GLENWILLOW, Ohio, March 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --As American families are focused on taking care of their homes now more than ever, Hoover and Dirt Devil - America's top brands in home cleaning - are leading the charge with new products and high-tech tools showcased at the 2012 International Housewares Show, taking place March 10-13 in Chicago.

According to recent reports, sales of existing homes are ticking up and home-improvement projects are on the rise.(1) For families across the country that means taking more time to care for and clean the house themselves, according to Stephanie Begley from TTI Floor Care, the company behind the iconic cleaning brands Hoover and Dirt Devil.

"People are looking for affordable innovations to help them clean and take care of their homes," said Begley. "As trusted American brands, Hoover and Dirt Devil are excited to offer the latest technology across an array of products to help families clean their homes faster, easier and better than ever before."

From disinfecting steam mops to ultra-lightweight vacuum cleaners to portable hand vacs, Hoover and Dirt Devil use their in-house experts to help families keep their homes fresh and clean. Harkening to their legacy of cleaning and American roots, all products are designed by U.S. engineers, designers and technicians based at the Ohio company headquarters. This year the company took the unprecedented move to pull customer service in-house for both Hoover and Dirt Devil brands as well.

"It's important to listen to our customers and work with people one-on-one to continually provide not only the products people want, but the best service to help use them most effectively," said Begley. "Hoover consistently receives top product ratings, including high marks for quality and reliability."

Hoover. Nobody does it like you.At the 2012 International Housewares Show, Hoover is showcasing three products every family needs to help keep their homes fresh and clean.

Dirt Devil Fights DirtyFrom hand vacs to compact uprights, Dirt Devil is introducing the newest members of its Fight Dirty line-up for 2012.

For More Information To learn more about innovative Hoover products visit Hoover.com or connect with us at Facebook.com/Hoover. To learn more about Dirt Devil products, visit DirtDevil.com or connect with us on Facebook.

About Hoover and Dirt DevilFrom the first Hoover vacuum launched in 1908 to the Hoover WindTunnel MAX Multi-Cyclonic Bagless Upright in 2011, the Hoover brand continues a tradition of innovation through a comprehensive line of floor care products, including lithium-ion battery powered cordless vacuums, full-size, bagged and cyclonic upright and canister vacuums, carpet cleaners, hard-floor cleaners and central vacuum systems. Dirt Devil is known for fully featured lightweight, powerful vacuums, available in a signature red color. It derives its heritage with the launch of the first corded handheld vacuum with belt driven brush roll more than 20 years ago, and today offers a full line of vacuums and accessory cleaning products. Part of the TTI Floor Care family, Hoover and Dirt Devil appliances and accessories are available at major retailers and independent dealers throughout the United States and Canada.

CONTACT: Etosha Moh emoh@talktocurrent.com 312-929-0513

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Hoover and Dirt Devil Showcase Latest Home-Cleaning Technology at International Housewares Show

FREDERICTON It's a dispute that no one wants to resolve.

It's been more than a decade since Neil Lemon climbed a hydro pole outside his Lower Durham, N.B., home in a desperate attempt to draw attention to his feud with NB Power a dispute over an unpaid bill that led to his power being disconnected.

Nearly 13 years later, Lemon's small weather-beaten bungalow still has no electricity.

"They've just got no feelings whatsoever for what they've done and don't even try," Lemon said this week. "Over the simple thing of what happened here; it just boggles my mind how it could get this far for something as simple as that."

In 1999, Lemon's home was disconnected five times during the height of the dispute, but four of those times he reconnected the power himself.

The last time the stoppage was permanent.

At the time of the final disconnection, Lemon claimed he'd offered half of his $746 income to the utility toward the $850 he owed, but was told to pay the total amount.

"This is not the way to go through the last years of your life," Lemon said, "You've got no power and you die of old age and never had power because of something stupid a mix-up in a bill."

Lemon said his life now consists of lugging several gallons of water for a flush, pets, washing and cooking every day. He has done that for 365 days a year since the plug was pulled.

Lemon, 57, heats his house with wood.

See the article here:
New Brunswick man without electricity for 13 years in bizarre power struggle

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. & SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Proving that it is easy to be environmentally friendlier without sacrificing style, affordability and functionality, Sprint (NYSE:S - News) and its no-contract brand, Boost Mobile, joined with LG Mobile today in announcing the upcoming availability of LG Rumor Reflex on the Sprint 3G Network.

