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Everton are in talks to sign a new goalkeeper after Jordan Pickfords latest mistake.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the Toffees are keen on both Robin Olsen and Sergio Romero, with discussions taking place for the Roma and Manchester United glovesmen.

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Olsen, 30, is expected to leave Roma before the 11pm transfer deadline having spent last season on loan with their Serie A rivals Cagliari, while Man United are prepared to cash in on Romero as he fell to third choice in the pecking order earlier this year when Dean Henderson returned to Old Trafford from his loan spell at Sheffield United.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has preferred David de Gea as his No.1 with Henderson as back-up, with Lee Grant also on Manchester Uniteds books as a homegrown third option.

Both keepers are now being eyed by high-flying Everton, with manager Carlo Ancelotti keen on adding a new gloveman before the transfer window slams shut.

Despite the Toffees perfect start to the season which sees them top of the Premier League with a 100 per cent record, questions are still being asked of Pickford in goal.

Despite being a talented shot-stopper Pickford remains one of the most mistake-ridden keepers around and he made another error last Saturday as Everton beat Brighton, dropping the ball at the feet of Neal Maupay who willingly converted from close range.

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Pickford has now made the joint-most errors leading to goals since the start of last season, making five mistakes along with Newcastles Martin Dubravka.

Thats more than Chelseas Kepa Arrizabalaga, who has come under serious scrutiny for his mistakes in recent months despite making just two errors leading to goals.

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Everton in talks to sign Jordan Pickford replacement with two goalkeepers targeted including Manchester - talkSPORT.com

Don Magruder| For the Daily Commercial

One of the first things noticed on a house is the roof. Chances are that the average age of older roofs in Lake and Sumter Counties is about 20 years. In other areas of the country, the lifespans of roofs are much longer.

However, in Florida, a combination of harsh tropical weather and unreasonable replacement standards set by insurance companies who want to minimize hurricane exposure is forcing homeowners to replace roofs sooner. Roof replacements are rare events for most homeowners and a lot has probably changed since the last time the roof was replaced on your older home.

Because of changes in technology, building codesand material offerings, homeowners should be wary about paying a roofing contractor to install the same roof with the same method used 20 years ago. Here are the five big changes in roofing since your older roof was originally installed.

The first big change is the quality of roofing shingles. Twenty years ago, 3-tab strip shingles were used by many builders and these shingles as compared to todays architectural style shingles are thinner and have less wind tolerance. Todays architectural shingles are thicker, have higher wind resistanceand are designed to camouflage imperfections in the roof.

The new lines of architectural shingles offer a huge variety of colors and shadowing to enhance your homes curb appeal. When replacing your roof, do not settle for the same old shingle style and color on your roof look at the different options available nowadays.

Shingle warranties have also changed. Twenty years ago, shingle warranties were for 20 years and the warranty typically only covered materials after the first year. Today, manufacturers offer limited lifetime warranties with very affordable upgrades to offer full replacements later in time. Before you commit to a shingle, be sure you understand the warranty and ask your roofing contractor if you can upgrade to a full long-term warranty.

The next change is underlayment. Twenty years ago, 90 percent of the roofs were constructed with 15-pound felt as an underlayment with better homes using 30-pound felt. Yes, 30-pound felt is double the thickness.

The big problem with rolled felt is its failure if the shingles are blown off during a windstorm. Felt paper will tear and rip in the wind if there are not any shingles on top of it. Roofing contractors are now using a synthetic felt, which does not tear if it is exposed to the weather elements. Synthetic felt is the most popular underlayment because a roll is lighter and covers more square footage, which cuts down on the amount of time to install it and accidents associated with it.

The most popular underlayment is peel and stick, which adheres to the decking and will remain in place and protect the deck even if the shingles are blown off. It is a great product that seals nail holes and provides a real moisture barrier for your home.

Not as glamourous but just as important in roofing are the nails and fasteners. In the past, most roof failures have been attributed to poor installation, especially in the area of fasteners. Staples used in the early 1990s were blamed for many failed roofs during Hurricane Andrew. Today, building codes require more nails per shingle and longer nails along with wind mitigation for decking. In most cases, if a shingle fails it is because of the use of incorrect fasteners.

The final big change is the use of metal roofing. Twenty years ago, the majority of residential roofs were constructed with asphalt shingles. Today, a growing percentage are being constructed with metal roofing.

With hidden fastening systems and a multitude of colors, metal roofing is a good alternative. Plus, this type of roof offers a much longer warranty and thus far has not faced the scrutiny from insurance companies as that of their asphalt counterparts. Before you re-roof your home, check into metal roofing it might be worth the extra investment.

As a bonus tip, whenever you re-roof your home, replace all drip edge and valley metals. Some roofing contractors like to cut this corner; however, metal flashing on a roof after 20 years should be replaced due to rusting and pitting. Always ensure your re-roof quote covers everything, including new flashing.

If you are lucky, you will only have to replace a roof once or twice in your adult lifespan. If you do, investigate all the options before you buy.

