By Rich Larson, News Director

Early voting has been underway for a few weeks in Minnesota, and with less than a week to go before election day, people are being encouraged to take advantage of the options available to them.

If you requested an absentee ballot but have not sent it in, you are strongly encouraged to do so as soon as possible. Rice countys recommended date to mail your ballot in was on Tuesday, but under state law there is still time. Ballots must be postmarked on or before election day and received by the county within seven days of the election. There is also a drop off option. The Rice County Government services building, located at 320 3rd Street North West in Faribault has a convenient ballot drop off box, or you can bring your ballot to Northfield City Hall and drop it off there.

In-person early voting is also underway at City Hall, and Northfield City administrator Ben Martig said yesterday that the city is trying to make it as easy as possible for you to cast your vote. Here in Northfield we have in person absentee early voting, that is available in the [City Hall] second floor training room. It will be going Monday through Friday from 8-4:15. In addition, City Hall is open Saturday, October 31 from 10-2:45 for some added convenience.

Martig also said that Covid-19 restrictions are in place. Masks are required, social distancing is enforced, and the voting offices are restricted to voters only, so be prepared to find a line when you go to vote. And should you want to wait until election day, the Covid restrictions will still be in place, but with eight total polling places, rather than just one for early voting, things might move a little quicker.

Northfield City Hall Presents War of the Worlds

The Northfield High School will present a live radio play on Saturday night, performed on the grass at Memorial Field, and broadcast live right here on KYMN radio at 8PM.

The idea came to NHS theater guru Bob Gregory-Bjorklund this summer when he was casting about for ideas on how to do theater in the time of Coronavirus. A friend of his suggested a radio play, and specifically Orson Welles infamous classic War of the Worlds.

First presented on October 30, 1938, Welles production nearly caused a panic when people tuned in to the play about aliens invading the Earth but did not realize that they were hearing a piece of fiction.

Gregory-Bjorklund is not looking to cause a panic. Just the opposite, in fact. He wants to do theater that is safe.

And a radio play is a great way to do that, he said, because you have actors that can space out on the stage and you can have an audience that is distanced.

Gregory-Bjorklund said that the performers will be working to get the listeners at home to participate in the show. Participation has to do with imagining. Participation has to do with closing your eyes and picturing Where is this happening? Where is this large park in New York City? Maybe its Central Park? What does it look like? What does an invading space alien look like?

There will be a live audience for the performance. Two-hundred and fifty people will be allowed into the stadium. Admission is free. The tickets will be given on a first-come first-serve basis.

Merchants Bank begins re-model

The downtown Merchants Bank Building is getting a facelift.

Tim Viere, the president of Merchants bank said that the last time the bank was remodeled was in the early 90s. When Merchants Bank merged with the First National Bank this past summer, it became time for an update.

The color of green carpet in the lobby worked for both Merchants and the First National, Viere said, but Ive always joked you could pull it up and make bullet proof vests out of it.

The remodel will happen in two phases. The first will be done on what has traditionally been the commercial banking side, and the second will be on the other side of the bank where the teller windows are.

And even though the point of this is to bring the bank into the 21st century, Viere said they arent going to discard some of the history that is in that building. The old vaults that we have in the bank, theyre from the old times. So were not going to touch those. That would be almost humanly impossible to move those around, so were doing the remodeling and keeping them in the same place.

Construction began earlier this week. Phase one will be completed in late December. Phase two should be done sometime in March.

Continue reading here:
Early voting available on Saturday; NHS presents 'War of the Worlds'; Merchants Bank begins remodel - kymnradio.net

More people are working at home, and this may be an opportunity to deduct expenses related to having a home office.

The COVID-19 pandemicand economy-lockdown measureshave changed many aspects of daily life, possibly permanently. No surprise there.

Less obvious are some of the tax breaks and other benefits that might help you deal with the pandemic. Programs and resourceslike stimulus payments have received a lot of media attention, but others aren't so obvious. Here are some personal-finance tips that might make livingin a coronavirusworldless disruptive.

More people are working at home, and that trend likely will continue. But does this represent an opportunity to deduct expenses related to having a home office? Possibly.

Prior to federaltax-reform legislation enacted in 2017,unreimbursed employee business expenses could be taken as an itemized deduction, but that's no longer the case. But at the same time,employees who receive reimbursement from their companies for home office expenses dont need to pay taxes on the money, noted tax researcher Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accountingin a recent commentary.

