washingtontimes--2020-12-13--UK, EU say talks will continue on post-Brexit trade deal

BRUSSELS ( AP ) - Throwing overboard a self-imposed deadline , the European Union and Britain said Sunday they will “ go the extra mile ” to clinch a post-Brexit trade agreement that would avert New Year ’ s chaos and cost for cross-border commerce .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had set Sunday as the decisive moment for a breakthrough or breakdown in deadlocked negotiations .
But they stepped back from the brink , saying there was too much at stake not to make a final push .
“ Despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and despite the fact that deadlines have been missed over and over , we both think it is responsible at this point in time to go the extra mile , ” von der Leyen said .
Johnson said the two sides were “ still very far apart on some key things.
” “ But where there ’ s life , there ’ s hope we ’ re going to keep talking to see what we can do , ” he said .
The two sides ’ negotiators were continuing to talk in Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than three weeks until the U.K. leaves the economic embrace of the 27-nation bloc .
Johnson played down hopes of a breakthrough , saying the “ most likely ” outcome was that the two sides wouldn ’ t reach a deal and would trade on World Trade Organization terms , with the tariffs and barriers that would bring .
European Council President Charles Michel welcomed the extension of talks , saying “ we should do everything to make a deal possible , ” but warned there could be a deal “ at any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a good deal , a deal that respects these principles of economic fair play and , also , these principles of governance.
” Months of tense and often testy negotiations gradually whittled differences down to three key issues : fair-competition rules , mechanisms for resolving future disputes and fishing rights .
They remain unresolved .
It has been four and a half years since Britons voted by 52 % -48 % to leave the EU and - in the words of the Brexiteers ’ slogan - “ take back control ” of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It took more than three years of wrangling before Britain left the bloc ’ s political structures on Jan. 31 .
Disentangling economies that have become closely entwined as part of the EU ’ s single market for goods and services took even longer .
The U.K. has remained part of the single market and customs union during an 11-month post-Brexit transition period .
That means so far , many people will have noticed little impact from Brexit .
On Jan. 1 , it will feel real .
New Year ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a deal .
No longer will goods and people be able to move between the U.K. and its continental neighbors .
Exporters and importers face customs declarations , goods checks and other obstacles .
EU nationals will no longer be able to live and work in Britain without a visa - though that doesn ’ t apply to the more than 3 million already there — and Britons can no longer automatically work or retire in the EU .
There are still unanswered questions about huge areas , including security cooperation between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the EU market for Britain ’ s huge financial services sector .
Without a deal , the disruption would be far greater .
The U.K. government has acknowledged a chaotic exit is likely to bring gridlock at Britain ’ s ports , temporary shortages of some goods and price increases for staple foodstuff .
Tariffs will be applied to many U.K. goods , including 10 % on cars and more than 40 % on lamb .
JStill , ohnson says the U.K. will “ prosper mightily ” on those terms .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with increasing urgency .
“ The 11th hour has passed and every passing moment of uncertainty makes it harder for businesses to prepare effectively for January 1 , ” said Helen Dickinson , chief executive of the British Retail Consortium .
“ Both sides must double down and do what is necessary to agree a zero-tariff agreement , or else it will be the public that pay the price of this failure.
” While both sides want a deal on the terms of a new relationship , they have fundamentally different views of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Britain will slash social and environmental standards and pump state money into U.K. industries , becoming a low-regulation economic rival on the bloc ’ s doorstep , so is demanding strict “ level playing field ” guarantees in exchange for access to its markets .
The U.K. government claims the EU is trying to bind Britain to the bloc ’ s rules and regulations indefinitely , rather than treating it as an independent nation .
Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya said a no-deal Brexit would be a “ double whammy ” for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Britain ’ s belligerent tabloid press urged Johnson to stand firm , and floated the prospect of Royal Navy vessels patrolling U.K. waters against intruding European vessels .
But others , in Britain and across the EU , urged the two sides to keep talking .
Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin , whose economy is more entwined with Britain ’ s than any other EU state , said he “ fervently ” hoped the talks wouldn ’ t end Sunday .
“ Even at the 11th hour , the capacity in my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the European Union to conclude a deal that is in all our interests , ” Martin told the BBC .
Follow all AP stories about Brexit and British politics at https : //apnews.com/hub/brexit

BRUSSELS (AP) - Teetering on the brink of a no-deal Brexit departure, Britain and the European Union stepped back from the void Sunday and agreed to continue trade talks, although both downplayed the chances of success.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen ditched a self-imposed deadline and promised to “go the extra mile” to clinch a post-Brexit trade agreement that would avert New Year’s chaos and costs for cross-border commerce.
“Where there’s life, there’s hope,” said Johnson, offering little else as rationale to keep on with talks that have struggled to make headway for most of the year and need to be finished before Jan. 1, when the transition period for Britain, which left the EU last January, ends.
With hundreds of thousands of jobs and tens of billions in trade at stake, von der Leyen said after her phone call with Johnson that “we both think it is responsible at this point in time to go the extra mile.”
All this, she added, “despite the exhaustion after almost a year of negotiations and despite the fact that deadlines have been missed over and over.”
U.K. and EU negotiators were still talking at EU headquarters on Sunday, with less than three weeks to go until the U.K. leaves the economic embrace of the 27-nation bloc.
But their leaders failed to present visible progress on any of the outstanding issues of fair-competition rules, mechanisms for resolving future disputes and fishing rights.
Johnson said the “most likely” outcome was that the two sides wouldn’t reach a deal and would trade on World Trade Organization terms, with the tariffs and barriers that would bring.
European Council President Charles Michel warned there could not be a deal “at any price, no. What we want is a good deal, a deal that respects these principles of economic fair play.”
It remains unclear how much of the gap between the two sides is negotiating tactics and how much reflects fundamental differences that make a deal unlikely.
“Negotiations need to have a purpose,” said Fabian Zuleeg of the EPC think tank. “We just spent another 4-5 days not moving forward, so adding more days doesn’t really help.”
He said the extension of talks just seems an indication “that neither side wants to be blamed for no deal.”
It has been four and a half years since Britons voted narrowly to leave the EU and - in the words of the Brexiteers’ slogan - “take back control” of the U.K.’s borders and laws.
It took more than three years of wrangling before Britain left the bloc’s political structures on Jan. 31. Disentangling economies that have become closely entwined as part of the EU’s single market for goods and services took even longer.
The U.K. has remained part of the single market and customs union during an 11-month post-Brexit transition period. That means so far, many people will have noticed little impact from Brexit.
On Jan. 1, it will feel real. New Year’s Day will bring huge changes, even with a deal. No longer will goods and people be able to move between the U.K. and its continental neighbors.
Exporters and importers face customs declarations, goods checks and other obstacles. EU citizens will no longer be able to live and work in Britain without a visa - though that doesn’t apply to the more than 3 million already there — and Britons can no longer automatically work or retire in the EU.
There are still unanswered questions about significant areas, including security cooperation between the two sides and access to the EU market for Britain’s huge financial services sector.
Without a deal, the disruption would be far greater. The U.K. government has acknowledged a chaotic exit is likely to bring gridlock at Britain’s ports, temporary shortages of some goods and price increases for staple foods. Tariffs will be applied to many U.K. goods, including 10% on cars and more than 40% on lamb, hurting the U.K. economy as it struggles to rebound from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Johnson insists the U.K. will still “prosper mightily” on those terms but British businesses have been sounding the alarm with increasing urgency.
“The 11th hour has passed and every passing moment of uncertainty makes it harder for businesses to prepare effectively for Jan. 1,” said Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium.
While both sides want a deal, they have fundamentally different views of what it entails. The EU fears Britain will slash social and environmental standards and pump state money into U.K. industries, becoming a low-regulation economic rival on the bloc’s doorstep, so is demanding strict “level playing field” guarantees in exchange for access to its market.
The U.K. government claims the EU is trying to bind Britain to the bloc’s rules and regulations indefinitely, rather than treating it as an independent nation.
Johnson on Sunday repeated his willingness to go to Brussels or other European capitals if it would help seal a deal. His attempts to speak directly to key national leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have been rebuffed by the EU, which says the Commission speaks for all EU nations in the Brexit negotiations.
Britain’s belligerent tabloid press urged Johnson to stand firm, and floated the prospect of Royal Navy vessels patrolling U.K. waters against intruding European fishing vessels.
But others, in Britain and across the EU, urged the two sides to keep talking.
“Every opportunity to still reach an agreement is highly welcome,” said Merkel.
Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya said a no-deal Brexit would be a “double whammy” for economies already battered by the pandemic.
Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, whose economy is more entwined with Britain’s than any other EU nation, said “even at the 11th hour, the capacity in my view exists for the United Kingdom and the European Union to conclude a deal that is in all our interests.”
___
Jill Lawless reported from London. John Leicester contributed from Paris
___
Follow all AP stories about Brexit and British politics at https://apnews.com/hub/brexit


