TORONTO, June 11, 2012 /CNW/ - With the summer months come fun in the sun, but the warm weather can also spell trouble. With thunderstorms, floods, lightning, strong winds, tornadoes, and even talk of hurricanes, Canadians should be prepared for severe conditions and the aftermath that can sometimes accompany warmer weather.

"While the weather is often unpredictable, it's fairly safe to say that all Canadians will experience a moderate to severe weather event in their area sometime this season," said David Phillips, senior climatologist, Environment Canada. "Therefore, it's important to remind Canadians that they should be prepared wherever they might live."

CSA Group, a leading certification and testing organization committed to public safety, wants to help everyone stay safe during the coming summer months. "At CSA we are all about safety," said Anthony Toderian, CSA Group. "The summer months are generally filled with quality time spent outdoors with friends and family. Being weather aware and summer-smart is easy if equipped with a few simple but essential tips, which may ultimately help Canadians stay safe throughout the summer and fall storm seasons."

STRONG WINDS & TORNADOES

Canada has the second most number of recorded tornadoes in the world, with between 60 and 80 events each year. CSA Group encourages Canadians to keep in mind some essential safety tips when it comes to recovering from severe wind damage:

STORMS AND FLOODING

Thunderstorms occur regularly in Canada during warmer months. In eastern Canada, two to three tropical storms enter Canadian waters in an average year, sometimes wreaking havoc on shore. Even a "garden-variety" thunderstorm can cause major wind and water damage. CSA reminds Canadians to keep in mind the following when dealing with flooding:

BLACKOUTS

In Canada, there are up to three-million lightning strikes each year, and an average of one strike every three seconds in the summer in central Canada. Lightning and extreme summer heat can lead to brownouts, or even blackouts. If faced with this situation, there are some important safety considerations:

For more everyday consumer tips and safety advice, please visit http://www.csasafetytips.com

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Wicked Summer Weather Can Wreck More Than Your Week; Prepare Yourself with These Severe Weather Recovery Tips from CSA ...

VAN NUYS, CA--(Marketwire -06/11/12)- Caesarstone announces the launch of a "lifestyle" platform for their trade partners to connect with consumers. The Interior Collective will be an interactive site rich with compelling content and conversation that is centered on the inspiration of design. The site will feature various social media-driven photo and video contests on an ongoing basis for user-generated content. Submissions will highlight projects completed with Caesarstone, as well as consumer driven kitchen remodel ideas and wish lists.

"Caesarstone has always been committed to finding innovative ways to support our professional partners and the consumer we all serve. We take great pride in our ability to create a real opportunity for them to connect, share and participate in a meaningful way. We are thrilled to present The Interior Collective and we look forward to its growth, evolution and success," said Karen Schakarov, VP Marketing, Caesarstone USA.

The Interior Collective will launch with a contest geared towards design professionals. Beginning June 11, professionals will have the chance to login to the Interior Collective, submit a photo, name the color used in a past project and explain how Caesarstone enhanced the overall design for a chance to be featured in ELLE DECOR! Additionally, every week for three weeks, Caesarstone will give away an iPad to one lucky user just for submitting. You can enter the contest by visiting:

http://interiorcollective.com/contests

In addition to the contests there will be a fan engagement element encouraging community members to join the online conversation for chances to win subscriptions of Elle Dcor and House Beautiful.

About Caesarstone USA Caesarstone is the original quartz countertops and surfaces manufacturer. Caesarstone is headquartered in Southern California with sales divisions and major distribution centers in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Colorado, Miami, New York, Atlanta, St. Louis and Dallas. Caesarstone's Independent Distributors are located in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Philadelphia, North Carolina, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Arizona and Utah. Caesarstone's premium quartz countertops and surfaces complement any design, from traditional to contemporary, for both home and commercial applications. Caesarstone products are available through kitchen and bath retailers, fabricators, architects, designers, builders and distributors nationwide. Offering a Residential Lifetime Warranty, Caesarstone countertops and surfaces are nonporous, stain, scratch and heat resistant. Caesarstone has earned the respected Good Housekeeping Seal from the Good Housekeeping Research Institute and is in compliance with stringent international environmental standards including ISO 14001 (environmental management system), ISO 9002 (quality management standard), and NSF (public health and safety).

