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Kankakee, IL. (ECWd)

This article was written by Jeff P. Hutson and is reposted with permission.

Weve heard about the scandal for months. 600+ pages of proof, evidence, and documents. Yet there is still so much unanswered about what is really going on at The Haunted Factory and ACERE (American Center for Emergency Response and Education). Why there are still children in there sweeping proven asbestos. Why ACERE under-reported their gross annual income on their form 990 tax return for 2018 as $18,915. Despite a super majority of the board of The Haunted Factory being in agreement that their fundraiser alone brought in close to $50,000 over 10 days. How the venue operated a haunted house without meeting fire code.

On September 18th of 2019 the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal inspected the property at 980 N. Hobbie Ave. in Kankakee, and that report was released 8 days later. Full report available here: https://imgur.com/a/NsLhj9D Did ACERE really fix 60+ violations to the NFPA and life safety code in less than 2 weeks? The answer is no. It is unlikely that they even fixed one. While a significant amount of work went into the sprinkler system, it was never made operational due to it being a fire pump system. Which would require its own electricity service or a dedicated commercial generator[via Illinois Department of Labor]. Neither of which were furnished. It was stated by a representative of ACERE that city of Kankakee had certification of the sprinkler system being tested and working, which they did not. Nor did the Illinois Department of Labor or the State Fire Marshal [via FOIA]. In the inspection report from the Illinois Department of Labor, Full report available here: https://imgur.com/a/D2KkF2c , on October 8th of 2019 it is noted that they were relying on a statement that the sprinkler system was tested and working but they were doubtful of the legitimacy of that claim. Many pictures of crumbling asbestos, hazards, and failures were also documented within the pathways of the haunted house during that inspection.

The IDOL has stated that local officials were pushing for the haunted house to pass the inspection despite their findings, stating they have seen this situation before and suggested the media and elections may. . . Continue reading at: Medium.com

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The scandal that haunts Kankakee Illinois Leaks - Edgar County Watchdogs

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Moreover, the Wi-Fi Smart Sprinkler Control System report offers a detailed analysis of the competitive landscape in terms of regions and the major service providers are also highlighted along with attributes of the market overview, business strategies, financials, developments pertaining as well as the product portfolio of the Wi-Fi Smart Sprinkler Control System market. Likewise, this report comprises significant data about market segmentation on the basis of type, application, and regional landscape. The Wi-Fi Smart Sprinkler Control System market report also provides a brief analysis of the market opportunities and challenges faced by the leading service provides. This report is specially designed to know accurate market insights and market status.

By Regions:

* North America (The US, Canada, and Mexico)

* Europe (Germany, France, the UK, and Rest of the World)

* Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, and Rest of Asia Pacific)

* Latin America (Brazil and Rest of Latin America.)

* Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, the UAE, , South Africa, and Rest of Middle East & Africa)

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Table of Content

1 Introduction of Wi-Fi Smart Sprinkler Control System Market

1.1 Overview of the Market1.2 Scope of Report1.3 Assumptions

2 Executive Summary

3 Research Methodology

3.1 Data Mining3.2 Validation3.3 Primary Interviews3.4 List of Data Sources

4 Wi-Fi Smart Sprinkler Control System Market Outlook

4.1 Overview4.2 Market Dynamics4.2.1 Drivers4.2.2 Restraints4.2.3 Opportunities4.3 Porters Five Force Model4.4 Value Chain Analysis

5 Wi-Fi Smart Sprinkler Control System Market, By Deployment Model

5.1 Overview

6 Wi-Fi Smart Sprinkler Control System Market, By Solution

6.1 Overview

7 Wi-Fi Smart Sprinkler Control System Market, By Vertical

7.1 Overview

8 Wi-Fi Smart Sprinkler Control System Market, By Geography

8.1 Overview8.2 North America8.2.1 U.S.8.2.2 Canada8.2.3 Mexico8.3 Europe8.3.1 Germany8.3.2 U.K.8.3.3 France8.3.4 Rest of Europe8.4 Asia Pacific8.4.1 China8.4.2 Japan8.4.3 India8.4.4 Rest of Asia Pacific8.5 Rest of the World8.5.1 Latin America8.5.2 Middle East

9 Wi-Fi Smart Sprinkler Control System Market Competitive Landscape

9.1 Overview9.2 Company Market Ranking9.3 Key Development Strategies

10 Company Profiles

10.1.1 Overview10.1.2 Financial Performance10.1.3 Product Outlook10.1.4 Key Developments

11 Appendix

11.1 Related Research

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Buildings are evolving over time. In most cases, what has triggered changes is a desire to make buildings more durable, taller, energy-efficient and with an interior environment thats better controlled.