washingtontimes--2020-12-13--1 man killed, 3 others wounded in Long Island deli shooting

COPIAGUE , N.Y. ( AP ) - One man was killed and three others were wounded in a shooting at @ @ @ @ @ police said .
Suffolk County police responded to a report of shots fired at the @ @ @ @ @ Copiague just after 6 p.m. Saturday .
When they arrived they found four men had @ @ @ @ @ was pronounced dead at the scene .
His name was not immediately released .
Deli @ @ @ @ @ , as well as Juan Ramone Avilla Roque , 30 , and Daniel E. Acosta @ @ @ @ @ to hospitals with serious injuries , police said .
No arrests have been made .

COPIAGUE, N.Y. (AP) - A suspect is in custody after one man was killed and three others were wounded in a shooting at a Long Island deli, police said.
Suffolk County police responded to a report of shots fired at the La Vaquita Corp. deli in Copiague just after 6 p.m. Saturday. When they arrived they found four men had been shot.
One man was pronounced dead at the scene. His name was not immediately released. Deli owner Bolivar Rodriguez, 61, as well as Juan Ramone Avilla Roque, 30, and Daniel E. Acosta, 40, were taken to hospitals with serious injuries, police said.
On Sunday, police said Dionicio Calderon-Oseguera, 62, of Copiague was arrested and is to be arraigned Monday on murder and attempted murder charges. It could not be determined if he has a lawyer to comment for him.


washingtontimes--2020-12-13--DOJ probe of Catholic church abuse goes quiet 2 years later

PHILADELPHIA ( AP ) - Two years ago , the U.S. attorney in Philadelphia joined the long line of ambitious prosecutors investigating the Roman Catholic Church ’ s handling of priest-abuse complaints .
The Justice Department had never brought a conspiracy case against the church , despite exhaustive reports that showed its long history of burying abuse complaints in secret archives , transferring problem priests to new parishes , silencing accusers and fighting laws to benefit child sex assault victims .
U.S. Attorney William McSwain sent subpoenas to bishops across Pennsylvania asking them to turn over their files and submit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The FBI interviewed at least six accused priests , court files show .
But as McSwain ’ s tenure likely nears its end with President-elect Joe Biden set to take office next month , there ’ s no sign that any sweeping church indictment is afoot .
So far , the case has yielded a single arrest : an 82-year-old defrocked priest , Robert Brennan , charged with lying to FBI agents who showed up at his door .
The filings in that case , though , are revealing .
They show the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the broader church probe five months after McSwain set his sights on it .
“ I can say with confidence that this team has been extraordinarily thorough and that this investigation is now on the wind-down , ” an FBI agent wrote in a March 22 , 2019 , memo to McSwain ’ s office .
Victim advocates who have long sought a full reckoning over the alleged cover-up by church officials are disappointed , but perhaps not surprised .
McSwain is far from the first prosecutor to wonder if the Catholic Church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially before it adopted its “ Dallas Charter ” for the protection of children in 2002 , was the work of a criminal enterprise .
“ Everyone wants a RICO investigation , ” said victim advocate Zach Hiner , referring to the criminal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act statute .
“ There ’ s no doubt that these kind of stories can get people ’ s hopes up , and when they fizzle out , it leads to a ‘ People don ’ t believe us , ’ ‘ The church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Hiner , executive director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests .
“ But I think the mere fact that we ’ re even talking about it is something that people should be hopeful about.
” In Pennsylvania alone , at least four other state and local prosecutors spent years investigating the church and produced harrowing grand jury reports in 2005 , 2011 , 2016 and 2018 , each time concluding they could not indict any bishops or the church itself because of the years that had passed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrest of Monsignor William Lynn , an aide to the long-reigning Philadelphia Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua .
Lynn was convicted of child endangerment in 2012 and spent two years in prison , but twice had his conviction overturned .
His third trial was getting under way in March when the city courthouse shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic .
McSwain ’ s investigation came on the heels of Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro ’ s two-year probe , which culminated in an explosive report issued in August 2018 .
Shapiro detailed Catholic clergy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 70 years in Pennsylvania .
Many of his peers around the country followed suit .
Just last month , New York Attorney General Letitia James sued the Buffalo diocese and two former bishops over an alleged cover-up .
And , nationwide , U.S. dioceses have tallied complaints from 17,000 people and paid out about $ 4 billion to victims since the 1980s , a figure that could double given recent lookback laws that give them more time to sue .
But few prosecutors have filed criminal charges against any church leaders or diocese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the complaints .
McSwain may have run into the same problem .
He declined to speak with The Associated Press about the case .
“ Agents reviewed tens of thousands of documents from the archdiocese that local law enforcement had also reviewed in the previous investigations ; those documents revealed no apparent prosecutable federal offenses , but suggested additional investigative steps were warranted , ” McSwain said in a motion filed in Brennan ‘ s case , explaining the need to interview him along with “ numerous clergy , church personnel , victims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , director of Fordham University ’ s Center on Religion and Culture , thinks some of the recent investigations may be politically motivated , now that it ’ s popular to take on not just predator priests but those who enabled them .
“ Fifteen years ago , you didn ’ t want to offend the bishop , you wanted to work with the diocese .
Now , the political calculus says go for it , ” Gibson said .
“ I ’ m all for taking dioceses to task , but … @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI agents had told McSwain ’ s office before interviewing Brennan that “ none of the abuse allegations appear to have a federal nexus ” needed to charge him .
They nonetheless visited the home he shared with a retired priest in Perryville , Maryland , for more than an hour .
Public defenders Catherine Henry and Katrina Young in court papers called it “ outrageous ” that they spoke with Brennan and searched his computer without contacting his longtime lawyer .
They want the charges thrown out .
Brennan had been arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the abuse charges were dropped when the accuser died weeks later .
The same lawyer represented him in a related lawsuit for the next five years .
Brennan gave the agents that lawyer ’ s contact information .
The judge has not yet ruled on whether to dismiss the case .
Brennan is charged with lying when he said he did not know the accuser despite a graduation photo showing them together .
Brennan , who said the student was just one of many at the large school , is free on bail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ belatedly taking steps to address the abuse problem , and thinks public officials should turn some of their attention to child abuse happening elsewhere .
He called Shapiro ’ s report important , but “ an excavation of the past.
” However , lawyer Mitch Garabedian , who helped expose the church abuse scandal in the Boston archdiocese in 2002 , still hopes to see a federal racketeering case .
“ Many victims and survivors desperately want the federal government to prosecute the Catholic church for these crimes because it will help victims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a safer place for children , ” he said Thursday .
“ The RICO action probably would be appropriate .
”

