Swine flu, a year later

Last October I got my seasonal flu shot as usual, but was told there was a shortage of H1N1 vaccine and that it would be available only for those in high risk categories. I also read that people over 65 were probably immune anyway due to a related flu strain that was pandemic during the 1950s and we wouldn't need the shot.

Well, I spent most of January in bed recovering from H1N1 and another week in February recovering from the seasonal flu that I was inoculated against. Now I heard on TV that the seasonal flu and the H1N1 vaccines will be combined into one shot to make it easier for distribution, but that seniors over 70 would need a stronger vaccine to be protected.

Great! I was too old for last year's H1N1 shot and this year I'm too young to receive the stronger shots that might prevent me from almost dying. I'm thinking that I may have to invest in packages of face masks or stay home during flu season next winter.

Twinsburg Library is #1 again!

The latest Hennen Report has rated the Twinsburg Public Library as #1 in its population category with a composite score of 962 based on input and output measures of 2007 library statistics. After a quick look at the top 100 list, I believe TPL had the highest rating of any library in any category.

I take special pride in this accomplishment, because 2007 was my last full year as director of the Twinsburg Library. I retired at the end of May 2008.

In spite of the fact that funding woes have hit Ohio as well as other states, Twinsburg managed to pass a new operating levy in 2008. It won't offset all the state cuts or the loss of its biggest taxpayer (Chrysler), but the levy should help maintain services and hours for a while.