Letter to the Editor:



To my northern Wisconsin friends:

I love northern Wisconsin! For 50 years it has been my home. I love the pristine waters, the clean air, the incredible massive forests, and the beautiful sunrise and sunset vistas that are so commonplace. However, above all things I love the people that have surrounded my life in the last 50 years.

The communities of northern Wisconsin work hard to protect our natural resources and to guarantee the sustainability of those resources. It is now time for all of us to turn our attention to the people of northern Wisconsin and especially our older population.

In the last 12 months, I have lost 12 friends and acquaintances to COVID-19. Nine of those deaths are people I knew from Vilas or Oneida counties. COVID-19 took their lives. Every one of them would be alive today if COVID had not invaded our planet.

When in public, please wear a mask and practice social distancing. Please show respect to my generation who are suffering 80% of the COVID-related deaths. We love our lives, our families and enjoy living as much as anyone else.

I am not sure I have another 50 years left in me, but I am hoping for another 30! When you wear your mask in public while in the grocery stores, hardware stores, etc., you are protecting me and so many of my friends.

Thank you,

Len Larsen

St. Germain