Using only sustainable materials, Caesarstone is GREENGUARD certified and is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). For more information about Caesarstone and its products, please visit the company's website at http://www.caesarstoneus.com, or call toll-free 877-9QUARTZ (877-978-2789).

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Caesarstone Launches New Interactive Site and Design Contest

Food-borne diseases strike one in six people in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thats about 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations, and 3,000 deaths annually. You cant see, smell or taste pathogens in food. So if youre not careful, they can spread throughout your kitchen, and if ingested they can make you sick. Heres what you can do to reduce your risk:

Wash your reusable grocery bags

Youre doing your part for the planet by toting your groceries home in a reusable bag. But research has found that if reusable bags arent washed regularly, they can harbor potentially harmful bacteria. Gerba says that increases the risk of contaminating the food they carry. It also makes it more likely that bacteria will be transferred to your hands and your kitchen countertops. Gerba suggests washing reusable bags in hot water, either by hand or machine.

Refrigerate food right away

Always refrigerate or freeze meat, poultry, eggs and other perishables as soon as you bring them home. That helps slow the growth of harmful bugs in raw food, as long as your fridge runs between 32 and 40 degrees and your freezer stays at zero or lower. Toss any suspect items, and wash your hands after handling them and the trash. Use an appliance thermometer to check temperatures, and arrange food so that cold air can circulate throughout the fridge. Thaw, marinate and store raw food in leak-proof containers below produce and other ready-to-eat food.

Disinfect your countertops

Avoid placing anything on them that might transfer germs, including your purse or backpack. When handling food, take care not to splash liquids from raw meat and poultry onto countertops. After preparing raw food, mop up spills with paper towels, clean kitchen surfaces with hot soapy water, and wash your hands and anything else you might have touched.

Clean your sink

Drains, faucet handles and sponges are among the more heavily contaminated areas of the kitchen, according to Gerba and others who test for potentially harmful bacteria. To avoid spreading germs to food youre preparing, clean the sink with products that are meant for kitchen surfaces and that are fortified with bleach, a powerful bacteria killer, especially after preparing raw meat, poultry or fish. Put sponges in the dishwasher or washing machine at least every few days. Wash dishcloths in hot water, or use paper towels.

Use separate cutting boards

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Careful steps in the kitchen can cut risk of illness from food-borne diseases

Interior dcorator Bo Casey moved to the area one year ago and has already opened her third shop.

Casey opened her first store Bo Dacious at Grand Boulevard a year ago, which was filled with eye-catching jewelry and purses and other pretty, blingy things that made the ladies want to stop and come in.

Come in they did. And while customers were in there, if they happened to notice the furnishings that made a statement and needed an interior dcorator for their home, Casey could help them.

The more people in the area Casey met and helped with their decorating needs, the more she felt a need to open a furniture consignment store for those gently-used items her customers no longer liked or needed. She opened Bo Dacious Consignment at the first of the year.

Now, she has brought the two stores together under one roof just west of the Walton County line in the purple building that formerly housed Kay Fant Interiors.

Casey held the grand opening of her new Bo Dacious store there May 31 to celebrate her newest venture.

Inside, shoppers will find not only eye-catching jewelry and furnishings, but also original artwork, chandeliers, and decorating advice. While there, Casey makes everyone who enters her store feel right at home and like a lifelong friend.

In the interior dcorator business for 25 years, Casey embraces the career path she recognized in herself from childhood, as she was always decorating and re-decorating her room at home while growing up in Montgomery, Ala.

On the way to her chosen career path, Casey has also participated in a fair number of beauty pageants. When pressed, she admits to reigning as Alabama's Junior Miss "a long time ago," being a Bicentennial Belle, and earning a spot as a runner-up in the University of Alabama pageant.

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Bo Dacious holds grand opening in new Destin location

Ah, the sweet sounds of summer: hammering, sawing, digging, demolition. Well, theyre not sweet exactly, but certainly familiar to anyone who lives in one of Canadas larger cities. With real estate prices in a state of flux, it seems everyone is eager to spruce up what theyve got and hopefully be rewarded with an increase in property value. However, as we know, not all renovations are created equal. Just because youre sinking the money into your home doesnt mean youll see a return on your investment. And just about everyone has an opinion on what you should and shouldnt be tearing out.

