Encased in a cage of lattice aluminum strips, Scaife Halls appearance was unique. A partially-underground lecture hall with a curved roof, referred to by many as the Pringle, or the chip, protruded from the buildings rectangular frame. To some, Scaife was a rare example of a building that was as ugly to look at as it was to look out from. To those with a soft spot for mid-century modern quirk, the building had charm.

When Alan M. Scaife Hall opened in the fall of 1962, it boasted several modern features. It had air conditioning. The basement housed Carnegie Techs nuclear engineering lab. The top floor held a newly constructed version of the schools already famed computation center. Scaife Hall came as part of a $29 million, 10-year development program that resulted in other campus fixtures like Hunt Library and Skibo Gymnasium.

At the buildings October 1962 dedication, former Mellon Institute President Edward Weidlein expressed excitement in the buildings outstanding modern facilities. In a comment to The Tartan, then-University President John Warner said that the building will enable Carnegie to keep pace with the enormous advances and changes taking place in engineering and the sciences.

Though Scaife Hall may have been revolutionary in 1962, and perhaps also a mid-century architectural gem, by 2018, the engineering department had outgrown it. A replacement building was announced by University President Farnam Janahian in his 2018 inaugural address, funded partially by a $30 million grant from the Allegheny Foundation, a subsidiary of Scaife Foundations. In his address, Jahanian aired that because of this new facility, much like the original, Carnegie Mellon will be better able to compete for the best students and faculty, driving Pittsburghs reputation as a hub for innovation. The buildings total cost is expected to be $75 million.

The project is now well underway. Old Scaife Halls demolition is complete, and construction has officially begun on what is called New Scaife Hall.

The new building promises to be as groundbreaking as its predecessor was in 1962 a university release touts technology-rich labs; modern, flexible classrooms; and spaces that facilitate formal and informal collaborations. The new facility will be twice as large, spilling two stories down into Junction Hollow. The university hopes that New Scaife will encourage the development of novel areas of research, and foster the College of Engineerings culture of Advanced Collaboration (a phrase the university trademarked in 2019).

Construction of New Scaife is expected to fully conclude in March of 2023 according to Jennifer McDowell, the universitys director of design and construction. In a written response to The Tartan, McDowell stated that the building is set to have classrooms ready for instruction by the Fall semester of 2023.

Expanding the facilitys footprint two-fold in the same location requires some creativity. The biggest physical challenge is the hillside dropping into Junction Hollow, McDowell said, as the new buildings design requires the installation of a number of earth-retaining structures to allow the bulk excavation to begin. Current mockups of the building have it partitioned roughly in three, with a large rectangular cornerstone overhanging the drop off, a portal entrance that almost connects to Porter Hall, and a courtyard. Like its predecessor, the building will shade the sun with aluminum fins, but this time, no cage.

One challenge in getting this facility built is its close proximity to both Roberts Hall and Porter Hall. We must coordinate the new retaining structure adjacent to Roberts Hall and its existing retaining structure, which needs to remain in place, McDowell said. She also added that As always, we need to limit the disruption for our campus community.

Regarding construction during the COVID-19 pandemic, McDowell stated that all Contractors are required to have procedures and working rules in place to limit exposure between workers on site, in addition to members of our campus community. She says that the university and its contractors are fully complying with all laws and regulations, including Governor Wolfs guidelines and the City of Pittsburgh PLI External Guidelines for Construction.

McDowell, cutting through the nostalgia, said that While the chip was an interesting feature of old Scaife, it was not a particularly efficient space for teaching and learning needs. Still, she says, there is much excitement for honoring and restoring the Scaife site as a significant campus entry and a destination for all of campus.

A live view of the Scaife construction site can be seen at the College of Engineerings official stream.

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With old Scaife Hall demolished, construction begins on its replacement - CMU The Tartan Online

Over the weekend, the building we work in and broadcast from suffered some damage from a collapsed ceiling. No one was in the room where the damage took place, so we're beyond happy to report no injuries.

As you might imagine, the topic of roof-shoveling was a pretty hot one yesterday around here. Lots of questions, including when to do it, why to do it, should you do it all, and how to do it without being buried in an avalanche of snow and ice were among the many discussions.

