DeWine's curfew gets mixed reviews in Portage

Locally, opinions are mixed on Gov. Mike DeWine’s three-week-long 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew, which took effect Thursday evening. 

“It really wasn’t a very strict curfew that was announced,” said Tom Wilke, economic development director for the city of Kent. “In fact, restaurants and bars can stay open past 10 p.m. and provide carry-out.”

The curfew runs from Nov. 19 to Dec. 10 and exempts trips out of the home for groceries, visits to pharmacies, traveling to and from work, picking up take-out food and seeking medical care.

More: Stay at home issue ordered in Portage

The penalty for violating the curfew is the same as under all other health orders: a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $750 fine. Ohio lawmakers attempted to reduce it but DeWine vetoed that effort. DeWine said Tuesday he wasn't aware of anyone being charged for violating a health order during the pandemic.

“It was better than the alternative, which was to close down restaurants and bars entirely,” he said of the curfew.

More: Ravenna schools go all remote until at least end of year

Portage County Health Commissioner Joseph Diorio said anything limiting contacts helps fight the pandemic.

“Any measure we can do throughout all our counties in the state of Ohio and, in particular, Portage County to reduce person-to-person contact will be helpful,” he said. 

He also said Portage County Combined Health District is considering a stay-at-home “advisory,” which, he noted, is not the same as an order.

For some, like Tavern 1888 owner Sandy Knotek, the new rule adds insult to injury. 

“Bars and restaurants make most of their money from 10 p.m to 2 a.m.,” she said. “I’m lucky because my late-nighters are coming in early, but some of my regulars have not come back yet because there’s that fear.”

Before the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew, bar and restaurant owners were not permitted to serve alcohol after 10 p.m. and had to close by 11 p.m., so they’d already lost several hours of prime money-making time, Knotek said. 

More: Where can I get a COVID test in Portage County?

She said she’s frustrated to see the crowds tolerated at other businesses.

“We go to Lowe’s and Home Depot and all the grocery stores, and they’re frigging packed all weekend,” she said, adding she feels the bar and restaurant industry have unfairly borne the brunt of the economic impact of the pandemic. 

Dennis West, Ravenna’s economic development director, said people have adjusted and he hasn't seen much misuse or abuse of COVID orders.

“The businesses themselves are grateful to be able to stay open, and that’s what’s nice about this," he said. "The livelihood of these business owners continues, and they continue to serve residents, and the residents have access to go to the stores and restaurants and be able to to go out.”

Knotek said she believes Tavern 1888 will make it through the curfew period, but it doesn’t help put to rest her concerns for her four employees, one of whom has a newborn baby.

Another industry that will be hurt by the curfew is the 24-hour fitness industry. Pat McCoy, who owns SnapFitness centers in Streetsboro, Aurora and Garrettsville, said the curfew will inconvenience members and be another drag on the business’ bottom line in addition to the other struggles of getting through the pandemic. 

He said new members — people wanting to get out of the house and find exercise —has roughly balanced out memberships dropped out of fear of COVID-19 at the 24-hour-a-day fitness centers. 

“It’s been a struggle,” he said. “We’re kind of trading memberships. Through the summer, we were flat overall.”

The members who exercise between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. comprise less than 10 percent of the business’ membership, said McCoy, who added the overnight shut down won’t save much money because he doesn’t staff the centers at night. Members get their own access card and come and go as they please at night.

“We’ve turned over every rock and looked into every expense we have already,” said McCoy. “We can’t really adjust prices during this time period. It’s just a matter of hunkering down and trying to encourage people who are willing to work out to look at your offerings over someone else’s.”

Several Kent State University underclassmen had varying thoughts on the effect the curfew could have on students. 

Ally Wellman, a freshman, said she doesn’t believe house parties will cease because of the curfew. 

“They’re still going to happen,” she said. “Whether there’s a curfew or not, they’re still going to happen.”

Sophia Gillespie, a sophomore, is less sure. 

“Parties have been getting busted,” she said, adding the curfew would give teeth to requests to break up parties and other gatherings. “I don’t think this is going to be preventing people from still hanging out. I think people are going to be hanging out regardless."

The curfew may affect more than just students’ social lives.

“I know my one friend is an aeronautics major, and she is constantly studying in the library,” said Wellman. “They have a little aeronautics study group.”

Sophomore Gabrielle Sharaba said whatever happens on campus will be on a smaller scale than has been the case until now because she and Gillespie, as well as others, are headed home this weekend. Many more KSU students will head home before Thanksgiving and not come back before the new year as the university is moving to all-remote class through the end of the semester.

Freshman Cierra Horne said she does like to study in groups in some cases. 

“It just depends on the subject,” she said. “If it’s a writing class, I like to sit in my room and write away, but if it’s a psych class, I definitely like to get in a group because we can bounce ideas off each other.”

Reporter Bob Gaetjens can be reached at bgaetjens@recordpub.com or @bobgaetjens_rc.