Lawn care business gets head start on spring cleanup
'Our phones are blowing up,' The Yard Barbers Owner Bo Berke said.
From trimming to raking, to mowing, crews with the Yard Barbers are busy getting properties ready for the warmer months ahead.
Jewish comedian heckled at Sioux Falls comedy club
'We go see what kind of shrubs are on the property, grasses, perennials, all that type of thing. We come in, we'll shape them up, trim them up, it's ready to go for the spring growth it will have. And in these landscape beds, there's all this grass, leaves, debris in there, sticks that's fallen from trees, we'll come in, blow those out, clean it up,' Berke said.
The Yard Barbers started this spring cleanup last week, which is ahead of schedule.
'Usually we start April 15th, but obviously with the winter we had that's kind of shot in the dark,' Berke said.
The Yard Barbers, which also offers snow removal, is coming off a mild winter in KELOLAND.
'We had a lot of guys standing around, washing equipment, but we're ready. We're excited, most energy we've had in a long time,' Berke said.
Like many lawn and landscaping businesses, they're hoping that energy continues through the summer.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
5 hours ago
- Forbes
A Jewish Cannabis Brand Finds Its Voice Through Humor
When Will Cohen launched Tokin' Jew four years ago in his college dorm room, it was never with the intent of launching a cannabis brand. Cohen, who grew up Reform in Cincinnati, had a simple desire: to post humorous memes on his Instagram page that would entertain the Jewish community. But after going viral and gaining traction, the memes soon evolved into a lively stream of content that tapped into both Cohen's love for cannabis and knowledge of Jewish customs and rituals. Since then, the meme page that began as a stoner joke has become a thriving online business with a busy social media presence: Tokin' Jew's Instagram account has more than 100,000 followers and a monthly reach of 15 million to 20 million people. Cohen, 27, and his co-founder Ben Kraim, 34, who was raised Modern Orthodox in Brooklyn, sell a wide range of satirical cannabis products and accessories on their site, which include a menorah bong and joint scroller. Last September, they added kosher edibles to the mix. Still, it has been challenging given the upsurge in antisemitism in the U.S. and beyond following the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack in Southern Israel and ensuing war in Gaza. Tokin' Jew has felt the fallout firsthand. 'At the beginning, our first instinct like many brands was to get our products into stores and partner with many retailers as possible,' said Kraim. 'We had events planned, dispensaries who would carry our products. After October 7, we were told that supporting and selling Jewish products was controversial. So, events were cancelled, orders were cancelled, and opportunities went away. But that forced us to cut out the middleman and sell directly to our audience.' Opting for transparency without pointing fingers, the two New York City-based entrepreneurs explained to their audience what had transpired. 'To our surprise, we got a flood of support and orders and new opportunities,' continued Kraim. 'And it turned out to benefit us in a way that in this time when being a brand with [the word] Jew in it was suddenly so controversial—the people who loved us wanted to love us more.' Dispelling stereotypes and negative narratives with comedy, such as creating a video of a rabbi taking a hit from a bong, is a way of doing that. 'We're not a political brand,' said Cohen. 'Our mission is to make people proud to be Jewish and make them smile and laugh. We're creating a community that might change the perspective of what Jews are—the way the media is trying to [portray]Last year, the business generated six times its revenue over the year prior, according to Kraim. However, the two are not yet at that point where they can let go of their day jobs—Cohen working at a tech startup and Kraim owning and running an ad agency. Citing their financial advisors, Kraim noted they are getting close though. Both have high hopes for their business and where they would like to see Tokin' Jew in five years. From offering more products and holding events, to even forming a nonprofit arm that would aid people who need a doctor or a Shabbat food delivery, Cohen and Kraim want to grow the business. They also hope to help many reclaim their identity as Jews while using humor to defuse antisemitism. 'We would like every Jew to know about Tokin' Jew,' said Kraim. 'We would like everyone on the internet to be 100 percent non-antisemitic and realize Jews are just like them—wanting to enjoy the nicer things in life like a nice joint. We would like to engage more of our audience outside the internet and be an iconic brand for the Jewish community.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Milwaukee's Phoenix Residential will be a first of its kind affordable housing center for Wisconsin
Phoenix Residential, a 31-unit affordable housing development in the works on Milwaukee's north side, would become the first of its kind in Wisconsin — a small-scale facility with crisis units and access to mental health and housing education services for residents. Construction started at the 2436 North 50th Street historical building in June and is estimated to be completed by April. The development combines 21 permanent rooms funded by residential assistance vouchers and 10 crisis units for individuals who need housing quickly, James Mathy, housing administrator with the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services, said during a walk-through on Aug. 20. The housing development will join a handful of similar facilities nationwide, Mathy said, and hopefully, the smaller size will be inviting to individuals who are hesitant to utilize larger homeless shelters. "This is better for the people that we serve," he said. "It's not quite as overwhelming, and we are really able to cater those services directly to those individuals." Mathy said there won't be a limit on stays. 'We really want our clients to determine how long they need to be here. So it could be one day, it could be six months,' Mathy said. 'Our goal is to take folks in housing like this and move them into permanent apartments as quickly as possible.' The building recently housed a rehabilitation center and before that was home to nuns and priests. It later became Milwaukee's first Jewish home. 'This place has always been a place of care and also social impact and relationship with the city and the county. Here, we want to continue that legacy of social impact,' said Anthony Kazee, of KG Development. Tenancy support would seek to help those in crisis housing maintain permanent housing, Mathy said. Kazee said funding came from 10 sources, including federal, state, county and city funds, such as such as low-income housing tax credits. Milwaukee County invested more than $1.3 million. 'This helps to eliminate barriers that people may see when it comes down to being on the road to recovery, looking for work, assessing health services but simply picking themselves up,' County Executive David Crowley said. The project received historical tax credits to allow redevelopment of the building, while historical elements like doors and windows will remain. Milwaukee County Housing Division will be responsible for filling the units. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee's Phoenix Residential affordable housing to open next year Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Billionaire behind Paramount mega-deal obtaining Israeli residency
Korff's connection to Israel spans several years, marked by his substantial charitable donations to various Israeli causes, including the IDF, medical institutions, and local community projects. Brandon Korff, a Jewish-American billionaire renowned for orchestrating one of the media industry's landmark deals, the $35 billion sale of Paramount, is in the process of securing Israeli residency. A senior government official confirmed that Korff recently filed his application for Israeli residency, framing his decision as a gesture of solidarity in the face of global boycotts and rising hostility. In 2025, Korff significantly increased his time spent in Israel, becoming a more visible figure within the country. 'This is a meaningful and encouraging step for Israel,' the official remarked. 'At a time when Israel's global standing is under scrutiny, such a powerful media figure is a welcome presence.' Korff's connection to Israel spans several years, marked by his substantial charitable donations to various Israeli causes, including the IDF, medical institutions, and local community projects. His philanthropic support has noticeably grown in tandem with his longer stays in the country. Additionally, his brother served as a lone soldier in an elite IDF unit. Invigorating Paramount's legacy Korff is the grandson of the late Sumner Redstone, the influential media mogul behind Paramount, which, under his leadership, grew into a global powerhouse. In addition to owning major networks like CBS and MTV, Paramount held the rights to some of the most iconic entertainment properties, including Star Trek and Mission: Impossible. The company's recent sale at a valuation of $35 billion marked a historic shift. Korff's move to obtain Israeli residency is viewed by political officials as a step that could help build stronger connections between Israel and one of the most prominent families in global media, and as a clear vote of confidence in the country at a particularly sensitive time. Solve the daily Crossword
