EDGEWATER Michelle Lytle was in the middle of a major public art project when the coronavirus changed life in unprecedented ways.

The Edgewater-based photographer had been working since late 2019 to install nine murals in her neighborhood over nine months. Works include Kites Over Edgewater, which adorns the wall next to the Lytles home and studio, and Edgewater Charlie, which depicts Charlie Brown and his friend Linus peering over a brick wall on Broadway.

When the coronavirus outbreak hit Chicago, Lytle knew she wanted her project to address the situation and help out in some way. The result is a new mural along Broadway that says Everything Will Be OK and a coinciding lawn sign campaign to raise money for Edgewater charity Care For Real.

All of this hit, and its been insane, Lytle said. We wanted to do something to help. Anyone whose having a bad day, its a message that can help you in those moments.

The Everything Will Be OK mural is the continuation of a public art project started outside Atlanta by artist Jason Kofke. The installations have taken on a new meaning during the coronavirus outbreak, and a town in Georgia began selling yard and window signs with the slogan to raise money for local charities, according to Good Morning America.

Lytle got Kofkes permission to bring the art campaign to Chicago. The mural is painted on the side of 5524 N. Broadway, which is nearby The Lytle House, the former auto garage thats now an event space, photographers studio and home of Michelle and her family.

Lawn signs identical to the mural have been printed up and are available for $20 at Pizzeria Aroma, 5350 N. Broadway. All proceeds from the lawn sign sale will go to Care For Real, the Edgewater-based charity and food pantry.

Before coronavirus, Care For Real served an average of 5,000 people a month needing assistance with garnering food and personal items or other programming and services. Demand for help has skyrocketed since the coronavirus outbreak, Care For Real Executive Director Lyle Allen previously told Block Club.

A wedding photographer by trade, Lytle said she wanted to help out other small vendors, caterers, servers and bartenders who are struggling through the outbreak. She chose Care For Real because it has pledged to be a lifeline for laid-off service industry workers, Lytle said.

Were used to the winter being slow, but its starting to hit us now, Lytle said of the wedding and event photography business she operates with her wife, Robyn. This isnt going to last forever, you have to keep in mind.

Lytles mural project was always meant to spread joy and make Edgewater an even brighter place to live and visit. But with the new campaign, Lytle is hoping to be not only a source of joy, but of tangible help to her neighbors in need.

We love Edgewater, Lytle said. Whatever we can do to raise moods, that benefits everybody.

For more on the Everything Will Be Ok campaign and fundraiser, click here.

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'Everything Will Be OK' Mural Gives Edgewater Residents Hope, And Matching Yard Signs Help Those In Need - Block Club Chicago

Few times in history have called for the kind of engaged, courageous leadership that todays circumstances demand. People will look back on our response to COVID-19 and judge the work done by their community, business, and government leaders: Did we make the right, tough choices? Did we work without concern for political gain? Were we thoughtful and did our decisions make sense and have positive outcomes?

The governor has issued more than 30 executive orders in an effort to protect lives in this unprecedented time. We in the Legislature have worked with her to ensure these orders protect our constituents and address the greater good. And as we continue to react to COVID-19 and protect Michiganders, we must look realistically at the consequences of our decisions on livelihoods and businesses, including some of our critical seasonal industries. As Speaker Lee Chatfield has urged the governor: We need to look at activities through the lens of being safe vs. unsafe, rather than essential vs. non-essential. It is more practical, and will allow us to restart industries and parts of our economy responsibly.

I am speaking of landscape companies, nurseries, u-pick agricultural operations, some construction, golf courses and other businesses that dont require customer contact typically calling for employees to work in solitude or near-solitude in the outdoors. Riding on the back of a mower, delivering and setting mulch, planting trees and landscape elements, walking 18 holes, tending to plants in inventory, roofing a home, allowing customers to pick in groves and fields -- all of these can be done outdoors in relative solitude or, at a minimum, much further than 6 feet away from the next person.

