MAULDIN, S.C. —

A South Carolina man is recovering from the effects of COVID-19 after spending more than two months in the hospital.

Don Gillmer, of Maudlin, tested positive for COVID-19 on July 5. By July 9, he said, he had a cough.

"I didn’t sleep that night," he said. "(I) woke up early the next morning, packed a bag and knew it was time to go to the hospital.

At 43 years old, Gillmer had never been to the hospital.

Yet, Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital would be his home for the next 63 days.

"I received convalescent plasma twice, remdesivir, nothing was working," he said. "Nothing was helping me recover, so I’ll never really forget when they came in with papers. I needed to sign to go on a ventilator. That scared me."

About a month later, his temperature was 104 degrees.

Gillmer was put in a medically-induced coma.

The doctor later called his wife Lacy.

"If he makes it through tonight it’ll be good, but we really just don’t know that he will," she recalled from the doctor.

So, she and Don's dad went to see Gillmer.

"I just told him that he was doing great, that they were taking such good care of him. He was in amazing hands," she recalled.

"And I swear I heard her voice, and by the time she left, I was stable," Gillmer said. "She’s my angel. She’s the reason I’m here."

Related video: COVID-19 survivor using experience to help others

But there was still a long road ahead.

"I had a (tracheostomy) that they put in to help, so I couldn’t talk," said Gillmer. "The left side of my body wasn’t really functioning. So I wondered, what is going on?"

Gillmer endured weeks of physical training. He credits the hospital staff with success in his recovery, including his main therapist, Bob.

"(The therapy) just had that human touch," he said.

Gillmer had to relearn how to walk.

He was discharged on Sept. 11.

But there are still challenges. He said he has a condition called wrist drop in his left hand, where he can't feel his fingers.

He still goes to therapy two times each week. It's hard, he said, but he wouldn't get through it without Lacy.

"I think about her drive to the hospital the night they told her that I may not make it. I can’t imagine that, so I tell her often I don’t know that I could have been as strong as her."

Gillmer said people should be taking COVID-19 seriously.

"We need to be smart and diligent and take care of each other. It’s about your fellow man," he said.

Gillmer returned for his first day back to work Monday. He's also been a drummer for more than 30 years and is working to get back to the way he used to play the drums.

CINCINNATI — The national moratorium on evictions was recently extended into this new year, to keep families suffering during the pandemic from ending up homeless.

Then why are so many renters still facing eviction?

That's what one Cincinnati woman wants to know.

Ayanna McClure got some bad news when she pulled up to her Avondale apartment one day this past fall.

Painters were taking everything out and putting in new locks.

"This is my apartment, and they changed the locks on me," she says in the Facebook video she recorded with her phone.

This health aide says she lost a month of work over the summer due to the pandemic, and had fallen behind on her rent.

"There was no way I could come up with $2,000 or $3,000," she said.

McClure, who is now staying in a local women's shelter, says she was evicted despite the CARES Act eviction moratorium.

"I guess the first day he could file for eviction, he did it," she said.

Many people facing eviction in pandemic

McClure is not alone.

Three days after Christmas, we found a sad scene in Cleves, where Amanda Barger and all her belongings had been tossed out of her rented mobile home.

"Where am I going to go now?" she asked. "I know this is a business, and you gotta pay your own way, but they could have a little kindness."

The good news for renters behind on their payments: the national moratorium on evictions under the CARES Act has been extended into the new year.

The bad news: there are many reasons why a landlord can still legally kick you out, according to Nick DiNardo of The Legal Aid Society of Cincinnati.

"Disturbing your neighbor, not keeping the apartment clean, those kinds of tenant duties, they can still proceed with eviction for these reasons," he said.

DiNardo says tenants need to know:

• The eviction moratorium is not automatic.

• The moratorium applies only to financial hardship, not eviction for damage, drug abuse, or being a nuisance.

"There are plenty of people who are being evicted right now, DiNardo said, among them, these two women.

In both cases, their landlord told us there were other reasons for their decision, besides late rent.

Finally, a landlord can still force you out at the end of your lease with 30 days' notice, for no reason at all. If you are on a month-to-month lease, he can ask you to move out after the next month if he wants to rehab or sell the building.

Facing eviction? Fill out that CDC form immediately, and present it to your landlord.

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CINCINNATI — Many around the Tri-state and the country have waited in long lines for a COVID-19 test, then waited even longer for the results. Now that Ohio has accepted 2 million rapid COVID-19 test kits, that wait could be drastically reduced.

Health departments in Hamilton County and Cincinnati already have received 2,000 kits each from the state's allocation. The at-home test kits, made by Abbott, give results in about 15 minutes. A spokesman for the Hamilton County Health Department told WCPO it gave its allocation of test kits to the Hamilton County Educational Service Center. The district supports several educational entities including Early Childhood Services and Head Start.

“I think we did receive about 2,000 last week that we’re going to process in our inventory and then work with a couple entities to say okay now we have them, are you ready to receive them," said Dr. Melba Moore, health commissioner for the Cincinnati Health Department.

Moore said the increase in testing is part of a complete strategy to combat COVID-19. Social distancing and vaccines are other necessary elements.

Courtesy, eMed

“We have long needed a comprehensive testing strategy. And a strategy that makes sure there are multiple access points,” said Dr. Patrice Harris, chief executive officer of eMed, the Miami-based company that partnered with the state of Ohio to provide the rapid tests.

“Folks who are taking these tests will have that information," said Dr. Harris, a former president of the American Medical Association. "They will know if they are positive or negative, and then make decisions about their healthcare.”

“And there’s pros and cons with the rapid test, but it’s an opportunity to make it readily available,” Moore said.

She expects the Cincinnati Health Department will ensure the tests are made available to schools, federally qualified health centers and possibly, agencies with connections to underserved communities. One of the goals of the partnership between Ohio and eMed also is to make the tests available to those with challenges with mobility or other obstacles.