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Two years ago, the U.S. attorney in Philadelphia joined the long line of ambitious prosecutors investigating the Roman Catholic Church’s handling of priest-abuse complaints.
The Justice Department had never brought a conspiracy case against the church, despite exhaustive reports that showed its long history of burying abuse complaints in secret archives, transferring problem priests to new parishes, silencing accusers and fighting laws to benefit child sex assault victims.
U.S. Attorney William McSwain sent subpoenas to bishops across Pennsylvania asking them to turn over their files and submit to grand jury testimony if asked. The FBI interviewed at least six accused priests, court files show.
But as McSwain’s tenure likely nears its end with President-elect Joe Biden set to take office next month, there’s no sign that any sweeping church indictment is afoot. So far, the case has yielded a single arrest: an 82-year-old defrocked priest, Robert Brennan, charged with lying to FBI agents who showed up at his door.
The filings in that case, though, are revealing. They show the FBI had reached a dead end in the broader church probe five months after McSwain set his sights on it.
“I can say with confidence that this team has been extraordinarily thorough and that this investigation is now on the wind-down,” an FBI agent wrote in a March 22, 2019, memo to McSwain’s office.
Victim advocates who have long sought a full reckoning over the alleged cover-up by church officials are disappointed, but perhaps not surprised.
McSwain is far from the first prosecutor to wonder if the Catholic Church’s handling of sex assault complaints, especially before it adopted its “Dallas Charter” for the protection of children in 2002, was the work of a criminal enterprise.
“Everyone wants a RICO investigation,” said victim advocate Zach Hiner, referring to the criminal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act statute.
“There’s no doubt that these kind of stories can get people’s hopes up, and when they fizzle out, it leads to a ‘People don’t believe us,’ ‘The church is going to win’ mentality,” said Hiner, executive director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. “But I think the mere fact that we’re even talking about it is something that people should be hopeful about.”
In Pennsylvania alone, at least four other state and local prosecutors spent years investigating the church and produced harrowing grand jury reports in 2005, 2011, 2016 and 2018, each time concluding they could not indict any bishops or the church itself because of the years that had passed.
The closest anyone came was the 2011 arrest of Monsignor William Lynn, an aide to the long-reigning Philadelphia Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua. Lynn was convicted of child endangerment in 2012 and spent two years in prison, but twice had his conviction overturned. His third trial was getting under way in March when the city courthouse shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.
McSwain’s investigation came on the heels of Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s two-year probe, which culminated in an explosive report issued in August 2018. Shapiro detailed Catholic clergy abuse involving more than 1,000 victims over 70 years in Pennsylvania. Many of his peers around the country followed suit.
Just last month, New York Attorney General Letitia James sued the Buffalo diocese and two former bishops over an alleged cover-up.
And, nationwide, U.S. dioceses have tallied complaints from 17,000 people and paid out about $4 billion to victims since the 1980s, a figure that could double given recent lookback laws that give them more time to sue. But few prosecutors have filed criminal charges against any church leaders or diocese, usually because of the age of the complaints.
McSwain may have run into the same problem. He declined to speak with The Associated Press about the case.
“Agents reviewed tens of thousands of documents from the archdiocese that local law enforcement had also reviewed in the previous investigations; those documents revealed no apparent prosecutable federal offenses, but suggested additional investigative steps were warranted,” McSwain said in a motion filed in Brennan’s case, explaining the need to interview him along with “numerous clergy, church personnel, victims, and other laypersons.”
David Gibson, director of Fordham University’s Center on Religion and Culture, thinks some of the recent investigations may be politically motivated, now that it’s popular to take on not just predator priests but those who enabled them.
“Fifteen years ago, you didn’t want to offend the bishop, you wanted to work with the diocese. Now, the political calculus says go for it,” Gibson said. “I’m all for taking dioceses to task, but … when is it grandstanding?”
The FBI agents had told McSwain’s office before interviewing Brennan that “none of the abuse allegations appear to have a federal nexus” needed to charge him. They nonetheless visited the home he shared with a retired priest in Perryville, Maryland, for more than an hour.
Public defenders Catherine Henry and Katrina Young in court papers called it “outrageous” that they spoke with Brennan and searched his computer without contacting his longtime lawyer. They want the charges thrown out. Brennan had been arrested by Philadelphia prosecutors in 2013, but the abuse charges were dropped when the accuser died weeks later. The same lawyer represented him in a related lawsuit for the next five years. Brennan gave the agents that lawyer’s contact information.
The judge has not yet ruled on whether to dismiss the case. Brennan is charged with lying when he said he did not know the accuser despite a graduation photo showing them together. Brennan, who said the student was just one of many at the large school, is free on bail.
Gibson believes the church is now belatedly taking steps to address the abuse problem, and thinks public officials should turn some of their attention to child abuse happening elsewhere. He called Shapiro’s report important, but “an excavation of the past.”
However, lawyer Mitch Garabedian, who helped expose the church abuse scandal in the Boston archdiocese in 2002, still hopes to see a federal racketeering case.
“Many victims and survivors desperately want the federal government to prosecute the Catholic church for these crimes because it will help victims try to heal and make the world a safer place for children,” he said Thursday. “The RICO action probably would be appropriate.”
___
Follow Maryclaire Dale on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Maryclairedale


washingtontimes--2020-12-13--Restaurant owners consider loans, house sales to keep afloat

