Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

LUBBOCK, Texas Volunteer firefighters responded to a power line down and grass fire near the Lubbock-Cooper High School. The time was approximately 9:30 a.m. Monday, and South Plains Electric Coop reported 576 homes or businesses without power at the same time. At 9:58 a.m., SPEC said power was restored.

SPEC said, We had a truck back into our pole near Cooper High School. Crews will work on restoring our members, just wanted to let our members know what is going on. Thanks for your patience while crews work.

Lubbock Cooper ISD said:

Due to a power outage in the area, South Elementary, Lubbock-Cooper Middle School, the LCISD Administration Building and several district operational buildings have temporarily lost phone service. If you need to reach one of these campuses, please email info@lcisd.net, and the district will ensure your message is relayed.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation. We will let you know when phone service has been restored.

More here:
Truck hit power line, hundreds affected by outage near Lubbock-Cooper HS - KLBK | KAMC | EverythingLubbock.com

Covington Electric Cooperative has announced that the Buzz Broadband office isnow open and ready to serve current and future customers.

The new office is located at 18146 Galileo Drive in Opp and will be open every weekday from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., with the exception of holidays.

The establishment of a Buzz Broadband office represents the next important step in CECs commitment to providing the area with its most reliable and fastest internet service, representatives said.

Buzz Broadband is bringing fast, reliable fiber optic broadband to Southern Alabama homes and businesses in the CEC service area, making it possible for many in the area to get a dependable internet connection. This connection willhelp improve how locals work, learn, enjoy entertainment and more. Buzz Broadband brings top quality internet with equal upload/download speeds of up to 2 Gbps without data caps or contracts, according to the announcement.

Opp Mayor Becky Bracke said she is excited about the new addition to the Opp community.

Im not sure everyone knows what Covington Electric does for our whole area and this broadband commitment is just the latest example. We welcome Buzz Broadband to Opp, Bracke said.

The location for Buzz Broadband came about thanks to forward thinking, according to Rick Clifton, president and CEO of the Covington County Economic Development Commission.

This shows the importance of having a spec building in your community, Clifton said. Having the spec building in Opp meant we had a facility in place to serve as a distribution center and central office for Buzz Broadband when the need arose.They were able to move in quickly and Buzz Broadband has a new home.

Buzz Broadband technicians have already connected the first homes and businesses to our lightning-fast fiber optic network, and crews are working hard to connect more services every day.

Potential customers can be notified when Buzz Broadband becomes available at their location by pre-registering online at https://www.buzzbroadband.com, by email at customerservice@buzzbroadband.com, or over the phone by calling 833-399-2899.

Once registered, customers will receive an email when Buzz Broadband becomes available in their area and will then have an opportunity to schedule their installation. Covington Electric Cooperative is proud to provide this top-notch internet service with the local, knowledgeable and friendly service team that every customer deserves.

See more here:
Covington Electric Cooperative opens broadband service office in Opp - The Andalusia Star-News - Andalusia Star-News

The Toyota bZ4X the Japanese company's first dedicated pure-electric car and the first in a range of zero-emissions models from the new bZ ('beyond Zero') sub-brand is now available to reserve in the UK, priced from 41,950.

First deliveries of the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Nissan Ariya,Mercedes EQA,Skoda Enyaq iVandVolkswagen ID.4rival will commence in 2022. Previewed at the 2021 Auto Shanghai motor show, the bZ4X sits on the newly developed 'e-TNGA' mechanical platform, shared with sister cars the Subaru Solterra and Lexus RZ.

The platform uses the batteries as an integral part of the chassis, promising the usual electric-car benefits of a low centre of gravity, good front/rear weight balance and strong rigidity. Plus, the bZ4X is offered with four-wheel-drive by means of a dual-motor setup on higher-spec models.

In December 2021, Toyota revealed a raft of new electric concept cars previewing forthcoming models, including several additions to the bZ range, both above and below the bZ4X in terms of size and likely price.

