Jasper The Hamilton County School Board, led by Superintendent Thomas Moffses, recently conducted a series of workshops at all three elementary schools - South Hamilton, North Hamilton and Central Hamilton - to update the public on safety and security concerns at the schools.

The first workshop took place at South Hamilton Elementary (SHE) in White Springs on Monday, Jan. 27. The second was held at North Hamilton in Jennings on Tuesday, Jan. 28 and the third at Central Hamilton on Thursday, Jan. 30.

Moffses explained that what he was presenting was a continuation of something that began in May of last year.

The Florida Department of Educations facilities team came into the county and did a review of our facilities...all facilities...and then came back and gave recommendations to the board, specific to elementary schools, said Moffses.

The DOE team, he said, found a multitude of safety and security issues at all three schools, including fencing, limited parent pickup and bus loading areas, building structural problems, aging portables, inadequate fire exits, and central heating and air conditioning concerns.

Twice in the past, in 2008 and 2011, Moffses said, the DOE recommended closing both North and South Hamilton.

Central Hamilton, Moffses said, is also nearing that point. The DOE, he said, stated that all of the countys elementary schools are at an age to be replaced.

That all was presented to the school board, and from that point, they continued and said Hamilton County was eligible for a construction project, said Moffses, who then told the audience that there are numerous steps the school board must complete before presenting a plan to the DOE in August.

This is a continuing process to go through and do an evaluation of what may or may not take place in the future, Moffses explained before engaging everyone in a video that was put together by General Services Coordinator Chuck Lambert and the Hamilton County High School TV production crew, who visited each school to film critical areas of concern.

The video Moffses presented, he told the board, was an edited version of each school site, and that each facility had unique issues. The full videos for each school, he said, are lengthy, but are available for viewing.

Excerpt from:
Workshops uncover building safety issues at HamCo elem. schools

By KEITH HEUMILLER

Staff Writer

Middletown voters will be able to weigh in next month on a proposed $32.9 million facilities project that would replace roofs and repair heating and cooling systems at 15 of the public school districts 17 schools.

Board of Education members unanimously agreed to schedule a March 11 public referendum for the projects, saying they want to take advantage of $19 million in available state grants by lumping all of the projects together and beginning work this summer.

They are critical projects that have been researched, and a lot of work has been done in scoping them out, district Business Administrator Amy Gallagher said during the boards Jan. 28 meeting.

This isnt a bells-and-whistles type of referendum. Its basic needs. These are things that are going to have to be done whether the referendum passes or not.

Board professionals gave public presentations on the proposed work Jan. 27 and 28, explaining that state Regular Operating District (ROD) grants would cover 40 percent of all project costs.

Superintendent of Schools William George III said more than 2,400 applications were submitted for the grants, and the state determined that all of Middletowns 39 proposed projects are critical.

Were very humbled, very proud of the fact that we are the leader in Monmouth County with the number of grants awarded, he said.

If approved by voters, the project would bring new roofs to Bayview, Fairview, Leonardo, Lincroft, New Monmouth, River Plaza and Navesink elementary schools, and partially replace the roofs at Middletown Village, Nut Swamp and Ocean Avenue elementary schools.

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Middletown board OKs vote on $32.9M for roofs, repairs

PARKERSBURG - There is always something new available for people looking to do home improvements, according to the organizer of the Great American Home Show which was held in Parkersburg over the weekend.

The home show, which was held at the former Big Bear building in the Park Shopping Center, saw good crowds Friday through Sunday as people were getting out to see the latest trends in home improvement, getting ideas for things they can do and making contact with local companies who can do the work.

"The show has been going good," said John Farnsworth, executive officer of the Home Builders Association of the Mid-Ohio Valley, which organizes the annual show. "Attendance is down a little bit from last year, but we have had decent attendance.

Photo by Brett Dunlap Bobby Strong, left, of Mountaineer Mechanical Co., discusses equipment options with Charles and Donna Owens, of Mineral Wells, during the Great American Home Shows final afternoon on Sunday in Parkersburg.

Photo by Brett Dunlap David Eaton, left, of Coolville, looks at tools at the Milwaukee Electric Tools booth during the Great American Home Show on Sunday while Aaron Formanek, territory representative for the company, shows him the different types available.

