The mother of a U.S. Naval Academy midshipman candidate was fatally shot on Tuesday while sitting on a hotel porch in Annapolis, Maryland.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Annapolis Police Chief Edward Jackson explained that the incident occurred at around 12:21 a.m. local time on Tuesday when officers received reports of a victim suffering from gunshot wounds near West St.

When officers and emergency medical service officials arrived at the scene, they attempted to perform life-saving measures. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to Jackson.

"The victim was identified as Michelle Jordan Cummings," Jackson said. "She's an African American female, 57 years of age who resides in Houston, Texas."

During the press conference, Jackson explained that Cummings was visiting Annapolis with her husband to watch their son be inducted into the U.S. Naval Academy.

"He's also a prospect for the football team," Jackson said. "So what turned out to be a celebratory occasion for the family, celebrating their son going to one of the best institutions in the United States, turned into a tragic event."

According to Jackson, preliminary investigations lead police to believe that Cummings was not the intended target and she was hit by a stray bullet. Jackson said that the exact number of gunshot wounds sustained has yet to be determined but noted that Cummings was shot more than once.

"Preliminary investigation reveals that the victim was sitting on a patio area at a hotel and was not the intended target. At this time in the investigation it is believed the shots were fired on Pleasant Street and traveled a distance shooting the victim," police said in a press release prior to the press conference.

As police continue to investigate the situation, they are asking for the public's help in identifying the shooter and are offering up a $2,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and indictment of the suspect.

Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley also spoke during the press conference and said that the "city's heart is broken."

"Somebody has lost their mom on the proudest day probably of her life. So, there are no circumstances where this can be tolerated. My sympathies go out to the family," Buckley said. "We are focused on getting guns off the street but it only takes one criminal with a gun for the results to be tragic. This was a horrific outcome for the kind of everyday gun violence that many cities across America see."

He continued, "Annapolis is sadly not immune. We have deployed our crisis intervention team to assist with the family...every resource is being deployed to solve this case. The perpetrators will be found and they will be held to account."

Newsweek reached out to the Annapolis Police Department for further comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.

In a statement posted to Twitter, the U.S. Naval Academy Vice Admiral Sean Buck said, "As members of our Naval Academy family, we will do all that we can to support Leonard, his father and the entire Cummings family during this unfathomable time. My wife, Joanne, and I, on behalf of all of us here in Annapolis, offer our deepest sympathies."

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Mother of Naval Academy Midshipman Candidate Shot and Killed While Sitting on Hotel Porch - Newsweek

Tina McMenamin, an 18-year-old UNL freshman, was stabbed and sexually assaulted in her apartment on July 25, 1995.

Gregory Gabel, a mentally ill Lincoln man, was arrested in the homicide and has always been the prime suspect, an investigator said, even after pivotal DNA evidence failed to link him to the crime scene.Gabel has a computerlike memory for numbers and facts and a history of following women at businesses and public events, retired investigator Rich Doetker said in 2005.

McMenamin was killed in the minutes before she was due at work at Godfather's Pizza at 5:30 p.m. that night in 1995. Roommate Sarah Bognich found her friend in a pool of blood that night.

"The apartment was ransacked. I walked past the bedroom a couple of times before noticing her on the floor. My life changed after that. I tried to go back (to college), and I couldn't ever finish."

A single hair clutched in McMenamin's hand led police to Gabel. It matched his DNA, a one-in-1,049 chance. Circumstantial evidence also linked Gabel to the apartment building. And a man matching Gabel's description was seen fleeing the crime scene, Amberwood Apartments, 4600 Briarpark Drive.

That night, Gabel was a block away at a Sonic Drive-In. He was there every Tuesday night, cleaning up in exchange for food. And Gabel had earlier convictions for third-degree sexual assault and public indecency. Police arrested him a year after the crime.

