In addition to beauty trees bring many other benefits:

Their leaves filter the air by removing dust and other particulates. They absorb carbon dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide and give off oxygen. They clean the air we breathe. Tree roots capture rainwater and remove impurities, reducing creek and ocean pollution.

They reduce noise levels.

Their shade reduces the use of air-conditioning by as much as 25%.

They reduce soil erosion.

They increase real estate values.

Their shade prolongs the life of asphalt.

Workers with views of trees are generally more productive, less stressed and happier.

Post surgery patients with views of trees recover more quickly than those without.

People simply are nicer where there are trees; their presence reduces domestic violence.

I hope everyone will do everything they can to maintain and enhance our urban forest. We all will benefit.

Continue reading here:
Santa Barbara and Its Trees - Santa Barbara Edhat

Image : Pauline E / Geograph

Apples left on walls are not a sign of criminal activity, police have said.

Speaking at Barnstaple Town Council on Monday, December 14, Councillor Mel Lovering asked Inspector Andrew Wills about the issue following a strange email she had received from a resident.

She said: There seem to be codes being drawn on fences, garden gates, different areas of peoples houses, and some are insisting that apples are being left on a wall.

They say these codes are indicating to burglary gangs in North Devon whether somebody is in, our, whether there is a dog in the residency, whether it is a second home. Is this true, and is there anything that can be done about it?

Can we put out a message that if you find anything on your garden gate, can it be removed and let 101 know?

Inspector Wills responded saying that it was speculation, and no conclusion could be made.

If there was any information underlining that, such as those properties which were subsequently targeted, he said.

Apples left on a wall could be anything, and indeed is very different from a mark being left on a fence.

He said there was a danger of connecting a series of unconnected events.

That in themselves doesnt mean anything and are formulating a concern, he added.

Theres information going back years that say some travelling criminals will mark walls or come and do your block paving on your driveway and they will put a pattern on there that means youre a mug. Having some evidence is entirely different, and I am not aware of any evidence linking a series of crime to the property being marked.

If you do want to send that information, we can make sure we can record it as intelligence, and if we get any links with any trends like that emerging, we will be aware of it.

I wouldnt want to publicise that as an ongoing trend.

Shine a spotlight on Barnstaple, Devon, by becoming an Area Ambassador. Click here to learn more!

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No connection between apples on walls and crime say police - In Your Area

BRIDGEWATER, NJ Meet Smokey! She has been chosen as Bridgewater Patch's Pet Of The Week.

"Smokey is our special joy ball of fur that we officially adopted in May. We know she will bring much happiness to our home. She is absolutely adorable and a true gift. Our previous dog of 17 years died nearly a year ago and being more isolated has caused us to realize how much we needed another dog in our home.

Smokey was born in Kentucky and came up here through a rescue organization."

Jayne, Jeff, Kevin, and James Danco of Bridgewater

Do you think your pet should be Bridgewater's Pet of the Week?

Participating in the Pet of the Week happenings is simple: submit your nomination by emailing alexis.tarrazi@patch.com with the subject line "Bridgewater Pet Of The Week." Be sure to include a photograph or two of your pet, a paragraph about what makes him or her so great, the town you're from, and your name.

Then just keep an eye out for a photo of your pet on the Patch!

The photo can be of a present pet, or it can be a baby picture of the adult pet you're so proud of today. All photos must be the property of the submitter. By submitting a photo to Patch the submitter agrees to give permission for it to be published on Patch.

Additionally, selected winners each week will be given a free bag of Woof Gang dog or cat treats when they stop in Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming inside Bridgewater Towne Center at 732 US-202. And winners can also bring their pet into the store for a picture. Woof Gang Bakery will put them up on their social media page as well.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.

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Smokey Is Bridgewaters Pet Of The Week - Patch.com

WARMINSTER, PA When it comes to news in 2020, you can probably guess what the most well read stories of the year were on the Warminster Patch. But, here's the thing the year's news wasn't all about the coronavirus.

A few of 2020's other top stories had elements that brushed up against the virus and the way it changed all of our lives. Meanwhile, others chronicled different aspects of life in Warminster and the surrounding area.