Courtesy, eMed

“People who find themselves more at risk, more to being exposed, it’s an excellent tool so they know their status before they make a move,” said Dr. Moore.

Meanwhile, Harris said there is also the benefit of having someone walk you through collecting the sample and conducting the test. Tester will use a mobile app and the eMed website to complete the process.

“There is a live person that will come on, and walk you to open the box, lay the card flat, drops, nasal swab, so it is a live, virtually guided session,” Dr. Harris said.

The idea is to make sure people feel comfortable that they are correctly carrying out the steps of the test. Harris said it's about five swirls around each nostril. But, for those who think they may have COVID-19, it can be a scary.

Courtesy, eMed

“There’s certainly, in all seriousness, a lot of worry and anxiety," said Harris. "I mean this is a life-or-death situation and, in some cases, and certainly, we want to be able to add confidence.”

Ohio is the first state to work with eMed on rolling out the rapid tests, according to Harris. They will also share data on their findings.

“We will through our reporting system, which is a part of our testing platform, we will be sending the data up to local and state health departments. And, also to the CDC,” Harris said.

There is no cost to get the tests distributed by the local health departments. The tests are also offered for purchase on the eMed website for $25.

CINCINNATI — COVID-19 hit those who run local businesses hard, as seen by multiple daily news headlines over the past 19 months.

The chaos created by the pandemic's effect on the economy also highlighted some of the disparities Black business owners face.

RELATED: Here's how Black-owned Cincinnati businesses are faring one year into the COVID-19 economic crisis

That was true for the owner of GO(O)D Co. Apparel, which closed its doors as quickly as it opened in March.

"And we were shut down until July 1," said Danny Harper, owner of GO(O)D Co. "It really impacted our brand because our online sales aren't quite where we want them to be."

That doubly hurt Harper's business, because 80% of his sales had been face-to-face.

"Figuring out how to market online to get the brand out there, it was really difficult because, during that time, nobody could really be outside to do guerrilla marketing, and I love guerrilla marketing," he said.

Harper was able to bounce back, though, with the help of MORTAR, an organization known for helping and providing resources to Black-owned businesses throughout Greater Cincinnati.

"A lot of our alumni were not doing online e-commerce, so when the pandemic hit, we had to figure out how do we help them to understand the differences between all of these different platforms and your POS (point of sale) and how to get your website ready to go so that you could accept payments," said Allen Woods, co-founder of MORTAR.

And when Black-owned businesses struggled to secure federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, the group stepped in with funding from the city and community partners in the form of grants.

The Confetti Room, located at 1531 Race St. in Over-the-Rhine, was one of the more than 350 businesses that got that vital grant money.

"Our numbers were scarce, and so grants like those basically helped to ensure that we were able to take care of our overhead expenses, make sure that the staff that we did still have were able to be able to make a living," said Simone Charles, founder of The Confetti Room.

The pandemic hit the wedding and event industry hard in 2020. Now with the delta variant looming, Charles said she is worried ... but prepared.

"As a business owner, I think COVID has added to what we know that we can now do, and our ability to be able to shift in and basically make it through," she said.

SHARONVILLE — Are you looking for new work?

WCPO just co-hosted one of the biggest job fairs in the Cincinnati area, the Superior Career Fair, with more than 100 local employers.

And if you missed it, you still have opportunities to apply.

"Help wanted" signs were everywhere at the Sharonville Convention Center on Friday, where companies from across the region were hoping to hire people like Jackie Brooks of West Chester.

"I just left Macy's after 28 years and am starting a new career path," Brooks said.

It's a good time for her to start a new career.

Among the companies hiring:

• Jeff Wyler Automotive Group

• Standard Aero jet engine repair.

What job fairs like this show is that it's not just restaurants that are desperate to hire right now.

If you are looking for work, the opportunities are almost endless here in the Cincinnati area, from high tech to health care to automotive to office support work.

For hopefuls like Alex Hernandez, it was a great break from months of Zoom job interviews.

"I've been applying for jobs online and it just doesn't have that same feel," he said.

Plus, you get to go home with some great swag from many of the companies.

So if you are thinking of a career change, now is the best time in years to reach out to some of these companies.

Jackie Brooks says the fair was well worth her time.

"I was able to talk to a lot of people," she said, "and I hope something works out for me."

If you missed it and want to apply to some of those companies, CLICK HERE for more information on Superior Career Fairs, or visit the website of the companies listed above.

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CINCINNATI — Music & Event Management, Inc. (MEMI) is joining a growing list of venue management companies requiring either proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test before guests may enter one of its facilities.

MEMI operates Riverbend Music Center, PNC Pavilion, the Taft Theatre and the new Andrew J. Brady ICON Music Center, including the outdoor ICON Festival Stage at Smale Park.

The requirement for any concert goer to either show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to attend a show at any venue will take effect starting Oct. 4, according to a MEMI press release. For all shows happening between now and Oct. 4th updates or changes to entry requirements will be at the artist’s discretion.

The release also states, "all fans must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (at least two weeks after final dose) and provide proof of vaccination - either the original vaccination card or a PRINTED copy of the vaccination card with an appropriate ID matching the name on your documentation. OR have received a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test within 48-hours before the event and provide proof of negative result to security prior to entering the venue."

For those under 12 years of age, the venues require proof of a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test within 48- hours before an event. Those over 12 years old with a valid medical restriction will still be required to prove a negative test result received within 48-hours of an event.

MEMI venues join PromoWest Pavilion at Ovation, whose parent company, AEG, on Friday announced it would begin requiring either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for all guests starting Aug. 29.

RELATED: PromoWest Pavilion at Ovation requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for all guests

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company will celebrate its grand reopening after more than a year-long shutdown with a lineup of outstanding plays.

On Friday the company announced it will begin its 2021-22 season at the Otto M. Budig Theater starting with William Shakespeare’s "Romeo and Juliet" directed by Darnell Pierre Benjamin starting this October. Actors Courtney Lucien and Crystian Wiltshire will portray the star-crossed lovers in a traditional Elizabethan production of the play. Wiltshire also recently joined Cincinnati Shakespeare as its new associate artistic director.

Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald and John K. Alvarez will then delight audiences for their 15th holiday season with the production of "Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)." The play, which is full of irreverent pop culture holiday humor, will begin performances in November.

The 2021-22 season will pick back up in the Spring with a production of August Wilson's "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" directed by Candice Handy and featuring Torrie Wiggins as Ma Rainey. The season will continue with productions of "Hamlet," "The Comedy of Errors" and end with a special production of "Pride and Prejudice."

“While the past 18 months were not what anyone at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company originally envisioned, it is certainly one we will never forget," said Brian Isaac Phillips, the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company's artistic director in a press release. "As we moved through it with imagination, flexibility, tenacity, and endurance, we were sustained by the hope that live theatre would eventually return."

For more information about the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company's upcoming season and productions visit cincyshakes.com.

COVINGTON, Ky. — The upcoming school year will look different than last year's, and if some districts don't fill staff vacancies, the schools could be more difficult.

"It's been extremely challenging," Ken Kippenbrock, executive director of human resources and operations at Covington Independent Public Schools, said. "There is a lot of competition, not only from other school districts, but also from other sectors within the economy."

The district needs to fill a lot of positions, and the largest needs are bus drivers and food service workers. However, competitive wages and benefits from other operations are making it difficult to get people in the door.

"Our transportation, we're competing against Amazon and FedEx and UPS," Kippenbrock said. "Food service, you know, we're competing against restaurants."

Loveland City School Superintendent Mike Broadwater said his district has the opposite problem, though.

"We've had many more candidates," he said. "Last year, it was very, very difficult because we were all, we didn't know, we didn't know what the future held... It was a lot more unknown when it came to COVID. With the vaccine being available, it really seemed to put a lot of the unease at rest with some of the staff members."

Cincinnati Public Schools are hiring, but it is focusing efforts into hiring social workers as part of a three-year plan the district was working on before COVID-19 hit. The district is set to double its social worker staff.

"We had around 27 school social workers for 50 to 60 schools," Dr. Carrie Bunger with CPS said. "They were spread very thin. We know for our students to be able to learn and thrive, we also need to be able to support their behavior and social, emotional skills."

Back in Covington, though, Kippenbrock hopes people will consider applying to work in education.

"Please give education a chance," he said. "There's something for just about everyone. So please look through and give us a consideration."

Anyone interested in a position with Covington Independent Public Schools can learn more here.

CINCINNATI — The end of Pride Month does not need to mean the end of celebrating and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community in Greater Cincinnati.

People like Justin DeJohn and Nigel Cottrell operate clubs E|19 and Below Zero Lounge, respectively, that offer safe havens and popular gathering spots for the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies.

“We like to say that we are gay-owned and gay-operated and straight-friendly,” said DeJohn, who opened the bar alongside owners Richard Cooke and Martin Wagner. “We primarily service the LGBTQ+ community and their allies, but truly everyone is welcome here.”

Cottrell said that, too, is the mission behind Below Zero, which first opened 15 years ago, and fellow LGBTQIA+ friendly bar Tillie's in Northside.

"We started out 15 years ago. One of our objectives was to identify ourselves as an open-minded bar operated by open-minded people where diversity is celebrated," Cottrell said. "And that has just exploded over the years. And now we have a really cool following across the whole of communities. Not only LGBTQ+, but everybody. And that's what we really wanted."

Of course, bars and lounges aren't the only LGBTQIA+ friendly or owned businesses worth supporting and celebrating in the Queen City.

There are places such as &Sundries, owned and operated by John Meyer in East Walnut Hills. Meyer started out making soap and other items in his home before growing it into the successful storefront it is today.

Meyer said being a gay business owner is not that much different than being a straight or cisgender person.

"It's no different to be a gay business owner versus any other type of business owner," he said. "I think what is really great about being a gay business owner and our business, in particular, is our motto was a 'Bubbly Good Time.' We absolutely love what we do. And we've just happened to turn it into a business."

Learn more about e|19, Below Zero Lounge, &Sundries and six other LGBTQIA+ owned or allied businesses below.

e|19, 1905 Elm Street, Over-the-Rhine

e|19 is a lounge bar and discotheque operated by Richard Cooke that offers great music and exceptional customer service to create a fun, welcoming experience where the LGBTQ+ community and its allies can socialize, dance and drink in a beautiful setting. For more information, visit www.e19bar.com.

Below Zero, 1120 Walnut Street, Over-the-Rhine

Below Zero is one of the longest operating lounges and bars in Cincinnati to serve the LGBTQ+ community as a gathering spot. Below Zero, operated by Nigel Cottrell, regularly hosts cabarets and other events alongside regular evenings of dancing and music. For more information, visit belowzerolounge.com. Cottrell also operates LGBTQ+ friendly Tillie's at 4042 Hamilton Ave. in Northside. For more information about that location, visit tillieslounge.com.

Creative House of Art and Design, 609 Main St., Covington

Creative House of Art and Design, known simply as CHAD for short, is owned and operated by Chad Turner and his spouse, Chuck Beatty. The couple opened CHAD in November 2020 as a place dedicated to providing competent, professional instruction in art, in a friendly, safe and pleasant environment. CHAD tailors its experience to match student needs. For more information, visit www.creativehousead.com.

&Sundries, 2807 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills

John Meyer, the owner of &Sundries, started making soap at home in 2017 before launching his storefront and online order business in 2019. Meyer now makes more than 200 products with simple ingredients and offers a holistic approach to its products and customer service, including a line of Pride Month products sold in the month of June. For more information, visit andsundries.com.

Lil's Bagels, 308 Greenup St., Covington

Julia Keister got tired of looking for good bagels after moving from New York City. She started making her own and selling them at pop-up shops, before opening a brick-and-mortar in Roebling Point in 2018. The walk-up window and indoor space – coming soon – sling bagels and sandwiches every day. But Lil's has a focus on community and fundraising, focusing much of it on LGBTQ-related causes. For more information, visit www.lilsbagels.com.

