About Us

Desert King Windows was founded in Oro Valley in 1999. SinceDesert King Windowsopened,over 15,000 homes have been updated with energy efficient windows and doors! Along the way, many changes and improvements have occurred but one thing has always stayed true the obsession to detail, customer service, and unparalleled value. Withall ofthat experience and products backed with a lifetime warranty, you can trust that Desert King Windows knows the best ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home with products that will last a lifetime in our extreme desert climate. At Desert King Windows, we take pride in our local and family owned roots. We believe in a straight-forward no bull approach so you can have the peace of mind that you are working with an honest and reliable company with no surprises.This is proven with our no down payment policy. If you are on the market for energy efficient windows and doors, put your trust into Desert King Windows. We will not let you down.

Specialties:

At Desert King Windows, we are proud to offer windows that improve interior and exterior aesthetics, maximize the viewing area, maintain unsurpassed energy ef?ciency and structural integrity while creating a more slender look and feel.

Our wide selection of vinyl replacement windows can meet the needs of even the most discerning tastes. No matter what your design style, we have a home window replacement to enhance your home.

Patio/Entry Doors

Energy Efficient Elegance

We offer a variety of patio doors to reflect your unique style. Choose from several door designs and color and hardware options to achieve the customized appearance you desire. Your custom patio door will be configured to your specification to ensure it fits exactly into your home and provides the superior appearance that sets your home apart from the rest.

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Tucson Living Desert king Windows - KVOA Tucson News

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A conman has been jailed after being caught using a window repair business to cheat elderly and vulnerable people out of thousands of pounds for the third time in as many years.

At an earlier hearing at Truro Magistrates' Court Liam Hawkins, 36, from Trelissick Road, Hayle, had initially admitted one charge of obtaining money by deception, contrary to the Fraud Act, but had denied eight other charges. But in a a last-minute change of heart he admitted further charges of taking money from elderly customers with no intention of undertaking the repair works or providing a refund.

Read more: United States Air Force confirms F15 jets flew over Cornwall after reports of horse deaths

The court was told that Hawkins had two previous convictions relating to 12 almost identical offences and that one of the latest offences was committed just seven weeks after he received a suspended prison sentence in July 2015. He has also failed to make any refunds or compensation payments as ordered by the court at the 2015 hearing.

This time the magistrates heard that Hawkins had admitted cold-calling his victims and lying about working in the area and that he had never ordered the promised replacement windows from the suppliers. Instead he deliberately took the cash deposits, according to prosecutors from Cornwall Council Trading Standards, who had carried out a lengthy investigation into his fraudulent actions.

One charge he admitted involved making a false representation to Roger Dugdale in November 2015 that he had taken a deposit to order parts or materials and perform work at his home, intending to make a gain of 3,100 for himself.

Magistrates sentenced Hawkins to a total of 38 weeks behind bars with a warning that he would serve longer if he failed to make satisfactory arrangements to repay his victims.

Read more: A man has died after falling off a cliff at Lands End

Nigel Strick, Cornwall Council's Fair Trading team manager said: "This is the third time that Mr Hawkins has appeared before Truro magistrates in three years and the third time he has been convicted of offences involving fraud. These latest offences are almost identical to those for which he received a suspended prison sentence in July 2015. Yet despite his previous convictions Mr Hawkins has taken no heed of the warnings issued by the previous courts and has continued to offend.

"Trading Standards investigators were particularly concerned that once again his latest offences were specifically targeted at elderly and vulnerable consumers and the impact of Mr Hawkins' behaviour on his victims in terms of increasing their fear of crime, of losing trust in other people and of causing anxiety and upset has been graphically seen during the investigation.

"Once again this case reinforces the message that you should never deal with anyone who turns up at your door unannounced, no matter how convincing they may seem and no matter how tempting their special offers may sound."

Read more: See all the latest news here

See original here:
Conman Liam Hawkins from Hayle defrauded elderly and vulnerable over double glazing for third time - Cornwall Live

The $2.08 billion capital plan that Mayor Martin Walsh unveiled last week highlighted a slew of infrastructure projects in Dorchester and Mattapan, including school and library repairs, park investments, and a new firehouse for Meetinghouse Hill.

This plan prioritizes investments in Bostons neighborhoods and is a direct reflection of the feedback we received from thousands of residents who contributed ideas to our planning processes, Walsh said in a statement. I am proud that we are able to put the wheels in motion to begin investing in projects that are important to Bostons people, and that will prepare our city for a year of groundbreaking success.

A major ticket item for Dorchester, the new Engine 17 fire station, was slated for $13 million in FY17s budget and is now allotted $19 million across five years. Fire officials say the station is sorely needed to support one of the busiest fire companies in the city.

The centrally located hilltop fire station is not in the most convenient location, with the Fire Department in talks with First Parish Church about the possibility of constructing the new station on vacant church-owned property closer to the Winter Street intersection.

