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New signs for these times, Part 2: ‘Help wanted’ signs indicate ‘long COVID’ for restaurants

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Hannah Burns, a barista at Ethereal Confections, makes a drink for a customer. To attract workers, the café increased its minimum wage by $2 an hour, offered benefits, and trimmed business hours. At the lowest point of the pandemic, business was down 60 percent, said Sara Miller, one of the co-owners. (Independent photo by Ken Farver)

Restaurants were “the first casualties of the pandemic” said Krista Coltrin, Woodstock’s Economic Development coordinator. Beginning March 21, 2020, Illinois restaurants were closed to indoor dining by state order. When […]

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Susan W. Murray

Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008, returning to the paper as a writer in 2018. A 26-year resident of Woodstock, she taught English, American history, and religion to junior high students at St. Mary School for nine years.
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Picture of Susan W. Murray

Susan W. Murray

Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008, returning to the paper as a writer in 2018. A 26-year resident of Woodstock, she taught English, American history, and religion to junior high students at St. Mary School for nine years.
All Posts

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