But two years later, when a different DNA test proved the hair was not Gabel's, he was released. That hair, however, didn't necessarily belong to the killer, Doetker said. The investigator also has suspicions about the validity of the second DNA test, conducted in a Pennsylvania lab.

"There were questions that came up: Was it the right hair? The same hair?" he said.

Murder charges were dropped against Gabel with the hope that additional evidence would be found to re-arrest him, Doetker said. If the case went to trial and Gabel was found innocent, Doetker added, he could not be retried if new evidence came to light.

Mary Hepburn-O'Shea, who has worked in the mental health field in Lincoln for decades and has known Gabel for many of those years, said in 2005 that the man lost two years in jail for something he didn't do.

Hepburn-O'Shea runs downtown O.U.R. Homes, the city's largest provider for developmentally disabled people that also houses people with mental illnesses. Gabel lives and works there. "He's a weird kid," she said. "He's not ever a violent kid."

Then-Assistant Police Chief Jim Peschong, speaking in 2005, added that you can't try a case on personal beliefs and supposition. Peschong said he personally believes there is a suspect in the crime, but he declined naming anyone.

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Man fatally shot on his porch had moved to Omaha to care for his girlfriend - Lincoln Journal Star

IT is remarkable how much long-term advantage people like us have gotten by trying to be consistently not stupid, instead of trying to be very intelligent.

Charlie Munger (Warren Buffets long-term partner in Berkshire Hathaway).

THERE is likely a very good reason why former Democratic National Alliance (DNA) leader Branville McCartney is not today Prime Minister McCartney: he proved incapable of playing the long game in politics.

If the DNA had not split the vote with the FNM at the 2012 General Election, he would likely have handsomely won the Bamboo Town seat. He may have been a contender for FNM Leader after the partys blowout loss to the PLP.

Were he elected FNM Leader, Mr McCartney may have been Prime Minister in a mere five years, when the country overwhelmingly returned the party to office after the disastrous five-year term of former Prime Minister Christie.

In an unprecedented event for a sitting Prime Minister and party leader in The Bahamas, Christie lost both popular favour and his Centreville seat. Even if Dr Hubert Minnis defeated McCartney for the leadership, the latter may have been in cabinet and a contender to lead the FNM in the election after next.

It is astonishing the number of Bahamian politicians who deem themselves the bright morning star, with the sun shining throughout every part of their anatomy, believing they are destined to be or should become Prime Minister today, if not the day after. Most of these combustible galactic personalities end up being shooting stars, not fixed stars.

Reversal of fortune is as typical in elected politics as in life. The long-term view appreciates how unpredictable is politics, famously summarized by the late British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan concerning the unexpected and sudden occurrence of: Events, dear boy, events!

MacMillans instinct somewhat echoes the caution of the 13th century medieval poem, O Fortuna, inspiring Carl Orffs 20th century cantata Carmina Burana:

O Fortune,

like the moon

you are changeable,

always waxing

or waning;

hateful life

first oppresses

and then soothes

as fancy takes it;

poverty

and power

it melts them like ice

JUDGEMENT

Fortune/luck plays a powerful role in politics. But so does the slow, incremental progress of the long game: waiting, watching and preparing to take advantage of fortune and the good, bad and uncertain luck of oneself and other actors. Essential to this process is good judgement.

Mr McCartney is not alone in failing to bide his time. Politicians with a variety of talents often lack a particular temperament: to out wait current circumstances and to adopt a broader horizon beyond a given moment, including during the fog of battle.

In The Surprising Power of the Long Game, Nisim Taleb offers: The most successful people in any field all play the long game. The long game isnt particularly notable. It doesnt attract a lot of attention. In fact, from the outside, the long game looks boring. The tiny advantages that accrue arent noticed until success becomes too obvious to ignore.

The short game is intermittent. Its as if Sisyphus pushes his huge boulder halfway up a steep hill, gets tired, lets it roll down the hill, and says to himself Ill come back and do this tomorrow.