We must give these seasonal businesses the chance to survive and free them of restrictions that dont pertain to the way they operate. In doing so, we can provide some Michiganders with jobs and outdoor activities, and protect portions of our economy and the physical and mental wellbeing of our people.

These businesses have a short season in Michigan and a short opportunity for success. It makes sense to allow them to operate -- with proper precautions -- and to have a chance to stay afloat in 2020 and beyond. Thats what Ohio has done, and we should follow suit.

Many businesses will have opportunities beyond spring and summer to get back on their feet. Others will not survive the response to COVID-19 and seasonal Michigan businesses may be at greater risk of falling into this category. We should allow them to operate now, with the necessary restrictions, to offer a glimmer of hope in our communities. And that providing hope -- is an indication of vision and strength, and a responsibility of leadership.

Rep. Lynn Afendoulis is a Republican from Grand Rapids Township. She is chair of the House Tax Policy Committee

Read this article:
Seasonal industries, such as lawn care and golf courses, must be given the chance to survive (opinion) - MLive.com

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer defended her stay home order amid criticism from Republic legislators and small businesses, saying she is prioritizing Michigans health and safety.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake, ripped into Whitmer in a social media post Friday, criticizing the orders extension as destroying our health by ruining our livelihoods. The governor prolonged the order until April 30 in an announcement Thursday, April 9.

We must continue to have restrictions on social distancing...but theres room for much-needed common sense," Shirkey said in a phone interview with MLive. Businesses are proving that they can walk and chew gum at the same time and are capable of protecting their customers, suppliers and employees.

Her office justified her strict measures by citing continued increases and deaths from COVID-19.

As of yesterday, the state had over 22,700 confirmed COVID-19 cases and over 1,200 deaths," her office said in a statement to MLive. "Protecting the health and safety of the people of Michigan remains the governors number one priority. She has worked closely with Speaker (Lee) Chatfield and Sen. Shirkey throughout this emergency, and will continue to do so. We welcome constructive participation from the legislature, but the priority must be on taking actions to slow the spread of this virus and keep Michiganders safe.

Related: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extends coronavirus stay-at-home order through April 30

House Speaker Chatfield, R-Levering, questioned Whitmers logic for determining what businesses were deemed essential.

Non-essential in Michigan: Lawn care, construction, fishing if boating with a motor, realtors, buying seeds, home improvement equipment and gardening supplies, he said on Twitter. Essential in Michigan: Marijuana, lottery and alcohol. Lets be safe and reasonable. Right now, were not!

Large stores that sell gardening supplies, paint, carpeting, flooring and furniture may be forced to close due to increased restrictions, said State Rep. Michele Hoitenga, R-Manton.

Not only did Governor Whitmer not adopt the new federal (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) recommendations, that would allow certain businesses back to work safely, she went even further in restricting Michigan businesses and freedoms, Hoitenga wrote on Facebook. The CISA guidance for essential workers can be found here.

Some gardeners and farmers have urged customers to contact Whitmers office to loosen business restrictions. Staying inside for this long isnt safe nor healthy either, said Wedels Nursery, Florist and Garden Center, 5020 Texas Drive in Kalamazoo, on Facebook.

Please help the gardening industry by...sending an email to the governor, the store wrote. We dont feel that it is safe or healthy to be confined - getting in the fresh air is so good for our physical and mental well-being! What could be better for your family than growing your own food?

Red Bird Farms, 4475 Merwin Road in Lapeer, argued the move hurts Michigan growers and benefits ones from out of state.

Let Gov, Whitmer know that her ruling is hurting greenhouse growers, (which) letting big box stores sell their plants that mostly come from out of state," the greenhouse grower wrote on Facebook. We need your help.

Other pushback comes from a petition to allow motorized boating on Michigan waterways, which has nearly 14,000 signatures.

Any loosening of restrictions, even to help certain industries, will keep the economy suffering for longer than if the preventative measures were not maintained, Whitmer said Thursday.

Every single exception to the Stay Home, Stay Safe order makes this more porous and less likely to work, she said.

CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home ( door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores.

Read more from MLive:

Saturday, April 11: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan

Michigan reports 205 new coronavirus deaths, nearly double previous daily peak

In unusual session, Michigan lawmakers OK 23-day extension of coronavirus state of emergency

Read more from the original source:
Despite criticism, Gov. Whitmer defends revised stay-at-home order - MLive.com

Coronavirus has been silently ravaging nursing homes and adult care facilities across New York State, killing residents at an alarming rate which, until this week, has largely been shielded from the public by state and local officials.

Since the state finally began releasing nursing home fatality data on Tuesday, its been revealed that the virus has taken the lives of more residents in New Yorks nursing homes and adult care facilities than the total number of lives lost in any other state.

As of April 14, more than 3,000 nursing home and adult care residents in New York have died of the coronavirus disease. For context, New Jersey, the state with the second-highest number of fatalities from the virus, has had 2,805 deaths in total.

The situation is especially grim in Suffolk County, where more than half of the countys 653 coronavirus fatalities 334 people have been residents in nursing homes and adult care facilities.

The governor and state health commissioner would have us believe this dreadful result was inevitable. They talk about the medically frail conditions of nursing home residents, how its a closed environment, how once the virus gets inside, its like an ember in dry grass.

Certainly, long-term care facilities are high-risk settings. But was this carnage truly inevitable?

The first known nursing home resident known to have died of COVID-19 in the U.S. was a 73-year-old female resident of the Life Care Center in Kirkland Washington, who died March 2. An investigation by the Seattle Times revealed that a respiratory illness outbreak inside the Kirkland facility was observed by facility officials beginning in mid-February.

Even after they understood what they were dealing with a deadly coronavirus outbreak the Kirkland nursing home didnt obtain enough supplies to test all residents until March 7, and it took another week to test most employees, according to the Times.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a March 18 report said limited access to testing, a lack of protective equipment and staff working at multiple facilities while sick all contributed to the spread of the disease at Life Care Center.

Did New York learn from the Kirkland, Washington tragedy?

Did New York take steps to make sure nursing homes had the PPE they would surely need as the pandemic spread? Did it ensure nursing homes were testing their staff members? Did it take steps to enhance infection control at these facilities?

According to two residents with relatives in two different Suffolk nursing homes, the nursing homes said they were directed by the state health department to admit COVID patients from overburdened and overcrowded area hospitals. If true, the state may have dropped a lit match never mind an ember into dry grass and then fanned the flame.

Here in New York, the first reported COVID-19 deaths were on March 14. Both were elderly people with underlying health conditions. We dont know if they were nursing home residents. In fact, we dont even know when the first nursing home deaths occurred in New York, because the state did not report nursing home fatalities separately on a county level until this week. Instead, the state health department sat on this information until Tuesday one full month after the first reported COVID death here. On Tuesday, the state finally released county-level data on nursing home fatalities.

But New York has refused to release the fatality data for individual nursing homes. The state health commissioner first claimed the federal health care privacy law prevented the disclosure, but after being called out on that false claim, then vaguely cited privacy concerns. The governor said it is a law, though he couldnt cite the statute.

Today at his news briefing, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the state is gathering the data on individual nursing homes and adult care facilities and will release the information later today.

Without government disclosure of infections and deaths at individual nursing home and adult care facilities, family members who are worried about their loved ones must rely on information provided by the care facilities themselves facilities which have every interest in suppressing the information.

We need your help.Now more than ever, the survival of quality local journalism depends on your support. Our community faces unprecedented economic disruption, and the future of many small businesses are under threat, including our own. It takes time and resources to provide this service. We are a small family-owned operation, and we will do everything in our power to keep it going. But today more than ever before, we will depend on your support to continue. Support RiverheadLOCAL today. You rely on us to stay informed and we depend on you to make our work possible.

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Coronavirus has killed nursing home residents at an alarming rate, yet state officials kept public in the dark - RiverheadLOCAL

FISHERSVILLE, Va. (WHSV) A couple in Highland County is hoping to help spread some positivity by creating yard signs for high school seniors graduating this year.