The bZ4X is available from launch in four trim levels: Pure, Motion, Vision and Premiere Edition. The Pure is available only with front-wheel drive, the Motion and Vision offer a choice of front or all-wheel drive and the range-topping Premiere Edition is all-wheel-drive only. Pricing is as follows:

Standard kit on the Pure includes 18-inch alloys, an eight-inch dashboard display, aseven-inch digital driver's display, a reversing camera and climate control. Options include roof rails and a towing pack. The Motion adds a rear spoiler, rear privacy glass, a poweredbootlid, parking sensors, heated front seats, ambient lighting and wireless phone charging. Options include afixed panoramic roof and 20-inch alloys.

The Vision kit list encompasses 20-inch alloys, rear parking sensors with automatic braking, remote parking assistance, synthetic leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a powered bootlid with kick sensor and a heated steering wheel. Options include the panoramic roof and towing pack.

The limited-run Premiere Edition packs in everything you get on the Vision, plus a nine-speakerpremium sound system and the panoramic roof. Unlike the other three trims, it can only be ordered through Toyota's website.

Both versions of the bZ4X available from launch feature a 71.4kWh battery, which allows the front-wheel-drive car to return a driving range of more than 280 miles in industry-standard testing.Meanwhile, the four-wheel-drive model will be able to cover over 255 miles on a single charge, according to Toyota.

Rapid charging at up to 150kW will be possible, allowing for 80% battery capacity to be reached in around 30 minutes from fast enough public charging points. Towards the end of 2022, Toyota will make an 11kW on-board charger available in the bZ4X, for faster overnight wallbox charging at homes or premises with a three-phase electricity supply.

According to the manufacturer, the batteries are anticipated to retain 90% of their original capacity even after 10 years or 150,000 miles on the road. It's not yet known whether smaller or larger-battery variants will also be offered in due course.

Like many electric SUVs, the bZ4X will be available in both cheaper two-wheel-drive form and as a four-wheel-drive range-topper. The single-motor, front-drive version has a power output of 201bhp and peak torque of 265Nm, which results in a 0-62mph time of 8.4 seconds and a top speed of 99mph.

The four-wheel-drive version has two motors, with one each driving the front and rear axles. Peak power here increases to 215bhp and torque goes up to 336Nm, taking the 0-62mph time down to 7.7 seconds. Toyota says the four-wheel-drive bZ4X will get various off-road driving modes, too, suited to "snow or mud", "deep snow or mud" and "tougher off-road driving".

The concept version of the bZ4X seen in April 2021 featured a 'yoke'-style steering wheel an element of 'steer-by-wire' technology that does away with a mechanical link between the steering wheel and front axle, reducing the need to move your hands around the wheel. However, Toyota says this system is now planned for introduction in Europe "at a later date" and the production version has a conventional circular wheel.

Elsewhere, Toyota says it went for a "living-room" ambience when designing the bZ4X's interior, making use of soft, woven trim textures, details finished in satin and slim, low-set instrument panel to give a greater sense of openness from the driver's seat. A "hands on the wheel, eyes on the road" philosophy sees the driver's seven-inch instrument and infotainment display placed directly in their eyeline, just above the line of the steering wheel. While in the centre of the dashboard is a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen. A panoramic sunroof is offered as an option, as isa solar panel roof in some European markets.

Practicality is boosted by a long wheelbase and short overhangs to maximise the amount of interior space, with Toyota claiming passengers will enjoy as much legroom as in a luxury saloon like the Lexus LS. Boot capacity is up to 452 litres and on the safety front, the bZ4X is set to feature the latest third-generation iteration of the now-familiar 'Toyota Safety Sense' suite of driver-assistance and collision-avoidance tech.

Toyota has also announced that it'll sell its range of pure-electric vehicles, starting with the bZ4X, through a series of in-dealer hubs that'll offer customers specialised advice about the switch to zero-emissions motoring. Toyotas European product and marketing boss, Andrea Carlucci, told DrivingElectric that these bZ Hubs are likely to be store-in-store facilities in effect, a dedicated area of the showroom floor in certain locations. However, not all Toyota dealerships will be expected to offer this more specialised service.

Regardless of where the customer orders their bZ4X, the zero-emissions SUV will be available as part of an all-inclusive leasing solution that combines maintenance, insurance, connected services and a home wallbox, plus a single card that gives access to multiple public charging networks as well.

Read more:
New Toyota bZ4X electric SUV: prices, specs, pictures and on-sale date - DrivingElectric

Paid Feature It might have taken a couple of decades, but were now at a point where many tech professionals have moved away from the thinking that a server is something they have to own. The growth of the cloud has seen to that.