Being old enough to clearly remember the winter of 1978-79, I recall making a bunch of money (to a high school sophomore) over that winter by going around our neighborhood with my buddies and shoveling off the roof of every neighbor who wanted it done. There was no shortage of customers.

Fast forward to today, and many people in the Rockford area (and now the rest of the country, based upon the weather activity of the last few days) are wondering whether or not they need to get their roof cleared off to avoid a collapse.

I did some extensive searching for answers about roof-shoveling, and from what I can see, most of the experts out there recommend against doing it for a variety of reasons.

A piece at Syracuse.comfeatures advice from aprofessor of structural engineering and mechanics at Syracuse University, Eric Lui. Lui points out that while you may be tempted to shovel off that accumulated snow from your roof, don't do it. "It's dangerous, and you may cause more damage than the snow will."

Syracuse.com:

Lui said a roof built according to state building codes should be able to withstand the weight of any snow that could accumulate on it.

Another website, SurvivalCommonSense.com, talked to the Bend, Oregon Fire Department about the need to get snow off of your roof. The Bend FD says that you should have the snow removed from your roof, but you shouldn't do it yourself. They recommend having a professional with experience in rooftop snow removal. It's not just the weight of the snow, says Bend FD:

Deep snow on a roof can bury a gas appliance flue, causing the exhaust to enter the home. This condition can introduce carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless poisonous gas in the building.

Finally, I ended up at the Boston Globe, and their "Handyman on Call" advice column. There were a lot of words spilled on the page, but the bottom line, according to the Globe's handyman expert, is a definitive no on the subject of roof shoveling.

Never, never use a roof rake or try to shovel snow off a slanted roof. It will do no good, will not cure ice dams, is extremely hazardous, and can harm asphalt shingles, and in your case, slate shingles. And it will take away snow that is a natural insulator as long as it stays on your house.

I don't know if these bits of advice are pointing you in one direction or another, but it does seem to be quite clear that you should consult with an expert or two before venturing up on the roof to do it yourself.

See the rest here:
Should You Shovel Your Roof, And If So, When? - 1440wrok.com

Chautauqua County has filed suit in state Supreme Court against companies that previously operated out of the countys two airports. File Photo

Chautauqua County has filed three lawsuits against the companies that operated out of the county airports.

In State Supreme Court, the county filed a lawsuit against Jamestown Aviation, LLC, one against Dunkirk Aviation Sales and Services, Inc. and one against Dunkirk Aviation Management, LLC. All three were filed Jan. 28.

JAMESTOWN AVIATION

In the lawsuit against Jamestown Aviation, the county notes it had a lease agreement with them relating to real property at the Jamestown Airport. The defendant terminated the lease on Jan. 31, 2020. The county alleges the following damage at the property:

Building J FBO Office Water damaged ceiling tiles and stained carpets; several lights and lens covers missing and/or damaged beyond repair; rotted threshold on door in back office; cracked window on the ramp side of the Fixed Based Operation office (was covered by dirty stickers); and dirty and chipped paint.

Hanger J FBO Hangar Hangar door and man doors have fully deteriorated and must be replaced and light bulbs need replacement.

Hangar L (hangar space) Hangar doors need repair and servicing; chipping and peeling interior paint; rust at base of structural steel columns; block walls are contaminated with mold and mildew; all exterior man doors have fully deteriorated and are not compliant with state fire codes, and must be replaced; and interior doors to the shop and office need new hardware.

Hangar L (shop/office) Extensive amount of paint is chipped and peeling; block walls are deteriorating due to mold and mildew; exterior doors are inoperable due to rust and omitted maintenance and are in violation of state fire code; restrooms need new fixtures; other plumbing issues; and heating ducts are rusted and gas supply line has been modified in violation of building codes.

In the suit, the county seeks judgment in an amount to be determined upon the trial of the lawsuit.

On the Jamestown Aviations website, the company writes, After serving the community since 2000, Jamestown Aviation has decided it is time to let someone else provide FBO flight support at the Jamestown Airport. As of January 31st, 2020 we have officially closed our doors. We have immensely enjoyed serving our loyal customers and hope that you will continue to visit us at Chautauqua Aircraft Sales, Inc. & Dunkirk Avionics LLC where services will continue uninterrupted. The phone number listed on the website is not in service.

