Buffalo-area residents are being urged to keep an eye open for their package deliveries, before those deliveries disappear from their porches and steps.

Buffalo Police are seeing an uptick in packages stolen from porches, based on daily briefings with Buffalo Police Department chiefs, according to Buffalo Police Capt. Jeff Rinaldo.

He said this is in part because people are leaving their package deliveries on their front porches longer because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"People are leaving things outside on the porch longer, probably because they're concerned with the package and are trying to let it air out. But the flip side of that is they're making it more attractive for somebody that has ill-intentions," Rinaldo said.

Even though a stolen package was reported to City of Tonawanda Police earlier this week by a resident who provided officers with home surveillance video of the theft, City of Tonawanda Police Capt. Fredrick Foels said his department has not seen an increase in package larcenies since the outbreak. That's despite the fact that more people are home during the day since the pandemic.

"I don't think thieves care, or not, if people are home. They will take the chance if they see ... packages are left on door steps," Foels said.

He noted that such larcenies are performed relatively quickly, which Foels said was the case in the most recent such theft in the City of Tonawanda.

"The thief ran from his car, plucked the package and quickly exited. Unattended packages left for a period of time is a crime of opportunity for any thief," Foels added.

Buffalo Police are reminding residents to check periodically if they are expecting the delivery of a package and bring it inside soon after it arrives.

"We would still recommend to people to take the packages into their homes as soon as possible," Rinaldo said.

If possible, he suggested letting a neighbor know they have a package delivery on their porch or temporarily take possession of the package until they get home to minimize the chance of it getting stolen.

"Be a good neighbor and take the package," Rinaldo said.

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Buffalo Police report uptick in porch package thefts - Buffalo News

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Planters on the porch - KCTV Kansas City

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE On Romney Place on Friday night, neighbors gathered on the front lawn of one of the historic houses in this quiet neighborhood, joking and checking in with each other.

The weather had warmed that evening, so it would not have been unusual for those walking their dogs to stop and chat or to call out a hello to someone on a front porch. But these are far from usual times.

Those gathered carefully, if somewhat self-consciously, kept a 6-foot distance from their neighbors at Middle Townships first Friday Night Front Porch Social (Distancing) Hour, proposed as a way to keep community connections strong while adhering to guidelines enacted to blunt the spread of COVID-19.

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE With COVID-19 infections continuing to climb statewide, Cape May Coun

Mayor Timothy Donohue proposed the idea on the community Facebook page Middle Township Coronavirus Info Group, suggesting people throughout the township go out on their front porches starting at 6 p.m.

While we should be physically distancing, we need to remain the vibrant, sharing, caring community that makes Middle Township so great, he wrote. Grab your favorite beverage and safely gather with your fellow shelter-in-placers.

He suggested greeting neighbors from a safe distance and raising a glass, and then sharing images and videos to social media. Several neighbors posted images and greetings even before the suggested start time of 6 p.m.

Residents posted photos of themselves, often with their dogs, either on lawns or porches.

They included Township Committeeman Ike Gandy and his family on their front stoop.

People in several neighborhoods throughout the township turned out.

On Poplar Avenue, Tammy Scull and her daughter Briana said they heard about the plan from their neighbors across the street, Bill and Tracey Labrum, who heard about it from their friend from around the corner, Beth Metzger, who saw it on Facebook.

Tracey Labrum is the director of the early education center at Cape Regional Medical Center. The center is usually open to the community, but under the current restrictions it only serves the children of essential personnel at the hospital. She said she is glad to be able to help the front-line medical workers, calling them heroes.

God bless the nurses and doctors, she said.

MIDDLE TOWNSHIP The township is making the most of the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.

The Poplar Avenue neighbors waved at each other from across the narrow street.

Nearby, on Romney Place, Peggy Mauger had her dog, Tonto, out for a walk and stopped by to speak with Connie Corrado and other neighbors. She said the neighborhood is filled with historic houses and has a strong sense of community, where neighbors know each others names.

Corrado was on her porch with her grandson, Nate, 8. Gail Tweed, another neighbor, left her porch to be able to speak with the others without shouting, but said she would keep the recommended distance.

She said she spent much of her day sewing masks for oncology patients where her daughter works. She said quilting groups and other organizations have organized to make protective gear.

Face masks, gloves and other supplies have been in short supply since the start of the outbreak.

