In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)
Stores Offer Special Shopping Hours for Vulnerable Populations
How Seniors Can Weather the Coronavirus Storm
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/22/wirch/press/how-seniors-can-weather-the-coronavirus-storm/
Wisconsin Workers Deserve Wages Earned When a Business Files for Bankruptcy
Offering Information and Assistance with Unemployment Benefits
Helping Small Businesses Survive Coronavirus Shutdown
The Week Ahead
*Local Restaurants Still Serving Delivery and Carryout
A number of local restaurants have remained open, adapting their business to delivery and carryout service. A great way to support the local economy during this time is to support our restaurants. Use the links below to find restaurants still serving in Kenosha and Racine Counties:
KENOSHA: http://wirestaurant.org/resources/coronavirus/coronavirus-updates-for-diners#kenosha
RACINE: http://wirestaurant.org/resources/coronavirus/coronavirus-updates-for-diners#racine
*Entertainment
The number of in-home entertainment options is growing by the day. Here are some of the new activities that are now available or will be coming soon.
The Quarantine Bookclub: A hub where authors are offering online chats about their work https://www.quarantinebookclub.com/
Classic Film Festival - From April 16 - April 20, the Turner Classic Movies channel is offering a special airing of its Classic Film Festival, including celebrity guest appearances
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra: With all of their near-term performances cancelled, 66 of their musicians recorded themselves performing their parts at home, and their director compiled them into one amazing "virtual performance"; they also have other full programs streaming on demand https://www.mso.org/
Music By John Prine: The two-time Grammy winning American folk singer-songwriter was a recent casualty of the coronavirus; celebrate his life and legacy by listening to some of his best works https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/john-prine-25-essential-songs-974926/illegal-smile-1971-974937/
"Trolls World Tour": The newest movie in the Trolls franchise was meant for theater release but is now headed straight to streaming on demand on Friday, April 10
Andrea Bocelli Live from the Duomo di Milano: The acclaimed tenor will stream a special live Easter performance from the famed cathedral; streaming live on YouTube at 12 noon on Easter Sunday and can be viewed there after
Other Free Concerts: CNET has a list of upcoming streaming concerts, including Dolly Parton, Diplo, Melissa Etheridge, OneRepublic and more https://www.cnet.com/news/every-livestream-concerts-coronavirus-shutdown/
Free at-home Workouts: Planet Fitness on Facebook and YouTube; the free Nike Training Club premium app is temporarily being offered for free; Free 45 day trial of Crunch Live; Gold's Amp app is free until May 31; CorePower yoga has free daily sessions on YouTube
Virtual Rollercoasters: coasterviews.com offers point-of-view (POV) videos of rides from all of the major amusement parks
Free Photography Class: Nikon is offering free photography lessons through the month of April. https://www.nikonevents.com/us/live/nikon-school-online/
*Caring for Your Mental Health During a Pandemic
We are living in a time of great uncertainty. It's completely normal to feel extra worry, stress and anxiety. That's why the state Department of Health Services has launched Resilient Wisconsin, a site bringing together the latest mental and behavioral health self-care tools and practices. You are not alone; we are all in this together. Find more at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/resilient/index.htm.
*Small Business Owner/Paycheck Protection Program Questions Answered
Are you a small business owner seeking financial assistance to keep your business afloat during the COVID-19 outbreak? Have questions about the federal stimulus, particularly the Paycheck Protection Program? The Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UW-Parkside is here to help. Whether you just have questions or need help applying, the SBDC can provide assistance. First, check out the website they have set up, https://wisconsinsbdc.org/services/covid-19/, to see if your question is answered there. If, after this, you need further guidance, contact the experts at (262)595-3363 or sbdc@uwp.edu or visit their general website, https://www.uwp.edu/connect/businessandcommunity/sbdc.cfm.
*How to File an Unemployment Claim
The Department of Workforce Development is encouraging all who have lost their jobs or whose hours have been reduced due to COVID-19 to file their unemployment claims online at https://dwd.wi.gov/ui/. The site also features a "Frequently Asked Questions" section and information on the federal coronavirus stimulus. You can find a how-to video on filing an unemployment claim here: https://media.wisconsin.gov/ui/ext/benefits/how_to_apply.htm. It is important to note that, while a new federal law has been passed which increases weekly unemployment benefit rates and extends benefits to gig workers, independent contractors and the self-employed for the first time, the state is still waiting on guidance from the federal Department of Labor on how to implement these new changes and award these benefits. That means that if you qualify under the new federal law and apply for unemployment benefits, you may be denied currently. The state Department of Workforce Development is doing all it can to get these new federal programs up and running as quickly as they can to get benefits out to all who qualify.