For the past 27 years , the husband-and-wife owners of the Water Street Cafe have worked to make their restaurant a beloved establishment in the seaside borough of Stonington , Connecticut .
But less than a year after the coronavirus hit , they ’ re just trying to keep the doors open as their financial options dwindle .
Now with winter weather putting an end to indoor dining as the rate of COVID-19 infections heats up , they ’ re bracing for the possibility that all indoor dining in Connecticut might close again .
“ It ’ s very overwhelming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has considered selling the couple ’ s house and moving above the restaurant .
“ My husband and I are in our 60s … We ’ re just short of a few years of retiring .
If we were to lose our restaurant , it means we have to go out and look for work at our age.
” More than 600 restaurants have closed statewide since the pandemic began , according to Scott Dolch , executive director of the Connecticut Restaurant Association , who warns the final number could be in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owners , especially those with small restaurants , worry their businesses might not make it through the winter after they ’ ve already burned through personal savings , forgone paychecks , taken out loans and run up credit card debt .
That ’ s in addition to slashing staff and hours .
“ I will just be blunt .
This has been the most difficult time our industry , right now , has faced since this pandemic started .
And it ’ s extremely scary , ” he said during a recent conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know what tomorrow brings for their industry.
” Should indoor dining close again , Hayes-Houlihan said the “ best-case scenario ” for her restaurant , which she co-owns with husband and chef Walter Houlihan , is to weather the coming months by relying on take-out sales , donations - one customer left a $ 5,000 check on her car windshield - and any government assistance that might become available .
“ But I will say in the same breath that each day , each week that we are open … if we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the fixed costs , then it ’ s a losing proposition , ” she said .
The restaurant association is pushing for a greater share of the state ’ s federal COVID-19 relief funds to go toward larger grants to restaurants .
Connecticut is offering grants of up to $ 5,000 , which Dolch said is not enough .
Some frustrated owners have gone to court .
On Friday , the state Supreme Court heard arguments in a lawsuit filed by a Milford pub owner challenging Gov .
Ned Lamont ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been shuttered throughout the pandemic .
A group of small business owners , including two restauranteurs , have made similar arguments in a separate lawsuit .
Lamont , a Democrat , said he understands the “ incredible distress ” restaurants are going through , and has so far allowed indoor dining to remain at 50 % capacity , despite demands from medical professionals to end it .
But it ’ s questionable whether the state will have the money to provide larger grants .
Gina Pellrine , who has owned Rod ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the $ 5,000 state grant .
While she ’ ll be grateful to get the money , it ’ s not enough .
Her electric utility bill alone is more than $ 2,500 at her small diner , where net income has plummeted 44 % compared to 2019 .
“ The money ’ s not coming in .
I ’ m scrimping by to pay my landlord .
And I have to morally .
It ’ s just wrong not to , ” she said .
With her wait staff cut back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get prep work done before customers arrive .
She stopped taking a paycheck and making monthly retirement deposits when the pandemic first hit .
She has since refinanced her home mortgage and charged supplies to her credit card .
Pellrine also took out a $ 80,000 loan for emergencies and is considering selling or renting out her vacation home if things get worse .
At this point , she ’ s unwilling to give up , even if she ’ s forced to rely on her takeout and prepared meals business .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
“ People rely on me.
” In Storrs , Nancy McKenney , co-owner of Hops 44 , said business has been “ horrendous ” in recent weeks .
Last Sunday , there were only seven tables of patrons all day in the brew pub that has about 20 tables indoors .
“ We still have operating costs , so those don ’ t change .
My rent doesn ’ t change .
My electricity doesn ’ t change .
My labor doesn ’ t change .
I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just standing around , ” she said , estimating business is down 60 % from last year .
McKenney and her husband , who both have jobs apart from the restaurant , dipped into their savings to help cover costs .
But McKenney isn ’ t willing to do much more than that .
“ I ’ ll close the doors before I take out another loan , ” she said .
“ I ’ ll close the doors first because I ’ m not going to put myself in that situation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only income .
”

For the past 27 years, the husband-and-wife owners of the Water Street Cafe have worked to make their restaurant a beloved establishment in the seaside borough of Stonington, Connecticut. But less than a year after the coronavirus hit, they’re just trying to keep the doors open as their financial options dwindle.
Now with winter weather putting an end to indoor dining as the rate of COVID-19 infections heats up, they’re bracing for the possibility that all indoor dining in Connecticut might close again.
“It’s very overwhelming,” said Stephanie Hayes-Houlihan, who has considered selling the couple’s house and moving above the restaurant. “My husband and I are in our 60s … We’re just short of a few years of retiring. If we were to lose our restaurant, it means we have to go out and look for work at our age.”
More than 600 restaurants have closed statewide since the pandemic began, according to Scott Dolch, executive director of the Connecticut Restaurant Association, who warns the final number could be in the thousands without more government help.
Many owners, especially those with small restaurants, worry their businesses might not make it through the winter after they’ve already burned through personal savings, forgone paychecks, taken out loans and run up credit card debt. That’s in addition to slashing staff and hours.
“I will just be blunt. This has been the most difficult time our industry, right now, has faced since this pandemic started. And it’s extremely scary,” he said during a recent conference call. “They don’t know what tomorrow brings for their industry.”
Should indoor dining close again, Hayes-Houlihan said the “best-case scenario” for her restaurant, which she co-owns with husband and chef Walter Houlihan, is to weather the coming months by relying on take-out sales, donations - one customer left a $5,000 check on her car windshield - and any government assistance that might become available.
“But I will say in the same breath that each day, each week that we are open … if we cannot cover the fixed costs, payroll and the fixed costs, then it’s a losing proposition,” she said.
The restaurant association is pushing for a greater share of the state’s federal COVID-19 relief funds to go toward larger grants to restaurants. Connecticut is offering grants of up to $5,000, which Dolch said is not enough.
Some frustrated owners have gone to court. On Friday, the state Supreme Court heard arguments in a lawsuit filed by a Milford pub owner challenging Gov. Ned Lamont’s authority to close bars, which have been shuttered throughout the pandemic. A group of small business owners, including two restauranteurs, have made similar arguments in a separate lawsuit.
Lamont, a Democrat, said he understands the “incredible distress” restaurants are going through, and has so far allowed indoor dining to remain at 50% capacity, despite demands from medical professionals to end it. But it’s questionable whether the state will have the money to provide larger grants.
Gina Pellrine, who has owned Rodd’s Restaurant in Bristol since 1988, applied for the $5,000 state grant. While she’ll be grateful to get the money, it’s not enough. Her electric utility bill alone is more than $2,500 at her small diner, where net income has plummeted 44% compared to 2019.
“The money’s not coming in. I’m scrimping by to pay my landlord. And I have to morally. It’s just wrong not to,” she said.
With her wait staff cut back, Pellrine arrives at 2 a.m. to get prep work done before customers arrive. She stopped taking a paycheck and making monthly retirement deposits when the pandemic first hit. She has since refinanced her home mortgage and charged supplies to her credit card. Pellrine also took out a $80,000 loan for emergencies and is considering selling or renting out her vacation home if things get worse.
At this point, she’s unwilling to give up, even if she’s forced to rely on her takeout and prepared meals business.
“I have to feed the community,” she said. “People rely on me.”
In Storrs, Nancy McKenney, co-owner of Hops 44, said business has been “horrendous” in recent weeks. Last Sunday, there were only seven tables of patrons all day in the brew pub that has about 20 tables indoors.
“We still have operating costs, so those don’t change. My rent doesn’t change. My electricity doesn’t change. My labor doesn’t change. I’m paying employees and we’re all just standing around,” she said, estimating business is down 60% from last year.
McKenney and her husband, who both have jobs apart from the restaurant, dipped into their savings to help cover costs. But McKenney isn’t willing to do much more than that.
“I’ll close the doors before I take out another loan,” she said. “I’ll close the doors first because I’m not going to put myself in that situation, because luckily it’s not my only income.” __
This story has been updated to correct the name of the restaurant in Bristol. It is Rodd’s Restaurant, not Rod’s Restaurant.


