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Show SCENE The Park Record. Editor: Scott Iwasaki arts@parkrecord.com 435.649.9014 ex.15713 ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH DONATIONS HELP RESIDENTS St. Mary’s Catholic Church is accepting donations for its food bank, rental and utilities assistance program and Gabriel Projet Ministry, a program that supports expecting mothers and struggling young families with diapers, clothes and financial assistance. Throughout the past weeks, the church has helped more than 120 families, and have given out $32,000 in aid. To donate or learn more, visit stmarysparkcity.com or stmarysparkcity.com/thoseinneednow. SWANER PRESERVE AND ECOCENTER WEBINAR The Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter will present “Fireflies in Utah?!” a webinar that will run from 6:30-8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29. Registration is $7 per person and free for EcoCenter members. Registration can be completed by visiting eventbrite.com/e/fireflies-in-utahtickets-91203832117. Registrants will then receive the weblink information. Participants will learn about the bioluminescent beetles from Christy Bills, entomologist at the Natural History Museum of Utah. The EcoCenter will send registrants information about how to access the webinar on computers or smartphones. For information, visit swaner ecocenter.org. CONNECT SUMMIT COUNTY TEEN AND TWEEN ART JAMS CONNECT Summit County, a mental health awareness nonprofit, hosts Teen and Tween Art Jams, safe places for local youths to virtually connect with each other during the COVID-19 crisis. Local artist Lisa Nevot will hold the tween group every Wednesday and the teen group every Friday. The sessions use art prompts, utilizing materials that can be found at home, to guide creative expression. For information, visit connectsummitcounty. org/calendar-events-2. LIVE STORY TIMES Park City Library presents virtual story times at 11 a.m. Mondays through Friday with Ms. Katrina and Ms. Bianca on the Park City Library’s Facebook page, facebook.com/ParkCityLibrary. The story times will also be uploaded on the library’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/channel/UCJGzYzwMO_7VsV2eQj8Ry2A. after the live stream. For information, visit parkcitylibrary.org. USU WEBINARS OFFERED BINGO GAME ZEROS IN TO THE COUNTY, B-6 ON OLD TOWN, B-8 www.parkrecord.com B-5 SAT/SUN/MON/TUES, APRIL 25-28, 2020 Looking at COVID-19 from two sides Thai So Good offers a 50% discount to all frontline workers SCOTT IWASAKI The Park Record Danny Vo has unique perspectives on the COVID-19 shutdown. On one hand, Vo, one of the owners of the Thai So Good restaurant in Kimball Junction, sees the impact the self-isolation has on his bills and employees’ lives. On the other hand, Vo, in his other occupation as a full time pharmacist, has seen how loss of work has put stress on his patients as they try to come up with money for their prescriptions. “There have been drastic changes for everyone in the world due to this pandemic,” Vo said. “At the beginning of it all, there was a rush of patients who wanted to buy as much of their medication as they could, because they didn’t know how long they would be in isolation. And while things are leveling out, they still seem to be upside down right now.” Throughout the stress, however, Vo, who works full-time at a Walgreens in Midvale, has seen the power of a positive attitude. “Some of the medications people need are very expensive, or have a high copay, but a lot of people who come to get them are always smiling and grateful for us to serve them,” he said. “We appreciate the understanding our patients have shown us while we all go through these hardships. It makes things seem a little better for them and for us.” The patience and generosity of Thai So Good patrons has also framed the way Vo looks at the current situation. Like all restaurants in Summit County, Thai So Good, which is located at 1764 Uinta Way, Unit D-1 at Kimball Junction, only offers curbside takeout and delivery right now. Customers can order at thaisogoodatkimball.com or by calling 435-5656989. “Before COVID, take outs usually accounted for one-third of the revenue, and now it has to be all of it,” Vo said “But the community’s support in Park City has kept the income flowing so we can support our staff and sustain the rent and utilities.” In addition, the amount of business brought in by patrons prevented Vo and his partners — Krit Lawakorn, Alpinan Sriboran and Chatchanin “Chat” Thanaritiroj — from laying off staff, he said. Thai So Good requires between nine to 11 people to run a shift, Vo said. “We have five to seven people who work in the kitchen, and we have a host and someone who runs the food to the cars,” he said. “Then Chad and I will do deliveries, because we’re not allowed to do third-party deliveries.” To make things work, Vo did have to reduce employees’ hours. “Instead of working five to six days a week, they are now working three and two days a week, but the good thing about the community is TANZI PROPST/PARK RECORD Danny Vo, left, and Chatchanin “Chat” Thanaritiroj, two of the four owners of Thai So Good, are grateful for local patrons who have made it possible for the restaurant at Kimball Junction to continue operating with a full staff. Vo, a full-time pharmacist, says the restaurant is giving medical workers and first-responders a 50% discount on all orders. that everyone tips very well, and that makes up a large portion of lost hours for our servers and hosts. And we are thankful for that support that keeps our workers going and us up and running.” In addition to delivering dinners when he’s not filling orders at the pharmacy, Vo tackles Thai So Good’s paperwork and marketing. “I’m mostly a behind the scenes guy,” he said. “Chat’s the one who runs the restaurant operations.” Since Vo, while wearing his pharmacist hat, has felt a portion of the stress that COVID-19 had on other healthcare workers, he and his restaurant partners decided to offer a 50% discount to anyone working on the front lines of the pandemic. “That includes fellow pharmacists, doctors, nurses and first responders,” he said. “They just need to tell us they work in healthcare when they place their orders. It’s a way for us to give something back.” For information about Thai So Good or to place and order, call 435-565-6989 or visit thaisogoodatkimball.com. As a pharmacist, Vo has an optimistic outlook regarding COVID-19. “I want to urge everyone to continue to stay strong, because we’ll work as a community to get through this pandemic,” he said. Get the top local news stories delivered directly to your inbox with a new weekly email update from The Park Record! Sign up now at bit.ly/prrecordroundup |