Don Magruder is the CEO of RoMac Building Supply and host of Around the House, which can be seen at AroundtheHouse.TV.

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Not your father's roof: Five big changes in recent years - Daily Commercial

As the Milwaukee Brewers get ready for opening day, the Miller Park maintenance crew is busy making sure the retractable roof is in proper working order.

Members of the board that oversees Miller Park approved a plan Tuesday to spend $1.8 million to upgrade the system that controls the ballpark's retractable roof.

Members of the Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District board's finance and operations committeesvoted unanimously to spend the money to upgrade the system as part of the 2021 maintenance and improvement plan for the ballpark.

The roof panels are moved by a complex system of motors and drives that haulit along a track.

Much of the controls for the system as well as various parts of the drive system have become obsolete and have reached their usable life after 20 years, said Kristi Kreklow, associate director of the district.

The drive system for Miller Park's retractable roof is being replaced.(Photo: Michael Sears, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

The systemwill be upgraded to include the newest technology and hardware and will take about 18 months to complete.

In 2018, workers removedand inspected one of the 10 'bogies' that haul the roof panels into place. The bogie was making unusual noises but was deemed not to be faulty in the $900,000 project.

The spending for the latest project is coming from what's known as the district's segregated reserve fund to which the district and the Milwaukee Brewers each make contributions.

Upgrading the roof's drive and control system has been planned and is not a surprise. Original plans for the stadium called for the systems to be replaced once they turned 20 years old.

The expectation is that the upgrade, once complete, will last another 20 years, said Mike Duckett, executive director of the district.

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Board members also voted Tuesday to spend $1.3 million to replace the ballpark's fire detection system.

The roof control system and the fire detection system upgrades are the biggest ticket items that the board members considered on Tuesday.

The fire detection system also is 20 years old, Duckett said, and replacing it was alsopart of the long-term plan for the upkeep of the ballpark.

The ballpark has about 1.2 million square feet of finished space that the fire detection system covers, Kreklow said.

Thefire detection system was put to use in July 2014 after a middle-of-the-night fire broke out in a restaurant area in the left field areaof the ballpark. The system triggered the ballpark's sprinkler system and alerted Milwaukee firefighters, who responded and extinguished the blaze.

The funds for the upgrades will come, in part, from proceeds of a 0.1% sales tax levied in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington, Ozaukee and Racine counties. That sales tax, collected since 1996,was stopped in March. The funds were placed into an escrow account and are being used to maintain the stadium.

The state law that created thetaxallows the proceeds to be used only for costs related to the ballpark.

Among other spending items, members of the board also voted tospend $130,000 on a female locker room after the first female coach in Major League Baseball, Alyssa Nakken, began coaching this year for the San Francisco Giants.

San Francisco Giants first base coach Alyssa Nakken jogs to first base during the second inning of an exhibition baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in San Francisco, Tuesday, July 21, 2020.(Photo: Associated Press)

Meanwhile, the process of converting the lights that illuminate the playing field to LEDs has begun. The new LED lighting system has been delivered to the ballpark and installation will take place this off-season.

The new lights are expected to be ready for Opening Day 2021. The project has qualified for a $90,000 Focus on Energy rebate due to the energy savings that the new LEDswill provide, according to the stadium district. That money will be used tohelp offset the project cost.

The Milwaukee Brewers ballpark will be renamed American Family Field, beginning on Jan. 1, 2021, when American Family Insurance takes over the naming rights.

Thousands of signs must be changed at the ballpark, which has been known as Miller Park since it opened.

State law prevents the stadium district from incurring any expenses related to the name change, Kreklow said.

The Brewers pay a $1.2 million annual rental fee to the stadium district, and board members are expecting the ball club to ask for some form of rent forgiveness as a result of the pandemic-shortened MLB season in which fans were not allowed to attend games.

During the teleconference meeting on Tuesday, board members asked whether rent forgiveness or deferral was allowed under the lease agreement with the team.

While there is no specific clause in the lease that mentions a pandemic, there are other portions of the lease that likely address such a situation and would allow some sort of rent forgiveness or deferral, Duckett said.

Board members said they would take up the issue when and if the Brewers formally request it.

Contact Joe Taschler at (414) 224-2554or jtaschler@gannett.com. Followhimon Twitter at @JoeTaschler orFacebook atfacebook.com/joe.taschler.1.

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Drive system on Miller Park roof to be replaced as part of planned ballpark maintenance, board members decide - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

How to install metal roofing: Pros and cons, costs and a DIY-replacement

When someone is seeking advice on how to do roofing, which type of material is the most cost-efficient and which strategy to choose (DIY or hiring experts), it means that they have already stepped on the path of replacing a roofing system. Today, there is an array of roof types, and each of them has its advantages and drawbacks. When considering metal roofing as the most optimal type for a house, then its better to be ready to discover its strengths and weaknesses. Weighing all pros and cons of its installation, its possible to make a wise home renovation choice. The opetions are zinc, copper, aluminium and steel roofs.