Even on-prem infrastructure is increasingly seen as something that can be used, managed, and controlled, without being bought outright.

However, when it comes to personal devices, things get well, personal. End users can become unaccountably attached to their device or alternatively see an unsatisfactory PC or laptop as emblematic of everything thats wrong with their employer.

As Lenovos worldwide Device as a Service leader Rob Makin says, a laptop or a tablet is not a multi-tenant device, like a server. When an individual is not using it, say at the weekend, its not like the organization can utilise it for something or somebody - else.

Of course, leasing has long been a part of the tech scene. And one of the key benefits of leasing is the ability to move tech expenditure from CapEx to OpEx. But that does little to improve the utilisation or management of end user devices. Or to alleviate the frustration of the user stuck with a sub-par device, or the frustration of the support staff whose time is swallowed up keeping aging or inadequate kit working.

And, as Makin explains, leasing does nothing to help CIOs manage their estate better. If anything, leasing companies ideal state is a combination of their draconian Ts&Cs and clients inefficient management. If companies dont hand back kit, the leasing company continues to benefit whether the company is benefiting or not.

The answer is to combine the hardware element, with the software and services required to get the most out of it, both for individual users and their employers, and offer it for a single monthly fee. You might even call it Device as a Service. Which is precisely what Lenovo has done.

Though it launched several years ago, the combination of the pandemic and the disruption it has caused to traditional corporate support models, together with the embedded functionality in Windows 10 and now Windows 11, as well as Microsoft Intune, has accelerated its adoption.

One of the starting points for Lenovos approach, says Makin, is personal management, making sure you have the right device, for the right person or organisation, then considering how that device is actually procured and ordered, whether it's a new starter or a refresh.

Because Lenovos range of products and services are presented as a catalogue under DaaS, tech pros can tailor devices for individuals or groups, Then the device gets built, and the services that are required such as image load, asset tagging, any software, are put onto that device.

Doing as much as possible before the device leaves the factory is far more efficient than customising further down the supply chain. Every time you touch a box in the supply chain it costs money.

Of course, the supply chain still has to stretch to the customer. In normal times, this would overwhelmingly be to the end users office, whether in the shape of a steady trickle of workers to a harassed IT team, or perhaps to a kiosk in the foyer of their building for a large-scale rollout. Now, Makin says, delivery is overwhelmingly to end users homes.

This radically changes the support equation. Lenovos aim is to make deploying a laptop more like buying a cellphone, where You turn it on and you log on to your appropriate operator using the cloud, whether it be Google or Apple, and then all of a sudden, all of your old apps are there with your data. Rather than waiting for IT to transfer all the end users data, while they go for a coffee. And another coffee. And another until the transfer is done.

In the current battle for talent, putting fresh kit into peoples hands and offering a better user experience, might be enough to tip the balance when attracting key talent, he argues, depending what point theyre at in their career.

There's nothing worse than starting a job, and someone gives you a four year old laptop out of the back of the cupboard somewhere that looks like it's been dragged around the back garden by someone's kids for four years.

With the best will in the world, of course, sometimes people will still need support. One of the promises of Lenovos DaaS programme is the loving attention of elite technicians via their Premier Support service. So what makes an elite technician? As Makin says, while it can be difficult to define the perfect techie I know what a good one looks like.

But in practical terms, we would recruit what would be a skill set of a level two tech to perform a level one function.

On the face of it, this is more expensive. But what it gives us is a better user experience, and a quicker one time and first time fix. So, if we can fix something quicker, first time, that actually saves us money because we don't have to keep coming back.

And that one fix capability will be refined even further over time, as the program begins to embrace predictive analytics, which will enable predictive and proactive maintenance.

But while an improved user experience is desirable, hard financial savings are a given to get organizations to embrace such a radical change to how they procure end user kit.

There should be an immediate benefit from moving to an as-a-service model, as expenditure moves from capex to opex. This should offer an immediate benefit tax wise. It also removes the whole issue of large capital outlays to bring a team up to spec and makes costing client kit more predictable.

Arguably, the same would apply with traditional leasing. But that hasnt always been the experience for many companies, with leasing companies happy to leave inappropriate kit in place, and continuing taking the payments.

