Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

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

TEMPLE, Texas A viewer sent 6 News a video on Facebook of a man stealing a package off of her porch. She said, the Temple Police Department told her they couldn't arrest the man at the moment because of the coronavirus. She said the TPD told her porch piracy is a felony in the State of Texas. She claimed they said they would have to get him after the pandemic ended.

So, 6 News reporter Cole Johnson reached out to the TPD to see if they arrested the man.

Spokesperson Cody Weems said in an email that the officer who was on that call wasn't working Thursday so he couldn't confirm the status in the case. But he did pull information from the report, which said it is still an active case and charges will be pursued.

"The officer located the suspect at a nearby residence. The suspect admitted to taking the package and retrieved the package from his residence," Weems said. "The officer collected statements from the individuals involved."

But, is the TPD holding off on arresting people for certain crimes because of the coronavirus?

Weems said the Bell County Sherriff's Office advised that it is not accepting inmates for certain non-violent misdemeanor offenses right now.

"Officers are issuing citations when applicable to obtaining warrants to make arrests at a later date. However, officers are continuing to make arrests for felonies and violent misdemeanors," Weems said. "To reiterate, Temple PD will continue to file charges for nonviolent offenses and will make arrests once Bell County Sheriff's Offices begins accepting inmates again for such offenses."

Major TJ Cruz of the Bell County Sheriff's Office said that when looking at arrestable offenses, it's a case by case issue. If an officer feels that someone does need to be arrested for an offense, they can contact the Bell County Jail to make arrangements.

Also on KCENTV.com:

Zabcikville Church goes up in flames, several fire departments respond to save it

Your questions answered: Experts from across Texas shared advice, insight on COVID-19 crisis

Central Texas COVID-19 live updates | Bell County reports 5 new cases, total now 51

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Porch pirates and other non-violent criminals | Should they be arrested during the coronavirus? - KCENTV.com

Have you ever experienced having the worst allergies inside your home than outside? It might be that your home has accumulated enough dust that the allergens have surfaced. There are several ways to make sure your home in California or Utah is free of any allergen.Professional duct cleaningis a popular choice for those who have larger homes but dont have the time to clean regularly. Here are other options you can do to control indoor allergens.

If you have pets that regularly shed their fur, vacuum your carpet and floors at least once a day. Depending on the size of your house, you can opt for lint rollers to manage the fur on couches, rugs, and clothes. But if your pet can access any part of your house, then you mustvacuum pet hairat least daily or every other day.

Not everyone may be allergic to pets, but once your house accumulates enough fur, it can be a cause for dust accumulation, as well. Dust can easily get stuck on a ball of pet hair and reach hard-to-see places.

When vacuuming, make sure you dont miss out on other parts of the house where dust can pile up as well. These include your window screens and curtains. If you cant wash your curtains frequently, be sure to at least vacuum it from time to time to help lessen the dust particles on the fabric.

Ever switched on your air conditioner and then found yourself sneezing uncontrollably? This is a clear indication you may need to have your filters and air ducts cleaned. Clean filters will also help you save on electricity, as your air conditioner wont be exerting too much effort to get your room cold in the shortest time possible.

If you clean indoors regularly and still find yourself getting the sniffles, then your filters and air ducts may need some deep cleaning. You can hire a professional technician to do the job. As for maintenance, you can keep air humidifiers or diffusers on for a few hours each day to keep the air clean as much as possible.

Lastly, there are times when you neglect to take a shower before going to bed, and youve managed to take home a lot of dust and dirt youve collected the entire day. Imagine doing this regularly and not changing your sheets and beddings consistently.

Apart from observing proper hygiene before going to bed, make sure to keep your bed clean by having it checked for dust mites or bed bugs and by washing your sheets regularly. Sometimes, its your pillows that cause the worst allergies without you realizing it. So be sure to replace and wash your pillowcases as frequently as possible.

Its highly important to keep every area of your house clean, whether or not it can be seen by the naked eye. Have a cleaning routine scheduled, so you never forget it and keep your home allergy-free.

