Old Forge, N.Y. - With news of bowling alleys opening on Monday and Governor Cuomo announcing he will also address the reopening of gyms on Monday, many other types of businesses that are still shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic are wondering, what about us?
Bob Card and his wife Helen Zyma own The Strand, a movie theatre in Old Forge, and they are wondering, what about us?

Zyma says she and Bob are hopeful Governor Cuomo might address other types of businesses, like movie theatres, in his expected Monday press conference, "We’re getting hopeful because bowling alleys are going to be allowed to reopen on Monday and they’re going to address the situation with gyms, perhaps we’re last on the list and we'll be next, I don’t know."
Zyma and Card have owned The Strand since 1991 and Card admits this year has been tough emotionally and financially, "The summer, July and August, generally funds the rest of the year, so missing July and August..."
Zyma, in tears when talking about not being able to do what she and Bob love to do for five months, says other business owners in Old Forge, as well as Old Forge residents have been showing them their love, "I can't go to the grocery store without people saying we feel so bad for you, when are you going to reopen, how can we get gift certificates and how can we help you. So that's been wonderful. It's a very loving town. We all look out for each other."
That looking out for each other took a new step four days again when Michelle Bartlett, who owns the novelty shop Life in the ADK right next to The Strand, put an option on her own website to help The Strand by allowing people to buy gift cards for The Strand on her website.
Bartlett says since Card and Zyma don't have social media accounts, she thought all of her followers on social media might be interested in helping, "Because Bob and Helen are huge in the community, they are a pillar of where we live, they love where they live, they are always giving back to others, they were always trying to find ways in which they can help, so I saw an opportunity to turn."
Bartlett says besides buying giftcards, people are also making monetary donations to help make sure The Strand stays where it is and doesn't shut down, "People have donated $7,000 already in just 4 days."
If you would like to buy a gift card for The Strand or even make a monetary donation, here is the link : www.lifeintheadk.net
Card says he and his wife are honored to have been thought of by so many people, and he hopes they can return the favor by reopening as soon as possible, "We’re here to greet people, we thank them on the way out, and you get to know families."
They are truly one example of why Zyma says Old Forge is like one big family.
Also, the link to The Strand's website is www.strandoldforge.com