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Minneapolis (WCCO) State pollution control officials are warning consumers not to flush any paper products other than toilet paper.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says the lack of availability of toilet paper in stores amid the COVID-19 outbreak is causing people to use alternative options.

That includes products like baby wipes or paper towels.

We are seeing people flushing things down the toilet that they shouldnt be, Hero Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling drains manager Chris Stevens said.

Flushing those products can cause a big problem for pipes, including clogs and even sewage coming back up into the home.

Stevens said plumbers are slammed with business right now as working parents and school age children are suddenly at home all day.

Everyone is just using whatever they have, they have no option, Stevens said.

Stevens said a sewage backup can cost a homeowner tens of thousands of dollars. The MPCA also said flushing products other than toilet paper can also cost a city money in repairs and harm the environment.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

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Plumbers in high demand as families flush paper products other than toilet paper - KTVZ

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Who should do the cleanup depends on a number of factors. One consideration is the size of the mold problem. If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself, follow the Mold Cleanup Tips and Techniques. However:

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The tips and techniques presented in this section will help you clean up your mold problem. Professional cleaners or remediators may use methods not covered in this publication. Please note that mold may cause staining and cosmetic damage. It may not be possible to clean an item so that its original appearance is restored.

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During a flood cleanup, the indoor air quality in your home or office may appear to be the least of your problems. However, failure to remove contaminated materials and to reduce moisture and humidity can present serious long-term health risks. Standing water and wet materials are a breeding ground for microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, and mold. They can cause disease, trigger allergic reactions, and continue to damage materials long after the flood.

To learn more about flood clean up and indoor air quality, visit: Flood Cleanup and Effects on Indoor Air Quality.

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Mold Cleanup in Your Home | Mold | US EPA

Mold has had its 15 minutes of fame over the last few years. Though the hype has died down, moldand mold remediationin homes is still an important issue. Customer complaints require home builders to have a fast action plan,both to clean up the mold problem and to show customers that a quality home builder(you) is looking out for their health and safety and the durability of their home.

There are two important things to remember about mold:

1. Prevent it by doing things right the first time

2. When you do face mold, take care of it immediately.

Ensuring your warranty team follows a process for mold remediation will take care of the latter.

The following steps, which can be adapted to fit within your company's policy, serve as a basic process for quickly remediating mold problems.

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Assessing mold growth involves more than just looking at what's visibly growing on the walls or in a corner. Mold can be an invisible intruder, growing behind and around what you first see. Such devious behavior requires inquisitive thinking.

First, understand that behind all mold growth is a water or moisture problem. Second, become a master of moisture know where moisture comes from and how it gets into the home. The ultimate goal of these two steps is for warranty representatives to identify a moisture source and use its location to help locate all mold growth, not just what's immediately visible.

Mold grows by releasing its reproductive cells (spores)into the air. Sporesare invisible to the naked eye, and mold can spread and grow anywhere in the home as long as moisture and oxygen are present. Common surfaces that harbor moldgrowth includedrywall, insulation, tile, fabrics, and wood.

Before you begin mold removal, document the mold situation with writing, photos and video. The warranty team supervisor will use the documentation to develop a remediation plan, which typically answers questions like when work is slated to begin, when that work is scheduled to be completed, who will be performing the remediation, any testing that should be done, and if homeowners will be temporarily relocated. In the longer term, the documentation can help manage liability for your company or point to larger trends in mold growth.

Mold may not always grow in one area, so you need to figure out how much contamination you're really looking at. Calculating the extent of the contamination will impact how you approach mold removal and clean up. The goal of mold removalis to clean up mold growing within the home, and to avoid exposing homeowners to large amounts of mold.

The New York City Department of Health (NYC DOH) has developed guidelines for cleaning up mold contamination. These guidelines are widely used in the construction industry and recommend six levels of mold removalbased on the square footage of the mold and whether or not the mold is located within the home's HVAC system. Following the NYC DOH's guidelines, available online, calculate the remediation level needed.