Over the years, unfortunate events have affected the way we design, construct and use buildings.

Before the 20th century, fires were major hazards to urban areas and in 1808 the Royal Opera House in London was destroyed by one. As a result, in 1812 the architect William Congreve designed and installed the first fire sprinkler system at the Theater Royal in London. Nowadays in the U.S. and Canada, local codes require that mandatory fire protection systems be installed in all buildings.

After September 11, the threat of terrorist attacks changed the way we enter certain buildings. Specific measures were taken, such as checkpoints for ID verifications and the installation of metal detectors and use of surveillance cameras to increase the safety of building occupants (or for travelers in case of the construction and management of airports).

More recently, we saw how Hurricane Sandy influenced how flood-zoning maps were re-configured and how buildings constructed in low land elevations are now equipped with flood barriers and protections destined to be activated during extreme weather events.

Today, the world is facing a new and unprecedented challenge: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The consequences for global health and economy are huge and they may stay with us for years to come. Humans will need to adapt to new rules and regulations; there will be behavioral changes and these will transpose into how we will design new buildings and retrofit existing structures. The buildings and their systems will need to adapt in order to mitigate the risk of infection and virus spread, and to not only stop the pandemic but also to avoid future viruses outbreaks and disasters.

In the pre-COVID-19 era, the trends in development and construction focused on configuring spaces to allow for communal use where people take breaks from work and socialize, or meet to collaborate and work together.

Priorities pre-COVID-19 were targeted for gentrification and densification of buildings that promoted human interaction, wellness, mental health and physical fitness, along with higher goals for constructing the structures using green materials and technologies and energy-efficient buildings with reduced carbon emissions.

During the COVID-19 crisis, the entire world has imposed new rules and regulations for preventative measures. Several countries and some states in the U.S. including New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oregon, and Wisconsin mandated complete lockdowns, with the exception of essential services. New discoveries and studies are being developed and published daily but the unknown still poses a great risk.

Some questions need answers that may impact our use of buildings going forward:

Does our work from home experiment alter the future demand for office space?

Will some city dwellers exit the big cities to find shelter in the suburbs?

Does densification matter? If we continue to implement a 6-foot social distancing policy, which is the equivalent of 1 person per 36 square feet, in case of retail occupancy, this means that we are reducing use to half the number of people otherwise allowed in a retail space per current codes.

Can the virus be transmitted by airflow in buildings via HVAC systems?

Recent studies determined that the infection is transmitted not only via large droplets from cough and sneezes but also by smaller airborne droplet nuclei. Droplet nuclei are basically evaporated pathogenic fluid that is small enough and light enough to be carried by air currents and inhaled by people.

Can we research devices that measure particulate matter in the air, that establish thresholds for quantities of viral particles and then activate systems for air filtration and air purification?

Will washing stations or sanitation stations be required beside every doorknob?

Would touchless devices activated by motion sensors, voice activation or face recognition operate the doors and elevator call buttons and any dispensers?

Will new protocols and signage be established and implemented?

What will be the short-term and long-term, permanent changes after the crisis?

Building owners need to make wise decisions. Their properties must offer safe and healthy environments for all the users of the building: employees, tenants and visitors. Landlords must think of how to change the landscape, to alter strategies, and not only to adapt to the new situation created by COVID-19, but to take bold actions that protect all end-users, as well as with the investors and stakeholders.

MarianaCirciumaru is Head of U.S. Construction at BentallGreenOak

Read more from the original source:
How COVID-19 May Shape the Future of Buildings - Commercial Observer

About an hours drive from New York City, ensconced in a thicket of greenery near the bank of the Hudson River, the Dia:Beacon art museum has been sitting empty for nearly two months. Mostly empty.

Landscapers have shown up to mulch the garden, inspectors have come to check out the sprinkler system and a couple of staff members have been fixing a section of particularly worn floorboards, all in preparation for some elusive date when visitors will trickle back into the bright, airy gallery rooms of the museum.