"Every vendor I have talked with, they are happy with what they have received. That makes me happy. The vendors are the backbone of this show."

The Great American Home Show has been an annual event in the area for many years and remains popular with local residents.

The show had around 70 vendors and 20 crafters featuring builders, remodelers, landscapers, heating-and-cooling experts, kitchen-and-bath specialists, flooring specialists, carpet services, energy-efficient windows and doors, foundation repair, home security, home design, insulation products, satellite television, lawn and garden equipment and more.

"People are looking at everything," Farnsworth said. ''There are a lot of new products out there.

"I have been doing this show for a number of years. I go around and look at what everyone has and it is changing every year."

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Crowds keep home show busy

Each year, thousands of Arizona residents email or call Rosie Romeros radio show with questions about everything from preventing chimney fires to getting rid of tree roots in their sewer systems. His goal is to provide answers that suit the specific lifestyle wherever someone lives in Arizona. Here are questions about home maintenance and improvement from the Tucson area.

QUESTION: I just moved into a townhouse that was built in 1977 and still has the original equipment inside for heating and air conditioning. When we moved in, we had the ducts cleaned out to get rid of the dust and debris. The cleaning company actually found a beer can and beer bottle in one duct. So now that the dust has been vacuumed out, theres still a pinging sound in the ductwork whenever the heater kicks on. It sounds like water banging on a tin roof. It doesnt bother me, but it really upsets my wife. What should we do about it?

ANSWER: It does sound as if you have the original HVAC equipment in your home. The noise is due to thermal expansion and contraction. In current installations, the furnace installer puts in an expansion collar in between the equipment and any rigid ductwork to prevent that noise from happening.

You might want to call a qualified HVAC firm and have them take a look at your ductwork to determine the necessary repair process. You might even want to get an estimate of how much it will cost to replace your HVAC system.

Q: I recently took the face plate off my thermostat and noticed when I looked at the wiring inside that one yellow wire had been cut and was not connected to anything. What does that mean? Everything seems to be operating normally.

A: If your thermostat works properly and your heating comes on and off at the right times, that loose wire probably doesnt mean anything. Generally, there are many small wires inside one big wire, and sometimes the installer doesnt need all of them to connect the thermostat. However, if youre really worried about the situation or youre having trouble with your heating and cooling systems, you should have a qualified HVAC repair person take a look at everything.

Q: I missed putting pre-emergent weed killer down on the gravel beds in my yard a few weeks ago. Now I already have some weeds growing. Is it too late to apply pre-emergent now?

A: Pre-emergent can be applied at any time, but it may not work very well. Its best to apply it just before a rainy period to keep seeds from germinating. If weeds have already started sprouting, you need to use herbicides to get rid of them or you need to weed by hand. Be very careful about using chemical products to ensure that you dont damage your other plants. Remember, pre-emergent will also kill any spring wildflowers that may sprout in your yard.

Q: I have grubs everywhere among my plants. How do I kill the grubs without harming the earthworms that are plentiful in my garden?

A: There are several brands of grub killers at nurseries. However, all of them will harm the earthworms. Youre very lucky to have earthworms, so you may have a very hard choice to make. You can try getting rid of the grubs one by one. Pick them off your plants and throw them out in the street, for example.

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We cant stand the pinging ducts when the furnace goes on

(PRWEB) February 01, 2014

When it comes to motion and position applications, particularly in harsh environments, your encoders are subjected to extreme shock, vibrations and demanding environmental conditions. Often these harsh environments result in an increase in operating expenses from production downtime, and encoder repair or replacement. Reducing encoder failures is possible by choosing durable protective housings for compact encoders that have been designed to endure extreme environments.

Heavy duty encoders are available with extremely robust housings made of aluminum or stainless steel and can be equipped with heating and cooling options if your application demands it. Oxidation buildup and corrosion can cause rotary encoder shafts and bearings to seize up and make removal a nightmare. Our stainless steel housings offer protection in caustic environments.

Ambient temperature fluctuations as well as encoder warm-up and cool down cycles can create a vacuum effect; consequently, drawing moist air into the encoder and causing remature failure. TR has successfully developed a Seal Pack option that provides hermetically sealed and pressure fit protection against ingress of water, mist, rolling fluids and vapour due to changing temperature cycles.