Lenovos aim is to establish a circular economy around tech assets, says Makin: The way that DaaS is structured, it drives a fair market value for the product over the 36 or 48 month period where you as the customer are actually not paying that full amount for the device, so you've got a monthly OPEX savings.

Lenovo, he continues, takes a residual value at the end of the period. We then take that value, and we allow that saving to be passed on to the customer. Youre not owning these devices anymore. Youre consuming it as a service.

Lenovos program features a flex element, allowing customers to scale their fleet up or down. For example, if you've got peaks and troughs and demands, grad intakes, project based work or general uncertainty, you can then actually have up to 20 per cent of your fleet where you can end up not paying for these devices for up to two years. The billing is paused.

Asset management is a major headache for tech teams. Makin recounts a conversation with a client with 100,000s of devices who simply didnt know where 10 per cent of them were at any given time. Or, more worrying, whats on them. DaaS tightens all of that up.

Of course, the total benefit will vary. Some customers will choose to take up some of the services available under DaaS and not others. As Makin points out, Were not tax advisers. But the DaaS model does enable savings and efficiencies right along the line. In aggregate, we see at a TCO level up to 20 per cent savings.

But arguably, the biggest benefit is freeing up IT staff and repurposing them into different areas. In-house staffers who are doing manual refreshes, or dealing with unhappy users, or walking from one desk to another to upgrade memory, are not available for supporting a strategic transformation.

Being freed from the treadmill of routine maintenance should result in a much happier tech team, as well as happier more productive users. The fact that Device as a Service means that they, too, can have the latest, most appropriate kit to help them do their jobs? Well, thats just the icing on the cake.

Sponsored by Lenovo.

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If you never actually own a server or a posh watch, shouldnt it be the same for laptops and tablets? - The Register

Paying it forward is a simple idea. But with jobs, kids, money woes and, oh yeah, pandemic problems, it can be easier said than done.

But Kevin Murphy of Des Plaines wants you to know that it is as easy as shoveling an elderly neighbor's driveway or mowing their grass. It is even as easy as going out to your favorite local restaurant to support a small business.

Murphy's goal is to build community with kindness. As the founder of Jet City Coalition, Murphy and his team of volunteers aim to advocate and connect with residents in towns like Des Plaines, Elk Grove, Park Ridge and Rosemont.

Started in November 2020 to help those in need, Murphy offered a free shoveling service in winter, lawn care service in the summer and held a coat drive last December. In the spring, he ran a campaign that raised $15,000 to help Des Plaines restaurants struggling due to the pandemic.

This December, Murphy and his team of 30 volunteers will once again be collecting coats for area agencies that serve people in need. The goal this year is 1,500 or more. The drive ends Dec. 31.

Readers can drop off donations by emailing thejetcitycoalition@gmail.com or submitting an intake at http://www.thejetcitycoalition.com.

Murphy shares more details about Jet City Coalition and how you can help by paying it forward.

Q: What is Jet City Coalition? Give a brief overview of what the organization does and who you serve.

A: "Jet City" was coined because we've always moved a bit different coming from Des Plaines/Rosemont/O'Hare. It's a name for the area, and a way to stake our identity in the crowded ecosystem of the city.

I feel like we're unique from the near North Side neighborhoods like Jefferson Park, as well as the further suburbs like Palatine. We also have blue collar challenges.

The Jet City Coalition is a community organization taking care of our senior and low-income neighbors. Our signature programs are free shoveling in the winter and free gardening (lawn care, etc.) in the summer.

Then, every holiday, we do the coat drive, and throughout the year we'll do various campaigns to build community and spread some positivity.

I feel like the main mission is to spread a sort of neighborly love that's missing in the new digital era. You can't substitute Facebook for breaking bread and chopping it up with the people in your community. I'm also a believer that community organizing is essential until we can achieve structural reform in our country.

Jet City founder Kevin Murphy receives a drop-off of winter gear from a Des Plaines resident.- courtesy of Ellen Feeney

Q: Where do the majority of your donations come from?

A: People in the area. Des Plaines, Elk Grove, Park Ridge, Rosemont. A lot of people in the area congregate in Facebook groups, and those are a great vehicle for getting the word out. We put up a lot of fliers and knock on a lot of doors as well.