washingtontimes--2020-12-13--Missoula brothers launch freeze-dried meal company

MISSOULA , Mont .
( AP ) - While choking down yet another fairly bland , mass-produced , freeze-dried meal around a campfire on a hiking trip , brothers Ben and John Ritner asked themselves a simple question .
“ What if this were better ?
” An idea and a plan of action was hatched .
John Ritner attended culinary school and worked in a commercial kitchen at the Good Food Store , and Ben is a University of Montana grad who focused on web development and business .
Both love hiking and the outdoors , and both prefer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they embarked on a long logistical process and have now launched their passion project , called Pinnacle Foods .
They make high-protein , freeze-dried , lightweight meals and put them into sustainable packaging for backpackers , hunters and anyone else who needs a shelf-stable , packable meal with a high calorie content .
In a Missoula commercial kitchen , John has come up with his own special recipes ; like jalapeno cheddar biscuits and herbed-sausage gravy , sticky-teriyaki chicken with garlic asparagus and coconut rice , scrambled eggs and uncured applewood ham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chicken and white cheddar dumplings .
They ’ ve even got a wheat-free vegan option , which is Thai peanut curry with roasted vegetables and rice noodles .
It ’ s got bell peppers , broccoli , onions , sweet potatoes , edamame and garlic combined with the coconut-curry peanut sauce and cilantro , sesame , lime and scallions .
John said their bags have twice as much protein as the mass-produced brands like Mountain House , and Pinnacle doesn ’ t use any additives or preservatives .
“ You read the ingredients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like ‘ oh man , I don ’ t know what most of this is ’ , ” John told the Missoulian .
“ And the number one ingredients are these starchy fillers .
But for our entrees that have meat in it , the number one ingredient is ground beef .
So we don ’ t fill it with a bunch of stuff just to fill the bag up .
We think about all the ingredients and what is going to make us feel good after a long day hiking or whatever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , their 122-gram sticky-teriyaki chicken bag contains 40 grams of protein .
A Mountain House 118-gram chicken teriyaki does cost about $ 1.50 less , but contains only 23 grams of protein .
The Ritner brothers bought four large commercial freeze-dryers , and each 12- to 16-ounce serving of food that goes in will come out as between 3.5 and 4.5 ounces .
Ben Ritner said freeze-drying retains much more of the nutrients than at-home dehydrating while allowing the meals to be shelf-stable for many years .
They even have a lab test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water activity level ” is much safer than even government standards .
Their bags are made from paper and corn byproduct that can be burned without leaving residue unlike the Mylar bags on name-brand backpacking meals .
“ You can pour boiling water straight into the bag , so you don ’ t need bowls or cups , ” Ben explained .
“ It takes about 10 minutes to reconstitute.
” Ben said with some freeze-dried meals , you have to poke around to find the two or three pieces of meat .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave customers feeling like they didn ’ t get ripped off while they ’ re shivering under a tarp somewhere in the woods after a long day on the trail .
When coming up with their plan for the business , the brothers decided that people would be willing to pay a dollar or two extra for backcountry meals made in small batches , using natural , fresh ingredients without fillers .
So far , they said they ’ ve gotten good customer feedback and have sold over 1,500 bags .
They only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wholesale license that would allow them to sell in big-box stores , so they ’ re only selling online direct to customers right now .
Their only hiccup with online marketing is that there ’ s a now-defunct company called Pinnacle Foods that had the web domain name pinnaclefoods.com , owned by commercial giant Conagra , so the Ritner brothers settled on Pinnaclefoods.co without the ‘ m ’ on the end .
So far it ’ s working , but every once in a while they get strange emails from people looking for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appears to have increased demand for non-perishable foods , according to a survey released in October by three research firms based in New York .
They found that 52 % of American consumers have stockpiled food or essential goods in anticipation of “ social unrest tied to a resurgence of COVID-19 in the coming months and/or the election.
” Mountain Home , one of the largest producers of freeze-dried backpacking meals , says on its website that “ due to increased demand ” many of the company ’ s items are sold out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having to make statements trying to dissuade people from hoarding because it causes other customers to find bare shelves .
“ We are seeing little evidence of the need to stockpile , ” Holly Chisa with the Northwest Grocery Association said in a statement to the media .
“ Our supply chains remain strong…We understand that when case counts increase so does anxiety .
We are encouraging customers to purchase only what they need and leave the rest for their neighbors and friends.
” Either way , the Ritner brothers are prepared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rapidly-growing market .
Two other freeze-dried meal companies , Sasquatch Fuel and Gastro Gnome , popped up in Bozeman recently .
“ Our primary market is backpackers and hunters , but you could eat them on the first chair up the mountain skiing , ” Ben Ritner explained .
“ Or you could eat them at home .
Now with the lockdowns , or even senior citizens who don ’ t want to cook , there ’ s so many markets I think freeze-dried can get into because it can sit on your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ add boiling water to it and it ’ s just like it was before it was freeze-dried .
”