With more than 13,000 cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey including nine in Cape May County, by the states count, and three in Middle Township, according to the county federal and state officials have imposed strict measures aimed at slowing the infection rate.

MIDDLE TOWNSHIP Police on Thursday notified residents that out-of-state cars parked at a t

That has included closing schools and most other gathering places and shutting nonessential businesses, measures expected to be in place for weeks at least.

But, at least for one night in Middle Township, neighbors left the light on for each other.

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Middle Township porch parties aimed at keeping neighborhood connections safely - Press of Atlantic City

EJ Dougher, known as EJ The DJ, plays music on his back yard patio at his West Scranton home on Monday, March 30, 2020. With his DJ schedule cleared for the month due to COVID-19, Dougher broadcasts a live stream dance party every afternoon on Facebook Live.Christopher Dolan / Staff Photographer

Unable to work during the coronavirus pandemic, EJ Dougher still manages to get thousands of people on their feet and dancing.

Now should be the start of the busy season for the West Scranton DJ, known as EJ the DJ. But, with weddings postponed and the school events for which he often provides music canceled, Dougher still wanted to reach an audience.

Each day, he sets up his equipment, wears his signature hat and hosts live dance parties on Facebook, from his party porch.

I thought if I could get everyone up and dancing for one hour, it would be great, he said. They forget about whats going on.

Family, friends and complete strangers say they do just that: enjoy the music from their homes, without worrying about the outbreak.

Dougher mentions birthdays and anniversaries and highlights local businesses that remain open, or businesses that people can support by buying gift certificates. His live videos are often viewed 4,000 times or more.

His wife, Penny, acts as producer, and daughters Olivia, 16, and McCae, 19, make dance party appearances too.

Its been cool, Olivia said. Its hard for him with his job, not being able to do anything. ... Its been nice to see my dad happy.

McCae thought the dance parties would just reach some of her dads friends, not people from around the world.

Its a good way to spread positivity, especially in times like this, she said.

Contact the writer:

shofius@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9133;

@hofiushallTT on Twitter

Editors note: As Northeast Pennsylvania deals with the coronavirus, residents continue to help their neighbors and serve others. Let us know about the good things happening in our communities by sending an email to the newsroom at shofius@timesshamrock.com or calling us at 570-348-9133.

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Party porch brings smiles and dancing to NEPA - Scranton Times-Tribune

"I just thought it would be so nice to do something to tell the community, 'Hey, we're still here, we're still altogether,'" DeRosa said before pausing and becoming choked up. "Even though it's so hard."

Smith's' family was DeRosa's first session. The teacher visited Smith, Jacob and her children, Marley Foltz, 10, Robert Foltz, 8, and Hagan Smith, 10 months, around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Smith said her family has largely been inside recently, so the session gave them a much-needed break from the home-bound monotony and allowed Smith to do some decorating, as she put a wreath in the background of her porch. She said they bought their house in late September last year so she wanted to "hang a big picture up." Smith said her family was appreciative of DeRosa's efforts.

"I just love her for this, and I think a lot of other people do too," Smith said.

DeRosa stressed she does not want to be paid for this and added she will be accepting donations at some point, but hasn't decided where she wants the money to go.

She talked about what keeps her balancing being a mother of three children and creating lessons for her school children and driving across Auburn for photos.

"The ability to bring happiness to others, everybody needs it right now," she said. "We need something to look forward to, we need something to make us happy."

Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau.

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Positivity on the porch: Auburn teacher photographs families during COVID-19 pandemic - The Citizen

Aspinwall, a quaint sidewalk community tucked along the Allegheny River, was tightly knit before the coronavirus hit the Pittsburgh region. Its the type of community where people gather at the coffee shop or local pub, organize block parties, hold street concerts and love a good parade. In other words, a very Pittsburgh kind of place. But with coronavirus keeping people at home, Aspinwall neighbors were missing each other.

I feel its really important to see your neighbors after such a tough week, says resident Carrie Benson. Through an Aspinwall Facebook group, she invited every resident to step outside onto their porches, stoops or balconies on Saturday to share a happy hour toast.

Its the easiest party Ive ever planned, she laughs.

Sisters Martha Lightfoot and author Sarah Tuthill toast to Aspinwall.

With wide sidewalks and ample porches, residents here are naturally social. Aspinwall is built for this type of community response to social distancing, Benson points out. All her posts, texts and word of mouth invitations worked at exactly 5 p.m., despite the chill in the air, hundreds of residents emerged from their homes, drink in hand, eager to see their neighbors.