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Minimize the Sneeze: What You Can Do to Reduce Allergens in Your Home - Fife Free Press

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems must be allowed to play their important role in helping essential services deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the UKs F Gas register REFCOM.

Speaking on a webinar hosted by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), Head of REFCOM, Graeme Fox, refuted rumours that air conditioning and ventilation could help to spread the virus stating that these were completely unfounded and not backed up by any scientific evidence, adding cooling and ventilation systems were not the problem, but rather they were part of the solution.

For example, by switching air handling units to full fresh air mode and temporarily disabling recirculation with heat recovery, facilities managers could ensure contaminated air was not recirculated in occupied spaces.

Health is more important than energy efficiency right now, said Fox. It is also important to keep up air change rates even in partially occupied buildings to minimise the risk of moisture, which could contain the virus, settling on internal surfaces.

Public Health England stated that transmission of the virus is thought to occur mainly through respiratory droplets generated by coughing and sneezing, and through contact with contaminated surfaces. It has not recommended any special cleaning measures for ventilation and cooling systems.

Fox said scaremongering was unhelpful to those trying to understand the threat.

The truth is that HVAC systems perform a crucial role in keeping essential services like hospitals, supermarkets, care homes and schools operating this is going to be more important than ever over the coming weeks and months, he said.

REFCOMs position is also supported by guidance fromREHVA, the European Federation of HVAC associations, which said humidification, air conditioning and duct cleaning had no practical effect on the transmission of the coronavirus.

It said: Covid-19, unlike some other viruses, is largely resistant to environmental changes and is susceptible only to high relative humidities above 80 per cent and temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius.

It is recommending that heating and cooling systems are operated normally to ensure buildings can continue to support critical activities and maintain the health and wellbeing of occupants.

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HVAC is part of the solution in helping essential services deal with Covid-19 - FMJ

Umberto Barrero* is just 25 years old, but hes already had a star-studded career in hospitality. He says that he started out washing dishes for Jean-Georges Vongerichten, before moving on to cook in kitchens run by Tom Colicchio and Stephen Starr. He now works in one of the hottest restaurants in New York at least, he used to.

Two weeks ago, most restaurants in the city were shut down as part of an industry-wide effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, and hundreds of thousands of workers lost their jobs overnight. But unlike many of his colleagues, Barrero had no unemployment checks to look forward to. The $2 trillion relief bill that will pay out $1,200 to most Americans wont apply to him either. Barrero is an undocumented worker, one of tens of thousands estimated to be laboring in the back of house of New Yorks restaurant industry. A former line cook who came to the United States from El Salvador in 2011, Barrero now has no income and has begun spending down his savings.

I dont have many other options, said Barrero, whose wife and two children relied on his income as an essential part of their budget.

Undocumented workers are a staple in New York City restaurants, so much so that theres an entire underground economy of fixers that produce paperwork, identification cards, and fake social security numbers that will pass muster for restaurant hiring. According to operators speaking on the condition of anonymity, everybody knows exactly who these people are when they see the paperwork.

But with over 26,000 restaurants in the city and a shortage of workers willing to labor for up to 12 hours a day as a line cook or a dishwasher, restaurants will hire them anyway as long as the identification appears legit and the business has plausible deniability if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) comes knocking. Some estimate that more than 20 percent of the countrys cooks are undocumented.

Government help is nearly impossible to get, even though undocumented workers in the United States pay $11.74 billion in taxes each year, equivalent to 8 percent of their incomes, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. (By comparison, the top 1 percent pays an effective 5.4 percent.) Because undocumented workers are, at least on paper, employees with social security numbers, restaurants still take taxes, unemployment, and social security out of every paycheck. But because the documentation submitted to employers is fake, when it comes time to reap the benefits of those payments, these workers are invisible to the government and get nothing.

The $2 trillion stimulus bill explicitly leaves out undocumented people, and beyond that, it also leaves out immigrants who would otherwise be able to get benefits, such as people who are filing taxes with someone who doesnt have a social security number, according to Rodrigo Camarena, director of the Immigration Advocates Network, the largest network of nonprofit legal advocates committed to defending immigrants.

