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With Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror, many Ohioans have already begun their annual tradition of decorating for the upcoming winter holidays.

But while those festive lights, cookie-scented candles and beautiful evergreens make perfect additions to anyones holiday dcor, they can also increase the likelihood of a fire at home.

If this year has shown us anything, its that the health and safety of those we love is the most important priority, said State Fire Marshal Kevin S. Reardon. This holiday season, keep your loved ones in mind and always practice sound fire safety.

Electrical malfunction a common cause of fires started by holiday decorations contributed to 73 residential fires in Ohio last December. Cooking remained one of the leading causes of fires this time of year with 299. Of the 140 heating-related fires last December, 80 were confined to a chimney.

Were talking about fires that likely could have likely been prevented, said Ken Klouda, chief of the State Fire Marshals Fire Prevention Bureau. From inspecting the wires on your Christmas lights to having your fireplace cleaned each year, taking just a few small precautions can really go a long way.

Here are some steps you can take to stay safe.Decoration Safety:

Always follow manufacturer instructions when installing holiday lights, and never connect more than three strands together.

Inspect lights each year, and discard any with damaged sockets or wires.

Turn off lights and blow out candles when you leave the room.

When using lit candles, keep them in stable holders and away from combustibles.

Water your live Christmas tree daily and discard promptly when it becomes dry.

Do not block escape routes with a tree, decorations or presents.

Consider using battery-operated, flameless candles instead of lit candles.

Cooking Safety:

Do not leave any cooking area unattended.

Set a timer as a reminder of the food you are preparing.

Maintain a kid-free zone of three feet around the stove or areas where hot food or drinks are being prepared.

Keep paper towels and napkins away from hot surfaces.

Have an appropriate fire extinguisher handy.

If the situation becomes more serious, evacuate and call 911.Home Heating 101:

When using a fireplace, always burn clean, dry wood to reduce creosote buildup.

Have your chimneys cleaned and inspected at least once a year.

When using a space heater, keep a safe zone of three feet away from furniture, curtains or anything else that can burn.

Always turn off space heaters when leaving the room or sleeping.Chief Klouda also encourages Ohioans to not only have a working smoke alarms installed in their homes, but to also consider investing in a home sprinkler system both of which can prevent a fire from getting out of hand and give families plenty of time to escape safely.

Smoke alarms are going to give you the early warning you need to get out, stay out and be safe, Klouda said. Having a home sprinkler system provides an added benefit of knowing your belongings are going to be protected, your home is going to be protected and your life is going to be protected.TheDivision of State Fire Marshalis part of the Ohio Department of Commerce. The department is Ohios chief regulatory agency, focused on promoting prosperity and protecting what matters most to Ohioans and ensuring businesses follow the laws that help them create jobs and keep Ohioans safe. To learn more, visit com.ohio.gov.

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Ohio Fire Marshal's Office: Deck the halls safely this holiday season - The Highland County Press

Brian Amaral|The Providence Journal

They all remember how quiet it was: Three patients at two COVID field hospitals in Rhode Island, and thats the first thing they say when theyre asked what its like to be inside one.

After a few hours or days in emergency rooms and hospital wards, with doctors buzzing around talking about code red this, code blue that, theyd been taken to one of the states new field hospitals. Suddenly all they could hear was a fellow patient coughing or the footsteps of doctors and nurseswho would occasionally poke their heads into theroom. Not so much as a room but a bit of space cordoned off by curtains on the vast floor of a convention center or an old bank building.

How are you doing? Need anything? recalled Sam Rachiele, who was at the field hospital at the Rhode Island Convention Center last week. Want anything? Want a doctor, need a nurse?

As the state faces an overwhelming surge of COVID cases and hospitalizations, a few dozen patients have been treated so far at two field hospitals set up since last week, one at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providenceand one at an old Citizens Bank building in Cranston.

Rachiele is one of them. He was treated for COVID last week at the Rhode Island Convention Center field hospitalrun by Lifespan. It was an unexpected turn in a year with plenty of them. Months ago, his son, an electrician, was telling him how his company was putting in some of the wiring at one of the field hospitals.

He remembers thinking: Field hospitals? The hospitals are so big, there are so many in Rhode Island, why do you need extra hospitals?

But then a friend, a doctor, warned him: Its going to be booming by the end of the year.

And he was 100% right, Rachiele said.

He tested positive on Nov. 21. A Cranston resident, he is 75 years old. In March, he had open-heart surgery, which was the sort of underlying medical condition he was concerned about.

His symptoms were manageable at first. But early last Tuesday, he was in the bathroom washing his hands,and he passed out. His back hit the toilet. The toilet broke his fall and he in turn broke the toilet. His wife, Joan, called for help and he was taken to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence by ambulance.

