June 21, 2012 - James C. Strong, associate principal at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc., received Award of Merit and accompanying title of fellow from ASTM International Committee D08 on Roofing and Waterproofing. ASTM International member since 1995, Strong has experience investigating and solving water leakage problems in roofing, above- and below-grade waterproofing, and exterior wall systems. Strong is also member of International Concrete Repair Institute and RCI Inc. ASTM International 100 Barr Harbor Dr., Box C700 West Conshohocken, PA, 19428-2959 USA Press release date: June 20, 2012

W. CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa.-James C. Strong, associate principal at Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc. in Emeryville, Calif., has received the Award of Merit and title of fellow from ASTM International Committee D08 on Roofing and Waterproofing. The Award of Merit is ASTM's highest organizational recognition for individual contributions to standards activities.

A member of ASTM International since 1995, Strong is vice chairman of Subcommittee D08.22 on Waterproofing and Dampproofing Systems. He received an Award of Appreciation from the committee in 2005 and the D08 Distinguished Leadership Award in 2009. Strong is also a member of Committee C24 on Building Seals and Sealants, where he served a term as second vice chairman and received an Award of Appreciation in 2003, as well as Committees E06 on Performance of Buildings and E36 on Accreditation and Certification.

Strong has extensive experience investigating and solving water leakage problems in roofing, above- and below-grade waterproofing and exterior wall systems. Prior to joining Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates in 2000, he held leadership positions at Testing Engineers Inc., a northern California firm that specializes in construction inspection, testing and materials engineering.

Outside ASTM International, Strong is a member of the International Concrete Repair Institute and RCI Inc., and is a past president of the Western Construction Consultants Association. He holds a bachelor's degree in communications from Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich.

ASTM International is one of the largest international standards development and delivery systems in the world. ASTM International meets the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles for the development of international standards: coherence, consensus, development dimension, effectiveness, impartiality, openness, relevance and transparency. ASTM standards are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems and commercial transactions.

View this release on the ASTM Web site at http://www.astmnewsroom.org.

ASTM PR Contact: Erin K. Brennan, Phone: 610-832-9602; ebrennan@astm.org

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ASTM International Committee on Roofing and Waterproofing Honors James C. ...

RUSK Rusk ISD officially has a new superintendent after the school board trustees voted to hire Scott Davis, from Lamesa ISD.

Trustees signed his contract after the meeting on Wednesday. Davis' first day is on the job will be July 1.

The board also accepted the resignation of Tammy Raspberry, third grade elementary school teacher, who will be moving to Alto ISD in the fall. They accepted the resignation of former high school teacher Osborne Brines.

A few hires were approved, including the new superintendent's wife Kriste Davis as a district-wide english as a counselor at the intermediate school.

Zachary Allison was hired as a teacher and coach. He will instruct physical education classes and serve as the head basketball coach and assistant football coach.

Molly Miller was hired at the intermediate school as a special education teacher, Dawn Lee was hired as a second grade teacher and Michelle Kearney will serve as the district-wide english as a second language teacher.

Lesa Jones, director of finance, told board members all of the new hires were certified and highly qualified, and should make good additions to the staff.

To view the entire story online go to

http://jacksonvilleprogress.newspaperdirect.com

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Rusk ISD names new superintendent

With the Miami Heat only a win away from winning their second championship in franchise history, it's already a good time to look forward to next season.

The promises from LeBron James for multiple championships could be a reality, but LBJ and the Heat will find out quickly that repeating will be awfully difficult and Miami won't be the favorites to win the 2013 NBA championship.

There's no doubting that the Heat will be a top contender for next year's title, but they have a lot going against them heading into next season.

For one, in the past 10 years there has been only one repeat champion, the Los Angeles Lakers accomplished the feat by winning the 2009 and 2010 crowns.

Then there is the makeup of the team.

Dwyane Wade will turn 31 in January of next season and his body has been taking a beating. Wade missed 17 regular season games in 2012 with a variety of different injuries and has been shooting the ball very poorly as of late.

If Wade's body continues to betray him and he loses even the slightest bit of explosiveness, he's not a good enough shooter to be that difference maker as the No. 2 scoring option in the Miami offense.

Next, it's very unlikely that this team improves much during the offseason.

Miami is already way over the salary cap for next season, with over $78 million already on the books for next season.

Depth has always been a question for the Heat. Can the likes of Shane Battier, Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem and company really be counted on next season?

See more here:
NBA Finals 2012: Why LeBron and Miami Heat Won't Be Title Favorites Next Year

It would be a shame to spend $15,000 on a new heat pump only to find out that it's not operating efficiently because it wasn't installed correctly. Or that the air you paid to condition was seeping into your attic or crawl space, instead of heating or cooling your living room.

These are the kind of mishaps that hiring contractors trained by the regional Performance Tested Comfort System program can help you avoid.

The program, administered by the Bonneville Power Administration, trains and certifies heating contractors to install heat pumps to the highest standards so that the units deliver the greatest energy savings and comfort possible.

"There are a lot of different things about heat pumps that need to be done correctly to be as efficient as the manufacturer says it is," said Stephanie Vasquez, PTCS program manager for BPA.