Education is a hallmark of the FY18 budget, for which the city rolled out capital and operating plans separately this year, guided by the citywide planning study Imagine Boston 2030. Walsh has committed $1 billion in facility investments over the next decade for Boston Public Schools buildings.

Planned capital investment projects in Dorchester, MattapanFive schools would receive a collective $9.8 million for roof or boiler repairs, including replacing roofs at the McCormack and Dever schools and replacing boilers at Boston Latin School.

About $2.5 million for security improvements would go in part to the Everett School, the Rev. Haynes Early Education Center, the Murphy School, the Henderson School, and the Chittick.

A $29.9 million window replacement program for seven schools is under way, including work at the Community Academy of Science & Health, TechBoston Academy, and Young Achievers K-8 School. The Mattapan Early Elementary School, which remains operational through June as the Mattahunt school, receives $1.2 million in the proposed budget for renovations.

Several Dorchester library projects have been given boosts in the proposal, which sets aside $18 million across multiple years for site acquisition, design, construction, and furnishings for a new branch library at Uphams Corner. The budget also proposes a $94,000 investment in an interior reconfiguration project at the Lower Mills Branch Library.

The plan includes a $12.1 million investment to conduct a facility assessment, develop a building program, and support the construction of a new facility for the Fields Corner Branch Library. A study is under way to assess the value of a $12.6 million investment for a new branch library on Adams Street.

The mayors office maintains that accessible neighborhood green space is an ongoing priority, with $1.2 million of a $3.7 million renovation of McConnell Playground already allocated for this fiscal year. In FY18, the Doherty-Gibson Playground would receive $400,000 to repair or replace field floodlights and upgrade the electrical system. Downer Avenue Park would be given $1.15 million for an overall refurbishment. The former Hopkins Street Garden is slated for a $50,000 investment in to design the Odom Serenity Garden.

Mattapan is less robustly served by proposed investments, benefitting from the broader $5 million pathways investments in Franklin Park and the $3.7 million renovation of nearby Harambee Park in Dorchester. Walsh has also committed to a $28 million investment funded by the sale of the Winthrop Square garage to fully renovate Franklin Park, the citys largest green space.

BCYF projects in Mattapan are budgeted for multi-million-dollar boosts. The Gallivan Community Center is slated for $2.96 million in improvements, and the Mattahunt Community Center would see a $1.9 million investment for an interior refurbishment and $500,000 to improve exterior lighting, which would conclude in FY18.

Continue reading here:
City capital plan boosts projects in Dot, Mattapan: $19m marked for firehouse on Meetinghouse Hill - Dorchester Reporter

Unless youre attached to a corporate network with a well-managed Update Server, Win10 will give you all of Microsofts patches, according to Microsofts schedule. You can usually keep the reboot limited to a time when you arent working, but the patches come whether you want em or not. Worse, if you uninstall a patch, every time you reboot or log on again, the same patch comes barreling at your machine. Its like Sisyphus 10.0.

As long as Microsofts patches, thats great. But the minute theres a problema faulty driver, a cumulative update that refuses to install, a conflict between the patch and one of your programsforced updating can cause mayhem.

Fortunately, Microsoft has a program that allows you to block and hide specific updates. Wushowhide, known by its cryptic Knowledge Base number KB 307930, scans to see which updates are pending and lets you hide individual updates.

To use it, head over to KB 307930, then download and stick wushowhide.diagcab on your machine. Next, follow these steps precisely:

1. Run wushowhide.diacab.

2. This parts important: Click the link marked Advanced. Uncheck the box marked "Apply repairs automatically." Click Next.

3. Wushowhide will run for a long time. When it comes back up for air, click the link to Hide Updates. You see a list like the one in the screenshot.

4. Check the update(s) you want to avoid, click Next, then Next again. The chosen patch(es) wont be installed, until you go back and uncheck it.

Depending on your version of Win10, you may have options to slow down updates. No matter what Win10 says, this tool will block an update dead in its tracksbut watch out. If Microsoft releases a new version of a patch, itll switch off the hidden checkmark, so you have to go back and hide it again.

Read more here:
Top 30 free apps for Windows 10 - InfoWorld

Q: I have a large kitchen window that was installed around 1986. I dont recall the manufacturer, but it could be Andersen. The window is single-pane glass with 16 panes, eight over eight, with an overall size of about 5 feet by 5 feet. Two of the panes had stubborn stains, so I, unfortunately, used the abrasive side of a kitchen sponge to clean the glass. In the process, I scratched the panes.

Replacing the window would cost about $2,500, so I dont want to do that. Is it possible to replace just the two panes? A few years ago, I had a company put medium-dark film over the 16 panes to reduce the strong sun that comes through the window, so I would have to replace that as well as the panes.

Is there a company that would be able to fix my window? If so, how much do you think it would cost?