When selecting a TR heavy-duty encoder for your application, it is important to consider the different product specifications to increase reliability and guarantee the continuing success of your industry. TR heavy-duty encoders can have different IP protection ratings, as well as different settings designed to withstand shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures. The right choice of heavy-duty encoder parameters will guarantee the best performance for your application. For example: Extreme dust loading, heat and mechanical stress found in every steel mill have a great toll on your encoders. Also the continuous cold and hot rolling mills can cause unexpected downtime with increase in operating expenses. TR Electronic robust heavy-duty encoders are failure free, and extremely reliable for speed measurement for the steel industry.

For additional information on TR's motion solutions or to speak with any member of their Customer Care Team, please call 1-800-265-9483, visit TR Electronic on-line at http://www.trelectronic.com or e-mail customercare(at)trelectronic(dot)com.

For a press kit or media contact, please contact:

Alejandra Valencia Marketing Specialist TR Electronic North America (519) 452-1999 avalencia(at)trelectronic(dot)com

Matthew Scott, P.Eng, MBA, CMA Director of Operations and Strategic Development TR Electronic North America (519) 452-1999 mscott(at)trelectronic(dot)com

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Heavy Duty Encoders from TR Electronic

PARKERSBURG - The 2014 Great American Home Show kicked off Friday in Parkersburg, offering area residents a chance to view different types of products and services for potential home improvement projects in the spring.

The home show continues today from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday from noon-4 p.m. at the former Big Bear in the Park Shopping Center. Admission is $3 for adults, $5 for couples and free for children.

John Farnsworth, executive director of the Home Builders Association of the Mid-Ohio Valley, which sponsors the home show, said the weekend event got off to a good start Friday with vendor participation and public attendance.

Donald Stephens, left, of Ravenswood and Dick Poole, with Jefferds Corp., examine a piece of equipment available from Jefferds on Friday during the 2014 Great American Home Show in Parkersburg. (Photo by Wayne Towner)

Jack Sayer, event coordinator for Bath Fitter, displays some of the products his company was showing to potential customers Friday at the 2014 Great American Home Show in Parkersburg. (Photo by Wayne Towner)

A total of 70 vendors and 20 crafters signed up for this year's event, with some vendors taking up multiple spaces. Farnsworth said he had only two unfilled booth spaces for this year's event, which is a good turnout.

"So far it's been real brisk," he said Friday evening. "If (today's) weather is like (Friday), we'll have a good turnout."

The home show generally features builders, remodelers, landscapers, heating-and-cooling experts, kitchen-and-bath specialists, foundation repair, patio builders, pavement companies, carpet services, energy-efficient windows and doors, home security, home design, fencing, insulation products, satellite television, and lawn and garden equipment.

Robert and Linda Cale of Belpre were among the visitors going from booth to booth Friday evening, checking out what was available in terms of products and services.

Robert Cale said the couple recently moved into a new home and didn't yet need many of the services featured Friday, but said they have been coming to the home show for years and like checking out what is new and interesting. Past visits have helped with projects on previous homes the Cales have owned, such as windows and siding.

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Great American Home Show begins

The Grand Strands prolonged frigid weather has ramped up business for area plumbers and heating repair businesses, with some comparing the high numbers of calls for help in the past week to what happened in winters a decade or more ago.

We got absolutely slaughtered last week, said Steve Beatty of Four Star Plumbing and Air Conditioning in Conway. Things quieted down during the ice and snow storm the last two days, but Beatty said, When it finally gets above 40, its going to be a nightmare. As frozen lines thaw, busted pipes will become evident.

Plumbers and heating repair businesses that offer round-the-clock service said their crews have been out 24 hours a day battling frozen and busted water lines and defrosting overworked heat pumps.

Its been crazy, said Mike Scirocco of East Coast Heating and Air Conditioning in Surfside Beach. With this cold weather, its been nonstop.

While the National Weather Service says that things will warm up considerably Friday and through the weekend, the average high and low temperatures this month have been as much as 5 degrees off normal.

Dave Loewenthal, a forecaster in the Weather Services Wilmington, N.C., office, said the average high and low this month at its North Myrtle Beach monitoring station has been 42.7 degrees and 32.1 degrees, respectively. Thats three degrees cooler for the average daily high and a chilling 5 degrees below normal at night.

