Thanks Mother Nature, but nobody needed any more disasters this year.

Happening in the World: Hurricane Iota, a category 4 storm has reached Northeastern Nicaragua, a region very near that which was battered by Hurricane Eta just weeks ago. The coasts of Nicaragua and Honduras are expected to see significant flooding and possible mudslides as a result of this latest storm. Forecasters warn that the combined destruction of these two hurricanes could be devastating to many parts of Central America (NYT).

Happening in the US: In light of rising COVID-19 cases nationwide,Walmart stores will resume with its previous customer-counting policy. In addition to tightening restrictions on capacity in stores, Walmart is following other retailers in spreading out Black Friday sales over multiple weeks to avoid crowded holiday shopping (CNN).

Happening in NYC: As New York City teeters precariously on the edge of full-scale school closures, the Archdiocese of New York has announced that it will not be adhering to the same standards for closures of Catholic schools. Mayor Bill de Blasio has consistently marked a 3% positivity rate as the threshold for public school closures, a threshold that the city is just 0.2% away from reaching as of Monday night. In an email to parents, diocese superintendent Michael J. Deegan stated that the 142 Catholic schools across Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island will remain open even if the positivity rate exceeds de Blasio’s standard for public schools (Gothamist).

Happening in Our Community: Tomorrow from 4pm to 5:30pm, author Marcia Chatelain will host a book talk for her new work Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America, which explores food politics, nutrition, and the Black American experience. You can register for the Zoom event here.

Lame Limerick of the Week:  Drugstore Culture Shock

When I came to New York as a teen

I said “Duane Reade”? What’s that mean?

Had no thought in my brain

When I boarded that plane

That I’d lose my familiar Walgreen(s)

Church Via Bwog Archives