Crump and Gracey, Online
Add a little glitter to your life with Crump and Gracey, a custom home decor and accessories store that specializes in items such as drink tumblers, key chains and more. Amanda Huber currently operates her business online-only. For more information, visit Crump and Gracey on Facebook.

Not Your Average "Paint and Sip" Class, 1310 Pendleton St #400A, Pendleton

James Reynolds leads this one-of-a-kind experience of an elevated "paint and sip" class inside his studio located inside the Pendleton Art Center. Reynolds offers classes seven days a week by appointment. His studio is open 6-10 p.m. during each Final Friday event in the art studio. For more information, visit notyouraveragepaintandsipclass.net.

Originalitees, 2809 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills

Khisha Asubuhi created Originalitees apparel line in order to allow people to rock their city, state, neighborhood, self-identity and more in a positive and creative way. Originalitees fashion design wants to bring people and communities together, according to Asubuhi. That includes shirt designs that celebrate Cincinnati's LBTQ+ community. For more information, visit originalitees.com.

Smartcat Marketing Solutions, 7012 Harrison Ave. #4, Green Township

Owners Kelly Mullen and Erin Wainscott offer an inclusive, well-rounded approach to creatively promote businesses and brands in Greater Cincinnati. For more information about the company, visit www.smartcat.guru.

CINCINNATI — Hyde Park resident Terry Grefer's first impression of the new Oakley Kitchen Food Hall on Madison Road was a simple one.

"We're just excited to be here," Grefer said. "My main first impression is I'm just impressed with the whole concept."

Grefer decided to check out Oakley Kitchen, located at 3715 Madison Road in Oakley, on a recent Thursday with neighborhood friends.

One of those friends, Jeannine Winkelmann, learned about the kitchen through Facebook.

"I think it's really exciting," Winkelmann said. "And it's really convenient and I certainly remember when my kids were little and nobody liked the same food that this would be a great place for families."

Winkelmann referred to the concept behind Oakley Kitchen that makes it a unique neighborhood concept.

"It's special because all of the kitchen owners, and there are seven of them, have their own recipes, and these are all restaurants that you would go elsewhere to find and they might be in eight different neighborhoods," said Doug Hart.

Hart acts as a consultant to the seven restaurant space owners, plus one bar space, operating out of Oakley Kitchen. As Hart explained, each owner leases a small kitchen space for one year in the food hall.

The food served by those vendors ranges from traditional American fares like hamburgers and New Orleans-style cooking to the eclectic, which includes Syrian and Hawaiian outlets.

"We don't have any chains," Hart said. "These are all chef-driven, local concepts. Most of them are starting restaurants for the first time."

He added there is a story behind each food hall counter.

"There are all kinds of stories, including a refugee story," Hart said.

Hart referred to the Olive Tree, run by a Syrian refugee and her two daughters. He described the fare as something similar to Mediterranean dishes people might be more familiar with.

Then there are places such as Jimmy Lou's, a New Orleans-style eatery operated by Jeffery Harris.

Harris moved to Cincinnati with his wife, who is from the Queen City, after Hurricane Katrina decimated his hometown of New Orleans in 2005.

"This has always been a dream of mine, probably all my life, all my culinary life," Harris said.

And by all of his culinary life, Harris does mean all of his life.

"My great-grandmother, who this restaurant is named after, she started me cooking," Harris said. "So, and every story that I was taught about would always lead to her and her influence on me cooking. And so with that it was easy for me to go into naming this place after her."

Harris also worked in multiple New Orleans kitchens as a young adult before moving to Cincinnati, where he's spent the past decade and a half building up to the point where he could own his own place.

"For me, it's all about just giving people honest, real food from where I'm from," Harris said. "And that's all I want to do. I know the reasons why this food is what it is and why people are drawn to it."

Food on Jimmy Lou's menu includes red beans and rice, po'boy sandwiches and fried okra. Harris also started offering fried chicken dinners on Fridays.

Harris said the popularity of his spot within the first two weeks of Oakley Kitchen's opening has been "ridiculous." He also said he has future plans but isn't quite willing to fully announce them just yet.

"Until this is the machine I want it to be, then those thoughts are kind of on hold," Harris said.

Learn more about each of Oakley Kitchen's vendors and what they have to offer at www.oakley-kitchen.com.

CINCINNATI — Paul Montgomery had high hopes for Pig Candy Barbecue after COVID-19 restrictions began to lift last month.

He even saw a silver lining when he opened his restaurant with limited seating at 5901 Kellogg Avenue in the California neighborhood in March.

"It really worked out a lot of kinks and got a lot of processes and procedures down while not having hundreds of people at the door," Montgomery said.

As capacity restrictions lifted, Montgomery and the staff at Pig Candy were able to scale up their service without being overwhelmed.

RELATED: Pig Candy BBQ blends good food, neighborhood history

Fast forward to today: Montgomery could not predict the crisis his restaurant is facing — a crisis that has nothing to do with seating capacity.

"Yeah, uh, supply chain has been — right now that's our, that's our biggest hurdle," he said. "We've been open three months Saturday, and the meat prices have gone through the roof."

Montgomery said he modeled his business to be able to handle fluctuating prices on certain items. If he had to pay more for one item, the sale of another menu item that is cheaper to purchase would make up for profit loss.

Now, everything is more expensive and, therefore, is reducing profits overall on food items, he said.

"You know, we're paying almost triple for pork that we did when we opened in March and, you know, we're a barbecue restaurant," Montgomery said. "That's our number one seller."

Josh Bolan, owner of the 859 Taproom and Grill at 8720 Bankers Street in Florence is experiencing the same high prices as Montgomery.

Bolan said the price of cooking oil has jumped from $14 to $40 an order in recent weeks.