We couldnt wait to get out here, admits resident Kristin Dowd from her apartments porch, where she and her husband, Jimmy, were greeting passers-by. People are waving, horns beeping and were all having a nice conversation. Even the fire trucks are out, Dowd says of a custom typically reserved for Aspinwalls famous Memorial Day Parade. But the best part was being able to toast to our friend across the street who, as a pharmacist, has been working tirelessly since the pandemic hit, she added.

A few blocks away, 6-year-old Niko Barii provided the highlight, treating neighbors to a live concert from his front stoop. Billed (using sidewalk chalk, of course) as Lil Elvis, his show included an original tune about the coronavirus (check out his performance in the video below).

The Kearney family joins in the porch toast.

I suggested he sing, says his mom, Megan. But I didnt expect him to prepare with a microphone and a program. A few neighbors put their chairs on their lawns and Nico said, my audience is coming.

Just keep swimming.

Just a week into the national emergency, Aspinwall residents have come up with other ways to encourage human connection that can be enjoyed from a distance.

On Saint Patricks Day, people were asked to hang pictures of shamrocks in their windows so neighborhood kids could hunt for them during their daily walk. Kids of any age were also inspired to chalk the walk, filling stoops and driveways with colorful pictures and poignant words of encouragement.

Benson and her husband Jonathan Weingarden are grateful for the community in which they plan to raise their first baby, due next month. My ultimate hope is that we keep looking for opportunities to help each other. We are all anxious for our loved ones, our families, the elderly people in our lives, she says. I take some solace in looking over at my neighbors, knowing that we are all in this together. Cheers to that.

Know of an inspiring and creative idea for get-togethers or things to do while were under quarantine? Email NEXTpittsburgh. We would love to hear from you.

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On Saturday night, hundreds of folks in Aspinwall held a porch toast - NEXTpittsburgh

Although more than a century and a quarter has passed since publication of Arthur Conan Doyles first story, Sherlock Holmes continues to inspire novels, movies, TV, and the stage. I will review some of the actors who played Holmes in this concluding essay in my Holmes duology; and assess how true each was to Conan Doyles artistic vision.

Where possible, Ill contrast each actors portrayal with the Holmes described by Dr. Watson, which I have paraphrased as, His very person was such as to strike the attention of the most casual observer. He was rather over six feet, and so lean that he seemed considerably taller. His eyes were sharp and piercing, and his thin, hawk-like nose and prominent chin gave his whole expression an air of alertness, decision, and determination.

Note that I occasionally will refer to the canon in this essay, which consists of the 56 short stories and four novels written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and published in the Strand Magazine.

This is no easy task. In 2012, one of the worlds most reliable sources, i.e., The Guiness Book of World Records, awarded the title for most portrayed literary human character in film & television to Sherlock Holmes, who had already been presented on screen, at that time, more than 250 times. He has been played. in some manner, by nearly 100 actors, including Michael Caine, Benedict Cumberbatch, Christopher Lee, Robert Downey Jr., Ian McKellen, Jonny Miller, Peter OToole, Christopher Plummer, and Basil Rathbone.

However, I will focus only on the MSM, that is, the Main-Sherlock-Media, and exclude the Sherlocks in parodies like Without a Clue, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Smarter Brother, and The Great Mouse Detective.

Sherlockian Literature After Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Award-winning American playwright, Ken Ludwig, set The Games Afoot at a cast party in 1936 Gillette Castle. Published in 2012, the play was presented at the Ivoryton Playhouse in 2017. Jim Bennet, of Mystic, has written three historical mysteries regarding William Gillette under the pen name James Walker; in these, Gillette uses his stage persona as Sherlock Holmes to investigate murders and other crimes.

In addition, a growing group of authors is writing short stories and novels in the style of Arthur Conan Doyle. Many of these pastiches are quite accurate in their portrayals and have begun to form a subcategory of popular literature.

Sherlock in the Cinema and on TV

Rather than attempt an exhaustive review of every actor who has portrayed Sherlock in any television or movie production, I will begin this review in the late 1930s with Basil Rathbones interpretation, and continue chronologically to the present.

I feel that any review of Sherlock must also consider the associated Dr. Watson. However, I will not review the concomitant LeStrade or Moriarty characters in this essay.

