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Exploring the reason behind Paco’s Tacos offer for essential workers

I enjoyed this press release project because of the writing style. I also enjoyed writing about a fictional story. This reporting project helped me realize that I might want to write for public relations one day.

Press Release 

Paco’s Tacos

63 Nicoli Avenue

Newport, Rhode Island 02840

Contact: Katie Burke                                    

April 28, 2020                                For Immediate Release 

Paco’s Tacos is offering free tacos to essential workers during this crisis

Paco’s Tacos is offering free tacos to medical professionals and other essential works on the front line of the COVID-19 crisis. 

Paco’s Tacos is in effort to support the Newport community and thank the folks working hard to fight the pandemic. Giving back and paying forward is very important to the company especially after they received so much community support in the wake of a traffic accident that damaged the restaurant in 2019. 

Proprietor Ivan “Paco” Schwartz said, “As this crisis developed, I knew I wanted to find some way to help my community. I thought, what can I do? Well, I make a mean taco. Good food makes people happy. So, this is my little way of saying thanks – with tacos.” 

The restaurant’s offer is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays in May from 11am until close. Customers can order online or by phone. To qualify for the free taco, simply click the “Essential Worker” box in the online order form or tell the team member who takes your call that you are working on the front lines. Then, show your work ID badge when you pick up the order. Curbside pick-up is available if you call when you get to the restaurant. It’s that simple!

The restaurant employs about 50 people, but due to social distancing restrictions the restaurant has been operating with a reduced staff. Currently, there are usually just four people on one shift to ensure the safety of employees and customers. A number of employees have been furloughed, but they are also receiving free meals. Paco’s Tacos is providing for their employees and the community!

Furloughed Paco’s Tacos server Pat Collins said, “I’ve worked at Paco’s for about 2 years and I hate being away from the restaurant. Everybody who works here is just like family. I know Paco wants to hire us all back as soon as he can. And I really appreciate the free meals. I wasn’t at all surprised when Paco announced the free tacos for medical professionals. That’s exactly the sort of caring individual he is.” 

Paco’s Tacos won “Best Tex-Mex” in Newport Daily News’ annual reader poll in 2016, 2017 and 2019. The restaurant has a 5-star average on Yelp with 523 reviews. 

Sam Shirakawa, Director of Public Outreach at Newport Hospital said, “On behalf of all the doctors, nurses and support staff working around the clock, I thank Mr. Schwartz for extending this generous offer of free tacos.”

Paco’s Tacos is a local Newport restaurant that was opened in January of 2015. The menu has a wide range from Baja fish tacos to a 3-meat burrito called the “Big Paco.” The restaurant is clearly stepping up by going above and beyond during this crisis. 

For more information, interested customers can order online at www.pacostacos.com or call the restaurant at 401-909-TACO. 

Today we will be exploring news from local all the way to international

Through this assignment, I discovered the importance of rounding up news. I collected information from local news all the way to international news. I used “SALVEtoday” for the current campus news.