Additionally, it's important that the ductwork is tight, she said.

"A lot of times, the ductwork is put together in a way so that air is coming out of cracks and holes all over the place, heating the crawl space or attic instead of the rooms," Vasquez said. "It can waste up to 30 percent of the energy used by the unit."

PTCS provides step-by-step support to contractors to ensure that your new heat pump has been commissioned and configured to deliver conditioned air to its greatest potential.

That's why homeowners should look for contractors certified by the PTCS program, Vasquez said. Plus, if you want to take advantage of Clark Public Utilities' $500 rebates for installing a new energy-efficient heat pump or sealing ducts, hiring a PTCS-certified technician is a requirement. The utility offers a list of contractors who have received the PTCS training and certification.

Contractors certified by the program install heat pumps to standards higher than current building codes so that the units will perform well and have a long life -- and so you can avoid the need for backup heat.

According to BPA's website, a PTCS-certified technician will:

Originally posted here:
Energy Adviser: Training helps avoid mishaps on heat pumps

By Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent Derek J. LaRiviereTampa Bay Times In Print: Thursday, June 21, 2012

The Junior Circuit Tennis Series Tournament of Champions was held at the end of April.

After a six-event series throughout the winter and spring months, the top players from the series were invited to compete in this final tournament to crown an overall champion. The JCT Series is orchestrated by three area USTA professionals: Rick Scholl, Lou Giglio and Judy Jeanette.

Three divisions were held in the tournament: the boys' high school, boys' middle school, and girls' high school.

The boys' high school division was decided in bracket format. Each match was best of three sets with Spring Hill's Chris Rosser placing first over Spring Hill's Connor Schwefringhaus. Rosser won the title match in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. His performance was enough to clinch the overall division title with 34 points over runnerup Jesse DeWitt (17).

Lecanto's Amber Gamble won the girls' high school division with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Hernando's Mahima Tatumbotola. Despite winning the past two tournament titles, Gamble came up just short of Tatumbotola for the series title. The Hernando resident's 28 points beat out Gamble's 24.

Spring Hill's Coty Willey won a straight-set title match to claim the boys' middle school crown over Inverness' Brody Summer, 6-2, 6-2. Summer, who was a perennial finals participant throughout the series, won the overall points title with 27 points over Willey (26).

The JCT Series will return for the 2012-13 season on Sept. 15-16 at Sugarmill Woods in Homosassa. Forty-eight players participated in the series of tournaments this past season. For information, email Jeanette at jjeanette3saj@aol.com.

JUST FOR KICKS KARATE: Just for Kicks Karate in Spring Hill competed at the Summer Samurai Martial Arts Tournament in Ridge Manor. Every competitor from the youth class placed in their division.

Dominic Parisan took first place in weapons, second in kata, and second in sparring. Ryan Parisan got first in kata, third in weapons, and first in sparring. Christian Parisan earned fourth in sparring and second in kata. Austyn Payne continued the Just for Kicks success with first in weapons, third in sparring, and fourth in kata.

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2 decks, 50 pt chronicle tppppppp

PRINCETON, N.J., June 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Finishing a basement is a popular way to add more living space to a home, but it's usually a mistake, says Jason Earle, CEO and founder of New Jersey mold inspection company 1-800-GOT-MOLD?.

"Many people think they have a dry basement, and that they can install carpeting and drywall and have a nice, cozy new living space," Earle said. "But it's a trap. There is no such thing as a dry basement. Concrete harbors massive amounts of moisture even when it looks dry. If you want that cozy new living space, there are some things you must know."

From his days in the basement waterproofing business to his entry into the mold inspection and mold remediation consulting business in 2003, through today, Earle has inspected thousands of homes in New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania and New York City. This region's homes are more likely to have basements than not.

Because a basement is below ground level, the water in the soil around the house and under the slab is exerting constant pressure on the foundation walls and the slab floor, Earle explained. And since concrete and block are porous, moisture gets through.

"A raw basement may seem dry because the incoming moisture is evaporating as it emerges. But as soon as you put anything organic and absorbent, such as carpeting, paper-backed sheetrock or wood in direct contact with the concrete, the water then transfers into that material," he said. "The result is mold growth, often leading to rot not what you had in mind for your TV lounge, recreation room or child's playroom."

In an article posted to the company website, http://www.1800gotmold.com, Earle explains in detail how to finish a basement without creating mold problems.

Mold growth occurs when a few specific factors are present. In fact, part of the problem is that these factors are very often present indoors because mold loves the same conditions we do, with fewexceptions.

Of all of the above factors, moisture is the most easily controlled. In fact, few of the other factors are easily or cost-effectively dealt with. So, control moisture you must. Moisture control is the mold-preventionmantra.

In the article, Earle details what to do and what not to do - when finishing a basement, starting with the reduction of moisture:

"If you have a damp basement or get water sometimes, you MUST do whatever is necessary to fix it before doing anything else. A dehumidifier is NOT the silver bullet, although they are necessary. If you can, you should do whatever you have to do to prevent the water from coming into the basement in the first place. This can sometimes mean excavating outside, fixing cracks and sealing the foundation properly (Big $$$$).

