In accordance with the guidelines provided by the County Public Health Department for social distancing and banning public gatherings, SCCLD is closing all public library locations, starting today at 3 pm. The closure is a necessary step being taken to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

"Closing public libraries is an extraordinary measure and a decision that is not taken lightly," says Jennifer Weeks, Acting County Librarian. "The decision to close is driven by our first priority—protecting the public and our staff’s health and safety."

A tentative reopening date is April 12, in line with the Santa Clara County School District plans to reopen following spring break. SCCLD recommends patrons hold onto physical library materials on loan until efforts to contain the virus are lifted and the libraries reopen. No late fees will be assessed during the closed period. The library has many online library services available through the website.

These include things you may not expect to find, including online storytimes, study resources for students studying from home, online homework help, streaming movies, Great Courses and much more. The library also has a robust collection of eBooks, audiobooks, streaming music, TV and videos, research and articles, eMagazines and news— available for every age and interest.

For those who do not have a library account, if you live within the Library District, including Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Saratoga, or any of the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County, you can apply for an eCard from the website. If approved, the eCard gives you instant access to the entire online library.

The Library District on Friday cancelled all April events, in addition to those for this month. For the latest information, please go to sccld.org

Free meals are available to students in Santa Clara County from now until April 3. This blog post explains what parents or caregivers need to know about the ‘grab and go’ pick process.

The schedule and sites of this program are subject to change. Please check before going.

These are the pickup sites in the Campbell area:

CAMPBELL SCHOOL DISTRICT: Pick up from 11 am – 12 pm
Blackford Elementary, Capri Elementary, Castlemont Elementary, Lynhaven Elementary, Rosemary Elementary, Sherman Oaks Elementary, Monroe Middle

CAMPBELL UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT: Pick up from 11:30 am – 1 pm
Boynton High, Branham High, Del Mar High, Leigh High, Prospect High, Westmont High

MORELAND SCHOOL DISTRICT: Curbside Pick up from 11 am – 1 pm
Anderson Elementary, Payne Elementary

Sushi Confidential fans, there's a great way you can help your favorite sushi spot get through the pandemic shutdown and get a little bonus reward for yourself. Just buy a $100 gift card that you can use to order yourself some delicious sushi for pick-up or for delivery to your chosen hideout and you'll get $20 in bonus credit that you can use for dine-in service once the shelter-in-place order has been lifted.

You can take advantage of this offer in person or you can purchase a gift card online through April 30th, 2020. If you buy it online, hang on to the receipt. You will need to show that to redeem your $20 dine-in credit in the future.

The following is an excerpt from a "Shelter in Place FAQ" document published by Monterey County's Health Department on March 17, 2020. Click here to read the full document.

What to do
Effective midnight, Wednesday, March 18, 2020, the Health Officer of Monterey County is requiring people to stay home except for essential needs. The intent of this order is to ensure the maximum number of people self-isolate in their places of residence to the maximum extent feasible.

Vulnerable populations including the elderly and those with underlying health conditions must stay home. All community members should stay home except to perform essential duties for business continuity or government functions, to get food, care for a relative or friend, get necessary health care, or perform activities related to maintaining a healthy lifestyle during this time.

It is OK to go outside for walks if you are not in a group and practice proper social distancing.

This order is in effect until Midnight, April 8, 2020. It may be extended depending on recommendations from public health officials.

Why are we doing this?
This is a critical intervention to reduce harm from the spread of the coronavirus in our community. This is a mandatory order enforceable by a fine or jail.

Now is the time to do everything we can to prevent the situation from getting much worse in a matter of days or weeks. Every hour counts. We need and appreciate the cooperation of everyone who lives and works in Monterey County to act immediately.

While this news may feel alarming, it is a necessary step to prevent a worsening situation. The patterns of the virus around the world, and in our own state, tell us that moving right now to maximize social distancing and restrict people gathering is the best way to fight the virus and save lives.

What can I do? What's open?
These essential services will remain open:
**City/County government services: Police/Sheriff stations, fire stations, hospitals/clinics and healthcare operations, jails, garbage/sanitation, transportation, utilities (water, power and gas) and most offices
**Gas stations
**Pharmacies
**Food: Grocery stores, farmers markets, food banks, convenience stores, take-out and delivery restaurants
**Hardware stores/plumbers/ electricians and those who provide services necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences
**Banks
**Community benefit organizations on a case-by-case basis
**Laundromats/laundry services
**Cemeteries

What's closed?
**Dine-in restaurants
**Bars and nightclubs
**Entertainment venues
**Gyms and fitness studios

...Read More

The following is an excerpt from a "Shelter in Place FAQ" document published by Monterey County's Health Department on March 17, 2020. Click here to read the full document.

What to do
Effective midnight, Wednesday, March 18, 2020, the Health Officer of Monterey County is requiring people to stay home except for essential needs. The intent of this order is to ensure the maximum number of people self-isolate in their places of residence to the maximum extent feasible.

Vulnerable populations including the elderly and those with underlying health conditions must stay home. All community members should stay home except to perform essential duties for business continuity or government functions, to get food, care for a relative or friend, get necessary health care, or perform activities related to maintaining a healthy lifestyle during this time.

It is OK to go outside for walks if you are not in a group and practice proper social distancing.

This order is in effect until Midnight, April 8, 2020. It may be extended depending on recommendations from public health officials.

Why are we doing this?
This is a critical intervention to reduce harm from the spread of the coronavirus in our community. This is a mandatory order enforceable by a fine or jail.

