PPP, ERTC, who CARES?

It is over now, we think.

Last week President Biden announced that federal pandemic programs will end in May.

I watched a comedy special by Jo Koy recently where he was recalling how we all acted during the spring of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic occurred. Funny stuff from sneezing in masks to hoarding toilet paper.

The passage of nearly three years has hopefully given us some perspective. In hindsight, it all looks fairly crazy now. Then? Not so much.

Federal and state governments looked at all sorts of financial aid during lockdowns to prevent businesses closing, bankruptcies and overall social unrest from occurring.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) was signed into law at the end of March, 2020.

Tom Stangl

The $2.2 trillion measure had provisions for individuals to receive stimulus payments, parents to receive extra funds for school age children, free lunches for school age children and many other benefits.

Many businesses qualified for the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), a forgivable loan program from the Small Business Administration designed to help businesses keep their employees during the pandemic. Over $800 billion was loaned and then forgiven.

Another CARES program, the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC), is a refundable tax credit for qualifying employee wages. Businesses of five or more employees are able to qualify for up to $13,000 per year ($26,000 total) tax credit for 2020 and 2021 for full time employees.

ERTC was initially reserved for businesses that didn’t get PPP. However, the rules were changed and firms who previously got PPP can get ERTC. ERTC sunsets in June (maybe sooner with the recent announcement of an end to federal pandemic programs), so there is limited time for businesses that qualify to amend their tax returns and get their money.

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I know many people have ethical, moral or political objections to government programs. On an intellectual level, I can understand and appreciate the objections. But pandemic relief that individuals and businesses qualify for and legally are entitled to receive for me is a different thing altogether.

This newspaper qualified for PPP and ERTC. We have used the funds to keep people employed and the business going during some major disruptions brought on by the pandemic.

We have decided to partner with Easy Tax Credits, LLC, to help spread the work about ERTC. Easy Tax Credits, LLC is a familyowned business run by a newspaper family, the Richners, in New York. The CEO of our company has known the Richners for years and after hearing a presentation about Easy Tax Credits, LLC, we made the decision to work with the company.

You have probably seen the ads in this paper and on the website for the company. We want every small business of five or more employees to get the CARES Act funding they are entitled to under the law.

W hether that means working with your payroll tax advisor or Easy Tax Credits, LLC, we hope businesses make sure they aren’t leaving money on the table. This paper does receive a commission on business referred to Easy Tax Credits, LLC. Please see the ad in the paper or visit the website.

The COVID-19 pandemic was awful. We look forward to getting back to whatever is normal now.

Tom Stangl is publisher of Sentinel Publications, an affiliated company of Press Publications

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Horned larks are early nesters, and many are in the process of making their northward migration back to their summer grounds in the northern U.S., Canada and as far north as the Arctic Circle. Even though we’re in for heavy snow this week from the sounds of it, it’s an encouraging sign to see these birds, reminding us spring is not too far away.

This time of year is especially rough for many of us. It’s a time when our mental health is often at its worst. Limited daylight and hours stuck inside contribute to seasonal depression, and the effects ripple through the other sectors of our lives.

Recently I’ve been learning a lot about how spending time in nature can benefit mental and physical health. Many people notice they just feel better in natural spaces, but there’s actual scientific research to back it up.

I’ve noticed a lot of mental (and physical) health benefits from my favorite hobby: birding. When I’m stuck in a bad mood or stressed, birding can redirect my attention. It requires close observation of my surroundings, which gets me out of those unpleasant thought spirals in my head. In some instances, it becomes almost like meditation—fully engaging the senses and rooting me in the present moment.

It can also be motivating when you don’t feel like doing much, allowing you to engage in your surroundings in a playful way. Some people even get competitive, keeping extensive lists of what birds they see and where. If you’re new to it, there are many free resources such as the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Merlin Bird ID app that can help you identify the birds you see.

I’ve enjoyed using eBird, an app that lets you track bird observations and share them to a wider database that is sometimes used for population research. It’s a way to participate in citizen science while also appreciating the beauty in the here and now. The app will even tell you where the “hotspots” are in your community, and what birds have been seen there lately.

Once you have a handle on it, birding adds a new and exciting dimension to anywhere you go. Travel becomes more interesting. Even locations that seem unappealing—sewage ponds, for example—become the scene of intense observation.

It isn’t always easy or accessible to spend time outdoors in the winter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy nature. Keeping a bird feeder in your yard is one way to keep a close eye on wildlife from the comfort of your own home. Recent research has suggested that even watching a livestream wildlife camera can provide some of the same effects as actually spending time in nature.

If the winter blues are getting to you as we push through these final weeks of winter, take a page out of my book. Take a moment to notice the birds around you. It might change your routine and add some brightness to your day.

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Stillwater Map Learn About The Store

1 K&J Catering

Where: 5920 Neal Ave. N., Stillwater

Contact: 651-770-6110

Website: k-jcatering.com

About Us

K&J Catering is a full-service catering company. We service events throughout St. Paul, Minneapolis and the surrounding Twin Cities area. K&J Catering has been family owned and operated since 1984. We specialize in affordable, buffet-style catering.

2 Caribou Coffee Drive-up

Where: 2051 Washington Ave., Stillwater

Contact: 651-390-8100

Website: ocations.cariboucoffee.com/us/mn/stillwater/2051-washington- ave

About Us

Our Caribou Coffee location at 2051 Washington Ave. is a premium coffeehouse featuring high-quality, handcrafted beverages and all-day breakfast items. Delight in classics like freshly brewed hot coffee, iced lattes and mochas made with real chocolate, vanilla and caramel. Enjoy signature to Caribou Coffee espresso drinks: Turtle Mocha, Caramel High Rise® and Mint Condition Mocha®. Plus, find delicious food offerings including a variety of high-quality breakfast sandwiches, baked goods and snacks to fuel life’s adventures. This location features mobile ordering, indoor seating and a drive-thru window. Download the Caribou Coffee app, for easy ordering, menu information, store hours and to get the most out of the Caribou Perks® experience.

3 Details Barber Lounge

Where: 1421 Stillwater Blvd, Stillwater

Contact: 651-430-7066

Website: www.detailsbarberloungemn.com/stillwater-booking

About Us

Please join us as the Chamber welcomes us to the community with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon on March 20! At Details, we strive for perfection, not only in the haircuts but also in our client experience. Everyone is welcome at Details: the young, the not-so-young, men and women. We offer all of the latest trends as well as a traditional hot towel straight-razor shave. When you come through the door, you can feel the difference. You are home!

4 Carlson Dental Group

Where: 1701 Curve Crest Blvd Suite 100, Stillwater

Contact: 651-401-1177

Website: www.stillwaterbeautifulsmiles.com/

About Us

At Carlson Dental Group, you’ll discover right away that Drs. Sarah Carlson and Michael Rohlf bring unique skills, advanced education and particular talents to the practice while sharing the same genuine passion for providing comfortable, friendly patient care that has given families new reasons to smile. Join us for a ribbon-cutting ceremony planned for 4-5 p.m. March 23.