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Remediation will always involve cleaning up existing mold while avoiding exposure to oneself as well as homeowners, as well as preventing new growth by addressing the moisture source. Based on your calculation of the contamination area, determine if you're working in an area up to 30 square feet (approximately the size of a full sheet of drywall). If so, you'll be following the guidelines for remediation levels 1 and 2. Level 1 remediation is used for small, isolated areas of mold up to 10 square feet and Level 2 remediation covers square footage from 10 to 30 square feet.

The cleanup process is the same for Level 1 and Level 2 mold remediation and is comprised ofthese steps:

Reference the remediation plan during the actual remediation to make sure it's being followed. If additional mold is discovered during the clean up, the warranty supervisor should update the plan.

For contamination areas greater than 30 square feet, many builders hire outside mold removalfirms to perform the clean up. In this case, you and your team switch from actually performing mold remediation to supervising a qualified contractor. Having a general understanding of the proper procedures an outside company should be following is useful. The NYC DOH guidelines address such procedures for Level 3 contamination and above.

Just because the mold is gone and there's no dirt or dust doesn't mean that you're done. Your last step is to determine if your clean-up efforts have been successful. While this last step is a judgment call, there are some options and guidelines to follow.

The EPA document, Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, is a great resource that provides guidelines for helping you complete your clean up efforts. Some of these guidelines include:

Depending on your company and the specific details of a mold problem, additional testing by an environmental testing company may be performed after the clean up to verify that all mold has been removed.

When it comes to mold, the key is to implement a comprehensive moisture management strategy. Potential liability and health issues from mold can be dramatically decreased by doing it right the first time. Clean up must be immediate and thorough, following a process like the above steps. It may sound over-simplified, but the primary failure in response to homeowner complaints is simply the fact that builders don't respond fast enough, or with the emphasis that the issue is potentially serious.

Minimum personal protection equipment for levels 1 and 2 remediation includes an N95 respirator, eye goggles without vents and rubber gloves that extend to mid-forearm.

Following an immediate and thorough remediation plan is essential for getting rid of the mold and showing customers you're committed to acting quickly.

Before entering a home to assess a mold growth situation, make sure you have the necessary personal protective equipment.

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5 steps to proper mold removal/mold remediation | Pro Builder

The Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) S.4 Cab & Controls Study Group is charged with helping improve the design and maintenance of cab components and systems to enhance the drivers ability to properly, comfortably and economically operate highway vehicles, but they just might play a front-line role in keeping the trucking industry safe from the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Last fall, at TMCs meeting in Raleigh, N.C., the group pushed forward a recommended practice (RP) update approving the use of chlorine dioxide (ClO2) to combat bed bug infestation in a truck cab. RP 443 showed ClO2 was 100% effective in the removal of bed bugs, with the additional benefit of complete odor removal.

Six months later, and now in the throes of a global pandemic, Maverick Transportation Regional Service Manager Greg Johnsen started looking into if carriers could use the chemical in the fight against COVID-19, simply leaving bed bugs as collateral damage.

The RP protocol for eradicating bed bugs using ClO2 calls for a bucket with one gallon of water on the bunk and another with one gallon of water on the floor with an aerator placed into the buckets. Photo courtesy TMC RP 443

I started digging into ClO2, said Johnsen. Upon reading the literature I could find online, I noticed this product will kill just about everything. This product is used heavily in the mold remediation industry as well as for removing smoke odors from fire damage.

Johnsen reached out to a chemical manufacturing company, who confirmed that ClO2 was effective against pathogenic micro-organisms such as bacteria and viruses.

On March 18, he sent an email to TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell, urging him and the group to consider adding another update to RP 443, this time endorsing ClO2 as effective as a coronavirus decontamination agent in the cab of a truck.

That this virus can be killed with soap and water is reported by the CDC. Viruses are a fragile organism outside the body, unlike mold spores or other spores which have a hard shell, he said, noting that because it is effective against spore-forming bacteria, chlorine dioxide can also be used against anthrax. As this product kills [spores], it seemed to be a natural progression in my opinion.

Johnsen placed an order March 20 for enough ClO2 tablets to sanitize 50 Maverick trucks and has since used it 23 times, out of an abundance of caution, he said. Two uses were prompted by drivers who reported feeling ill, but didnt test positive for coronavirus. The chemical now, and going forward, is part of the Little Rock, Arkansas-based carriers regular cab sanitation practices.