Alexandria

A: Before you resort to replacing the glass, try rubbing the scratched area with paste wax the kind youd use on furniture. Rub on just a little, wait for it to haze over (a sign that the solvent in it has evaporated), then polish with a clean cotton cloth. If youre lucky, the wax will fill in the scratches and make them far less noticeable.

If you still see more scratches than you are willing to accept, the next step is to figure out whether your window consists of individual panes or whether it is one big sheet of glass with dividers on one side. If there are individual panes, a local glass company can replace them. Delray Glass in Alexandria (703-683-1114; delrayglass.com), for example, will send someone to your house at no charge to assess the situation and offer an estimate. Delray can also recommend companies that can match the tinted film on your window. Delrays minimum charge for glass and labor to replace a single pane is $295, but the price per pane drops as you add more sections.

However, Tina Ray, an estimator, cautioned that the company does not replace glass on Andersen or Pella windows. We cant even get into the frames to get to the glass, she said. They dont tell you that when they sell you these windows.

If your window was made by Andersen Windows & Doors (800-426-4261; andersenwindows.com), one of the corners will have an upside-down triangle with the letters AW inside. Andersen has been marking its windows that way since the 1950s. Next to the symbol would be numbers or letters a code for the year the window was made and the type of glass. Armed with the code, you can call Andersen and order what you need. A customer service representative, who declined to give her full name, said it would probably cost several hundred dollars for a window the size of yours.

Home Depot, which carries Andersen windows, can also order replacement glass through a different vendor, according to Grant Brauser, who works in the millwork department at Home Depots Alexandria store. He said that a window 5 feet by 5 feet probably has two framed sections, each about 5 feet by 30 inches. Replacing one section with double-pane glass would cost $398, plus $30 if you opt to have argon between the sheets to boost the windows energy efficiency. You might also need a replacement grill that you could install on the inside to mimic the look you have now.

Whether you order from Andersen or Home Depot, you probably would also need a contractor to remove the old glass and install the new piece. Home Depot can refer you to licensed contractors who have experience with this, but only once you are placing an order, Brauser said. Home Depot does offer window installation directly, but only for replacing whole windows, not just the glass. The company offers free consultations for that, however, so you might want to arrange for a visit to explore your options. A new window the same size could cost as little as $350 or up to $800, Brauser said. Its often cheaper to replace the whole window, he said. I know it sounds crazy.

Q: My red-painted shutters have bled onto our vinyl siding. The shutters have not been repainted in 20 years (at least). Is this the result of power-washing the vinyl siding? More important, how do I fix it?

Potomac

A: Yes, the red stains on the siding are almost certainly coming from the red paint on the shutters, through a process known as chalking. Spray from power-washing undoubtedly played a role in accelerating this process, which was probably already occurring slowly on its own.

Chalking occurs because the resin that binds pigment particles in paint gradually breaks down over time. This frees the pigment particles, so they wash away. If you were to wipe a white cloth across a shutter, you would undoubtedly see some of the color on the cloth. Chalking, in moderation, is actually a desirable feature of paint; it means the house can eventually be repainted without adding so much to the thickness of the paint. That reduces the risk of peeling.

Chalking is just surface dust, so you should be able to wash it off using a little household detergent in water. Or, if its very stubborn, you could use TSP or a TSP substitute, said Joe Turkoc, a customer service representative for the paint manufacturer Sherwin-Williams (800-474-3794; sherwin-williams.com).

Repainting the shutters will help keep the problem from recurring. Paint chalks more as it ages, so having a new coat on top should stop it for quite a few years. Also, oil-based paint, which was typically used on exterior trim 20 years ago, chalks more than latex paint, which is what you would probably use today. Just be sure to use a good-quality exterior paint, and follow the recommended prep steps listed on the label.

If for some reason you cant remove the stains on the siding, it is possible to paint over them with latex paint matched to the color of the siding.

See original here:
How to repair, or replace, a scratched window pane - Washington Post

Come See Sonoran Living Live!

Sonoran Living is looking for LIVE studio audiences! Reservations are available for FREE via e-mail: slviewers@abc15.com.

Taping schedule:The show airs live daily. Currently we are only booking audiences for the first Friday of the month. Sign up for our audience!Please send us an email with name(s), date you would like to be in the audience, contact person, e-mail and contact phone number.

What are the age requirements?You must be 18 years or older to attend a taping of Sonoran Living Live.

Should I bring my ID to the studio?Yes, you must have a valid photo ID to enter the studio.

How many seats can I reserve?Group tickets are available.

How long will the taping last?The show will air live for one hour from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

What time do I need to arrive for the taping?8:30 a.m. Late-comers will not be admitted.

Where is the studio?ABC15 Studios,515 N. 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ

Original post:
Renewal by Andersen: Biggest misconception about replacement windows - ABC15 Arizona

April 15, 2017 by Chris Bergin

The crew on the International Space Station (ISS) have successfully replaced a window pane on the Cupola module. The operation was conducted without any risk to the crew, thanks to the innovative design on the modules windows, which involves four panesallowing for internal replacement while risking no pressure loss for the Station.