DUNKIRK AVIATION SALES & SERVICES

In the lawsuit against Dunkirk Aviation Sales & Services, Inc., the county notes it had a lease agreement with them relating to real property at the Dunkirk Airport. The county alleges the defendant wrongfully terminated the lease agreement as of Oct. 31, 2017 in breach of the terms and conditions, which require the defendant to be responsible for all the repairs and maintenance of the least premises.

When the county returned Oct. 31, 2017, it alleged the following issues:

Hangar No. 1 Exit sign is missing; main electrical distribution panel is not labeled and has no evidence/record of required inspections/service; exterior paint is peeling; hangar door electrical/mechanical controls work intermittently and require manual operation to remain engaged; hangar door binds and occasionally hangs up; and the hangar is not currently suitable for lease/revenue generation due to unreliable condition of the bi-folding doors.

Hangar No. 2 Hangar door electrical/mechanical controls work intermittently and require manual operation to remain engaged; hangar door binds and occasionally hangs up; the hangar is not currently suitable for lease/revenue generation due to unreliable condition of the bi-folding doors; and the exterior paint is peeling.

Hangar No. 4 Exterior lighting is not functioning, and the hangar door seal is worn, allowing moisture intrusion.

Hangar No. 5 Roof leaks in several areas; insulation is water-logged and deteriorated; and the exterior asphalt shingle siding and roofing is loose and presents hazards to nearby aircraft.

Hangar No. 6 Interior lighting is out in areas; the exterior metal sheathing is damaged at building corner(s); the hangar doors drive train is worn causing frequent door jamming and malfunction; and the leaking drive train oil indicates neglected maintenance and failing function.

FBO Office building Insulation has separated from interior walls due to moisture intrusion (leaks); rust is forming along wall-floor joint; and the heating units are inoperable and beyond economic repair.

The county also notes Dunkirk Aviation Sales and Services remains the owner of an underground fuel system and tanks that are still located on the leased premises. The defendant was responsible, as the registered owner of its remaining fuel system and tanks, for the permanent closing of the facility, including the potential removal of underground storage tanks, as may be required by applicable state and federal law, the county wrote in the lawsuit.

Because Dunkirk Aviation Sales and Services failed to permanently close the fuel system and tanks, the county was required to, at a cost of $53,306.

The county states it seeks judgment against the defendant in an amount to be determined upon the trial of the action.

A company official with Dunkirk Aviation Sales and Services was reached by phone and said they have not yet received the lawsuit and declined further comment. On the Dunkirk Aviation Sales and Services website, it states, As of October 31st, 2017 we have officially closed our doors. We have immensely enjoyed serving our loyal customers and helping people experience the joy of flight. We hope that you will visit us at the Jamestown Airport (KJHW) where service provided by Dunkirk Avionics LLC, Jamestown Aviation Company LLC, and Chautauqua Aircraft Sales & Services, Inc. will continue uninterrupted.

DUNKIRK AVIATION MANAGEMENT

In its lawsuit against Dunkirk Aviation Management LLC, the county notes it had a lease agreement with them as the tenant relating to hangar space. The lease was terminated on Feb. 1, 2018.

The county alleges that according to the lease, Dunkirk Aviation Management was responsible for the taxes, however the defendant had outstanding real property taxes and assessments.

The county also states that Dunkirk Aviation Management was responsible for repairs and maintenance of the hangar building.

After the lease ended, the county noted there were damaged or missing windowpanes, inoperable hangar bay lights, and inoperable hangar heating units, which the defendant was allegedly responsible to repair or replace.

The county states it seeks judgment against the defendant in an amount to be determined upon the trial of the action.

Dunkirk Aviation Management does not have a separate website or phone number listed.

County Attorney Stephen Abdella confirmed the three individual lawsuits, but declined further comment.