LG Rumor Reflex marks the fifth device from Sprint with eco-friendly attributes and the second from Boost Mobile. As the fourth device in the Sprint and LG Rumor family, and the successor to last years popular LG Rumor Touch, LG Rumor Reflex boasts a large 3-inch WQVGA touchscreen, full QWERTY keyboard, 2-megapixel camera and camcorder, built-in GPS and MicroSD card slot supporting up to 32GB of memory.

LG Rumor Reflex in a Titan Grey color will be available Sunday, March 11, in all Sprint retail channels, including http://www.sprint.com and 1-800-SPRINT1 for $29.99 with a new two-year service agreement and $50 mail-in rebate via reward card1 (excludes taxes and surcharges). The device will be offered later in White.

The device will be available on Boost Mobile without a contract Thursday, March 29, for $79.99 (excluding taxes) at Boost Mobiles exclusive retail stores, select independent wireless dealer locations across the country, and at http://www.boostmobile.com with free shipping.

LG Rumor Reflex is compatible with Boost Mobiles $50 Monthly Unlimited plan with Shrinking Payments. For every six on-time payments, the cost of Boost Mobiles Monthly Unlimited plan will shrink by $5, eventually getting down to as low as $35 a month for unlimited nationwide talk, text messaging, web, email and calls to 411. Payments do not need to be consecutive to qualify for the next savings milestone.

Sprint believes it is important to keep evolving our handset portfolio with not only iconic devices but also with quick-messaging phones for customers looking for easy communications, said David Owens, vice president Product Development, Sprint. The availability of LG Rumor Reflex for both Sprint and Boost Mobile customers showcases our consumer choice through our multibrand strategy. Customers appreciate the ability to select a great phone and choose between a contract or no-contract option.

Eco-friendly Attributes

Earlier this year Sprint announced its environmental scorecard now requires all phones go through the UL Environment certification process, setting an industry-first standard to help improve reparability and drive more sustainable packaging. This device has also received the coveted UL Environment Platinum Certification, the highest level of environmental performance recognized by sustainable requirements established by UL Environment and Sprint.2

LG is committed to being a leader of change in the mobile industry and is continually working to find new ways to weave recyclable alternatives throughout our product lineup, said Tim OBrien, vice president of LG Mobile. We are proud of our continued collaboration with Sprint to develop budget-friendly and environmentally conscious devices that dont compromise function or design.

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Be Green in More Ways than One With LG Rumor Reflex from Sprint and Boost Mobile

By Catherine Kavanaugh, cathy.kavanaugh@dailytribune.com @catherinekav

David Dalton/Daily Tribune Regenia Paige, a massage therapist with Health Source, works on Paul Anderson of Royal Oak during Wednesday's South Oakland Business Expo.

ROYAL OAK Dry ice isn't just for storing cold food and making faux fog on Halloween.

The solid form of carbon dioxide packs a punch as a cleaning agent for everything from greasy machines to mold in attics, soot in fire-damaged homes and tartar build-up in hardwood barrels, which explains why Dry Ice Works counts Traverse City-area wineries among its clients.

Gordon Mahrle, co-owner of the Southfield-based business, introduced his services to more potential customers Wednesday at the South Oakland Business Expo at Club Venetian.

The cleaning process blasts dry ice pellets through a nozzle at dirt and grime. As the pellets strike the surface, they instantaneously turn to gas in an explosive state of charge that lifts away the contaminants and leaves behind no residue.

"Dry ice blasting is green, fast and doesn't create any secondary waste," Mahrle said. "It's relatively new and the equipment is expensive. It's

not like you can go to Home Depot, spend $500 on a power washer and be in business."

That's how some competitors on the power-washing side of his cleaning business started. In response, Mahrle diversified into dry ice blasting about a year ago. He joined the seventh annual expo for his first time to spread the word.

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South Oakland Business Expo a good introduction to businesses

By Catherine Kavanaugh cathy.kavanaugh@dailytribune.com; @catherinekav

Regenia Paige, a massage therapist with Health Source, works on Paul Anderson of Royal Oak during Wednesdays South Oakland Business Expo. David Dalton/Daily Tribune

ROYAL OAK Dry ice isnt just for storing cold food and making faux fog on Halloween.

