Happy Easter. This is the only Easter I remember being told don’t go to church. We will watch streamed church services but it won’t be the same, will it?

Social distancing, self quarantine and masks in public. This is our mantra for the season.

Talk about a world turned upside down.

I know this is a troubling time for many of you. If you are a small business owner, a private contractor, a service provider, or one of any other profession shut down, I know you are worried. We are worried for you. The city and the state are working to provide help for you.  

If you have access to a computer, visit Rochelle’s website for a comprehensive listing of where you may be able to get help. Be on the lookout for city sponsored online workshops and meetings to help keep you informed.

Sometimes people don’t have access to WIFI. There are several “hot spots” in town to hook onto the internet for free during this time. 

Rochelle Township High School students can use their Chromebooks to access the web from the school’s parking lot. The Steward fire station and the Flagg-Rochelle Public Library offer WiFi in their parking lots. 

Rochelle Middle School has WiFi available with a password: elearn. The city is working of getting a hot spot at the Main Street and Fifth Avenue parking lot.

Thursday was the five-year anniversary of an E-F4 tornado touching down just west of Rochelle. My daughter was one of several people to lose their homes that day. Luckily, no lives were lost here, although two people died in Fairdale.

The outpouring of community support and help during those first hours and days was heartwarming. It’s the kind of spirit that makes Rochelle, Rochelle. It’s also a spirit that does not disappear even to this day, through this new disaster.

Around 3,000 meals a week are served to youngsters through the school system. On certain days parents can get a multi-day pack of food for their youngsters and family. 

Most lunches are distributed on a drive thru basis, eliminating personal contact, which helps stem the spread of this disease.

People are stepping up to help the elderly shop, make sure youngsters get fed, families have food, and perform dozens of other small, but vital, tasks in our community.

We will get through this. It will not be easy. But we will come out of this stronger and smarter, as a community and as a country.

Next Easter, this will be a memory to talk about over a ham dinner.

Until then, stay home, stay safe.

Terry Dickow is a retired elementary school teacher with lots of opinions, some you will like, some you won’t. He can be contacted at terrydickow@gmail.com.