Temperatures have dropped into the teens since Monday and barely warmed to above freezing during the day. While it was expected to get to 38 degrees Thursday afternoon and melt some of the ice that covers most roads, it was forecast to refreeze overnight, making for a memorable Friday morning commute for those who brave it.

The Weather Service advised motorists to stay off roads until Friday afternoon, when the temperature is expected to rise into the low 50s.

Plumbers and heating services, though, cant ignore the pleas for help.

[Heat pumps] are freezing up and people are scared because theres ice on them, said Brenda Fergueson of One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning.

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Myrtle Beach area water pipes, heat pumps struggling with weather

PHOENIX (CBS5) -

A Phoenix woman says the home service contract on her air-conditioning unit is not delivering the anticipated benefits. She's now going to maintain her air conditioning in a way that could be good for many other consumers.

Five-year home service contracts are common, nearly every Cooling & Heating company in Arizona offers them. Some consumers value the free maintenance and repair discountsoffered in these contracts, but they are not for every consumer. These agreementsmay limit your options and the discounts are hard to measure.

"I got a $600, five-year, maintenance contract," Becky Lehman said.

Lehman says she entered intothe contractwith Air Care Cooling & Heating strictly for the free maintenance and the promised discounts on repairs. The first time her unit had a problem, Lehman says an Air Care tech replaced a circuit board for around $900 and added a surge protector for around $100. Lehman had the box the new board came in, so she went online to research what kind of deal she just got.

"That part we could have bought as a consumer, delivered to our house, for $81," Lehman said.

Lehman says she found surge protectors online for around $40. She says all the work took the Air Care tech around 15 minutes to complete. Lehman says the promised discounts under the service contract didn't seem to exist, so she complained to Air Care and the company gave her an $800 refund.

"I'm very appreciative that Air Care considered the situation and did refund the fair amount," Lehman said.

The unit works fine now, but Lehman says she's done with home service contracts. She plans to service her air conditioner on a year-to-year basis only.

"I would establish a relationship with a contractor that I trusted, word of mouth from someone who said this person does a nice fair job," Lehman said.

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A/C home service contracts not always best for homeowners

Area residents who are income eligible and program eligible can apply for energy assistance through the Orangeburg-Calhoun-Allendale-Bamberg Community Action Agency Inc. Applications for emergency assistance for residential heating will resume on Monday, Jan. 27. Applications are taken on a first-come, first-served basis, Mondays through Thursdays, as long as funds are available.

Eligible clients can apply from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays are reserved for elderly and disabled residents only. Elderly residents are those citizens 60 years old and older. All eligible persons can apply on Wednesdays and Thursdays. In 2014, citizens can be served twice in the calendar year. Residents must apply for services in the county where they live.

Residents are reminded that assistance is only available for heating and cooling charges. No payments are made for water, wastewater, streetlights, garbage pickup, appliance repair or maintenance, returned check fees and return check amount, contract fees for old bills nor voluntary donations like Project Good Neighbor.

Clients must present a current utility or propane gas bill, no more than 30 days old, or a current invoice for wood or coal. Applicants must also present an itemized utility bill to determine if there are any unallowable charges. Clients requesting payment for utility deposits for new accounts must present a signed, dated letter from their utility company. A signed and dated lease agreement listing all residents in the household must be provided.

Any printouts from the utility company must have an official vendor stamp. Only original documents will be accepted; no faxed documents can be used. All documents must be available to start the application process.

There are changes from several state and federal agencies regarding official documentation. To obtain a Social Security benefits verification letter, an original or replacement Social Security card, call 1-800-772-1213 or go online to http://www.socialsecurity.gov. Printouts of unemployment benefits from SC Works can be obtained by phone at 1-866-831-1724 or online at http://www.mybenefits.dew.sc.gov with a valid email address.

Computers are available at the SC Works offices at 1804 Joe S. Jeffords Hwy. in Orangeburg and 398 Barnwell Hwy. in Allendale; the Calhoun County Library, 900 F.R. Huff Drive in St. Matthews; Bamberg County Library, 201 NE Railroad Ave.; Allendale County Library, 297 Main St. in Allendale; and Orangeburg County Library, 510 Louis St.

