TAMPA The people who investigate home package thefts are getting into the business of helping prevent them by offering to hold your online orders for you.

With the holiday shopping season approaching, the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office announced Monday that people can direct shipments to two of the sheriffs five Patrol Services offices from Nov. 9 through Dec. 21. The locations are the District 3 Office, 7202 Gunn Hwy, and District 5 Office, 10128 Windhorst Road.

Items will be accepted and safeguarded for free until residents can pick them up from a deputy at the front desk.

Package distribution times will be 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. A government-issued photo identification card and an order tracking number will be required and packages must be less than 50 pounds.

An increase in package deliveries during the holiday season brings an increase in package thefts, the Sheriffs Office said in a news release. In 2019, there were 274 reports of package theft in Hillsborough County for more than $76,000 in losses to the victims.

Five hours after the Sheriffs Office announced the new service, it reported in a news release that a 31-year-old woman had been arrested Monday afternoon in connection with a package theft from a Riverview home caught on camera. The woman left on foot and changed her shirt to avoid detection, but was soon arrested. The package was recovered and returned.

The new service from the Sheriffs Office, dubbed Operation Pinch-A-Grinch, comes on the heels of steps taken by shippers to help reduce package thefts from homes.

Amazon offers an app called Key through which homeowners get an alert when an Amazon package is being delivered so they can remotely open their garage door and close it after the delivery is made.

UPS and FedEx allow customers to have packages delivered to their local offices for pickup. UPS has 38 locations in Hillsborough County, according to postlocations.com, and most are open by 8:30 a.m. FedEx packages can also be delivered to select Walgreens, Dollar General and grocery store locations.

Packages will be held for up to five business days, according to the shippers' websites.

The U.S. Postal Service offers hold-for-pickup service, but only for Priority Express mail.

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Hillsborough sheriff will accept your holiday packages to help stop porch thefts - Tampa Bay Times

On the hunt for cute small porch ideas? Well, we have your covered. We can't all have an extra living room stuck on the front of our homes (despite what Instagram would have us believe) but that doesn't mean we can't make the most of the space and add a ton of curb appeal.

We have rounded up our fave small porch decor ideas to inspire you to give your outdoor space a bit of a makeover. And if you are after more fall decor for inside your home too, check out our feature.

No matter how small your porch, you can always squeeze in some fall decor. With a smaller porch, we would say keep things simple, a scattering of small pumpkins and some orange foliage could be all you need to give the space a fall makeover. If you have seating on your porch, switch out the soft furnishings on that too for some more autumnal hues.

Loving this chic and simple small porch, plus the dog makes it even more inviting! The key to this look is the lack of clutter, making the porch feel more spacious. If you want to add seating to a diddy space just pick a chair that's compact, not too fussy and can be styled in lots of different ways throughout the seasons. Mix in some smaller potted plants that aren't going to overwhelm the space, pick a cute doormat that's not too visually heavy and there you go.

It's interior design 101: use lighter colors in a small space, and that can be true of porches too. Using a paler color pallet will disguise the small dimensions of the space, keeping it feeling light and airy. If you want to add a hint of color, stick with muted pastels and add in a few darker colors in your decor for balance and contrast.

If your porch is big enough to cope with a few pieces of furniture, just keep those pieces to a minimum. All you need to make your porch feel like an extension of your lounge is some seating and possibly a small table for perching a coffee. A compact swing seat works well in smaller porches because they are off the floor, allowing light to flow around it so it won't look too bulky. Decorate your porch with light but cozy pillows and throws so even if the space does feel a bit crowded, it just adds to the intimate feel.

If your porch really is just a set of stairs leading up to your front door, greenery is going to be your best bet. Get climbers going up your rails to soften the look and dot an array of potted plants in different sizes on the porch itself. Again, this will disguise the size and make a pretty plain space feel more like an inviting entrance to your home.

Note the painted floor of @timberfields' fab small porch. The grey 'runner' make the space feel bigger as it almost zones it, creating a walkway down the center and edges to add decor. Throw down a doormat too to add some texture to the floor this cute pumpkin one was actually a DIY job just a stencil and some paint. Check out the full how-to in Katie's highlights over on Instagram.