The original thought process was, if the driver gets sick we can use this to sanitize the truck, he said. Secondarily, we decided any time a driver leaves us, were going to use this process to prep the truck for the new driver out of an abundance of caution.

Johnsen, who tested negative for COVID last week, noted that the product was far from a silver bullet, but given that the coronavirus is such a serious and widespread issue, said he feels we are very close in getting the RP update passed after barely more than a week of conversation among S.4 stakeholders.

When dealing with an issue of this proportion, he said, you want to make sure the Is are dotted and the Ts crossed.

A battery-operated aerator, like the one shown above, is placed into the buckets in a truck cab along with a ClO2 pellet according to RP 443 bed bug protocol.

The RP protocol for eradicating bed bugs using ClO2 calls for the removal of all soft goods from the cab, including mattress and curtains, and sealing vents and door seams. Visible signage should be placed in the window warning not to enter the truck, and that a treatment is taking place. A bucket with one gallon of water is placed on the bunk and another with one gallon of water on the floor with a battery-operated aerator placed into the buckets. A ClO2 pellet is gently placed in each bucket, aerators turned on and the cab sealed, and left for five hours (24 hours if you dont use an aerator). When the process is complete, all APU and cabin filters should be changed.

As for how the process itself might differ in attacking the COVID coronavirus, Johnsen said that is a work in progress as the update is still in the final review phase with S.4.

However, the short version, he said, is we can fully sanitize a Class 8 tractor in less than seven hours. Ten hours if you include three hours that the virus could live as an airborne contaminate.

The protocol for the cab disinfection method, as posted to TMC Connect this weekend, is to open the refrigerator and all cabinets in the truck and sleeper berth, affix treatment signs to all exterior truck entry points and tape over exterior vents with non-marring tape to seal the cab. Place one gallon of water in a pail, hang the battery-powered aerator on the edge and extend the hose with an air stone to the bottom. Place the pail in the center of the truck on the floor, turn on the aerator and place a 100 gram ClO2 tablet into the pail and exit the truck cab, closing vents, doors and windows for five hours or until vapors cease and water is clear. Leaving overnight is ideal. When the ClO2 solution has turned clear, it can be disposed of via discharge into a sanitary sewer. After treatment, flush the treated space with fresh air for up to one hour or until the odor has dissipated. This can be expedited using a fan or blower. After replacing the cabin air filter and bunk air filter, the truck can be returned to service.

When used as a liquid, you spray it on a surface and walk away, Johnsen said. No need to wipe off or clean afterwards, as it is a disinfectant. We can do this vapor process for about $20 per truck. A small cost for keeping our driver and technician population safe.

If sanitizing using ClO2 in liquid-form, open the cabinets and refrigerator, cleaning any highly soiled surfaces with an appropriate cleaner. Select a container size-appropriate for a ClO2 dilution level of 500 parts per million (ppm) a 20 gram ClO2 tablet for a gallon of water, or a 100 gram ClO2 tablet for 5 gallons of water. Gently place the tablet into the water and allow two to three minutes to dissolve. Check the solution with a test strip to confirm its strength is between 250 ppm and 500 ppm, and fill a wet fogger or sprayer with the ClO2 solution. Wet fog or lightly spray all surfaces, ceiling to floor, allowing five minutes of wet contact time. No wiping or rinsing is required, and allow surfaces to dry before returning the truck to service.

Chlorine dioxide can be used in vapor- or a liquid-form, but as a liquid it is more fragile and its effectiveness is vulnerable to sunlight. Once diluted from tablet- to liquid-form, it has a shelf life of up to six months if stored correctly in an air-tight opaque container out of direct sunlight.

For in-cab treatment, the vapor and liquid methods can be combined, with the deeper cleaning vapor treatment being performed first and the liquid treatment applied afterward to surfaces and/or common touch points.

A nationwide buying frenzy on most consumer disinfectants is already underway, and with stores across the country struggling to keep up with demand for Lysol and bleach, Johnsen said his local chemical supplier has already told him theres an increased demand for ClO2.

He called and said he just sold 1,000 packs, he recalled. I asked him how many he had left and he said 50, and I told him, well now you have 25, because I want half of them.