Events, dear boy, events

In 2017, just two years after the 2015 electoral contest, former UK Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May called an early snap general election to capitalise on strong polling numbers, including some showing her with a 21 percent margin over Labour.

Though the Tories won the election, they dramatically underperformed. May won a reduced majority resulting in a minority government requiring a coalition and confidence-and-supply agreement with Northern Irelands Democratic Unionist Party, which extracted certain demands, further weakening her hand.

With an unsteady coalition, post-Brexit divisions and turmoil and a series of historic defeats on Brexit legislation in the House of Commons May announced her departure from 10 Downing Street in mid-2019.

The race to succeed her included then-Home Secretary Sajid Javid, who made it to the final four but eventually threw his support to Boris Johnson, who later named him Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Javid resigned after a scant six months because of a row over the appointment of special advisors. It was, according to the Institute of Government, one of the shortest-lived chancellorships in modern Britain.

Johnsons eccentric and often seemingly crazed chief special adviser Dominic Cummings, who was riding precariously high at the time, sneeringly delighted in engineering Javids exit as the second most powerful member of the Cabinet.

One UK tabloid described the long game of the ambitious and steady Javid, the first British-Asian and Muslim to serve at Number 11 as Chancellor, after resigning one of the great offices of state:

He was widely credited with a dignified departure, and refrained from attacking Mr Cummings throughout. As a backbencher he has been loyal to Mr Johnson and the Government, and backed its approach to the pandemic.

There was much to criticize, including the initial shambolic and late response to the pandemic by Johnson and his Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock. The UK has the highest death toll in Europe. Javid could have attacked the government over a series of scandals, missteps and blunders.

As reported in the UK Guardian: Javids allies made it clear upon his departure as Chancellor that he was open to return to government and was not bitter.

Cummings, unlike Javid, left in a blaze of unbridled and explosive egomania, viciously turning on Johnson with numerous damaging revelations, none of which seem to have done permanent damage thus far except to Cummings, who will likely never be trusted again to work at the highest levels of government.

LOYALTY

Javid understood the importance of party loyalty, not as a matter of altruism, but as a strategy for his long-term political goals, including, likely, the prime ministership.

He did not go to the backbench and whine and complain. He did not leak certain information nor try to gain headlines to boost his standing. He did not sulk and appear petulant and peevish in the Commons.

He did not throw tantrums or act in an erratic impulsive manner, seeking to make himself the centre of political and media attention. He worked his way back to the cabinet by proving himself a team player, not a stalking lone wolf seething and plotting attacks.

How does one go to the backbench, continue to harshly criticize ones former cabinet colleagues and expect to be a leadership contender at a future date?

When a political ego is bruised it is best not to show it in public because it gives ammunition to opponents and it is off-putting to allies and supporters. Meanwhile, the wheel of fortune continued to grind then speed up in the precincts of Whitehall.

Cummings, who was more powerful than most cabinet ministers, was making enemies, reportedly including the Prime Ministers then-girlfriend Carrie Symonds, who is now his wife and who previously served as a special media advisor to Javid.

Javid maintained his good relations with Johnsons powerful partner. Cummings spectacular fall was in the offing. He was a difficult, disloyal personality who Johnson should never have brought into the heart of government.

His ignominious departure last November was followed approximately seven months later by the messy exit of Johnson loyalist Hancock, who spectacularly breached social distancing rules he planned and instituted as Health Secretary.

The initial stance of Johnson and Hancock to ride out the breach blew up as even Tory loyalists and constituency associations were enraged at the degree of hypocrisy.

Sixteen months after his abrupt resignation from Johnsons Cabinet, the well-liked Javid, who demonstrated discipline and good judgement, returned to centre stage as Health Secretary.

Amid the ongoing pandemic, one British newspaper described the new appointment as arguably the biggest and most challenging of all for Javid, who has also served as Home Secretary.

