebrate as we move past pandemic, but don’t undo progress

Record - 7/3/2021

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As we cautiously shed our masks along with the restrictions put in place over the past 16 months, public health officials have a message as we celebrate this Independence Day weekend: We're not out of the woods yet.

New cases of COVID-19 are on the rise compared to last week as the delta variant spreads throughout the U.S., and in San Joaquin County, there were six new deaths and 231 new cases of COVID-19 detected the week of June 20-26; that's raising fears that mixing the vaccinated and unvaccinated over the holiday could undo some of the progress made against the pandemic.

Will San Joaquin County see more COVID-19 cases, more people sick after July 4, like the big bump that happened after Easter? There are more people vaccinated - nearly half of S.J.'s population 12 and older - yet gathering restrictions and limits have loosened. "In those countries with low vaccination coverage, terrible scenes of hospitals overflowing are again becoming the norm," WHO director general Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. "No county on Earth is out of the woods yet."

To honor those lost amid the unprecedented crisis, youth leaders from the San Joaquin County Together Cohort are organizing a memorial candlelight vigil on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at MLK Plaza, inviting the community to join in. "Since the ban on communal funerals was county-wide, all who lost a loved one during the pandemic are welcome to participate," organizers said. "We all need closure. We have all struggled through this pandemic and all have either friends, family or both who suffered or died during the pandemic."

Another way the community can pull together to help those affected by the pandemic? The Relief Across Downtown Card - an innovative program that not only doubles your spending power, it helps local businesses get back on their feet. The RAD Gift Card program will match funds up to $100 when loaded onto a digital gift card via the program's app. Nearly 50 local businesses in Manteca, Ripon, Stockton, Tracy and Lodi have signed up to participate. Said county Supervisor Tom Patti: "We've heard the impactful stories of how this program has kept many businesses from shutting down over the past months and we are thrilled to be able to offer this program to our small and local businesses."

More: Stockton allocated more than $78 million in federal COVID-19 emergency relief funding

As we enjoy that newfound liberty over the long holiday weekend, there's plenty of ways to celebrate: Try one of these 7 things, or head to Manteca'sGreat Wolf Lodge, which held its grand opening last week. Just remember - be safe with your fireworks amid this hot, dry year.

More: 7 things to do on Fourth of July in Stockton, San Joaquin County

Want to have a say in longer-term community recreation options? Stockton will hold two parks master plan meetings in July for the community to attend via Zoom; the city is looking to the public to help answer the questions "What is expected in a modern park? What do people need?"

Another question you may have had: What's going on with that long-vacant spot where Orchard Supply Hardware used to be on West Hammer Lane? Earlier this month, Restaurant Depot, a wholesale seller of groceries and kitchen gear for restaurants, opened in the spot, revitalizing the warehouse space left vacant since 2018. Restaurant Depot is a wholesale seller of groceries and kitchen gear for restaurants, with stores across California, including in Sacramento and the Bay Area. Its Stockton store now occupies about half the lot between West Hammer Lane, Thornton Road and Lower Sacramento Road, next to Walgreens.

"Any time you can take a building that has been dormant and add life to it, that's a good thing," said Frank Ferral, Program and Public Policy Director at the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce. Restaurant Depot is among the chamber's newest members.

More: New Restaurant Depot store revives once-vacant West Hammer Lane storefront

Named for the state her family fled to after the Cambodian genocide, Texas Keo's remarkable life experiences have shaped her into who she is and what she does. After her father was incarcerated when she was in her teens and her mother later became ill and died from cancer, Keo adopted her four younger sisters. Then she became the first in her family to earn a college degree and later put them through college. Keo, who has been teaching at Ripon Elementary School for the past 14 years, has been named the 2021 San Joaquin County Teacher of the Year by the San Joaquin County Office of Education. She sat down to talk with The Record about overcoming hardship, her hopes for the award, and to urge others to follow their dreams no matter what.

"This is a gift and I would like to use it to help others in general, not only for my children at school. It will be the gift that keeps on giving," she said. "I'm hoping that will inspire other people to know that ... whatever they're going through, they're not alone," she said. "There's no impossible."

More: 10 questions with Texas Keo: 2021 San Joaquin County Teacher of the Year

Record reporter Elizabeth Roberts covers community and breaking news. She can be reached at eroberts@recordnet.com or on Twitter @eroberts209. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

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