If theres one message that 2020 has hand delivered (with a gloved hand, of course), its that I need to let go... let go of control and expectations. Inspired by that, I created a new banner for our porch and Ill be showing you how tomorrow on my blog. For now, Im going to be ballsy and share a poem I wrote about letting go and how Im feeling right now... maybe you can relate? What have you had to let go of this year? It is said that we learn how beautiful letting go can be in the fall. With each leaf that fades from green, blazes orange, then ultimately releases itself from the tree, I let go. I let go of the expectation that this was finally going to be my year. Maybe it still is my year, even more brilliant than I could have imagined. I let go of the vision of the woman I was going to be, and let myself sit in stillness as a new image starts to sketch itself. I let go of doubt, and allow the space for trust to replace it in a new season. I let go. I let go. I let go. And I rest. Cassie Bustamante

A photo posted by @cassie_bustamante on Sep 8, 2020 at 6:59am PDT

Working with a tiny porch? You can always add some interest with your doormats, because why have one when you can have two? Stick with a practical heavy doormat onto but then add something cute and patterned underneath we love a checked pattern at this time of year, but you can switch it out with the seasons.

How ever you decorate your small porch, at whatever time of year, keeping it symmetrical will always make it feel larger. Decorate your steps with potted plants and lanterns; as a general rule, start small at the top and get larger as you go down the stairs to draw out the space.

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Small porch ideas: 10 stylish ways to make the most of your space whatever the size - Real Homes US

Let me say something nice about the Forsyth city council. They recognized that their mask mandate, written and pushed by the Georgia Municipal Association and not their constituents, was worthless. And so after imposing it on Sept. 8, they let it expire after 30 days. Its a waste of time, conceded councilman Julius Stroud, noting in his visits around stores in Forsyth, no one is complying. After six months of governments using this pandemic to overreact and exercise arbitrary powers as if government action can stop a virus we will take small victories where we can get them. So now, in Forsyth, if you want to wear a mask, wear a mask. If you dont, dont. This is almost sounding American and sane. Progress!

Sadly, were unlikely to have any such reasonableness at our Democrat-controlled Monroe County school board. In a fit of sanity, Bulloch Countys school board voted unanimously on Oct. 8 to end its healthy quarantine policy. School officials faced mounting parent anger at the policy since 900 students had been quarantined for being exposed. Yet only 13 of those 900 ever wound up showing any symptoms, i.e. runny nose or fever. Bulloch County school officials said some teenagers had been forced into 2-week quarantine on three separate occasions, meaning they had six weeks without school or activities. School officials there said they recognized that the health of children encompassed more than just COVID-19. They noted that social, academic and athletic development are also important and must be considered in health policies. Hallelujah! But within a week, they got an ugly letter from Dr. Kathleen Toomey, the head of Georgias Department of Public Health, warning them that allowing students to violate DPC guidelines was a misdemeanor offense. Who the @#$# elected her?!? Gov. Brian Kemp has leaned on Doctor Too-Me, as he says in his Clarke County twang, during the virus. And Kemp, derided as a serial killer by the left-wing media when he re-opened the state in May, has actually led better than every governor except Govs. Ron DeSantis in Florida and Kristi Noem in South Dakota. Georgia now has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation and hasnt suffered the massive deaths that the fear-mongers promised. But Kemp now needs to rein in Toomey. She has no authority to impose laws on Bulloch County schools that have never been voted upon by our elected representatives in the legislature. Thats why theyre called guidelines and not OCGA dash whatever. Nevertheless, the Bulloch County school board allowed Toomey to bully them into postponing some implementation of its relaxed policies. I wonder if Dr. Toomey sleeps better at night knowing that her actions are forcing perfectly healthy teenagers in Statesboro to be stuck in their rooms for two weeks learning nothing, doing nothing and left vulnerable to unsupervised down time with only the bilge on the world wide web to entertain them? Idle hands are the devils workshop, and our government officials have tried to put us in that workshop for six months now. Which brings us back to the Monroe County school board. Our school officials have resisted calls to relax the ridiculous healthy quarantine guidelines saying that no other school system in Georgia has done it. When Bulloch County did it, some hoped they may reconsider. But if Bulloch Countys BOE cowers before Dr. Toomey, Im sure that will mean the four Democrats on our BOE wont budge and relax the guidelines. For shame.

As south Monroe County continues to grow, both Monroe and Bibb counties are under increasing pressure to resolve their long-standing county-line dispute. Developers want to build subdivisions in the disputed areas off New Forsyth Road and Zebulon Road. But both are in limbo by uncertainty about the county line. In response, now Monroe County commissioners plan to send tax bills to every property owner who falls in Monroe County under the county line drawn by surveyor Terry Scarborough. Will landowners be shocked to get tax notices from both Monroe and Bibb counties next summer? Yes. Perhaps theyll be angry enough to call secretary of state Brad Raffensperger and tell him to record the Scarborough survey, the only legitimate line. Its unacceptable that the two counties have spent $3+ million in attorney fees and still dont have an answer. It is the job of the state of Georgia to set county boundaries. Were giving Raffensperger time to get through the election. But after that, he needs to keep his word and resolve the dispute.