Javid has a fresh opportunity to shine and to burnish his leadership credentials. He is currently enjoying the proverbial last laugh. Back in office, the 51-year-old can rekindle alliances and make a mark with the British public and his parliamentary colleagues as the UK battles to emerge from the emergency phase of the pandemic.

Nisim Taleb further observed: The long game allows you to compound results. The longer you play the better the rewards... The long game is the opposite of the short game. Playing the long game means paying a small price today to make tomorrow easier. From the outside, the long game looks pretty boring...

LISTEN

Some politicians are narcissists with outsized egos. But some of the more successful know when to temper their egos, while trying to soothe and wrestle with their demons.

Such successful leaders typically listen to their advisors and family members who can help them to discern the moment, to restrain themselves, to breathe deeply, to become calmer, to exercise self-control.

For some, the unsteady flash of egotism, the giddiness of the moment, the lack of political maturity and stability often lead to erratic and wild-eyed actions and the rush to poor judgements including misreading the true intentions and motives of others.

Sometimes the ego becomes maniacal, incapable of restraint, judgement and discipline. Impulse reigns over reason. In the worst examples, it is like an addiction or disorder, hence the terms egomaniac and pathological narcissist.

Long-term vision includes post-frontline politics. Those who leave the frontline might find avenues such as new roles, foundations, mentoring and other means to bequeath wisdom and experience to others who can build on ones legacy.

Former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama have done this successfully in the United States, creating models for post-presidencies. Some who leave parliament might serve in other capacities.

Paradoxically, because life is short, the long game is critical. Because we typically only get certain opportunities, we should be as prepared and ready as possible for them by accruing advantages and a strong hand for when the moment ripens and is ready for the plucking and savouring and sometimes winning the ultimate prize.

Original post:
FRONT PORCH: So much to gain by playing the long game - Bahamas Tribune

If you havent been to Cassel Vineyards of Hershey in a while, a few things have changed.

A note on the blog that the Dauphin County winery updates regularly noted that its now serving wine flights on its enclosed porch, deck, cider garden and on the lawn. As the post noted, there is lots of room for visitors to relax and spread out. Wines and ciders are available for consumption.

Other changes include a new porch with retractable walls, a cider garden with sailshades and seating and an expanded concert seating area.

The Cassel family, which established the winery in 2008 and opened its tasting room at 80 Shetland Dr. in South Hanover Township in 2012, is transitioning from the alterations forced by the pandemic to its more traditional way of operating albeit with a few twists.

We are getting back to normal but some things are just reset to the new normal, Craig Cassel said in an email. Limo and bus tours are not picking up and may be part of the old normal. Wine flights outside and indoor tasting limitations are a nice change. Canned wine and ciders are an interesting new addition to our choices along with our wine slushies and different craft beers.

The family-operated winery near Hummelstown has taken the fifth-generation farm in a new direction and has been steadily growing its wine list and the experience for its customers over the past 10 years.

Dry to sweet wines are available, including ross in a variety of styles, and the winery has been recognized for several of its wines in competitions over the past couple of years.

Cassel Vineyards of Hershey offers a mix of dry and sweet wines, including several port wines, and four ciders.

The winery took home seven awards from the 2020 Farm Show competition, including a silver for its 2016 Cabernet Franc Reserve. Those are on top of two wines recognized in the Pennsylvania Wine Societys Wine Excellence 18th annual competition. Its 2017 Vidal placed among the 13 finalists and its Cab Franc Reserve wound up on the honorable mention list.

Its open 3 to 7 p.m. Thursdays, noon to 8:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 6 Sundays.

If you visit, you can bring your own food, but be aware that Philadelphia Hoagie Company will be on the premises all four days that the winery is open.