Window Replacement:

After arriving at the ISS with Node 3, during Endeavours STS-130 mission, the European Space Agency (ESA) built Cupola has provided Station crews with a stunning view of the planet, often shared with the public via downlinked photography and thanks to the increasing use of social media by the astronauts.

The module also hosts a Robotic Work Station (RWS), allowing crewmembers to actually see Visiting Vehicles (VVs) such as SpaceXs Dragon and Japans HTV arrive for berthing, complimenting the camera views of their displays, allowing for increased situational awareness when operating the Stations robotic assets.

The Cupolas seven windows were exposed to space for the first time during STS-130s EVA-3, following the removal of the modules MLI blanket insulation by spacewalkers Bob Behnken and Nick Patrick.

After the spacewalkers removed the launch locks on the windows, the ISS crew cycled the window shields/shutters one at a time, providing them with the first view of the Earth from their new observation deck.

All of the windows werent open at the same time, with the task simply used to check the shutters opened without a problem. A few hours later, all of the windows were opened together, an event that is now commonplace on the ISS.

Although the windows on the Cupola have suffered from their fair share of impacts fromMicroMeteoroid and Orbital Debris (MMOD) strikes, none of the small impacts have caused any serious damage to the module.

The windows are made up offour panes an inner scratch pane to protect the pressure pane from accidental damage,two pressure panes 25mm thick to maintain cabin pressure, and finally an outer debris pane.

In the event of the damage being more serious, on-orbit replacement of an entire window is a design feature.

Such a replacement would require anEVAto fit an external pressure cover to allow for the changeout, with a pressure cover requiring a flight up to the ISS on one of the cargo resupply vehicles.

Several scratch panes are stored on the ISS in the event one requires replacement, which was request by the crew that resulted in the pane being replaced.

Cupola Window 7 Scratch Pane Replacement: The crew replaced the scratch pane on Cupola window 7, the nadir facing window, noted L2 ISS Status Information.

The crew has been requesting scratch pane replacements as many window scratch panes have shown accumulated damage of the years.

Window 7 is the large round window that astronauts tend to use when taking photography of the planet below.

The brand new scratch pane will likely improve if thats even possible the quality of the photographs from the orbital outpost.

Onboard, the crew is preparing for a busy period of Visiting Vehicle activity, with the OA-7 Cygnus set for launch on April 18 on an Atlas V from Cape Canaveral. The crew will be using the RWS in the Cupola for berthing operations with the cargo craft.

Two days later, the next Soyuz mission will launch on a fast track rendezvous to the Station. Soyuz MS-04 is set to launch NASA astronaut Jack Fischer and Fyodor Yurchikhin from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, which is one less passenger than usual.

The pick up the imbalance in the crew rotation quota, Peggy Whitson recently agreed to extend her tour on the Station by three months.

(Images: NASA, ESA and L2).

(To join L2, click here:https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/l2/)

Originally posted here:
Crew replace pane on ISS Cupola window - NASASpaceflight.com

NEW LONDON, Conn. (WTNH) As the weather gets warmer windows start to open and thats where danger rises along with the temperatures. Just this week a Trumbull toddler fell out a second story window onto the pavement below.

Typically a fall greater than twice someones height will put them in a critical category for us, said Lt. Ryan Parker, an EMT and firefighter with the Old Mystic Fire Department.

Even parents who pay close attention to their kids can turn away for a second and find theyve fallen out a window.

A lot of people think the screens are enough protection, said Lt. Parker. Theyre not. They keep the bugs out but they dont stop a person from falling out.

Limit latches on replacement windows can help by stopping a window from opening up all the way but a very strong child might be able to force the window open.

As soon as its open and this contact breaks it sets off an alarm thats very loud, said Nick Wrobel with Cash True Value in East Lyme. He says window alarms can add another layer of safety.

Security locks and L brackets can also stop a window in its track. This would stop it from lifting because its mounted into the wood in the wall so its gonna be strong, explains Wrobel.

Window security guards are also a strong option. Wrobel says they allow you to mount expandable steel bars in the opening.

For child safety this is kind of the ultimate solution as far as still being able to use the window to let in air but not letting anything out, said Wrobel.

If you have furniture next to a window you should move it away so the kids dont have easy access to the windows. For those who have double hung windows they may want to open the top half to let the air in for ventilation and leave the bottom half closed.

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Warmer weather brings open window concerns - WTNH Connecticut News (press release)

Melissa Russell mrussell@wickedlocal.com @WickedLocalStar

Winchesters School Committee took the initial steps earlier this month to address district overcrowding by submitting statements of interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority outlining the need for the renovation of two elementary schools.