Q: How many people per year do you serve?

A: This year we'll shovel for about 75 individuals or so, and we did lawn care for 30 this summer. We ran a restaurant campaign over the spring that raised about $15,000 for eight landmark Des Plaines restaurants.

In November and December, we raise about 1,000 coats for kids and adults, so I guess around 1,000 to 1,500 over the course of the year.

Q: Tell us about your coat drive? How long does it last? How can our readers drop off donations?

A: A lot of people in the area have to choose between adequate groceries or winter coats at some point in the winter, and it's messed up. We'll have regulars at the Des Plaines Metra station in hoodies while it's 30 degrees outside. It's a very real issue in our area, so we tried to set up a network to provide for the people in our area.

We donate some of our coats to the Des Plaines Food Pantry, Kenneth Young Center, and Northwest Compass, and the rest come through our efforts to get the word out. It's grown since last year, so we may get close to 1,500 this year.

Readers can drop off donations by emailing thejetcitycoalition@gmail.com or submitting an intake at http://www.thejetcitycoalition.com to coordinate a COVID-safe drop off with one of our volunteers.

Jet City founder Kevin Murphy and partner Jon Catellani drop off a shipment of coats at Kenneth Youth Center in Elk Grove.- courtesy of Adam Cumbee

Q: Are there any other ways readers can help your organization?

A: We're going to need a lot of help shoveling this season, and we're doing a letter-writing campaign for those who'd be interested in having a Jet City pen pal. It's always nice to set out deeper bonds in the area with folks not from here.

Q: What else would you like readers to know?

A: Just that there's a lot going on around Rosemont and Des Plaines. I think it's overlooked in the grand scheme of the city. As folks are looking to invest in forward facing jobs, I think it's an area ripe with opportunity.

I also hope that people realize how much help is needed in their own community. We saw that there was something unique about us and leveraged it to carve out an identity for the area.

Follow this link:
How Jet City Coalition aims to help seniors and low-income residents in communities near O'Hare - Chicago Daily Herald

The online on-demand home services market is set to grow by USD 4730.31 bn from 2020 to 2025, according to Technavio. A healthy growth is expected to continue throughout the forecast period, and the market will grow at a CAGR of 70%.

Read the 120-page report with TOC on "Online On-demand Home Services Market Analysis Report byService (Home care and design, Repair and maintenance, Health, wellness and beauty, and Others) and Geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA), and the Segment Forecasts,2021-2025".Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders. Track key industry opportunities, trends, and threats. Information on marketing, brand, strategy and market development, sales, and supply functions.

The online on-demand home services market is driven by the increasing number of start-ups entering the market. However, factors such as high competition among vendors may impede the market growth.

Major Online On-demand Home Services Companies:

Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights. Subscribe now to our most popular "Lite Plan" billed annually at USD 3000. View 3 reports monthly and Download 3 Reports Annually!

Online On-demand Home Services Market Service Outlook (Revenue, USD bn, 2020-2025)

Online On-demand Home Services Market Geography Outlook (Revenue, USD bn, 2020-2025)

Grab an Exclusive Sample Reportfor additional highlights of the various segments of the online on-demand home services market

Related Reports:

Online On-demand Home Services Market Scope

Report Coverage

Details

Page number

120

Base year

2020

Forecast period

2021-2025

Growth momentum & CAGR

Accelerate at a CAGR of 70%

Market growth 2021-2025

USD 4730.31 billion

Market structure

Fragmented

YoY growth (%)

37.00

Regional analysis

APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA

Performing market contribution

APAC at 38%

Key consumer countries

US, China, Germany, India, and UK

Competitive landscape

Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope

Companies profiled

Airtasker Pty Ltd., Alfred Club Inc., Amazon.com Inc., ANGI Homeservices Inc., AskforTask Inc., ByNext Inc., Helpling GmbH & Co. KG, HomeServe Plc, Houzz Inc., MyClean Inc., Oneflare Pty Ltd., Paintzen Inc., Porch.com Inc., Pro.com Home Services LLC, ServiceWhale Inc., Super Home Inc., TaskEasy Inc, TaskRabbit Inc., ServiceMaster Global Holdings Inc., Urban Co., YourMechanic Inc., Zaarly LLC

Market Dynamics

Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for the forecast period,

Customization purview

If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuson emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

ContactsTechnavio ResearchJesse MaidaMedia & Marketing ExecutiveUS: +1 844 364 1100UK: +44 203 893 3200Email:[emailprotected]Website:www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio

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Online On-demand Home Services Market to grow by USD 4730.31 Bn | Alfred Club Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. Among Key Vendors | Technavio - PRNewswire

Guard your porches this holiday season, Austin. The Capital City ranks as the sixth worst U.S. metro area for package theft.