More:

Pa. wine industry fondly recalls many contributions of Doug Moorhead: It was because of him that we are here

50 East Coast wineries for your summer must-visit list

Best of the bunch? Maryland producer certainly fits into that conversation with its mix of wines, pastoral site

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Cassel Vineyards of Hershey enhances its seating area for its summer concerts - pennlive.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Monday, Feb. 8, is the first anniversary of Dave Koenigs disappearance, a 26-year-old Branson amateur MMA fighter.

People across the Ozarks and the country are putting up blue lights on their porch in hopes of Daves homecoming.

The night Dave went missing, he had messaged a couple of friends, thinking he might be in trouble. According to Daves mother, Tracy Koenig, Dave was friends with the Peachtree Inn owner in Branson, who gave him a place to stay that night.

Dave has been missing ever since his stay at the Peachtree Inn.

The blue porch lights were chosen because, according to Tracy, they wanted a way to honor him while also keeping everyone safe during the pandemic.

I think it is the best way to do it because, you know, there are so many people out there who do want to show their support, said Tracy.

Tracy said there has been a lot of support for the family and Dave over the last year.

Weve had a growing amount of people whove shown so much support, said Tracy. I think its amazing that people come together and they really do care. I wish he would feel the kind of love and support thats out there for him because theres a lot of people that care.

Sharron Schellman is supporting Dave from almost an hour away.

No mother needs to wonder where her child is, said Schellman. It doesnt matter how old they are, how big they are. Knowing what a mother goes through, theres nothing worse than not knowing. I just really hope this brings some awareness and somebody comes forward and they get some answers.

Dave is 66, 240 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call the Branson Police Department at 417-334-3300.

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Anniversary of Dave Koenigs disappearance remembered with blue porch lights - KOLR - OzarksFirst.com

Listed for $299,000 by Irongate Inc. Realtors, the brick-and-plank home at 9630 Clyo Road in Washington Twp. has about 2,670 square feet of living space. The house sits well off the road with a long, concrete driveway that leads to the side-entry, two-car garage. The irregular lot neighbors a township park, adding to the country storybook charm.

The covered porch with spindled railing and gingerbread accents wraps around to cover both a formal and more casual entrance into the home as well as providing plenty of sitting space to enjoy the outdoors. Manicured bushes and gardens accent the porch and walkway from the driveway to the front entrance.

A leaded-glass front door with matching sidelights opens into a foyer hallway. Gray wood-laminated flooring fills the foyer and continues into the formal living room and dining room. To the left, the living room has a bay design with three front facing windows and two side windows. The windows are trimmed with woodwork, and the ceiling has an octagon tray design.

Solid wood pocket doors open from the living room to the formal dining room, which has a bay design. A picture window is at the center for the bay bump-out flanked by two narrower windows. A crystal chandelier with ceiling rosette hangs above the center of the room.

Both the living room and the dining room are accessible from the center hallway.

The hallway ends within the kitchen and breakfast room, which is also accessible from the dining room. Ceramic-tile flooring fills both the breakfast room and kitchen as the flooring treatment divides the space from the family room, which has wood-laminate flooring.

The kitchen is tucked into a nook with a curved tray ceiling and wrap-around counter space and oak cabinetry. A double sink is below a window, and a cooktop range is built into the peninsula counter bar. A side window provides natural light, and canister lights accent the rest of the counter space.

A brick, wood-burning fireplace is the centerpiece to the family room with a curved brick hearth and brick surround. Wood panels above the fireplace complement the built-in bookcases and cabinetry to each side.

A picture window looks out to the back yard, and a glass door opens from the family room to a concrete patio and the back yard surrounded by a wooden privacy fence.

A short hallway from the central hall leads to a half bathroom with a pedestal sink and ends within the laundry room, which has hanging cabinetry, a folding counter with wash sink, access to the garage and access to the front porch.

A semi-open wooden staircase with matching wood spindles and wainscoting leads to the second floor where three to four bedrooms and three full bathrooms are located. The main bedroom suite is directly to the left of the stairwell and has a sitting room with arched window, a bay bump-out and access to a private full bath.