Committee member Chris Nixon said the board took the step seeking partnership with the MSBA to take advantage of a window of opportunity. He added that the SOI was "not a building plan" for projects at the Lynch and Muraco Elementary Schools, but a required early step with the state agency.

"If we didnt submit now we would have to wait another year," he said.

Nixon said the MSBA was allowing the district to submit SOIs for both schools, but as they were required to indicate a preference, the district put Lynch forward as the priority.

The MSBA privileges certain criteria for reimbursement, Nixon said, all of which are challenges faced by the Winchester School District. They include existing overcrowding, future enrollment growth, future overcrowding and physical plant age and condition.

"These are big for us," Nixon said. "Currently we are four classrooms short and are taking spaces that should not be used as classrooms."

Master plan

The districts facilities master plan, designed to identify needs and goals for the next 10 years, is currently being finalized, and information from the plan informed the SOI submission, Nixon said. The master plan working group is currently developing recommendations for space use at McCall Middle School and the elementary schools, as well as offering plans to relocate the districts central office, currently at the former Parkhurst School.

Nixon said that while all options for dealing with the space crunch are on the table, including using Parkhurst for classroom space, no firm solution has been as yet worked out.

"Any final master plan is going to call for the complete renovation, expansion or replacement of Lynch and Muraco because we know were going to need those two schools," he said. The 2007 master plan had called for renovation or reconstruction and expansion of the elementary schools and the current working group also considers the work as necessary, Nixon said.

Enrollment and growth

From 2013 to 2012, as statewide elementary school enrollment fell by three percent, Winchester saw its enrollment grow by more than 25 percent, Nixon said. This enrollment growth led to the MSBA agreeing to partner with Winchester on the

reconstruction and expansion of Winchester High School during the construction of the Vinson-Owen Elementary School. Elementary schools were redistricted in 2012 and the central office moved from Lynch to Parkhurst to free up additional classrooms.

Continued enrollment growth has stressed the elementary schools since the opening of the Vinson-Owen school in 2013. Nixon said Winchesters student population from kindergarten through grade 12 has grown 5.2 percent since 2013, from 4,396 students to 4,623. Elementary school enrollment has risen 2.3 percent, from 2,105 to 2,135 students. Adding to the crunch is the success of the Specialized Learning Center programs, which has grown and taken up more classroom space. These programs were created to keep special education students in district as much as possible.

Enrollment projections

The potential arrival of large-scale affordable housing projects spurred the School Committee to update enrollment projections, Nixon said. The master plan working group has identified projects likely to be completed in the five and 10-year timeframe and is accounting for them in enrollment projections. It has also been tracking demolition permits to see how many demolitions of older homes "result in new bedrooms," Nixon said.

"We are looking under every stone because we dont want a bunch of surprises," he said.

At present, the working group projects an 11.2 percent rise, or 240 students between 2021 and 2022 in kindergarten through fifth grade, and another 58 students between 2026 and 2027. They project a 12.9 percent increase, or 147 sixth through eighth grade students in the five-year span, and an additional 28 by 2027. The number the schools will be using for their planning is 200 new units of housing in the next 20 years, Nixon said.

Physical plant

There are significant capital needs at Lynch and Muraco, Nixon said, and these were included in the SOI.

"At Muraco, were looking at $4 million to $4.5 million of priority capital work including replacing fire alarm systems, windows, flooring, the electrical system. If you look at all of Muracos needs over the next 10 years, the figure is closer to $22 million," he said.

The most urgent needs at Lynch are replacing the boiler and heating piping system and window replacement.

"It adds up," he said. "When you look at all of the needs, it is closer to $30 million 10 years out."

Nixon said the building needs and enrollment issues are behind the towns need to partner with the MSBA if it identifies Winchester as a town to support.

"We may be fortunate to see the MSBA to reimburse us one-third to 40 percent of the cost," he said. "Thats why it was important we submit the SOI before the window closed."

Link:
Master plan will identify anticipated enrollment crunch - Wicked Local Winchester

Above, PCB testing was conducted earlier this month at Burncoat High School. Testing at Doherty is scheduled for later this month/Elizabeth Brooks photos

If you have paid any attention to local news recently, chances are you have seen the three letters PCB grace newspaper headlines more than once. What do they stand for? And why is Worcester talking about them now? Are PCBs dangerous? Why is Worcester testing two of its high schools and why are some officials anxiously awaiting the results?

There are many questions and not a tremendous amount of answers not that everyone can agree on, anyway. As officials conduct air quality tests on Doherty and Burncoat high schools this month (Worcester Magazine was there for the test at Burncoat earlier this month), we look at PCBs and how they have become part of the lexicon in the Worcester Public School district.

Education Association of Worcester president Roger Nugent

WHAT ARE THEY?