I dont pretend to have the expertise of Old Lyme resident David Handlers character Mitch Berger of Dorset in judging these actors, but I can certainly distinguish good acting from bad; and sloppy dialog from a well-constructed plot. Moreover, in the spirit of some current American politicians, theres absolutely no science in these assessments, although Ill start with the null hypothesis that Basil Rathbone is Sherlock, and attempt to disprove that premise.

Basil Rathbone

Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes. From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository.

In 1939, Basil Rathbone played Holmes in The Hound of the Baskervilles with Nigel Bruce as Watson. They continued through 1946 and completed 14 Sherlock Holmes movies. Almost concurrent with movie production, they also starred in a serialized radio drama, The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, that aired in the United States from late 1939 through mid-1947.

With the exception of Hound, these films were only loosely based on Arthur Conan Doyles canon, but were updated to reflect the issues of the day. Im not claiming that all 14 were great cinema; but they certainly were respectable wartime productions.

So, by mid-century, the Rathbone/Bruce team was recognized and accepted in both America and Great Britain as Holmes and Watson. Ill reference only two movies to support my claim.

In Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon, Holmes, disguised as an elderly book seller, smuggles a Swiss scientist and his advanced bomb sight into England just as the Gestapo prepared to arrest him and seize control of his laboratory. Many of the Holmes wartime movies ended with a soliloquy by Basil Rathbone. This one always brings a few tears to my eyes.

At the end of Secret Weapon, Holmes and Watson, with a contingent of the British war cabinet, are observing a squadron of Lancaster bombers equipped with the bombsight as they leave for Nazi Germany.Watson: Things are looking up, Holmes. This little Islands still on the map.Holmes: Yes. This fortress built by nature for herself; This blessed plot, this Earth, this Rome, this England.This latter line is, of course, from Act II of Richard II by William Shakespeare.

In Sherlock Holmes in Washington, Holmes breaks up a Nazi spy ring operating from a high-end D.C. antiques shop, and recovers the secret microfilmed documents that they had stolen from a murdered British intelligence agent.

As Holmes and Watson prepare to leave the District, driving towards Capitol Hill, the conversation goes like this:Holmes: Look up there ahead the Capitol, the very heart of this democracy.Watson: Democracy; the only hope for the future?Holmes: Its not given to us to peer into the mysteries of the future, but in the days to come the British and American people will, for their own safety and for the good of all, walk together in majesty, in justice, and in peace.In citing Churchills then recent address to Congress, Sherlock reminds us of how great that legislative body once was.

While Basil Rathbone was Sherlock, both physically and intellectually, Nigel Bruce regularly presented Watson as a befuddled English gentleman and a somewhat slower associate of Holmes. His interpretation of Watson is inconsistent with the more intelligent Watson of Arthur Conan Doyles canon.

Ronald HowardIn 1954, British actor Ronald Howard began a two-season run of 39 episodes on the American television series Sherlock Holmes. He played a relatively light-hearted and campy Sherlock along-side H. Marion Crawfords Dr. Watson; who played a sharp, and sometimes aggressive Watson, unlike Nigel Bruce above. Of the 39 episodes, only The Red-Headed League was based on Arthur Conan Doyles original body of work. The series included such titles as: The Case of the Texas Cowgirl, and The Case of The Shoeless Engineer. However, there were occasional allusions to the Doyle canon.

Douglas WilmerIn 1965, the BBC began its presentation of Sherlock Holmes with British classical actor Douglas Wilmer as the lead, and Nigel Stock as Watson. This sometimes noirish series continued until 1968, with 13 episodes wholly- based on the original stories. Wilmer plays a shrewd, but arrogant Holmes; and sports all the expected trappings: deerstalker cap, pipe, prominent nose, and obsessive nature. Nigel Stock is another affable, but intellectually inferior Watson.

Jeremy BrettIn the Granada Television series that aired in the UK from 1984 to 1994, Jeremy Brett played a more emotional and physically graceful Sherlock than the predecessor Sherlocks described above. His manner was more swaggering with occasional outbursts of passion used to re-focus Watson or LeStrade

His sometimes overly-precise and dramatic presentation quality demonstrate his background in musical theater. He played Freddy Eynsford-Hill in My Fair Lady. Heres a clue for you: I have often walked down this street before; but the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before. All at once am I several stories high, knowing Im on the street where you live

There were two Watsons over this decade-long series, namely David Burke and Edward Hardwicke. Both played the character as a highly intelligent and intuitive associate of Holmes, and true to Doyles canon. Many consider Jeremy Bretts characterization of Holmes as the defining Sherlock performance. To get a feel for his style, watch this video clip to see Holmes leap the couch at 221B in The Red Headed League.

Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch during filming of Sherlock in Chinatown, London. From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository.

Sherlock is a contemporized version of Arthur Conan Doyles consulting detective now operating in 21st century London. Cumberbatch is Holmes, and Martin Freeman is Watson. Thirteen 90-minute episodes were produced in this BBC/PBS series between 2010 and 2017. The Cumberbatch Holmes is more arrogant and self-centered than the predecessors described above, and less-willing to contend with Inspector LeStrades plodding manner.

The deerstalker cap is absent, although other traditional detective attire (long coat and scarf) frequently appear. I believe that, although updated with contemporary technology, and despite the unruly hair, Cumberbatchs portrayal of the character is first rate. His Holmes still has exceptional intellect, is excitable, and delights in solving puzzles no one else could solve.

Dr. Watson is a younger veteran of the Royal Army Medical Corps in the Afghan War than those reviewed above and is certainly played as a more independent self-starter. He blogs about their adventures rather than writing by hand for publication in the print media.

However, Watsons blog provides the pair some unwanted celebrity and the press begins reporting on the cases and Sherlocks sometimes eccentric personal life. Their cases, like those in the canon, come from both ordinary people and the British government.

Jonny Miller

Elementary first aired in 2012, and ran for seven seasons and over 150 episodes. There is little connection to Arthur Conan Doyles body of work beyond some character names and occasional allusions to the original stories.

Elementary is really a police procedural with Jonny Miller as Sherlock Holmes, and Lucy Liu as Dr. Joan Watson. Sherlock is a recovering drug addict and former consultant to Scotland Yard, who has re-located to a Brooklyn brownstone in present-day New York City for addiction treatment.

Watson is a former surgeon who has left practice, and is hired by Sherlocks father to assist in his rehabilitation as his sober companion. Watsons relationship with Holmes evolves from sober companion, to investigative apprentice, and into a professional crime-solving partnership with Sherlock and the NYPD.

This Holmes is, of course, indifferent to proper procedure as he works with the NYPD. one critic describes the series as, pretty good television; the stories are unpredictable, and often draw on contemporary issues like hacking, cyber-espionage, and corruption in international finance. I dont recall whether the latter was Deutsche Bank. There is a definite psychological component underlying the series and the plots often include the characters struggles to deal with their many demons.

Robert Downey Jr.

Downey is not, by any stretch of the imagination, Sherlock Holmes. Others disagree, as a third movie is apparently in progress, beyond Sherlock Holmes (2009), and A Game of Shadows (2011). His interpretation is more vulgar and more cynical than those reviewed above. There is significant violence in the plots, perhaps because the movies are targeting a less-sophisticated and/or a teenaged audience. The first two movies are totally lacking in subtlety and I think of them as the violent video games that you want your children to avoid.

Some Final Thoughts

I always pass my penultimate draft by my wife, Christina. Her comments were that, the essay is well-punctuated, but maybe a little obsessive. I agree that I punctuate well.

I have watched each of theafore-mentioned movies or TV shows at least once; either on DVD, or for the more recent ones, on television or in the theater. To explain, nine years ago next Halloween, I had just finished a two-year period during which I had almost unlimited time for reading and the media. I wasnt incarcerated or unemployed; and, although I am a Navy veteran, I was not a member of a ballistic missile submarine team rotated ashore.

I have also concluded that Senator Blumenthal does bear some resemblance to the Holmes described by Dr. Watson in the first paragraph of this essay; and certainly, his activities as Connecticut Attorney General also required some of the fundamental skills of a consulting detective. Our junior senator could, conceivably, be Watson. This is not a political column, so I wont name any of the more obvious candidates for Moriarty.

The next essay changes focus from human icons to Connecticuts iconic Long Island Sound and the rising water levels that I have observed from my porch over the past several years.

Tom Gotowka

About the author:Tom Gotowkas entire adult career has been in healthcare. He will sit on the Navy side at the Army/Navy football game. He always sit on the crimson side at any Harvard/Yale contest. He enjoys reading historic speeches and considers himself a scholar of the period from FDR through JFK.

A child of AM Radio, he probably knows the lyrics of every rock and roll or folk song published since 1960. He hopes these experiences give readers a sense of what he believes qualify him to write this column.