"When you have to change the oil every two days and spend upwards of $600 dumping oil out, it does make it tough on you," he said.

Neither Bolan nor Montgomery have raised menu prices yet. But Bolan said the price increases have forced him to consider menu changes at the 859 Taproom.

The changes involve fewer fried foods on the menu that will help Bolan save on the cost of cooking oil.

Unlike Montgomery, Bolan faces an additional hurdle to keeping his business afloat right as the economy begins to reopen.

"Current state is pretty dire," he said. "It's, uh — we got a very, very tiny crew. I believe I have eight employees when we need twenty."

Bolan cites a mix of additional federal unemployment money in Kentucky, uncertainty in the restaurant industry as vaccination rates remain low, and people finding new work at places like Amazon for his inability to find enough workers.

This is why, in part, Bolan has limited the 859 Taproom's hours during the week, and he asks guests to be patient when they visit.

"Most of the customers understand that come in, bring some patience with them," he said. "Can't overwhelm our staff or they'll just walk out the door and you can't replace them right now."

Montgomery said the fact that, unlike the 859 Taproom that opened years before the pandemic, Pig Candy has managed to tweak staffing to keep up with customer demand as a new restaurant.

"We could use another person or two, but it's not dire right now," Montgomery said.

Another advantage restaurants in Cincinnati such as Pig Candy have at the moment over those like the 859 Taproom in Northern Kentucky is additional financial support.

Last year the city of Cincinnati allocated millions of dollars through a program called "Taste of Cincinnati: All Winter Long" to assist small, independently owned restaurants within city limits.

The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber administered the program for the city.

"These restaurants and bars and the women and men who run them and take a risk to open them in neighborhoods, they need our support because they are the life blood of our local economy," said Brendon Cull, executive vice president and chief strategy officer for the chamber.

Cull said the program helped more than 200 Cincinnati restaurants. They used grant money to expand things such as outside patios and supplement income lost due to closings and limited capacity seating.

The Chamber and the city announced in June a second wave of financial assistance under the "Taste of Cincinnati: All Summer Long" program. The Chamber was accepting grant applications through the first week of July.

The second wave of funding also was expanded to include food trucks, walk-up windows and some Findlay Market vendors.

"The most I've heard this time is being able to do hiring bonuses, being able to keep people on staff," Cull said. "Guarantee hours is I think really important."

While Bolan's restaurant is not able to apply for the Taste of Cincinnati grants, he agrees expanding hours, lowering supply chain costs and stabilizing the employee market are important.

"We all have hope that it's going to get better. Um, but you just never know," he said.

CINCINNATI — Many of our pets have loved the extra one-on-one time the COVID0-19 pandemic brought with working from home. So much so that, as some start to return to the office, they may notice their furry companions are feeling a little more stressed than usual.

Veterinarians say it's normal for your pet to experience separation anxiety in your absence because they don’t really know when you are coming back. The staff at Red Dog Pet Resort and Spa say they notice a lot more puppies coming for daycare to their facility.

“A lot of people during COVID, they got lonely and so they're spending all this time at home, so they went out and got puppies,” said Chelsey Davis of Red Dog Pet Resort and Spa.

Davis said the resort is a place where your pups — especially those newly adopted puppies who have never been around other humans, let alone other animals — can get some human interaction when you have to go back to the office during the day.

“This is uncharted territory,” Davis said. “So, with the puppies coming in, they're like, oh my goodness, there's other dogs here. How do I act, how do I be a puppy when I'm not with mom?”

Davis has noticed a number of people bringing in their pets because they are showing signs of separation anxiety.

“Anxiety and behavior disorders are one of the most common things that we hear from pet owners in general,” said Dr. Britt DeNuzio, a veterinarian at Kings Veterinary Hospital. “Not just the separation anxiety, but just dogs being anxious. So definitely a thing, and definitely very common.”

She describes some of those symptoms being as simple as pacing and whining to more severe cases where the animal begins to become destructive.

“It's basically a panic attack,” DeNuzio said. “They don't know when you're coming home, and they don't know how else to deal with their anxiety, and so a lot of people think that the dog was bad when they left and shredded up the couch or shredded, you know, some object. And that's not it at all. They weren't trying to be bad.”

Instead, DeNuzio believes the animal is usually just panicking without their owner. She advises her pet families to start establishing a routine when they’re getting ready to leave for the day.

“Try to offer the dog exercise before you leave, and then do what we call an inverted triangle of activity,” she said. “So we start with exercise and then maybe do a few minutes of training to get them mentally kind of stimulated, and then a few minutes of just cuddling.”

If your animal is up for being around other animals, DeNuzio recommends trying to take them to doggy daycare.

Red Dog offers evaluations of your pet so you can see how well they will interact with other people and animals.

“We just go slow and steady,” Davis said. “We don't want to make it too overwhelming to where they're scared to come in. After a couple of times of doing that slow and steady, it ends up winning the race, and then they come in and they're more excited and so they'll do better. It's suggested you reach out to your pet's veterinarian if you have concerns that your pet may be suffering from separation anxiety."

"The Rebound: Finding a New Normal" includes reports that will run throughout all of WCPO 9 News' broadcasts on Thursday, July 8.

As COVID-19 cases across the Tri-State continue to decline and more of us get vaccinated, you may be excited about re-entering the world. Or, you might be feeling nervous, or maybe somewhere in between.

Whatever you're feeling, WCPO 9 has devoted a full day of coverage trying to pinpoint what our "new normal" might look like once we emerge from the coronavirus pandemic.

Family reunion

Perhaps one of the most profound impacts of the pandemic has been, for some, spending months or more than a year away from even their closest family members.

WCPO reporter and anchor Kristen Swilley looked at what families can do to make sure they remain safe as they begin to reunite and also spoke with a family psychiatrist who explained how, for some, the prospect of returning to family obligations can feel draining.

Back to work

Another question for the thousands of workers who have worked from home for the last year and a half: Do I have to go back to the office? Reporter Lisa Smith spoke with a legal expert to determine what office workers' options are and what employers are legally allowed to require as health orders and social distancing recommendations lift.

