Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Nicholas Mercer

Local Journalism Initiative

There is plenty of activity around the ballfield and its parking lot on Goodyear Avenue in Grand Falls-Windsor lately.

Heavy equipment have begun work replacing and fixing the lot, as well as upgrading its drainage system. The work is a part of a larger focus on the improvement recreation facilities around the province.

In a prepared released, the provincial and federal governments announced funding for facilities in five communities across Newfoundland and Labrador. In total, the funding announced totals over $1.6 million between federal, provincial and municipal contributions.

The money will take care of projects in Grand Falls-Windsor, as well as Twillingate, Kings Point, Change Islands and Stephenville.

"Investing in cultural and recreational infrastructure is important to growing strong and healthy communities. The improvements being made to these facilities means that Newfoundland and Labrador residents can spend more time connecting, staying active, and having fun in modern and accessible facilities, said Coast of Bays-Central-Notre Dame MP Scott Simms in the release. We are proud to work with our partners to deliver these important projects. They are an example of how Canada's infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country and builds stronger communities."

In addition to the parking lot work being done in Grand Falls-Windsor, work will also include paving the walking track around the adjacent playground and splash pad.

A pair of new backstops on the ball fields will also be installed, along with upgrades to existing dugouts and the installation of two scoreboards.

Staying central Newfoundland, the Town of Kings Point will see the installation of a pre-fabricated steel dome that will serve as a rough for

the outdoor ice rink in the community.

In Twillingate, fresh off being named the next Hockeyville, a new chiller will be installed at the George Hawkins Arena.

Meanwhile, the recreation centre in Change Islands will be getting a makeover as a result of the funding announcement. The building will have new doors, windows and siding installed, while also getting repairs done to the skirt of the building.

In Stephenville, the aging playground at Blanch Brook Park is being replaced by a modern, all-inclusive structure.

Renovating recreational facilities so that they are modern and accessible is a priority for this government. These facilities allow people of all ages and abilities to take part in activities to promote healthy and active lifestyles, said minister of transportation and infrastructure Derrick Bragg.

Nicholas Mercer is a local journalism initiative reporter for central Newfoundland for SaltWire Network.

nicholas.mercer@thecentralvoice.ca

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Recreation funding announced for communities across Newfoundland and Labrador - SaltWire Network

FOSTER CITY, Calif., Oct. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Modernize.com, a leader in the home improvement and home services industry, announces the results of a recent survey assessing homeowner plans for renovation projects this winter. The survey, conducted during September and October, collected information on holiday travel and home improvement plans, as well as budgets and financing, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We see that interest in home improvement projects appears higher than usual heading into this winter," observes Cassie Morien, homeowner insights analyst for Modernize. "With limited travel planned amidst the pandemic, homeowners appear to be shifting funds away from plane tickets and hotels and instead envision renovating their properties to make them more comfortable and energy-efficient."

Important homeowner survey findingsModernize's report, available in a downloadable eBook, reflects information from more than 5,000 consumers. Results show the following holiday and winter season plans:

Modernize makes the following resources available to help contractors during the off-season:

WebinarModernize will offer a free webinar, Thursday, October 29, at 1 p.m. CST to discuss the latest Modernize homeowner survey findings and their implications for contractors this winter. The webinar will be hosted by Jamie Smith, director of client acquisition services, along with home improvement expert, Gregg Hicks, vice president at Modernize. Registration is available: https://modernize.com/contractor-resources/56256/weathering-the-off-season-live-webinar

A copy of the webinar materials will be available for download on the Modernize website.

e-BookHomeowner survey data is summarized in an e-book entitled "Weathering the Off-Season." This e-book covers COVID-19's impact on homeowners, holiday spending plans related to home renovations, marketing during the off-season, remarketing to cold leads and staying safe while working indoors this winter.

Morien is available to elaborate on homeowner survey findings and highlight how the webinar and e-book can benefit contractors.

About ModernizeFor more than 15 years, Modernize has been a leader in the home improvement and services industry, connecting homeowners with contractors and other home services professionals. Modernize operates in more than 15 high-value, high-consideration home segments, including new and replacement windows, solar installation, roofing, heating and air conditioning, siding, bathrooms and kitchens, new and replacement gutters, home security, and others. The business brings a network of more than 1,000 contractors and professionals across all segments, offering broad geographical coverage and choice for homeowners.

Modernize is owned and operated by QuinStreet, Inc. (Nasdaq:QNST), a pioneer in delivering online marketplace solutions to match searchers with brands in digital media. QuinStreet is committed to providing consumers and businesses with the information and tools they need to research, find and select the products and brands that meet their needs.

Company Contact:Jacqueline LepplaSenior Director of Public RelationsQuinStreet, Inc.Direct +1 775 321 3608Email [emailprotected] LinkedInTwitter:https://twitter.com/ModernizeProsFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/modernizepros

Media Contact:Julie SolomonSSPROffice 267-589-916Mobile 610-764-1534[emailprotected]

SOURCE Modernize.com

Link:
Modernize Homeowner Survey Helps Contractors Weather the Off-Season - PRNewswire

Public Health Column from the county health department:

Oct. 25th31stis National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, which is a time when families, community organizations, and local governments join efforts in the fight against lead poisoning in their communities.