Cane and Lauren Sampson own CL Photoz and throughout this past school year, they have worked with many students by taking their senior photos.

Last month, Gov. Ralph Northam announced schools across the Commonwealth will be closed for the remainder of the school year due to the spread of COVID-19.

Cane said he knew many seniors that they had worked with had to be disappointed in the announcement.

"Some seniors already had their tuxes and dresses picked up," Cane said. "Some were preparing speeches and getting ready to walk across that stage, so we want to do something that will bring a smile to their face."

Cane and his wife have been driving around the Shenandoah Valley to homes of seniors they took photos for and dropping off a printed yard sign with their photo for free.

"This is for every senior we had in 2019 through 2020," Cane said. "We consider our clients family, so we just want to show them that we're in this together and that we care about their accomplishment."

Chloe Hise, a senior at Wilson Memorial High School, received her sign Wednesday afternoon and said even though she couldn't live out her senior year, this helps in making the best of it.

"Little things like this do help," Chloe said. " Even though we don't get actual graduation, this helps show we did do those 12 years of school and get some appreciation for it."

Cane said this is the first time they've ever created yard signs and he hopes to keep creating more. He said they are open to print off a sign for your graduating senior even if they didn't take their photo.

He said you can even use a cell photo photo and submit it through email to clphtoz3@gmail.com or click here for more information.

If you did not take photos with them before, the yard sign will cost you depending on where you live, but they will deliver throughout the entire Valley.

Cane said he would just like to continue celebrating the Class of 2020.

More here:
Valley couple creates yard signs to celebrate the Class of 2020 - WHSV

ST. PAUL. Minn. (KTTC) Minnesota Governor Tim Walz held his State of the State address Sunday evening.

He took time to briefly thank Minnesotans and reassure them that this pandemic is temporary.

"We are truly one Minnesota, and a new day will come. The sun will shine brightly. The trees will bud and the birds will sing. Spring will arrive, and when it does we will dig out Minnesota," Governor Walz said.

Following the address, House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, shared his response.

"I think the Governor is really trying to, from the perspective of the leader of the state, and trying to inspire Minnesotans and let them know, we will get through this. And I would agree with him we certainly want to remain a united front, Republicans and Democrats and not only wanting to fight and defeat COVID-19 but also make sure that Minnesotans get back to normal as quickly as it is," Daudt said.

Daudt also urges the the governor to reconsider allowing certain professions to be able to work as long as they are social distancing.

"The one that comes to mind, and I got an email from some friends of mine who are older. And they can't take care of their yard work and now their lawn. They certainly were asking and they wrote and email to the Governor today about allowing lawn care workers to get back. And I know that golf courses could certainly be open and provide an opportunity for folks to get out and get a little bit of recreation. If we can't allow them to open we at least need to allow them to maintain the golf course," he said.

Walz's address statement served as a motivational speech to show the strength in our communities.

He said the state is working on increasing testing capabilities and building hospital capacity, as well as getting more personal protective equipment for health care workers.

"Minnesotans wont just prepare for COVID-19we will lead. The brilliant minds and hard work of Minnesotans will help lead the worlds response to this crisis. Mayo Clinic is leading a national trial to use blood from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 as a treatment for others who fall ill with the disease. Hospitals across the state, from the largest systems to the smallest, are preparing in new ways for a surge in patients. 3M workers are producing millions of protective face masks a month. Medtronic is publicly sharing the design specifications for its ventilators to spark rapid manufacturing of this critical equipment desperately needed to save lives," Walz said.

Walz thanks those who stay at home, and practicing social distancing. He emphasized that those efforts are helping slow down the spread of this virus. He also said he understands how this is ruining plans for students, churches, family gatherings, and sporting events.

Walz shared stories of how Minnesotans are coming together to help each other as they get through the pandemic.