See all ofCCJs COVID-19 coronavirus coverage at this link.

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Petition to update TMC RP and use ClO2 to combat coronavirus - Commercial Carrier Journal

The positioning of the Global Antimicrobial Coating Market vendors in FPNV Positioning Matrix are determined by Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) and placed into four quadrants (F: Forefront, P: Pathfinders, N: Niche, and V: Vital).

New York, March 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Antimicrobial Coating Market - Premium Insight, Competitive News Feed Analysis, Company Usability Profiles, Market Sizing & Forecasts to 2025" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05871960/?utm_source=GNW

The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Antimicrobial Coating Market including are Akzonobel N.V., Axalta Coating Systems, BASF SE, Diamond Vogel, Nippon Paint Company Ltd, AK Coatings, Arch Lonza, PPG Industries, Royal Dsm, RPM International Inc., Sono Tek Corporation, The DOW Chemical Company., The Sherwin-Williams Company, and Troy Corporation.

On the basis of Product Type, the Global Antimicrobial Coating Market is studied across Copper Antimicrobial Coating, Quaternary Ammonia Antimicrobial Coating, Silver Antimicrobial Coating, Titanium Dioxide Antimicrobial Coating, Zinc Omadine Antimicrobial Coating, Zinc Oxide Antimicrobial Coating, and Zirconium Antimicrobial Coating.

On the basis of Application, the Global Antimicrobial Coating Market is studied across Food & Beverages, Indoor Air/HVAC, Medical, Mold-remediation, and Textiles.

For the detailed coverage of the study, the market has been geographically divided into the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The report provides details of qualitative and quantitative insights about the major countries in the region and taps the major regional developments in detail.

In the report, we have covered two proprietary models, the FPNV Positioning Matrix and Competitive Strategic Window. The FPNV Positioning Matrix analyses the competitive market place for the players in terms of product satisfaction and business strategy they adopt to sustain in the market. The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisitions strategies, geography expansion, research & development, new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth.

Research Methodology:Our market forecasting is based on a market model derived from market connectivity, dynamics, and identified influential factors around which assumptions about the market are made. These assumptions are enlightened by fact-bases, put by primary and secondary research instruments, regressive analysis and an extensive connect with industry people. Market forecasting derived from in-depth understanding attained from future market spending patterns provides quantified insight to support your decision-making process. The interview is recorded, and the information gathered in put on the drawing board with the information collected through secondary research.

The report provides insights on the following pointers:1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on sulfuric acid offered by the key players in the Global Antimicrobial Coating Market 2. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments in the Global Antimicrobial Coating Market 3. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets for the Global Antimicrobial Coating Market 4. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new products launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the Global Antimicrobial Coating Market 5. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players in the Global Antimicrobial Coating Market

The report answers questions such as:1. What is the market size of Antimicrobial Coating market in the Global?2. What are the factors that affect the growth in the Global Antimicrobial Coating Market over the forecast period?3. What is the competitive position in the Global Antimicrobial Coating Market?4. Which are the best product areas to be invested in over the forecast period in the Global Antimicrobial Coating Market?5. What are the opportunities in the Global Antimicrobial Coating Market?6. What are the modes of entering the Global Antimicrobial Coating Market?Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05871960/?utm_source=GNW

About ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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Clare: clare@reportlinker.comUS: (339)-368-6001Intl: +1 339-368-6001

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The Global Antimicrobial Coating Market is expected to grow from USD 6,836.34 Million in 2018 to USD 14,109.46 Million by the end of 2025 at a...

Before an Individual ever decides to search for the best mold testing company in their field, they should first understand a couple of facts:

1. In the authors opinion, every house on our planet has mold in it. Mold is a member of this Fungi family and exists naturally in our environment. It is airborne and enters our houses whenever a door or window is open and also in various other ways.

2. Inside of a home, mold wont be an issue unless its been confronted with water for at least 48-72 hrs. So, when you have seen, or know of signs of water within your house and you also suspect it has been there for at least 48 hours, you are most certain to own harmful (toxic) mold.

