Here’s to health and wellness in 2026

Listen. Do you hear someone coughing or sneezing?

I hear it everywhere I go this season. It seems like everyone I know has a sick family member.

All our family holiday plans and gatherings – Hanukkah and New Year’s – had to be canceled. Flu here. Virus there. And pretty soon, you don’t have a family gathering anymore.

The COVID years were worse of course, but I’ve never experienced a winter season where so many people are sick and so many events are being canceled. And it is only January.

New York is reporting its worse flu season ever. (Did I mention my husband is traveling there this week on business? I told him not to come back with the flu!) And Rhode Island is right up there with flu cases.

Are we more sensitive to these illnesses than we were before COVID? Have we become less accepting of people who might be contagious? Are airborne illnesses adapting to us and becoming more effective and deadly? Or is it that fewer people are getting vaccinated?

And what about masks? Do you wear a mask when you are sick or out and about during this period of illness?

If you look at the Rhode Island Department of Health Respiratory Virus Data, it is a little daunting. Rates are high and going up.

So I’m going to sign off here and go sit in my living room. Enjoy our Health and Wellness issues. Perhaps you will get some tips on staying healthy this month and during the rest of of the winter.

And here is an introduction to our new advertising representative, Tracy Blake. She’s been on the job several week and she is already adding to our team!

Tracy Blake Joins Jewish Rhode Island Staff

Jewish Rhode Island is pleased to welcome Tracy Blake as its newest member of the advertising team. Tracy joins the organization following the retirement of Peter Zeldin in December.

A lifelong Southern New England resident, Tracy brings more than 30 years of experience in marketing and business development across a wide range of industries. Her career has focused on helping organizations grow while maintaining strong connections to the communities they serve.

Most recently, Tracy spent five years as an Advertising and Marketing Account Executive with LocaliQ, a division of the USA Today Network, which owns more than 200 local newspapers nationwide, including The Providence Journal. In that role, Tracy partnered with businesses to develop effective advertising strategies while supporting local journalism.

Tracy is currently pursuing a degree in Public Relations with a minor in Civic Leadership at Bridgewater State University, reflecting her commitment to using communications as a tool for civic engagement and social impact.

A strong advocate for small and local businesses, Tracy has also served as a former Ambassador for the One SouthCoast Chamber of Commerce, where she worked to strengthen relationships between businesses within the local community.

Tracy believes that when a business advertises with Jewish Rhode Island, it is doing more than promoting its services. “Advertising here means supporting local media that keeps the Jewish community informed, connected, and engaged,” she said.

To learn more about advertising opportunities with Jewish Rhode Island, Tracy Blake can be reached at tblake@jewishalliance.org.

Fran Ostendorf,

Editor