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ON THE PORCH: Will BOE relax guidelines? | Free - Monroe County Reporter

From palm-sized to several-hundred-pound prize-winning giants, consumers have scores more pumpkin choices than there were just a short decade ago. (Betty Cahill, Special to The Denver Post)

Move over, Cinderella: Your orange, carriage-shaped pumpkin has some competition for fall decorating.

Porches are now sporting new colored pumpkins in shades of beige, green, red, white, gray, mustard, brown, even blue pink (yes, there is such a color). From palm-sized to several-hundred-pound prize-winning giants, consumers have scores more pumpkin choices than there were just a short decade ago.

The latest trend is the unexpected imperfection of conspicuous warts, raised blemishes that add ornamental character to the iconic orange pumpkin.

Ask any kid: The wartier and weirder the pumpkin, the better for the Halloween season. Naturally, wart popularity is growing. Because people want more warts, plant companies and university researchers are breeding for more warts. This all translates to selling more warty pumpkins. (Ah-ha! The mighty wart dollar!)

Creating all these pumpkin bumps, different sizes and colors has to do with plant flowers engaging in cross-pollination, which can happen unintentionally in the home garden or on purpose by plant breeders who specialize in bringing these various colored, bumpy and knuckle-like covered gourds and pumpkins to your favorite garden center, grocery store and farmers market.

How does cross-pollination and cross-breeding intentionally happen? It all has to do with pollination and the scientific group where the plants belong.

Cucurbits (for short), the botanical group that includes pumpkins, are monoecious in their flowering habit, which is fairly unique among vegetable crops. This means separate male and female flowers are produced on the same plant. For fruit to form from the female flower, pollen from the male flower must be transferred to the female flower. This pollination is done with the much appreciated and vital help of bees.

Certain bees have plant flower preferences, too. As you would guess, squash bees prefer to pollinate squash flowers and leave watermelon flowers to the other heroes: honeybees, bumblebees and solitary bees.

Scientific names of plants have two parts: the species and the genera (plural of genus). Plants in the Cucurbitaceae (gourd) family contain many species and genus of squash, pumpkins, melons and cucumbers. Example: The cantaloupes scientific name is Cucumis melo, with Cucumis as the genus and melo as the species. Cucumber is Cucumis sativus, so even though both cantaloupe and cucumbers are in the same Cucumis genus, they are not the same species, so do not cross-pollinate.

Think of each different species within the cucurbit family like horses and cows: They simply cannot create offspring together. So your cucumber plant will not cross pollinate with your summer squash.

Only cucurbits within the same species can cross-pollinate and produce a unique pumpkin or gourd with different outcomes like color, shape, size, taste and warts. Think of pumpkins, summer squash and some winter squash types that are in the same species Cucurbita pepo. So a poodle and labrador will create a labradoodle. What would happen when a dark green acorn squash crosses with a yellow summer zucchini? Perhaps a super hard-shelled, bright yellow carriage for Cinderella?

The effect of crossing is not usually seen the first season. The wacky cucurbit combinations result from saving cross-pollinated seeds and planting them the next growing season. A home gardener may end up with an unusual pumpkin by letting a chance crossed seedling grow from the previous gardening season.

James J. H. Gregory from Marblehead, Mass., is a famous breeder of hubbard squash, dating all the way back to 1897. His book Squashes and How to Grow Them is still in print today, and his Victor (or Red Warty Thing) seeds are also in commerce. And what a beautiful, warty sight they are to behold.

Today, Stokes Seeds Inc. is one of the leaders in cross-breeding to make cucurbits that are decoratively covered in warts and sold under the Super Freak Label. It can take up to 10 generations to bring some of these knobby lookers to market.

Planning ahead for next springs planting for the fall pumpkin harvest, dont overlook the various choices from seed sellers of bumpy, bewitching pumpkins including Warty Goblin, Miniwarts, Knucklehead, Pumpkin Warty Gnome, Ugly Mugly, Goosebumps and Goosebumps II, Warts Galore, Warts Plethora, and Bunch O Warts, to name a few. Shop early for seeds;, they may sell out quickly!

In addition to intentionally breeding warty pumpkins, there are other reasons that cucurbits actually get warts:

So where does this all leave us in the big scheme of fall pumpkins for decorating, Halloween trick-or-treating and Thanksgiving?