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See the rest here:
County files suit against companies that operated at airports - Evening Observer

National Review

On February 15, Iran-backed Shia militia groups in Iraq fired a barrage of missiles a minimum of 14 at an American base in Erbil, Iraq. One contractor was killed and five were wounded; one American soldier was wounded. That no American was killed was a matter of luck, it seems. The U.S. reaction has so far been verbal only. Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a statement, saying We are outraged by todays rocket attack in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. . . . I have reached out to Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to discuss the incident and to pledge our support for all efforts to investigate and hold accountable those responsible. Those accountable are sitting in Tehran, and this is a key test of the Biden administration: If the United States reacts with words alone, the Biden administration will show the Iranians that such attacks are cost-free. The only lesson that Irans leaders will learn from such a response is that the Biden administrations desire to return to nuclear diplomacy will permit Iran to put American lives at risk whenever it wishes. If the U.S. reaction is to strike at the Iraqi Shia group that claimed the attack, it will once again play Tehrans game. Iran is pleased to allow those proxies to absorb American strikes while it acts with impunity. An Iraqi Shiite group calling itself Saraya Awliya al-Dam, which means Guardians of Blood Brigade, said it conducted the attack. Which Iran-backed militia actually carried out the attack is largely irrelevant because Iran controls them all. Proof can be found in the way such militia attacks appear to have been called off by Iran in October. Back then, Iran seemed to fear that if an American were killed and then-President Trump reacted against Iran strongly, Trump might gain popularity and win reelection. Attacks by Iranian-backed Shia groups in the pre-election period did not fall off because they ran out of ammunition or decided to take vacations; there is no other explanation except decisions made in Tehran. In November, December, and January (especially around January 3, the one-year anniversary of the American killing of Quds force head Qasem Soleimani), the U.S. government expected the attacks might recommence. What followed was a successful effort to deter Iran, especially after the one Iranian-backed attack in this period: the rocket attack on the U.S. Embassy in December. While American forces and diplomats in Iraq took great precautions to prevent injuries if attacked, the United States delivered clear messages to Iran both verbally and through the deployment of military force. The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz was kept on station in the region after starting to return home, and there were regular B-52 flights over the Persian Gulf. It is in this context that Trump tweeted on December 23, two days after an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Some friendly health advice to Iran: If one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think it over. The messages were clear: If an Iranian proxy killed an American, the U.S. reaction would not target the proxy but would target Iran. What exactly that meant was kept ambiguous; Iran had to calculate risks. And the Iranian regime did so. From the election to the inauguration there was one attack, and after that December attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, the Iranian proxies desisted. And to repeat, there is only one logical explanation for this: Tehran got the message and instructed them to desist. This background explains why the attack on Americans in Erbil is so important. Iran understood the messages from the United States prior to January 20, but what is the message now? Will we hold accountable those responsible, as Blinken said, or will we instead allow Iran to hide behind proxies it controls? If we do the latter, the message to Iran is that such attacks are acceptable and we can expect more of them. These are efforts to kill Americans, and by killing or wounding American servicemembers and contractors to drive the United States from Iraq. The Biden administration should instead adopt a policy of deterrence, warning Iran that it will be held accountable directly. That messaging, plus a clear willingness to carry through if need be, has worked. It did not reduce attacks to zero, but it significantly depressed their size and frequency because those must have been the orders from Tehran. Those orders can be sent to the Iraqi Shia militias once again. It all depends on what Tehran hears from Washington. If an American is killed by an Iranian-supported militia and the United States responds, does that mean the end of diplomacy or a wider war? It does not. The United States has a multitude of military options, some of which would clearly signal to Iran that we have no wish to escalate into a larger conflict but that we insist the Iranian regime stop trying to kill Americans or else. Thats the message the Biden administration should be sending this week.

See the rest here:
Dealing with rain, ice on snow-covered roofs - Yahoo News

A 67-year-old man was remanded in custody until April 16 for putting a couple through a living hell by seriously damaging their Ballinspittle house when he was renting it.

The couple described the living hell they were put through by the cruel behaviour of tenant, Denis OConnor from Hillside, Cappagh, Kinsale, County Cork.

As well as causing an estimated 16,000 in criminal damage by sawing rafters out of the roof and other acts of destruction, he refused to pay rent for 16 months he was in the house.

The owner of the house, Audrey OMahony, said the financial strain due to the lack of rental income from the Ballinspittle house made it hard to meet their own mortgage repayments forcing them to cut back on groceries, clothing and heating. She said stress ultimately led to her collapse on one day and being rushed by ambulance to hospital.

Judge Sean Donnabhin said he had huge sympathy for Ms OMahony.

