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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, M ar ch 26 ,2 02 0 | 4 FULL-SERVICE RETIREMENT HOME 905-877-1800 222 Mountainview Road North, Georgetown www.mountainviewresidence.com Seniors enjoy an independent lifestyle with comfortable accommodations, personal care and other supportive services. Retirement living can be the best of times when you live in an atmosphere of comfort and family caring. Mountainview Residence Of Georgetown Buy 1, Get 1 Hearing Testing, Hearing Aids • Accessories ARE YOUR EARS 60 YEARS? It's TIME to get them TESTED! Ph: 289-891-8833 120 Mill Street, Georgetown Hearing Testing, Hearing Aids AccessoriesHearing Testing, Hearing Aids and Accessories Rent soft water Starting at$9.95 *for first three monthsmth .com 5 Mountainview Road North, Georgetown 905.877.6242 - info@culliganwater.ca Paid for by the Government of Ontario 6(2#-1&'5 $1.14/&!.), 3$*%7"+2#0 What you need to know to help you andyour family stay healthy. • Only visit an assessment centre if you have been referred by a health care professional. • Avoid non-essential travel. • Monitor for symptoms after travel. • Avoid large gatherings. • Be prepared, but avoid panic stocking. • Caring for those who are ill? Take precautions. • Clean high-touch surfaces regularly. • Order your prescription medication. • Practice cough and sneeze etiquette in transit. If you have symptoms, take the self-assessment at ontario.ca/coronavirus. Or call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007) or your public health unit. As more of us are prac- tising social distancing or self-isolation, huge num- bers of small businesses in our local communities are feeling the impact. Restaurants have been forced to close and many other local businesses are shutting down or drastical- ly reducing their operating hours because of a lack of customers associated with the COVID-19 outbreak. The newspapers and news websites owned by Torstar Corporation have long been supportive of lo- cal businesses in all the communities they serve. We believe small business- es are critical to the suc- cess, strength and econom- ic vitality of communities large and small. And so, in these increas- ingly uncertain times we're urging our readers to offer their help - to show their love - for their favourite shops and stores. There are ways you can help - even if you are stuck at home: Shop locally: Many small stores are still open. If you can leave your home to buy some goods, think of your nearby stores. And if you can't get outside, many local shops have part of their inventory online and they will deliver to your door. Buy gift cards: Pur- chasing a gift card from a local business is a way of getting money to storeown- ers now, when they need it the most. Order takeout or de- livery: Some restaurants and shops are offering op- tions like home delivery or easy pick-up service. Con- sider ordering at least one meal a week this way. Urge government ac- tion: Email your local may- or, provincial MPP and fed- eral MP and request they consider reasonable assis- tance for small businesses. Say thanks: At a time when all of us are stressed, it may ease the anxiety of local business owners just a bit if they know their cus- tomers appreciate all they have done for their com- munity. Such signs of help - and others that you can likely think of - are needed more than ever now. Please show your support. John Boynton is Torstar Corporation's president and chief executive officer. HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES NEWS BUY GIFT CARDS, ORDER TAKEOUT OR DELIVERY AND SAY THANKS, WRITES BOYNTON JOHN BOYNTON Column