This uncertain future became a bit more conceivable this week when Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo outlined his phased plan for reopening during the pandemic. The plan is to allow upstate areas, with fewer coronavirus cases, to transition back to normal life before the downstate regions do and only after they reach certain public health benchmarks.

As officials in states like Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri allow movie theaters to reopen, Mr. Cuomo made clear that New Yorks reopening of the arts and entertainment sector would not be quick or easy. The state has classified arts institutions in the fourth and final phase of businesses that will be allowed to reopen, after restaurants, hotels and retail stores.

The directors of community theaters, museums and art centers in the Mid-Hudson region and beyond were relieved: As they had hoped, an institution like the Herkimer County Historical Society, which typically hosts about five visitors at a time in the summer, will be able to open up sooner than, say, the Metropolitan Museum of Art. But they realize it will mean working for several weeks to transform their institutions so that visitors will feel safe.

Finally we can think through what the next steps will be and take control of it, said Jessica Morgan, Dias director. That feeling of not knowing was very debilitating.

For Dia:Beacon, a 300,000-square-foot facility that was once a Nabisco box-printing facility, social distancing should be manageable. To put visitors at ease, Dia plans to institute a timed-ticket system to limit the number of people in the building, and is installing hands-free faucets in the restrooms. Upon the reopening, gallery attendants would be tasked with regulating the number of people in each room.

Dias confidence in its ability to keep people effectively social distanced has prompted the administrators to join with other New York museums to try to convince state officials that museums could be included in the third phase of businesses allowed to reopen, along with restaurants and hotels, rather than the fourth phase. The rationale is that museums dont necessitate intimate gatherings of people, unlike theaters, which put people together in one confined space for hours.

It would be kind of punishing for us to follow the same guidelines, Ms. Morgan said.

In a statement, a spokesman for Governor Cuomo, Jason Conwall, said that the governors office was not aware of such a request from museum administrators but reiterated the states plan to reopen businesses based on public health criteria, factoring in their ability to mitigate risk.

Mr. Conwall noted that there may be businesses that operate more like retail than a crowded theater, making it possible for certain elements to be in Phase 3 if they can show that they can implement policies for social distancing that reduce risk.

Cultural institutions of all types are devising plans so when the governor gives the green light to open, they are able to invite visitors into a space that requires them to touch nothing and get close to no one.

Were going to try to create a contact-free experience from the moment a visitor steps onto our property, said Paul S. DAmbrosio, the president of the Fenimore Art Museum, a renovated 1930s Georgian Revival mansion in Cooperstown, N.Y., which is among the regions that could open soonest.

For that museum, changes include controlling the direction of traffic with signs or tape on the floor and eliminating interactive features that encourage visitors to touch artifacts, like a reproduction of a wampum belt that is shown with its American Indian Art collection. Other art administrators are planning to install plexiglass to separate receptionists and guests, move art classes outside or install virus-killing foggers to disperse disinfectant inside.

But these tools will not be put to good use until the states rigorous public health guidelines are met. When New Yorks lockdown order expires on May 15, each of the states 10 regions will see where it stands on specific criteria like virus-related hospital deaths, hospitalizations, hospital-bed vacancies, testing capacity and numbers of contact tracers.

Once those boxes are checked, the state would allow construction and manufacturing to start, and some retail stores to open for curbside pickup. If the numbers still look good after two weeks, that region can move to the next phase, which includes professional services, more retailers and real estate firms. Next would be the arts, education and recreation.

Upstate New York, the numbers are dramatically different than downstate, Governor Cuomo said at a news conference on Friday. Its like a different state.

In the states rural North Country region, near the Canadian border, patrons of the Thousand Islands Arts Center are eager to get back to their glazing and knitting classes, said Leslie Rowland, the centers executive director. (Its region has met five of the seven criteria for reopening so far.)

Ms. Rowland said she felt confident about getting back to the community art classes, which can be hosted outside, with students wearing masks, though she was less sure about the centers craft and antique shows in August, which usually draw more than 2,000 people to a large arena in town.

People need a creative outlet, she said. You can only do jigsaw puzzles for so long.