Advantages of metal roofing

Investing in a new project you may be surprised at how much does metal roofing cost, as even if the price is the same or even higher than in shingle roof, you will get an excellent ROI in the long-run, as due to the reflective qualities of metal, it is more energy-efficient material that promotes the reduction of energy bills. And even if shingles roofs offer options for a variety of styles to meet the design expectations of homeowners, metal tends to be more impact resistant, durable, and eco-friendly. Also, the benefits of metal roofing types include:

Metal roofs sound to be like perfect material. However, before investing in Norfolk roofing installation services, it is still recommended to take into account some of its disadvantages. First of all, it will be a source of extra noise during rain or hail. Some explain this drawback by the lightness of the material, others think that poor installation can cause lots of annoying noises. The second option is more likely to happen, as in case of a professional approach and choosing the optimal thermal insulation material, extraneous sounds, as a rule, are not heard. Also, due to certain chemical properties, the iron roof still oxidizes over time, therefore it must be treated with certain anti-corrosion compounds or paint. Regular preventive maintenance to enlarge its lifespan and ensure ideal protection of your home from elements is required.

How to install metal roofing safely?

If you want to learn how to install metal roofing on your own, its important to be ready to pick the right metal option, to ensure correct measurement, to find suppliers of quality materials, remove old roof structure, take care of ventilation. Also, its important not forget about flashing to direct water and excessive moisture away from the roof to avoid leakage and damages. If you forget to include important components into the plan, you will fail to implement a DIY method. Its quite a complicated task that requires skills, knowledge, time, and resources. Also, its important to keep in mind safety considerations, as lots of Americans ignore security tips and often get injured while replacing or repairing this exterior element. Thus, make a smarter decision and hire experts like UBrothersConstruction to ensure great outcomes and hassle-free project execution.

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How to install metal roofing: Pros and cons, costs and a DIY-replacement - The Upcoming

HAMPTON U.S. Army veteran Charles Emmons has a new roof over his head, thanks to Total Roof Solutions, an Owens Corning Platinum Roofing Contractor, as part of the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project.

Through a partnership with Purple Heart Homes, Emmons was selected and approved as the recipient for the roof replacement.

The Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project is a nationwide effort to show gratitude and honor the veterans who served our country and the families who support them. Since the inception of this program in 2016, more than 225 military members have received new roofs.

For more information on the Roof Deployment Project, or to learn more about how you can get involved, please contact us at roofdeployment@owenscorning.com.

Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free.Please support us by subscribing or making a contribution today.

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Hampton veteran receives new roof installed by Total Roof Solutions - Henry Herald

Q: I have a 10-year-old Ford E250 van and the roof is starting to rust. I took it to a body shop and they told me this was going to be a big job. They werent really interested in trying to fix it.

I love this big van, it carries people, stuff and tows my boat with ease. Any alternative ideas that might work?

A: Rust repair is all about the preparation. Could a good body shop sand, repair, prime and paint the roof of your van? Im sure they can. The problem is unless they routinely do restoration work many body shops would rather repair crash damage.

One possibility that I have seen work is painting the roof with the same material that is used for pickup truck bed-liners. The roof will have a slight pebble finish. Since you cant see the top of the roof, it wouldnt matter. The spray-on bedliner is a fairly low cost and virtually permanent repair.

Q: I'm moving to a house on a hill, and I am considering snow tires after I got stuck near my house in a freak snowstorm last year. According to a consumer magazine, though snow tires do better in snow and ice than all-season tires, they do much worse than all-seasons in wet braking.

Since a lot of the snow I'd be driving in would be salted, and since rain seems more common in winter now with global warning, would you bother? I drive a 2009 Toyota Prius and it is my only car.

A: If the type of driving takes you out before the snowplows and the hill you live on is slippery, then there is nothing better than four winter tires.

All-season tires are a compromise, they have to work year-round. Although, with most drivers they tend to be okay in deep snow or very cold temperatures, they are not quite as good.

The publication is correct that dedicated winter tires are not quite as good in wet weather, but my experience is they are still quite good.

If this was my Prius, I would install four winter tires near the end of November and take them off mid-April.

Q: For my next winter car, I want to move in the direction of electric but read that electric cars are considerably less efficient in cold weather.

Would you consider a front-wheel drive electric car with winter tires such as a Hyundai Kona over a typical all-wheel-drive with a gasoline engine for driving in the Northeast?

There are few all-wheel-drive electrics, but I see plug-in hybrid vehicles as placeholders albeit a step in the right direction.

Lastly, how long before we see fluoride-based batteries replace the current options in cars?

A: Battery development is constantly changing. In just the 30 years or so that I have been involved with electric vehicle, batteries were the biggest issue. In fact, from the turn of the last century until the 1990s, batteries for electric cars didnt change that much.

Today, it is the combination of new battery designs coupled with sophisticated battery management systems which is making some of the biggest improvements in electric vehicles.