3. Even in case you fail to see any water, it still may be lurking behind your countertops, walls, or bathtubs; perhaps under chimney or other locations. If you are able to smell a musty or unpleasant odor (some in the household might detect it while others cant), you get a harmful mold issue.

4. In the event you or other people of your own house suffer with asthma, other respiratory problems, coughing, runny nose or eyes, headaches, or even have to feel much better if youre away from the home and worse when youre in it, you almost certainly have a mold problem.

Knowing you likely have a mold problem but not knowing what direction to go after that, speaks volumes in favor of choosing an expert. But that ? You could likely have several mold inspection businesses to chose from on web sites such as Yahoo or Google; however how does a homeowner get the ideal one for his or her demands?

My advice would be: First I would recommend that the business focuses primarily on mold. I personally recommend that they will have both experience and education at least equal to or better than their competitors. While most every state requires that home inspectors be licensed, only two nations require so of mold inspectors.Are they are licensed? This would tell you they cared about their profession to acquire knowledge and training to match standards. Experience counts. How long has the inspector been certified? How many jobs are they achieved? Not only the organization, however the average person inspector? Could they receive references? Have they been mentioned by the Better Business Bureau for almost any deceptive, deceitful, or unethical methods?

In case they have been it could be a clear conflict of interest. Could not it be to there attention to overstate the level of mold issues and/or the sum of remediation needed when these were in line to get work worth several thousands of dollars? Therefore, I recommend that you find an expert who just inspects for mold.

Okay, so today how in case your inspector look for in order to find your trouble? If they are finished are they able to let you know for certain where your mold is and why you have the issue? Isnt that how you would like to spend your own money?

Testing for mold is most often done by the conventional procedure called air-testing. This process stinks air to some system which then traps it into a lab testing dish, which subsequently gets sent to a laboratory for culturing. This procedure sometimes takes a week or more for the outcome. When atmosphere testing is completed, the inspector should always take one test outside the house in order to determine a benchmark as to what mold(s) are predominant in your region. They then will endeavour to take as many tests inside the house as the customer.

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Mold Inspections - Make The Best Choice - Knnit - Knnit

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Once a prom queen, always a prom queen.

One thoughtful family in Texas wanted to ensure that their high-schooler would still get a chance to enjoy prom this year, even though the annual dance had been canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic. So, in lieu of the big event, her folks threw a prom on the porch bash -- and the senior student was even crowned queen of the night.

Grayson Chapman, pictured, at her "prom on the porch" party. (Jaci Chapman)

AMERICA TOGETHER: UPLIFTING STORIES OF AMERICANS FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT

Like many other school events, Highland High School called off the highly anticipated big dance, which hadbeen scheduled for March 28, due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Determined to make the night special for senior student Grayson, the Chapman family from Sweetwater hosted a prom on the porch party that evening.

The family spruced up the outdoor space with household dcor, stars and festive lights. (Jaci Chapman)

CORONAVIRUS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Grayson thought it sounded a little cheesy at first. But she was so excitedto get to be able to dress up after all and go to her last prom, Jaci Chapman, Graysons mom, told Fox News on Thursday. Once we started getting the porch decorated and cranked up the music, she really started getting into the spirit of it!

Sprucing up the space with household dcor, stars and festive lighting, the Chapmans prepared the porch for their very own outdoor promenade. With respect for social distancing, just seven family members attended the very last minute soiree: Grayson, her parents, her two siblings, an uncle and acousin.

Grayson, left, is pictured with siblings Crae and Maura Chapman. (Jaci Chapman)

On Saturday night, Graysons older sister Maura, who is home from college,and her younger brother Crae, a sophomore at Highland High,also dressed up in their best formal attire for the porch party. Little cousin Gene Conway also looked quite dapperand was honored as "prom king."

Prom queen Grayson and prom king Gene, pictured. (Jaci Chapman)

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It wasn't the prom with her friends she thought she'd have, but she had so much fun!!! We all did! proud mom Jaci recalled. The kids dressed up, we cranked up a speaker, and spent two or three hours on our porch.

Not surprisingly, my senior won prom queen!" she added. So this spring may not be going according to plan, but we try to adapt and celebrate our seniors the best we can.