Consumer reporter John Matarese also has these tips for how to talk to your employer about establishing a more flexible schedule that could allow for more time at home.

With so many beginning to go back to work and summer break upon us, child care will become a whole new kind of challenge. Reporter Monique John explores how, while parents are scrambling to find child care as they return to work, providers are also tasked with persistently making adjustments and innovations prompted by the strains and limitations of the ongoing pandemic.

And it's not just children workers whom will be leaving at home: Reporter Whitney Miller takes a closer look at what pet owners can do to make sure humans' return to work isn't too traumatic for our four-legged friends.

Seeing a new world

It's not just work and family life that will balance into a new normal: With travel restrictions easing all around the world, many are engaging in what some are calling "revenge travel" — taking a trip for the trip's sake, since it's been more than a year since many have had the chance to do so. Anchor and reporter Evan Millward walks through what travelers need to know as different states and countries — and modes of transportation — have different rules.

Not out of the woods yet

With all this in mind, though, it's also critical to remember that, while Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana have lifted virtually all health orders and business and social restrictions, COVID-19 is not gone from our lives.

Some industries — most notably the restaurant and bar sectors — are still struggling to rebound from more than a year of tight restrictions on their business. Reporter Brian Mains looks at how your favorite bar or bistro is probably still fighting shortages in both staff and supplies, even as more and more are going back out to eat.

And for people like WCPO alumnus and comedian Michael Flannery, the fight to recovery from his severe case of the disease is still ongoing. WCPO anchor Julie O'Neill held a touching interview with her former colleague and life-long friend — who is what some are calling COVID "long-haulers" — in which he described his "invisible syndrome" that came from spending six days in a medically induced coma and a month away from his family and his home.

For WCPO's full coverage of "The Rebound," click or tap here.

We all deserve a few days of food, fun, community celebration and fireworks after the past year of social distancing, mask-wearing and other sacrifices made for the common good due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With that in mind, here are nine ways to celebrate the Fourth of July this weekend.

INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday. Memorial Park, 2003 Jackwoods Pkwy., Independence. Free. Who's up for fireworks, fun and festivities?! Bring your family and friends out for a day-long extravaganza in Independence. There will be a car show from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. followed by the Independence Day Parade starting at 3 p.m., a festival starting at 4 p.m. and live music at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Fireworks will fill the sky starting at 10 p.m. For more information visit the event Facebook page.

RED, WHITE AND BLUE ASH: 10 p.m. Sunday. Summit Park, 4335 Glendale Milford Rd., Blue Ash. Free. The Arthur Rozzi Pyrotechnics fireworks and drone will fill the sky at this year's Red, White and Blue Ash. WARM 98.5 will simulcast the fireworks show with an amazing soundtrack featuring an Independence Day theme, familiar favorites and new hits. Friendly reminder: There will be no food trucks and vendors on site this year. For more information visit the event Facebook page.

TAPS, TASTES AND TUNES FESTIVAL: 5-11 p.m. Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday; noon-9 p.m. Sunday. National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting, 8070 Tylersville Rd., West Chester Township. Free. Join your neighbors for a fun-filled weekend of live music, great food, cold beverages and activities for the whole family including an extravagant 4th of July Fireworks show on Sunday night. For more information visit the event Facebook page.

JULY 4TH FIREWORKS: 6-10 p.m. Sunday. Washington Park, 1230 Elm Street, Over-the-Rhine. Free. Enjoy music from 2nd Wind Band from 6-9 p.m. and fireworks display at 9:20 p.m. Food vendors will include Quite Frankly and Chocolate Freaking Bacon. The Washington Park porch also will be open and serving beverages. For more information visit the event Facebook page.

FOURTH OF JULY PARADE AND FIREWORKS: 4-9 p.m. Sunday. Harrison Community Center, 300 George Street, Harrison. Free. Join the community of Harrison for a Fourth of July celebration for everyone. The Harrison Recreation Commission has planned an evening of fun including a parade, fireworks, live music and other entertainment. Food, drinks and adult beverages will be available for purchase. There will be free family activities including a cornhole tournament, face painting and more. www.harrisonohio.gov

FOURTH OF JULY CONCERT: 7-9 p.m. Saturday. Freedom Park, 550 Freedom Park Drive, Edgewood. Free. Derek Alan Band will be performing at Freedom Park on July 3rd for Edgewood's Fourth of July extravaganza. The concert starts at 7 p.m. at Madison Shelter. There will be food trucks available for purchase during the performance. For more information visit the event Facebook page.

LIGHT UP LIBERTY 2021: 8-10 p.m. Sunday. Princeton Pike Church of God, 6101 Princeton Glendale Road, Hamilton. Free. Light Up Liberty is a 4th of July, alcohol-free, community celebration that exists to build the community and provide an evening of family-friendly fun for all ages. Come out and enjoy local food. The night will end with a Spectacular Fireworks Show by Yokum Fireworks. For more information visit the event Facebook page.

RED, WHITE AND BOOM: 8 p.m. Sunday. Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Avenue, Anderson Township. $15 adults; $5 active military and veterans. Come together and celebrate America's birthday from sea to shining sea. Join the Cincinnati Pops for a showcase of American favorites inspired by the beauty of this land and its peoples. This is America the Beautiful for all—with music to lift your spirit and set your heart aglow. Stick around for the post-concert fireworks. www.cincinnatisymphony.org

Fourth of July Celebration: 3-11 p.m. Sunday. Stricker's Grove, 11490 Hamilton Cleves Road, Fairfield. Stricker's Grove's Fourth of July event is understandably the amusement park's most popular of its open to the public days. Enjoy rides, food, friends and family and cap the day off with fireworks. Admission to the park is free. There are multiple ticketing options to ride rides as well. stayhappening.com

CINCINNATI — Monique Colbert of Westwood got the bug to get better nutrition into the bodies of her friends and neighbors a couple of years before the health scare called COVID-19 hit, inspired to switch from baking to juicing as she was taking care of her sick mother.