This administration has made it exceedingly difficult for all immigrants to access government services and benefits, including immigrants with status, Camarena said.

Undocumented immigrant workers despite their critical role in the industry also have few industry advocates or lobbyists to help them in vulnerable times like this. Few people who Eater spoke to were willing to talk on the record about undocumented workers, at the risk of inviting an ICE raid in the middle of service; restaurateurs in particular were reluctant to speak. Organizations that specifically support undocumented workers are rare, and advocates have mostly relied on collecting money via GoFundMe.

Even the Independent Restaurant Coalition, which lobbies the government for more relief for restaurants and its workers and is backed by celebrity chefs like Tom Colicchio and Marcus Samuelsson, did not respond when contacted for comment about how they could help the undocumented workers that undoubtedly keep their kitchens running. There are few resources available for these invisible people, who often are already financially vulnerable.

I dont think that restaurants could exist without undocumented workers, said Nate Adler, who owns Gertie in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. But Adler, whose restaurant has a fairly small team that doesnt have undocs, as undocumented immigrants are commonly referred to, acknowledged that its a tricky topic to even talk about.

One of the few restaurateurs who has been outspoken about undocumented workers is Trigg Brown, who runs Win Son and Win Son Bakery in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Although he says that he has no undocumented workers at his restaurants, Browns Instagram account has been promoting a fundraiser for undocumented workers in the industry. Its raised more than $30,000, the equivalent of one weeks salary for everyone whos been earmarked for relief. The language on the beneficiaries of the fundraiser is intentionally vague to protect workers.

You have to OJ Simpson it a little, said Brown, referring to Simpsons book If I Did It. As an industry, there is an obligation for us to take care of all of our employees. Just because some people are dealing with documentation challenges doesnt mean we should screw them.

Another restaurateur, who would only speak on background, said that one of the main reasons for doing takeout was to be able to keep the undocumented dishwashers and prep cooks employed. An undocumented operator who was interviewed by New York magazine is staying open for the same reason.

Most restaurants staying open for delivery or takeout, though, are only doing a fraction of their normal volume, with a few notable exceptions. For an industry that operates on razor-thin margins, staying open may not be financially viable, to say nothing about health concerns over the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Undocumented workers rarely have access to health insurance Barrero doesnt and some restaurants are closing with worries about exposing more workers to the virus.

There are a small number of options for undocumented workers to get help besides donation funds like Browns. Restaurants like Gertie and Olmsted in Brooklyn are using funds from the Lee Initiative, a restaurant-worker nonprofit, to give away meals to unemployed restaurant workers, four days a week, and they are not asking for immigration status. There are also a limited number of foundations, churches, and nonprofits establishing funds to provide support for undocumented families. These funds are critical for immigrant families who are already afraid to access public assistance and currently find themselves unemployed and desperate for immediate assistance, said Camarena.

These programs may help undocumented workers tread water, but the tidal wave is coming. April 1 is just around the corner, and with it comes bills and rent that will be due. Restaurants and hundreds of thousands of laid off New Yorkers will face their first major make-or-break moment. For most of these undocumented workers who have been out of work for over two weeks and dont have the prospect of government aid, desperation is beginning to set in.

We can survive for one month with the cash that weve saved, said Barrero, who lives in a small Queens apartment with six other people, including his two children and wife.

Barrero theorized that he could work in construction as a day laborer as a last resort, but that was before New York banned all nonessential construction work. There is no government assistance. Something has to happen, he said. How will I pay my rent? How will I pay my bills?

Although members of Congress are already talking about another COVID-19 relief bill, senators have taken a recess until April 20. Legislation is likely a month away, and there are no guarantees there will be any relief that will positively impact undocumented workers. By then, a lot of their savings will have already run out, and Mays rent and bills will be due. Without their former front-of-house coworkers and restaurant owners to fight for them, many may end up on the street.

The tunnel for undocumented families is very long and dark, said Camarena.

