Thank you, Maple View Farm

For 25 years, the Maple View Farm and Milk Company has been producing and bottling milk in rural Orange County, and on Sept. 6, this beloved local business will close its doors. The cows will be getting a new home, and the ice cream shop will remain open.

Maple View Farm has been a gemstone in Orange County, providing residents and visitors with fresh dairy products, hayrides, educational activities, and amazingly picturesque views of rural Orange. The late Robert "Bob" Nutter, originally from Maine, established Maple View in 1963. Roger Nutter, his son, and Russ Seibert created the Milk Company in 1995, and Mike Strowd became a co-partner with Nutter when Siebert retired.

We will miss the farm, and we will reminisce. I still can see Bob, in my mind, hand-delivering gallons of ice cream to a Hillsborough shop, and his wife, Chris, greeting people to the farm. Many thanks to the Nutter family and all who had a part in bringing such a delight to rural Orange. We really do appreciate you. 

Back to School

They're back! Students at UNC-CH and Durham Tech are back on their respective campuses, and our K-12 students are back in their classrooms. Education is a key to a fulfilling life, and we want our children and young adults to be in school with their peers in safe learning environments.

As teachers and staff welcome new and returning students, they and their students will follow state and local protocols in our efforts to thwart and eventually defeat COVID-19 and its variants. Each school district, college and university has its own set of rules or guidance, including face-covering mandates. Please visit the respective websites for detailed information.

Wishing all our students a productive academic year, and many thanks to the teachers, staff and volunteers who are engaged in preparing our future leaders.

Third Dose and Booster shots

Immunocompromised people can receive the third Dose of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines at least 28 days after receiving their second dose. Emerging data suggest that some people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems are sometimes unable to build the same level of immunity after vaccination, compared to non-immunocompromised people.

Orange County Health Department is administering the third dose now. For more information about the third dose, when to get it and where to get it in Orange County, visit?http://www.orangecountync.gov/CivicSend/ViewMessage/Message/150306

While vaccination provides highly effective protection against hospitalization and severe illness, researchers are concerned effectiveness may decrease over time. People who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines will likely be eligible, starting eight months after their second dose. Research is still underway regarding boosters for Johnson & Johnson.

Thoughts and Prayers

Today marked the end of America's longest war with the last plane lifting off from Afghanistan. Thirteen American service members paid the ultimate sacrifice in the evacuation efforts. Dozens of Afghan, American and foreign national civilians also have lost their lives to needless and unjustifiable terrorism.

May our thoughts and prayers go out to those who lost family members, friends and colleagues, and may we remain focused in our struggle for peace and freedom.

www.orangecountync.gov