OCAB no longer processes food stamp printouts nor DSS Household Summaries. Household Summary printouts are available from the Orangeburg and Calhoun Departments of Social Services. Bamberg County residents must pick up a DSS Information Form from the OCAB Denmark Neighborhood Center, 122 East Coker St. and have it completed by a Bamberg County DSS caseworker. In Allendale County, requests for the printouts must come through the OCAB Allendale Neighborhood Center coordinator.

Income and benefits listed on the DSS Household Summary must be verified by the appropriate Human Services Agency; apartment manager for rental payments and utility checks; the county Clerk of Courts office for alimony and child support payments; employers for income; and payers for assistance with payments for utilities, rent, etc.

Clients with a zero utility account balance or an account credit are not eligible for assistance. When applying for vouchers for ECIP, the Emergency Crisis Intervention Program, clients must have a final notice/cutoff notice from their utility company with a cutoff date within five days of the date of application, or utilities disconnected not more than 30 days. Clients must also provide proof of the emergency such as receipts, printouts, official statements or cancelled checks. These documents must be dated within 30 days of the application.

Excerpt from:
OCAB taking applications for energy assistance

MESA, Ariz., Jan. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Delivering superior customer service is nothing new to the team at Air Factor Cooling & Heating. In fact, for the past 7 years, the Geiger family owned HVAC business in Mesa, Ariz. has been recognized as a leading provider of quality heating and air conditioning service in the greater Phoenix Metro area. In January, Air Factor Cooling & Heating found out they had captured the coveted Angieslist.com 'Super Service Award', proving once again that placing an emphasis on quality customer service is not a lost art for the family operated HVAC service company.

"As a family operated business, it's critical to pay attention to the little details but delivering superior customer service is hardly a small detail," noted Barbara Geiger, the CEO of Air Factor Cooling & Heating based in Mesa, AZ. "Every member of our team, from our professional sales staff to our HVAC technicians always places the needs of our customers as their top priority. Our dedication to superior customer service, timely repairs and cost-effective HVAC solutions are hallmarks of our business and has been so for several years. We look forward to continuing this winning tradition in 2014 for the 9th year in a row, and we thank the team at Angieslist.com for selecting us to receive this coveted award."

The Angie's List Super Service Award honors excellence among service and health providers who maintain superior service ratings and reviews on Angie's List throughout the past year. While the award is given out across the country, it is not currently available in every city. A city must reach a minimum size and maturity for consideration. And with a large demographic of residents representing the Phoenix Metro area, Angieslist.com awarded this distinguished service award to Air Factor Cooling & Heating for the 2013 calendar year.

Receiving this award from Angieslist.com is a huge accomplishment for any business. In fact, it's one of the hardest customer service based awards for any business to receive. The Angieslist.com 'Super Service Award' winners are preferred among their members due to the fact that only the top 5% of qualifying businesses per category, in each market, receive the award. And with hundreds of HVAC service company's operating in the Phoenix Metro area, to be listed as a winner of the prestigious 'Super Service Award' is indeed an impressive feat.

"Our mission has always been, and will continue to be; to provide the highest quality repair, maintenance and replacement of residential and light commercial HVAC systems at the best value to our customers," concluded Ms. Geiger. "With the assistance of a dedicated group of loyal customers, we are confident that Air Factor will continue to grow as a brand leader in the Arizona HVAC service market. And we're excited for a very prosperous 2014."

For more information about Air Factor Cooling & Heating, please visit their website @ http://www.airfactor.net. You can also visit the company via social media pages located at https://www.facebook.com/AirFactorCoolingAndHeating&www.google.com/+AirFactorCoolingHeatingMesa

About Air Factor Cooling & Heating

Air Factor Cooling & Heating is a family owned and operated business that services the greater Phoenix metro area. With over 86 years of combined HVAC business experience driving their company, Air Factor has been a leading provider of cooling and heating system repairs, service and maintenance. They are licensed in both Commercial and Residential (ROC# 242803) HVAC services and have been an outstanding member of the Better Business Bureau for several years. All technicians that provide superior services on behalf of the Air Factor team have EPA Refrigerant Certification, NATE Certification and are Master Heat Pump technicians ensuring to maintain environmental responsibility and safety with every cooling system service they perform.

Media Contact: Barbara Geiger, Air Factor Cooling & Heating, (480) 706-3333, dispatch@airfactor.net

News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com

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Air Factor Captures 2013 Angie's List Super Service Award