I would like to thank Big Bend Regional Health Center for their organized and efficient handling of inoculating members of the public with the COVID-19 vaccine last Saturday. The staff was helpful and friendly, including those organizing parking out front and offering golf-cart rides back to the cars as needed, those organizing socially-distanced waiting once inside the building, others giving the shots or letting us know when our post-shot waiting time was up, and still others giving us return date reminders as we exited.

Thanks to all for being there on a Saturday to serve the community, and for keeping us all calm with your cheery attitudes. I also appreciated those who made the calls to let us know that we were on the list to receive shots.

Another health center-related thank you goes out to the Escovar family, who will be leaving us for another adventure in health care service elsewhere. While in Alpine, the Drs. Rafael and Ekta Escovar worked long days bringing adults and children in our community excellent medical care. In addition, Dr. Ekta Escovar helped us stay healthier with the creation of the Parks organization that brought playgrounds to our neighborhoods. She also worked to help us all as the volunteer public health service expert on COVID-19 issues in our region. Thank you for all your good works, and best wishes for all that lies ahead.

Helen Snook Alpine