An employer should havean accountable reimbursement plan" to help make sure reimbursements aren't taxed.In essence, that means"employers should require receipts to be submitted and reimburseemployees based on those receipts," said Mark Luscombe, principal federal tax analyst at Wolters Kluwer.

Self-employed individuals, as in years past, typically can deduct home-office expenses.

On a related note, federal tax law allows a$250 deduction for teachers of expenses that they incur out of pocket. While the law cites classroom expenses, the break likely is also available to teachers who are instructingstudents remotely at home, Luscombe said.

Remodeling projects are on the upswing, with more people working at home having the time and even the money to update their dwellings. Some projects are directed toward creating more comfortable or efficient spaces to work or for home schooling. Tax laws offer someincentives for certainremodeling projects, but these benefits are limited.

One possibility is a$500 federal tax credit for energy-efficient improvements involvingexterior doors, windows,insulation, heat pumps,fans, air conditioners, water heaters and so on. However, this is a lifetime credit, and many homeowners have already used up their allotment. Thecredit expires at the end of 2020, though it has been extended in the past, Luscombe noted.

There's also a tax credit to installqualified equipmentfor solar water heaters, small wind-energy generators, geothermal heat pumps and more. This credit is worth 26% of relevantexpenses if incurredthis year and 22%in 2021.

Some home improvements mightqualify for an itemized medical expense deduction. Examples includewheelchair ramps, hand rails or other equipment if prescribed by a doctor. Medical expenses may be deducted to the extent they exceed 7.5% of a person's adjusted gross income this year, but that rises to 10% in 2021.

With a home-equity loan, the interest can be deductedif theproceeds areused for home improvements, as opposed to paying offcredit-card debt or otherpurposes.

RETIREMENT:Here's what to know if it arrives sooner than expected

Health Savings Accounts were gaining traction even before the virus hit, largely because they offer a way to save up money and avoid paying taxes if the proceeds are used for an array of medical-related expenses. Given that health-care spending needs could rise for a lot of people down the road, these flexible, versatile accounts could come in handy.

You can qualify for an HSA if you enroll in a high-deductible medical plan something to consider during open enrollment.

Themany COVID-19 expenses that triggertax-free withdrawals include doctor visits, lab tests, prescription drugs and over-the-counter remedies for flu symptoms. However, respirators and face masks are among coronavirus-specificexpenses that haven't yet been approved by the Internal Revenue Service, reports Fidelity Investments.

Researcher Morningstar calls HSAs "the most tax-favored investment vehicle" out there. Unlike with 401(k) accounts, Individual Retirement Accounts andSection529 college-savings plans, the money invested in HSAs isn't taxed on the way in or the way out, and payroll taxes don't apply either, Morningstar said.

Yet HSAs also are significantly underutilized and possibly misunderstood, the company added. They are one type of account worth researching further.

If you're searching for employment,here's a job-hunting aspectyou might have overlooked the virtual interview.Owing largely to COVID-19 social-distancing precautions, more employers are discussing openings with job candidates using Zoom and other online methods, reports Challenger, Gray and Christmas, which found that 80% of employers were conductingsome interviews online as of an April survey.

The outplacement and business-coaching firmrecommends several tips to make your remote job interview more successful. First, understand theparameters of theinterview including how many people will be participating, how long will it last, what software will be used andwhat you should send in ahead of time, such as a resume.

Also, rehearsein advance by having a friend ask practice questions, so that you can see yourself on camera, evaluate your answers,become more comfortable with yourmannerisms and check thebackground. Moveto another room or adjust your lighting if it's too bright or if shadows are distracting.

"Experiment to see what looks best,"Challenger, Gray said in a commentary. "No messy work areas, laundry or accumulated dishes" should appear in the background.

Dress inbusiness attire with solid colors that are less distracting than patterned clothing, the company added. Also, make sure your hair, including any facial hair, is neat and trimmed, and practice your delivery so that you're not touching or fussing with your hair.

As Congress has debatedanother round of COVID-19 relief payments, it's easy to forget that money from the original program is still available.

Most eligible taxpayers already received Economic Impact Payments of up to $1,200 per person months ago. But many people who don't normally file income-tax returns still might be eligible, thoughthey mustregister by Nov. 21. To do so, goto irs.gov and look for a section titled"Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here."

This"non-filers" section is designed for single people with incomesbelow $12,200 whocan't be claimed as someone else's dependent and for married couples with income under$24,400. Manyhomeless individuals could be among those still eligible for stimuluspayments.

Reach Wiles at russ.wiles@arizonarepublic.com.

Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/consumers/2020/11/01/home-office-deductions-among-tax-breaks-can-help-during-pandemic/6027695002/

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These tax breaks could help you deal with the financial fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic - The Arizona Republic

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HACKETTSTOWN, NJ The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and International Builders Show (IBS), the kitchen/bath and housing industrys leading showcases for new products and services, will return to Orlando as in-person events in 2022, one year after the shows transformation in 2021 to digital-only events.

Officials from the National Association of Home Builders and the National Kitchen & Bath Association owners of IBS and KBIS, respectively announced 2022-2044 dates for the co-located live events shortly after announcing cancellation of the on-site portion of the 2021 shows due to health/safety concerns and travel restrictions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The co-located KBIS and IBS, previously scheduled for Feb. 9-11, 2021 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, are staged each year as the focal points of Design & Construction Week, which will return as a live event to Orlando Feb. 8-10, 2022. Las Vegas will be the site of the annual three-day live shows on Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2023 and Feb. 27-29, 2024, show officials added.

The decision to cancel the in-person portion of the 2021 show came following months of lengthy conversations with NAHB and (show producer) Emerald, said Bill Darcy, CEO of the NKBA. The safety and well-being of our attendees, partners, exhibitors, site workers and staff has always been our top priority, Darcy said. As we crossed the 16-weeks-out mark, it was time to transition to focus 100% on a virtual event. Ultimately, the health and safety of attendees and exhibitors, as well as the ability to produce a signature event experience, outweighed all other considerations.

KBIS and IBS, like trade shows and conferences worldwide, have been facing unprecedented challenges resulting from a global public-health crisis that has forced the postponement, cancellation or reformatting of more than a dozen overseas and domestic industry-related events in the nine months since the coronavirus began resulting in government-mandated social distancing, travel restrictions and widespread concerns over attending large indoor gatherings.

Prior to the decision to convert to a digital-only format, KBIS and IBS officials had been undertaking a months-long effort to implement comprehensive protocols aimed at safeguarding the health and safety of attendees, exhibitors and vendors in the face of COVID-19. Onsite safety measures were to have included one-way traffic aisles, mask-wearing and social distancing, contactless registration with remote badging and enhanced cleaning measures.

The live events became untenable, however, in the face of the overwhelming challenges caused by the coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic,including government-imposed restrictions and limitations on large gatherings, the inability of KBISs international community to travel to the show due to quarantine requirements and travel bans, and various company-imposed travel restrictions on employees.

Show officials had acknowledged they were facing a substantial number of booth cancellations and exhibit-space reductions, as well as an attendance projected to be far below the estimated 90,000 people who attended Design & Construction Week this year in Las Vegas.

An online poll of dealers and designers conducted by Kitchen & Bath Design News in early October found that 81% of survey respondents said they did not plan to attend the 2021 KBIS-IBS. A similar number (78%) said they do not plan to attend any trade shows through at least June of 2021.

The newly formatted DCW 2021 will still take place the week Feb. 8, allowing participants digital access to exhibitors, as well as to a mix of live and recorded video panels, discussions and CEUs, from wherever they are in the world, show officials said.

An all-virtual Design & Construction Week will be a different experience, but with it comes new opportunities to reach an even larger audience that would not have been able to participate on-site, for any number of reasons, including on-going travel restrictions, Darcy said.

Details about the virtual event will be unveiled as the event approaches, show officials added, noting that registration for the virtual DCW event is free for all NKBA and NAHB members and, as with the in-person shows, attendees will have access to both KBIS and IBS exhibits and programming.

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KBIS, IBIS to Return to Orlando as Live Events in 2022 - Kitchen and Bath Design News

Many people dont really pay attention to the bedroom furniture, except the bed, because they think the most important thing is to have a comfortable bed and a few pillows and blankets, in order to get a good nights sleep. But, that doesnt mean you dont need to fit the other furniture to your style, or the home decor theme you prefer. Probably you and your partner and/or kids will be those who will use the bedroom regularly, and usually, we dont let the guests in. Thats one of the main reasons why people dont put much effort when buying new things for this space.

One of the most common mistakes is buying the cheapest furniture, just to fill the room up, without paying too much attention to the color scheme, patterns, and personal preferences when it comes to renovating and remodeling. According to deutschfurniturehaus.com, you deserve to sleep in a beautiful and stylish room, that will energize you every morning you wake up, instead of frustrating you because of the un-matching styles and colors.

The renovation experts are sure you need to put equal effort into the sleeping area, just like the living or dining room, so you can have your dream bedroom. Also, you can afford to buy more quality pieces, because only a few people will use it, and they will last for years.