I just had my fingers crossed that my wife would eventually come and pick me up, he said. You hear so many people go in and never come out. Thats the only thing that went through my mind. My family is No. 1 with me.

The scene at Rhode Island Hospital was unimaginable. This was 2020, in the United States, and he was fourth in line just to get into a room. When the hospital staff had him walk around to test his oxygen levels, he saw everyone else who was there: Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles. People with tubes and wires coming out of them, three or four doctors and nurses around them doing what they could. People being treated in hallways. People in their 20s and 30s.

It was like a horror movie, Rachiele said. Hes heard the doubters people who say the hospitals arent actually full.

Youve got to take their hands and show them, Rachiele said. Its real. Its real.

More: With RI hospitals full, COVID field hospital is ready

More: Here's what it's like to work in Rhode Island's first COVID field hospital

More: JOURNAL EXCLUSIVE| 'COVID: What comes next' podcast, with Dr. Ashish Jha

As Rhode Island hospitals fill up and the alternative care sites open, the hospitals running them have followed the same general principles on bringing in patients: First, people at the end of their hospital stay who arent so sick that they need intensive or critical care, but still too sick to go home.

By Wednesday, Rachiele was in that group. He hadn't recovered, but he was better off than the other people in Rhode Island Hospital, they told him. He didnt need oxygen anymore, and there were sicker people who needed his bed.

He was taken to the field hospital by ambulance, up into the convention center via a back ramp.

When he got inside, he was in a bed not a cot, but a real hospital bed looking up at the lights on the high ceiling. The rows are named after local streets. He was on Waterman Street. Room C1014.

Theyd check on him all the time, take his blood pressure and other vitals and make sure he was OK and had his medications. His wastebasket couldnt get half full without them coming to empty it. And they wiped everything down. All the staffers were, of course, decked out head to toe in personal protective equipment.

On Friday, hed improved even more and was ready to go home. His wife didnt pick him up. Instead he was taken by medical transport (its hard to get to the doors of the convention center) at about 4 p.m. Friday. He was thankful to go home but also thankful for the few days he spent in the convention center. Now hes back home with Joan, on the mend, thinking about what the state needs to do to make sure more people dont have to see what he saw inside Rhode Island Hospital.

The restrictions in place now on businesses and society? They should be even more powerful, and Gov. Gina Raimondo should go even further, Rachiele said. You won't have an economy left to save if this keeps going on, Rachiele said.

Youve gotta do something about these people who arent taking it seriously, Rachiele said. Theyve gotta take them in there and show them.

As of Tuesday morning, 22 patients were in the Convention Center field hospital, and a few dozen had been treated and discharged, according to Lifespan.

At Care New Englands hospital site, at the former Citizens Bank building on Sockanosset Cross Road, they weretreating nine peopleas of Tuesday morningand had discharged 12 since they opened.

Two of them were Anthony and Elizabeth Piccirillo, a married couple who live in Cranston.

After an exposure and mindful of Gov. Raimondos urgings, they went to get tested at the new McCoy Stadium site in Pawtucket before Thanksgiving. The results came back: both positive.

Anthony, 71, got sicker than Elizabeth, 69. At first it was just cold-like symptoms, but he became feverish and had the chills so bad that he had to take hot showers. Their daughter, who has asthma, urged them to check their blood oxygen levels. Theyd gotten lower and lower, dropping to levels considered hypoxic high 80s, low 90s.

Their son and daughter urged them to go to the hospital, which they did last Wednesday. They arrived first at the Kent Hospital emergency department in Warwick. Anthony had never even spent a night in a hospital. After about 24 hours, they were stable enough to go to the field hospital, not well enough to go home. So they went in two ambulances to the facility on Sockanosset Cross Road, where they were wheeled in on stretchers Thursday night.

There wasnt any fear, Anthony said.

We were together, which helped, Elizabeth said.

In fact, they felt a little relieved. Everything had been explained to them in detail: They werent 100% better, but they were headed that way. It was basically a step-down unit.

They had a double room in the space, so they got to stay together. Like Rachiele at the facility in Providence, they said it was quiet except for the coughing.

And like many people out there in the world, they had to wear masks. But these were over their eyes: The lights on the ceiling dont shut off, so to get to sleep, theyd need to cover their eyes.

They really cant say enough about the care they got, from their arrival at Kent to their departure, when their son-in-law picked them upon Sunday.

Everything they needed. They take their coffee with cream? Maybe well go out and get you some. One of the nurses offered to go to Whole Foods, Anthony said. Their daughter dropped off some things for them and a security guard met her out front to get them.

Anthony was on oxygen until Sunday morning, but no longer needed it. They went home. The experience was stressful and strange, but the staff there made it work, they both said.

We want to get the message out about the dedication and quality of care, the dedication and the courage, Elizabeth said. Everybody we met from the doctors to the janitorial staff.