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) - While choking down yet another fairly bland, mass-produced, freeze-dried meal around a campfire on a hiking trip, brothers Ben and John Ritner asked themselves a simple question.
“What if this were better?”
An idea and a plan of action was hatched.
John Ritner attended culinary school and worked in a commercial kitchen at the Good Food Store, and Ben is a University of Montana grad who focused on web development and business. Both love hiking and the outdoors, and both prefer great-tasting food to the alternative.
Together, they embarked on a long logistical process and have now launched their passion project, called Pinnacle Foods. They make high-protein, freeze-dried, lightweight meals and put them into sustainable packaging for backpackers, hunters and anyone else who needs a shelf-stable, packable meal with a high calorie content.
In a Missoula commercial kitchen, John has come up with his own special recipes; like jalapeno cheddar biscuits and herbed-sausage gravy, sticky-teriyaki chicken with garlic asparagus and coconut rice, scrambled eggs and uncured applewood ham, chipotle beef burrito bowl and herb-roasted chicken and white cheddar dumplings. They’ve even got a wheat-free vegan option, which is Thai peanut curry with roasted vegetables and rice noodles. It’s got bell peppers, broccoli, onions, sweet potatoes, edamame and garlic combined with the coconut-curry peanut sauce and cilantro, sesame, lime and scallions.
John said their bags have twice as much protein as the mass-produced brands like Mountain House, and Pinnacle doesn’t use any additives or preservatives.
“You read the ingredients on other brands and it’s like ‘oh man, I don’t know what most of this is’,” John told the Missoulian. “And the number one ingredients are these starchy fillers. But for our entrees that have meat in it, the number one ingredient is ground beef. So we don’t fill it with a bunch of stuff just to fill the bag up. We think about all the ingredients and what is going to make us feel good after a long day hiking or whatever we’re doing.”
In fact, their 122-gram sticky-teriyaki chicken bag contains 40 grams of protein. A Mountain House 118-gram chicken teriyaki does cost about $1.50 less, but contains only 23 grams of protein.
The Ritner brothers bought four large commercial freeze-dryers, and each 12- to 16-ounce serving of food that goes in will come out as between 3.5 and 4.5 ounces. Ben Ritner said freeze-drying retains much more of the nutrients than at-home dehydrating while allowing the meals to be shelf-stable for many years. They even have a lab test their food to make sure the “water activity level” is much safer than even government standards. Their bags are made from paper and corn byproduct that can be burned without leaving residue unlike the Mylar bags on name-brand backpacking meals.
“You can pour boiling water straight into the bag, so you don’t need bowls or cups,” Ben explained. “It takes about 10 minutes to reconstitute.”
Ben said with some freeze-dried meals, you have to poke around to find the two or three pieces of meat. The goal for their meals is to leave customers feeling like they didn’t get ripped off while they’re shivering under a tarp somewhere in the woods after a long day on the trail.
When coming up with their plan for the business, the brothers decided that people would be willing to pay a dollar or two extra for backcountry meals made in small batches, using natural, fresh ingredients without fillers. So far, they said they’ve gotten good customer feedback and have sold over 1,500 bags. They only have a retail license and not a wholesale license that would allow them to sell in big-box stores, so they’re only selling online direct to customers right now.
Their only hiccup with online marketing is that there’s a now-defunct company called Pinnacle Foods that had the web domain name pinnaclefoods.com, owned by commercial giant Conagra, so the Ritner brothers settled on Pinnaclefoods.co without the ‘m’ on the end. So far it’s working, but every once in a while they get strange emails from people looking for the other company.
The global pandemic appears to have increased demand for non-perishable foods, according to a survey released in October by three research firms based in New York. They found that 52% of American consumers have stockpiled food or essential goods in anticipation of “social unrest tied to a resurgence of COVID-19 in the coming months and/or the election.”
Mountain Home, one of the largest producers of freeze-dried backpacking meals, says on its website that “due to increased demand” many of the company’s items are sold out.
The Northwest Grocery Association is even having to make statements trying to dissuade people from hoarding because it causes other customers to find bare shelves.
“We are seeing little evidence of the need to stockpile,” Holly Chisa with the Northwest Grocery Association said in a statement to the media. “Our supply chains remain strong…We understand that when case counts increase so does anxiety. We are encouraging customers to purchase only what they need and leave the rest for their neighbors and friends.”
Either way, the Ritner brothers are prepared to try to gain a piece of a rapidly-growing market. Two other freeze-dried meal companies, Sasquatch Fuel and Gastro Gnome, popped up in Bozeman recently.
“Our primary market is backpackers and hunters, but you could eat them on the first chair up the mountain skiing,” Ben Ritner explained. “Or you could eat them at home. Now with the lockdowns, or even senior citizens who don’t want to cook, there’s so many markets I think freeze-dried can get into because it can sit on your counter for five years and you just add boiling water to it and it’s just like it was before it was freeze-dried.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-13--Street encampment in Ogden grows during pandemic