Arts administrators tend to be more reticent about opening up again if they risk that New Yorkers from downstate will travel north. Governor Cuomo has warned that arts venues will not be allowed to open if they draw significant numbers of people from outside the region, becoming what he termed attractive nuisances.

Mr. DAmbrosio of the Fenimore Art Museum said that was a concern in Cooperstown, which relies on tourists to fuel the local economy.

We have to be very careful about this, he said.

The fear of an influx of visitors from a high-risk area to a low-risk area has prompted some organizations to cancel programming for the summer, regardless of whether the governor says the region can get back to business.

In the westernmost corner of New York, the Chautauqua Institution typically draws about 100,000 visitors from around the country and world into a small town, hosting nine weeks filled with more than 2,000 cultural events including plays, concerts and lectures. There was no way to make that model work during a pandemic, said the institutions president, Michael E. Hill, so it decided to cancel all in-person events and move them online.

And in Cooperstown, the Glimmerglass Festival, which also draws guests from around the world, has canceled all of its summer performances.

Even for local arts institutions far from New York City, the transition back to inviting in guests will not be easy. The Clemens Center, a 1,600-seat theater in the Southern Tier, less than 10 miles from the border with Pennsylvania, sees at least half of its revenue from touring Broadway shows, which have come to a standstill. Another chunk of revenue comes from school groups, who visit the theater to see touring educational shows and seem unlikely to return anytime soon.

Then, theres the sense among all arts administrators from the cultural behemoths in Manhattan to the small-town centers that it will be some time before people will be visiting with the same zeal as before the pandemic.

In the Hudson Valley, a community theater housed in a building made to look like a big red barn, the Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck, could feasibly move its summer run of A Midsummer Nights Dream outside to an expansive field on the property, said Lou Trapani, the artistic and managing director.

But, Mr. Trapani wondered, If I were to open and say, Come in, Im not sure if people are going to. People might be so nervous about the virus that they wont want to take part in a public gathering, even if they would be sitting on blankets at least six feet apart from one another.

So first, he plans to call up members of his community and perhaps ask them on social media whether a socially distanced night at the theater would be too close for comfort.

Regardless of what the governor says, Mr. Trapani said, Im going to talk to my community, and if theyre not comfortable, Im not opening.

Read the original:
Upstate Will Be First to Test New Yorks Arts Appetite - The New York Times

Mindy Leary, Gilpin County. On Thursday, April 23, 2020, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met for their regular meeting online at 9 a.m. Commissioners Gail Watson, Linda Isenhart and Ron Engels were in attendance, as were County Manager Abel Montoya and County Attorney Bradford Benning. Highlights included a Covid-19 update, the Church Ditch Water Lease and the upcoming Community Workshop.

Emergency Manager Nate Whittington and Public Health Coordinator Bonnie Albrecht gave the Covid-19 update. The Emergency Operations Center or EOC has been looking at wildfire prevention preparation with social distancing with fire season approaching. Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are still in place.

Albrecht reported that Gilpins single case of Covid-19 has moved out of ICU. Watson asked how Gilpin Countys implementation of contact tracing went and Albrecht replied that it was fairly easy and that their few contacts have quarantined. Contact tracing is a core disease control measure where public health staff help a patient recall everyone with whom theyve had close contact. Public health staff then inform the contacts of their exposure and encourage them to stay home for at least 14 days.

The Church Ditch Water Lease 2020 was presented by Benning. The Church Ditch is located in Golden and is an old irrigation ditch, said Benning. Gilpin leases it every year to irrigators and it helps the county maintain its water rights. The lease was approved unanimously.

Community Development Director Stephen Strohminger presented the Comprehensive Plan and Community Workshop which is scheduled for May 5. Strohminger overviewed the upcoming meeting which will be chock full of useful information ranging from land use to essential services. The Comprehensive Plan has four parts that are being submitted for review to the board.

The Legal Status Report included an FAA update about the standing statement that will be filed jointly with Greenwood Village. Other statements include who the petition is against, namely the FAA.

The County Manager Status Report included a report on the slash site which will open to residents only on May 6 and will use current county employees.

Human Services Director Laura Solomon explained that the countys allocation for childcare has been overspent as it was last year as well. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is also overspent but Solomon is asking the board for about $9,700 to get $65,000 worth of grant money that she has applied for. The state is applying for a grant at fifty cents on the dollar from the federal government. If no grant is received, then the county would owe dollar for dollar.