“I felt bad about giving a lot of the sweets and things away," Colbert said. "I felt like it wasn’t good for people… especially in our community where we got a lot of food deserts and things like that, and people not getting a lot of fruits and vegetables and healthy organic items and things like that so... I was juicing for myself and then other people just started asking if I would juice for them.”

But Colbert’s side-hustle “juicing” fruits and vegetables has all but stalled after scammers hacked her unemployment benefits.

Colbert told WCPO she lost her primary job in customer service for the medical field in March, and it appears the website she went to in order to apply for unemployment benefits was fake.

Provided

“On June 1, I went to go look, and it said that it was paid out, and I kept going, 'Paid out where?'" Colbert said. "So I kept checking my account. I’m like it’s not in my account."

Colbert is one of thousands defrauded amid the pandemic in Ohio who have little recourse.

“They’re just saying that ‘Hey you know you got hacked and there’s really nothing else we can do,’” Colbert said.

Colbert was directed to file a fraud complaint with the FBI, and now she must wait to see if agents can locate the fraudsters who are likely in other countries.

Ironically, Colbert says the $3,000 she had stolen from her would have been enough to buy her “dream juicer” and get her closer to her dream career of juicing full time.

Instead, as Colbert looks for other work, she is churning out what juice she can from a small machine, hard pressed to recover the money meant to help her. But, she's hopeful.

“There’s still hope for that and everything," Colbert said. "It’s just making me have to look at things differently and find other ways to get it done. I know I’m not the only one. I’m just wondering why is that OK? Why is it OK for us to lose such a big chunk of money like that and people walk away with it, and there’s nothing else that we can do?”

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services issued a warning in April about two particular fraudulent websites that look just like the state’s (ohio-gov.com and ohio.gov). The State of Ohio’s actual unemployment website is jfs.ohio.gov and the state has issued these warnings:

To avoid potential fraud Ohioans should:

• Ignore all unsolicited text messages and never click on hyperlinks in emails or text messages that look suspicious.

• Log in each week to your account and review personal information such as physical address, email address, and banking information.

• Remember that ODJFS will not contact you to ask for your username or password.

If individuals notice a change in their account information, they should:

• Report immediately by calling 833-658-0394. ODJFS will then work with you to verify your identity and provide you with next steps, such as changing your Personal Identification Number (PIN) and reporting the theft to law enforcement.

ODJFS officials have said they are continuing to work closely with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and the FBI’s Cyber Crime Unit to stop fraudulent activities and find the criminals behind them.

If you need help with your unemployment benefits and are willing to go on camera, email Julie O'Neill at joneill@wcpo.com.

If you drive by a hotel in Butler County this weekend, take a look at the number of cars in the parking lot. Chances are, there won't be many spaces open.

“We have U.S. Soccer bringing in their President’s Cup regional event," said Mark Hecquet, CEO of the Butler County Visitor's Bureau. "So, we have over 160 teams from 16 states. We expect over 10,000 people coming into town for five days.”

The youth teams begin arriving in town Wednesday for the five-day event, June 17-21, at the Voice of America Athletic Complex in West Chester. The winners go on to compete for the National President's Cup in Des Moines, Iowa.

But as those teams are playing, with family and friends cheering them on, there will also be cheers coming from Butler County hotels. Leisure travel is helping to jump-start Butler County's travel economy.

Whether it's a quick weekend trip, a stay-cation or youth athletic event, those visits equal hotel stays, meals at restaurants and retail purchases as the region looks to rebound from the pandemic.

“There’s definitely been a marked uptick in the hotels, probably in the last two months, probably since middle of March, particularly on the weekends,” said Hecquet.

In June 2020, hotel occupancy rates in Butler County were around 30 percent, he said. So far this June, the occupancy rates are at 55-60 percent, nearly double the number from a year ago. In 2019, before the pandemic, occupancy rates were at 70 percent. Hecquet said the expectation is that the number will continue to grow through summer and into the fall, thanks to a full schedule of large youth tournaments.

Lisa Smith

“We have an AAU Girls Basketball World Championship that’s in for another five days. That will bring in teams from around the country," he said. “We have multiple of these events going into July. We have an archery national championship, then we have triathlon junior national championships coming back."

The only problem: Leisure travel is only a portion of the equation to return hotels and some retailers to pre-pandemic levels. Business travel is the other piece.

“We’re just waiting on the corporate travel to come back,” said Steve Rue, general manager at the Courtyard by Marriott and Residence Inn in West Chester.

He said the leisure travelers are getting them through the pandemic, but they need to see corporate and business travelers return.

“We’re purposely built for that. So, definitely, we are looking for that to come back,” Rue said. The two West Chester properties and three others in the region are operated by Lexington Management. Rue suspects consumer confidence to financial hesitancy are impacting the return of business travelers.

"I think once businesses feel confident that it makes sense for their people to travel. I think that’s when you’ll really start to see them return," he said

Another challenge is a lack of workers. Rue said there are about 18 positions open at the Courtyard. Other businesses are experiencing the same.

“All industries in our county are really struggling with this workforce side of things, and it is a concern,” said Hecquet.

Rue said some of his staff members are working double shifts, taking an eight-hour break and are back on the job. He has also been working to fill in the gaps himself.

“I’m cleaning rooms, stripping beds. Doing whatever it needs to take, but we are looking for people actively,” he said. “Currently my Bistro is really only part time because I can’t find necessary staffing to keep it open like it should be.”

Rue said it was difficult at the start of the pandemic to have to let workers go and even close the hotel for more than two months. But, he said, they are offering incentives, like increased pay, to get staffing back to pre-pandemic levels. He said he believes business travelers will be back soon, too.

“All indicators look like the corporate travelers are going to be starting back. But I don’t see it really hitting pre-pandemic levels until Q2, Q3 of 2022,” said Rue.

