It’s a natural to be grateful for many things at this moment, and not so grateful for others. The facts of exactly how a worldwide pandemic became the defining reality for 2020 are still unclear, but the results for all of us are all too inescapable. Making it through this time will continue to be hard, yet in the Northwest Corner, we can be proud of the way our medical leadership has dealt with the coronavirus and its repercussions. So let’s choose to be thankful for that right now.
If it were another time, with different leadership at Sharon Hospital, Sharon Health Care Center, Noble Horizons and Geer Village Senior Community, things could have been different. The extreme challenges of COVID-19 demand cool heads, calm reactions, professionalism and sincere connection with each community being served. That is the case at each of these facilities.
The administrators of each facility and their teams have been open about their approaches and their day-to-day problems and solutions, keeping in close contact with the wider community, as seen in interviews they’ve done in this newspaper and local radio regularly (you will find ongoing coverage this week.) We would like to recognize each of them for that willingness to help people understand what is happening in their towns while they’re watching their region and the nation struggle. As Connecticut and our neighboring states lay out plans to begin the process of reopening, it is critical that our population feel comfortable with the medical care available to them and their loved ones. And that they understand how the health care facilities have been operating during the months leading into this moment.
So kudos to Dr. Mark Hirko at Sharon Hospital, Bill Pond at Noble Horizons, Sawyer Thornton at Sharon Health Care Center, Kevin O’Connell at Geer Village, and of course all their teams, who have been inspired examples of the way leaders should behave during a crisis like the one we are all facing. They are at the forefront of handling the pandemic so all those who are affected can have the best outcomes possible. We thank them for their courage in confronting the coronavirus at their facilities, and only wish them well in their ongoing work to help us all through the time of COVID-19.
Justine and Victor Valla in their studio with a painting of Victor’s,”Jonah and the Whale.” Robin Roraback 
A ceramic vase by Kathleen Heidemann.Provided 
Joy Brown’s delightful ceramic sculptures.Provided 