Noting that defendant Denis OConnor had so far come up with 2,500 compensation, the judge warned him he was facing a jail term if he could not come up with further compensation.

Sentencing was adjourned until April 16 and the accused was remanded in custody until then.

Ms OMahony testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that she believed OConnor cut the rafters on the roof of their Ballinspittle house in an effort to make the property unsellable so they would be forced to sell it to him at a reduced price.

She said the 67-year-old put herself and her husband and family through a never-ending nightmare by what he did from the time he began renting their house from them in 2015.

I believe that it was Denis OConnors intention to get permanent possession of our house without paying us and that he is not the least bit sorry for what he has put us through. His actions against us are inexcusable, cruel and downright wrong, she said.

He pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the house by removing roof rafters and damaging floors and various fittings at the OMahonys property at Duneen, Ballinvredig, Ballinspittle, Co Cork between December 5 2015 and July 23 2018. He also admitted the theft of a fitted kitchen worth 1,000 which he removed from the property to replace with his own kitchen, which he in turn removed when he left, leaving the house without a functioning kitchen.

Garda Cormac Dineen told how the OMahonys moved from the single story cottage in Ballinspittle to their new home in Clonakilty and put the house up for rent and OConnor, a handyman, began renting the property in 2015 and agreed to carry out some minor repair works with their consent.

However, the OMahonys gave him no permission to carry out some of the works that he did, including the removal of 27 roof rafters to use to put a V-shaped roof on a portable building and taking up a hall floor and other actions which left the OMahonys with a bill for damage totalling 16,000.

Garda Dineen confirmed OConnor has no previous convictions and defence barrister, Donal OSullivan BL said his client was remorseful. But Judge Sean Donnabhin queried this as he had observed OConnor shaking his head during the evidence against him.

Ms OMahony told the court OConnor stopped paying rent in April 2017 and told them things were going to get nasty.

See the article here:
Tenant who sawed rafters out of roof and removed a fitted kitchen put couple through a 'living hell', Cork court hears - EchoLive.ie

MULBERRY You can still smell the newness of the seats, drywall and flooring of Mulberrys GEM theater.

The buildinghas undergone a top-to-bottom restoration the past three yearsthanks to City Manager Rick Johnson and a $2 million grant to be repaid through the towns Community Redevelopment Agency.

There were termites and roaches going up the wall, Johnson said.And a hole in the roof ... water was just pouring in and we immediately put anewroof on it.

Johnsonsaid that "rats, cats and bats" had taken over the theater area ofhistoricbuilding. He didnt even want to discuss the rat infestation of a downstairs bathroom after it was closed off and the water evaporated, allowing the vermin to crawl up through empty sewer pipes.Workers fromA-C-T Environmental & Infrastructure, based in Bartow, had to don hazmat suits to clean out the entire building.

Previously: Project to transform downtown Mulberry a real Gem

Trending now: Bartow's famous 'house with the tree in it' will soon lose the tree

Instead,Johnsonpointed out the lovely new blue seats that replaced the old yellow ones, the newcarpet and a floorspacein front of the stage that allows for dining, an orchestra or even dancing something other Polk County historic theaters dont offer.All the upstairs offices, which house several union locals, have been renovated, as well.Rodda Construction, he said, came in 10%under budget and on time.

From 1947 to 1956,Mulberrys GEM theater was the place to be for a Friday night film or Saturday matinee in atownknown for phosphate andBadcock Furniture.The Arnold family owned the theater and, back then, the towns patrons could view movies like CreatureFromthe Black Lagoon and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

But, eventually,television and a drive-in movie theater in SouthLakeland drew the crowds away andthe theaterbuildingbecame office space for theInternational Chemical Workers Union, along with two other unions associated with thephosphate industry.Year after year, the theaters auditoriumspace was neglected until it was simply unusable.

Related: Polk Museum of Art kicks up its heels with 230 works by famed Moulin Rouge artist

And then Johnson came to townas city managerin 2012 and saw the buildings potential as ashowplacefor Mulberrys 3,327 residents, where they could catch a double feature of westerns on a Saturday afternoon or a Murder Mystery dinner theater on aFriday evening, where the visitingLakelandImperial Symphony Orchestra could playor Mulberrys students couldgather for performances.He began asking the unionin 2013 if the city could have it or buy it. They finally relented in 2017, giving the building to the city in exchange foruse of the upstairs andtheir offices being renovated.