Nowhere, really. Just sayin, some pumpkins have warts.

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The more warts, the better: How pumpkins get all those warts - The Know

(Mass Appeal) Its time for Mass Appeals pet of the week were introducing you to not one, not two, but three guinea pigs, ready to join your family. Lee Chambers from Dakin Humane Society introduces us to our Pets of the Week.

Name:Oreo, Peanut and Sabel to be adopted together

Breed: Guinea pigs

Age: 1 year (Oreo and Peanut) 2 years (Sabel)

Sex: Female (all)

Color: Black w/ white (Oreo), white w/brown (Peanut), white w/gray (Sabel)

Guinea pigs like us need a spacious habitat equipped with hiding and napping spots, things to climb on, safe wood to chew, and guinea pig toys. Our diet should consist of grass hay available at all times, with a small amount of timothy pellets. We dont naturally make our own vitamin C, so we must get it daily from our diet. Snacks like red pepper, kale, mustard greens, dandelion greens, and other leafy greens will do the job nicely! In fact, we love these snacks so much that we will call wheet, wheeeeet when we see you bringing us some! Our average lifespan is 5 to 7 years. If you are interested in more information, contact the adoption staff at springfield@dakinhumane.org and include your name and phone number.

Pet profiles:Oreo: https://www.dakinhumane.org/adopt/oreo-45523796.htmlPeanut: https://www.dakinhumane.org/adopt/peanut-45523806.htmlSabel: https://www.dakinhumane.org/adopt/sabel-45523789.html

Events/Other Topics

The Return of Bad Photoshopsnow through October 31!

BAD Photoshops are back and we havent gotten any better at it! Just in time for Halloween, our unskilled, but enthusiastic photoshop goblins will transform your pets photos into spooky works of art. Visit our Bad Photoshop Facebook page, make a gift to Dakin (suggested donation is $10 but the skys the limit!), post a photo of your pet that youd like photoshopped then check back on your post for your masterpiece in the comments. Youll get a big laugh and can celebrate that your monetary gift is helping Dakin maintain essential services including curbside vaccine clinics, animal adoption, spay/neuter services, and more. Dont forget to share your masterpiece with your friends! (It wont be THAT bad. Probably.)

Porch Portraits A great way to celebrate your pet and you! October 24-25

There are still a few appointments left for Porch Portraits this weekend! Porch Portraits is a collaborative fundraiser for Dakin Humane Society with photographers in our community. Each Porch Portrait registration includes a short photography session that takes place right on your doorstep or porch and features you and your pet(s). You will receive two digital photographs from this session. All photography sessions must allow for safe social distancing outdoors and there can be no exchange of items. Cash tips accepted only inside envelopes. Sessions are $25 and days/times vary by photographer. Visit dakinhumane.org to book a session with a photographer or find out more. Availabilities vary depending on the photographer and your location.

For more information about Dakin Humane Society, please visitdakinhumane.org

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Pet of the Week: Meet a trio of guinea pigs looking for a new home - WWLP.com

Revitalization of the former Sheets building, located at 20 E. William St. in downtown Delaware, is officially a go as Main Street Delaware (MSD) held a ceremony at the building Thursday to kick off its fundraising campaign and the start of renovations.

Delaware City Council approved a lease agreement with MSD in August that will allow MSD to move its offices from East Winter Street to the new building, as well as to establish a Delaware Welcome Center.

The initial lease will span 10 years, with a renewal option, at a cost of $1 per year to be paid to the city by MSD.

Since 2011, we have had our offices in the Strand building on East Winter Street thanks to the generosity of the Strand Theatre and Cultural Arts Association, MSD Executive Director Susie Bibler said Thursday. But its time to return that space to the Strand and support its mission, and its time for Main Street Delaware to expand to support our community and downtown with a new welcome center.

We have collaborated with the city to lease this historic building to create an office space, meeting space, community restrooms, which are much needed, and, of course, a very welcoming welcome center. We are also launching a Front Porch Campaign Main Street Delawares first capital campaign to raise $210,000 to renovate this building to make our welcome center vision a reality, she added.

Bibler, who was named the Main Street Executive of the Year by Heritage Ohio on Thursday, said the Front Porch Campaign concept was chosen to recognize the distinctive architecture of the Sheets building, as well as Ohio and the city of Delawares legacies as the mother of presidents.

With continuing support from the community, we will restore this beautiful front porch and building to enhance the experience for everyone who stops by to learn more about the city and community we love, Bibler said.