One of the latest near-future battery developments comes from a company called Nanotech Energy that is using graphene-based energy storage, rather than Lithium-Ion.

Electric vehicles are getting better all the time with many offering range in excess of 250 miles. The Hyundai Kona, Kia Niro, Tesla Model-Y and the Chevrolet Bolt are all god choices.

John Paul is the AAA Northeast Car Doctor. He has more than 40 years of experience in the automobile industry and is an ASE-Certified Master Technician. Write to John Paul, The Car Doctor, at 110 Royal Little Drive, Providence, RI 02904. Or email jpaul@aaanortheast.com and put "Car Doctor" in the subject field. Follow him on Twitter @johnfpaul or on Facebook.

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Car Doctor: Solution for rusted roof - The Providence Journal

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Arrowhead High School(Photo: Bob Dohr / Now News Group)

When voters head to the polls on Nov. 3, in addition to deciding on the next U.S. president, voters in the Arrowhead Union High School District will also have to decidewhether to approve a $1.7 million per year referendum.

Here's what voters should know before going to the polls:

If approved, the referendum would address only the highest prioritized needs of technology, facility and site infrastructure improvements.

What it would do: Specifically, the referendum would replace the oldest, leaking areas of roofing; replaceand repairthe most aging air handling units for heating and air conditioning; updatetechnology infrastructure for safety and up-to-date usage; updateor repairsome building structures; repair or replacesome parking lots/roadways and improvesome stormwater management systems, according to information on the district website.

What it would not do: The district said the referendum wouldnot fix all ongoing infrastructure updates and repairs; would not pay for operating costs, including utilities, supplies, employee compensation, programs or services for students; would not add new structures such as new building/storage additions, new theater, new pool or new athletic facilities and would not provide major classroom or instructional upgrades.

The referendum carries a tax impact of 25 cents per $1,000 of property value,which the district said would maintain the 1999 referendum debt payment amount for another five years.

A homeowner with a $300,000 home would pay $75 per year toward the referendum. That is justpart of the total tax rate for the school district, however.

If the referendum passes,the school district tax rate is expected to be $2.91 per $1,000 of property value for the 2020-21 school year.

If the referendum does not pass, the 2020-21 school year tax rate is expected to be $2.66 per $1,000 of property value.

The 2019-20 tax rate was $2.88 per $1,000; in 2018-19, it was $3.07 per $1,000.

Arrowhead Superintendent Laura Myrah said the district's 2020-21 budget has not been finalized yet because the statehas not yet released final aid amounts to schools. She said the state must do so,by law, by Oct.15.Myrah said the district will then make any adjustments to its budget for the Arrowhead School Board to review and then approve at the end of October.

Since the district's voters lastpassed a referendum in 1999, the school's basic building, site and technology infrastructure has aged and become outdated, according to the district.

In the last 12 years, the district has completed $16.4 million in capital projects from its operating budget, an average of about $1.4 million per year. As district funding from state and federal sources decreases, the district said itcannot continue to pay for the increasing number of necessary infrastructure improvements without directly affecting the budget allocated to instructional programs and services for students.

Arrowhead's 1999 referendum was for 20 years with a $1.7 million repayment expense per year;the last payment on that loan was made in March. If this referendum passes, the district would extend the payments, leaving no long-term debt and no interest payments.

The district also said its costs have been increasing for expenses such as health insurance, transportation/busing, utilities, liability/workers' compensation insurance and textbooks. At the same time, the district said revenue from the statehas been decreasing, based primarily on declining student enrollment.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, school district revenue limits are established based on three factors: enrollment, an inflationary increment and each district's prior year controlled revenue.

The district has taken on numerous strategies in an attempt to balance the budget, including: deferringfacility infrastructure and capital improvement projects; sharing services with other districts, such as health insurance and busing; reducing faculty and support staff and increasingclass sizes; reducing staff benefits; maintainingfewer administrator positions than the regional average; continuingcompetitive bidding for projects over $15,000; implementing energy savings strategies; freezing classroom/department/co-curricular budgets; solicitingdonations; increasing fees for parking and co-curricular participation and enhancing marketing strategies to increase student enrollment.

The most recent referendum question voters decided on was in April 2017. That year, voters turned down a $36.68 million referendum that would have been used for campus maintenance improvements and upgrades in instructional areas.

In November 2016, voters turned down a $64.7 million referendum that would have paid for classroom and instructional renovations, as well as a new swimming pool and expanded auditorium.

ContactAlec Johnson at(262) 875-9469 oralec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

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Here's what to know about the proposed $8.5 million Arrowhead Union High School District referendum - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Jon Pompia|The Pueblo Chieftain

In November, property owners who reside within the expansive Pueblo County School District 70 will be asked to improve all schools by approving a $75 million bond that would see no new tax increase implemented.

Ballot Measure 4A would raise funds for schools in Pueblo West, the Mesa and the Mountain Region without a tax increase, through the restructuring of bond debt already on the books.