OGDEN , Utah ( AP ) - At night , sleeping in his tent along 33rd Street in Ogden outside the Lantern House homeless shelter , Danny Gomez feels the bite .
“ It ’ s real cold , cold , sometimes , ” he said .
He piles on the blankets , puts on a couple pair of socks and a coat , while some also top their tents with extra coverings to keep the cold air at bay .
It ’ s not always enough , but regardless , Gomez sees few other housing options than the burgeoning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 33rd Street east of Pacific Avenue over the summer .
“ We don ’ t have nowhere to live , no income coming , no family to help us , ” he told the Standard-Examiner .
The homeless community extends for perhaps half a block in the narrow strip of city right-of-way along both sides of 33rd Street between the street curb and sidewalk .
As of last Wednesday , around 30 tents and other impromptu tent-like structures dotted the area , with bicycles , piles of belongings and overloaded shopping carts scattered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freezing , but I ’ m around good people , ” said Carmen Berg , another tent city resident .
“ We ’ re a tight-knit group .
We try to help each other.
” Call it another manifestation of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Lauren Navidomskis , the Lantern House director , says a few homeless in years past have at times camped along 33rd Street outside the shelter , located in an industrial and commercial area not far from the railyards that buffer west Ogden .
But the numbers this year are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a factor .
“ I think it ’ s just the pandemic - people are fearful to come inside our facility , ” Navidomskis said .
That is , they worry about contracting COVID-19 inside the Lantern House notwithstanding rules about masks and testing guidelines meant to identify the sick , who are quarantined in a separate wing of the facility .
So instead of entering the facility , they stay outdoors , where , rightly or wrongly , they feel more secure .
Some don ’ t want to submit to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay at Lantern House , Navidomskis said .
Others keep their things in tents on 33rd Street but sleep at night inside the shelter , which limits the quantity of belongings that residents can bring inside .
Eric Young , the deputy chief of the Ogden Police Department , has noticed the growth of the tent community along 33rd Street .
Officials have shied from a crackdown , though city crews pass through the area weekly to clean it , requiring those present to temporarily remove their belongings .
But he doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city is surging .
Rather , it seems that they ’ ve started congregating in a centralized location rather than scattering to varied locations around the area .
“ It ’ s been a steady increase all through the summer .
Even with cold weather we ’ ve seen large numbers of people , ” Young said .
And notwithstanding the visible display of homelessness that 33rd Street has become , Young said Lantern House and other homeless shelters in Ogden have space and can accommodate more people .
Anna Davidson , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , meets regularly with those living along 33rd Street and tries to encourage them to take advantage of the resources available to the homeless and others in need - housing , transitional housing , job training and more .
“ The resources are out there .
It ’ s just getting people out there to access them , ” Young said .
“ We want to see people sheltered.
” Back out on 33rd Street , the attitude among some is that they have more freedom and independence living in the homeless encampment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you literally bump heads at times with others sleeping in common areas .
Outside , he went on , “ you got your own privacy.
” Jimmy Lawson , who hauls his things around on a cart attached to his bicycle , lamented the restrictions inside Lantern House , even if it means using convenience store bathrooms to clean up .
“ They want to control my life , ” he said .
Berg , who ’ s pregnant , said checking in to Lantern House can be a time-consuming process .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ living out here , ” she said .
Inside Lantern House , she went on , “ there ’ s a lot of rules I don ’ t like.
” They try to police themselves , keep order , said Jacob Garcia-Rader .
He ’ s also living on 33rd Street - he intends for it to be a temporary thing .
But it can get rambunctious .
“ It kind of gets loud at night , ” Gomez said .
“ We have arguing here and there .
It ’ s like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once a week or so , a crew of Ogden City public works employees passes through and cleans the accumulated trash and debris along 33rd Street .
Police provide a heads up the day before , Young said , instructing the tent city residents to move their things from alongside the street so the area can be cleaned .
“ It ’ s not to go out and pick on them , ” he said .
Even so , it was a hectic scene last Tuesday as the city cleaners , wearing white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a small contingent of police .
Some of the tent city residents scrambled to remove their tents and items from the side of the road as workers gradually worked their way along the street , gathering stray trash and other items left behind and loading it all onto a truck .
“ This is so stressful for everybody , ” said Berg .
“ It makes everybody mad.
” “ We lose a lot of stuff , ” added Shyree Richards , who also lives on the street though she suffers from cancer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the cleaners finished their work last Tuesday , the tent city residents put their movable homes back in position .
“ This is my lifestyle .
I ’ ve lived like this forever .
It ’ s just a day-to-day thing , ” said Chris Tanner , another resident .
The next day , last Wednesday , Matthew Robinson was out there , emerging from his tent after a night of sleep .
“ It may look like it ’ s a really tough life , but there ’ s beauty .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ humanity , ” he said , noting a man who once visited 33rd Street with a backpack full of hamburgers , passing them out to the tent city residents .
That sort of giving - of food , blankets and more - is common .
“ We rely on that .
We pray for that , ” Berg said .
But Young discourages good samaritans , however well-intentioned , from independently passing out food and other items .
The public should leave it to Lantern House and other social workers equipped and trained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resources .
“ People are trying to do the right thing .
But it ’ s actually causing more problems , ” Young said .
Squatting on the side of streets in city right-of-way is illegal and the campers could be ticketed .
But officials are keeping with the softer approach of trying to nudge the tent city residents to resources and social service agencies meant to help them .
Thus , the back and forth of tent city residents temporarily leaving to make way for city clean-up crews , then returning for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make way once again .
Garcia-Rader asks for lenience given the uncertain situation and the tough conditions the tent city residents face .
“ We are people who are trying to fight everyday to stay alive , ” he said .

OGDEN, Utah (AP) - At night, sleeping in his tent along 33rd Street in Ogden outside the Lantern House homeless shelter, Danny Gomez feels the bite.
“It’s real cold, cold, sometimes,” he said. He piles on the blankets, puts on a couple pair of socks and a coat, while some also top their tents with extra coverings to keep the cold air at bay.
It’s not always enough, but regardless, Gomez sees few other housing options than the burgeoning tent city that started taking shape along 33rd Street east of Pacific Avenue over the summer. “We don’t have nowhere to live, no income coming, no family to help us,” he told the Standard-Examiner.
The homeless community extends for perhaps half a block in the narrow strip of city right-of-way along both sides of 33rd Street between the street curb and sidewalk. As of last Wednesday, around 30 tents and other impromptu tent-like structures dotted the area, with bicycles, piles of belongings and overloaded shopping carts scattered among them.
“I’m freezing, but I’m around good people,” said Carmen Berg, another tent city resident. “We’re a tight-knit group. We try to help each other.”
Call it another manifestation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lauren Navidomskis, the Lantern House director, says a few homeless in years past have at times camped along 33rd Street outside the shelter, located in an industrial and commercial area not far from the railyards that buffer west Ogden. But the numbers this year are bigger and COVID-19, she says, is a factor.
“I think it’s just the pandemic - people are fearful to come inside our facility,” Navidomskis said. That is, they worry about contracting COVID-19 inside the Lantern House notwithstanding rules about masks and testing guidelines meant to identify the sick, who are quarantined in a separate wing of the facility. So instead of entering the facility, they stay outdoors, where, rightly or wrongly, they feel more secure.
Some don’t want to submit to COVID-19 testing, which is required to stay at Lantern House, Navidomskis said. Others keep their things in tents on 33rd Street but sleep at night inside the shelter, which limits the quantity of belongings that residents can bring inside.
Eric Young, the deputy chief of the Ogden Police Department, has noticed the growth of the tent community along 33rd Street. Officials have shied from a crackdown, though city crews pass through the area weekly to clean it, requiring those present to temporarily remove their belongings.
But he doesn’t think the homeless population in the city is surging. Rather, it seems that they’ve started congregating in a centralized location rather than scattering to varied locations around the area. “It’s been a steady increase all through the summer. Even with cold weather we’ve seen large numbers of people,” Young said.
And notwithstanding the visible display of homelessness that 33rd Street has become, Young said Lantern House and other homeless shelters in Ogden have space and can accommodate more people. Anna Davidson, the homeless service advocate for the police department, meets regularly with those living along 33rd Street and tries to encourage them to take advantage of the resources available to the homeless and others in need - housing, transitional housing, job training and more.
“The resources are out there. It’s just getting people out there to access them,” Young said. “We want to see people sheltered.”
Back out on 33rd Street, the attitude among some is that they have more freedom and independence living in the homeless encampment.
Inside Lantern House, Gomez said, you literally bump heads at times with others sleeping in common areas. Outside, he went on, “you got your own privacy.”
Jimmy Lawson, who hauls his things around on a cart attached to his bicycle, lamented the restrictions inside Lantern House, even if it means using convenience store bathrooms to clean up. “They want to control my life,” he said.
Berg, who’s pregnant, said checking in to Lantern House can be a time-consuming process. “There’s more freedom in living out here,” she said. Inside Lantern House, she went on, “there’s a lot of rules I don’t like.”
They try to police themselves, keep order, said Jacob Garcia-Rader. He’s also living on 33rd Street - he intends for it to be a temporary thing.
But it can get rambunctious. “It kind of gets loud at night,” Gomez said. “We have arguing here and there. It’s like living in one big house.”
And once a week or so, a crew of Ogden City public works employees passes through and cleans the accumulated trash and debris along 33rd Street. Police provide a heads up the day before, Young said, instructing the tent city residents to move their things from alongside the street so the area can be cleaned. “It’s not to go out and pick on them,” he said.
Even so, it was a hectic scene last Tuesday as the city cleaners, wearing white coveralls, passed through, accompanied by a small contingent of police. Some of the tent city residents scrambled to remove their tents and items from the side of the road as workers gradually worked their way along the street, gathering stray trash and other items left behind and loading it all onto a truck.
“This is so stressful for everybody,” said Berg. “It makes everybody mad.”
“We lose a lot of stuff,” added Shyree Richards, who also lives on the street though she suffers from cancer.
At any rate, as soon as the cleaners finished their work last Tuesday, the tent city residents put their movable homes back in position. “This is my lifestyle. I’ve lived like this forever. It’s just a day-to-day thing,” said Chris Tanner, another resident.
The next day, last Wednesday, Matthew Robinson was out there, emerging from his tent after a night of sleep. “It may look like it’s a really tough life, but there’s beauty. You get to experience a lot of humanity,” he said, noting a man who once visited 33rd Street with a backpack full of hamburgers, passing them out to the tent city residents.
That sort of giving - of food, blankets and more - is common. “We rely on that. We pray for that,” Berg said.
But Young discourages good samaritans, however well-intentioned, from independently passing out food and other items. The public should leave it to Lantern House and other social workers equipped and trained to direct those in need to available resources. “People are trying to do the right thing. But it’s actually causing more problems,” Young said.
Squatting on the side of streets in city right-of-way is illegal and the campers could be ticketed. But officials are keeping with the softer approach of trying to nudge the tent city residents to resources and social service agencies meant to help them. Thus, the back and forth of tent city residents temporarily leaving to make way for city clean-up crews, then returning for a few days until they inevitably have to make way once again.
Garcia-Rader asks for lenience given the uncertain situation and the tough conditions the tent city residents face. “We are people who are trying to fight everyday to stay alive,” he said.