MSD Board President Zach Price said the hope for the buildings restoration is to provide modern amenities and memorable experiences for residents and visitors. He added the building needs a lot of work, which includes updated finishes, new mechanical equipment, masonry restoration, and repair to the great porches. In addition to those repairs, Price said a handicap-accessible ramp will also be installed to ensure the building is truly open to everyone.

Mayor Carolyn Riggle said during the ceremony, When I look at this building, this crowd, and this city, I see purpose and potential. I am grateful for everyone who works with us to help Delaware thrive and grow every day I commend Susie, Zach, and all of the Main Street Delaware Board for its vision to renovate this building, preserving its history, and beginning a new chapter as a welcome center.

I am looking forward to seeing their renovated center, but even more importantly, seeing the impact it has on the city and county as it helps to share more information on the vibrant destination that Delaware has become, she added. It is this type of entrepreneurial spirit and forward thinking that has made Main Street Delaware so valuable in our community

City Manager Tom Homan called MSDs renovation plans a rebirth of the building, adding that it makes sense to expand MSDs footprint closer to the citys main street and increase the organizations presence in the community.

While the project is officially underway, much work still remains for MSD as it attempts to raise the necessary funds to complete it. Bibler announced the fundraising campaign would be kicking off with $28,240 already having been raised through various matching grants from local investors.

As you can see, we have a lot of fundraising to do, and we hope that you will all consider making the tax-deductible gift for the porch, Bibler told those in attendance. Working together, we know that we will succeed. We have so much faith in you and all of Delaware

Those interested in learning more about the Front Porch Campaign, or donating to the effort, can do so by visiting http://www.mainstreetdelaware.com.

During Thursdays ceremony, Main Street Delaware Executive Director Susie Bibler and MSD Board President Zach Price held up a banner showing how much money MSDs Front Porch Campaign has raised to date to help renovate 20 E. William St. into a welcome center with public restrooms and a literal front porch for the community.

Delaware City Manager Tom Homan speaks during Thursdays ceremony, while Mayor Carolyn Riggle, middle, and Main Street Delaware Eecutive Director Susie Bibler, right, look on.

Main Street Delaware Executive Director Susie Bibler speaks to the crowd that gathered Thursday afternoon for a renovation groundbreaking ceremony at 20 E. William St. in downtown Delaware. MSD, which is leasing the building from the city, plans to relocate its office to the historic building and transform it into a welcome center.

Reach Dillon Davis at 740-413-0904. Follow him on Twitter @DillonDavis56.

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MSD aims to revive old building - Delaware Gazette

Deputies apprehended an Eagle Mountain woman for her alleged involvement in the theft of at least three packages.

Deputies with the Utah County Sheriffs Office made contact with 32-year-old Michelle Marie Poll of Eagle Mountain as she was parked in her vehicle in a church parking lot. Poll had allegedly been named as a suspect in at least three package thefts between Tuesday and Thursday, according to the probable cause statement filed in support of the arrest.

While speaking with Poll, police reported that she allegedly confirmed she had been in the location of at least one of the thefts.

Poll allegedly gave officials permission to search her vehicle, and while conducting that search, deputies reportedly located three opened envelopes belonging to two of the homeowners who reported package thefts, according to arrest documents.

Police also discovered a red Xbox controller and a galaxy Xbox controller face plate, which had allegedly been reported stolen by a homeowner, as well as two LifeStraw water filters that had also been reported stolen.

After being read her Miranda Rights, Poll allegedly said she had stolen two packages containing the Xbox accessories from a neighbor but reportedly told police she didnt remember taking the package containing the LifeStraw water filters. However, Poll allegedly said she did remember opening the package in her car and throwing the water filters into the backseat.

One of the opened package envelopes discovered in the vehicle had originally contained dice. Poll reportedly said she didnt remember taking the package but had opened the package and threw the dice in the back seat of the vehicle, according to the probable cause affidavit. The dice were not located.

Officials took Poll into custody under the suspicion of three third-degree felony counts of mail theft.

Link:
Authorities apprehend alleged Eagle Mountain porch pirate - Daily Herald

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) Consumers at home arent the only ones taking advantage of online shopping deals ahead of the holiday season. Package theft by porch pirates is an issue that has plagued the City of Richmond in the past, and now, officials say, theyre tracking a spike.

Package thefts in the City of Richmond is not something new; we had a number of them last year. What were seeing this year is an uptick, Richmond Police Department Lt. David Naoroz said. I think some of that has to do with the fact that so many people are home because of the COVID lockdown.

