Thesis: The Resiliency of Hudson Valley Breweries Amidst COVID-19
DUTCHESS COUNTY—The immensely successful craft brewing industry in New York, put to its biggest test since the craft beverage boom began, shows signs of resiliency against the many challenges posed by COVID-19.
In early March, many taproom-dependent breweries vied to remain open. Even larger breweries with statewide or national distribution assured customers of cleaning procedures, limited attendance to half capacity, and took other measures to protect onsite business—an integral component of microbrew sales.
Though breweries were deemed an essential service by Governor Andrew Cuomo in Executive Order 2026, a majority had to close their taproom doors. According to an impact poll conducted by the New York State Brewers Association (NYSBA) from April 3 to April 15, sales declined by nearly three-fourths immediately. Almost half of New York breweries ceased production in the face of plummeting demand, while many more teetered on a fulcrum of economic uncertainty.
Transformative Meandering: WWOOF in the Hudson Valley
The search for meaning and purpose at the end of a major life-phase proves daunting. For many, it is far easier to walk across a commencement stage than to step off it. Without a concrete plan in place, where can one turn? Utterances of the phrase “gap year” are often met with disapproval. Self-discovery is stigmatized as wasteful meandering through integral periods of life. Those lacking clarity of purpose are not exclusively young, though. What are career milestones to some are walls to others. Development of hobbies, travel, and changes in lifestyle are common remedies. If these temporary fixes developed into permanent solutions to crises of identity, economic stagnation, or yielded positive externalities, perhaps they would be held in higher esteem.
Joining “Coppard’s Land Army” may offer the right blend of novelty and genuine opportunity. Worldwide Opportunities of Organic Farms (WWOOF), nicknamed by SEED writer Michael Allaby after its founder Sue Coppard, grants over 100,000 people around the world a potential remedy. Coppard’s nostalgia for outdoor childhood adventure instilled a desire to reconvene with nature. In 1971 her clever bartering with a farmer in rural England established the first WWOOF trip. She, a secretary with sparse agricultural experience, and three friends spent the weekend enjoying the serenity of the landscape without cost, paying instead with their labor - clearing brambles, weeding, and other efforts. Word of mouth spread the idea across the British countryside, farmers eager to attain free workers. Allaby’s article popularized this concept of a weekend outing of servitude. “Contact with nature is the psychological equivalent of vitamin C,” Coppard has said on the benefits of the experience.
Distrust in Traditional Sources of Information and its Effect on the Anti-Vaccination Movement
published in the Lowell Thomas Communication Review Vol II, Issue 1
Research by Raphael Beretta, Sarah Ferrie, and Meredith Schaffer
ABSTRACT:
The anti-vaccination movement has become prevalent as media outlets have been increasing coverage of it. However, the American public still exhibits strong distrust of information distributed by major media outlets and social media. Americans also have become increasingly skeptical of the government system and the healthcare industry, leading to polarizing opinions regarding vaccination related information provided by both parties. To explore the motivations behind both pro- and anti- vaccination attitudes, the survey method was utilized. 150 participants who self-identified as parents or intended parents, ranged from the ages of 18 to 75 and reside in the United States, completed the survey. Results found that participants make decisions based on themselves rather than society as a whole, readability plays a crucial role in how participants’ consume information, and participants had strong distrust in the American government system and the general medical industry but were trusting of health- related sources of information, such as primary care doctors and the CDC. Participants presented high levels of social desirability concerning readability and were more inclined to believe they are productive members of society by receiving vaccinations or vaccinating their children. The implications of this research provide insight into the minds of the American public as adamant decision-makers.
INTRODUCTION:
The anti-vaccination movement dates back to the 19th century in the U.S. Anti-vaccination beliefs, or vaccine hesitancy, “refers to delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccine services” (Kumar, Chandra, Mathur, Samdariya, & Kapoor, 2016, p. 1). Moreover, vaccine hesitancy “is complex and context specific, varying across geographies and vaccine types” and “influenced by factors such as complacency, convenience and confidence. (Kumar et al., 2016, p. 1-2). The vaccine for smallpox was brought to New England from Britain in 1800, and although most complied to be vaccinated, there was pushback “from middle-class citizens who didn’t trust government, science or medicine” (Novak, 2018).