PCB stands for Polychlorinated Biphenyl. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, PCBs are manmade organic chemicals that consist of carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine atoms. Before being banned for commercial use in 1979, PCBs were used in fluorescent light ballasts, caulking, floor finishing, plastics and other materials. The synthetic chemical was popular because it is a good insulator and does not burn easily.

When they were found to cause adverse health effects, PCBs were banned in 1979 and are no longer commercially produced. After multiple studies, the EPA concluded PCBs, have been shown to cause cancer in animals as well as a number of serious noncancer health effects in animals, including: effects on the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, endocrine system and other health effects. Studies in humans support evidence for potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects of PCBs.

The EPAs conclusion came after Congress urged the EPA to do a reassessment of PCB carcinogenicity in 1996. The results of that reassessment can be found in a report titled Cancer Dose-Response Assessment for Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Application to Environmental Mixtures by Dr. Jim Cogliano of the EPAs National Center for Environmental Assessment.

Cogliano concluded that, Overall, the human studies have been considered to provide limited (IARC, 1987) to inadequate (U.S. EPA, 1988a) evidence of carcinogenicity. The animal studies, however, have been considered to provide sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity (IARC, 1987; U.S. EPA, 1988a). Based on these findings, some commercial PCB mixtures have been characterized as probably carcinogenic to humans (IARC, 1987; U.S. EPA, 1988a.

The EPA then assigned 15 experts, including scientists from government, academia and industry, to peer review the report. All 15 peer reviewers agreed with the EPAs conclusion that PCBs are probable human carcinogens.

Worcester Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Brian Allen

PCBs AND WORCESTER

While many public and private buildings were built before the banning of commercial use of PCBs, the focus in Worcester has been on their presence in schools. There were 19 Worcester public schools constructed between 1950-1978: Belmont Street, Burncoat High, Burncoat Middle, Chandler Elementary, Chandler Magnet, Clark Street, Doherty High, Elm Park, Flagg Street, Forest Grove Middle, McGrath Elementary, Mill Swan, New Citizens Center, North High, South High, Union Hill #2, Wawecus Road, West Tatnuck and Worcester Arts Magnet.

Nine more schools underwent major renovations during that time frame: Columbus Park, Greendale, Harlow Street, May Street, Nelson Place, Rice Square, Thorndyke Road, Tatnuck Magnet and Worcester East Middle.

So, how was the issue of PCBs first brought to the attention of the school department? Worcester Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Brian Allen recalls the Educational Association of Worcester, the local teachers union, requesting access to school buildings to test for PCBS as part of a research project Massachusetts Teachers Association consultant Mike Sireci was working on in his doctoral program for Harvard in 2009.

As far as we know, it was just part of his own research that he was conducting with Harvard, said Allen.

Sireci says he felt compelled to do his own testing to confirm prior PCB testing conducted by George Weymouth, whose test results concluded that PCB levels at Doherty and Burncoat were above the acceptable 50 parts per million.

Once I got Weymouths results I brought them to WPS and asked in writing to mutually test to confirm the results, said Sireci. At that point, I felt in order to fully represent my members, and for student safety, I was compelled to confirm or deny the results. I asked the WPS in writing to join me. At first, they wanted to mutually agree on an industrial hygienist to conduct tests. I continued to ask them to choose someone and they were indecisive or non-responsive through the month of April.

I finally followed up with an additional letter telling them I was going forward to test on May 11, with or without them. I didnt hear back from them so I went forward independently. After I took samples I informed them and they objected. The school department made an argument at hearing that the samples were taken inappropriately. The argument was dismissed. To me, what is more important than this breakdown in communication is the sample results themselves and the significant health implications for the building occupants.

The school district, according to Allen, was merely doing its due diligence.

We were trying to ascertain whether this was a legitimate MTA EAW issue or his own personal research, Allen said. So, thats where we kind of put the brakes on allowing any bulk testing, because we wanted to know what the purpose of the testing was. And bulk testing is literally taking a bulk sample of a material.

Bulk testing, in this instance, consisted of scraping off a piece of window caulking and testing it for PCBs. The school department opposed the request for bulk testing, claiming it would disturb the caulking, resulting in exposed PCBs.

School Committee member Jack Foley reiterated Allens stance.

It first came to us when the union went in unannounced and disturbed some of the caulking to test for the PCBs, Foley said. Frankly there shouldnt be much of a surprise that it does [contain PCBs.] There isnt much debate out there that caulking is going to have PCBs in it. But they did that and they did it without announcing and telling us, and the EPA says dont disturb the caulk. Then youre putting it into the air. From our point of view, we were upset about that happening.

The state Department of Public Health addresses the issue of PCB-containing materials in the indoor environment of schools and other public buildings in an information booklet, in which they claim if PCBs are present in caulking material, that does not mean that exposure and health impact are likely. The booklet reads, in part, MDPH/BEHs review of available fate suggests that if caulking is intact, no appreciable exposure to PCBs are likely and hence health effects would not be expected. MDPH has conducted indoor tests and reviewed available data generated through the efforts of many others in forming this opinion.

The school department, not surprisingly, agrees with the MDPH findings.

Sireci, however, would go forth with his testing in May 2009. His results were congruent with that of Weymouths, with results of 85,600 total parts per million of PCBs in the window caulking at Doherty and 8,320 total parts per million in the window caulking at Burncoat.

Ultimately, then, the EAW raised this as a potential health risk for us, and thats when we engaged our first environmental consultant, which at the time was Triumvirate Environmental, said Allen. They made recommendations to us essentially using, these have been updated, but using EPAs best management practices, and said, This is what you should be doing. So, in 2012 we adopted these best management practices We talked about what should we do first, they said the first thing you do first is remove all unlabeled [light] ballasts, which essentially means PCB containing, so, we removed 100 percent of them in 2012.

The EPA recommended the city take the following steps:

Remove all PCB-containing fluorescent light ballasts Remove PCB-containing caulk, paint and other PCB-containing building materials during planned renovations and repairs (when replacing windows, doors, roofs, ventilation, etc.) Consider encapsulation to reduce PCB exposure Conduct the following best management practices: practices: ensure ventilation systems are operating properly and are regularly inspected, clean with a wet or damp cloth inside of schools and other buildings frequently to reduce dust and residue, and use vacuums with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters.

The city reports it has spent 53.8 million implementing the EPAs best management practices and window replacements since 2012, and an additional $55.7 million to replace Nelson Place Elementary School entirely. Allen said the district re-encapsulated window caulking at both Doherty and Burncoat in December and January, a temporary measure until they either replace the windows or replace the schools completely.

School Committee member Jack Foley

CITY QUESTIONED

Not everyone has bought into what the school department and the city is selling when it comes to how it has dealt with PCBs.

Former mayor Ray Mariano, now a local news columnist for the Worcester Sun, does not think the School Committee and citys reaction to the problem of PCBs has been sufficient, and has criticized both regularly in his column and at public meetings over the past couple months.

In one column he wrote, The School Committee, led by the mayor, is proud of its efforts. How can they be proud when they hid the fact that there were potentially serious health risks in their buildings from students and staff for years? Even when they were removing the poisons in some of the other buildings, they never told anyone. It was only after teachers conducted their own tests, and after years of public pressure, that they have even begun to address this issue publicly.

Allen insists the school department has done and is doing everything it can, and is on the same page as the union.

I think theres a perception that were fighting the union over PCBs, when in fact, were not, Allen said. Were actually proactive and doing something about it. The citys invested all of these resources to replace the windows. Its not that its been a fight over addressing PCBs, its been over the way in which testing will occur.

Allen said the department has been transparent with its actions all along.

I think weve been pretty clear on, since 2012, the projects that weve done and why we were doing them, he said. Weve done them at School Committee meetings, so, in public session, on TV, with the press there. We didnt go in and just remove unlabeled ballasts without telling people. We havent been doing these MSBA window projects without telling people. I think the School Committee has been very clear.

The School Committee did appeal the states labor relation departments decision to allow the union to test for PCBs last June, causing concern to members of both schools and the union. The Commonwealth Employment Relations Board denied that appeal late last month, March 30. Just days later, on April 3, previously-scheduled air testing was conducted at Burncoat. The same test is scheduled at Doherty Monday, April 24. OReilly, Talbot and Okin, the consultants who are doing the testing, said results would take seven to 10 days to be processed.

As for the dispute with the teachers union, Allen said the School Committee was, challenging whether the EAW had the unilateral right to bulk test for caulk. It was over a simple definition, thats my understanding of the case It wasnt over whether we were going to test or not going to test. It wasnt over if we were going to replace windows or not replace windows. It wasnt over if we were going to replace unlabeled ballasts or not replace unlabeled ballasts. Weve done all those things.

If the buildings are bulk tested, and the results come back higher than acceptable limits, Allen said, the question is what would the EPA require the school district to do. The school districts consultants, he said, told them the agency would require air testing.

So, Allen said, were operating under the presumption PCBs exist in the caulk and were already jumping to the next step of air testing. So, the question is why? Because having window caulking doesnt tell us anything. What students or staff are breathing, thats more important to us than if it resides in whats surrounding the window. So, well use the results from Burncoat to say what students and staff are breathing is above or below acceptable limits, what is defined as EPAs acceptable limits for PCBs.

Lets assume for a second that they come back lower. Great. Lets assume they come back higher, whats the next thing you do? You keep implementing these best management practices.

Educational Association of Worcester president Roger Nugent believes the School Committee appealed the courts ruling out of fear.

I think that theyre afraid of the cost, he said. I think theyre afraid of EPA involvement.

BUILDING PLANS

As the discussion about PCBs continues to swirl, the city has noted its intentions to eventually replace Burncoat High School. Doherty is already in line with the Massachusetts School Building Authority for renovations or replacement. South High School is also up for a full replacement.