And when it comes to your home decor style and preferences, you can follow these tips and tricks:

As we already said, many of us will choose to spend more money in the living room, the kitchen, or bathroom, letting the bedroom be the last in the row. But thats wrong on so many levels because we all know how important is night sleep for all of us. The atmosphere in the room where you sleep should be calm, warm, and comfortable, even if that means you will need to improvise a little and put some pieces that usually cant be found there. But, if you prefer red blankets or other vibrant colored accessories, just do it, even though most of people believe these colors will wake you up, and wont let you get sleepy again. We are all different, and that applies to our renovation ideas and taste too.

Just because you sleep there, it doesnt need to look boring and sterile. In the end, everything is about the perception, and things that are bad for the others can be good for you, including the sleeping patterns and the general resting routines.

Its understandable that most of us have a very special taste in furniture, that can be pretty expensive, and we cant really afford everything we want. Thats why its important to set a budget and try to stick to it, without letting yourself go a lot over it. Another one thing you need to consider is if that piece of furniture can be useful and practical? No one wants to spend a lot of money on decorations that arent much needed in the space, no matter how beautiful they look. In the end, if you really like solid woods or something like that, you can buy them used, or repurpose something you already have.

One of our top priorities is to find nice-looking things we can put in the rooms, so we can get that catalog or magazine look, without even thinking are those things quality enough to be in our home? When youre buying a wardrobe, it should fit a lot of clothes. Chairs should be comfortable and support the body properly, and thats also crucial for the bed. So, invest smartly, because no one can afford to renovate the whole bedroom every few years.

You cant put huge pieces of furniture if the room is small. Also, if you bring too small pieces, you will need more of them, so you can avoid the empty-looking redecoration. Sometimes, you need to go over your taste and be smart and practical, because not everything you love can fit the space you have. Its nice to always have some estimation or calculation of how big is the room, and how big furniture you will need, so it can look stylish, and not empty or overwhelmed.

Probably, there are plenty of companies around you that can manufacture custom furniture for you, by taking the right measures and using the materials you prefer. But, very often, this choice is much expensive than buying furniture from a store. The good thing is that you can order exactly what do you want to put in the room and be unique, even though you are using that room just for sleeping. Customizing lets you get everything you have on your mind, and its one of the ways to fit the bedroom furniture to your style and preferences.

If you follow the very same style for every room in your house or apartment, just adapt it to the sleeping conditions. But first, make a list of all the things you really need, and then start your shopping. It can be an exciting experience for you, especially if you are decorating the room by yourself. To make the whole task easier for you, just match the styles, and save a lot of nerves and money by doing that.

When it comes to home remodeling, most of the people leave the bedroom for the last, and it may happen that they dont have enough money, so they are buying the cheapest furniture, without taking care of how it fits the whole house, or if it suits the personal style. But, we hope that after this article, you will realize how good for you is to have a stylish and nice-looking room, in order to be comfortable at night and always sleep well.

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6 Tips For Choosing The Right Bedroom Furniture To Suit Your Style - EDM Chicago

2 min read709 views and 2 shares Posted October 21, 2020

Six houses in Lebanon County of varying sizes, styles and price points will be included in the Building Industry Association of Lancaster Countys first Virtual Parade of Homes event, kicking off Oct. 24.

The Lancaster/Lebanon Parade will utilize 3D technology to offer a room-by-room, close-up view of each residence.

Eighteen single-family homes, townhouses and remodeling projects, starting at $251,990, will be on display. The event, sponsored byFulton BankandUGI Utilities, showcases more than $10 million in new home construction and remodeling.

Detailed information on all the entries will be available Oct. 24 at lancasterparadeofhomes.com. Parade of Homes guidebooks with that information were mailed to over 100,000 Lancaster and Lebanon County households this month.

Ephratas Garman Builders has five houses in the Parade, two of which are in Lebanon County.

Jordan Cassidy, director of marketing, said business is brisk right now. Its all positive at the moment.

Garman Builders also is increasing its presence in Lebanon County, she said.

One of its two Parade homes there is a $251,990 townhouse at 58 Beach Tree Court in South Annville Township, in the Mayapple Woods development.

The three-bedroom, 2.5-bedroom house comes with a one-car garage and features an owners suite with a walk-in closet in the bedroom and cultured marble double-bowl vanities in the bathroom.

That particular house, measuring 1,940 square feet, is sold, Cassidy said, but the floor plan is popular among first-time buyers and downsizers.