The bathroom has an oversized vanity with single sink, a whirlpool tub nestled within a bay window nook with steps providing access to the tub. There is a walk-in closet and a corner fiberglass shower.

Down the hallway which has hardwood flooring are two more bedrooms with rear facing windows and walk-in closets. The guest bath has a tub/shower, single-sink vanity, oak medicine cabinet and vinyl flooring.

The hallway branches to lead to the possible fourth bedroom or possibly a second-floor recreation room. The above-garage space has a room with three skylights plus a side-facing window and a bi-fold closet.

Tucked into one corner is a wet bar area with sink, counter, oak cabinetry and a mini-appliance nook. A third full bathroom is accessible from the room offering a possible second main bedroom option. The bath has a skylight above the walk-in fiberglass shower, a single-sink vanity and ceramic-tile flooring.

WASHINGTON TWP.

Price: $299,000

Directions: Clyo Road, south of Spring Valley, left side of road

Highlights: About 2,670 sq. ft., 3-4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 1 half bath, wood-burning fireplace, family room, bay dining room, bay living room, pocket door, wood floors, wet bar, skylights, oversized 2-car garage, concrete patio, wrap-around porch, mudroom, fenced back yard, storage shed

For more information:

Jennifer Durbin

Irongate Inc. Realtors

(937) 620-0830

http://www.jdsold.com

Visit link:
2-story home with covered porch set near township park - Dayton Daily News

Kaleigh Bakers famous around here for good reason. But seeing this Orlando-bred force of nature in the band context of St. Pete-based Someday Honey is an interesting setting.

Fear not, Kaleigh heads, she still gets plenty of spotlighttheres no practical or even justifiable way to tame her horsepower.

The performance I saw last year at the Dr. Phillips Centers AMPd Series, for example, showed wide range that embraced country, rock, soul and blues, including covers from the sundry likes of Buck Owens, the Temptations and Tom Waits. All of it was played with skill, love and spirit.

If you go out, respect everyones distance, for all our sakes.

Follow Bao on Twitter (@baolehuu) Email Bao: baolehuu@orlandoweekly.com

Stay on top of Central Florida news and views with our weekly newsletters and consider supporting this free publication. Our small but mighty team is working tirelessly to bring you Central Florida news, and every little bit helps.

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Kaleigh Baker and Someday Honey headline the 'Front Porch' at Orlando's Plaza Live on Thursday - Orlando Weekly

SEATTLE, Feb. 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Porch Group (Porch or the Company) (NASDAQ: PRCH), a leading vertical software platform reinventing the home services industry, today announced an expansion of their leadership team, including Adam Kornick as President of Insurtech, Andrew Beck as head of Contractor Tools SaaS, Malcolm Conner leading Porchs Home Services group, and Manisha Patel as Vice President of Finance.

Adam Kornick, President of the Insurtech division at Porch, is responsible for making insurance in the home simple using unique demand and data from Porchs vertical software platform and B2B2C business model. Mr. Kornick previously led data and technology functions as the Chief Data Technologist at Allstate and was the Chief Analytics Officer at Aviva. He also had a career at Progressive as a leader in product, operations and advanced analytics, including managing operations to a substantially lower Non-Acquisition Expense Ratio to enable rapid, profitable growth and developing the capabilities to allow digital marketing across 40 billion impressions, yielding 8% more customers at the same marketing spend level.

Leading Porch Group's Contractor Tools SaaS and Services division, Andrew Beck specializes in operational performance improvement, holistic P&L ownership, and M&A. Andrew served as General Manager at EverCommerce where he built a division of home and field services SaaS solutions and supported M&A integrations. During his tenure, EverCommerce grew from startup to $2 billion in revenue, completed 35 domestic and international acquisitions, and underwent a very successful recapitalization with Silver Lake Partners.