Johnson said he is hoping the Mulberry High Schoolbandsbooster club will run a concession stand, with proceeds going to help them.

Bob Macey, an arts and community leader, is thrilled with the theaters overhaul.

It honestly feels right now like weve crossed the threshold, Macey said in a video produced for the theaters grand opening scheduled for Thursday.This is something that is really going to bring out the communityand change it for the good.

In fact, Mulberryis experiencingsomething ofa renaissance. Johnson said all of the sidewalks downtown are going to be redonewith money left over from the construction.The cultural center by city hall is hosting thismontha Highwaymanexhibit, with 20paintings doneby the icons of Floridalandscapes. In addition, the Mulberry Public Library now has a coffee shop. And the towns barbecue festival is scheduled to take place on March 13 possibly the first one in the state in a year, thanks to COVID-19.

In case you missed it: Beloved Mulberry High staff member Maria Hernandez dies from COVID-19

Finally,Mulberry High Schoolis in the middle of a massive$46 million transformation, building a new modern building on the old baseball field and then tearing down everything that was built in the 1950s. The only current structures that will remain are two classroom buildings and the auditorium, which were built about 15 years ago.

While the GEM is ready for business, there are still two things yet to be completed.Johnson wantsthe GEM lettersalong the buildings exteriorbig enough to see from the intersection of State Road60 and State Road 37, the towns main crossroads. He is also hoping to lease out a 1,000 square-foot space in the building to an ice-cream shop something that would support the theater and downtown.

Ledger reporter Kimberly C. Moore can be reached atkmoore@theledger.comor 863-802-7514. Follow her on Twitter at @KMooreTheLedger.

GEM Theater Grand Openingand Highwayman Exhibit Opening

Thursday,11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

118 NW 1stAve.,Mulberry

Continue reading here:
No more 'rats, cats and bats': Mulberry's GEM Theater sparkles again after $2 million renovation - The Ledger

At least 140,000 customers still had no power Tuesday morning as the havoc wrought by a powerful winter storm lingered throughout the Portland area.

In Marion County, another 60,000 homes and businesses were without power.

Portland General Electric reported three substations remain out of commission, 21 transmission lines have been knocked out and more than 6,000 individual lines were still down as of 6 a.m. Despite the efforts of more than 2,500 workers trying to restore service, some of whom were brought in from out of state, the utility could not provide an estimate of when power would return for many customers.

For some, it would be their fourth day without electricity.

In Gladstone, rescue crews were treating six people for potential carbon monoxide poisoning Tuesday morning after a generator was left running an area adjoining a home. Two of the victims were suffering from critical injuries, officials said.

The damage from multiple rounds of ice and snow was not limited to electrical infrastructure, either. Downed trees and power lines have made travel in the region treacherous, with dozens of road closures. Many public transit agencies, some of which had been shut down in previous days, were returning to normal service Tuesday.

In Troutdale, the weight of ice and snow proved too much for the roof of a Safeway store, and it collapsed Monday morning. Customers were inside when the collapse occurred, and one person sustained minor injuries, officials said.

A Les Schwab tire store in Southeast Portland suffered a similar collapse Monday evening, with the roof partially caving in while a cleaning crew was inside. Everyone evacuated, and no injuries were reported.

The family of Antonio Amaro Lopez, a southeast Portland man who was driving on the Glenn Jackson bridge Sunday night, is still searching for answers after it is believed his Subaru SUV lost control on the span, hit an embankment and careened off the bridge into the Columbia River below.

Search crews have been unable to locate the vehicle.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Oregon Department of Human Services announced that people who receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, could request replacements for food that spoiled due to power outages or other storm damage. Households that receive SNAP benefits have 10 days from the date their food went bad to request replacements. For full details on the program, check out the states website.

The Portland metro area was expected to return to normal winter weather Tuesday, with showers and high temperatures in the 40s, but the effects of the storm lingered as many school districts were forced to cancel even their virtual classes due to power outages.

This story will be updated.