"In North Branch, a state trooper pulled a woman over this weekend for speeding. It turns out, she was a doctor in town for work.The trooper noticed some medical masks in her bag that she had been forced to re-use due to the current shortage. Instead of handing her a ticket, the trooper handed her a stack of masks that he had been given to keep him safe, he put his neighbor first," he said.

The stay at home executive order goes into effect until April 10th at 5 pm.

See the original post:
Minnesota GOP reacts to State of the State address; asks Walz to reconsider professions' ability to work - KTTC

Coastal Lawn Care is keeping lawns cared for during the coronavirus.

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Acting Navy Secy resigns after calling captain 'stupid'

Top Local Headlines | April 7

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Coastal Lawn Care is keeping lawns cared for during the coronavirus. - WAVY.com

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - Acts of generosity can come from a variety avenues: government officials, business owners, nonprofits or just a regular person helping out their neighbor.

During Michigans coronavirus shutdowns, dozens of stories have emerged that offer folks in Washtenaw County and the surrounding area hope in a time of uncertainty.

City council members thanking health care workers. Hardware stores donating personal protective equipment to hospitals. Churches offering drive-thru confessions. The list of ways people are dealing with self-isolation and social distancing grows by the day.

Here are five more things that give us hope amid coronavirus crisis in Washtenaw County.

If you have a story of a business, organization or person creatively dealing with social distancing and home isolation, or are going above and beyond to help others, please email Samuel Dodge at sdodge@mlive.com.

5 things that give us hope amid the coronavirus pandemic in Washtenaw County

5 more things that give us hope amid the coronavirus outbreak in Washtenaw County

Ann Arbor City Council Member Kathy Griswold, D-2nd Ward, poses for a portrait at a crosswalk on North Maple Road on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019 in Ann Arbor. Griswold is campaigning for better lighting at crosswalks throughout the city. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)Photos by Ben Allan Smith

Ann Arbor City Council Member promoting effort to thank health care workers

City Council Member Kathy Griswold, D-2nd Ward, is helping promote a local womans effort to place signs around Ann Arbor thanking essential workers and health care providers.

Ann Arbor resident Susan Schmidt printed 250 signs last week that read Thank You Healthcare Workers! In a matter of days, the signs have quickly spread throughout Ann Arbor, planted in yards and other places, including many in the Old West Side neighborhood where Schmidt lives.

Ann Arbor woman gets amazing response to yard signs thanking health care workers

Griswold posted three different variations of Schmidts design on Facebook for people to print and post themselves. More yard signs will be available for safe distribution sometime late next week to attach the images to signs, Griswold wrote in the post.

The response Ive gotten from community members, especially health care workers, has been amazing, Schmidt said. Health care workers in particular have been really moved by the community support.

Andrew Stines unloads boxes of medical supplies that are being donated to UM Hospitals at the North Campus Research Complex on Saturday, March 21, 2020. UM Hospitals are asking for donations of medical supplies amid the coronavirus outbreak. Supplies needed include disposable face masks, hand sanitizer, disposable gloves, among others.Jenna Kieser

Hardware store in Ann Arbor donated excess masks to Michigan Medicine, St. Joseph Mercy, other hospitals

Armando and Ita Reyes, the married co-owners of Carpenter Bros Hardware & Rental, 2753 Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor, realized two weeks ago that they had a stocked inventory of a valuable asset: N95 masks.

Their supply included 150 of the masks needed throughout Michigan and the country. They also had 500 latex shoe covers, 100 packages of gloves, five respirators and 18 decontamination Tyvek suits. Two weeks later, their supply is no more, as the Reyes donated it all to southeastern Michigan hospitals.

Two weeks ago, we held back on the items we were going to put out on the floor expecting that theyd be a high need for health workers, said Ita Reyes. I let my husband know about (various hospital supply drives), so we started donating our supply.

The store provided supplies to the University of Michigan Health System, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Beaumont Health and Henry Ford Allegiance in Wyandotte.

I know there are place that are actually selling (this stuff), Reyes said, but were just giving it out. U-M is literally calling stores all over, thats how big the need is. We just decided that whatever we had was needed out there.