The MSBA has been selecting one school every other or so year, said Allen. They first selected Nelson Place, they then selected South, they then selected Doherty. So, now weve submitted Burncoat and Worcester East Middle as our two next major renovation projects. Weve identified Burncoat as the priority project Some point in the future we fully anticipate MSBA accepting Burncoat into their pipeline.

If accepted, it is a five-year process total including planning and construction.

One question, Allen acknowledged, may be, Why dont you just replace the windows at Burncoat? Weve asked the MSBA to consider that, and they said no. Based on what weve submitted in our statement of interest to them, which is our request, they said theres too many deficiencies in the school, mechanical, educational space, too much work has to be done. They dont view that as a good investment of their 80 cents on the dollar, and thats a good thing.

Allen said it would cost about $12 million for window replacement at each school, and if there is no MSBA reimbursement, the city would be left to foot the bill. According to Mayor Joe Petty, the city has responded as well as it can to the problem.

I think weve responded better than any other school district in Massachusetts, New England, or maybe even the country, he said. What people have to understand is PCBs are in every building that was built in the 50s, 60s and 70s.

Were on the right track, he added. I dont think theres more that we could have done.

Although there has been criticism from Mariano and the union, the school department contends it has been following the EPAs best management practices to the best of its ability.

MORE TO BE DONE

Nugent is not convinced by the schools contentions, and thinks there is room for improvement. Asked whether the school department has been following the EPA guidelines, Nugent said, Not as strictly as I would like to see. I want it done with fidelity and integrity. Theyre coming around though, definitely. Next week theres going to be a training for the custodians as to how to clean PCB dust, where, when I went in to Doherty and Burncoat over the holiday break, I observed several junior custodians cleaning without masks, gloves, respirators, protective clothing, nothing. Just doing it like it was anything else, and that was concerning.

The issue, so far, has only been raised over Burncoat and Doherty. That has some folks wondering why there hasnt been any attention on other schools in the city built during the same time period.

When this began back in 2009, 2010, the EAW presented to us Burncoat and Doherty as two schools of concern, said Allen. We said, No, lets self-identify all of our schools that were built during this period of time so we know what the full scope is. So, we self-identified 27 schools that were either built or had major renovations during that period of time.

Nugent said he is not against testing other schools, but the two schools alone have been a lot to handle. Foley pointed out that while this has been a hot issue in Worcester, the issue is much larger than Worcester. There are 1,900 schools statewide, 900 or so of which were built dbetween1950-1979. Those that have not undergone major renovations or remediation since, are likely to contain a large amount of PCBs.

This is not unusual to Worcester, said Foley. This is really a national issue that people are trying to deal with across the country. And until you can replace the windows or buildings, its looking at these best practices and how do you minimize the presence of PCBs in the buildings and in the air. People that talk about what we need to do is shut down buildings that have PCBs in the caulking, to do so, youll be shutting down a large percentage of the school buildings across the country if you do so. And from what weve been told by professionals with the EPA, the presence of PCBs in the caulking, if handled properly, do not present a health hazard to the occupants of the building.

Mariano has put forth an entirely different opinion. In a column last month, he wrote, When I wrote my column about polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a poisonous chemical and potential carcinogen, at Burncoat and Doherty Memorial high schools for the March 8 Worcester Sun, I had no idea how many staff and students had possibly been impacted. Initially, my wife, who is a teacher at Burncoat, told me she was aware of about a dozen staff who had developed various forms of cancer. By the time I had completed writing my column, the number that we were aware of had doubled to 23.

Nugent also believes PCBs are linked to some of the health issues at the two schools in question.

I do, he said. And I believe that if we were to get somebody thats been on the faculty or staff at Doherty High School that is familiar with people that have retired or passed, that they could come up with some names over there as well that specifically have died from cancer or have cancer.

While there is no way of indisputably proving whether or not the development of cancer is a direct effect of occupying the Doherty and Burncoat buildings, or even how many staff and students have developed cancer (privacy laws prevent that information from being publicly disseminated), the burning question is whether or not the schools are safe to be in right now. The answer depends on whom you ask.

Well, I would say, again, if a probable carcinogen has not been proven to cause cancer, and we are implementing what the EPA says are best procedures, I would say yes, the school is safe, School Superintendent Maureen Binienda said, noting results from the first air quality test have not yet been revealed.

Nugent, on the other hand, had a quick and succinct answer to the same question: No.

The only reason that some people say that PCBs do not cause cancer is because you cannot test humans. Its against the law, he said. When animals have been tested, its been ruled that PCBs do cause cancer in animals, and I think anybody knows, Im no scientist, but I think we all know, when something affects animals it tends to affect humans the same way.

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Cover Story: Worcester schools and the fight against PCBs - Worcester Mag