I came across a handy-dandy online tool offered by the Appraisal Institute of Canada, which can help you determine how much of a return you can expect to get out of your home renovation. (The AIC is a self-regulating professional association and the largest property valuation organization in Canada, with 4,800 members in Canada and around the world.)

Choose a reno, plug in your expected cost, and it will tell you how much of your investment you can expect to get back. For example, if you spend $25,000 on a kitchen reno you are likely to get 75 to 100 per cent of that investment back when you sell, or $18,800 to $25,000.

Clearly, these are general guidelines, not hard and fast rules, and how much you spend will affect how much you get back. If you blow $70,000 on a fabulous bathroom job in a house thats only worth double that, youre unlikely to ever see a dime of that money again. In addition, choosing a renovation should be about more than just return on investment it is your home, after all, and any work you do should also be for your enjoyment. But if youre mulling over one job versus another and youre looking to sell soon, it might be prudent to go for the basement reno over the swimming pool (see below).

Some of the big winners are obvious (bathroom and kitchen renovations appear to give the biggest bang for your buck), but there were others that were more surprising to me (only 25 to 50 per cent return on landscaping? Say it aint so).

Heres a look at the return on investment you can expect from 25 of the most popular home renovations, according to the Appraisal Institute of Canada:

Bathroom and kitchen renovations are the real winners, providing a return on investment of about 75 to100 per cent, followed closely by exterior or interior painting at 50 to 100 per cent.

Other safe bets include basement renovation, garage construction, window/door replacement, rec room additions and fireplace installation, which return about 50 to 75 per cent, as do exterior siding and upgrades to flooring or furnace/heating systems.

You can expect a slightly lower return on investment (25 to 75 per cent) with concrete paving and roof shingle replacement, as well as installing central air conditioning or building a deck.

The lowest return on investment comes from landscaping, asphalt paving, building a fence or interlocking brick walkways, or even installing a home theatre room, which all return about 25 to 50 per cent. The home renovations that are least likely to increase property value are skylights, whirlpool tubs and swimming pools, which return between 0 and 25 per cent.

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How much do you think you’ll get back for that reno?

BOCA RATON, Fla., June 11, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Q.E.P. CO., INC. (QEPC.PK) (the "Company") announced today that it will report its financial results for its fiscal 2013 first quarter on Wednesday, June 20, 2012.

The Company also announced that it will be hosting a conference call to discuss these results and to answer your questions at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, June 21, 2012. If you would like to join the conference call, dial 1-877-941-2068 toll free from the US or 1-480-629-9712 internationally approximately 10 minutes prior to the start time and ask for the Q.E.P. Co., Inc. First Quarter Conference Call / Conference ID 4545896. A replay of the conference call will be available until midnight June 28th by calling 1-877-870-5176 toll free from the US and entering pin number 4545896; internationally, please call 1-858-384-5517 using the same pin number.

Q.E.P. Co., Inc., founded in 1979, is a leading worldwide manufacturer, marketer and distributor of a comprehensive line of hardwood flooring, flooring installation tools, adhesives and flooring related products targeted for the professional installer as well as the do-it-yourselfer. Under brand names including QEP(R), ROBERTS(R), Capitol(R), Harris(R)Wood, Vitrex(R), PRCI(R), BRUTUS(R), Porta-Nailer(R) and Elastiment(R), the Company markets over 3,000 flooring and flooring related products. In addition to a complete hardwood flooring line, Q.E.P. products are used primarily for surface preparation and installation of wood, laminate, ceramic tile, carpet and vinyl flooring. The Company sells its products to home improvement retail centers and specialty distribution outlets in 50 states and throughout the world.

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Q.E.P. Co., Inc. Hosts Conference Call to Discuss First Quarter Fiscal Year 2013 Earnings

CHESTER, England, June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

With summer fast approaching, many homeowners are choosing to make home improvements in time for visitors and summer barbecues. This week, as well as offering homeowners up to 75% off installation prices, http://www.bay-windows.info is also providing comprehensive advice on why bay windows are the perfect choice for the season.

As the sun appears from behind the clouds, people thoughts quickly turn to their plans for the summer. In preparation for a busy summer, homeowners are updating their homes with licks of paint and replacement doors and windows. This season, Bay Windows is offering homeowners an eclectic range of windows for competitive prices.