Reyes also owns and operates Ita Yoga Studio, which is holding online classes at discounted prices during the state COVID-19 shutdown to promote social distancing. You can find the hardware store at Carpenterbroshardware.com and the studio at Itayogastudio.com.

11

Local launches free food pantry on porch of River Street home in Ypsilanti

Ypsilanti community porch pantry urges residents to take freely, give cheerfully during coronavirus crisis

At a time when social distancing has limited contact between neighbors, DReal Graham is still looking to build community with a simple message: Take freely, give cheerfully.

Those are the words on a sign welcoming neighbors to visit the front porch at 315 N. River St. in Ypsilantis Depot Town, where Graham and local realtor Tyler Weston have teamed up to provide easy access to a variety of nonperishable food items and other household essentials.

The community-sponsored U-Access Community Pantry is the work of Ypsi Local, which Graham and Weston started on March 17. Since then, Graham has worked to keep items the community has deemed essential in stock.

From canned fruits and vegetables, to boxes of pasta and oatmeal, to baby wipes, diapers and even an occasional package of toilet paper, items are flying off the shelves at a time when making a trip to the grocery store might be more difficult than usual for some.

Im overjoyed when I return to the pantry and food items are off the porch, Graham said in between restocking shelves Tuesday, March 31.

Drive-thru confession at Ann Arbor Catholic church

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 2250 E. Stadium Blvd. in Ann Arbor, is offering drive-thru" confessions from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 2. The sacrament will be available again from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 4.

One commenter joked that the seal of confession, or the requisite confidentiality kept by priests once a parish member tells them their sins, may be an issue now that priests and member must be six feet apart for social distancing.

To learn more about this service or to help St. Francis stay afloat during a tenuous time financially for many organizations, visit stfrancisa2.com.

Brighton nonprofit donates funds to people in crisis, PPE to medical clinics

Fund a Life, a Brighton-based nonprofit, partnered with local investment agency Executive Wealth Management to donate thousands of dollars to organizations assisting people severely affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

The partners donated $4,000 each to Bountiful Harvest of Brighton and The Torch & Torch 180 in Fowlerville. Both organizations will use the funding to fill food gaps for community members in need throughout Livingston County, according to a press release.

We feel that it is dire times right now and we really need to make sure all hands-on deck. Make sure we are helping everyone out and get through the crisis we are going through. said Michael Chechel, managing director at EWM, in the release.

Bountiful Harvest will work to supply meals, including delivery service to seniors, vets and more. In addition, the organization will provide school kids with a weeks worth of breakfast and lunch. Food pickup is also available at 290 E. Grand River Ave. in Brighton.

The Torch & Torch 180, located at 131 Mill St. in Fowlerville, is providing a similar service, including free food, grocery and hot meal delivery to the community.

For more information on how to support Fund a Life, Executive Wealth Management, Bountiful Harvest or The Torch & Torch 180, call 810-229-6446.

They are need of a lot of volunteers and a lot of help, anybody if you can give donations of money, food, your time, whatever you can do," said Mark Howell, leader of Fund a Life, in the release.

Howell also said in an email that his organization acquired 3,000 PPE masks which will be donated to Woodland Cancer Center, as well as Michigan Medicine hospitals in the area.

PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores.

Complete coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in Michigan here.

Read more from the 5 things that give us hope series:

Ann Arbor caterer donating thousands of meals: 5 more things that give us hope amid coronavirus

350 meals delivered to families in need: 5 more things that give us hope amid coronavirus crisis

Free toilet paper with an oil change: Another 5 things that give us hope amid coronavirus crisis

5 things that give us hope amid the coronavirus pandemic in Washtenaw County

5 more things that give us hope amid the coronavirus outbreak in Washtenaw County

An extra 5 things that give us hope amid coronavirus crisis in Washtenaw County

Another 5 things that give us hope amid coronavirus crisis in Washtenaw, Livingston counties

Originally posted here:
Yard signs show appreciation for health care workers: 5 more things that give us hope amid coronavirus crisis - MLive.com

Temperatures are rising, the sun is occasionally peeking out of a bluer sky than weve seen for a while, and many of us are itching to start working on lawns that may not look so great after a long, wet winter. Before you spend a lot of money on herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers, realize that less is often more when it comes to spring lawn care.