Montoya explained that the state is being very frugal with their funding right now. About fifty percent of counties are overspent but the state may only backfill their own budget shortfalls.

The board passed the motion to approve the $9,750 expenditure of childcare assistance program funds to pay for $65,000 worth of services.

The board has decided to have their public meetings only on Tuesdays with the work sessions scheduled for Thursdays. The minutes from April 21 had one edit and were approved.

On Tuesday, April 28, 2020, the Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners met for a special meeting online at 9 a.m. Commissioners Gail Watson, Linda Isenhart and Ron Engels were in attendance, as were County Manager Abel Montoya and County Attorney Bradford Benning. Highlights included a Covid-19 update, impact fees discussion, senior services funding and an explanation of the large aircraft sited over Gilpin County on Monday, April 27.

Emergency Manager Nate Whittington has been researching recovery funds, decontamination of N95 masks through Adams County and preparation for a second wave of Covid-19 this fall. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is continuing to work with Clear Creek and Boulder County on wildfire sheltering and evacuation through the 119 corridor. Whittington has secured 75 rapid blood draw test kits intended for patrol with more being held up in customs that might become available to the community.

Public Health Coordinator Bonnie Albrecht said the one case in Gilpin County was discharged to a rehab facility and is no longer in the county database. She is preparing the Public Health Advisory Board to familiarize themselves with the countys contact tracing process.

Chief Paul Ondr discussed impact fees to be collected by Timberline Fire Protection starting June 1 for new building developments, not current or existing development. Watson asked about sprinkler system requirements and Ondr responded that it depends on the use of the building. Because theres so little commercially zoned properties, the impact fees are higher than other districts.

Clerk and Recorder Sahari McCormick informed the board of a grant application to the State Electronic Recording Technology Board. Gilpin hopes to receive this grant to digitize county records and get them online.

Area Agency on Aging representative Jayla Sanchez-Warren was invited by the board to present possible relief funding for Gilpin Countys senior needs that include supplies, transportation and Meals on Wheels. Market Meals are free to older Americans though a donation and must be requested and Sanchez-Warren will be seeking more resources for seniors in the area.

Scott Haas, Clear Creek District Ranger, met with the board and discussed the current situation including limited staffing and Stage 1 Fire Restrictions which will extend to the end of May. Watson mentioned a sighting of a low-flying aircraft yesterday. Haas responded that it was a C-130 operated by the Army National Guard out of Cheyenne that has been retrofitted with a fire-retardant system and will be seen for the next week or so running test drills.

Montoya presented the County Manager Status Report seeking formal approval of the policy for all county employees to get sick leave due to Covid-19. The motion to approve was unanimous. Emergency closure pay would terminate on May 2 meaning that regular pay would resume instead of closure pay. This motion was also approved unanimously.

Meeting minutes for April 23 were approved with one small edit.

(Originally published in the April 30, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)

Continue reading here:
Commissioners talk about budgets and future meetings - The Mountain -Ear

ST. PETERSBURG A motel in the Feather Sound area was evacuated Friday afternoon and more than 50 firefighters responded to a fire that was likely started by a discarded cigarette, fire officials said.

A call came in about 1:15 p.m. of a fire at the Extended Stay America at 2311 Ulmerton Road, said St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Lt. Steve Lawrence, spokesman.

It took a little over an hour for the 40 units who responded to the scene to put out the flames, Lawrence said. He did not know how many people were staying at the hotel at the time, but he said all were safely evacuated.

The fire, which started on the outside of the building and then made its way inside and into the attic, was likely caused by discarded smoking material.

In these dry conditions, we get it quite often, Lawrence said. People discard it out the window or outside on their property, it gets into some dry material and ignites.

Lawrence reminded people to make sure they fully extinguish their cigarettes or use a butt can or an ashtray.

Dont just discard it into a mulch pile or dead grass and leaves, Lawrence said.

Two people were treated for possible injuries at the scene, and one of them was taken to a hospital.

The motel has a fire sprinkler system but it didnt activate because of the location of the fire, which started outside and then got into the board space on the first floor and progressed into the attic, Lawrence said.

