Island slowly, carefully reopens for business

STONINGTON—A pickup truck drove by Suzy’s Scissor Shack one morning and tooted its horn as Suzy Shepard, wearing a mask, put up her “Open” flag for the first time in weeks.

- LESLIE LANDRIGAN

It was May 1, and within minutes Suzy was cutting hair again for a mask-wearing customer. For a month, islanders had to let their hair grow or cut it themselves because of the state’s COVID-19 restrictions. Stonington Selectman John Steed, for example, cut his own hair—short. His colleague on the select board, Evelyn Duncan, complained in Zoom meetings that her bangs were driving her crazy.

But then Gov. Janet Mills lifted the ban on a few businesses including hair salons, auto dealerships and golf courses, as of May 1. Suzy said she was booked solid.

Lodging businesses are still shut tight until June 1, when they will be allowed to host only guests from Maine or out-of-staters who have self-quarantined for 14 days. The governor continued the ban on dine-in eating at restaurants, but still allows takeout.