Whether it was good, bad or just plain weird, these are some of the most-read stories of 2020 on the Warminster Patch site.

Do you have other favorite stories from the past year that we missed here? Let us know in the comments or on social media.

Triplets At Archbishop Wood Offered $5.5 Million In ScholarshipsWe'll call this a pretty good academic career so far. Alex, Robert and Stevie Meyer, members of the Warminster school's Class of 2020, also were accepted into a total of 35 colleges and universities.

Popeyes Chicken Coming To Warminster Steak 'N Shake SpotThe Steak 'N' Shake in Warminster had a rough go catching fire almost immediately after opening then trying to reopen amidst the coronavirus pandemic. In September, it was announced Popeye's Chicken was moving into the building.

15 Underground Railroad Sites You Can Visit In Bucks CountyBucks County has no shortage of history and, in advance of Black History Month, lots of readers checked out this look at locations on the Underground Railroad. They include spots in Bensalem, Bristol, Langhorne, Yardley and New Hope.

PA 1st District Results: Fitzpatrick Wins ReelectionIt was the most expensive congressional race in Bucks County history and watched nationally as a potential flip for Democrats. But, in the end, U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican, fended off a challenge from Democratic Ivyland Borough Council member Christina Finello.

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Year In Review: Top Warminster News Of 2020 - Patch.com

DOYLESTOWN, PA The Bucks County District Attorney's Office has announced an arrest in the October shooting death of a Bucks County teenager.

Kenneth Troy Heller, 52, of Warminster, was arraigned in Bucks County Court Wednesday morning before Judge Gary Gambardella. He is charged with criminal homicide in the fatal shooting of Jason Kutt on Oct. 24, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison or death by lethal injection.

Kutt, 18, of Sellersville, was watching the sunset with his girlfriend at Nockamixon State Park when he was shot once in the back of the head. Moments later, his girlfriend saw a man in an orange vest standing about 550 feet away look in their direction before leaving the area. Kutt was later pronounced dead at St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem.

Hunting was allowed at the state park at the time of the shooting, the District Attorney's Office and state parks officials later confirmed. That man in the orange vest is now confirmed to be Heller, District Attorney Matt Weintraub said during a press conference Wednesday morning.

Heller's attorney, Daniel Schwartz, waived his defendant's right to a preliminary hearing.

Weintraub said Heller voluntarily turned himself in and has agreed to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter when a formal arraignment takes place in April. He described the killing as "an awful mistake" and said Heller has expressed remorse for the crime.

Detectives interviewed Heller's co-workers who said he did not report to work the Monday after the shooting and was visibly "shook up" when he returned the following day, the DA's office said. The co-workers also told detectives that shortly after the shooting, Heller gave away guns, ammunition and hunting gear.

Heller has a prior criminal history, including two theft convictions in the 1980s, as well as a simple assault conviction and a drug-related charge in the early 1990s, Judge Gambardella said.

Kutt was a recent graduate of Pennridge High School who enjoyed playing guitar, video games and taking walks in nature, family members said.

Other misdemeanor charges brought against Heller include possession of instrument of a crime, possession of a prohibitive offensive weapon, shooting at or causing injury to human beings, failing to render assistance after a hunting accident and recklessly endangering another person.

After the arraignment, Heller was returned to the Bucks County Jail. No bail has been set.

"He bore no animus toward Jason Kutt," Weintraub said. "He didn't even know the man. He's going to have to live with this for the rest of his life, and I believe it will have a terrible impact on him."

Previous reporting:

Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Have a news tip? Email peter.blanchard@patch.com

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Warminster Man Charged With Homicide In Nockamixon Park Shooting - Patch.com

San Diego, CA - Pavers are a great way to set an excellent first impression. When done right, pavers can add to the appeal, value, and appearance of a property. The team at Master San Diego Pavers offers the best paving services to residential and commercial property owners in and around the area.

With Master San Diego Pavers, members of the San Diego, California community can rest assured that their homes and businesses will take on a fresh and new look. Master San Diego Pavers has the right team with years of experience installing paver stones as well as the right equipment to make the installation process fast.

The team at Master San Diego Pavers take pride in offering a masterpiece at all times. To that extent, the team focuses on using only the right materials while also offering custom solutions to customers.