Determined to make the night special for senior student Grayson, the Chapman family from Sweetwater hosted a prom-themed bash at home for their high school senior. (Jaci Chapman)

Grayson has had so many events canceled, and she's taken in all in stride. We wanted to do something special for her, mom Jaci explained. (Jaci Chapman)

In a word of advice for other parents whose teens might be feeling frustrated or upset if the coronavirus has canceled their anticipated events, the Texas mom said she would absolutely recommend having a prom on the porch celebration.

CLICK HERE FOR FOX NEWS' CONTINUING CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

Grayson has had so many events canceled, and she's taken in all in stride. We wanted to do something special for her, Jaci explained. It wasn't at all the prom she had envisioned going to, but we've tried to teach our children life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it.

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Texas family hosts 'prom on the porch' when big dance is canceled due to coronavirus pandemic - Fox News

This morning, I remembered a moment from 50 years ago that is quite relevant to the challenging, Coronavirus times we find ourselves living in.

I was 22, sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch of a house on Marthas Vineyard. As I sat there, the four-year old son of the couple who owned the house, came running past me. He was sobbing uncontrollably and I felt an undeniable urge to comfort him.

Bobby, I said, reaching his way, lifting him up, and placing him onto my lap, Whats wrong, my little friend? And the two of us just sat there, rocking back and forth together for a while, Bobby slowly calming down.

And then, just a few minutes later, his six-year old brother, Timmy, came running by. He was also sobbing, the same kind of super-sad tears Bobby had been crying just a little while ago.

Timmy, I said, reaching towards him. Come on over here with your brother and me. Its all going to be just fine, whatever it is.

And so, now, the three of us were rocking back and forth on that front porch, Timmys tears soon ending, as well.

My job was a simple one, to hold the boys in my arms, continue rocking, and share some words of comfort. We continued that way for another few minutes and then, much to my surprise, their mother appeared from the back of the house. She was also sobbing.

The same part of me that had reached out to the two boys just minutes before also wanted to reach out to her, but I noticed I had no more lap left and my arms were full. I was totally maxed. So I just looked up and did my best to comfort her with words.

Yes, both of my arms were occupied, but I could feel my heart reaching out. I cannot say, for sure, if it made it all the way to her, or if she received whatever I was sending out, but it felt good to make the effort, really good Bobby, Timmy, and I continuing to rock back and forth together, on that front porch, for what seemed like forever.

These, my friends, I do believe, are the times we are now living in. We are all on that front porch, so many of the people around us asking for comfort and support. While our laps might not be large enough for everyone and while our arms may already be full, we can still reach out. We can still comfort those in need. We can still, in a thousand different ways, extend our hearts in the direction of those who are needing support. Kindness is whats needed these days, my friends. Kindness and empathy. Kindness and generosity, love, patience, courage, and a whole lot of compassion in whatever form it takes.

And you can begin this very moment with the people on your own front porch.

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Rocking Back and Forth on the Front Porch of Life - Thrive Global

CINCINNATI A marketing firm located in Over-the-Rhine is taking a creative approach to bring people together while also practicing safe social distancing.

AGAR, an experiential marketing firm located in Over-the-Rhine, is launching its first citywide "Front Porch Pours" happy hour from 5-7 p.m. Friday. The event is designed to bring people onto their front porches or to an open window where they can enjoy a drink and talk with their neighbors.

"We started looking at how we want to keep our team engaged and what can we do for our city," said Andrew Salzbrun, a managing partner at AGAR. "We like spending our free time working on things for Cincinnati."

AGAR helped organize BLINK Cincinnati in 2017 and 2019 and began hosting Danger Wheel, an annual adult big wheel race held in Pendleton in 2014.

Salzbrun said for "Front Porch Pours," his team more than rose to the challenge of creating a citywide event focused on keeping people socially distanced while at the same time uniting and uplifting them.

"We're excited to just get people out of the house ... to enjoy a shared moment," Salzbrun said.

To that end, AGAR created a website where people can sign up to participate in Friday's "Front Porch Pours." When people sign up for the happy hour, they will receive a set of themed cocktail recipes, including one from popular Cincinnati mixologist Molly Wellmann.

"I'm a huge fan of the House Beer one, since I'm a beer guy," Salzbrun said.

