Business & Economy
Ice cream service area at The Daily Scoop

Mason restaurants adapt to increased capacity allowances

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After Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order earlier this month allowing restaurants to operate at up to 50% capacity, Mason restaurants have been trying to make back what they’ve lost due to the pandemic. 

Griffin WilesThe Daily Scoop in Mason was hit hard in the 2020 ice cream season and is trying to make up for lost sales. Rob Hearit, owner of Darb’s Tavern and Eatery, said his restaurant opened at 50% capacity as soon as the governor allowed it. “That was pretty much the driving force,” Hearit said. “We were just gonna do whatever the guidelines were. … We followed all the safety protocols, so we felt good about it.”

Due to another order from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, businesses are required to enforce mask wearing. 

Hearit said 95% of customers wear their masks, and those who refuse are not allowed in.

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Equity Taskforce requests diversity reform from Mason school district

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Image courtesy of Rhiannon Klein. The Equity Taskforce of Mason sent a letter to the Board of Education requesting diversity and inclusion improvements in the school curriculum. 

Rhiannon Klein and Katelyne Thomas, founders of the Equity Taskforce, appeared before the district’s Diversity Committee March 10. The taskforce was founded in February after Thomas, a fifth grade teacher, attempted to bring Black Lives Matter into her classroom curriculum for Black History Month. 

According to Klein, a superior told Thomas that Black Lives Matter falls under the “controversial issue” category of Board Policy 2240, which states controversial issues may not be taught in classrooms. 

After being taken to a reprimand meeting, Thomas resigned. She and Klein wrote the letter, which now has more than 70 signers, to the board. 

Klein said the letter has six main requests 

First, the letter asks to eliminate Board Policy 2240. 

Klein said the policy is applied “subjectively and loosely,” and the group is concerned that teachers have been unfairly reprimanded for violating the policy. During public comment, community member Anne Rauscher said she is “troubled” by the policy. 

“I would like to see a district where students have the opportunity to respectfully discuss current events,” Rauscher said.

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Mason High School football field with snow on the ground

Mason parents share gratitude, grievances with school district’s handling of COVID-19

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Mason parents have a range of reactions to the district’s handling of learning through the coronavirus pandemic.

One mom said, “As long as the school district is continuing to explore options to meet the needs of all the learners, whether that’s different timing or different days of the week, I think we’re not stagnant,” Schafer said. “They’re continually trying to reach solutions.”