With more Richmond residents relying on online shopping to avoid in-person interaction and minimize the spread of the virus, Lt. Naoroz says the department is seeing an increase in package thefts earlier than in years past. Other than in July, officials say the number of reported package thefts has been above average since March. The spike coincides with Governor Ralph Northams Executive Orders closing schools and non-essential businesses statewide and banning public gatherings over a certain size.

A number of retail organizations have boosted and advertised some of the package delivery starting this month, and it goes into the holiday seasons, Lt. Naoroz said. Thats typically where we see our uptick. We have had that uptick already happen, though.

Richmond Police are concerned that as the holiday season approaches, an already above-average number of reported package thefts will continue to rise at a rate higher than in previous years.

I think it is often an opportunity where somebody may be walking by and see it sitting there and maybe check their surroundings to see if somebodys watching, Lt. Naoroz said. Its everywhere.

From residential areas around Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), through The Fan District and to the West End, authorities say porch pirates can target anyone. But there are ways for residents to protect themselves from this theft.

What were hoping is that neighbors talk to their neighbors and community groups and get out the word to people, Lt. Naoroz said. If you can have your packages delivered to a lock box some of the delivery services offer lock box services.

Doorbell cameras are also an option.

That will certainly notify you if somebodys up on the porch, but then it doesnt necessarily secure your package, Lt. Naoroz said. If any of that stuff is kind of witnessed or people see any of those suspicious activities, we really ask them to give us a call.

Richmond Police can be reached at 804-646-6842.

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Richmond Police issue warning against porch pirates as package thefts rise - 8News

When Walter Eisenhardt first saw the old Victorian-style home with a wraparound front porch on Martin Avenue in Bellmore, he knew he had to have it.

"Im a hobby-level architectural historian, antique collector, and lover of old Victorian homes," said the 59-year-old retiree. "Instantly, I recognized it as an original Charles A. Frisch house, potentially a historic landmark for this area which, when the structure was built in 1910, was known as Smithville South."

But the porchs true value became apparent after pandemic restrictions were imposed in March, offering Eisenhardt a way to interact with friends and neighbors at a safe distance in a world reeling from COVID-19.

Cruise just about any Long Island neighborhood and you are likely to spot a few porches standing proud, looking out toward the street, and providing a gentle buffer between the privacy of the homes and the world outside.

Originally designed to allow escape from hot, humid weather in the days before air conditioning, porches have taken on an increasingly social function in modern times.

"Its easy to take them for granted," said Nancy Solomon, director of Long Island Traditions, a regional folk arts and preservation organization. "But porches in America have a long history of both serving purposefully and making a statement."

"They allow people to keep an eye on the neighborhood or say hello without getting too close," Solomon explained. "They are perfect for dining, entertaining or relaxing outdoors while enjoying a cool evening breeze. They also serve as a transition space between indoors and out. If, for example, you arent acquainted with a visitor, you might hold a conversation on the porch rather than in your home."

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Indeed, porches have been a staple on the American homestead for well over a century. Whether designed for status or functionality, or both, they do make a statement while adding an elegant touch to a beautiful home.

Eisenhardts porch was one such appendage designed by Frisch, a popular builder on Long Islands west end back in the early 1900s. In fact, Eisenhardt said, Frisch constructed a number of these builds right on High Hill Beach now Jones Beach before it became a state park.

When he bought it in 2007, though, the house was really run down, Eisenhardt said. He had it declared a landmark home in 2016.

"It was a shambles," he said, "but it had so much potential as a restoration project. Its a classic with high peaks, a stairway inside the front door, a big ball post at the base of the banister and that wonderful porch. Nothing says American home architecture like a beautiful front or wraparound porch."

Although examples date to ancient Greece and Rome, front porches on Long Island trace their roots to trans-Atlantic traders, Solomon notes.

"Many European settlers that came to the New World stopped first in the Caribbean and West Indies where they viewed front porches on typical homes," she said. "By the 1800s, porches had made their way up the Georgia coast, into South Carolina, and over to New Orleans. Following the Civil War, as we entered the Victorian Age, wraparounds grew prevalent throughout the country. Long Island proved to be a particular hot spot."

With Victorian architecture, especially, most front porches wrapped around to the side and connected to the dining room. "People would finish their meals and exit from the dining room to the porch to relax in the cool evening breeze after eating," Eisenhardt explained. "The porch was an extension of the living space of the home. People probably spent more time on the porch than inside when the weather was enjoyable."

Not surprisingly, some of the social importance of porches has faded in recent years with the advent of cellphones and the internet making daily person-to-person communication less vital. Still practicalities and niceties remain.

