Community Business Update: What’s New & What’s Open
“Paige Polchowski, an 18 year old, is a Model from our Agency (The Mary Therese Friel Modeling Agency), as well as a Role Model, Beauty Queen and Goodwill Ambassador,” says Mary Therese Friel of The Mary Therese Friel Modeling Agency on Assembly Drive in the Hamlet of Mendon. “When we put the call out to our Agency Family to contribute to our emergency collection for the Pittsford Food Cupboard, it was Paige who stepped up first, to the plate without a minute’s hesitation. She and her mom, Tricia, also a Model here at MTF, LLC immediately went shopping and loaded up carts full of goodies. We have been running an ongoing food drive to help out the area food pantry, whose demand has exploded with the COVID-19 crisis. We can’t convey our gratitude enough. Our folks have been helping to make a difference since the COVID 19 warnings first came out. See all our posts for the many things they have done. PLUS, we are just finishing up a series of COVID –19 PSA’s, with 40 models from our company.” Submitted photo
We all have suffered some disruption in our lives, some more than others. Local business operators who rely on face-to-face meetings to deliver their products and services face a high hurdle, higher still if they’re deemed “non-essential” by New York State. The definition of “non-essential” changes daily, with golf courses begin labeled as such late last week.
You won’t be surprised to know many owners have found self-quarantine as an opportunity to return to their entrepreneurial roots. Not only have some managed to continue operating (albeit via the internet), other have discovered new ways to reach their customers. Still others have found ways to channel their commercial zest towards volunteer activities that provide much needed help to everyone in our community.
For the past several weeks, The Sentinel has been hosting “Thursdays at 2” for the benefit of local businesses. We’ll feature some of the things revealed in those Zoom meetings regularly through the duration of this mandatory shut down. Here’s a sample from last week:
Sheldon Boyce, Brenna & Boyce Law Firm:
“For my law firm, the transition to working from home has been seamless. If you call the office (454-2000), our receptionist still. answers the phone. All of our files are available to us electronically. My firm is still available to provide all the services we did before the virus. There are no services we cannot do.
Pursuant to an Executive Order signed by the Governor, we can now perform Notary services and do formal will executions by video. The Order requires the following:
- ID must be presented if the person is not known to the Notary
- The video conference must allow for direct interaction
- Pre-recorded videos of signatures are not permitted
- The person signing must physically be present in New York and so represent to the Notary
- The document is sent electronically to the Notary who then signs the document and sends it back
- The Notary may repeat the notarization of the original signed document as of the date of execution within thirty days”
Kathy Coler, Medicare Specialist:
“One way I am able to continue to stay focused as a small business is to call each of my clients to check in with them. As an independent Medicare broker, my clients may be at risk and there is a good chance they are home during this time as well. My calls serve a few purposes: They let me check in with them to see how they are doing. Do they need anything? I ask if they understand their health plan and how it may work for them at this time (telemedicine with no cost sharing!) Some clients are happy with a 5-minute quick call, others like up to an hour and enjoy the time talking together. I think it’s good old-fashioned customer service and genuinely caring how they are doing that will hopefully retain my clients and through word of mouth grow my business.” Kathy Coler can be reached at 298-6288.
Walt Fritz PT of Pain Relief Center Physical Therapy in Lima:
“As a physical therapist in a newly opened business (1/1/20) in Lima, I’m keeping contact with my community via regular posts to both the Lima and HFL pages on Facebook. In an effort to keep people fit but safe I’ve been filming a video series, ‘Get Outa the House Hikes’ were I am going to local parks (within a 30 minute drive) that are very sparsely occupied, assuring safety from distancing. In each of the videos I’m including some specific areas of interest, including kid-attention getters. In addition to posting them via those Facebook groups I’ve also uploaded them to a new YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDCX700Gnp2T9M1idPgwF6Yau27cokc0W
“As far as gauging interest and attention from the community, most of the posts get comments and Likes, though in the long run it might be difficult to monitor efficacy of the posts. If nothing else I feel like I am contributing to the greater good in these difficult times. Please feel free to ask any follow-up questions that you might have.”