*Name has been modified to protect his identity

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Coronavirus in NYC: Undocumented Restaurant Workers Are the Forgotten Victims of the Shutdown - Eater NY

Theres no single clear trend other than fear and confusion as the property world waits out the coronavirus fallout. The chaos impacts development, leasing, finance and all points between.

Here are our takes on several key situations.

RETAIL RENT PAYMENTS: The situations in flux after the Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Nike is in talks to pay half the rent on its hundreds of US stores. Prolific Manhattan broker James Famularo of Meridian Capital, whos handled many retail and restaurant leases in Manhattan, told us hes heard from many tenants asking for 50 percent reductions for the balance of 2020, some asking for three-month abatements and some mostly small, undercapitalized businesses canceling leases permanently.

Its too early to say what the norm is at this point, but nobody can pay rent while theyre closed. The only ones making money are markets and liquor stores.

COMMERCIAL LOANS: Trepp managing partner Manus Clancy said, I think its wait and hope for most lenders. Give extensions and forbearances as needed, especially when you know the developer is only having these issues because of COVID. I think that will be the case with performing loans on established hotel and retail properties for the next few months. No one wants to have to sell off assets in this market if you have an owner that is still engaged.

HOWARD HUGHES CORP.: The publicly traded Seaport District owner got a boost when Pershing Square Capital head Bill Ackman, whos also HHCs board chairman, agreed on Friday to buy 10 million additional shares of HHC stock at $50 each.

The transaction nets HHC $488 million, and leaves the company with about $1 billion in cash, which bodes well for its US properties far from South Street.

HHC said it would use the proceeds for general corporate purposes including to strengthen the balance sheet and provide liquidity. The good news wasnt enough to save 10 Corso Como, the 18,000-square-foot Italian design store and restaurant at the Seaports Fulton building. Both just closed permanently by mutual agreement between HHC and the stores owners, who attributed it partly to uncertainty caused by the pandemic.

550 MADISON AVE.: Olayan Americas investment in the former Sony tower $1.4 billion to buy and $300 million to redesign appears not to be threatened. Although the job will surely be delayed beyond a planned completion this year, sources said the company carries very low debt on the property and should be able to ride out the storm. Negotiations continue with Perella Weinberg and another prospective tenant for a large lease.

660 FIFTH AVE.: Things might not look as rosy for the tower formerly known as 666 Fifth, where Brookfield paid Kushner Cos. $1.3 billion for the ground lease in 2018. Brookfield also plans to put up to $400 million into a top-to-bottom redesign of the empty 1.5-million-square-foot tower, but the job has a long way to go.

Also, They chose the wrong time to empty the building of tenants, one observer said. And there are lingering conspiracy theories about presidential adviser Jared Kushners role and the involvement of a Qatari fund that invested in a Brookfield division. Kushner no longer has an active role in his familys company, and Qatar denied knowing about the 666 deal beforehand, but, Tenants will proceed more carefully, our source said.

A Brookfield rep said, Full construction was not contemplated until the end of the year or early next year so the construction shutdown will not have a material impact.

RESIDENTIAL CLOSINGS: Jamie Heiberger, president of Manhattan real estate law firm Heiberger & Associates, said, While offering plans generally allow for delays typically six months or a year prolonged setbacks often do kill deals because at some point the buyer can walk away. When this occurs due to an exogenous shock, it could trigger a chain reaction that causes projects to default on their loans. During the 2008 financial crisis, waves of buyers tried to renege on their deposits for new developments after real estate and stock prices collapsed.

But while, Certainly the same is possible as a result of the construction shutdown, Heiberger was optimistic that it wouldnt happen this time.

For one thing, she said, if the shutdown is over in a month or two, Construction can resume a lot faster in warm weather and make up for lost time.

And business isnt quite dead. We closed six deals last week and a few this week, compared with a past average of 40 to 60 deals each month.

Under the new rules, brokers cant show spaces. But the interruption in deed recordings isnt as disastrous as some reports made it seem.

Were doing escrow agreements and not holding up closings for condos, she said.

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How coronavirus chaos is impacting everything in the property world - New York Post

COVID-19 has hit restaurants hard, forcing many to brace for an uncertain future and even shutter permanently. But some Metro Detroit restaurants and chefs are not only figuring out ways to survive, but also give back at the same time.