Other featured drink suggestions include the "DeWine and Chill" and "Shut-In Shirley."

People also will get a link to a curated playlist of happy hour music to listen to while sipping their drinks.

"Our in-house record label, Old Flame, put together a really awesome two-hour playlist," Salzbrun said.

He added the playlist features a lot of familiar songs people will be able to sing along with "but also a lot of local bands, bands whose shows are either being postponed or canceled."

"We want to show them some love as well," Salzbrun said.

AGAR looks forward to planning similar events in the near future, Salzbrun said.

People interested in participating in "Front Porch Pours" can sign up at porchpours.splashthat.com.

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Miss happy hour? You can have one at a safe distance with 'Front Porch Pours' - WCPO

KALAMAZOO, Mich. On the other side of the Coronavirus pandemic, how do we want to remember it?

Many may not want to remember it, because it was a time of stress, job loss, sickness or even, death.

A Kalamazoo man whose photography business closed soon after COVID-19 hit Michigan, has found a new focus that's providing memorable and creative images for families during this heightened sense of uncertainty.

"My business dried up," said Brian Powers, who's been a professional photographer for 12 years. "I can't get into my studio, so there was nothing to take pictures of."

He says a little more than a week ago, he saw some news stories from around the United States of photographers traveling around their communities taking 'porch portraits.'

Soon after COVID-19 hit Michigan, photographer Brian Powers wanted to keep using his talent, so he's doing Porch Portraits for families.

Brian Powers

"They are professionally done family portraits, documenting how people are thinking and feeling during this pandemic," said Powers.

He launched a Facebook page and invited all of his contacts to join it. Soon after that, people started scheduling time for him to come to their homes and take the photos.

Soon after COVID-19 hit Michigan, photographer Brian Powers wanted to keep using his talent, so he's doing Porch Portraits for families.

Brian Powers

"On days when the weather has been good, I've done several porch portraits," said Powers. "The pictures are free. I upload them to the Facebook page and people can retrieve them from there and do whatever they want with them."

Some people just want a nice, traditional family portrait taken while others create some signage that best conveys their feelings and mood during this time of extreme uncertainty.

Soon after COVID-19 hit Michigan, photographer Brian Powers wanted to keep using his talent, so he's doing Porch Portraits for families.

Brian Powers

"I've seen all kinds of signs," Powers said. "Some saying, 'We'll get through this; We're in this together; The sun will shine again.'"

Powers respects social distancing during each shoot. He stands at least 20-feet away from the families, while using a telephoto lens to zoom-in close enough to capture each moment.

On Thursday, April 2, an entire subdivision of homes in Kalamazoo, Mi. scheduled to have him come out and take porch portraits.

Powers took porch portraits at 30 different homes that day.

Soon after COVID-19 hit Michigan, photographer Brian Powers wanted to keep using his talent, so he's doing Porch Portraits for families.

Brian Powers

"This is something kids who are old enough are always going to remember," said Rich Walsh, after Powers visited his subdivision and took his family's portrait. "Twenty years from now, they'll be telling stories like, 'I wasn't event allowed to go to school.'"

Welsh went on to say, "This moment in our history is kind of like 9/11, Pearl Harbor and the Kennedy Assassination."

Kristen Rowell, who lives in the same subdivision, says she was very exited when she saw the Facebook post about Brian's porch portraits.

Photographer Brian Powers is out of work, but is choosing to use his talent and free time to document this uncertain time by taking Porch Portraits.

Brian Powers

"It's definitely had to keep spirits up during this time," said Rowell. "This is a very weird time and I wanted to have a family portrait to remember how strong we were through all of this."

Photographer Brian Powers is out of work, but is choosing to use his talent and free time to document this uncertain time by taking Porch Portraits.

Brian Powers

Powers says he's closing in on having taken close to 100 different family porch portraits in the short time he's been doing it. While most of his clientele has been in and around the Kalamazoo area, he says he's willing to drive elsewhere in West Michigan to capture these images for people.

"So far, I haven't had anybody say, 'Stay home,'" said Powers. "I'd like to do this for as long as I can and for as long as people want it."

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'Porch Portraits' becoming the way many want to remember uncertain time - WZZM13.com