Garman Builders second Lebanon County Parade house is a 2,141-square-foot rancher with three bedrooms, two full baths and a two-car garage.

Still for sale, its listed at $427,990 and is at 1548 Cambridge Drive in South Lebanon Township. The home, in the Strathford Meadows development, includes a sunroom off the breakfast and family room area, quartz kitchen countertops and a stone surround fireplace.

Its a cute house, Cassidy said.

Manheim builder Wiegand Inc. is showcasing a spec house in the Parade thats already drawn some rave reviews, according to president and owner Fred Wiegand.

The homeon a 2.77-acre wooded lot at 253 Sheep Hill Road in Heidelberg Townshipis a modern mountain style that hes trying to introduce to Lancaster and Lebanon counties, he said.

This type of house is more common in the West and in Mountain States like Colorado, and Idaho, Wiegand said. A two-story listed at $838,500, its more than 2,900 square feet, with a first-floor master suite, 3.5 baths total and the potential for a fourth bedroom.

People have remarked on the exterior color combinations, including teak and HardiePlank, as well as the mahogany doors and black metal roof, he said.

Wiegand also pointed out the indoor/outdoor living space, with a bar area that opens out from the kitchen to the Brazilian teak deck.

With strings of lights, its really pretty at night, he said.

Questions about this story? Suggestions for a future LebTown article? Reach our newsroom using the contact form below and well do our best to get back to you.

Do you support local news?If you believe that Lebanon County needs independent, high-quality journalism, consider joining LebTown as a member. Your support will go directly towards stories like this and you will be helping ensure that our community has a reliable news source for years to come.

Learn more about membership and join now here.

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Six Lebanon County houses to be included in Virtual Parade of Homes - LebTown

Photo (c) Davizro - Getty ImagesBoth Lowes and The Home Depot have enjoyed strong sales and remodeling contractors have been busy during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. With millions of Americans spending a lot more time at home, its not unreasonable to think that many would see things they want to change.

A new study from Sears Home Services largely confirms the trend, finding that a significant percentage of people have become less satisfied with their homes in recent months. The survey found that the size of the home influences the amount of dissatisfaction.

For example, 50 percent of people in one bedroom homes say theyre dissatisfied while only 37 percent of those living in a four-bedroom home feel that way.

Children are also a factor, with 47 percent of households with children express discontent with where they live compared to 37 percent in households without children.

Theres a sense of feeling trapped when its required to remain inside; were missing the venues we used to frequent and perhaps noticing additional flaws of the home while spending more time there, the authors write.

Its one of the reasons real estate professionals cite for a spike in home sales over the summer, with employees who can now work from anywhere moving to more affordable housing markets and seeking more room.

Those who arent moving are making improvements, everything from applying a fresh coat of paint to adding a room. The study found that since the pandemic began, the most common home improvement has been setting up a home gym, followed closely by turning a room into a home office.

Setting up a gaming space, a home theater, library or reading room, and expanding the kitchen have also been common home improvements.

With much of the world spending a highly unusual amount of time at home, were finding the things we want to improve but also benefiting more from those improvements, the authors conclude. We may want to consider that were in this new lifestyle for the long haul, and its time to make the most of it.

While a thoughtful home improvement can improve your lifestyle and add value to your home, its important to avoid mistakes. One of the biggest mistakes is trying to turn a project that requires a professional into a do-it-yourself (DIY) project.

A previous Sears Home Services survey found that among consumers experiencing a DIY mishap, the biggest reasons for their headaches were underestimating the time a project would take and not realizing they lacked the skills required to complete it.

More:
Home improvements have skyrocketed during the pandemic - ConsumerAffairs

After completing a major remodeling project, (left to right) Southwest Metroplex Baptist Association Director of Missions Scott Whitson, volunteer Boots Hubbard and Paluxy Baptist Association Director of Missions Glenn Ward visit in the newly renovated conference room at the associational office building in Cleburne. (Courtesy Photo)

Volunteer builders from Paluxy Baptist Association recently renovated the conference room at the offices of Southwest Metroplex Baptist Association. Glenn Ward, director of missions for Paluxy Baptist Association, talked with Scott Whitson, director of Southwest Metroplex Baptist Association, when they were attending a Latham Springs Baptist Encampment board meeting. Ward told Whitson the volunteer builders from his association had helped three small-membership churches renovate and upgrade their buildings. Whitson mentioned his associational offices conference room needed work, and the volunteer builders from the neighboring association responded. They removed a popcorn ceiling, installed new LED lighting, installed electrical outlets and computer ports in the conference room table, removed an old wall-mounted television and installed a new flat-screen TV, as well as hanging drywall and painting. It gives us such joy and blessing doing something to help others, Ward said.