Ron Bartell, owner of Kuzzos Chicken and Waffles, reopened the popular Avenue of Fashion restaurant at arguably the worst time March 14, two days before Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered all restaurants to halt dine-in services. But that hasnt stopped Bartell from giving back even though his restaurant is facing an unprecedented challenge of navigating a pandemic. Hes part of a collective of restaurateurs and chefs dubbed Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen for Good, including chefs Maxcel Hardy of Coop Caribbean Fusion, Phil Jones of Ma Haru, and Genevieve Vang of Bangkok 96 Street Food, as well as restaurateurs like Bartell and Stephanie Byrd of The Block and Flood's Bar and Grille. The chefs have been meeting at Horatio Williams Foundation to cook donated perishable food for people facing hunger and homelessness.

Bartell isnt the only one in Metro Detroit helping the community as coronavirus sweeps through Detroit and Michigan, which was fourth in the nation as of Monday afternoon for confirmed cases. From food boxes for veterans and the elderly to operating a vegan food pantry, restaurants are finding new ways to help amid their own businesses struggles.

Kuzzos had been closed for the previous several months to do renovations and train staff. While the closure was planned, the construction on Livernois moved up the timeline. After several months of being closed, Bartells staff was excited to get back to work and that weekend, the restaurant saw about 900 people come through, normal business for a Saturday and Sunday.

Then he had to change the business model midstream and cut staff from 42 to 16, Bartell says. Kuzzos is doing carryout and delivery, but Bartell says hes not sure how long its sustainable. Margins are already paper thin and we still have fixed costs that arent changing.

But the communitys support is one of the reasons why Bartell wants to help those disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

Weve been blessed over the years and the community has supported us so much. We want to help where we can. [The pandemic] puts things into perspective. Money and notoriety arent everything but having each others backs, that means everything.

David Rudolph, publicist for the restaurant and most of the chefs involved in the culinary collaborative effort, says Bartell was one of the first who expressed interest in finding a way to help people in need. Then Byrd of Midtowns The Block had perishable items that would otherwise go to waste, and Hardy offered to cook whatever was available.

These owners and chefs are committed to helping Detroit so they donated some of their perishable foods to help feed those in need, Rudolph says, adding It's tough enough dealing with a worldwide pandemic, then to be homeless, hungry, and for many not knowing when, or where to find their next meal. Some may call us stupid, foolish or crazy but we are leaders who lead, want to make a difference and will not cower to the coronavirus.

Another restaurant business looking to give back is Nosh Pit in Hamtramck. The vegan restaurant is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for carryout but has lost most of its business. Last year, about 30% of Nosh Pits sales came from the restaurant, and the rest came from catering and events, says co-owner Karen Schultz. She estimates from the canceled events, the restaurant is losing $30-50,000 a month.

Despite those losses, the restaurant has found a way to spur sales while helping out through a new program that offers an anonymous way for people in need to get vegan groceries or hot meals. People can seek or offer help on Nosh Pits website, and its bringing people in, Schultz says.

We're doing the best we can. And what's nice is [customers] are buying gifts for other people and that is keeping more business going in our restaurant, she says.

From the first weekend they started, they gave away $120 in free meals and fulfilled 16 requests for grocery items. It started with trying to connect people with items like gluten-free bread, then a request from Sasha Farms for help with grocery shopping, then collecting and redistributing produce from producers.

I inadvertently set up a vegan food pantry, she says.

The pandemic has been hard on the business and her personally but Schultz says, I'm choosing to do what I can to help other people while still helping my business.

Over at Indo restaurant in Keego Harbor in Oakland County, Southwest Detroit native Nik Alonzo and his wife, Melik, started preparing for the pandemic before it took a foothold in Michigan a couple of weeks ago. The two lived in Hong Kong for several years where they still have friends, and Alonzo was hearing from them the severity of the situation. Indo enacted safety protocols, including not allowing customers or vendors into the building, to reduce exposure and slid carry-out orders through their roll-up garage dooreven before the mandate from the governor to close. That week, business was horrible, he says.