Describing the services offered, Master San Diego Pavers representative said: Pavers are a wonderful addition to any home or business. They can add intrigue and fascination to your pool, outdoor kitchen walk-up, patio or driveway! When you decide to go with the best paving company in San Diego, CA you are not making a mistake. We want nothing more than to spruce up your home or business with some brand-new pavers! We are not asking you to spend a whole bunch of money on it either! We want to give you a fair, reasonable price for the installation!

Working with the best San Diego Paving Company, customers will have access to a turn-key solution from the beginning to the end of the installation process. Master San Diego Pavers understands the budget and will make sure that each customer gets the very best services for their budget.

Master San Diego Pavers also understands timing and will make sure that customers get their paver installations within the set timeframe. The company boasts expertise in a wide range of areas including the installation of paver stones for driveways, patios, concrete, and other outdoor spaces.

Customers who are interested in custom designs can rest assured that their wishes will be honored and their imaginations will be brought to life.

Our top-rated paving contractors in San Diego work alongside our design specialists to give you the driveway, back patio, or pool pavers that you want. We can install cobblestone, interlocking pavers, travertine, concrete, asphalt, etc. We are not a one-trick pony, so we can also install a beautiful outdoor kitchen for your commercial or residential property in San Diego. No time to lose, give us a ring! Added the companys representative about their services.

Master San Diego Pavers is located at 1501 India St, San Diego, CA 92101 USA. Give the pavers a ring on (619) 404-0798, send an email to jackthomas445464@gmail.com, or visit their website.

Media ContactCompany Name: Master San Diego PaversContact Person: Victor SanchezEmail: Send EmailPhone: (619) 404-0798Address:1501 India St City: San DiegoState: CACountry: United StatesWebsite: https://paverssandiegoca.com/

Continue reading here:
Master San Diego Pavers Offers The Best Paving Solutions For The Best Impressions - Press Release - Digital Journal

Homes reaching 10 stories high on top of a ground floor commercial space will be coming to South Third and Ferry streets.

The Easton Planning Commission on Wednesday night unanimously awarded conditional approval for an 11-story apartment building at 101 S. Third St.

Matador Hospitality LLC owns the property that is the current home to a BB&T branch. The existing bank building will remain, and the developer is subdividing that from the rear of the property where the new project is planned.

There will no longer be driveway access from the banks rear to South Bank Street.

The new building will be accessible from Ferry Street and likely will be given a Ferry Street address from the city, according to Wednesdays planning commission discussion carried virtually via Zoom.

Matador Hospitality principal Garrett Benner said construction could begin in the spring and conservatively take 15 months to complete.

Benner previously said the new building, which he estimates will cost $17 million to build, is planned with 80 apartments comprising 20 studio spaces, 50 one-bedrooms and 10 two-bedroom units.

The first floor will consist of 1,310 square feet of commercial space that is currently being considered for a caf or a restaurant.

Benner said the studios spaces are tentatively priced for yearly leases at $1,100 to $1,300 per month, with one-bedrooms priced at $1,300 to $1,500 per month.

The 11-story, 110-foot-tall building will take up most of the footprint of the lot. There will be no onsite parking but Benner said the city has agreed to enter into a long-term lease that will guarantee adequate parking spaces dedicated to the new building at nearby city-owned parking facilities.

Project engineer David Wilson said Ferry Street will need to be dug into to tie into water lines for the building. Ferry Street eventually will receive new paving on the entirety of the building frontage.

Benner said his company will work with Easton officials to coordinate how to stage traffic on the busy city streets during construction.

We have a lot of experience of doing things in tight quarters, Benner said.

The planners approval comes with conditions including that the developer adhere to comments and concerns of the city engineer, city forester, zoning administrator, fire department and codes department.

Editors note: This article was updated to correct that the property is being subdivided into two parcels as part of the project.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

John Best is a freelance contributor to lehighvalleylive.com. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

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Here are the proposed rents and timeline for the 11-story apartment building OKd in Downtown Easton - lehighvalleylive.com

A Swedish man who was hit by a van and suffered a fatal head injury may have been looking the wrong way as he crossed the road to get into his daughters car, an inquest has heard.