Eisenhardt waters his front lawn from the porch as he gets a great perspective looking out into the yard. He also enjoys chatting up neighbors and passersby. "You can do that while still social distancing," he noted. "Thats a real plus these days."

Depending on the type of porch, some consider it an attraction. "Nothing says relax more than a beautiful front porch," said Scott Bennett of Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Cutchogue. "They make you feel like this is a great place to enjoy watching the time go by."

The size, style and functionality of any porch helps determine how much value it adds to your home, Bennett said. "Its hard to pin an exact dollar amount on any porch, but if in good shape, most prospective buyers should see it as a plus. Adding recessed lighting or even ceiling fans can be a nice touch if done tastefully," he said.

Those whove lived in houses with porches are nostalgic about them.

A single parent, Eisenhardt says his 13-year-old son, Harrison, practically grew up on the porch. "He spent time on our porch in his playpen and highchair," Eisenhardt said. "Now he reads, hangs out and shares dinner or lunch here. Its part of our everyday life, as is my having an occasional espresso on the porch in the morning, or glass of wine in the evening."

Richard and Mary Clark, of Rockville Centre, like to entertain on their front porch.

"We have a big wraparound and we serve a lot of meals on it," Mary said. "We hosted 40 friends and family for Thanksgiving last year. We put out drinks and adults enjoyed each others company while the kids played in the front yard where we all kept an eye on them. We have a couple of small tables where my son, Owen, age 22, enjoys having breakfast. We also have a big hydrangea bush growing along one side of the front railing. If I just need some quiet and want to be outside without being disturbed, I can enjoy a few peaceful minutes there."

While porches made of composite materials tend to be nearly maintenance-free, it can be a labor of love to maintain a wooden porch. Still, when everything comes together, both homes and owners shine with pride.

"I had an elderly woman walk past my house a few days ago," Eisenhardt said. "I was on the porch when she looked up: This is one of the nicest homes Ive ever seen in this neighborhood, she said."

"I dont think its a coincidence that my porch restoration had just been completed."

Heres a listing of homes with porches on Long Island:

Size: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3,000 square feet

Style: Victorian

Built: 1887

Annual taxes: $17,101

Description: This house with a wraparound porch sits on a half-acre of flat, private, manicured grounds in the heart of historic Sea Cliff and comes with a chef's kitchen and a renovated one-bedroom cottage and beach rights.

Listing agents: Eileen Heimer and Robert Cullen, Daniel Gale Real Estate, 516-674-2000.

Size: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, about 1,700 square feet

Style: Cottage

Built: 1931

Annual taxes: $3,657

Description: This home with a front porch is close to Main Street shopping and dining, the LIRR station and famous beaches. The back and side gardens are beautifully landscaped with evergreens for privacy and feature a brick patio and an outdoor shower.

Listing agent: Pat Garrity, The Corcoran Group, 631-903-5900

Size: 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2,700 square feet

Style: Cape

Built: 1998

Annual taxes: $10,488

Description: This spacious house with a porch comes with landscaped grounds, an in-ground pool, lots of privacy and is close to downtown Cutchogue, wineries and markets, and access to kayaking at the end of the lane.

Listing agent: Scott Bennett, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, 631-354-8100

Size: 2 bedrooms, one bathroom, 1,560 square feet

Style: Ranch

Built: 2006

Annual taxes: $9,352

Description: Off the beaten path but close to the beach, stores and restaurants, this house with a porch has a great room with dual fireplaces and is in move-in condition.

Listing agent: Jolene DeCecco, Landmark Realty of L I Inc., 631-929-3600

Porches can be in the front or back of the home and sometimes wrap around the side of the house. When located in the rear of the house, they are typically raised to the first or second level of the home. Front porches and side porches are generally covered. Many confuse them with decks, which are an extension of the home, usually uncovered and at the back of the house.

Materials matter when it comes to porch maintenance, says Lou Pagnotti of Decks Unique in Commack, who performed most of the restoration for Eisenhardts Bellmore home and wraparound porch.

Pressure-treated wood is least expensive," Pagnotti said. "Special woods like mahogany cost more, look terrific but hold up about the same in the long run. Both should last 20 to 30 years neither is likely to look new toward the end. Composite boards and spindles are more expensive than pressure treated but are very low maintenance and generally come with a significant warranty, often 25 years.