Lead poisoning in children can lead to hyperactivity, reduced cognitive (thinking) ability, and other permanent, negative health effects. One of the goals of the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) is to spread awareness of this public health issue and to increase lead poisoning prevention throughout our communities.

Paul Pettit, Public Health director of Genesee and Orleans counties,declares that Lead poisoning can be prevented! The key is to keep children from coming in contact with lead. Take time this week to learn about ways to reduce yourchilds exposure to lead in their environment and prevent its serious health effects.

This year, the Center for Disease Control has compiled three themes for National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week:

In New York State, the goal is to have 80 percent of children tested for lead at these ages. Local data shows that the screening rates among children in Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming Counties fell below the State goal in 2019. Lead testing and early detection can prevent long-term health problems for your child and their future.Make sure to talk to yourchilds doctor about lead screening at their next appointment!

Funding may be available to help make your home lead safe. In January 2020, the Genesee County Health Department (on behalf of GO Health) received a $1.3M federal HUD grant to address lead-based paint hazards in homes and rentals throughout the City of Batavia and the Village of Albion, including installation of replacement windows, paint, siding, and other home repairs. Specifically, the grant targets low-income households with children under the age of 6; this includes homeowners and landlords with low-income tenants.

Recently, Genesee County was able to revise the grant target area to include all areas within Genesee and Orleans Counties, making potential grant funding available to qualified applicants throughout both counties.

Lead hazards exist in older homes all over Genesee and Orleans Counties. We want every eligible resident to have a chance to apply for these funds, and were prepared to help them through the process,said Darren Brodie, Lead Program coordinator for Genesee and Orleans counties.

For those who dont know whether they qualify as low-income, as defined by HUD, the information can be found online or by contacting the Health Department directly. This target area expansion is expected to go into effect next month, and the Health Department is currently accepting applications countywide for both Genesee and Orleans in anticipation of the expansion.

View post:
Be Aware: It's National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week - The Batavian

Van Nuys , CA , USA, 10/28/2020 / Story.KISSPR.com /

Maintenance of your living space is a continuous process. There are a few concerns that you need to keep in check at regular intervals for uninterrupted functioning. Gutters are one of them.

Gutter installation, be it for residential purposes or commercial purposes, lays the foundation of any man-made structure. Although they arent in the limelight, unlike other appealing necessities, they sure play a significant role. If the gutter installation and gutter replacement process are not given attention, they can prove as an enemy to the living space.

Proper maintenance is the key to the long life of gutters. But they may curb at some point. To know if your gutters need replacement, look for the following seven most obvious signs:

The very first sign that is visibly obvious is if there are any cracks or holes in the gutter system. Start your gutter repair inspection by checking for those.

While it sounds like a straightforward process, you need to know it isnt really the case. Large cracks and holes are plainly visible on the dry, clear days. But to inspect for smaller cracks, you need a storm to help you.

It is essential to check whether the cracks and holes are small or large ones. If there are just small cracks, start with considering if they can be repaired. A few small cracks can be handled by a dab of a well-placed sealant. But if there are large and extensive cracks and holes, or even too many smaller cracks, you need to consider gutter replacement. They are supposed to get worse with each passing storm.

If you think large cracks are the ultimate worst that could happen if the gutter system fails, wait until you locate rust or corrosion leaving their marks. It is the biggest killer of gutters. It directly indicates that the protective coating of your gutter is broken, and its nearing its end.

The worst part is once it starts, its impossible that a gutter system can escape from it. Theres no stop, and immediate gutter replacement is your saving resort.

The coating of your gutters is made to last for a long period of time. They are to withstand season after season of temperature changes, huge amounts of rain, blistering winds, etc. But of course, they stop supporting after a period of time.

Look for discoloration or peeling of the paints on the exterior siding. If theres a couple of sections thats been compromised, know that the protective layers are worn out. If your gutters arent painted, look for spots from the side of your home.

Your gutter system keeps on collecting debris and other litters. If you are getting it cleaned regularly, it wont be a problem. But most of the homeowners do not give time to this process. As a result, the weight of the debris starts piling up until the day it can no longer take more.

If your gutter system looks like they are overloaded with weight and being pulled down, know that you are deep into the problem. Theres no resort to fixing at this stage. The only solution is to replace the gutter as soon as possible, or itll collapse.

Not every telltale sign would be around the gutter. Since the gutter systems are one of the foundational components for the house, you may find the signs seeping around the foundation itself.

When mold and mildew start to grow around the foundation of your living space, it affects its structural integrity. Moreover, these unsightly and smelly elements are a serious danger to health as well.

Look for its signs in the basement of your place. Green smelly patches are what you need to locate. If you find its existence there, even in the smallest form, know that the spillage has crossed the boundary of exterior damage. The only way out is to call the The Rain Gutter Specialists in LA and get the gutter replaced.