The solid form of carbon dioxide packs a punch as a cleaning agent for everything from greasy machines to mold in attics, soot in fire-damaged homes and tartar build-up in hardwood barrels, which explains why Dry Ice Works counts Traverse City-area wineries among its clients.

Gordon Mahrle, co-owner of the Southfield-based business, introduced his services to more potential customers Wednesday at the South Oakland Business Expo at Club Venetian.

The cleaning process blasts dry ice pellets through a nozzle at dirt and grime. As the pellets strike the surface, they instantaneously turn to gas in an explosive state of charge that lifts away the contaminants and leaves behind no residue.

Dry ice blasting is green, fast and doesnt create any secondary waste, Mahrle said. Its relatively new and the equipment is expensive. Its not like you can go to Home Depot, spend $500 on a power washer and be in business.

Thats how some competitors on the power-washing side of his cleaning business started. In response, Mahrle diversified into dry ice blasting about a year ago. He joined the seventh annual expo for his first time to spread the word.

I can see the day coming when were doing as much if not more dry ice blasting than power washing, Mahrle said.

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South Oakland Business Expo a good introduction to businesses VIDEO

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Future of TV is here. Samsung Electronics America Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today announced that its highly anticipated 2012 TVs will begin shipping this month in the U.S., beginning with the LED 6-series and higher, as well as the Plasma 6-series and higher.

The new models represent Samsungs fifth generation of Smart TV. While features vary by model, highlights of the products include:

Our goal with this years models was to truly redefine what a TV can be while providing unprecedented choice to the consumer, said Joe Stinziano, senior vice president, Home Entertainment, Samsung Electronics America. We have delivered the incredible picture quality and beautiful design that consumers have come to expect from Samsung, as well as seamless connectivity, several new ways to control the TV and exclusive services.

Samsung Smart TVs: Ultimate Connectivity, Content and Control

Samsungs 2012 TVs offer innovative features designed to make it even easier for consumers to enjoy their entertainment experiences.

Voice Control and Gesture Control are available in the LED ES7500, LED ES8000 and Plasma E8000. For example - just say web browser to get online, use voice recognition to start a search, and wave a hand to control the mouse cursor and select links. Face Recognition lets each member of the family log in to their Samsung account and automatically sign into Facebook, Twitter and more.

Also new in 2012, the Smart Touch Remote included with the LED ES7500, LED ES8000 and Plasma E8000 makes navigating content and channels effortless. The built-in touchpad makes web-surfing a pleasure, while channel and volume buttons are on the edge for easy access. The Smart Touch Remote Control also has a built-in microphone for Smart Interaction commands when the viewer is too far from the TVs built-in microphone.

For those looking for even greater flexibility and control of their Smart TV experience, Samsungs new Smart Wireless Keyboard (sold separately) features a standard-sized keyboard along with touch pad. The keyboard utilizes Bluetooth to connect to the TV and also has an IR emitter to support TV functions. The Smart Wireless Keyboard can also be used with the Galaxy Tab or other mobile devices.

Dramatically Improved Picture Quality

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Samsung Delivers the Future of Smart TV Now

Valuable advice from Economical Insurance before you go

WATERLOO, ON, March 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - If you are going to be away from home during March break, Economical Insurance offers some important tips to protect your property so that you have a worry-free vacation.

About The Economical Insurance Group Founded in 1871, The Economical Insurance Group is one of Canada's largest property and casualty insurers, with $1.7 billion in premiums and $4.6 billion in assets. Based in Waterloo, this Canadian-owned and operated group services the insurance needs of more than one million customers through 19 branches and service offices across the country. In 2010, Economical announced its decision to become the first federally-regulated mutual property and casualty insurance company to demutualize. Economical is currently reviewing strategic options and will submit a comprehensive demutualization strategy for mutual policyholder approval after the federal government's completion of regulatory development.

The Economical Insurance Group's member companies include: Economical Mutual Insurance Company (including Western General Farm Division), Waterloo Insurance Company, Perth Insurance Company, The Missisquoi Insurance Company, Federation Insurance Company of Canada, Family Insurance Solutions and The Mattei Companies.

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Going away for March break?

by Edythe Jensen - Mar. 4, 2012 09:28 PM The Republic | azcentral.com

A Chandler mother's crusade against unsanitary restaurant playgrounds has prompted proposed changes to Maricopa County's health code.

"This is a giant step in the right direction," said Erin Carr-Jordan, 37, a mother of four with a Ph.D. in developmental psychology.