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A View from My Porch: Almost 100 Actors Have Played Sherlock Holmes, Who Were They (Well, Some of Them) and How Did They Do? - lymeline.com

INDIANAPOLIS Despite everything that's happening in the world right now, there are still good ones happening.

Last year, people who live in the Fountain Square area held a porch party, encouraging people to get outside and meet their neighbors.

Well, the evening is the first "Social Isolation Porch Party," and they want you to order take-out from a restaurant, get out on your porch and say "hi" to your neighbors while staying on your porch a safe distance away.

On Thursday night, the "Madness at The Vogue" fundraiser for the ALS Association of Indiana was supposed to take place. Of course, it did not.

The theater was going to issue refunds. But organizers say that most people told them to keep their ticket or table fees.

In the end, more than $40,000 was still raised for the ALS Association even without the fundraiser.

Link:
Good News Friday: Fountain Square social isolation party and The Vogue raises money for ALS - WRTV Indianapolis

Inspired by a community in Italy, the idea has taken hold in Twin Cities neighborhoods

MINNEAPOLIS Neighbors craving signs of hope are finding it in song, on their front steps, balconies and the porches of their homes.

For four nights straight, Michele Hoch has stood in front of her South Minneapolis home singing John Lennons Imagine.

For the first time, she was joined by her upstairs neighbor, Karen Smith, singing from her balcony.

Stuck at home, Karen laughs. Introverts unite.

Inspired by a community in Italy during its battle with coronavirus, the 7 p.m. nightly sing-along has gained traction on social media and spread to neighborhood across the Twin Cities.

They may be the only person on their block, but it just makes you feel connected to your community, Hoch says.

KARE 11s coverage of the coronavirus is rooted in Facts, not Fear. Visit kare11.com/coronavirus for comprehensive coverage, find outwhat you need to know about the Midwest specifically, learn more about thesymptoms, and keep tabs on thecases around the world here. Have a question? Text it to us at 763-797-7215. And get the latest coronavirus updates sent right to your inbox every morning. Subscribe to the KARE 11 Sunrise newsletter here. Help local families in need: http://www.kare11.com/give11.

The state of Minnesota has set up a hotline for general questions about coronavirus at 651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903, available 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

More information on the coronavirus:

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Minnesotans stand on balconies and porches to sing - KARE11.com

An epidemiologist answers the biggest questions she's getting about coronavirus. Wochit

Editor's note:The Star is making this story free to readers due to public health concerns related to coronavirus. Please consider a digital subscription to The Star so we can continue doing this important work.

John Gahan stepped out of his Ventura home Tuesday night, his mandolin in his hand, and sat down on the porch.

It was 8 p.m. and he started to play.

He had gotten the idea earlier while talking over the phone withhis brother-in-law in Barcelona. In home isolation because of the new coronavirus, people in the city 6,000 miles away started takinginstruments out on their balconies and played each night at 8.

They did it in honor of all those working at hospitals and clinics to save lives, his brother-in-law told him and his wife.

"I thought I could do that from here," Gahan said.

The new virus hit Ventura later than Barcelona. As the number of cases rose locally, public health officials first urged social distancingand later ordered Californians to shelter at home.

Families, classmates, friends, bands, even neighbors were physically divided as lines grew and the shelves emptied at grocery stores. Schools were closed. Gyms, bars anddine-in restaurants followed suit.

Gatherings bigger than 250 people were canceled,then those with more than 50and finally more than 10.

Before Gahan started to play that first night,he crafted an email to his fellow members of a band called Pint of Irish.

"8:00 Tonight And Every Night I Can (For At Least A While)," he wrote in the subject line.

He toldhis bandmates what his brother-in-law had told him.

"Anyway, in honor of health care workers everywhere dealing with this, I'm going to do it tonight and every night that I can for a while," he wrote. "I'llgo out on my porch and bang out a couple tunes.If anybody is interested, join me from your porch. I'll be listening."

More: Coronavirus: How you can help in Ventura County during the COVID-19 outbreak

The spot set up for a wedding at Lisa and Jeff Daniel's Santa Paula home.(Photo: Contributed photo/The Daniels)

On the same night in Santa Paula, Susie Yee stood with her husband, Dan, and watched their youngest get married.

A small group of family members sat inchairs or stood in the grass, a majestic oak tree nearby.

It wasn't how it was supposed to happen.

