SULLIVAN — Many people have found themselves at home for an extended period of time in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. Some of those who are staying home are either spending their days working remotely, catching up on the latest shows, or taking up new hobbies.

Still others have to deal with trying to navigate losing a job or learning how to help their children with their online classes.

In this multi-part series, we will try to explore the good and the bad of social distancing.

Here is a look at how two Sullivan County residents are dealing with staying at home.

Steven Eliades

Weekender Steven Eliades was planning a trip to Florida to attend the wedding of a friend when he learned about an airplane passenger who was ill with COVID-19 during his flight. He did not want to take any chances and promptly cancelled his trip, packed his bags and made it to the home he's had in Hortonville for more than 20 years.

After doing some shopping at Peck's in Callicoon, Eliades found himself at home with plenty of time on his hands. A real estate agent by day and with no work to be had due to Gov. Cuomo's PAUSE executive order, Eliades had to fill up his time and help distract himself from what's been happening.

In the first couple days in self-isolation, Eliades says he was dismayed by the news, and his days grew dark.

“I said, ‘you know what, I gotta snap out of this, and I've got to keep myself busy and keep myself focused,'” said Eliades.

So he got to work cooking, crafting, and cutting up Forsythias to keep busy. With music in the background, he said, in doing this, “I am just trying to stay focused on what keeps me smiling and happy.”

While browsing social media, he saw a friend of his creating a cork board.

He said, “I've got wine corks in my basement, I've got a hot glue gun, I've got poster board, I can do this. So I did it.”

Eliades shared his journey on his Instagram @Steveneliades and received such praise for it that he started to craft other items.

Eliades has been making jewelry since he was a young boy, and recently resumed that hobby. Before he knew it, he had a lot of handmade jewelry.

“What can I do with all this stuff? I'm going to give it away,” added Eliades.

All he asks is to help pay for shipping to support the Hortonville Post Office.

“It made me feel good; people responded in a super way,” said Eliades.

Also, Eliades has been working on his Forsythias.

“Watching them day after day and then all of a sudden four days, five days go by, and they are in full bloom,” said Eliades. “You've got all these gorgeous yellow flowers in your house. It just makes you feel good.”

He has been keeping in touch with his friends through Zoom (the video conference application), and partaking in virtual cocktail parties. Or sometimes just spending hours keeping in touch with family.

“We shared what we were doing, we tried just to keep ourselves happy and uplifted,” said Eliades. “I am finding day after day that there are so many things that we can do to keep our minds busy.”

Jay Quaintance

Another Sullivan County transplant who found himself working remotely is SUNY Sullivan President Jay Quaintance.

While SUNY Sullivan might be closed to the public, the college is quite busy having all their students move from in-person instruction to online learning.

Quaintance has been social distancing and only going to the college when needed to sign papers and approve payroll.

But like most people, Quaintenace is keeping busy when he is not working, watching programs on Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Quaintance is joined at home by his wife Heather and their daughter, Kate Quaintance, with her fiance, Pete Godfrey, who are all working from home.

He noted that it can be a challenge all living and working under the same roof.

“It's a little weird...but yeah, figuring it out, like everyone else is,” said Quaintance.

He is still enjoying the outdoors by hiking and walking their dogs while enjoying the fresh Catskills air.

The executive PAUSE order is not only to help stop the spread of COVID-19, but it also helps prevent the spread of the virus to the most vulnerable population in our area, which includes the elderly.

Quaintance's mother, Dot, is one of those people. She is at home keeping safe, and when she needs something from the outside, like food, Quaintance shops for her and leaves it on her porch.

The Quaintance family is also partaking in the Zoom craze and is keeping in touch with family members virtually.

Quaintance said, “Everybody's trying the best they can. Staying connected, but keeping their distance.”

If you have a story on how you are coping with staying at home during the COVID-19 crisis and would like to be featured, email probayo@sc-democrat.com.

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