Not how I imagined it would be

This week marks the beginning of my 21st year at The New Prague Times and it’s definitely not how I imagined it would be.

Talking with Tony Buthe with the New Prague Area Schools and Chuck Kajer’s name came up. His death is still something that’s hard to accept. It’s been a year of learning all of the things he would take care of. Last week’s Back to School section was one aspect. There have been and will be other sections that we have to plan for where Chuck usually took the lead. You’re still missed my friend.

The other big thing for all of us has been the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been a learning curve for all of us in how do we treat it or react to it. Some feel we’ve been too lax in how we respond to it. Some feel the reaction to it has been overblown and it’s just another disease. How ever you look at it COVID-19 isn’t going away anytime soon.

The pandemic has affected everyday life and what we can do. Two stories in The Times and how it has affected the area include how the school district will be doing its classes. This year there will be a hybrid model, which, to be honest, is not something I had heard of before this year. At least not in the context of having classes in person and then through a computer. The other story is the changes to Dozinky, which will include food trucks in Memorial Park, instead of on Main Street. Frankly I’m curious how one proposed event, a virtual kolacky eating contest, will be done. Another proposed event is the front yard decorating contest. I’m curious is if it will have a theme. Perhaps best fall, best harvest, best Czech, best hometown theme? If they go ahead with that one, I’m actually looking forward to it.