The time to spread pre-emergent weed control is when forsythia blooms. Those bright yellow blooms are the first to emerge in early spring, and they are good indicators that the soil is beginning to warm and weeds are close to germinating.

Annual weeds such as crabgrass and goosegrass germinate in the spring. Depending on how thick your turf is and the amount of weed seeds in the soil, these weeds can outcompete with your grass and take over your lawn. If you miss the pre-emergent window and weeds start to sprout, your best bet is to apply some post-emergent herbicide to your lawn, when weeds are small.

Its not a good idea to apply nitrogen fertilizer to your lawn in the spring, so avoid applying a weed-and-feed herbicide. The best time to fertilize your lawn is in the fall. Spring feeding promotes the growth of warm-season weeds. Also, high amounts of nitrogen in spring and summer can result in increased damage from white grubs in the soil. High nitrogen levels restrict turf rooting, and that adds to the damage from grubs feeding on the turf roots.

Be aware that not all weeds are bad. We love to have pristine lawns, but the herbicides and pesticides needed to acquire those types of lawns are often detrimental to our pollinators. Dandelions are important early spring flowers for bees. If you dont like them, you can mow off the blooms before they go to seed, rather than spray them with herbicide.

For more information, call the Pulaski Co Extension office at 606-679-6361. Become a fan of Pulaski County Horticulture on Facebook, follow @hortagentbeth on Twitter and/or follow kyplants on Instagram.

Asof March 23, 2020, the Pulaski Co Extension office is closed to foot traffic. However, you can still reach all agents via phone, email, or social media. Programs and/or trainings will continue to take place electronically or with drive-through type interactions.

Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.

We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story.

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Go light on the lawn care in spring - somerset-kentucky.com

TOWN OF TRENTON

Kevin T. Juech

April 14, 1958 April 1, 2020

Its with heavy hearts we have to say Kevin Thomas Juech, often called The Animal, Calvin, Ivan Putski, Kevy, Edd, Big Dog, and Kevin From Heaven of The Town of Trenton, owner of Kevins Lawn Care and Eastside Landscape Supplies, both of West Bend, who passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, at 4:07 a.m. at Aurora Hospital in Hartford of congestive heart failure and heart complications.

Kevin was born on April 14, 1958, to the late Melroy Juech and the late Judy Juech (nee Matenaer) at St. Joes Hospital of West Bend. Kevin went on to grade school at Holy Angels in West Bend and later went on to West Bend East High School completing 10 years. Kevin and school didnt agree but he still became a very successful businessman! He then met the love of his life, Dawn Juech (nee Solheim), known to some as munch and others as MOTHER. Kevin and Dawn were united in marriage on July 28, 1979, at St. Johns Lutheran Church in West Bend. In April of 1981, he decided to start up his own lawn care business, the first one in West Bend, driving around with the old Gremlin with the push mowers busting out the back window, numerous times with the help of his brother-in-law and key employee Doug Solheim; followed by Chris Peters that helped the business continue to grow to what it is today and with much help from Jim Tilt sticking around for as many years as he did, and of course his two kids, Jason and Amanda that have been stuck working together getting into scraps day in and day out. Cutting lawns at night and being Mr. Busybody was him, so he proceeded to work construction at many different places including Bruce Muckerheide Construction of West Bend and later went on to work at Henry R. Marohl in Wauwatosa as a heavy equipment operator, where he learned how to pick up a penny on the forks of a skid loader without hooking any dirt before later retiring.