Said Anthony: Its a good place. Were lucky to have it. This will all pass, but at least we were prepared for it.

bamaral@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7615

On Twitter: @bamaral44

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Patients share their stories of treatment at RI's COVID field hospitals - The Providence Journal

Its easier to put up lights without snow.

At least for Logan Euler, a 19-year-old programmer in Newberry, it is. He is one of many Alachua County residents who set up lights for the holiday season. Hundreds of homeowners in the county spend weeks organizing elaborate light shows to celebrate Christmas and the holiday season.

Eulers display can be found at his Newberry home located at 25261 SW 20th Ave. The light show is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays. Fridays and Saturdays its from 6 p.m. to midnight.

Euler and his family moved from Indiana to Newberry in late 2018 a few months before Christmas. Growing up in the snow, the family used trash bags to cover the electrical wires to prevent the lights from breaking. Euler, who has been participating since he was 10, said hes considering adding a snow machine to the show to bring a northern feel to the Sunshine State.

The shows setup is a family event, Euler said. His father spends the year traveling the country working on industrial machinery, so the light show offers an opportunity for the family to work on something together.

We all spend a week and a half, if not more, setting up the display, he said. I would have to say that's my favorite memory.

Euler promotes his show on Facebook and it even has a website. More than 3,600 other holiday-light fanatics have taken to a Facebook page called Gainesville Area Christmas Light Displays to find and promote different shows in the county. The admin of the page, which was created in 2015, maintains a Google Map with pins of different light shows for users to visit each year.

Shows like Eulers encourage people to enjoy the lights from the car by setting up FM radio signals. Viewers can tune their car radios to a specific frequency to hear holiday music synced with the lights.

Kendra Fields, a 36-year-old elementary school teacher in Gainesville, uses the Facebook page to plan light show viewings with her family. She takes her husband and 4-year-old twins, Scarlett and Theodore, to see lights in the county.

They are as excited to see Christmas lights as they are to go to Disney, Fields said.

Both Fields and her husband are teachers potentially exposed to COVID-19 on a daily basis through their jobs. Fields said she tries to limit her familys exposure when she can. Viewing Christmas lights from the car is a safe way for her family to celebrate the season.

It's definitely an activity that is tailor-made for social distancing, Fields said.

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Bill Holmes, a 74-year-old retired Alachua resident, also has a FM signal to go with his light show. Consisting of more than 50,000 lights and two miles of extension cords, Holmes has been lighting up his 5-acre property for 15 years.

Holmes light show at 7904 NW 170th St. in Alachua runs every night from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. until Jan 3.

I don't think there's anybody in the entire county that has a private light show this size, he said.

Despite the massive power output, Holmes said he runs his lights through a custom-built computer to make the system more energy efficient. The power bill increase is the cheapest part of the show, he said. His electricity bill, he said, increases by about $125 this time of year because of the lights.

Setting up the lights is a monthslong process starting in September, Holmes said, when he moves all of the lights out of storage buildings on his property. He tests each light individually in October and usually replaces 750 to 1,500 lights, he said. Holmes starts to set up the display in November and said he tries to complete it by the Saturday after Thanksgiving, if possible.

Holmes said he has also been Santa in the Alachua Christmas Parade for the past 14 years, including this year. He said he recalls looking at lights with his parents as a child. Growing up in a Navy family, Holmes said he got to see different light displays across the country.

I know it brings a lot of joy and happiness to a lot of people, Holmes said. To me, that's what Christmas is: bringing some happiness in somebody else's life.

Contact Steven at swalker@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @swalker_7.

The Florida Alligator has been independent of the university since 1971, your donation today could help #SaveStudentNewsrooms. Please consider giving today.

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Light displays around Alachua County offer a way to celebrate the holiday season amid the pandemic - The Independent Florida Alligator

Wednesday, 09 December 2020 14:55Last Updated: Thursday, 10 December 2020 09:50Published: Wednesday, 09 December 2020 14:55 Traci Dutton LudwigHits: 493

DWI: Responding to a report of a blue 2020 BMW idling at the intersection of Coralyn Road and Reynal Crossing with the driver apparently sleeping at the wheel around 10 p.m., Dec. 3, police checked on the driver and discovered a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from his breath. His eyes were also red and glassy, and his speech was slurred. When asked if he had been drinking, the driver Patrick McHugh, 57, of Yonkers, said he had consumed two beers in White Plains. Police asked McHugh to perform a field sobriety test, and he failed it. At that time, he was placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated. At headquarters, a Datamaster test revealed McHughs blood alcohol level was above the legal limit to operate a motor vehicle. His arrest was processed on the following charges: driving while intoxicated (first offense), aggravated DWI with a blood alcohol level of .18 or more with no priors, and a stopping/standing/parking violation. McHugh was released on his own recognizance and issued an appearance ticket for Scarsdale Village Justice Court.