SafeWise, an online platform that promotes home safety and security, combed through FBI theft data as well as Google Trends data for searches like missing package and stolen package to come up with itsranking.

While sixth place isnt anything to celebrate, its worth noting that Austin ranked third on SafeWises 2020 list. And folks here have it better than those in Denver, which holds the top spot among the worst metro areas for package theft.

Plus, Austin has some good company on the SafeWise list. The San Antonio metro area ranks fifth, maintaining its same place on last years list.

In a SafeWise survey of 1,000 American adults, 64 percent reported being victims of package theft during the previous 12-month period. And 72 percent of those surveyed say the COVID-19 pandemic has made them more concerned about porch piracy, up nine points from last years survey.

More than half of all stolen packages were valued at $50 to $200, the survey shows. Amazon deliveries represented 54 percent of the stolen packages, followed by FedEx (16 percent), the U.S. Postal Service (11 percent), and UPS (9 percent).

Fifty-eight percent of recent victims of package theft reported using a security camera or video doorbell camera. And that appears to have paid off for some of them, as 34 percent caught the porch pirate on camera.

Package theft is a crime of opportunity. The more packages left for longer periods of time on a porch, the more likely they are to be stolen. As the Christmas gift season gets into full swing, there will be a significant increase in packages on a porch, says SafeWise adviser Ben Stickle, an expert on criminal justice and package theft.

Based on results of the SafeWise survey, its estimated that 210 million packages disappeared from porches across the country in the previous 12 months.

Porch piracy is a low-entry crime. There are no special skills needed to walk up a driveway and steal a package, says Stickle, an associate professor at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Go here to read the rest:
Austin makes the naughty list as one of the worst U.S. metros for porch pirates - CultureMap Austin

Having fun at the Peninsula Shepherd Center bingo party in December are Liz Waddell, Laura Mundy, Lee Sharp, Chris Gridley, Jim Donahoe, Roger, Betty Nelson, Janet Bernhardt, Edie Cook, and Lupe Gutierrez. COURTESY PHOTO

Peninsula Shepherd Center member Gretta Upp visits with volunteer Kimberly Platt. COURTESY PHOTO

The Peninsula Shepherd Center is taking Christmas giving one step further by making porch visits directly delivering care packages to isolated area seniors.

A lot of what we do is provide transportation services, food delivery, and social opportunities for seniors right here in our community, said Peninsula Shepherd Center executive director Lisa Faulk. The Senior Community Foundation has awarded grants to a number of senior centers in the county, and Shepherd was lucky enough to be one of them. What were doing is we have a monthly porch visit program. What that means is we visit all our members on a monthly basis and bring them some sort of package especially for that month.

For example, Faulk said senior recipients in February may get valentines, roses, or chocolates. On St. Patricks Day, they might get lottery tickets or succulent plants.

We bring crossword books and puzzles, added Faulk. Its a combination of functional and fun items. Weve done this throughout COVID.

Other senior holiday gifts bought with donated monies include blankets embroidered with the Peninsula Shepherd Center logo and name and poinsettia plants.

We also have in the gift pack a beautifully decorated snowflake cookie, added Faulk.

The mission of Peninsula Shepherd Center at 1475 Catalina Blvd. in Point Loma is to keep older adults active, independent, and in their own homes. Peninsula Shepherd Center provides transportation services, social activities in their senior lounge, and opportunities to connect with other older adults through events held throughout the Peninsula Communities.

For the second year, the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation is bringing together the largest collective effort to support seniors during the holidays, including the Peninsula Shepherd Center. Peninsula Shepherd Center is 1 of 26 senior centers and other organizations creating memorable holiday events from Thanksgiving through New Years for 4,000 San Diego area seniors.