-- Kale Williams; kwilliams@oregonian.com; 503-294-4048; @sfkale

More here:
More than 140,000 remain without power in Portland area as storm damage comes into sharper focus - OregonLive

Dean Narciso|The Columbus Dispatch

DELAWARE Behind the beakers, safety goggles and chemical vialsinsideOhio Wesleyan University's Schimmel/Conrades Science Center, a team of chemists is conjuring new uses for the ubiquitous soybean.

The workers, includingstudent interns in lab coats, havea singular motivation behind their work:helping, or at least not hurting, the increasingly fragileenvironment.

Airable Research Lab, a three-year-old company funded through the Ohio Soybean Council,moved into the underutilized labs a year agoafter Barry McGraw, a longtime Battelle researcher, asked university officials about the space.

The university agreed to lease it to the company, and in exchange, biochemistry students getpaid internships, real-world instruction and satisfaction in knowing the power of responsible engineering.

The soybean, Ohio's main cash crop, is a high-protein, "good-fat" staple ingredient in everything from tofu to ice cream. But it's the bean's natural oils and extracts that can replace dangerous petrochemical counterparts such asphthalate esters, which are used to improve pliability in plastics.

The Airable chemists already have patented a liquid spray now used by Roof Maxx, a spin-off of Feazel Roofing. The solution is sprayed on asphalt shingles to extend their life, akin to a moisturizer for dry hands, McGrawsaid.

A similar solution is used on rubber tires to keep them flexible and looking new.

As chief laboratory officer, McGraw, 45, a plastics engineer who lives in the small Delaware County village of Radnor, said he was drawn to the challenges of the job.

"It's what wakes you up in the morning," he said, standing beside bottles of livestock shampoos and sprays containing hazardous compounds that the company is looking to improve. "It's being able to have access to cleaners that you don't have to worry about causinghealth problems and other products that may last longer and keeping them out of landfills."

Looking at one of the labels, he added: "It's fairly nasty ... not the best thing to be putting on any animal. Can we replace these components with soy?"

McGrawalso is director of product development and commercialization for the Ohio Soybean Council. The lab is funded, in part, through the council, by a half-percent fee that farmers pay on crop sales which pays for national and local research, marketing and other support for the crop and farmers. A $500,000 budget supports thelab's five full-time workers and other part-time and student employees.

Todd Hesterman farms about 1,300 acresof beans, corn and wheat on his family-run Henry County farm in northwest Ohio.As the soybean council's research chairman, he knows well how global trade, price fluctuations and weather can affect his livelihood.

Research "gives us an opportunity to limit the effect of trade agreements on price fluctuations. Green solutions and bioproducts fall right into our camp and our beliefs," he said of farmers' natural tendency toward conservation.

Many other states and cash-crop councils fund their research through the U.S. Department of Agriculture or universities.

With Airable, "we're saving soybean farmers a lot of money by having our own lab. It's a rare opportunity kind of an experiment in itself," Hesterman said.

The benefits aren't lost on the lab's employees, including research chemist Ashlynn Vander Mer.

"I find that most industries care more about performance than where their materials come from," she said.

Dylan Karis, lead chemist at the facility, is working on technology to remove rare earth elements from coal ash, tons of which are emptied into landfills from power plants.

"I've always been interested in the environmental side of all industries," said Karis, who wasn't satisfied with conventional researchafter earning his doctorate from the University of Washington. "This was focused on solving a problem and giving a bio-based solution."

Soy oil byproducts can replace petroleum-based substances commonly found in plastics, paints, adhesives andbiodiesel fuels.

One lab experiment involvesthe seemingly mundane goal of finding biodegradable label adhesives to be affixed on already recyclable packaging.

"I think the more successes, the more confidence andideas that comefrom those successes," McGrawsaid.

Like other "think tank" operations, McGrawwho oversees everything from marketing to research and negotiating licensing deals with businesses is responsible for knowing when to pull the plug on an idea that isn't working.

"It's a finebalance," hesaid. "If it doesn't work, we quickly move to the next project. There's really no bad idea, as long as you're willing to try it and kill if it doesn't work out.

"It's a bad idea if you keep doing it, and keep trying and spend a lot of money and time on it."