Stolen On Nov. 30, a Garden Road resident reported a Chase bank check had been stolen from her last month while it was in postal service transit. She said she last saw the check when she placed it in her mailbox on Oct. 15, for postal service pickup. On Oct. 24, she learned the check had been deposited on Oct. 21. However, since the intended recipient never received the check, it was revealed that an unknown person who stole the check had deposited it. She wanted police to document the incident while she followed up with her bank.

On Dec. 1, a Haverford Road resident reported a package containing $250 worth of wine had been stolen from the front of her house sometime in the past. Investigation revealed that FedEx had delivered the package at approximately 12:45 p.m., Nov. 28. At approximately 5:40 p.m., that day, a white SUV was observed stopping in front of the house. A woman exited the car and walked halfway up the residents driveway before returning to the SUV. The SUV drove away and returned approximately two minutes later, facing the opposite direction on the road. The woman walked up the driveway to the front door, stole the package and left in the SUV. The woman was described as wearing black pants with a pink Nike emblem on the side, a hoodie sweater and a face covering. Police are following up.

Identity theftOn Dec. 1, a Ridgecrest North woman reported someone used her Social Security number and maiden name to apply for fraudulent Social Security benefits. She was advised to contact the NYS Department of Labor.

On Dec. 3, a Fox Meadow Road man reported someone used his Social Security number and name to apply for fraudulent Social Security benefits. While checking his credit report, the man detected someone with a similar name and a Westchester County address also showing up on his report, as well as several fraudulent attempts to open credit accounts in his name.

Criminal mischiefOn Dec. 2, a Chesterfield Road resident reported the rear windshield of his 2019 Honda had been smashed while the car was parked on the street in front of his house. Nothing was missing from the car, and there was no clear motive for the smashed widow. Police cleaned up broken glass from the roadway.

SilverwareOn Dec. 1, at 5:30 a.m., a Norma Place man reported someone might have stolen silverware from inside his house. He said he heard a jingling sound coming from his neighbors property while he was outside smoking a cigarette around 5:15 a.m., while his rear door was also unlocked. After hearing the noise, the caller checked his house and looked in a small drawer in the dining room, where he thought the silverware had been placed. It was not there, and he called police. Police arrived on scene and interviewed the man and his wife. The wife was not certain that their silverware had been placed in that dining room drawer. After searching the house, the wife found the silverware in the kitchen. No theft had occurred.

GeneratorOn Nov. 30, a Cushman Road contractor reported a generator owned by his company was damaged at a Cushman Road construction site. In particular, the contractor alleged the wires had been cut. After some investigation, it was determined that the wires had been disconnected, not cut. The generator had been the source of a Village code violation the preceding week, and firefighters had been called to the scene to disconnect the device after hours, after numerous complaints and multiple summonses, so it would comply with Village code.

SuspiciousA Wheelock Road woman reported an elderly, heavyset, white man was taking pictures of her house Nov. 30. He was last seen driving a small car. Police canvassed the area but did not find the man.

Wrong numberA woman from Australia called police to report she had been assaulted Nov. 30. She did not realize she had dialed internationally, and once this became clear, she did not request any help from Scarsdale police.

LeavesA Reimer Road resident reported he saw a dump truck empty out a large pile of leaves on the street in front of his house Dec. 2. Police asked the highway department to remove them. No summons was issued to residents on the street because an unknown landscaper reportedly placed the leaves there.

On Dec. 4, a Chesterfield Road resident reported a neighbors landscaper was blowing leaves onto his property. Police facilitated a conversation between the neighbors, and it was decided that the neighbor responsible for the leaves would speak to his landscaper to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

Accident and more A Fenimore Road homeowner reported a car crashed into his front yard around 6:30 p.m., Dec. 6. The driver a 33-year-old New York resident said he attempted to avoid an oncoming car, swerved and ended up on the Fenimore Road yard. A license check showed the license had been suspended seven different times on two separate dates. Also, the cars registration sticker showed that the cars license plate was improper, as it actually corresponded to a different car not the drivers 2008 Saturn. Police impounded the car and issued the driver summonses for unlicensed driving, an unregistered motor vehicle, failure to use a designated lane, operation of a motor vehicle with improper plates and operation of a motor vehicle without insurance.

Cars and roadwaysThe highway department was contacted about a leaning tree near the Mamaroneck Road underpass Nov. 30.

Verizon was notified about a low-hanging wire on Hamilton Road Dec. 1.

A driver reported a pothole on Weaver Street caused a flat tire in his car Dec. 1.

Police informed the highway department for repair.

Police helped a Black Birch Lane woman remove a thin, fallen telephone wire from her driveway Dec. 1. Verizon was notified.

A Carthage Road woman was having difficulty backing out of her driveway due to a car parked across the street Dec. 2. Police contacted the owner of the parked car and asked for it to be moved as a courtesy.