See original here:
Feather Sound motel evacuated when fire breaks out; no one injured - Tampa Bay Times

Published by twalro@presspub... on Mon, 05/11/2020 - 5:28am

As businesses begin to reopen, water systems that have not been in use could be at increased risk for Legionella and other bacteria that cause illness, the Wood County Health Department warns. Stagnant water can cause conditions that increase the risk for growth and spread of Legionella and other bacteria. When water is stagnant, hot water temperatures can decrease to a range that allows Legionella and other bacteria to grow. It can also lead to low or undetectable levels of disinfectant, such as chlorine. Run faucets, fixtures and water lines until the maximum water temperature has been reached. Guidelines and resources to minimize the risk of water-associated illnesses are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/building-water-system.html. Additional guidance for specific facilities follows. Establishments with a food service license must: Flush the building water lines for 5 minutes and clean faucet screens. Flush and sanitize all taps, fixtures and appliances that use water, including but not limited to ice machines, coffee units that are hard plumbed, beverage dispensers, hot water heaters, reverse osmosis units. Include all fixtures, sinks and equipment connected to water lines. Remove and replace water cartridges or filters according to manufacturing specifications and flush units before new filters or cartridges are in place. Establishments that have fire sprinkler systems, eye wash stations, safety showers, water softeners or drinking fountains must: Flush, clean and disinfect these features and equipment according to manufacturer specifications. Run water softeners through a regeneration cycle. Flush drinking fountains continuously for 5 minutes and replace filters if necessary. Establishments with pools and/or hot tubs and saunas must: Inspect all filtration and recirculation systems to ensure proper function. Maintain chlorine. Maintain pH of 7.2-7.8 Scrub surfaces of hot tubs and spas to remove any buildup. Completely drain water from hot tubs and spas at least monthly. Keep good records. Follow local and state protocol as to when public swimming pools, hot tubs and spas may operate. Establishments that have water features, including but not limited to koi ponds and decorative fountains must: Clean and disinfect per manufacturer specifications, ensuring no visible slime or biofilm. Facilities with questions may contact the Environmental Health Division at 419-354-2702 or Environmental@co.wood.oh.us. Find more COVID-19 information at Coronavirus.WoodCountyHealth.org, coronavirus.Ohio.gov or Coronavirus.gov.

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Closed businesses advised to flush water systems before reopening - Press Publications Inc.

THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS (May 8, 2020) The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department recently named the winners of the 2019-2020 Water-Wise Village Challenge: first place, College Park; second place, Creekside Park; third place, Sterling Ridge. Congratulations to the winners who will receive donations to their village scholarship funds courtesy of The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N.

More than 500 households participated in the village challenge and pledged to turn off their sprinklers from October 15, 2019, through April 15, 2020. Lawn watering accounts for more than 50 percent of the water usage by The Woodlands residents. Turf grass naturally goes dormant in the winter and requires much less water, so turning off your sprinkler system during the winter not only saves water but also to encourages a healthier lawn in the spring. To learn more about water conservation methods, please visit The Woodlands Township Environmental Services page atwww.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/environmentand select Visit Our Blog.

Save the date for the next Water-Wise Village Challenge! Submit pledges online beginning in August 2020. Each household pledge earns one point for the village, and pledges must be renewed annually each fall atwww.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/environment.

For more information about the Water-Wise Village Challenge or how you can participate in ongoing water conservation efforts, please emailenviro@thewoodlandstownship-tx.govor contact the Township Environmental Services Department at 281-210-3800.

For more information on The Woodlands Township, please call 281-210-3800, or visitwww.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.

Photo: The Woodlands Township Environmental Services Department recently named the winners of the 2019-2020 Water-Wise Village Challenge: first place, College Park; second place, Creekside Park; third place, Sterling Ridge.

The Paper's Corporate Sponsors for 2020 are: Entergy and Methodist Hospital The Woodlands

Advertise 30 days in The Paper For only $50 Reserve your space by calling 832-296-6887

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Township awards winners of Water-Wise Village Challenge | The Paper Magazine -Covering The Woodlands, Spring, Conroe & North Houston Areas - The...

Its chore time. Stepping back into the garden after a long, harsh winter can be overwhelming, but it is also a time of relief. Even with a winter chill still in the air, there are plenty of tasks to start handling now if you want to get your garden in party-ready shape by the time the temperatures rise. Spring is a fabulous time to assess damage from winter, fix tools, fill in holes in the landscape, tend to your lawn, perform essential pruning, make new beds, plant from bare-root or container-grown plants, feed everything, if all is healthy begin composting, be kind to the birds, add a layer of mulch and tune up your drip system.