For maintenance, experts suggest sweeping your porch clean as needed and waterproofing wood porches yearly. Avoid using a hose to clean unless overly dirty as moisture promotes rot. A full porch restoration is a big job that often entails bringing construction up to code. If you need to replace more than a few boards, it might be a good idea to consult a professional.

Number of homes with porches that were sold in Suffolk County in the first nine months of this year, compared with 4,245 in all of 2019, and 4,127 in all of 2018.

Number of homes with porches that were sold in Nassau County in the first nine months of this year, compared with 3,643 in all of 2019 and 4.625 in all of 2018.

Source: OneKey MLS

By Tom Schlichter Special to Newsday

See original here:
Porches in the pandemic: Social distancing with style - Newsday

Porch CEO Matt Ehrlichman (iStock; Porch)

In Porch.coms IPO filing, the home-services startup touts one of its core values: No Jerks/No Egos.

But the nice guy approach has brought the firm to the brink of financial ruin, the filing shows. Unless its able to raise additional capital, the company will not have sufficient cash flows and liquidity to fund its planned business for the next 12 months.

The disclosure, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission Wednesday, was made ahead of Porchs merger with a blank-check company led by Abu Dhabi Investment Authority veterans Thomas Hennessy and Joseph Beck. The deal, announced in July, values Porch at $523 million. According to the IPO filing, Porch generated $77.6 million in revenue last year, up from $54.1 million in 2018.

Abu Dhabi Investment Authority veterans Thomas Hennessey and Joseph Beck

Founded in 2011, Porch sells software to home-services companies in exchange for data on homebuyers. It then sells additional home services, such as contractor services and TV and internet, to those clients.

But the companys accountants have raised substantial doubt about the cash-strapped companys ability to stay in business, the filing shows. The Real Deal took a closer look at the 581-page prospectus to learn more; heres what we found:

Accounting woes. Porch is not yet profitable. As of June 30, its balance sheet listed $3.9 million in cash, plus $46.4 million in assets and $63.2 million in debt. The company also had a total deficit of $263.5 million.

Alarmingly, Porch also said that in preparing its 2019 financials, it identified a material weakness in its financial reporting. In particular, it lacked qualified personnel to prepare and review complex technical accounting issues. To remedy the situation, it hired a CFO in June and controller in July and is working with outside consultants.

(More) about those losses. Porch sells software to 11,000 home-services companies. On average, it generated $556 per account during 2020s second quarter. In the first half of this year, Porchs revenue dropped 14.3 percent to $32.2 million. Its losses narrowed to $24.6 million, compared to $67.9 million during the first half of 2019.

Whos in control. CEO Matt Ehrlichman will hold a 24.9 percent stake in the company after the deal closes, according to the filing. Hennessy, Beck and their partners will hold a combined 18.3 percent stake.

Payday for Porch execs. Until February 2020, Ehrlichmans annual base pay was $1, but this year, it was bumped up to $420,000. In connection with the merger, he and Matthew Neagle, Porchs chief revenue officer, will also get one-time bonuses, ranging from $200,000 to $500,000 for Neagle and $500,000 to $1.5 million for Ehrlichman. Ehrlichman will also get one million shares of company stock that will vest based on those shares hitting certain price targets.

Sweetening the deal. To get the merger done, Ehrlichman struck a deal with investor Valor Equity Capital, which agreed to approve the arrangement in exchange for $9.5 million in shares. Valor also demanded a caveat: Post-merger, if its stake is valued at less than $44.2 million, Ehrlichman will transfer additional shares to make up the difference. At closing, Ehrlichman agreed to pay Valor $4 million in cash.

Selling Lowes. Home-improvement giant Lowes led Porchs $27.6 million Series A in 2014. But in May 2019, the retailer sold 16.1 million shares back to Ehrlichman for $0.25 a share, or just over $4 million.

The IPO filing notes the price was below fair market value, and a check with Pitchbook shows that Porch shares had been priced at $8.66 in a 2018 funding round. For accounting reasons, the company was required to recognize the Lowes stock deal as a compensation expense of $33.2 million. According to Pitchbook, Porchs share price dropped after the Lowes deal. It closed a $20.62 million round in January that priced shares at $3.50.

One more small problem. In the IPO filing, Porch said it plans to expand into insurance, as well as new home products and new locations, as part of its growth plan. Currently, Porch sells products and services in all 50 states. However, it is qualified to do business only in Washington, Texas and Delaware, the IPO filing said. Failure to get licensed could lead to fines, plus the company could be subject to back taxes and contract disputes in non-licensed jurisdictions.

Contact E.B. Solomont

Original post:
Porch is running out of cash: IPO filing - The Real Deal