Laurie Yee and Landin Osbornegot engaged lastJune andhadaMarch 21 wedding scheduledata private residence and barn in Oxnard.

They had planned for nine months and felt lucky to find the spot just a mile from Laurie's childhood home. About 125 peoplewere coming, including family flying in from homes scattered around the country.

Deposits were made and then the new coronavirus swept through the U.S.

Family members who had planned to stick around after the wedding for a reunion of sortshad to cancel. The wedding also had to be called off.

"There were a lot of tears and disappointment," Susie Yee said.

But while the wedding day they planned was off,neither bride or groom wanted to wait to get married. However this crisis was going to play out, they said they wanted to go through it together.

Lisa Daniel read her friend Yee's Facebook message about the canceled wedding and reached out.

I thought, Well, they still want to get married and I have this big beautiful oak tree with green grass under it,' " she said.

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Susie and Dan Yee at the Santa Paula home where their youngest child got married last week. The bride and groom had to cancel the large wedding they had been planning for months because of the coronavirus.(Photo: Contributed photo/The Yees)

There wasnt room at the Daniels' Santa Paula home to host a big wedding. But a big wedding couldn't happen anymore.

"We trimmed everything way back," Susie Yee said. "But once we knew this was the place, it was like the clouds lifted."

The Daniels invited them to their home.A friend of her daughterdonated flowers from her farm. Another friend of the family gave them a reduced price for photos.

Even though everyone is going through tough times, Yee said, so many people put everything aside to make the night happen. And, it would happenrain or shine.

By 2 p.m. Tuesday,the raintapered off and the sun came out. Lisa and her husband, Jeff, dried off their patio chairs and set them up by the big oak, keeping them spaced apart.

I had a wooden table here in my house that I had actually hauled to San Francisco when my daughter got married for an outdoor wedding, she said. I just pulled that thing back out there, and we used it for another wedding.

In the end, most of thedetails didnt really matter.

There was a pastor.The bride had a dress, and the groom had a suit. He played a song he had written on his guitar while she walked down the aisle. Someone took video for everyone who wasn't able to be there.

"I swear it was like the best way to have a wedding," Yee said.

An old photo shows Pint of Irish practicing before coronavirus required social distancing.(Photo: Contributed photo/Mike McChesney)

At 8 on Wednesday night, Gerry McGuirecoaxed notes of a couple Irish songs from hisconcertina.

He couldn't hear the other members of Pint of Irish but knew they were out there.

The night after Gahan's email, ahalf-dozen or so played at their homes separated by miles or cities in some cases. By Thursday, the number had doubled, and on Friday night, a neighbor of the Gahans even joined in, playing a bongo drum.

Any weirdness about playing alone in the dark on his Venturapatio faded quickly, McGuire said."It's a good feeling to be doing something."

In his 80s, hehad taken the call to stay at home seriously.

"My wife had a doctor's appointment today. It was the first time we left the house since this happened," he said one day last week.

They have some family in the area and two neighbors already hadoffered to bring foodif or when they need it. One neighbor had posted some mailfor them.

"We're doing fine," McGuire said.

As he played "Merry Blacksmith" that night, his wife cheering him on from inside, he didn't know if his neighbors listened in.

"Nobody threw anything. I know that," McGuiresaid laughing."I didn't see anyone, but I imagine they were in awe."

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John Gahan, in the blue shirt, plays with Pint of Irish band members pre-coronavirus social distancing.(Photo: Contributed photo/John Gahan)

The band members choose the songs every day before 8. Mostly, they aim for up-tempo, happy tunes with some lilting melodies mixed in.

Group leader Mike McChesney, who plays the tin whistle from his Thousand Oaks porch, tried to find a video-conferencing program that they could use.

It hasn't been entirely successful, but it hasn't really mattered.

"Even though you're there kind of isolated in your front yard," he said, "you feel like you're part of a group."

That was kind of the point.

It is important to take what ishappening seriously, Gahan said. "But I also feel like life doesn't have to be dismal in such circumstances."

People can find ways to connect, check in on each other, save a weddingand maybe cheer on some health workers with a tune or two.

"It sounds like it really helps to unite people even if there is a physical distance," Gahan had typed in his message to the band.

Then, he had clicked send, grabbed a cushion and stepped outside to play.

Cheri Carlson covers the environment for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0260.

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Coronavirus canceled a wedding and band practice. But these friends didn't give up - VC Star