Meanwhile, you can expect to see a marketing push to visit Butler County in magazines, on social media, billboards and radio. In March, the Butler County Commissioners approved $250,000 for the visitor's bureau to roll out a marketing campaign aimed at leisure travelers. It's actually a re-start of marketing the county.

“We stopped all advertising, all promotion, because it just wasn’t appropriate," said Hecquet. "People weren’t ready to travel.”

But now he said there are definite signs that many are ready.

“The weekend traffic is back. No doubt about it. Those leisure travelers are coming back."

CINCINNATI — As part of our coverage called The Rebound, which is meant to help our viewers and readers rebound economically from the coronavirus pandemic, we've been trying to find ways to help you get back to work.

One of those ways is through our Getting Back to Work in Greater Cincinnati Facebook page, where multiple employers post openings daily. If you're looking for work, definitely join the page and keep an eye on daily postings.

We have also partnered with several agencies to bring you job fairs. One of those is Cincinnati Works, a nonprofit agency that provides free lifetime career coaching and support services.

The other is Superior Career Fairs, which hosts virtual job fairs across the country and has had several local fairs since the pandemic began.

Next week, both of these agencies will have job fairs on Wednesday, April 14. If you're looking for work, mark your calendars. Here is more info about each job fair and how to sign up:

CINCINNATI WORKS

• Date/time: Wednesday, April 14 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Cost: Free
• Virtual or in person: In person. Location: The Care Center at 11020 S. Lebanon Rd., Loveland, Ohio
• Employer(s): Meridian BioScience, a Cincinnati Works employer partner who is looking to fill multiple full-time positions
• How to register: Fill out this form

SUPERIOR CAREER FAIRS

• Date/time: Wednesday, April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Cost: Free
• Virtual or in person: Virtual
• Employer(s): This diversity and inclusion career fair includes more than 30 employers including Cincinnati Bell, Metro, St. Elizabeth and more.
• How to register: Go to this website

CINCINNATI — East Walnut Hills restaurant Branch will reopen with a new head chef for limited indoor dining starting Saturday, May 1.

Jared Bennett will oversee the kitchen for the restaurant located at 1535 Madison Rd. Bennett previously worked at Maplewood Kitchen and Bar and also worked as Executive Chef for Metropole at 21c Museum Hotel Downtown before leaving there to help open the restaurant in Karrikin Spirits distillery in Fairfax.

Branch's new menu created by Bennett will feature "farm-fresh ingredients and bold flavors with a modernist bent," according to a press release announcing the restaurant's reopening.

Shane Kirkland will continue to oversee Branch's cocktail program.

Branch's new dining room hours will be 5-10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 5-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. for brunch and 5-9 p.m. for dinner on Sunday.

For more information visit www.eatatbranch.com.

One year ago, Khisha Asubuhi stood inside a nearly empty storefront on Woodburn Avenue in East Walnut Hills. She had signed a lease on the space for her first store before anyone in the United States had tested positive for COVID-19.

She was uneasy but undeterred, she said at the time.

"I felt like, if it was meant to be, it would be," she said one year later. "If this was a step I was supposed to take, it would work."

The grand opening weekend party she hoped for in April 2020 couldn't happen because of a pandemic-forced lockdown. But she eventually celebrated the first Originalitees brick-and-mortar location.

And she hasn't looked back.

"We actually did better last year than the year before, believe it or not," she laughs. "Makes no sense, right?"

Originalitees has grown from one employee to five despite the pandemic's economic challenges. Asubuhi credits enthusiasm, creativity, hard work, and well-timed grant and loan opportunities. And the company has landed some key and long-awaited agreements.

It is one of three Black-owned businesses licensed to make FC Cincinnati-branded apparel. And Asubuhi said she's been granted license to make Indiana University-branded goods, too.

"I went to IU; I played basketball for IU. It wasn't enough (years ago)," she said. She applied for the licensing twice before. "However, the company is a lot different than we were."

The Originalitees store -- with shelves of shirts promoting Black Lives Matter and condemning anti-Asian hate -- also now serves as the starting point for a bi-weekly running club, called Run United. Asubuhi said the idea came from the conversations following the racial unrest in 2020.

"We want people to be intentional about talking to someone who doesn't look like them," she said. "So everything we do, we do with intention."

WCPO 9 News also visited Vevay Antique Mall in April 2020.

At the time, the large space on East Main Street was only partially full. Many vendors weren't yet comfortable in a physical space, without the ability to host customers. Its grand opening was held on Facebook Live.

"You were one of the early birds to get to see it in person," said co-owner Angie Priest. "Now, you can see, we are full."

There are roughly 28 vendors in the Vevay Antique Mall now, one year later. Some found the spaces because of the virtual programming and online and private sales Priest and her business partners, Emily Prarat and Timothy Shackleford, were doing just to survive.

Even though the doors are now open, a lot of that continues.

"We do so much fun stuff that has come out of what we did initially just to get by, that it's become a standard for us now," Priest said.

The mall has grown so quickly it now has two part-time employees, something Priest said wasn't in the business plan until two or three years down the road. It's made possible partly by a unique revolving loan program Switzerland County developed to help small businesses in the pandemic.

Fifteen businesses now benefit from the $250,000 loan program.

"It's more money than we've ever had to put into a business assistance fund locally in my time," said Jon Bond, president of the Switzerland County Economic Development Corporation. "They've used them to help stay open during the time they either had to shut down or were on diminished capacity, but they've also used them to help hit the ground running on the other side of the pandemic."

Despite dreams delayed and fears for the future, both businesses are booming. Owners said it is thanks to a mix of entrepreneurial spirit, forced changes, and outside help.

"It's exciting that through all of the crazy, we've come out a little bit better, a little bit strong, and a little bit bigger," Priest said.

Asubuhi agrees.

"The last year has been crazy, but on the flip side, we've done really well," she said. "People are being more intentional with shopping with small businesses and Black-owned businesses, so we've received a lot of support from the community."