A motorist reportedly knocked down a street sign on the Bronx River Parkway exit ramp and Ogden Road after midnight Dec. 3. Police notified Westchester County police and checked the area. The motorist was not found.

Con Edison and Verizon were notified about fallen wires on Heathcote Road Dec. 3.

A food delivery truck dislodged a low-hanging Verizon wire on Scarsdale Avenue Dec. 3. Verizon was notified.

The building department was made aware of vines growing up a crooked tree and spreading to wires on Richbell Road Dec. 4.

Police reported a dislodged manhole cover to Verizon Dec. 4. The cover was located somewhere in the Village.Police received reports of a red Jeep Cherokee involved in a BB gun incident with another car on the Bronx River Parkway Dec. 4. Police began canvassing the area for the car and noticed a red Jeep Cherokee backing out of a Griffen Road driveway. They followed the driver at a safe distance as the Cherokee entered Quaker Ridge Road in New Rochelle. New Rochelle police conducted a traffic stop, and it was determined the car was not involved in the incident and the offending vehicle was not found.

The highway department was informed about a pothole at Weaver Street, near Crossway, Dec. 5. Later that day, a caller reported the large pothole had caused several vehicles a flat tire. Police placed four traffic cones around the pothole to prevent drivers from encountering it. The State Department of Transportation was notified, and they said they would send a crew to fix it.

Police interviewed a man sitting in a parked car behind a Palmer Avenue establishment after midnight Dec. 6. The man said he had an argument with his wife and was in the process of planning to go to a hotel.

A caller reported an aggressive driver on Mamaroneck Road Dec. 5. Police canvassed the area but did not find the drivers car for follow-up.

DogEarly in the morning of Dec. 7, a Benedict Road woman reported her dog named Lucky, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, had escaped her yard. She was out looking for him but asked a patrol car to assist her in canvassing the streets. Approximately 10 minutes later, the dog reportedly returned home and was reunited with the woman.

Lost and foundA passerby found a wallet at Scarsdale train station and gave it to police Dec. 4. Police contacted the owner, checked his identity and returned the wallet. Nothing was reported missing.

On Dec. 4, a Cambridge Road woman reported she lost a pair of white gold, diamond stud earrings while moving. She needed to report the loss for insurance purposes. The earrings were valued at $10,450.

A Brite Avenue resident reported losing a credit card at a local business Dec. 4. He realized he had left the card there the next day and went back to retrieve it, but it was reportedly not there. The card has been cancelled.

Village codeResponding to a noise complaint about loud music on Carthage Road Dec. 4, police found about 10 kids playing music outside and talking. They were wearing masks and social distancing, but police broke up the gathering because of the noise complaint. A caller reported a large group of adults playing baseball on an Edgewood School field and using profanity Dec. 6. Police investigated the call and observed approximately 20 adults on the field. Police advised them that school fields were closed and that they needed to leave. Police did not hear any foul words but advised the adults to please refrain from using vulgar language.

FirefightersOn Nov. 30, firefighters assisted at a two-car accident on the Hutchinson River Parkway. One occupant was taken to the hospital, and both cars were towed from the scene.

On Nov. 30, firefighters were dispatched to a Springdale Road house because of a reported gas leak. There, firefighters found a slight leak at the kitchen stovetop. Con Edison confirmed firefighters findings and shut gas to the house because the stove valve could not be isolated.

Firefighters assisted Hartsdale firefighters with a structure fire in their jurisdiction Dec. 1.

A mini school bus was rear-ended by a black sedan, which had been rear-ended by a Westchester County Department of Public Works truck on the Bronx River Parkway Dec. 3. The bus had no passengers and sustained only minor damage. The driver was not injured either. The sedan sustained major damage to the front and rear. It was carrying the driver and one passenger. The DPW truck had minor damage to the front bumper only. The pile-up collision occurred in the right lane, and firefighters used rigs to block this lane from traffic. The passenger of the sedan was treated on scene by Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps and refused further medical attention. Firefighters disconnected the sedans battery and stood by until the sedan was towed from the scene.

A two-year-old child accidentally locked himself in a master bathroom in an Oak Lane house Dec. 5. Firefighters were able to open the door to release the child unharmed.

Firefighters confirmed that kitchen smoke set off a fire alarm in a Spencer Place establishment Dec. 5. They examined the established and confirmed its safety.

This report covering police and fire department activity from Nov. 30 Dec. 6 has been compiled from official information.

Artwork by Brooke Goldstein

This police report is sponsored by Scarsdale Security who does more than just security. Contact them about remote video for your home or business. Call 914-722-2200 or visit their websiteThis police report is sponsored by Scarsdale Security who does more than just security. Contact them about remote video for your home or business. Call 914-722-2200 or visit their website.

Read more from the original source:
Report of Sleeping Driver and Idling Car Leads to DWI Arrest - Scarsdale10583.com

With precipitation falling, there are a number of reported accidents on Connecticut highways Saturday.

Snow is falling in northern Connecticut and starting to mix with rain in southern Connecticut.

Heavy snow has also taken down some branches and wires.

Here are the reported accidents and storm-related road closures.

SAFETY ALERT: Don't crowd the plow: Keep back 300 feet from snow plows.

In Union, the ramp to get off at Exit 74 on eastbound I-84 has shut down after there were downed wires, according to the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Reported at 5:50 p.m.

In Willington, multiple Truck Accidents prompted eastbound I-84 to close down from exit 70 to the Massachusetts border, according to the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Reported at 4:26 p.m.

In Madison, the right lane has closed near exits 62 and 61 on southbound I-95, according to the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Emergency maintenance on the roadway was occurring. Reported at 4:27 p.m.

In Stafford, a tree down in wires resulted in Route 319 shutting down around Route 32, according to the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Reported at 4:16 p.m.

In Woodstock, a tree down in wires resulted in Route 197 closing at Prospect Street, according to the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Reported at 3:57 p.m.

In Lebanon, a tree in wires prompted Route 87 to close at Burnham Rd, according to the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Reported at 2:43 p.m.

In New Haven, a two-vehicle accident has closed the two left lanes on southbound I-95 between exits 46 and 22. Reported at 2:04 p.m.

In Bridgeport, one-vehicle accident on southbound Route 8. Two left lanes are closed between exits 5 and 3. Reported at 11:16 a.m.

In Cheshire on eastbound I-691 near Exit 3. Motor-vehicle accident with injuries. Reported at 11:14 a.m.

In Thomaston, southbound Route 8 is closed because of an accident involving a tractor-trailer truck. At least one person was taken to St. Marys Hospital in Waterbury. Reported at 10:30 a.m.

In Goshen, Route 63 is closed between the rotary and Route 43 because of pole down with wires. Reported at 9:53 a.m.

Check back for updates.

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Accidents and closures: Heres whats happening on CT roads - CTPost

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Bio Plasticizers Market by Type, by Application - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Bio Plasticizers Market was valued at USD 1.55 billion in 2019 and is projected at USD 2.11 billion, expanding at a CAGR of 2.7% during the forecast period, from 2020 to 2030.

In terms of volumetric sale, the market was estimates at 2,148.7 kilotons in 2019 and is expected to reach 3,089.6 Kilotons by 2030, at a CAGR of 3.3% from 2020 to 2030.

Bio plasticizers are bio-based polymer additives obtained from castor oil, soybean, stearic acid, starch, palm oil, and others such vegetable raw materials. These are renewable sources, available in abundance and thus do not cause carbon emission. Bio plasticizers improve the flexibility, softness, workability, and volatility of the plasticized materials. Bio plasticizers can replace phthalate in applications such as packaging, medical devices, toys, personal care products, and other products.

Market Dynamics and Trends:

The growth of global bio plasticizers market is attributable to the factors such as stringent regulations regarding the use of phthalate-based plasticizers, increasing demand for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in a wide range of applications, growing demand for bio-based plastic films in the food and packaging industries, and inclination of key players toward sustainable manufacturing processes through the use of eco-friendly raw-materials.

Bio plasticizers are widely used in the building & construction industry, especially in architectural molds, thermal insulation panels, sculptures, and other construction materials such as adhesives, bonding agents, flooring, sealants, and roofing supplies. The building & construction segment is expected to fuel the growth of bio plasticizers market during the forecast period.

However, high cost of raw materials used to produce bio plasticizers is impeding the growth of the market. On the other hand, rising research & development activities, growing application of bio plasticizers in emerging economies, and inclination towards sustainable development are expected to create opportunities in the market.

Market Segmentations and Scope of the Study:

The global bio plasticizers market is segmented based on type, application, and geography. On the basis of type, the market is segregated into epoxides, sebacates, succinic acid, citrates, glycerol esters, and others. In terms of application, the market is divided into flooring & wall, film & sheet coverings, wires & cables, coated fabrics, consumer goods, and others. Based on region, the global bio plasticize market is classified as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW).

Geographical Analysis

North America is expected to dominate the global bio plasticizers market due to the ban on phthalates, which in turn has boosted the adoption of these plasticizers. Also, surge in demand for eco-friendly bio-films from the food & packaging industry is expected to propel the market in this region.

Europe is expected to hold a significant share of the market during the forecast period owing to the increasing government investments and growing demand for bio-plasticizers by the personal care product and consumer goods manufacturers.

The market in Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at a substantial CAGR during the forecast period due to growing awareness among consumers regarding bio-degradable and eco-friendly plasticizers, huge investment in R&D activities, increasing government initiatives to produce effective and low-cost bio-plasticizers.

Competitive Landscape

Key players in the bio plasticizers market include Bioamber Inc., DuPont, DOW Chemical Company, Emery Oleochemicals, Evonik Industries, Lanxess AG, Matrica S.p.A., Myriant Corporation, PolyOne Corporation, and Vertellus Holdings LLC.

In February 2020, Lanxess AG introduced 'Vegan LANXESS processing promoter' to ensure the reduction of carbon-footprints in the production process of tiers. Aktiplast PP-veg, a vegetable raw material-based processing promoter for polymer blends, which can be used to manufacture tires and other types of technical rubber articles.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Introduction

2. Market Snapshot, 2019-2030 Million USD

2.1. Market Snapshot

3. Porter's Five Force Model Analysis

4. Market Dynamics

4.1. Growth Drivers

4.2. Challenges

4.3. Opportunities

5. Global Bio Plasticizers Market, by Type

5.1. Overview

5.2. Epoxides

5.3. Sebacates

5.4. Succinic Acid

5.5. Citrates

5.6. Glycerol Esters

6. Global Bio Plasticizers Market, by Application

6.1. Overview

6.2. Flooring & Wall

6.3. Film & Sheet Coverings

6.4. Wires & Cables

6.5. Coated Fabrics

6.6. Consumer Goods

7. Global Bio Plasticizers Market, by Region

8. Company Profiles

8.1 Company Overview

8.2 Company Snapshot

8.3 Operating Business Segments

8.4 Product Portfolio

8.5 Business Performance

8.6 Key Strategic Moves and Development

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4igt7s

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Global $2.11 Billion Bio Plasticizers Market Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast to 2030 - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Business Wire

From left to right, Capstone owners Brian Rhoton, Clint Whiting, Jerry Abbott.

Kaitlin Olson

For the Capstone Homes team, being named Flagstaffs Best Home Builders seems an especially fitting distinction for its most productive year ever.

Whereas in a normal year the 40-person team might sell 100 of the houses it creates, it will close 2020 with more than 165 home sales. In custom homes alone, the team is currently working on 40 homes in contrast with its normal 11-per-year average.

The company, which has been building in Flagstaff since 2010 and is currently expanding into Prescott and surrounding areas, is the creator of communities including Flagstaff Ranchs Aspen Ridge and Aspen Shadows, Crestview and Flagstaff Meadows. Lots in its newest community off West Route 66 and Woody Mountain Road, Timber Sky, which opened this year, as well as the second stage of Flagstaff Meadows, are completely sold out.

Lately, more buyers are coming from urban areas of California, as well as Phoenix, as families use their savings from the lack of travel this year to invest in a second home, said Marketing Director Janell Wilson. Custom home requests have also seen some changes in light of the COVID-19 pandemic as families seek larger homes with enough space for home offices and study rooms for their children as they complete school remotely.

Wilson said part of the appeal of Capstone Homes as a builder is their environmental friendliness, which goes beyond installing energy efficient appliances to include the structure of the building itself, from sealants and insulation to windows and air filters.

See more here:
Capstone Homes: The business of building lives - Arizona Daily Sun

The Memorial house once owned by late Enron executive Kenneth Lay is back on the market. This time its listed at $1.6 million, for less than its 2015 price tag of $2 million.

Lay commissioned custom home builderSam Marshall Senior to construct this Colonial-style estate in the prestigious Hunters Creek enclave.

Built in 1983, the six-bedroom,5,538-square-foot house sits on more than half an acre of land and welcomes guests witha long, winding driveway and vaulted-ceiling foyer. The formal dining room is outfitted with herringbone-patterned cherry hardwood floors andchinoiserie-print wallpaper. In the updated kitchen, there's a light-flooded crystal display case and granite counter built-in desk.

OPENINGS, CLOSINGS: What's new in Houston food

Custom molding and millwork feature prominently throughout the interior.

Upstairs, a large game room boasts a wet bar and built-in surround sound. The wood-paneled study has bay windows, with plantation shutters, that overlook the patio.

Outside, canvas awnings cover a terrace and professionally landscaped backyard.

Lay and his wife Linda reportedly paid $672,000 for the custom construction in the early 80s.

Lay, who was convicted of corporate fraud, died of a heart attack in 2006, months before his sentencing hearing.

Read the original here:
Enron exec's former home is back on the market - Chron

JESSE JAMES PUSHES CUSTOM BUILDS TO THE LIMIT IN "MONSTER GARAGE", PREMIERING JANUARY 4 ON DISCOVERY+

(Los Angeles) - Jesse James, legendary fabricator and founder of West Coast Choppers is returning to Discovery after fourteen years with a renewed passion for creating some of most mind-blowing vehicles to ever drive across television screens. James, along with a new crew of maverick mechanics each week, set out to continue his legacy and inspire a new generation of builders in a brand-new season of MONSTER GARAGE, premiering January 4, 2021 exclusively on discovery+.

With a focus on elevating mechanical and automotive vision in the shop, James is once again looking to accomplish the impossible and will be working with some of the most talented craftsmen and women in the country. Each episode will feature five builders from diverse backgrounds who are given five days to transform an ordinary street vehicle into a one-of-a-kind monster machine. If they're successful, they leave the garage with $5,000 worth of tools, and Jesse can take the vehicle out for a high-octane monster challenge. But if they fail, James gets to blow it up.

"I'm very thankful for Discovery CEO David Zaslav for keeping the Monster Garage candle lit for the last 10 years. We always knew we would eventually bring it back. I also knew when that day came, I needed to be ready. More skills in my toolbox and a clear mind and schedule. Ready to put my head down and work as hard as possible to push the limits of TV again," said Jesse James.

James challenges each team of mechanics with some of the wildest builds they've ever heard of - from constructing the world's largest pulse jet engine to use as the power source for a vintage Jaguar to turning a typical farm tractor into a dragster, these builds lead to some of the most epic endings in MONSTER GARAGE history. In addition, James takes another shot at one of the builds from the original series that has been haunting him: The Hovercraft DeLorean - and it will either be a complete failure or one of the garage's most insane redemption stories.

Jesse James is more talented than ever and he's ready to break all the rules when it comes to custom builds.

Viewers can join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #MonsterGarage and follow Discovery on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest updates.

MONSTER GARAGE is produced for discovery+ by Fremantle's Original Productions. For Original Productions, Brian Lovett, Jeff Hasler, Ernie Avila and Sam Wasserman are executive producers. For Discovery Channel, Kyle Wheeler and Gretchen Morning are executive producers and Jessica Mollo is associate producer. Jesse James also serves as executive producer.

About discovery+

Available in the U.S. on January 4, 2021, discovery+ is the definitive non-fiction, real life subscription streaming service. discovery+ will launch with a landmark partnership with Verizon that gives their customers with select plans 12 months of discovery+ on Verizon. At launch in the U.S., discovery+ will have the largest-ever content offering of any new streaming service, featuring a wide range of exclusive, original series across popular, passion verticals in which Discovery brands have a strong leadership position, including lifestyle and relationships; home and food; true crime; paranormal; adventure and natural history; as well as science, tech and the environment, and a slate of high-quality documentaries. For more, visit discoveryplus.com.

About Discovery Channel

Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 88.3 million U.S. homes, can be seen in 224 countries and territories, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. For more information, please visit http://www.discovery.com.

View post:
Breaking News - Jesse James Pushes Custom Builds to the Limit in "Monster Garage", Premiering January 4 on discovery+ - The Futon Critic

With the first round of third-party AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT cards now on the way, we caught wind that Asus spearheaded the movement with the custom, factory-overclocked TUF Gaming RX 6900 XT GPU. A sneaky move from Asus, having crept the design out the day before AMD's reference cards were set to go on sale.

This pioneer AIB card is based on the 6000-series flagship model, the AMD RX 6900 XTaffectionately known as 'Big Navi'will be powered by dual 8-pin connectors, and features a massive, enhanced triple-fan and triple-slot cooling solution to keep the fully custom PCB design from running hot. Clock speeds are TBD at this point, but we're expecting these to boast something in super-excess of the reference cards 2,250MHz max recommended boost clock.

Joining the Asus TUF Gaming GPU in the Big Navi AIB lineup, comes the ASRock Radeon RX 6900 XT Phantom Gaming D. The Phantom Big D (please let this catch on) not only features a wider and longer, fully custom PCB, it also necessitates triple 8-pin power connectors, and a beastly aluminum heatsink cooling solution with nine heat pipes to boot.

Following this, ASRock pulled out a non-public version of the Phantom Gaming D, with a further enhanced radiator and PCB materials. Again, the actual specs for both the public and non-public cards are nebulous at the moment, and are apparently "subject to change without notice," not that there are any to speak of yet. Still, it's fair to say that the 3x8-pin power connectors point to some thirsty clock numbers or overclocking potentialthat which there is potentially plenty of with the binned Navi 21 GPU at this card's core.

Both the Asus TUF Gaming and ASRock Phantom Gaming D RX 6900 XTs are expected to come in at way over the reference RX 6900 XT's $999 MSRP. And with more third party manufactured Navi 21 cards on the way, you can look forward to a varied lineup of these top-end AMD cards slowly rolling out.

Still, don't expect to be able to get hold of any for a good few months yet, even if we do see a fair few designs coming our way. The GPU stock landscape is a barren waste at current, but there's no harm in looking.

Originally posted here:
The first round of custom AMD RX 6900 XT graphics cards includes one with triple 8-pin power - PC Gamer