Hill Country Baptist Association presented a $100,000 check to Alto Frio Baptist Encampment. The camp continued to operate this year at reduced capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that resulted in significant loss in anticipated revenue. When our finance committee began working our associational budget for 2021, the top issue we discussed and the question asked was, What can do we do to help Alto Frio? said Robert Wheat, associational director of missions. Several years ago, the association received money from the sale of church property, and those funds were placed in an investment account. After praying about the matter, the finance committee agreed to liquidate the account and donate $100,000 to Alto Frio, designating the gift for life transformation in Christ. Rusty Brandon is executive director at Alto Frio.

Howard Payne University will host a Micah 6:8 Conference sponsored by the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission on Oct. 26-27. In-person attendance will be limited to HPU students, faculty and staff, as well as residents of the Brownwood area. Social distancing and masks will be required, and attendees will be screened. Other registrants can view the event via a livestream link. The conference will explore how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected social justice issues, including access to health care, heightened food insecurity, as well as examining ways critical needs can be met. Speakers include Katie Frug, director of hunger and care ministries for the CLC; Chaplain Mark Grace, chief of mission and ministry for Baylor Scott & White; Kathryn Freeman, a writer and advocate; Jeremy Everett, founder and executive director of the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty; and Michael A. Evans Jr., CLC director of public policy. The conference is offered at no cost to participants, but advance registration is required. Click here to register or to find additional conference information.

Gordon T. Smith, president of Ambrose University and Seminary in Calgary, Canada,is the keynote speaker for the B.H. Carroll Theological Institutes Frank and Pauline Patterson Fall Colloquy. All of the sessions Nov. 9-10 will be conducted via Zoom videoconferencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Smith is the author of 16 books on the Holy Spirit, ministerial leadership, and Christian spirituality in a secular age, including the soon-to-be-released Come Holy Spirit Come: The Spirit in Creation, the Church and the Christian. The Times, They Are A-Changin is the colloquy theme. In the first session, Smith will address the secular age and the problems and opportunities presented to Christians. The second session will feature a presentation on sustaining the scholarly vocation in changing times. The third session will address the Christians necessary hopefulness in a time of change.Also at the fall colloquy, Margie Clayton, the latest Ph.D. graduate of B.H. Carroll Theological Institute, will present her doctoral dissertation. There is no cost for online participants. To register, click here.

Baylor University announced a $30 million gift commitment from Dan and Jenni Hord of Midland. Through the Hord Scholarship Challenge, they are encouraging the collective Baylor Family to match their giving to the university by supporting merit-based scholarships to help deserving students bridge the gap between merit- and need-based financial aid and unmet financial need. Currently, more than 90 percent of Baylor undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid, whether from scholarship support, federal loans or private grants. Gifts to scholarships through such initiatives as the Hord Scholarship Challenge will empower the university to attract and retain students who have received merit awards from Baylor based on their success through high school rankings and standardized testing, yet still have unmet and inhibiting financial need.

J.W. Jack MacGorman, long-time professor of New Testament at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, is donating his personal library to the seminary. The donation includes thousands of titles from MacGormans time as a student and faculty member, as well as many titles from his father, also a minister. Additionally, MacGorman is donating many of his files, notes and records from classes and sermons dating back to the 1940s. MacGorman, who will celebrate his 100th birthday in December, devoted his career to the teaching and training of students. Dr. MacGorman is an incredible treasure of Gospel faithfulness who gave more than five decades in service to Southwestern Seminary, President Adam W. Greenway said. That he would now honor this institution with his library, papers and other valuable items is even more evidence still of the blessing he has been to the seminary.

East Texas Baptist University received a $20,000 donation from the Rotary Club of Marshall to apply toward the renovation of the 8th floor of the historic Marshall Grand in downtown Marshall. ETBU has begun renovating the 8th floor into the Grand Hall, an open ballroom-type facility that can accommodate up to 280 guests in banquet-style seating or 400 theater-style seats. After Marshall Grand was given to the university in 2013, ETBU raised more $4 million to renovate the historic building with significant contributions from the Andersen Foundation, Moody Foundation, Meadows Foundation, and J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation. The School of Nursing Campaign also garnered support from foundations across the state, including the Rosa May Griffin Foundation, the T. J. and LaVerne Plunkett Foundation, and the Wece and Martha Johnson Foundation. While donor support provided the means to complete the academic spaces, three floors of the Marshall Grand remain unfinished, as the university continues to raise funds and make decisions on how to utilize the additional spaces.

