Joshua Vissers/Daily Mining Gazette Jody Eckloff and her kids (left to right) Hazel, Violet and Jack enjoy lunch in their backyard during Friday’s beautiful weather in Calumet.

CALUMET — “We’re just totally casual today,” Jody Eckloff said, sitting by her children Hazel, Violet and Jack.

While her kids have been home from school for weeks now, Eckloff also happens to be a school teacher.

“The kids end up having a teacher at home anyway,” she said.

They have been settling into a new schedule, doing school work early in the day and trying to spend some time outside each day. They took the bikes out of storage early this year. They’ve also been doing art projects and have planted seedlings in preparation for spring.

“We’re getting into the swing of things,” Eckloff said.

Eckloff said that in supporting her students from a distance, she has found that it is not just academic support that is needed. Many students, and their parents, need emotional support and encouragement, too.

Nearby, a man swept the porch outside a local restaurant. The restaurant is open for carryout only, and he says they do not intend to open for dine-in until they, and their customers, can feel safe.

“We don’t need a lot of people coming in who don’t believe there’s a problem,” the man said, declining to be identified for fear of public backlash. He sees many people flaunting mask and physical distancing recommendations in the area.

Some workers at the restaurant are considered high-risk for COVID-19 complications, making exposure to the public a scary prospect for them. What staff is coming in are wearing masks and keeping separated from each other.

The man also said it was not worth reopening the dining room unless they could be at 75% capacity. Most states reopening restaurants are only allowing 25-50% capacity, which is not enough to offset operating costs, according to the Calumet restaurateur. They are also short a cook, who declined to return to work after being laid off, even though they were offered their job back.