I drove by a farm and garden supply store in Addison County this morning and noticed the doors were open and cars in their parking lot. Their voicemail says that curbside pick-up is available but that the store is still open to the public.  
Products related to animal husbandry are a necessity but those items can be purchased ahead of time and gotten by curbside pick-up. Flowering Crabapples, tulip bulbs, Carhartts and decorative clay pots are not necessities, however. I’m aware that there are other necessary items, i.e.: water softener salts, but please bear with me because I’m making a point rather than a shopping list. A local hardware store is also open for people to browse and, yes they do too carry necessities, but can’t a lot of them be ordered ahead and picked up outside? The hardware store does have a sign taped to the door that asks people who are feeling sick in any way to please not enter the store, which is a nice attempt but what about the asymptomatic carriers?
I get that not having things we want is an inconvenience but for me, if my houseplants go without Miracle Grow for a little while but it helps the greater good, then it’s worth it.
I’m not only asking the general public to help stop the spread, but I’m calling out those retailers to sell the essentials via curbside pickup and curbside pickup only, and to please do their part to help stop the spread.  (I appreciate all those who are already helping the effort.)
Like so many others I’m trying to stop the spread and am asking all of you to please do the same.
Michelle Carter
Cornwall