By the following week, business picked up again. He also got an idea while delivering food to a friend, a veteran with several health problems. The friend was self-isolating to stay healthy and called Alonzo if he had any food, and Alonzo was happy to deliver some.

On his way back to the restaurant, I'm just thinking to myself, you know, I bet you there's a lot of veterans that are in the exact same spot that he's in right now. They can't and maybe don't have any friends or [other support].

The Alonzos started providing food boxes for veterans, elderly, and at-risk residents, and began crowdfunding to pay for the meals, raising about $1,500 so far. Theyve been able to provide 20 meals a day for people in need for the past two weeks. He adds that he's looking for another restaurant to partner up to help and make food on days Indo can't.

Since we started this program for the veterans that actually increased our business a lot, he says. People want to help people that are helping out in their community.

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Amid challenges brought on by COVID-19, Metro Detroit chefs and restaurants find ways to give back - Concentrate

There are no new Portland restaurants in the time of COVID-19. Somehow, though, there is new pizza. Chef Joshua McFadden's new joint, Cicoria, wasn't supposed to open until spring or early summer inside the former Roman Candle space, which is still under construction. But the "tavern-style" pie developed by McFadden and baker Daniel Green was already dialed in. So with McFadden's other restaurants, Ava Gene's and Tusk, pivoting to socially distanced takeout, adding pizza to the dinner menu just made sense. Call it the longest, biggest "friends and family" preview ever. There are four standard piescheese, pepperoni, white and pomodoroplus a daily special. You can also get everything from eggs and raw cookie dough to Tusk labne and McFadden's Caesar dressing. Order online, pull into the parking lot at a pre-appointed time, open your trunk, and let an Ava Gene's staffer bring it out to you.

The pizzas are cut cross- and length-wise into little squaresthe "party" or "tavern" cut found all over the Midwest, originally in bars that had no kitchen. Not all pieces are the same. "It's like a personality test almost," says McFadden. "Like who wants a little corner, who wants the square one, who wants the inside ones? It's become kind of a funny little game at the restaurant."

But Cicoria brings quality ingredients to a style of pizza originally meant to be washed down with Schlitz. The flour is freshly milled and regional, the crust is 50 percent whole wheat, and while it's crispier than Neapolitan or a foldable New York slice, it's neither buttery nor greasy like Chicago thin crust.

The pies feature a mix of fresh mozzarella, which is hand-pulled in-house, and aged mozzarella, uncooked sauce (California tomatoes milled with salt) and Italian oregano, which comes dried on its branches. "For whatever reasonwell, no surprisethey do it best," says McFadden. "It's quite concentrated and very fragrant."

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Joshua McFadden Opened a New Pizza Restaurant in the Middle of a Pandemic. Thank Goodness. - Willamette Week

A lengthy improvement project to County Home Road begins on Monday. Getting to the completion is going to result in inconvenience for many Linn County drivers over the next 17 months.

The construction will cover County Home Road from North Center Point Road to the bridge a half-mile west of Highway 13. Work begins Monday, April 6 with the closure of County Home Road for work on Phases 2 and 3 (in green and purple below). Phase 1 (in orange below) is expected to begin in September of 2020.

The construction will consist of concrete paving and the addition of right and left-turn lanes at every intersection. Single-lane roundabouts are also being added at the C Avenue Extension and Alburnett Road intersections. Each roundabout will be designed to handle farm equipment and large trucks.

During the construction, only local traffic will be allowed on County Home Road. Traffic can cross County Home Road at any of the intersections that are not under construction at a given time. As long as there's no fresh concrete, local traffic will be able to access their properties.

A detour will be in effect for all other County Home Road traffic throughout the project. The detour is shown in the graphic above (in red). Here are the specifics:

Horsfield Construction of Epworth, Iowa is responsible for the nearly $8 million project. The contract calls for 240 working days to complete the upgrades. It's expected to be finished in August of 2021.

You can learn more about the County Home Road improvement project HERE.

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County Home Road Construction/Closures Begin Next Week - khak.com