00:00-00:10 Anchor	WELCOME TO SEAHAWK NEWS… WE HAVE A LOT TO COVER TONIGHT. TO START OFF THE NATIONAL NEWS, KATIE BURKE WIL BE COVERING THE MUCH-AWAITED STIMULUS RELIEF CHECKS…
00:11-00:42 Reporter	THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED ON MONDAY… THAT CORONA VIRUS RELIEF CHECKS WOULD ARRIVE IN BANK ACCOUNTS FOR MORE THAN EIGHTY-MILLION PEOPLE BY WEDNESDAY. SINGLE ADULTS WITH AN INCOME UNDER SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND WILL RECEIVE A ONE-THOUSAND-TWO-HUNDRED DOLLAR CHECK. THEY WILL ALSO RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL FIVE-HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR EACH CHILD. THE IRS WILL LAUNCH A WEBSITE ON WEDNESDAY FOR THOSE CHECKING ON THE STATUS OF THEIR PAYMENTS.
00:43-00:58 Anchor	THANKS KATIE… THAT IS GREAT NEWS FOR MANY AMERICANS THAT HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY. FOR TONIGHTS LOCAL NEWS WE WILL BE COVERING THE SURGE IN MBTA POSITIVE CORONA CASES… BACK TO YOU KATIE
00:59-01:30 Reporter	THE MBTA REPORTED ON MONDAY THAT SEVENTY-FIVE WORKERS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS. THIS TOTAL INCLUDES MOSTLY BUS DRIVERS. ONE EMPLOYEE, WHO WORKED FOR THE MBTA FOR MORE THAN TWENTY-TWO YEARS HAS DIED DUE TO THE VIRUS. THE MBTA ALSO REPORTED THAT RIDERSHIP IS DOWN NINETY-TWO PERCENT. MBTA OFFICIALS STATED THAT THIS DECREASE IN RIDERSHIP WILL RESULT IN ABOUT TWO-HUNDRED-THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS IN LOST REVENUE.
01:31-01:41 Anchor	WOW KATIE… THAT IS A STAGERING NUMBER. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO INTERNATIONAL NEWS AND HEAD TO MELBORNE AUSTRALIA
01:42-02:15 Reporter	MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND PASSENGERS OF THE ANTARCTIC CRUISE SHIP HAVE ARRIVED IN MELBOURNE ON A FLIGHT FROM URUGUAY. IT WAS CONFIRMED THIS WEEK THAT ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-EIGHT PASSENGERS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE CORONAVIRUS. EVERYONE WHO IS INFECTED WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND THE OTHER PASSENGERS WENT INTO QUARANTINE IN HOTELS. THERE HAS BEEN ONE REPORTED DEATH FROM A CORONAVIRUS INFECTED PASSENGER IN AUSTRALIA LEAVING AUSTRALIA’S NATIONAL DEATH TOLL AT FIFTY-SEVEN.
02:16-02:25 Anchor	AND NOW ONTO OUR FEATURE STORY TONIGHT… IT WAS A WELCOME SITE AT LOGAN AIRPORT WHEN THE PATRIOTS PLANE ARRIVED
02:26-03:02 Reporter	THE PLANE ARRIVED ON APRIL FIRST CARRYING MORE THAN ONE MILLION MASKS FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS. THE SHIPMENT CONTAINED N95 AND KN95 MASKS. LOCAL HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE EXPRESSING CONCERN SINCE THE KN95 MASKS ARE NOT REGULATED BY THE FDA. GOVERNOR BAKER STATES ON MONDAY… THAT ALL OF THE MASKS WERE INSPECTED… AND FDA APPROVED FOR USE. HOWEVER… A MASSACHUSETTS E.R. DOCTOR SAID THAT EVEN THOUGH THE MASKS ARE SIMILAR, HE WOULD NOT BE COMFORTABLE WEARING A KN95 MASK IN THE HOSPITAL.

03:03-03:10 Anchor	THAT IS VERY CONCERNING FOR OUR HEALTHCARE WORKERS ON THE FRONT LINE. FOR OUR LAST STORY TONIGHT… WE WILL BE COVERING SOME ONCAMPUS NEWS
03:11-03:42 Reporter	REMOTE LEARNING IS CHALLENGING BECAUSE SALVE REGINA HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED IT BEFORE. REMOTE LEARNING IS CAUSING STRUGGLES ESPECIALLY WITH HANDS ON CLASSES SUCH AS THE DANCE PROGRAM. MUCH OF THE WORK THE DANCERS DO IS MEANT TO BE IN PERSON. IN RESPONSE TO THIS REMOTE LEARNING… THE DANCE PROGRAM IS VIRTUALLY HAVING MORE TECHNIQUE CLASSES THAN IT USUALLY HAS ON A WEEKLY BASIS. THERE ARE ALSO MANY COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS GOING ON WITH OTHER UNIVERSITIES WHICH ALLOWS DANCERS TO CROSS PATHS WITH PEOPLE THAT THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE.  REPORTING LIVE… THIS IS KATIE BURKE.
03:43-03:46 Anchor	THANKS KATIE. THAT IS ALL FOR TONIGHT… STAY SAFE.