After so-called retiring he continued working for himself and his wife driving one of their quad-axle dump trucks. A few years went by and he decided not to drive the dump trucks on a full-time basis but rather start up Eastside Landscape Supplies of West Bend that opened spring of 2005, which he not only owned and operated but was known as a relations manager that guy really knew how to jack the jaw. Throughout his wonderful, short, life he enjoyed spending the very little free time he did have with family, trillions of friends, and talking on the phone. People always said, Yeah, I seen Kevin today in his loader with a cigar hanging out of the mouth and on the phone.

He was always into speed and anything with a motor. He was into everything from four-wheeling with his CJ7 Jeep to racing his friends down the Milwaukee River with his pickup truck. He loved racing, period. He raced limited late models many years at local tracks including Plymouth, Manitowoc, and Chilton. As times got more crazy with the businesses he hung up racing but was always still involved whether he was a push truck driver for the sprint car division, spectating, or visiting down in the race shop with good friends as they worked on his son, Jasons, grand national.

His newest little gig was watching Jason race r-c trucks thinking he should even consider getting one for himself. He did enjoy having his Mustangs and telling his daughter, Amanda, that his 2013 Shelby GT500 would beat any of her cars. However, the Shelby would never leave the garage and it has no miles on it because he would never take the time off of work to actually drive it. In the winter months you would often find Kevin running around plowing snow puffing on an old cigar, splitting and hauling firewood, and watching the West Bend Bombers Hockey Team. Kevin and Dawn not only were sponsors of the West Bend Bombers Hockey Team but would also travel throughout the state to go and watch.

One thing many people wouldnt have seen in Kevin was the love he had for animals. He always enjoyed the welcome home by the howling of his daughter, Amandas, purebred Siberian Huskies as they could hear him approaching with one of the quads as he rattled the straight pipes and just couldnt resist hitting that jake brake! He was hoping to have started a dog sled team with them guys.

Kevin is further survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Dawn Juech (nee Solheim) that everyone always referred to as MOTHER; Jason Juech (special friend Kim Mertes, Kaylee, and Carson), Amanda Juech (special friend Chris Peters), Kent Juech, Merri and Dennis DeRuyter, Kurt Juech (Darla Francis), Missy Averill (Tony Wondra), Kerry and Wendy Juech, Karl Juech (Justine Bonenfant) Kris Little Kev and Melissa Juech, Debbie and Neal Carsen, Diane and John Stockhausen, Doreen Solheim, David and Mary Solheim,Doug and Kathy Solheim, many wonderful nieces and nephews; trillions of wonderful friends, and fur babies Kevin always referred to them as his mountain lions Blaze, Boss, and Saleen!

Kevin was preceded in death by his father, Melroy Juech, and mother, Judy Juech; father-in-law Donald Solheim and mother-in-law Doris Solheim; sister-in-law Dannyel Lawrence and brother-in-law James Lawrence; many fur babies: General, Peanut, Pepper, Magic, Jasper, Levi, Lucky, Mountain Lion Moochie, and the Little Guy Blake.

Due to COVID-19, private visitation is being held. Interment will take place at West Bend Cemetery Association/ Washington County Memorial Park. Celebration of life will be at a later date to be announced. The Phillip Funeral Home of West Bend is assisting the family.

Flowers or donations are greatly appreciated and can be made at the time of the celebration of life in remembrance of Kevin Juech to the American Heart Association, Plymouth Dirt Track of Plymouth, The West Bend Bombers Hockey Team of West Bend, and The Washington County Humane Society.

The family would like to thank Dr. Trivedi and his complete nursing staff along with Dr. Malik and his complete nursing staff. We would also wish to thank all past and present employees for their continued support in helping the businesses grow to what they have become today, as well as a big thank-you to all past and present customers for all their continued years of business and we look forward to doing business with them in the future. A big thank-you also to Phillip Funeral Home of West Bend and Slinger youre all family.

The Phillip Funeral Home of West Bend is assisting the family. For more information, call 262-338-2050 or visit http://www.phillipfuneralhome.com.

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Kevin T. Juech | 2020 | gmtoday.com - Greater Milwaukee Today