She has been working with Supervisor Fulton Brock and other county officials on the wording of the potential regulations, which would expand the county's oversight of restaurant-cleanliness inspections to include play areas. They also would require sanitized cleaning of those areas after every shift, detailed cleaning protocols, permanent signs encouraging children's hand washing before meals and immediate closure of the play areas "when vomiting and/or fecal accidents occur."

Woman fighting bacteria banned from McDonald's

But getting those changes into law isn't a sure thing. The approval process takes months, Brock is leaving office at the end of the year and a candidate for another supervisor's seat is president of the Arizona Restaurant Association.

Carr-Jordan is getting support from the county's public-health director, Dr. Robert England.

"It's just common sense. You don't want to facilitate something that's going to make kids' hands filthy dirty right before they handle food," he said. "But we also don't want to do anything that discourages physical activity. For some, this is the best playground equipment available."

England said he hasn't read the proposed health-code changes but would support "reasonable" play-equipment-cleanliness requirements.

The mother's outrage started about a year ago when she took her then-3-year-old son to a Tempe McDonald's. He asked to go on the slide and Carr-Jordan followed him.

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Restaurant play-area health rules could loom

Wanganui Mayor Annette Main today thanked all those involved in the response to Saturday's weather bomb.

"It has been a fantastic response from the emergency services and contractors who have worked with our Emergency Operations Centre over the weekend," Mayor Main said.

"Although the bad weather has now passed, there are still some significant issues to deal with in the coming days and weeks. The major concerns are restoration of power to the Kai Iwi bores and to people in our community. We know that there are some rural areas in our district which don't have power and that Powerco is working to restore power as soon as possible."

Infrastructure and Property Committee Chair Cr Ray Stevens said Wanganui District Council's infrastructure staff are working hard with Powerco and Tenix to restore power to No. 1 and No. 3 bores at Kai Iwi.

"We were relieved to have No. 2 bore back on line late Sunday morning but our supply is still under pressure without the other two Kai Iwi bores feeding the reservoirs," Cr Stevens said.

"We urge all city consumers to reduce their water use until we can get the reservoirs up to a good level. To help with this, we have reduced water pressure for the city supply which some consumers will notice. The water is likely to be discoloured but it is safe to use and drink. There is a total ban on hosing and sprinkling until further notice."

Sewage in waterways and at beaches will remain an issue for some days. No-one should swim in the Whanganui River and at beaches for the next few days. Sewage issues are likely to affect Mowhanau for the remainder of the week.

Civil Defence Controller Kevin Ross said the Emergency Operations Centre had worked well over the weekend, in association with the Fire Service, Police, contractors, Powerco and Tenix.

"To give people an idea of the huge scale of this event, the Fire Service in Wanganui dealt with 66 major property damage or 'life at risk' events between 6.00am and 2.00pm on Saturday," Mr Ross said.

"On top of that, there were 41 calls about trees and powerlines which the Fire Service passed on to other agencies.

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Wanganui water use remains a concern

Mar 1 2012

Passengers on the stricken cruise ship Costa Allegra have finally stepped on to dry land after enduring three days at sea without power.

British High Commissioner Matthew Forbes was at the port of Victoria in the Seychelles to greet the 31 UK citizens who were among the 627 passengers aboard the Italian vessel.

The Britons and the other passengers had had to contend with dismal conditions on board after a fire in a generator room on Monday knocked out all power on the vessel.

The ship is part of the Costa Cruises fleet which included the Costa Concordia, which hit rocks and turned on its side off the coast of Italy in January, claiming 32 lives.

No one was injured in the fire earlier this week on the Costa Allegra but the vessel, which was sailing from Madagascar towards the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, had to be towed by a French fishing vessel.

Passengers endured extreme heat and were reported to have been living on bread and cheese, with no electricity or washing facilities.

The Seychelles Red Cross set up several tents at Victoria to assist passengers while tour operators waited with buses ready to take passengers to either the airport or a Seychelles resort. The process was expected to take several hours.

It is understood around 370 passengers have opted to stay in the Seychelles with the rest being flown to Rome. Travel agents flocked to the port, waiting to help passengers ashore.

Guillaume Albert, head of Seychelles-based Creole Travel Services, said: "The focus of the operation is to get them a warm meal and a shower. I think the happy ending is the people coming off the boat."

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UK & World News: Allegra passengers reach dry land