Malcolm Conner, who will lead Porchs Home Services group, specializes in business growth and value creation with over 20 years of experience leading home services and information businesses from start-up to revenues over $400 million. Prior to joining Porch, he was Chief Executive Officer at NanoSmart Technologies and its subsidiary, NanoSmart Lights. Malcolm also served as President of American Water Resources, a home warranty company and subsidiary of American Water, the largest water and wastewater utility in North America. During his 4 years leading this home warranty company, Malcolm and his team forged deep partnerships throughout the utilities industry and grew over 300% in terms of revenues and EBITDA.

A finance executive with 15 years of experience in domestic and international markets, Manisha Patel is the Vice President of Finance for Porch. Prior to joining Porch, Manisha served as the VP of Finance and M&A/Strategy at APR Energy (LSE: APR 2011-2016). At APR Energy, she was a key member of the executive team, directing the company strategy and building it from $100 million to $450 million through organic growth and M&A. She was a hands-on finance leader supporting over $2 billion in M&A activities/recapitalizations including a SPAC-driven IPO on the London Stock Exchange and raising $1.5 billion of growth capital.

On December 23, 2020, Porch successfully merged with PropTech Acquisition Corporation and began trading on the NASDAQ under the symbol PRCH. On January 14, 2021, Porch announced the strategic acquisitions of V12, PalmTech and iRoofing, as well as its expansion into Insurtech with the acquisition of Homeowners of America which is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021.

With our recent acquisitions and our debut on NASDAQ as a publicly traded company, we're building great momentum and continuing to grow rapidly, said PorchGroupCEO, Chairman, and Founder Matt Ehrlichman. Were pleased to have Manisha, Andrew, Adam, and Malcolm join the leadership team and are excited about the future of Porch. Our rapid expansion allows these leaders to step into important roles making an immediate and positive impact.

For detailed backgrounds on Porch Groups executive leadership, please visit https://porch.com/about/team.

AboutPorchGroup

Seattle-based Porch Group, the vertical software platform for the home, provides software and services to more than 11,000 home services companies such as home inspectors, moving companies, real estate agencies, utility companies, and warranty companies. Through these relationships and its multiple brands, Porch provides a moving concierge service to homebuyers, helping them save time and make better decisions on critical services, including insurance, moving, security, TV/internet, home repair and improvement, and more. To learn more about Porch, visit porchgroup.com or porch.com.

Press contact:

Gateway Investor RelationsJordan Schmidt(949) 386-6332PRCH@gatewayir.com

Investor Relations contact:

Gateway Investor RelationsCody Slach, Matt Glover(949) 574-3860PRCH@gatewayir.com

Originally posted here:
Following IPO and Acquisitions, Porch Group Expands Leadership Team With Four Industry Veterans - GlobeNewswire

On Tuesday, Bernal Heights restaurant The Front Porchclosed its doors for the day but for the best possible reason. The SF Southern comfort food spot spent the day filming an episode of "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," celebrity chef Guy Fieri's popular Food Network show.

"It kind of caught us by surprise," said co-owner Kevin Cline, who was contacted by the show. "But its such a good thing that they do for restaurants it's essentially free marketing for small mom-and-pop shops all across the country."

This, however, is not the first time The Front Porch has been featured on Fieri's show. In 2013, the spiky-haired Santa Rosa resident stopped by the restaurant to make shrimp and grits with chef Matt Marcus, after which he exclaimed the shrimp was "succulent" and gave Marcus a fist bump. Being featured on the show has been a boon to the restaurant over the years.

"Guy has such a dedicated fan base that you will find people coming in from Finland," Cline said. "They do tours of 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives' restaurants. It happens less now, but in the past you would see that. He's got a fan club."

This new episode is part of a series called "Triple D Nation," in which Fieri revisits some of his Flavortown favorites.

"They're going to restaurants that are still open and ones that they're interested in and adding a new update to it," explained Cline. "They're asking, 'What are you doing lately, what's new about you and what's the same?' They choose a couple of new dishes and make an expanded episode."