washingtontimes--2020-12-13--Silent nights: Germany tightens lockdown over festive period

BERLIN ( AP ) - Most stores shut , tight limits on social contacts , no singing in church and a ban on fireworks sales : Germany is ratcheting up its pandemic restrictions in an effort to cut the stubbornly high rate of coronavirus infections .
Chancellor Angela Merkel said she and the governors of Germany ’ s 16 states agreed Sunday to step up the country ’ s lockdown measures from Dec. 16 to Jan. 10 to stop the exponential rise of COVID-19 cases .
“ We are forced to act , and we ’ re acting too , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noting that existing restrictions imposed in November failed to significantly reduce the number of new infections .
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Germany has risen over the past two weeks from 21.23 new cases per 100,000 people on Nov. 28 to 26 new cases per 100,000 people on Dec. 12 .
Starting Wednesday , schools nationwide will be closed or switch to home schooling ; most non-food stores will be shuttered , as will businesses such as hairdressers that have so far been allowed to remain open ; restaurant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on-site - including of alcoholic beverages - will be banned .
With the exception of Christmas , the number of people allowed to meet indoors will remain restricted to five , not including children under 14 .
The sale of fireworks traditionally used to celebrate New Year ’ s will also be banned , as will public outdoor gatherings on New Year ’ s Eve .
Bavaria ’ s governor , Markus Soeder , said the ban on fireworks followed appeals from hospitals that they wouldn ’ t be able to treat the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from mishandled explosives every year .
The overall measures were necessary to prevent the number of new cases and deaths rising further , he said , adding : “ We need to be careful that Germany doesn ’ t become the problem child of Europe.
” Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said the government would provide further financial support for businesses affected by the lockdown .
German news agency dpa reported that the additional sums set aside amounted to 11.2 billion euros ( $ 13.6 billion ) .
Employers will be asked to let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for the next month .
Religious services will be permitted , provided minimum distancing rules are in place and masks are worn , though singing will be banned .
Staff in nursing homes will be required to take COVID-19 tests several times a week , and visitors will also have to provide a negative test result before being able to see relatives in care .

BERLIN (AP) - Most stores shut, tight limits on social contacts, no singing in church and a ban on fireworks sales: Germany is ratcheting up its pandemic restrictions in an effort to cut the stubbornly high rate of coronavirus infections.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said she and the governors of Germany’s 16 states agreed Sunday to step up the country’s lockdown measures beginning Wednesday to Jan. 10 to stop the country’s exponential rise of COVID-19 cases.
“We are forced to act and we’re acting,” Merkel told reporters in Berlin, noting that existing restrictions imposed in November had failed to significantly reduce the number of new infections.
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Germany has risen over the past two weeks from 21.23 new cases per 100,000 people on Nov. 28 to 26 new cases per 100,000 people on Dec. 12.
Starting Wednesday, schools nationwide will be closed or switch to home schooling; most non-food stores will be shuttered, as will businesses such as hairdressers that have so far been allowed to remain open. Restaurant takeout will still be permitted, but no eating or drinking can take place on site.
With the exception of Christmas, the number of people allowed to meet indoors will remain restricted to five, not including children under 14.
The sale of fireworks traditionally used to celebrate New Year’s will also be banned, as will public outdoor gatherings on New Year’s Eve.
Bavaria’s governor, Markus Soeder, said the ban on fireworks followed appeals from hospitals, which said they wouldn’t be able to treat the large number of serious injuries that result every years from mishandled explosives.
“We need to be careful that Germany doesn’t become the problem child of Europe,” he said.
Germany has set new records in the number of confirmed cases and deaths in recent weeks. Overall it has had about 22,000 virus deaths, a toll that is one-third that of Italy and Britain.
Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said the government would provide further financial support for businesses affected by the lockdown. German news agency dpa reported that the additional sums amounted to 11.2 billion euros ($13.6 billion).
Employers will be asked to let staff work from home, where possible, for the next month.
Religious services will be permitted, provided minimum distancing rules are in place and masks are worn, although singing will be banned.
Staff in nursing homes will be required to take COVID-19 tests several times a week and visitors to the homes will have to provide a negative test result before being able to see relatives..
The German Hospital Federation welcomed the new measures, but called it “difficult to comprehend” why the European Medicines Agency had not yet approved the first coronavirus vaccine. Britain, Canada and the United States have already approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and the U.K. began vaccinations last week.
Hospitals in the hard-hit eastern region around Dresden have appealed for people to responsibly follow social distancing and mask-wearing, saying medical facilities were about to hit full capacity.
“Nurses and doctors are already at their physical and psychological limits,” the hospitals said in newspaper ads.
Three counties in Saxony, where Dresden is located, have reported rates of infection more than 10 times as high as the government’s target. The state has been a hotbed of protests against coronavirus restrictions.
___
Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak