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Gov. Greg Abbott (right) and John Hellerstedt, Texas Department of State Health Services commissioner, provide an update on COVID-19 vaccine distribution at a Dec. 17 news conference. (Courtesy Office of the Governor)

Gov. Greg Abbott said at a Dec. 17 press conference that by the end of the week, the state will have shipped roughly 224,000 vaccines from drug company Pfizer to Texas hospitals. Plans are to ramp up distribution further next week when the Moderna vaccine becomes available in the state, he said.

Long-term health care facilities will be receiving these vaccines later on this month as well as local health departments, state hospitals and state-supported living centers, Abbott said.

Among the first to receive the new vaccines will be residents who are more vulnerable to the virus, including older residents and those with existing medical conditions that increase the risk of hospitalization or death, Abbott said.

The governor reiterated that he would not pursue further business shutdowns, urging personal responsibility from residents to slow the viral spread.

The states top health official said that continued compliance with mask orders and public health guidelines would remain essential in the coming months before the vaccine is widely administered.

This is the ray of hope at the end of the tunnel, but were not done yet, said John Hellerstedt, Texas Department of State Health Services commissioner.

More than 9,500 Texans were known to be hospitalized with the virus as of Dec. 16, the highest number recorded since late July.

More than 1 million doses of the vaccine are expected to be shipped before the end of the year in Texas, Abbott said. The state has 29 million residents, according to the latest government surveys.

Abbott said the speed of vaccine distribution will rise over time as manufacturing accelerates. Other companiesincluding Johnson & Johnson and AstraZenecaare expected to begin distributing their vaccines in the early months of 2021, he said.

Health care workers have been among the earliest to receive vaccinations because of their ongoing role in caring directly for patients with the virus that has been linked to more than 24,000 deaths in Texas since the start of the pandemic.

Everybody owes a debt of gratitude to these doctors and nurses who have been on the front lines for months now, Abbott said.

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Abbott: Vaccines to reach some in Texas nursing homes by end of year - Community Impact Newspaper

By: Molly Maid | 1Shares 95Reads

December 16, 2020 // Franchising.com // WACO, Texas - Molly Maid, a Neighborly company, announced its franchise networks top performers of 2019 during Neighborly United, which occurred earlier this quarter at the organizations first-ever virtual reunion.

Neighborlys annual reunion may have looked a bit different this year, but the pride of being part of the worlds largest family of home service brands was as strong as ever, said Vera Peterson, President of Molly Maid. Despite the challenges 2020 presented to our Molly Maid network, our franchise owners have risen to the occasion and continued to provide services to American families, when most needed. While we may not have been able to celebrate these outstanding individuals in person, it was an honor to shine a spotlight on the Molly Maid franchise owners who represented the very best of what our franchise network had to offer this year.

Top award winners included:

In addition to celebrating the noteworthy success of these franchise owners, Molly Maid also has much to celebrate in terms of development. As of the close of November 2020, the brands growth highlights of 2020 include nine new franchise agreements signed, all amidst an ongoing pandemic.

SOURCE Molly Maid

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Molly Maid Honors Top Franchise Performers During Neighborlys First-Ever Virtual Reunion, Neighborly United - Franchising.com

December 16, 2020, 10:35 AM

4 min read

A Florida woman has been arrested after attacking a maid and throwing her German shepherd off a motel balcony.

The incident occurred at about noon on Dec. 14 when the Daytona Beach Police Department received a call from staff at a Motel 6 reporting that a woman had attacked one of the motel's maids and had been standing over a railing and threatening to jump off of the motel's second-floor balcony.

When deputies arrived, however, the suspect, 35-year-old Allison Murphy, was locked inside of her room.

In police body camera released by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, authorities can be seen knocking on the door several times in an attempt to coax Murphy out of the motel room when the door suddenly swings open and Murphy comes out with a leashed German shepherd, which she immediately picks up and throws over the railing to the ground.

Allsion Murphy, 35, was arrested in Daytona Beach, Florida and charged with felony charges of animal cruelty and resisting an officer with violence on Dec. 14, 2020.

The dog -- now nicknamed "Miracle" by Volusia County Animal Services -- managed to land feet first and tried to run away before she was corralled by bystanders.

Murphy, meanwhile, was tackled to the floor in her motel room and taken into custody by authorities.

"Volusia County Animal Services took custody of the dog and nicknamed her 'Miracle,' as no name was provided," said the Volusia County Sheriff's Office in a statement on social media. "She was taken to Atlantic Animal Hospital in Port Orange for emergency evaluation, and is now in the care of Animal Services. Thankfully, during her examination, it was determined that Miracle escaped serious injury. However, an X-ray revealed a sewing needle was lodged in her right thigh. Miracle underwent a procedure to safely remove the needle and is currently recovering with Animal Services."

Authorities did not disclose what led up to Murphy's alleged attack on the motel maid or throwing her dog off the balcony, but did say that a petition for custody over Miracle will be scheduled in the courts in the coming weeks.

Murphy currently remains in custody and is facing felony charges of animal cruelty and resisting an officer with violence. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Read more from the original source:
'Miracle' the German shepherd survives being thrown off motel balcony by owner - ABC News

New York, Dec. 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Professional Cleaning Services Market in the U.S.- Industry Outlook and Forecast 2021-2026" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05997460/?utm_source=GNW

The U.S. professional cleaning services market is experiencing growth on account of the increased popularity of green cleaning technology. The use of sustainable washing agents, which include special chemicals, equipment, and techniques, is a major factor contributing to the growth of the market. Green products contain natural solutions and cleaners, which are safe and preferred for commercial end-users. Organic ingredients in the cleaning agents are harmless with health minimal effect on the human body. Green cleaning is an effective alternative, which employs chemicals. Efforts are consistently made by vendors to promote green methods as chemicals used in conventional procedures are polluting the air, water, and land. Hence, the dependency on green products, which are made up of natural, plant-based materials, is witnessing traction, thereby driving the demand for eco-friendly professional services.

The following factors are likely to contribute to the growth of the U.S. professional cleaning services market during the forecast period: Preference for Green Cleaning Services Development in Robotic and Automated Cleaners High Preference for Specialized Services

The study considers the present scenario of the U.S. professional cleaning services market and its market dynamics for the period 2020?2026. It covers a detailed overview of several market growth enablers, restraints, and trends. The report offers both the demand and supply aspects of the market. It profiles and examines leading companies and other prominent ones operating in the market.

U.S. Professional Cleaning Services Market Segmentation This research report includes a detailed segmentation by service type, end-user, operations, geography. Disinfectants, which also include COVID-19 solutions, witnessed a sudden demand in 2020. The increased awareness of contagious diseases is likely is to drive the growth of the disinfectant segment during the forecast period. Powered by automated solutions such as artificial intelligence window cleaners, window, and faade cleaning services are expected to generate incremental revenue of approx. $4 billion by the end of the forecast period.

The increased interest in green technology is prompting the adoption of green cleaning services in commercial and educational centers. The outbreak of pandemics such as COVID-19 is driving the demand for sterilized wipes, disinfectants, microfiber cloths, and mops in surgical and clean rooms. Therefore, hospital and medical centers are expected to pose an absolute growth of 52% during the forecast period.

With the ease of restrictions and lockdowns, the demand from gyms and fitness centers is expected to grow at an impressive rate during the forecast period as the probability of cross-contamination is high in these places. Therefore, these centers are striving to maintain high standards of hygiene, thereby influencing the market growth.

A wide variety of reasons are responsible for the dominance of standard services in the US market. Floorcare services, window, restroom cleaning is carried out with conventional equipment and chemicals contributing to the growth of the segment in the US.

While the standard segment contributing over $55 billion in 2020, it is expected to lose its share on account of the increased lucrativeness of green technology during the forecast period. Moreover, increased hygiene and health awareness, pandemic outbreaks are projected to negatively influence the segment growth.

Service Type Floor and Carpet Window and Faade Furniture and Upholstery Construction Cleanup PEST Control HVAC Others o Restroom Services o Cleaning and Dusting o Trauma Control End-user Commercial o Retail outlets o Shopping malls o Corporate offices o Educational Centers o Hospitality o Hospitals and Medical Centers o Gyms and Fitness Centers o Others Residential Industrial Operations Standard Green

INSIGHTS BY GEOGRAPHY Flexible workspaces with sustainable IT infrastructure have significantly grown in the North-Eastern US over the years. The region has the cleanest programs, mechanisms, and policies that enhance the adoption of green technology. North-Eastern US is expected to reach over $31 billion by 2026. While Boston and Massachusetts remain the most lucrative market, New Hampshire has witnessed slower growth and has taken a hit relatively by the COVID pandemic. Unlike other markets, the construction industry in North-East states are highly developed. The growth is majorly driven by the growth in new constructions and renovation activities in buildings.

Geography North-East US Mid-West US West US South US

INSIGHTS BY VENDORS Green technology is expected to revolutionize the US market. The technology has become an integral part of the janitorial portfolio for major vendors, thereby offering an add-on advantage to them. The inclusion of LEED and Green Seal environmental certifications ensures the rigorous adherence of the vendor to the green status in its services and products. ABM GreenCare, BoGREEN from Bonus Building Care, Stratus Green Cleaning programs are some of the leading green services in the US professional cleaning industry. Green approaches can be prioritized for the entire business management including materials and processes carried out like paperless proposals and invoice systems. An extensive service portfolio and catering to the niche industrial and commercial demands can fetch a wide consumer base. Venturing into facilities such as aircraft, warehouses, storage facilities, factory setups, and front offices could be profitable for vendors.

Prominent Vendors ABM Coverall Jan-Pro Jani-King International Inc. ServiceMaster Clean

Other Prominent Vendors Anago Cleaning Systems BONUS Building Care CleanNet USA Pritchard Industries Inc. Red Coats Inc. SERVPRO Stratus Building Solutions Vanguard Cleaning Systems Inc. Buildingstars Steamatic US Janitorial Inc. Americas Janitorial Service IMAGE ONE USA GDI Integrated Facility Services Marclean USA USSI Pro Clean Janitorial Facility Services Inc. MC Janitorial Maid to Clean Greens Commercial Cleaning Inc.

KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED 1. What is the future outlook and growth projections of the U.S. professional cleaning services market? 2. Which end-user segment is expected to account for the largest janitorial service market share by 2026? 3. What are the key factors that are likely to increase the global cleaning services market growth? 4. Who are the key players in the U.S. professional cleaning services market? 5. What major strategies are likely to be adopted by market players during the forecast period?Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05997460/?utm_source=GNW

About ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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The US professional cleaning services market by revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 6% during the period 20212026 - GlobeNewswire

Installing the walkway is a must when you need to jazz up your garden and willing to do amazing landscaping of your outdoors. So, transform your garden into mini heaven with these 30 best DIY Walkway Ideas that will also provide the safe sidewalk. Building garden paths becomes a must when you dont want to get your home and garden dirty with the shoes. So, installing a walkway will be a smart step too to minimize your garden damage. There can be too many choices for the garden walkways to satisfy different tastes of garden lovers. So, check out the most popular walkway designs by opening up this collection of 50 Walkway Ideas that impress with their beautiful designs and win the heart with the creativity involved.

These walkway ideas involve all from building a paver walkway to wooden walkways to gravel sidewalks. You will love the hidden hacks that will save a lot of your time and money for a walkway installation.

What is common in most of these walkway ideas is first to clean up and dig up space to the desired extent. Next, you install the decorative edging, fabric, and even a sand bed. Now the fun part starts, installing the walkway pavers and bricks. Make the wooden square forms to install stepped wooden pathways. Use also the walkways forms and custom stencils to install decorative walkways for your garden walkways, a pro.

Use also the free pallets to install no-cost wooden walkways, will last for years to come. Browse the entire list of Walkway ideas and get yourself inspired. These garden walkway ideas are for every budget but mostly cheap and for every skill level. These walkway ideas, inclcues brick walkway, paver walkway, stone path, cobblestone walkway and wooden walkway!

Complete the final look of your patio with a stone walkway, it will get praised due to elegant design texture. No need to higher professional, be your own boss, and install stone patio road by yourself. You need 12 x 24 stones, edgers, decorative stones, paver sand, weed block, and tamper to do this project. thriftdiving

Turn your green spaces, patio, or any backyard into mini heaven by featuring the accent walkway stepping stones. Build this pebble stepping stone walkway to feature a mosaic pattern in your garden. First, just make a wooden mold, pour cement in it, and then add the stones on the top in the mosaic pattern. Let it dry well. jeffreygardens

Give your patio or deck a fine looking finish by installing this gravel walkway, which will surely create a unified look of your property. First, clean up the area, remove grass, and dig the ground a little. Install brick edging, then layer crushed gravel and finish with pea gravel layer. Details here adamhelton

Add up your garden with a flagstone walkway, will impress with the natural texture, and will be super durable too. First, get the 3/4 thick flagstones into custom size, dig the space, install edging and then layer fabric. Next, lay the stones in the center and fill the gaps with gravel. Details here bhg

Opt for free pallets to build lasting longer and durable garden walkway ideas. Just tear the pallets apart and pick the separated apart lengths to install a quick wooden garden walkway, will go much natural. here the idea is just to dig up space and then level the soil, add pallet planks one by one and finish with stone edging. funkyjunkinter

The stepped walkway look like the giant stair with bigger and wide steps. This will brighten up the whole garden space and can be considered for decorative edging too. You need 16 x 12 hardboard siding, 26 joist hangers, 2x6x10 boards, 4x4x10 post, 5/4x6x8 boards, pea gravel and paint for this project. familyhandyman

The bricks will be a smart choice to build the most durable and good looking garden pathway. Recycle the walkway pavers or cobblestones to install this garden walkway. Just dig the space up and install the plastic landscaping edging, next layer sand, and start adding cobblestones and pavers on the sand bed. Details here familyhandyman

Do you need unique walkway ideas? You will give ten out of ten to this most beautiful garden paved walkway. It comes stenciled with different art shapes, symbols, and patterns separately on each paver for a gorgeous appeal. Just dig the space, layer a sand bed, and get a string anchor path guide to go in a start line while adding walkway pavers on the sand bed. Do stenciling after you complete the walkway. craftychica

Replace your worn path that goes through the grass and is mostly covered with dirt, with this homemade hillside sidewalk. Just grab the 6x6s lumber posts and start making stepped square walkway moldings. Fill them up with concrete and secure the sides with metal L-brackets and durable hardware. Let it dry then. ohiothoughts

If you want a lighted walkway for your garden, then head over to this solar-powered walkway ideas that will not add to your electricity bill. You will definitely get your space brightly illuminated when installing this glass tile walkway having LED lights fixed in. Details here instructables

Building this brick patch will be comparatively easy and will cost you much less, like under $50. Opt for the 6x6s wooden posts or 4x4s to install the edging and then just install the walkway pavers on the sand bed. Install the pavers in the center and then fill the gaps with broken up bricks. Details here martysmusings

Fancy up your garden with this lace-like stepping stones walkway, will create an enchanting walkway that will be loved by all. Just grab the square concrete step stones or garden pavers and then just stencil them using spray paint. The doilies of choice as cool stencils. Walkway stepping stones details here the wuvie

Make the cement stepping stones that will help build a gorgeous stones walkway will impress at a very first look. Just grab a piece of plywood, trace out some circles on it and put together the stones there making a lovely pattern. Next, put a tube form around the traced circle and fill concrete in it. alisaburke

Fancy up your garden with the simple paver stone walkway that will be loved dearly by all. Just grab the concrete pavers and then lay them down on the garden ground in custom arrangements and create a gorgeous walkway, will be loved dearly by all. Details here inmyownstyle

Create a divine look of your garden with this flagstone pathway, will bring a natural decor element to your garden. Just dig the garden space up and then level up the ground. Layer the fabric and then spread sand over the fabric and start arranging the flagstones on the sand bed. Details here diynetwork

No matter if you are a beginner, you will complete this project in just no time, a garden path and sidewalk made of stones. The stone look will look much natural and will surely create a divine look of your garden. The project will complete in 10 hours and will cost you $2.5-3.5 per square foot. thespruce

Grab here the garden path ideas to build a brick walkway, will be durable, and maybe a perfect choice to match your building bricks. The project is pretty simple and involves using the 2x4s while installing the edging. Just layer gravel and then sand and finally the bricks on the sand bed to complete this walkway. Details here instructables

Get free instructions here about how to install a good looking paver walkway. This paver road will rock for a patio and also for a garden or backyard. Installing this solid paver road will cost you much less when doing it yourself. You need pavers, pavers base, paver edging, and weed block to complete it. scrappygeek

This walkway is a hot mixture of stone and bricks and will gain attention at a very first glance. In supplies, you need spikes, brick pavers, steel pipes, fabric, paver edging, flat fieldstone, flagstone, sand, and compactable gravel. The brick and stone will look great together for sure. Details here familyhandyman

This stone walkway is super beautiful and will make your garden look heavenly for sure. The project demands first to dig up the space clean and then to level it nicely. Next, install the lawn edging and fabric and add a layer of gravel. Finally, start adding your stones and complete the beautiful stone walkway. Details here justmeasurin

Leave a great impression on your garden visitors by installing this stone walkway. Dig the garden space up, clean it, and level. Next, just install the gravel bed and install the paver edging. Start adding your pavers on the gravel bed and then fill the gaps with gravel. Details here hoosierhome

Level the garden ground and then layer a gravel bed, next hold a walkway form and place it on a targeted place, and then filled with liquid concrete to make this walkway. You can try different positions of the walkway form to make a natural-looking concrete walkway. Details here homemade

First, excavate the garden ground and then install the wooden frames for each step, and then just fill it up solid with the liquid concrete. You will love this stepped concrete walkway that will be loved dearly by all garden lovers and will be a breeze to make. Details here destinatione

Do you need a unique and cheap outdoor sitting place? Try these easy ideas for DIY garden bench to create the perfect spot to sit in your backyard.

You will be loved dearly this wooden walkway that is quite something quick and easy to build. Do you ever tried simple woodworking projects! Just install the 4x4s wooden posts fist to install the walkway frame and then start covering it solid with the deck boards. Soon, you will get a solid wooden walkway that will bring tons of visual details to the targeted area. faithfullyfree

Build a no-cost wooden walkway using the free recycled pallets. Just disassemble the pallets and get a pile of planks that you can put together to build a wooden walkway. The free pallets are a quick source of free wood, and you can reuse them to build this wooden garden walkway. Details here thehomespun

Create a divine appeal of your garden by building these garden stepping stones. They come with colorful hexagonal pattern and will be the most amazing geometrical decors in your garden. Grab the concrete pavers and then stencil them using honey, been stencil. Use colorful craft paints for it. Details here designimprovi

Installing this beautiful walkway will simply cost you next to nothing. Grab the mulch in two colors, flat stones, and a no-dig lawn walkway kit to install this lovely path. Just use the rake to level up the garden soil and install the walkway edging. Add a layer of mulch and then flat stepping stones. prettyhandygirl

Rock your garden with these walkway ideas, the walkway stepping stones made at home. Make them by placing the rubber doormat with a cool design on a flat surface, add a cardboard tubing ring around it and fill it up with the concrete. Let it dry, and you are done. Dont forget to layer oil first. nancymizelle

Accentuate the beauty of your garden with this barefoot sensory path. It comes with lots of different patches and sections. Add a little portion of grass in the walkway and then let a wooden textured section start. Next, add a little part of the stones and then let the wood make your feet special. Details here playathomete

Just cut out the ground where you want to build a walkway. Fill it up with gravel while keeping on leveling. Just layer a bed of mortar on the gravel and start adding the granite and paver pieces to get a solid walkway. Something amazing to do with granite scrap. Details here removeandrepl

This walkway looks like a railroad and comes with gaps filled with colorful gravel. The wooden steps peeking out of the walkway just looks adorable and extra cute. Just dig up the garden ground, layer the sand and gravel there and then start adding wooden step stones and gravel. This is also the most simple one out of our all walkway ideas.

Boost the value of your property by installing this bluestone walkway. It will be amazing if you match it with the walls of your house. Again cut out the walkway design in garden ground, fill gravel, layer a sand bed or mortar bed, and start adding the bluestones until you fill the whole walkway.

Spice up your front yard with this stone pathway will grace up your outdoor and hence entire property. There is no gap here that you can fill with gravel or with other items of this kind. So, you need skill here to get a solid flagstone floor, will just jazz up your patio and the entire property.

Create a big focal point in your green heaven by installing this stepped flagstone walkway. This walkway has the flagstone stair steps in the center and the flower beds all around the steps. Finally, the steps end up with a peak pointed adorned with a pair of accent flower pots.

This fantastic flagstone features a stone edging and comes with a solid flagstone floor in the center. If starting from your front porch or main home entrance, it will add a lot to the beauty and value of your property. You just no need to have the higher professional skill to install it, it is all easy peasy and quick.

You will love the brick arrangements here in this walkway that is super solid and long-lasting. Install it with or without a decorative edging. The idea here to go for custom patterned arrangements of bricks on the sand bed. Use mortar to complete the project.

Do you want brick walkway ideas? You will just love the brick pattern here, appearing nice and enchanting. Just cut the garden ground out, layer gravel, and then spread over the sand. Next, just add bricks on the sand bed and complete the herringbone brick walkway. This walkway will surely spice up your patio and outdoor.

You will love this herringbone walkway done with the bricks. The best to get for increased aesthetics of your garden and patio using garden path ideas. First, install the brick edging and then sand or mortar bed. Finally, start arranging your bricks in a 45-degree herringbone style.

Just look at this way to heaven, a perfect garden path that amazes at a very first look. Just cut the ground out, layer the fabric if need, and install decorative lawn edging. Next, spread the white gravel, the whole beauty of this walkway. Adjust the wooden steps on a white gravel bed.

Create a unified look of your property and backyard by creating this flagstone walkway. First, draw outlines for the walkway and then start digging. Install fabric, decorative edging, and then sand or liquid cement bed. Finally, start arranging the flagstones and complete the road. Details here

This will bring tons of focal stimulation to your patio and green garden space at night, an LED concrete walkway. The project involves installing a flagstone stepped walkway, and next, you can install the LED light edging. A better project to do with solar lights. Drilling the stone to fit lights may be a little challenging.

This pebble walkway is colorful and comes with lots of magical patterns that are amazingly absorbing. Cut out the walkway road, layer the mortar or cement and then start arranging the pebbles and stones making different patterns. The flowers and swirls will raise your garden decor to the next level.

A big thanks to concrete for this solid, adorable, and wavy walkway. The design becomes arresting with the brick decorative edging. Just make the wooden molds and start completing each step of the walkway. What you have to do mainly is to pour the concrete in the mold.

Bring tons of focal stimulation to your garden with this brick and gravel alley. A hot mixture of bricks and gravel that will jack up the whole visual of your garden. This is what you need to make your neighbor jealous. First, dig the space out and install fabric and brick edging. Finish with a gravel bed.

Connect this path to your home porch to your garden or front lawn or even to a backyard, and it will make the whole property of your look heavenly. Just cut the space out and install the brick edging. Place the flagstones of sufficient thickness in the mid and fill the gaps with gravel.

This one will get ten out of ten due to enchanting visual and stability. Just cut the road out of the ground and then start adding the brick and gravel sections. Just install the accent wood borders or brick edging and then install the rest of the river gravel walkway.

This is the real heaven, a pergola-framed York stone walkway. Grab the bigger wooden posts and cross lengths to install the pergola-frame all over the walkway. Opt for York stones for a solid natural-looking walkway. The pergola-frames will get soon covered with greenery for a green roof.

A wooden walkway is easiest and quickest in our list of walkway ideas ever. It just involves cleaning and digging the area until you get a soft bed of sand. Level it up and then start arranging the wood plank one by one until you cover the whole wooden walkway. Do this project with free pallets.

A big thanks to pallets for this adorable wooden garden walkway ideas. It will simply cost you nothing. Dig the space, add sand, gravel, or soil bed. Next, tear the pallets apart into pieces to get a big stock that you can arrange a flat together, making this walkway.

Do you really want walkway ideas on a budget? A beginner garden walkway that involves only arranging the wood slats on a gravel or sand bed. First, do some quick measurements and mark an outline for a walkway. Next, start arranging the slats on the marked area until you get a whole beautiful wooden alley.

Do you have privacy concerns with your neighbors? With these easy outdoor privacy screen ideas, you can add much-needed privacy to your pool, patio sitting, and deck.

Transform your garden into the place of your dreams by installing decorative walkways and pathways. It can really get expensive to install a walkway by hiring a professional that may cost you big. But you can go with these cheap walkway ideas that will allow you to install a decorative garden walkway in an inexpensive way and with the minimum skills. These walkway ideas also involve reusing some old and recycled items that will allow building a lovely walkway at a cost next to nothing.

Read more here:
50 Walkway Ideas To Install By Yourself Cheaply

A concrete paint cover is typically opaque and covers up the color of the concrete. This means it provides significant protection to the concrete below. However, if it is improperly applied or subjected to heavy traffic, a painted concrete floor is likely to chip and peel.

Epoxy and staining are two types of concrete floor sealer. Epoxy is a more durable but often more expensive option than a concrete stain. Epoxy forms a protective layer, while concrete stain is more decorative and requires more maintenance.Because epoxy can be more expensive than concrete stain, it is best used in high-traffic areas or in applications where low maintenance is desired.

A concrete stain, on the other hand, is quick to apply and can show off the textures of the concrete, but it does not provide a high degree of protection for the concrete against spills, salt, water and other contaminants. Staining concrete generally requires a dust mop, a pH-neutral cleaner and water to clean, while epoxy can cause resin buildup that necessitates the use of special detergents.

Find a concrete contractor near you for help selecting the right floor concrete sealer.

See the article here:
The 10 Best Sidewalk Contractors Near Me (with Free Estimates)

Did you know that more than 99% of streams and rivers are impacted by anthropogenic (human) activity?

I found myself standing outside the other night looking up at the stars and thinking about how chilly the nights have been. With the frigid weather already here, we can expect that snowfall will not be far behind. With this snowfall comes a source of pollution we might not think about.

Whether you live on a farm or in a small town, road salts are bound to make an appearance sooner than later. Salt pollution is present all across North America but predominantly is an issue in the eastern and midwestern United States.

Major causes of increasing salinity of freshwater include human salt inputs, agriculture, mining resource extraction and land clearing. Examples of this include road deicers, overuse of minerals used in agriculture (lime) and non-compliance of sewage systems.

Although this type of pollution isnt often thought about, salts can be detrimental because of their ability to change the chemical composition of major ions in waterways. Overuse of salts will gradually cause a decline in stream and lake biodiversity, increase corrosion of pipes, increased contamination, and pond, river, stream and ocean acidification.

Take a minute to think about fish. Freshwater fish are osmoregulators; this means that the concentration of salt is higher in their blood than in the water that surrounds them. Osmoregulation is the process of maintaining an internal balance of salt and water in the fishs body.

Without this process, homeostasis would be disrupted and throw off body functions such as temperature and fluid balance. Homeostasis is being in a steady state of internal, physical and chemical conditions. Over time, an increase in salt pollution can really throw off this balance.

Freshwater organisms and stream habitats are not the only ones affected by salinization. Farmers can be negatively affected by this year-round. Winter brings freezing pipes, nipping cold on baby calves, and the brutal early morning feedings in the winter, but it can also be followed up by a decrease in crop and pasture growth in the upcoming spring.

Salinity from road salts can affect production of crops and pastures by interfering with nitrogen uptake, reducing growth and stopping plant production. For example, ions like chloride (found in salt) are toxic to plants and can cause death when an increase in these ions occur.

Overuse of certain minerals year-round can also be harmful to farmland and increase salinity inputs. The spreading of lime in the fall is a great example of something that can be beneficial but also harmful to your farm. Lime can increase pasture and crop health, but it can also create a nasty run-off cocktail that is detrimental to land and waterways within your farm or watershed.

An easy fix to this is to get a soil test every few years. This will tell you the exact amount of lime you need to spread on fields.

As landowners, we may not be able to control the amount of salts used for roadways but we can control our own use of salts on our property. Use the following tips to create healthier watersheds and farmland for future generations.

1. A little goes along way. One handful of rock salt is enough per square yard. If using calcium chloride you can use even less. Also apply deicer before the snow and ice to reduce runoff and increase the effectiveness of the deicer.

2. Choose deicers wisely. Rock salt (Sodium chloride) is the most common deicer. This contains cyanide, which is harmful to freshwater organisms and plants. It also only works above 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Calcium chloride is a better choice, containing less harsh chemicals. Although more expensive, you only need to use about one-third the amount, compared to rock salt. Magnesium chloride is the best deicer and is the least toxic to plants and animals. You can even use sand to create traction instead of a deicer.

3. Do the least amount of work. Only spread salt on surfaces of driveways and walkways that you will be using the most. Never spread on the lawn or near streams, ponds, trees or storm drains. Salt works best when applied right before a snow fall or after snow is removed from surfaces. Salt directly after shoveling your driveway to increase efficiency of your work.

By following these tips and being more mindful of your salt inputs, we can ensure healthier watersheds and farms year round.

Up-to-date agriculture news in your inbox!

Read more here:
Take the steps to ensure healthier watersheds and farms year round - Farm and Dairy

Crews working for the Architect of the Capitol have winter precipitation removal down to a science.

WASHINGTON As work continued across the U.S. Capitol to negotiate a critical coronavirus relief deal and prepare for a presidential inauguration 35 days away, crews mobilized to clear 14 miles of sidewalks throughout the Capitol complex a mission to keep the area functioning during a week of breakneck work.

The Architect of the Capitol is the federal agency charged with maintaining the grounds through all weather conditions. Its crews are responsible for snow and ice removal across the equivalent of 400 football fields.

A thin coat of snow Wednesday covered the walkways leading to the nearly completed inauguration platform on the West Front of the Capitol, but it was freezing rain and ice that removed much of the small accumulation of powder by nightfall.

Ted Bechtol, Superintendent of U.S. Capitol Grounds, said in a prior interview with WUSA9 that the agency has 500 tons of rock salt at its disposal. The salt is used for road surfaces, while 20 tons of deicer are used for sidewalks and steps.

It generally takes two hours to prepare all equipment for a full snow event, Bechtol said.

There is, in fact, an area of the Capitol that is up to three degrees colder than the rest a patch of ground which may warrant extra attention during inclement winter weather.

The agency identified First Street and Constitution Avenue, N.E. as the coldest spot on the Capitol grounds. Relatively high building heights and mature trees cast the area in shadow for most of the day, decreasing its temperature.

Read more here:
Here's what it takes to clear snow from the U.S. Capitol grounds and inauguration area - WUSA9.com

With the first big snowstorm of the season in the forecast for Central Pennsylvania later this week, U.S. Postal Service officials are reminding residents to keep their mailboxes, steps, and sidewalks clear so letter carriers can deliver their mail safely.

The Postal Service is asking customers to help keep their letter carrier safe this winter through the following actions:

Residents who receive delivery to roadside mailboxes also must keep the approach to, and exit from, the mailbox clear of snow or any other obstacles, like trash cans and other vehicles, the USPS said. The carrier needs to get in, and then out, without leaving the vehicle or backing up.

Customers with questions or comments about their mail service can call toll-free 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).

Read this article:
As winter storm approaches, USPS reminds residents to keep their mailboxes, sidewalks and steps clear of snow - FOX43.com

Now that winter is starting to bite and New Years resolutions have us thinking about changing behaviors, perhaps youve considered living in a more watershed-friendly (environmentally conscious) way. Great idea! Keep in mind, changing behaviors requires a some refocusing and a little extra effort, but the results can be big!

Something as seemingly simple as how you de-ice your walkways can make a positive impact on water quality. Road salt (typically rock salt) used during winter storms is the major non-point source pollutant found in the streams flowing through Great Swamp and into the Passaic River. Our water quality testing data year-over-year shows that, although exclusively applied in winter, salts impact on waterways lingers throughout the rest of the year. Every rainstorm flushes salt from road edges into streams.

Why is salt such an issue?

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Road salt doesnt easily go away! It melts snow and ice which is what we hope to accomplish. But it then dissolves and soaks into the ground. It moves through the water table and into streams. Snowmeltrunoffcan actually contain more than 10,000 mg of chloride per liter. Thats like putting two teaspoons of salt into a small container the size of an orange juice carton. Whod want to drink that?!

Unless salts are washed down below root level, soil salinity can stunt plant growth, brown leaves, weaken and even kill off all but the hardiest plants, including some of New Jerseys most beautiful native wildflowers. As a result, invasive, salt-resistant species are likelier to grow in their place.

Road salt can also be highly toxic for aquatic life. As saltconcentrationsincrease in freshwater streams, sensitive species cannot survive the waves of salty runoff. Animals are also affected. Salt treated roads often attract animals. Mammals such as deer lick at road salt, presenting a road hazard. Seed-eating birds may or may not be able to distinguish between salt crystals and seed particles.

For a relatively small state, New Jersey uses a lot of road salt. According to New Jerseys Department of Transportationwebsite, more than 280,000 gallons of salt were applied for winter 2018 2019 along with 600,000 plus gallons of liquid calcium chloride and almost 2 million gallons of brine.

What can a thoughtful homeowner do to reduce salts impact while keeping paths slip free?

If you are able, get out there with an ice chopper and a shovel. And get the family in on the act. Youll burn some calories using physical instead of chemical removal methods. For increased traction, scatter kitty litter, wood ashes or sand. The darker colors also absorb heat and help to melt snow and ice.

Pet-friendly Solutions

Rock salt (aka ice melt) can burn our pets paws causing them extreme pain. Plus, we all know how much dogs love to lick salt. Consuming rock salt can lead to serious internal injuries including burning of the mouth and digestive tract, and seizures. It can also cause severe dehydration, liver failure, and pancreatitis. It can even be fatal.Some foods and household items are environmentally safealternativesfor melting ice, and are often more pet-friendly than rock salt and chemicals. Here are a few:

Whitevinegar and deicer Mix 3 cups white vinegar with 1 cup window deicer in a spray bottle to help deice windshields.

Brine its not just for turkeys anymore! Brine is a valuable rock salt alternative because it uses only one-tenth the amount of sodium chloride. Its a treatment applied before the snow begins. Spreading a thin layer of this salty liquid on the surface prevents ice from forming or snow from sticking. Brine can be applied up to three days in advance. Make your own brine solution by creating a 10% solution of regular table salt, dissolved in warm water and then placed in a sprayer- a small hand sprayer for steps and sidewalks will suffice. Note, it can be ineffective if it is too cold outside.

Potato juice, a byproduct of vodka distillation, is effective when mixed with traditional salt brine.

Store-bought Solutions

Calcium Chloridecan harm plants in high concentrations and is three times more expensive than rock salt, though it only requires one-third the application rate.

Magnesium Chlorideis less toxic than rock salt. It contains less chloride than rock salt or calcium chloride and is therefore safer for plants and animals. It can be tricky to locate in stores and does not store well over New Jerseys humid summers. Store it wisely!

Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA)is the best overall choice for melting ice safely. It is less toxic than deicers with chloride and is pet friendly; however, it is the most expensive alternative.

So, when the forecast calls for wintry weather, you can now be prepared to take on that snow and ice while protecting your pets and the water quality in and around the Passaic River.

Follow the Great Swamp Watershed Alliance@Greatswampnj on Twitter,@Greatswampnj on Instagram and@GreatSwamp on Facebook. Visit them online atgreatswamp.org.

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Watershed Friendly Living Snow and Ice Removal - TAPinto.net