Lars Roland Andersson who was known as Roland was visiting his family in Bourne End from his home in Malm in Sweden back in July when tragedy struck.

The 66-year-old was waiting in the driveway of his daughter Malin Storeys house on Hedsor Road, close to the junction with Ferry Lane, at around 8.50am on July 9, so she could pick him up and take him to her new property in Marlow.

Mrs Storey, who was driving a silver Mercedes, travelled past Flowerland and was heading down to her home and was indicating to turn right into her driveway while she waited for a white Ford Transit that was in the junction to pass.

In a statement read out at an inquest in Mr Anderssons death on Wednesday afternoon, Mrs Storey said: I approached the junction and stopped about two metres from our driveway, which is virtually on the junction. My father way standing waiting.

I saw a white van come from the Bourne End direction. I saw him indicating left to go onto Hedsor Road.

I had stopped to wait for the van but he thought I was waiting for him. My assumption is that he looked left because thats the way they look in Sweden and he walked right out in front of the van.

Mrs Storey watched in horror as her father was hit by the van and flew forward. He had suffered an obvious head injury.

Her statement added: I put him in the recovery position. I screamed at the driver to call an ambulance.

Everyone drives fast on the junction, but it doesnt matter how fast the van was going, my dad stepped out into the road.

He was just trying to be nice to save me trying to go into the driveway. He took a step out and it cost him his life.

Michael McCarthy, who was driving the van, said he was returning to Burnham from Bourne End after dropping his children off at school and was turning into Hedsor Road in the direction of Flowerland when he noticed a man on the pavement and a car on the other side of the road.

He said: The man was looking towards the car. I didnt see any indication that he was going to cross the road. I heard a thud. I stopped almost immediately.

Drivers and passengers from nearby vehicles stopped to help give Mr Andersson, a retired purchasing manager, CPR and South Central Ambulance and the Thames Valley Air Ambulance also attended but he tragically died of his injuries at the scene.

A postmortem found that Mr Andersson had suffered skull, rib and pelvic ring fractures, as well as a brain contusion a severe traumatic injury.

Thames Valley Police collision investigator Adrian White said the driver would have been doing a relatively low speed on the 30mph road and would have been too close to Mr Andersson to have been able to take any avoiding action.

He said: A low speed collision would ordinarily be survivable, but unfortunately the mechanics of the impact meant he sustained a significant head injury.

Malin said her father may have inadvertently looked left as he crossed the road as he would in his native Sweden. For whatever reason, it was an error of judgement and a collision was inevitable.

Senior coroner for Buckinghamshire Crispin Butler said: It certainly seems clear the van was very proximate to Roland when he stepped into the road.

It seems he was just trying to be helpful and cross the road to the vehicle he was going to get into.

The van stopped very, very quickly so speed wasnt the issue here. He just hasnt seen the van. The family have my sympathy here, its utterly tragic what has happened here.

He ruled Mr Andersson died as a result of a road traffic collision.

See the article here:
Swedish man who was hit and killed by van 'may have looked the wrong way as he stepped in road', inquest hears - Buckinhamshire Free Press

Coping with COVID-19 is frazzling enough without experiencing that clicking sound the car makes on a frigid morning or the infuriating sputtering noise as you pump the gas pedal.

So here's a collection of our best winter -- and pandemic -- vehicle care tips, from warding off hibernating critters to the eternal question of how full should the gas tank be.

For starters (no pun intended), if you're working from home and avoiding unnecessary trips, don't let your car stagnate -- it could result in a dead battery or immovable parking brake, auto professionals advise.

Instead, take a drive every few days to refresh the battery. Simply turning the car on and letting it idle in the driveway will probably not be enough, former DuPage County Forest Preserve District fleet manager John Walton advised.

Another good idea is to check the tire pressure before venturing out in cold weather. Tires should be properly inflated to the amount given in the vehicle owner's manual or on the inside vehicle door -- not to the amount shown on the tire, AAA advises. As the average temperature drops, so will tire pressure -- typically by 1 PSI for every 10 degrees.

Also avoid using the parking brake when your car is on hiatus because it could freeze in place or cause the regular brake pads to rust.