Faulk said Peninsula Shepherd Center will have about 15 volunteers hand-delivering Christmas gift packages to members in the 92106, 92107, and 92110 ZIP codes.

Its really important because, for a lot of these folks, this is the highlight of their month, she noted adding, We call them every week to stay in very close touch and to make sure all their needs are covered. This next year, what were trying to do is expand our resources so that we can connect our members to County and City services that we dont provide. We want to be the connection resource to help folks.

The San Diego Seniors Community Foundation is still seeking donations to help more seniors during the holidays and throughout the year. Donations will be matched dollar for dollar through Dec. 31 atsdscf.org/givingtuesday. Peninsula Shepherd Center membership is available to all adults over 65 living in the 92106, 92107, and the Midway District of 92110. Contact Peninsula Shepherd Center at 619-223-1640 or visit sdpsc.org for more information.

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Peninsula Shepherd Center makes holiday porch visits for area seniors - The Peninsula Shepherd Center is taking Christmas giving one step further by...

Every reason to make this your next new home, as this colonial home is awaiting its new owners! Completely remodeled Chelsea Model, 4 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom with 1 huge car garage with exit. Over 2500s/f on all 3 finished levels. Perfect front porch to sit and read your favorite book! NEW carpet, NEW hard wood floors, NEW paint - interior and exterior, NEW bathrooms, NEW light fixtures, NEW door handles, New Front door, NEW exhaust fans, NEW Ceiling fans, NEW kitchen cabinets, NEW quartz countertop and NEW stainless steel appliances, NEW hot water heater, NEW garage door, NEW porch railing, NEW patio door leading to the nice deck overlooking the big back yard.

Wide hallways on the upper level- easy to take the big furniture to your favorite room. The master bedroom has a huge walk in closet, a tub and a shower! Enjoy your favorite beverage while hearing the wood crackle in the family room fireplace. Luckily you get to soak in all the natural sunlight throughout this gorgeous home. Basement has an open Rec room, with 1 full bathroom and possible bedroom. Oh by the way, if you're still working from home, the basement has an additional room you can use for your quiet office! Please don't hesitate to contact us to schedule a visit to see in person - just in case I've missed anything 🙂 . Conveniently located within a mile of shopping center, major highways/parkways, Metro, Dulles greenway, Dulles airport, Great Falls and more.

Listed by: Kinder Saund, Kinder-Realty LLC

This listing appeared on redfin.com. For more information click here. See more photos of the listing below, courtesy of Kinder-Realty LLC:

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Wow House: Relax On The Porch Of This Updated Herndon Colonial - Patch.com

With flavors like Crushed Candy Cane, Straw Merry Christmas & Gingerbread Friends

by: Wild Bill Wood, with photojournalist Justin Abshire

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) Back behind Blue Dot Donuts, on a New Orleans back porch, a guy named Sam sells ice cream.

Its the ice cream Sam Caruso makes.

And the flavors he makes up.

In the moment.

Its the moment, WGNO Good Morning New Orleans features reporter Bill Wood finds out, Sam wondered if hed ever had.

Sam says, Im experiencing something I never thought was possible.

Bill Wood says, your lifes had a lot of favors.

Sam says, some sour, some bitter, for the most part now its kind of sweet.

Sam Caruso could write a book.

And probably star as himself in the Netflix series.

Hes a culinary school dropout.

A heroin addict for 17 years.

After being in and out of jail more times than he can count.

After losing more jobs than he could count, Bill Wood asks Sam, would you call yourself a loser?

Sam says, I was a loser and wouldve called myself every negative name I could come up with.

I was a loser, Sam says.

I wasnt comfortable in my own skin.

After he broke his foot in a bicycle accident, Sam did nothing for a year, but sit and think.

He thought about life and about the ice cream he once made as a hobby for friends.

And he thought about a Chinese proverb he heard.

Sam remembers it and quotes it Victory comes from finding opportunities in problems.

Sam says the quote comes from a guy named Laozi.

And thats now the name on the label of his ice cream.

Its Laozi Ice Cream which you can order by clicking right here.

You can see his Instagram right here.

Sam pronounces the name Laozi like the word lousy.

He knows life can be lousy.

And as it turns out, so is his ice cream.

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From heroin addict to ice cream junkie - WGNO New Orleans