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Work Cited

ABC News, ABC News Network, abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/infected-antarctic-cruise-passengers-return-australia-70105442.

Cromar, Ainslie. “Live Updates: The Latest News on the Coronavirus Outbreak in New England.” Boston.com, The Boston Globe, 14 Apr. 2020, http://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2020/04/13/live-updates-latest-news-covid-19-outbreak-massachusetts-new-england.

Dwyer, Dialynn. “Report: Medical Workers Express Concerns about KN95 Masks Delivered by Patriots Plane.” Boston.com, The Boston Globe, 13 Apr. 2020, http://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2020/04/13/patriots-plane-masks-concerns.

“Mnuchin: 80 Million Americans Will Get Relief Checks This Week.” U.S. News & World Report, U.S. News & World Report, http://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2020-04-13/white-house-80-million-americans-will-get-coronavirus-relief-checks-this-week.

“Program Spotlight: How Is the Dance Program Responding to Remote Learning?” SALVEtoday, today.salve.edu/program-spotlight-how-is-the-dance-program-responding-to-remote-learning/.

Interviewing everyday people to understand their views on the pandemic as a whole.

In this assignment I interviewed my family members as well as my boyfriend. I received good answers to my questions and a lot of different feedback.

Reporter

Runtime: 3:19:00

Lead: TODAY WE WILL BE EXPLORING AN EVERYDAY PERSON’S TAKE ON COVID-19 

Reporter: THAT’S RIGHT… SOME UNITED STATES CITIZENS ARE REACTING TO THIS PANDEMIC DIFFERENTLY. HOWEVER, MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY THE PANDEMIC IS NEGATIVELEY AFFECTING THEIR DAY TO DAY LIFE. 

MOST BUISNESS ARE CLOSED OR OPEN BUT MODIFIED. MANY RESTUARENTS ARE ONLY OPEN FOR TAKEOUT AND DELIVERY. EVERYONE SHOULD TRY TO SUPPORT THEIR LOCAL RESTURANTS SO THEY DON’T GO OUT OF BUISNESS. 

MOST DOCTORS OFFICES ARE STILL OPEN WITH SOME DEPARTMENTS USING TELEHEALTH IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO CARE FOR THEIR PATIENTS BUT ALSO REDUCE PERSON TO PERSON CONTACT. CAROL BURKE IS MY MOTHER WHO IS EMPLOYED AT DEDHAM MEDICAL AND IS STILL GOING INTO WORK EVERYDAY. HOWEVER, SHE SAYS HER OFFICE HAS PUT PERCAUTIONS IN TO PLACE BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, INCLUDING REDUCING THE WORKFORCE. 

SOT: “So we have a lot of PPE, which is personal protective equipment; so, we have masks and gloves. We are not seeing that many patients and we’re definitely not seeing anyone that is sick, so we don’t need the gowns and the rest of that stuff. So, we’re just wearing the masks and the gloves. They have had to furlough a lot of people so there are only a couple of us left seeing those emergency patients.”

Reporter: PEOPLE WHO ARE RETIRED ARE GENERALLY LESS AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE OF AN ABILITY TO STAY HOME. EILEEN BURKE HAS BEEN REITRED FOR MANY YEARS WHICH ALLOWS HER TO STAY INDOORS MORE THAN THOSE WHO ARE STILL WORKING. EVEN THOUGH SHE STAYS INSIDE DAILY, THERE ARE STILL PERCAUTIONS PLACED. FOR EXAMPLE, CLEANING THE HOUSE MORE DILIGENTLY.

SOT: “I wash my hands frequently, probable more so than I usually do. I am very careful about wiping down the whole house; doorknobs, faucets, anything that has been touched by human hands. I wipe down carefully with Lysol wipes at the beginning and at the end of each day.” 