The innovative quote system onsite provides homeowners with the tools to find the best possible prices on quality windows in their area. After filling in some details, the competent team will scour customers' local areas for the lowest prices from expert installers. All installers are FENSA and CERTASS accredited suppliers, thus proving their professionalism in the industry.

The team will provide each customer with three free, no obligation quotes, each with up to 75% off.

For those looking for information on the benefits of choosing bay windows for the home, the pages at Bay-Windows.info are filled with useful tips. Bay windows are renowned for their large expanse of glass. Protruding from the outer wall of the building, they give the illusion of a larger room inside whilst allowing light to flood into the home.

Many homeowners turn their bay windows into a cosy cove to relax and enjoy the sun. The deep shelf can be used as a bench or a counter for a multi-functional window. Making an investment such as a bay window installation can create a welcoming touch that no carpet replacement or new furniture could match and is the perfect way to welcome guests and make them feel comfortable during their stay this summer.

Visit Bay-Windows.info to find out more about the benefits of bay windows. Alternatively, click here to navigate straight to the site.

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Bay-Windows.info Outlines the Benefits of Bay Windows for Summer

A week before the unveiling of the Dolby Theatre, two 50 ft., 1,400 pound trusses carrying 22 sound speakers each were assembled and flown high over the orchestra seating section of the auditorium as part of the Dolbys most challenging installation ever.

The iconic audio company is bringing its new immersive sound format Atmos to the newly-named Dolby Theatre home of the Academy Awards which was unveiled Monday.

"We continue to be guided by Ray Dolby's commitment to excellence and innovation," said Dolby president and CEO Kevin Yeaman, noting that Dolby will introduce new technologies and experiences in the theatre.At the end of the day this is emotional experience. We were looking for new way to tell stories in new ways and connect with audiences.

A grandstand and red carpet are already positioned in front of the theatre, and a red drape hangs over the soon-to-be-unveiled sign. That ceremony is slated for 6 p.m. Monday evening.

As part of the rebranding, the grand ballroom at the Hollywood & Highland complex that houses the Governors Ball will be renamed the Ray Dolby Ballroom, after Dolby's visionary founder. Also, the theatre's VIP lounge will be named the Dolby lounge.

The Theatre will have its grand opening on June 18 with the premiere of Disney/PixarsBrave,as part of the Los Angeles Film Festival.

STORY: Disney/Pixar 'Brave' Premiere To Mark Grand Opening Of The Dolby Theatre

Highlighting the theatre is Dolby's dazzling new sound format, Atmos, which the company's vp of content services David Gray called a "complete game changer. You can put sound anywhere in space."

Citing 3D and digital cinema advances, he said, "Its time for sound. Mixers and sound designers are looking for way to grab the audience with another dimension and to share their creativity.

"The goal is to tell stories as the artists intended," added Ramzi Haidamus, Dolby's executive vp sales and marketing. "The technology we create is about preserving this intent."

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Oscars' Dolby Theatre Unveiled With New Sound System (Photos)

Let's say the EPA has finished its work cleaning up the asbestos contamination from the vermiculite mine and has left town. You need to put a new building on your property, but you know that the basement will go below the level that was excavated and you may find more vermiculite down there. What do you do?

Questions like this one will be discussed at a forum co-sponsored by the CAG (Community Advisory Group) and TAG (Technical Advisory Group ) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 12, at the Flathead Valley Community College Lincoln County campus. A representative from the EPA will give a brief overview, representatives from Lincoln County will present the main focus and the MDEQ will be present to answer questions. Practical, legal, medical and other consideration about what happens in a post-EPA world will be the focus of the meeting.

When the EPA finishes its work at a site, it leaves in place a system to answer questions about vermiculite, such as: how to handle it, how to protect ourselves and what new people moving in should know. Before deciding on these procedures, they need to hear from county officials, the city council, the county health board and ordinary citizens about what needs to be included.

Some of the possible responses might be an excavation ordinance explaining the process to follow, who to call, how to handle asbestos contamination encountered during an excavation or home remodeling project. Permit requirements for a new business that wants to use an old site may be developed. A discussion will take place on how neighbors can respond to someone who has not allowed the EPA to clean up his property, especially if the property is to be sold. Guidelines will be developed by the county health board to cover exposure from vermiculite found after the EPA has gone.