An earlier version of this story had an incorrect spelling for Barry McGraw.

dnarciso@dispatch.com

@DeanNarciso

Excerpt from:
Startup at Ohio Wesleyan University focused on green solutions for soy-based products - The Columbus Dispatch

By InYourArea Community

Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter are raising money to replace the plastic roofing for their cattery.

Submitted by Beth Codling

Its been all hands-on deck here at Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter over the past couple of months due to the Covid-19 pandemic and whilst we are still unable to get back to normal rehoming procedures, we are very pleased to say that we have now started rehoming using online applications.

Since we began rehoming again in June, 59 dogs, 172 cats and 64 small animals have now found their forever homes. All monetary donations help us to provide vital care for our animals until we can find them a forever home. This could be everything from heating to water, veterinary bills and medicines.

The new guidelines which we have in place mean that we have very limited space for storage of physical donations, so we are currently only accepting donations of bedding, newspapers, toys and poop bags on designated days. All designated donations days are posted on our website.

Please note we arent able to accept donations of food at present.

We are currently running an appeal to replace the plastic roofing which shieldsthe outdoor areas of our cat pens which has been damaged by the bad weatherweve had in the North East over the past couple of years.

Our Benton shelter has 64 pens which are currently full of lost, unwanted, abandoned and neglected cats and kittens. We have 25 pens on our maternitysuite which is full of young, fragile kittens who need to be kept warm and dry tokeep them healthy and give them the best start to life.

It is incredibly important that each of our cat pens has a sheltered outdoor area for our cats to get some fresh air as many of them need their time outside to keep them happy and healthy.

The cattery roof is going to cost 6,000 to replace so we are appealing for donations to help us pay for this essential repair.

The Covid-19 pandemic has hit us hard, as it has many people. We appreciate not everyone has disposable income to spare but even a 1 donation would make a huge difference. To make a donation to our appeal, please visit our Cold at Christmas fundraising page.

To apply to give a dog, cat or small animal their forever home or to find out more about the donation of money or items the the Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter, visit their website, or call them on 0191 215 0435.

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Column: Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter - Replacing the cattery roof - In Your Area

In this day and age, one of the largest threats to the human race is the detrimental effect of climate change. As a result, there is a societal push to be more environmentally conscious. From the way we eat, sleep, and shop, there is a drive to make changes and improvements that lessen our ecological footprint. This drive should also extend to the different businesses and corporations that exist. If you own your own business, its imperative to be a part of the solution and do your part by practicing sustainable efforts. For insight on how to do this, check out these tips to make your business eco-friendly.

To make your business more environmentally friendly, there are a few renovations you can make to your store or warehouse. For example, you can replace your old roofing materials with an eco-friendly alternative, such as metal roofing. There are many reasons to choose metal roofing over traditional commercial roofing options.

The most important reason, however, is the fact that metal roofing is an eco-conscious option. Rather than discarding old roofing materials to end up in landfills for decades, metal roofing can be 100% recycled at the end of its lifespan. It is also largely made up of recycled steel.

You can also invest in solar panels. These are easy to install with metal roofing. Metal roofs are also known to improve the efficiency of solar panels. The combination of solar panels and metal roofs lets your customers and clients know that you are an environmentally responsible entity. This can have positive effects on your business as more and more people opt to support eco-conscious businesses and eco-friendly products.

Another way to make your business more environmentally friendly is to recycle old electronics. Rather than throwing away your brands old computers and technology, recycle them correctly. You can do this by searching for an electronic waste company. These are companies that specialize in recycling old electronics, deleting all personal information, and performing certified data destruction.

For your business, its best to opt for energy efficiency. If your building currently uses traditional light sources, choose a green alternative, such as LED lightbulbs. There are also many appliances that are considered energy efficient. Look out for these and upgrade your old items. For example, if you have an old stove or fridge in the breakroom, upgrade to something that isnt as energy consuming. The same goes for your other office equipment.

The last way to make your business more environmentally friendly is to encourage carpooling among your employees. This can be done in many fun and creative ways. Consider making it a challenge where employees can compete over who carpooled the most or who used the least amount of fuel to get to work. This will encourage your employees to get creative in their commuting efforts.

These are just a few helpful tips to make your business eco-friendly. Now that you have them, youre ready to make a positive impact on the environment.

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Tips To Make Your Business Eco-Friendly The Dixon Pilot - Dixon Pilot