If approved, the bond would provide more than $6 million for infection control and COVID 19-mitigation measures, and security camera system and intercom replacements and upgrades, at all schools.

This series will examine how the bond funds would be spent at each school.

SOUTH MESA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (BUILT IN 1959) WOULD RECEIVE $3.9 MILLION IN BOND FUNDS:

UPGRADE ROOF

The existing roof has reached the end of its expected life and would bereplaced with a new, high-quality roof system with a life span of 22 to 30 years. It is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly and would include a redesign to improve drainage.

SECURE ROOF ACCESS

To prevent unauthorized access to the roof, fencing and/or secure ladders would be installed to secure all access points.

REPLACE SELECT EXTERIOR DOORS

The aging exterior wood doors would be replaced with new metal doors to improve function and security.

UPGRADE ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

The buildings antiquated electrical distribution system would be upgraded to eliminate safety concerns and accommodate an increased demand due to modern teaching tools such as computers and tablets.

NEW HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM AND CONTROLS

The existing heating/cooling equipment is outdated and inefficient. Replacing this failing equipment with new high-efficiency systems wouldbring the building up to code, eliminate maintenance issues, and lower energy consumption. New controls for these systems would be integrated into the districts control system to optimize performance and provide a more comfortable environment for building occupants.

NEW KITCHEN HEATING/COOLING

The kitchens heating system would bereplaced with a new, high-efficiency system that adds cooling to provide a more comfortable work environment.

REPLACE CAFETERIA PARKING LOT

The cafeteria staff parking area and sidewalks would berepaved and replaced, and the dumpsters relocated to the north on a separate concrete pad.

REPLACE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

The outdated playground equipment would be removed, and new equipment installed further from the building to help with drainage issues. The new equipment would expand the play area, be ADA compliant, and meet modern equipment safety standards.

OUTDOOR CLASSROOM AND LUNCH AREA

The area north of the cafeteria would be transformed into an outdoor classroom/lunch area with a concrete pad and an open-side pole barn to provide shade and protection from the elements.

South Mesa Elementary is over 60 years old and is in need of attention," said Principal Shad Glenn. "The school was well built but over time, it hasbecome evident that the building is in need of structural repairs and upgrades in order to bring it up to code. It is not only important for the building itself to be updated but it is necessary for the students, staff and community members to feel safe both inside and out.

"There is a big concern that if the updates/upgrades do not happen, then eventually South Mesa will be dealing with larger issues in regard to infrastructure: which in turn directly affects the safety and overall learning environment of our students as well as impacts the community use and availability of the facility.

Chieftain reporter Jon Pompia can be reached by email at jpompia@chieftain.com or at twitter.com/jpompia.

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After 61 years, South Mesa Elementary is in need of attention - Pueblo Chieftain

Last spring, as the coronavirus swept New York City, it hit hard at a nine-story seniors-only public housing development on Union Avenue in The Bronx.

In the 10 weeks between March and mid-May, at least 15 of the 232 elders living there became infected with the virus. Six ultimately died of lab-confirmed COVID-19 in the single-building residence known as Union Avenue 163rd Street, city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene data shows.

Testing showed an infection rate of 6.4%. Overall, 2.9% of the citys 8.1 million residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemics arrival in March, though estimates of the percentage of New Yorkers infected are much higher.

All told, some 47 NYCHA developments 22 of which are seniors only recorded COVID-positive rates higher than 2.9% from March to mid-May. NYCHA oversees 302 developments across the city.

All but two of the 47 developments including the Union Avenue senior residence rely on old mechanical ventilation systems that NYCHA had promised to fix by last year. And all but two of NYCHAs 41 seniors-only developments use the system.

Across the city, 240 NYCHA developments employ mechanical exhaust roof fans to circulate air out of apartments. The systems, which serve 260,000 residents, are prone to breakdown, and the ducts leading from apartments to the roof often are clogged with decades of dust and debris.

Meanwhile, NYCHA has prioritized a list of buildings including Union Avenue for immediate roof fan replacement. But the plan is now off track and far behind schedule.

Experts say poor indoor airflow due to lousy ventilation systems, along with crowded conditions caused by other NYCHA ills such as broken elevators, contributes to the spread of COVID-19 and amplifies underlying medical conditions such as asthma that make people more vulnerable to the virus.

Its a perfect storm for people to get COVID-19, Dr. Abraar Khan of Harvards School of Public Health, whos working with Massachusetts health officials on the response to COVID-19. Now theyre crowding into the apartments that are not well ventilated, getting into elevators. These are situations with the most contact risk.

On Monday, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted an advisory citing new evidence that coronavirus can be spread beyond six feet indoors. These transmissions occurred within enclosed spaces that had inadequate ventilation, the advisory noted.

Khan is particularly worried about how this will play out as the weather cools, flu season arrives and many tenants, especially the elderly and ailing, are stuck indoors.

When youre indoors a lot more as we head into the fall and the winter, were going to need better ventilation, he said. I would not be surprised that this leads to a potential indoor spread.