*Federal Coronavirus Stimulus for Individuals and Families
Eligibility for the federal stimulus will be determined using your 2019 federal income tax return (if you have filed); your 2018 return will be used otherwise. If you are a Social Security recipient and did not file in either year, your eligibility will be determined using information supplied by the Social Security Administration. If you have not filed a 2019 or 2018 federal income tax return and do not receive Social Security payments, you will be required to complete a simplified income tax return to receive your stimulus money; the return will require just basic information, such as filing status, number of independents and bank information. More information can be found at irs.gov/coronavirus. The IRS has indicated that it plans to begin disbursing direct deposit payments as soon as April 9, with paper checks scheduled to begin going out on April 24.
*WORSHIP AND EASTER SERVICE UPDATES
Kenosha Area
- In message on YouTube, Fr. Roman of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Kenosha shared an updated from Archbishop Jerome Listecki of the Diocese of Milwaukee. It can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8hQZV5aJyQ&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2uNWEs5mqMdxEV19iO8Pgt-yBlLcX8Rt_sD2_tiHGYFxuSeSTDNVDWQ98. In short, all Catholic masses in the Diocese are suspended until at least May 3; this includes Holy Week services. The dispensation for not attending mass has been extended until May 31. Fr. Roman and Archbishop Listecki are encouraging all to participate in Holy Week services by watching the livestreams from the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee at the following site: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrw_JySXFU94eYPgE_ILokQ.
- Kenosha Bible Church: Easter Sunday service at 10:30 am available at https://www.kenoshabible.org/
- Journey Church: Easter Vigil Saturday at 4 pm and 6 pm, Easter Sunday service at 8:30, 10 and 11:30 am streaming at https://live.jrnychurch.com/
- Immanuel Kenosha Church: Easter Sunday services at 6:30, 9 and 10:45 am, 12:00 and 5 pm streaming at https://kenosha.church/easter
- First Christian Church: Easter Sunday services at 8 and 10:30 am streaming at https://kenoshafcc.com/, Facebook and YouTube and available to watch later, as well
- Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church: Easter Sunday service at 9:30 am livestreamed at https://trinitykenosha.org/ and on Facebook
- Bethany Lutheran Church: Kenosha WELS services available on their site, http://www.bethanykenosha.org/page/140001853/140052519/Online-sermons, as well as YouTube
- Lord of Life Lutheran Church: Easter weekend services recorded and available on their site, https://lordoflifekenosha.org/, by Saturday evening and all day Sunday
- Bradford Community Church UU: Live broadcast of Easter Sunday service at 10 am and archived, as well, for later viewing at
- Spirit Alive Lutheran Church: Easter Sunday 10:45 am service streaming and archived on Facebook page
Racine Area
- St. Lucy and St. Sebastian: Easter Vigil Saturday 8 pm service and Easter Sunday 10:30 am mass available on their Facebook pages
- Olympia Brown UU Church: Sunday 10 am service available through Zoom and their Facebook page - email the Congregational Administrator at churchoffice@obuuc.org to get the Zoom link
- Living Faith Lutheran Church: Easter services posted to their Facebook page
- Racine Worship Center: Easter Sunday 10:30 am worship available live and for later viewing on their Facebook page
- Epiphany Lutheran Church: Easter Sunday 10:30 am worship available live and for later viewing on their Facebook page
- United Lutheran Church: Easter Sunday 10:45 am service streaming and for later viewing on their Facebook page
- Fellowship Baptist Church: Easter Sunday 10:30 am service streaming and available in recorded form on their website, http://www.racinefellowship.org/, as well as Facebook and YouTube
*On Thursday, April 9, Governor Evers clarified that houses of worship could hold “drive up” or “drive in” services. Check with your congregation to see if they will be holding one of these services.
*This is not meant as an endorsement of these congregations or denominations. I am happy to share information on services from all area houses of worship, if requested. This is also not an exhaustive list. If you don't see your place of worship on here, contact them to see what they suggest.