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Don't Finish Your Basement Until You Read This, Advises CEO of 1-800-GOT-MOLD?

MONTROSE Residents in Argyle will have a different pay structure for their sewer bills after the Regional Utility Service System board approved the change at its meeting last week.

Lee County Supervisor Ernie Schiller updated the rest of the supervisors on the situation at the boards regular meeting Tuesday at the Lee County Sheriffs Office.

The rate will probably go into effect on Sept. 1. RUSS will send information about the rate change to residents on the Argyle system.

The current system charges residents based on the amount of water used in each household. Some people were complaining about that because they have animals they water, fill swimming pools, etc. and that water was not going into the sewer system.

The new rate structure just takes the systems monthly bill and divides it equally between all households. The rates going to be about $55 a month. Some residents will see an increase and some will see a decrease.

The supervisors also tabled an agreement with RUSS on Tuesday concerning the proposed sewer system in Mooar/Powdertown north of Keokuk.

The first is the agreement says the county will use eminent domain to obtain property for the project. It isnt known if that would be necessary.

The second question was the rate structure for this project. Will it be the same as Argyles new rate system?

Schiller will discuss these issues with the RUSS board.

Supervisor Gary Fullou asked if there was ever a complete count of how many households were going to be involved in this project.

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Argyle residents to have new sewer bill structure

Here's what stink bug eggs and newly hatched stink bugs look like. (AP/USDA)

WASHINGTON - They swarmed in the garden, covered screen doors and camped out on porches across Washington this fall. This summer, the stink bugs will be back.

"They are on the same schedule they were in 2010, and if you recall, 2010 was their breakout year," says Mike Raupp, professor of entymology at the University of Maryland.

But stink bugs don't seem to be popping up in great numbers yet.

"They're beginning to show up in our commercial fruit orchards now," Raupp says. Soon, gardeners will see the beetles go after tomatoes and peppers.

"Given the warm weather, we're going to see that awful second generation of that nefarious pest," says Raupp. "So I wouldn't be surprised if the worst is yet to come."

Raupp suggests homeowners arm themselves with a jar or bucket of soapy water and drop adult stinkbugs into the mix.

"I've found these guys are not good at the backstroke, so if you drop them into the soapy water, you'll cut down on future generations," Raupp says.

To take it a step further, look for egg masses on the underside of leaves around the garden.

"They're round like little globes, and they're white to pale green in color," according to Raupp. "They turn darker just before they hatch."

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Stink bugs: They're coming back

OLDSMAR

Here's the vision: 52 cottages, each one a little different. All of them will have front porches and rear garages that open onto back alleyways. The mostly modest-sized homes will be different colors. They'll be energy-efficient. They'll be spaced close together, but every home will border green space or another special feature of the neighborhood.

On Tuesday night, Oldsmar leaders got a first look at initial plans for Hayes Park Cottages, a 52-home development that would be built on vacant city-owned land near downtown.

They liked what they saw. After viewing a proposed neighborhood layout and artists' renderings of cottage designs, the Oldsmar City Council unanimously approved a site plan for the project.

"We still have a lot of work to do, but we're making great progress," said John Bews, an Oldsmar resident who has a home design company and is partnering with the city to develop the site. "We think we've got something special here in a built-out county."

The goal is to provide affordable workforce housing that is near businesses, schools and recreation, said Marie Dauphinais, Oldsmar's director of planning and redevelopment.

The 3.8-acre property south of Hayes Road and east of Pine Avenue is near Richard Rogers Park, Cypress Lakes Industrial Park, Brooker Creek Corporate Center and Forest Lakes Elementary School.

No one is ready to break ground yet. City Manager Bruce Haddock noted that the city and Bews haven't finalized a development agreement at this point. "We've got a long ways to go," added Vice Mayor Jerry Beverland.

Bews intends to start construction next year.

The size of the homes will range from 840-square-foot "micro houses" or "studio cottages" to 1,700-square-foot mid-sized homes. A few will be duplexes. Many will be clustered around a "village green" area.

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Oldsmar leaders get a look at plans for new cottage community

By GARY SEMAN JR.

ThisWeek Community News Wednesday June 20, 2012 10:41 PM

When people visit St. Mary Catholic Church, they are stepping into one of the most well-preserved pieces of German Village history, says one church official.

Built in 1868 by German immigrants, the church has been only slightly modified, said Frank Wickham, chairman of the St. Mary advisory finance council.

The ambo, also known as the lectern where the priest delivers his sermon, is an original as are the towering reredos in the sanctuary and many of the stained-glass pieces.

After eight years of planning, the church went through a $500,000 renovation project 25 years ago.

Even so, its integrity was vigilantly maintained, Wickham said.

"I think there's nothing more beautiful," Wickham said of the church.

"People are always awed in here no matter what their faith."

The church and the nearby rectory are on this year's German Village Haus und Garten Tour, slated for Sunday.

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Historic church key anchor for Haus und Garten Tour