More than 7,800 NYCHA tenants tested positive for COVID-19 during the initial runup of the virus between March 1 and May 11, according to city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene data. During that time, the deaths of 1,241 NYCHA tenants were deemed either lab confirmed or probable COVID-19.

In releasing this data, health officials pointed out that the share of COVID-19 cases among public housing tenants was proportionate to NYCHAs representation in the citys overall population: 4.4%. The agency did not note the 47 developments with disproportionately high rates of infection.

Its impossible to know for certain whether inadequate airflow in apartments contributed to higher-than-average infection rates in the 22 NYCHA senior developments.

Some 25 senior developments registered average or below average infection rates, including two that have natural ventilation meaning they rely solely on opening windows for airflow.

But 95% of the 47 NYCHA developments that registered a higher-than-average rate depend on mechanical exhaust ventilation systems to circulate apartment air.

A NYCHA development on East 152nd Street at Courtland Avenue in The Bronx thats mostly seniors logged a 9% infection rate, with 35 of 378 tenants testing positive March and mid-May, data shows. No residents died of COVID-19 during that period.

Six tenants died of lab-confirmed COVID at a seniors-only development in Upper Manhattan known as UPACA Site 5. Some 17 of the buildings 212 elderly tenants contracted the virus an infection rate of 8%.

At the seniors-only Woodson Houses in Brooklyn, tests showed 23 of 452 elders were infected with the virus, for a rate of 5%. Eleven residents of the Brownsville development died of lab-confirmed COVID-19.

Work Behind Schedule

The Metro Industrial Area Foundation, a coalition of housing advocates that sued NYCHA to eradicate mold in the apartments of tenants with asthma and other respiratory ailments, had raised a red-flag about poor ventilation, long before COVID arrived.

The virus, the group has said, makes the need to fix the ventilation even more crucial.

As THE CITY reported in August, the authority originally promised to repair all busted roof fans by May 2019. But NYCHA officials abandoned that plan and, instead, vowed to replace all of the systems roof fans 10,000 across 243 developments.

Now the new plan is off track after questions arose about the safety record and financial history of the contractor NYCHA had hired to do much of the work. That contract is now on hold.

As a result, the first phase of the campaign which was supposed to start in July with 38 developments targeted for fan replacement by June 2021 has yet to begin.

Some 940 tenants in the 38 developments in line for new ventilation systems tested positive for COVID-19 last spring. The virus killed 61 of them between March and mid-May, a review of NYCHA and health records shows.

It should have been fixed a decade ago and it wasnt, Susan Popkin, senior fellow at the non-partisan Urban Institute, said of NYCHAs ventilation woes. They dont have that money now and they didnt have it before the pandemic, so all the problems with NYCHA before that you have documented are playing out now in a way that is creating more risk for the staff and the tenants.

In a response to questions from THE CITY, NYCHA emphasized that it is pressing on with the plan to replace the 10,000 fans as soon as possible.

NYCHAs statement said the authority is currently evaluating bids of several contractors and requesting the Department of Investigation do background checks on each.

Phase I has begun and we are currently completing the necessary engineering work, the statement said. Thus far, 34 developments (130 buildings) have either been assigned engineers to handle roof fan replacement; a contracting company to handle roof fan replacement; or an internal team assembled by NYCHA to handle roof fan replacement.

But because the ventilation systems have yet to be fixed, the poor ventilation creates an environment that can exacerbate asthma.

And many of these developments particularly in The Bronx are located in neighborhoods with high rates of asthma, THE CITYs examination of state data revealed.

Health Department asthma rate records for 2012 through 2014, the latest years available, show that 20 of the 38 developments NYCHA prioritized for immediate roof fan replacement are located in ZIP codes with rates of asthma hospitalizations above the citywide average. Meanwhile, 18 of the 20 also have asthma emergency room visits above the citywide rate.

Take the Mill Brook Houses, a 61-year-old Bronx development that relies on mechanical exhaust ventilation. Mill Brook is located in a Mott Haven ZIP code with the citys highest rates of both asthma hospitalizations and asthma ER visits.

The 10454 ZIP code registered an asthma hospitalization rate of 99 per 10,000 residents, far above the citywide average of 27.9. The rate of asthma ER-related visits there is 482.9 per 10,000 residents, far outpacing the citywide average of 135.

Between March 1 and mid-May, 76 of Mill Brooks 2,772 tenants tested positive for the virus, a 2.7% rate, slightly below the overall city percentage since March. Five Mill Brook tenants deaths were deemed lab-confirmed COVID-19.

Mill Brook became a test case for the effect of poor ventilation on asthma as part of an ongoing court settlement with NYCHA.

Authority management and then-Mayor Mike Bloomberg promised to remedy a chronic mold problem in developments all over the city as part of the deal with Metro IAF. That was in December 2013.

By 2016, Metro IAF was pressing NYCHA to fix broken roof fans to improve airflow in apartments to help staunch mold growth. NYCHA initially agreed to fix every malfunctioning fan by May 2019.