Oza Jones Jr. has been named director of African American ministries for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Jones served most recently as African American evangelism and church revitalization specialist on Texas Baptists Great Commission Team.He previously served churches in Grand Prairie and Arlington.

The Baptist History & Heritage Society honored church historian Karen Bullock of the B.H. Carroll Theological Institute with a Festschrift for her contributions to research and teaching in Baptist studies and for her service to Baptist causes globally. A Festschrift, German for celebration writing, has been a tradition in scholarly circles more than 120 years. Members of the academic community are invited to provide an article in an area of interest to the honoree. The articles then are compiled in a single issue of a scholarly journal. The Spring 2020 issue of Baptist History & Heritage features articles written by Bullocks former students, colleagues and friends. Prior to joining the B. H. Carroll Theological Institute, Bullock taught at Dallas Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She has served as chair of the heritage, identity and religious freedom commissions of the Baptist World Alliance.

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Howard Payne University recently hosted alumni, students, personnel, board members and friends at the HPU Fall Family Reunion on Saturday, Oct. 10. The reunion featured Cobbler on the Campus and music from Taylor Castleberry, a 2013 HPU graduate. The festivities also included inter-squad scrimmages hosted by HPUs softball and baseball teams. The HPU Spring Family Reunion is scheduled Feb. 20, 2021. The spring event will feature a tailgate celebration with music by Austin Upchurch and his band prior to the HPU football game against McMurry University at Gordon Wood Stadium.

More here:
Around the State: Associations help each other and camp - Baptist Standard

An extensive renovation project at the Red Gym has enhanced several student programming spaces and improved the offices for some of the universitys key diversity initiatives.

Major elements of the nine-month project included the relocation and expansion of the Gender and Sexuality Campus Center, upgrades to two student identity centers, and improvements to the offices and meeting areas of the Posse Program, the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives, and theFirst WaveSpoken Word and Hip Hop Arts Learning Community.

This project is part of our ongoing commitment to invest in spaces where students can feel at home and where they can find and build community, says Gabe Javier, associate vice chancellor for student affairs in the area of inclusion and identity.

The Gender and Sexuality Campus Center, which supports LGBTQ+ students and their communities, remains on the first floor of the Red Gym but has moved to space that previously housed the Arpad L. Masley Media Room. The center, which serves 50-75 students daily, had outgrown its current space. The move roughly doubles the centers size.

Improvements include a lounge, enclosed offices for the centers four full-time staff members, a private area for students to meet with mental health professionals, and a meeting room large enough for classes. The meeting room will be available for events hosted by the dozen or so LGBTQ+ student organizations on campus.

The Gender and Sexuality Campus Center supports LGBTQ+ students and their communities. Photo: Bryce Richter

This feels like further institutional investment in the students we see every day and further recognition of the impactful work we do, says Assistant Dean Warren Scherer, center director. While the center has been on this campus for 28 years, this invites us to look ahead at the next 28 years, and that excites me.

A centerpiece of the new space will be an art instillation by Jeanette Martn, a Milwaukee-based artist and UWMadison alumna. The piece is being privately funded through a donation from the family of Paul Ginsberg, a former dean of students.

Another part of the remodeling project continues the universitys commitment to two relatively new student identity centers within the Red Gym: the Latinx Cultural Center and the APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) Student Center. The centers opened in the fall of 2018, but as startups that lacked staff or finished spaces.

The remodeling project continues the universitys commitment to two relatively new student identity centers within the Red Gym: the Latinx Cultural Center (above) and the APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) Student Center. Photo: Bryce Richter

Both centers remain on the North Mezzanine level of the Red Gyms second floor, but they now have newly remodeled, furnished space. And, as of last year, each has a designated full-time staff member.

Our identity centers provide crucial programming, resources and support for students whose needs have not otherwise been met by existing structures within our institution, says Claudia Guzmn, an assistant dean and director of the Multicultural Student Center. These spaces are designed to foster identity development and community building in an effort to enhance the Wisconsin Experience for underrepresented students of color.

Guzmn notes that both the Latinx and APIDAidentitycenters were born of student activism.

Im pleased that the university is confirming their value through the staffing allocations and the remodeling project, she says.

The APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) Student Center opened in 2018, but now has newly remodeled, furnished space. Photo: Bryce Richter

The remodeling project also includes upgrades to space on the second floor that houses the Posse Program, First Wave, and the Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives. The space now has more offices, a conference room, a new computer area, a study space, and new carpet and furniture. The programs are part of the Division of Diversity, Equity and Educational Achievement.

Additionally, the remodeling project includes significant sound-baffling on the second floor to reduce airborne sound in the largely open area.

Read more:
Remodeling project improves student spaces at Red Gym - University of Wisconsin-Madison

Is the fast-food dining room dead? Probably not. But the pandemic could well give rise to a new generation of restaurants that ditch indoor seating altogether.

With quick-service restaurants thriving during the pandemic, thanks largely to the drive-thru, more companies are considering takeout-only units. Del Taco said last week, for instance, that it plans to test a smaller, drive-thru-only restaurant that ditches interior seats.

That comes on the heels of Burger Kings new drive-thru-focused prototype, some versions of which do not include interior seats.

Its designed for us to be able to get into real estate like conversions and other opportunities, maybe smaller parcels of land and infill scenarios that we couldnt necessarily penetrate with a standard drive-thru prototype, CEO John Cappasola said last week.

To be sure, drive-thru-only units have been in the industry for a long time. Checkers and Rallys consolidated much of the drive-thru-only fast-food concepts in the 1980s and 1990s.

More recently, drive-thru coffee concepts have taken off, led by Dutch Bros. Coffeewhich generated 15% system sales growth in the U.S. last year.

Whats more, quick-service chains have in recent years realized the benefits of their drive-thrus, as more customers started accessing them for burgers and chicken sandwiches. Chains such as Chick-fil-A and McDonalds have spent a lot of money bolstering the technology and other capabilities of their drive-thrus.

Jack in the Box largely ditched work on its interior for a remodeling program. The majority of the returns from a full remodel is coming through the drive-thru, aligning with where 70% of our business is generated, former CEO Lenny Comma said last year, according to a transcript on the financial services site Sentieo.

The pandemic has only accelerated matters, emphasizing further the importance of drive-thrus to the fast-food business. Many quick-service restaurants have returned to growth on the backs of their drive-thrus. McDonalds generated double-digit same-store sales in September even though most of its dining rooms are closed.

The aforementioned Checkers and Rallys, which was restructuring its debt going into the pandemic, has thrived since then. Our sales results are putting us in a great position, CEO Frances Allen told Restaurant Business in August. Our profit is up significantly ahead of the quarter last year.

While consumers have returned to dining out at casual diners, albeit with state restrictions on capacity, they have been much slower to return to fast-food dining rooms.

Cappasola said last week, for instance, that demand for dining rooms has been tepid, suggesting that the company will only reopen its dining rooms once that demand returns. You may be able to pick up some sales, he said. But the drag down on profitability may not be worth it.

The pandemic has already led to several takeout-focused strategies by big chains. Seattle-based coffee giant Starbucks said in June that it plans to close some 400 U.S. locations to make way for its takeout-focused Starbucks Pickup stores in urban areas.

Burger King unveiled its new prototype last month, a prototype that it began working on shortly after the pandemic began. It features a much smaller dining room, or no dining room at all, along with two or three drive-thru lanes, walk-up windows and curbside lanes. Some of the options allow for the complete removal of indoor seating.

The dining in was something that was interrupted, Rapha Abreu, global head of design for Burger King parent company Restaurant Brands International, said on the Restaurant Business podcast A Deeper Dive earlier this month. The car and the takeout was the biggest service mode.

The design is meant to give operators more flexibility on their restaurants, based on market needs and real estate availability. But it clearly demonstrates that more markets will not need a dining room in the future.

We know there are some locations where dining in isnt a big thing, Abreu said. He said the flexibility is important, enabling Burger King locations to go into more types of real estate and fit into more types of markets.

Thats a similar thought to the one Del Taco is using as it explores a smaller prototype without seating. Many restaurant executives believe that more real estate will become available as restaurants close, and theyre designing flexible prototypes to take advantage of it.

Were going to have more opportunities there that we believe will lead to additional access for us on the real estate front and for our franchisees that should lead to more growth, Cappasola said.

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Why the fast-food dining room could be a thing of the past - Restaurant Business Online

When it comes to home remodeling, there is one company that homeowners can trust, and that is none other than A&K Remodeling & Turnkey.

This press release was orginally distributed by ReleaseWire

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A&K Remodeling & Turnkey Is the One to Trust for Home Remodeling in Cypress and Houston, Texas - Press Release - Digital Journal