On Tuesday, a crew of six came by to transform the restaurant into a film studio for the day. Everyone got COVID-tested on the spot, and then the crew filmed interviews with Cline and co-owner Josey White. They also filmed chef Jack Felton cooking up a few of The Front Porch's new dishes: jambalaya arancini and crawfish pot pie. But it wasn't just a normal day in the kitchen for Felton: He had to cook with his nondominant hand for the sake of continuity.

"Hes left-handed, and the way the shots are constructed, they needed him to do it with his right hand," explained Cline. "They're such a professional crew, any time he tried to reach out with his natural hand to get the ingredients, they corrected it and had to do it over again."

This time around, Fieri himself didn't make it out, but he did vet the menu beforehand for the items he wanted featured on the show. Cline, however, remembers his 2013 meeting with the mayor of Flavortown well.

"He has this big personality that is what you see on camera, but I was really impressed by how much of a restaurant guy he was," he recalled. "He just loved talking about the nuts and bolts of it not only the recipes, but service and what plates we use and the history of the restaurant. After the filming was over, he stood around for another half an hour talking with us in front the restaurant. He's very down-to-earth, compared to the big Flavortown [persona]."

Cline said the Food Network team estimated their episode would air within the next six weeks a quick turnaround, as highlighting restaurants still open during the pandemic is a huge priority to them. It seems the "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" crew stopped by at least one other Bay Area spot while they were in the neighborhood, too: Oakland's Souley Vegan also posted on social media this week about a recent visit from the TV show.

If you're hoping to try some of The Front Porch's Fieri-approved Dr. Pepper-braised short ribs or shrimp and grits for yourself, the restaurant just reopened for outdoor dining, and also still offers takeout and delivery. The pandemic hasn't been easy on any restaurant, but Cline is feeling grateful they're still in business nearly a year into this crisis.

"It doesn't do to grumble about it because everybody's going through it, and we're still standing," he said. "A lot of people aren't a lot of people had to close down their dreams, which is a big shame. So definitely there's a feeling of gratitude and luck that our customers ... They've been amazing. The show of support has been incredible."

The Front Porch, 65a 29th Street, San Francisco. Open for dinner 4-9 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday, and for brunch 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m, Saturday-Sunday.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Metro police are searching for the gunman who shot and killed a 15-year-old boy on the front porch of a home in Antioch Thursday afternoon.

Officers responded just after noon to a call of a shooting on Pointer Court, where they said they discovered Edgar Utley V had been fatally shot outside of the residence.

I think Im still processing it you know when you see the police cars and ambulances and K9 units with semi-automatic rifles its just like that is too close to home, a neighbor named Celeste explained.

She described the neighborhood to News 2 as a quiet, close knit, family cul-de-sac. She said another neighbor jumped in to save Edgar after hearing the gunfire.

They heard the gunshot. I didnt hear the gunshot. I was on a Zoom meeting. She just said I think I was giving CPR and he was already gone, Celeste said.

Detectives determined a female had visited Edgar and that she was in the house for about ten minutes, before walking out on the front porch with him. A male gunman was there hiding, approached Edgar and shot him, according to investigators.

Police said the gunman and the female then fled the area after Edgar was shot.

The gunman was wearing red clothing while the female was wearing blue jeans, a white hooded sweatshirt and a black beanie hat, according to detectives.

Metro police said the shooting was targeted.

My son is just 22 so anytime something like that happens I always call him and make sure that hes okay. I think hes on his way over he knows whats happened and I just wanted to invite him to come home because were all grieving. Were very close. Weve all been in this court for probably 15 years together, Celeste said.

Metro Nashville Public Schools confirmed to News 2 Edgar was a freshman at Hillsboro High School.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Nashville Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

This is a developing story. Stay with News 2 and WKRN.com for updates.

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15-year-old shot to death on front porch of Antioch home - WKRN News 2