As part of that effort, Microecologies, a consultant hired by NYCHA under the court decree, discovered an alarming situation in one of Mill Brooks buildings: Five of 10 roof fans that were supposed to keep apartments ventilated there didnt function, according to Microecologies report.

As for the Mill Brook fans that did function, the ventilator ducts leading from apartments to the roof had become clogged with years of dust and junk. In one, Microecologies found airflow blocked by a wayward brick, in another by a football-sized nest of roaches.

The lack of airflow in most of the buildings apartments led to a build-up of moisture in kitchens and bathrooms. That triggered the mold that aggravates asthma.

NYCHA fixed four of the five busted fans, but didnt follow up with the duct cleanup in that building until three months ago. In a report on the Mill Brook inspection filed in the court case, Microecologies made clear the authority needed to upgrade roof fans and clean out all the ducts across the Mill Brook development.

We estimate that exhaust ventilation problems in bathrooms (which directly result in excessive shower vapor condensation) account for (or contribute to) more than 50% of mold problems in NYCHA housing, Microecologies officials wrote in a report filed as part of the court case.

As of last week, Mill Brook was on the list of the first set of developments scheduled to get new fans.

Tenants interviewed recently at Mill Brook told THE CITY that NYCHA had gone years without cleaning the network of ducts throughout the buildings.

They were surprised when NYCHA crews showed up in July to clear out the system. By then, the virus had already peaked in New York City.

Ive never had the vent cleaned since Ive been here, said tenant Jacklyn Corley, 59, who moved into Mill Brook in 1998.

Corley said the vent in her apartment now seems to function, but other tenants said even after a recent cleanup they were still getting no air circulation in their bathrooms.

In some cases, mold proved persistent. One tenant, who did not want to give her name, said, It was working for a minute and then it stopped working again.

Tenant Robert Nevarez, 58, recounted his struggles to get NYCHA to eradicate recurring mold that keeps coming back inside the tiny bathroom of his two-bedroom apartment. Last week, his vent was once again drawing no air out of his bathroom.

He said NYCHA first came to clean up the green-black mold that had begun to accumulate in the corner of his bathroom in 2018. But Nevarez said NYCHA never fixed the underlying problem, which was the leak thats buckling the wall.

On Aug. 7, NYCHA workers returned to the apartment and cleaned out the vent. The form they left behind promising to return read: NYCHA has found mold, water damage, and/or a moisture level indicating excessive moisture or a possible leak. Inspection found mold.

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Originally posted here:
Seniors in NYCHA Buildings with Poor Ventilation Slammed by COVID-19 - THE CITY

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BLOUNTSTOWN Its been two years since Hurricane Michael barreled into the Panhandle. But Molly Glass is still dealing with its wrath.

The storms Category 5 winds had split her house, a double-wide in Blountstown along the Chipola River. It wasnt until January more than a year after the storm that a local charity was finally able to install a new roof on her home.

But months later, one morning in June, Glass heard a sharp crack echo through her home.

She jumped out of bed and ran toward the sound. To her horror, she saw an arch of electrical current shooting out of a power outlet in the bathroom. The room filled with smoke.

As Glass flipped the main breaker, her husband scooped up their 18-month-old grandson and they ran out of the house.

Molly Glass peers down at the ground through a hole in the floor of her bathroom Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. She and her husband Tony made repairs on their home after damage from Hurricane Michael two years ago and moved back in, only to realize it had more serious issues with electrical wires in the walls earlier this year, also caused by the storm and threatening to burn the place down. The two have once again moved out and are working on more repairs.(Photo: Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat)

A fire marshal came out there, Glass said. After taking a look, the woman said, " Yall have been living in a death trap.

Michaels winds had damaged the electrical wiring. The house could have burnt down.

Shes not the only one still wading through damage. As they watched life-threatening Hurricane Delta churn through the Gulf for a landfall in Louisiana Friday morning, many residents throughout the rural Panhandle are still rebuilding after Michaels aftermath amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Jana Whitehead, a disaster case manager at Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, juggles about a dozen cases at a time with survivors in Calhoun and Liberty counties. The nonprofit has assisted about 60 families over the past year, she said.

Theres people that still have leaky roofs. Im one of them actually, said Whitehead, a retired Calhoun County teacher. Those roofs have damage underneath the underlayment of the roofs are now deteriorated so bad that they have to be replaced.

Molly and Tony Glass stand in front of the ripped apart bathroom in their home, which is currently undergoing repairs after major electrical issues were discovered in their walls earlier this year, lingering damage from Hurricane Michael two years ago.(Photo: Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat)

Glass husband is a carpenter, and she cleans, paints and installs flooring in student housing apartments in Tallahassee.

While staying at a friends home, Glass and her husband are tearing down the walls to make room for electricians to inspect and repair the electrical damage.

Even before her house almost caught fire, Glass was on edge. She knew that something was wrong with the electricity: Outlets would melt, she said, and wiring turned red but didnt illuminate a light bulb.