Reporter: THE MILITARY HAS PUT MANY PERCAUTIONS INTO AFFECT AS WELL TO PROTECT THE TROOPS. MATT MOREAU WHO IS A UNITED STATES MARINE JUST RECENTLY RETURNED HOME FROM INFANTRY TRAINING IN NORTH CAROLINA. MOREAU EXPLAINED WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE ON THE MILITARY BASE FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. 

SOT: “The military put in several precautions due to the Corona Virus. These precautions were moving our racks six feet apart, having the base go into Code Bravo meaning only military personnel on and off the base, and having a travel ban on military troops.” 

Reporter: THERE ARE MANY DIFFEREING OPINIONS ON HOW LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS HANDLED THIS PANDEMIC. TIMMOTHY BURKE SAYS HE APPROVES OF THE WAY THE GOVERNEMNT IS DEALING WITH THIS CRISIS.

SOT: “Our local government is doing very well, Charlie Baker has done an excellent job, and our mayor of Boston is doing great! They are working together which is the way to go.” 

SOC: “FOR SEAHAWK RADIO, IM KATIE BURKE. THANKS FOR TUNING IN! STAY SAFE!”

Listening to Dr. Cornel West intellectually answering the questions he was asked by the Salve Regina community.

This assignment allowed me to attend a campus event and write a project about it. I enjoyed interviewing people and I liked the style of this writing.

American philosopher, Dr. Cornel West, was interviewed by Dr. Kelli Armstrong and the community on Thursday Feb. 25, 2020, at Salve Regina University. 

         Dr. Cornel West is known to be a professor, philosopher, author and activist. Son of a Baptist minister, West focuses on the role of race, gender and class in American society. Salve Regina’s president, Dr. Kelli Armstrong, asked questions and invited the audience to ask their own questions as well. 

         The Salve Regina Bazarsky Lecture Hall was completely filled with the community, Salve students and faculty. Tickets were free so almost everyone who heard about the event attended. The large lecture hall felt small because of West’s inviting personality that filled up the whole room. The mood was very happy, delighted and fun throughout the whole interview. The room was filled with laughter as West made the whole room laugh almost every few minutes. “He’s amazing!” was said many times in the audience as the conversation with West continued. No one was talking over Dr. West showing him the respect he deserves by actively listening and responding with questions. The event as a whole was a very powerful multicultural event.

         There were about eight questions asked; four from Armstrong and four from the audience. “What does mercy look like in public” asked someone in the audience. “Mercy in the relation of persons to the other person are consistent, reliable, and trustworthy. Mercy is almost like music, it is not charity, and you can’t have great music unless you give everything” said West. Mercy is everywhere in society; it goes beyond justice. 

         Sarah Rebello, student at Salve Regina University, who attended the event said, “Dr. Cornel West shares a message of love.” West mentioned white privilege and Rebello related it so Salve’s predominantly white community. West’s conversation really emotionally moved everyone in the audience. “West taught me that being a good human is much more important than the materialistic things in life” said Rebello. The attendee expressed that she really enjoyed the event when she said “I thought it was a great and lifechanging event. I feel like I am better at loving because of him” said Rebello. 

         Alicia Lopez, student at Salve Regina University, works for the multicultural program and also attended the Dr. Cornel West event. The multicultural program workers had to make sure everything during the event went smoothly and give the audiences questions to Dr. West. The thing that stuck out most to Lopez was West’s personality. “He was a really nice guy. I really thought he was well articulated and very educative” said Lopez. It was clear that many people in the audience agreed that the event was really powerful. 

         Dr. Debra Curtis is an anthropologist and professor at Salve Regina University. Curtis encouraged everyone to attend the event because she knew it was going to be a great one. “I was very excited that Salve was able to bring someone of such prestige and reputation to campus” said Curtis. “Salve was invested in looking at issues around racial diversity and inclusivity. Attending the event was a once in a lifetime experience” said Curtis. 

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