1. Survey your yard: Check trees for dead branches, cut down last years perennial foliage and toss it into the compost pile. Rake and refresh mulch under trees. Check hardscape for disrepair caused by freezing and thawing. Do not clean beds until after April 15 in west central Nebraska we are zone 5 and prune roses back after April 25. Keep in mind the average frost-free date is around May 12.

2. Tune up tools: In case you didnt get this done before winter. Wooden handles benefit from being cleaned, sanded, and massaged with linseed oil. Sharpen and disinfect pruners. Make sure garden tools are in working order or replace them.

3. Refresh the lawnmower: The mower and leaf blower need to be serviced. Sharpen mower blades, refill mower with oil, install fresh spark plugs and lubricate moving parts. Clear the lawn of winter debris and look for areas that need reseeding before mowing.

4. Prune shrubs: Remove dead, damaged and diseased branches from woody plants. Summer blooming shrubs like butterfly bush and Russian sage should not be cut back too early, wait for these plants to have spring growth, then trim. Prune spring-flowering shrubs and trees after flowering.

5. Check soil quality: Through a soil test at a registered laboratory, do a soil quality check and check soil temperatures before planting vegetable crops.

6. Fertilize: Your garden is waking up, dont get in a hurry to apply fertilizer. Begin fertilizing perennials, shrubs, lawn and trees after there is growth.

7. Clean bird feeders and baths: If you have already made a home and feeding station for your feathered friends, now is a good time to clean, disinfect them with a weak bleach solution.

8. Mulch: When in doubt, mulching is possibly the single easiest thing you can do from both a functional and aesthetic point of view to give the garden a fresh layer. A 2 to 3 inch layer of your favorite mulch, wood chips, shredded cedar or finished compost, gives everything a clean, tidied up look, while helping to suppress weeds and retain moisture.

9. Know when the right time to plant is: Plant garden bedding plants and potted perennials two weeks outside before planting, after the frost free date. Bare root perennials, shrubs and trees can be planted earlier. Put all of your gardening information in a notebook. List what you plant in the garden, including names of companies, plant name, variety, planting date and harvest date. During the growing season, keep notes on how the plant performs. If the variety is susceptible to disease, record what was used to treat any problems. This helps to plan future gardens.

10. Monitor sprinkler system: Youll want inspect and repair your sprinkler system, and monitor your sprinkler water by zone for proper function. Use drip irrigation wherever possible to preserve our precious natural resource.

For additional information or questions and the Master Gardener Program classes and projects, please contact Nebraska Extension, West Central Research and Extension Center at 308-532-2683.

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Jacobson: Spring back into the garden with these early season tips - North Platte Telegraph

BATON ROUGE- Following the March 13th proclamation by Gov. John Bel Edwards, aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 in Louisiana, the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal (SFM) recently advised the public about how best to continue their business needs with the State Fire Marshals Office.

The public was informed of limited walk-in services at agency offices as well as changes to SFM-hosted trainings and meetings and SFM-conducted inspections.

Business owners need to know the changes to SFM-conducted operations do not apply to their requirement to have licensed Life Safety and Property Protection (LSPP) businesses and individuals conduct annual, quarterly or other code-required inspections of life safety systems and equipment. The LSPP industry includes mechanical or electronic locks, special locking systems and equipment, security systems and equipment, fire sprinkler systems and equipment, fire detection and alarm systems and equipment, fire suppression systems and equipment, portable fire extinguishers, fire hoses, and conveyance devices.

Due to SFM-conducted inspections being limited during this public health emergency, it is imperative that required inspections by LSPP businesses and individuals continue.

If any LSPP companies and/or individuals experience obstacles in continuing their required system inspections, the SFM remains committed to assisting with those issues. You can reach our Licensing team by calling our main phone switchboard line, 1-800-256-5452, and choosing the Licensing option when presented in the automated message.

The SFM appreciates the publics patience and cooperation with these temporary operations to ensure the health and safety of your families and ours.

Continued here:
State Fire Marshal's Office Advises Life Safety and Property Protection Industry During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency - FOX 15