"Not only did my business get shut down completely with this coronavirus, Im scared to death I cant sleep at night, afraid our house was going to burn up," Glass said.

The disaster and its aftermath have taken a toll on her mental health, she added: The ongoing stress of repairs is compounded by the trauma of living through the storm itself.

Now if the wind blows just a little bit, Im under the bed. I will never be OK after that storm, Glass said.

Molly Glass tears up as she holds a framed gift of her son's Ren's handprints and a poem he gave her for Christmas before he died at 9-years-old. Glass was grateful that her keepsakes of her son were not harmed when Hurricane Michael damaged her home two years ago. (Photo: Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat)

She was alreadystruggling with PTSD before the storm. Several years ago, Glass lost her son Ren. Her little boywas 9 years old when he died. All she has left are keepsakes of him that can't be replaced. Glasswas relieved those weren't burnedin a housefire or destroyed in the storm.

Alternative housing is hard to find in the vast, sparsely populated rural counties, Whitehead said. In many cases, survivors are living in rental properties that landlords cant afford to fix.

We cant help the rental owner because theyre not living in the house its a money maker for them and they did not have insurance on those rental properties, she explained. Its a liability. It has to be by the homeowner thats living in the home. And theres definitely a housing shortage. No place for people to go.

About a quarter of residents in Liberty County and afifth of residents in Calhoun County are living in poverty, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Many can't afford to move elsewhere because of work or because they simply cant afford to move.

Craig Fugate, former FEMA administrator and formerdirector of the state's Emergency Management Division, called that difficulty the resiliency divide. He spoke in a Thursday webinar hosted by Rebuild850, where local leaders discussed a need to create morejobs as well as other priorities to help boost the economy ofMichael-afflicted Big Bend counties.

They've endureda double hit from both the storm and the coronavirus, which threatened businesses, including Glass'. Her business closed down for three months as campuses shut down and students moved home.

Molly Glass stands in her home outside of Blountstown which is currently undergoing major repairs for the second time in two years because of damage from Hurricane Michael. (Photo: Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat)

Those who dont have the resources to rebuild or move oftentimes end up in the same situation in future disasters, Fugate said.

Were not out of the woods yet, said state Sen. Bill Montford, who is originally from Blountstown. The whole issue of jobs was a problem even before Michael. We literally have people driving 100 miles ...to Panama City to work Weve got to have private investment.

For now, Glass toils away over the weekends to slowly ensure her house is livable again.

That kind of toll onmental health is among thehealth impacts the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine is studying among storm survivors. The CLEO Institute, aclimate change advocacy and education group, worked withUM to survey Hurricane Michael survivors on health effects post-storm. The groups also surveyed survivors of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Ricoand Hurricane Irma survivors in South Florida.

The groups will release data by the end of this month, saidlead researcher Naresh Kumar. And the first wave of research analysis is slated to be presented atan annual climate and health symposiumnext month.

Damage from Hurricane Michael can be seen on the ceiling of Molly and Tony Glass' home outside of Blountstown Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020, two years after the storm. (Photo: Tori Lynn Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat)

Kumar, a professor who specializes in environmental health,found that Panhandle residents' hospital visits the year after Michael decreased. He hypothesizes that's because people were insurvival mode.

"One of the things I focus on is the persistence of health effects after these storms," Kumar said. "Generally people think about days or weeks but thats not the case."

One issue, he says, is the onset of certain health conditions, such as a delayed reaction to mold.

Those minor leaks might result in a significant increase in mold," Kumar said. "You may get sensitized. You may begin to develop allergies (to mold) which you were not earlier allergic to.

"The environmental modifications dont reinstate right after the storm. They persist for years," he said.

2019 File Photo: Kaye Elmore and her grandson Camron Elmore, 6, walk through the living room of the home they shared before a tree fell on the roof during Hurricane Michael last year, destroying the home and forcing them to find somewhere else to stay.(Photo: Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat)

Pollen count increases as tree and vegetation regrowth happens, Kumar said, aggravating those with asthma, allergies and other respiratory conditions.

Whitehead says as people remain indoors during stay-at-home orders to prevent spread of the novel coronavirus, they're "surrounded by the damage" indoors. COVID-19 has prevented the charity from doing indoor repairs.

"You walk outside and you see the remnants of those trees orthe little Dr. Seuss trees that have been growing two or three puffs with the overhang," she said. "It used to be that you walk outside and see the trees."

Glass reminisces, gazing at old photos of her intact home, a gathering place for the holidays and her adult children's families.

"We had a beautiful life in that bruised and battered home and we will again," she said."Those were the best of times. But there will be more."

For now though, as she rummages through the repair journey, Michael is"the storm that just keeps on giving."

Donate to nonprofits helping those still in need of repairs:

Reach Nada Hassanein at nhassanein@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @nhassanein_.

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Two years later, the impacts of Hurricane Michael persist in the Florida Panhandle - Tallahassee Democrat