"With an automatic transmission, simply place the vehicle in park. If the car has a manual transmission, put it in first or reverse gear and use wheel chocks to help hold the vehicle in place," AAA's Molly Hart said.

One question, for those who remember parents warming up the car in the driveway, is whether to allow the engine to run or to sally forth on a freezing morning.

It comes down to how old your car is, car gurus explained. Vehicles manufactured since the early 1990s are equipped with electronic fuel injection and only need to warm up for a minute or so. Cars made before 1990 should run for at least five minutes.

Another conundrum is whether your gas tank must be brimming in cold weather. The Illinois Department of Transportation recommends keeping it two-thirds full to prevent gas lines from freezing.

Walton noted that gas freezes around minus-40 to minus-58 degrees. "What people think is gas freezing is usually water in the gas line that can freeze and block gas lines. Additives can be used, but I recommend only using additives that are recommended by the vehicle manufacturer," he said.

Then there's unexpected crises as when rodents wintered in Jeanette Greco's college son's car.

A family of squirrels "chewed many wires and we barely got it to our mechanic in time," Greco, of Hawthorn Woods, told us a few years back.

Solutions offered by readers include sticking moth balls or mouse traps under the hood.

Do hybrids need different treatment from regular cars in the extreme cold?

"Most hybrid gasoline/electric cars will operate with the engine and not just a battery in (very) cold weather; as the car warms up the engine may stop and start," said Walton, chairman of the nonprofit Chicago Area Clean Cities organization. But, he advised consulting the owner's manual for specific instructions.

Got a cold weather car care tip or question? Drop an email to mpyke@dailyherald.com.

This may hurt a bit. IDOT crews will be resurfacing Meacham Road between Algonquin Road and Emerson Avenue in Schaumburg and Rolling Meadows starting today through summer 2021. Expect lane closures as workers resurface the pavement, build new shoulders and sidewalk ramps.

Pace has closed indoor spaces at Elgin, Plainfield and Harvey until further notice because of surging COVID-19 cases. The move coincides with tighter state restrictions that were recently announced. Buses will continue to pick up and deliver passengers but Ventra vending machines will not be available.

The Chicago Department of Aviation is seeking vendors to provide rapid and molecular COVID-19 tests for employees and passengers at Midway and O'Hare international airports. Last week, the CDA opened up a drive-up testing site at Midway. The goal is to offer the services before the December holidays. O'Hare will offer a walk-up site before security check-in in the terminal core and a drive-up site in a remote parking lot, officials said. Midway will provide a walk-up site inside the terminal.

More here:
Car care tips for the perfect storm of winter and COVID-19 - Chicago Daily Herald

ALBANY Dougherty Countys alley paving initiative got off the ground this week with a groundbreaking at the intersection of Regina and Red Bud lanes.

That first alley on the list, Poinciana, is located near Radium Springs Elementary School. The Radium Springs area was selected because a group of residents brought their concerns to the Dougherty County Commission in 2017. The residents expressed concerns that alleys in the neighborhood were both a driving hazard and a health hazard, and they presented photos showing large pools of water standing in alleyways behind residences.

This has been a concern for both myself and these residents for some time, District 2 Commissioner Victor Edwards, who appeared with the delegation at the 2017 meeting prior to his election to the board. We are excited to see this project being started, and I know it will improve the life of our residents for years to come.

Edwards lives in the neighborhood where the first project is under way.

The alley-paving projects will be paid for using funds from the transportation special-purpose local-option sales tax approved last year by county voters. The T-SPLOST funds can be used for transportation projects that include roads, streets, road striping and sidewalks.

The penny sales tax is expected to raise $26.4 million over five years. The county plans to use $10 million for road improvements, $7 million for special-purpose trails, $3 million for intersection improvements and $1.4 million for sidewalks. The allocation for alleys totals $3.5 million.

District 6 Commissioner Anthony Jones, who was a proponent of the project when it was brought to the boards attention in 2017, said his constituents in the bordering district also will benefit.

Its exciting to see this project coming to life for these residents, he said. This will provide a safer and healthier pathway in and out of driveways for our residents, and we are thankful that T-SPLOST dollars were approved to make this happen.

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Work starts on $3.5 million alley initiative in Dougherty County - The Albany Herald