The EPA will fund someone to help develop the proposals and list the resources that will be available. They also return no less than every five years to see how the process has been working and to make any necessary adjustments.

Persons attending the meeting will be invited to ask questions and to help identify other discussion topics.

Although it will be several years before the EPA is ready to leave, it's not too early to think about a post-EPA world and how we will be affected. The forum will be a beginning to the process and interested persons are encouraged to attend.

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EPA officials to answer question during CAG, TAG meeting Tuesday

GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK - Creating a symbiosis of eco-friendly nanotechnology and modern aesthetics that simply inspires, WAC Lighting continues to push boundaries with two new Organic LED luminaires that transform the future of lighting into a unique platform for today. WAC, a global manufacturing leader of decorative and architectural lighting, introduces the Vela Organic LED chandelier with a matching OLED wall sconce.

"Designed and engineered to stimulate curiosity and aesthetic appeal among the design and specification community, our next generation OLED luminaires raise the bar with a unique lighting experience of vision and sustainability," explained WAC Lighting President, Shelley Wald.

The Vela OLED Chandelier is defined by a dramatic contemporary profile laser-crafted of aluminum, with 12 OLED panels that illuminate surfaces below, and 12 additional OLEDs that shine upward to render a soft ambiance that evokes a lighter sense of space and visual comfort. The chandelier delivers a high light output of 2040 lumens while offering a CRI (color rendering index) of 80 and an efficacy of 35.2 lumens per watt. The luminaire features a total of 24 OLEDs with a CCT (correlated color temperature) of 4000K while using just 58 watts of power. Aircraft cables suspend the chandelier from the ceiling, with a height adjustment up to 36 inches.

"Our OLED luminaires are eco-friendly and sustainable," continued Ms. Wald. "They showcase a unique light source from an ultra-thin aesthetic design, integrated with the most advanced nanotechnology available today."

The Vela OLED wall sconce is designed in a unique decorative aluminum profile with six sophisticated OLED panels on its perimeter. Four square panels are connected in the center, by cross-shaped arms that are attached to two OLED panels on the ends. Housed within this exceptionally thin luminaire, the panels provide a wide, even illumination without glare. Perfect for use in hallways or as a decorative focal point, the brushed aluminum finished sconce uses 16.4 watts with OLED panels offering a 4000K CCT, a CRI of 80, and an efficacy of 31.1 lumens per watt while delivering 510 lumens. With a depth of merely 2.25 inches, the sconce is 24 5/8 inches long and 13 inches wide.

Inherently sustainable and precision engineered, the luminaires are individually crafted with the world's most revolutionary light source in WAC's wholly owned, zero landfill manufacturing campus. With instant on/off and dimming capabilities, the Vela family delivers mercury free, consistent beams of light without glare and a 10,000-hour rated life. The OLEDs are uniformly luminous and evenly spaced on the luminaires with utility, proportion and style.

Options include new materials and independently controlled micro-LEDs on a single circuit to enhance light intensity.

The WAC Lighting Story Founded in 1984, WAC Lighting is a leading global manufacturer and innovative designer of lighting for Luxury Residential, Commercial, Hospitality, Institutional, Retail and Architectural applications, specializing in track, recessed, task, monorail and decorative lighting, with a new sustainable LED and OLED collection. o LED, Low and Line Voltage Track and Rail Systems o LED, Low and Line Voltage Recessed Downlights o InvisiLED LED Tape Systems for Indoor and Outdoor Applications o LEDme Step and Wall Lights o Artisanal Glass Pendants and Wall Sconces o Undercabinet Light Bars, Button Lights and more. o Display Lighting o SMART Transformers

Nearly 90% of WAC Lighting products are fabricated, to a component level, within a wholly owned zero-landfill manufacturing campus.

WAC Locations WAC Lighting's NEW Global Headquarters and Eastern Distribution Center 44 Harbor Drive, Port Washington, NY 110150 Phone: 1.800.526.2588 Fax: 1.800.526.2585 Website: http://www.waclighting.com Email: sales@waclighting.com

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WAC Lighting Showcases Future of Solid State Lighting with Two New Organic LED Luminaires