Now is the time to do everything we can to prevent the situation from getting much worse in a matter of days or weeks. Every hour counts. We need and appreciate the cooperation of everyone who lives and works in Monterey County to act immediately.

While this news may feel alarming, it is a necessary step to prevent a worsening situation. The patterns of the virus around the world, and in our own state, tell us that moving right now to maximize social distancing and restrict people gathering is the best way to fight the virus and save lives.

What can I do? What's open?
These essential services will remain open:
**City/County government services: Police/Sheriff stations, fire stations, hospitals/clinics and healthcare operations, jails, garbage/sanitation, transportation, utilities (water, power and gas) and most offices
**Gas stations
**Pharmacies
**Food: Grocery stores, farmers markets, food banks, convenience stores, take-out and delivery restaurants
**Hardware stores/plumbers/ electricians and those who provide services necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences
**Banks
**Community benefit organizations on a case-by-case basis
**Laundromats/laundry services
**Cemeteries

What's closed?
**Dine-in restaurants
**Bars and nightclubs
**Entertainment venues
**Gyms and fitness studios

What can'...Read More

As reported by Monterey County Weekly journalist Mary Duan on Twitter:

As of 12:01am on March 18, 2020, Monterey County residents are ordered to shelter at place of residence except to receive or provide essential services or work for essential services. All government non-essential operations are to cease. All gatherings and non essential travel to cease.

Data shows rate of increase is exponential and although only two cases, if we don’t act now we can see ourselves in same situation as Santa Clara County. Order effective until 11:59pm on April 7.

Certain services will remain open, including police and fire, hospitals, jails, garbage, utilities, gas stations, groceries, food banks, take out and delivery restaurants. No dinner parties, no friends over, no manicures or pedicures, no shopping, no taking trips on public transit unless necessary. This order is enforceable by local law enforcement.

Patients should not delay seeking necessary healthcare. The order allows for online delivery services like from grocery stores. Taxis can be used and ride share can be used all only for essential services.

Grocery stores will remain open so people can travel to purchase necessary items. Some people want to know if they can leave homes to provide care to fam or loved ones, answer is yes. But please stay out of hospitals and skilled nursing centers. Each facility has to determine its own visitor policies.

The order allows people to leave homes to take a walk, walk the dog, jog or hike. Moreno’s order will be posted online this afternoon.

This is a move to decrease spread and decrease cases, Moreno says. Implementing these orders is not going to prevent further cases, but by locking down now, we can spread out the number of cases over a longer time and if we can do that, it will reduce overload on hospitals and healthcare providers. No large surge of patients because of it.

Monterey County Weekly and their journalists are doing a fantastic job of covering developments regarding COVID-19 in Monterey County. Please visit their website and consider contributing to support their work.

As reported by Monterey County Weekly journalist Mary Duan on Twitter:

As of 12:01am on March 18, 2020, Monterey County residents are ordered to shelter at place of residence except to receive or provide essential services or work for essential services. All government non-essential operations are to cease. All gatherings and non essential travel to cease.

Data shows rate of increase is exponential and although only two cases, if we don’t act now we can see ourselves in same situation as Santa Clara County. Order effective until 11:59pm on April 7.

Certain services will remain open, including police and fire, hospitals, jails, garbage, utilities, gas stations, groceries, food banks, take out and delivery restaurants. No dinner parties, no friends over, no manicures or pedicures, no shopping, no taking trips on public transit unless necessary. This order is enforceable by local law enforcement.

Patients should not delay seeking necessary healthcare. The order allows for online delivery services like from grocery stores. Taxis can be used and ride share can be used all only for essential services.

Grocery stores will remain open so people can travel to purchase necessary items. Some people want to know if they can leave homes to provide care to fam or loved ones, answer is yes. But please stay out of hospitals and skilled nursing centers. Each facility has to determine its own visitor policies.

The order allows people to leave homes to take a walk, walk the dog, jog or hike. Moreno’s order will be posted online this afternoon.

This is a move to decrease spread and decrease cases, Moreno says. Implementing these orders is not going to prevent further cases, but by locking down now, we can spread out the number of cases over a longer time and if we can do that, it will reduce overload on hospitals and healthcare providers. No large surge of patients because of it.

Monterey County Weekly and their journalists are doing a fantastic job of covering developments regarding COVID-19 in Monterey County. Please visit their website and consider contributing to support their work.

Friends...It’s a wild time right now. Everything is changing quickly and it’s easy to give into panic and anxiety. At Alta Bakery and Cafe we've been focusing on safety, communicating clearly and often, listening to and following the advice of medical professionals and health leaders, and re-centering ourselves when all of the news makes us feel out of control.

More than a week ago, we began to take extra precautions in the bakery to ensure we were doing everything we could (above and beyond our already thorough practices) to keep our dining and working environments safe in the face of this new challenge. We are continuing to enhance and add to those practices as more information comes to light. We're overwhelmed with pride and gratitude for our team, who have taken these increased practices so seriously.

It’s MOST important that folks stay calm and take care of themselves and others right now. For those who feel 100% healthy, know that we are here to ease the burden of your anxiety with some delicious food and some kindness.

It is the goal of every one of us to be there for the community, and work for you with clean and safe practices. If you’re at 100% health, please remember to support the small businesses of your city. If not, we hope you recover soon.

As per usual, all our items can be taken out, so come on by to grab and go! We're located in the Cooper Molera Adobe at 502 Munras Avenue in Downtown Old Monterey.

Ben Spungin
Chef and Partner
Alta Bakery and Cafe