To locate a problem before it turns into something big and serious and creates havoc, its vital to keep checking the gutter system every once in a while. If in one of your check trips, you find a section to have sagged, know that its time to take action. Even a small and less noticeable sag can turn into a big problem. The same goes for uneven levels of the gutter line.

Take a walk after a storm has hit. If you find large puddles of water near the foundation, its a sign that gutters are too clogged or theres an overflow. Either way, it calls for a new system.

If the aforementioned signs are in the initial phase, one is likely to consider getting it repaired. Its okay to choose that option unless the problem is likely to not be curbed by just repairing. Do not take any risks and take the decision of gutter replacement wisely.

The Rain Gutter Specialists are the gutters installation and replacement services in Los Angeles. We hustle to offer you the best quality residential and commercial rain gutter services in Los Angeles at a fair price. To experience the skillful and friendly services, schedule your appointment now!

Check out The Rain Gutter Specialists on Fonolive andCityFOS.

Media Contact

LA County Rain Gutter Specialists

https://www.theraingutterspecialists.com

Contact Sales

14815 1/2 Oxnard St.

Van Nuys, CA 91411.

Contact Number

Phone: 818.779.1580

Guy Ziv Email: [emailprotected]

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Social Media Tags:Telltale Signs that Show You Need Gutter Replacement, Gutter Replacement, Obvious Signs You Need Gutter Replacement, The Rain Gutter Specialists in LA, The Rain Gutter Specialists, gutters installation and replacement services in Los Angeles, residential and commercial rain gutter services in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Rain Gutter Expert.

Source: Story.KISSPR.com

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Leading roofing company M & J Roofing has expanded service area to two new locations and has also launched a power washing company.

Turnersville, NJ - October 28, 2020 -M & J Roofing is pleased to announce the recent expansion of their service area to Monmouth and Atlantic County this month. The company is a top roofing company Gloucester County and Camden County and is fast rising as the # 1 roofing contractor in the entire New Jersey. M & J Roofing caters to both residential and commercial clients.

We are excited to announce that we have recently expanded our services to two new areas, Monmouth and Atlantic County, from this month onwards. We have observed lack of premier roofing service in these areas and thus the expansion. At M & J Roofing, we aim to take our industry-leading roofing service to as many people as possible to ensure a safe home/office for all. We promise the same standard o premium roofing assistance for our new service areas that we have always been known for in Gloucester County and Camden County, stated a leading spokesperson from M & J Roofing.

The company website is bustling with long list of rave reviews from customers -

I would definitely recommend this company to anyone I know or if anyone is looking. Mike was easy to talk to, very accommodating to my work schedule, professional and provided great customer service. They did a great job. I absolutely love my new roof! - Kristie T.in Deptford, NJ

M&J Roofing is the type of company you want to do business with. Very professional and got the job done as promised in the time he said it would take. - Robert C.in Sicklerville, NJ

We are glad that our customers have appreciated our services. Its their love that inspires us to give our best in every project we take. We aspire to be the #1 roofing contractor in the whole of New Jersey who will always be known for impeccable roofing assistance, ideal professionalism and 100% customer satisfaction.

A family-owned business with a whopping 17+ years of experience, M & J Roofing is a GAF Certified roofing contractor and offers each customer a lifetime roofing system. The company specializes in extending a comprehensive roofing support for all major kinds of roofing jobs, be it roof repair or roof replacement or new roof installation. M & J Roofing also offers roof cleaning and preventive maintenance programs.

Per the statements of the spokesperson, they are flexible to work on all popular roofing types, including metal roofing, tile roofing or asphalt shingle roofing.

Count on us as your one-stop roofing contractor for any kind of roofing job. We have been in the industry for nearly 2 decades now and our experience in the field is almost unparalleled. Our company is backed by a seasoned team of highly knowledgeable and expert roofers who promise you the finest roofing assistance in the industry. Whether you need help with leak repair or flat roofing or roof replacement or skylight installation for commercial buildings, we assure you a superior service for all these and more.

Added to regular roofing services, M & J Roofing extends emergency roof repair service for roof damage incidents caused by wind, storm or hail.

Speaking further, the spokesperson mentioned about their newly launched power washing company in South Jersey under the title Pro Exteriors Power Washing. The new unit offers a wide range of pressure washing services, including siding, concrete, asphalt, roofing, house as well as commercial business cleaning.

For more information, please visit https://www.mjroofingllc.com/

LOCATION

Media ContactCompany Name: M & J RoofingContact Person: Mike LannelliEmail: Send EmailPhone: 856-725-5759Address:4171 NJ-42 Building A 2nd Floor City: TurnersvilleState: NJ 08012Country: United StatesWebsite: https://www.mjroofingllc.com

View post:
M & J Roofing growing as the #1 roofing contractor in NJ, expands to Monmouth and Atlantic County - Press Release - Digital Journal

Source

Some investors may or may not be familiar with the latest addition to my portfolio. The company came across my radar by chance and before that was not known to me. For those of you who own a home and are doing outdoor projects you may be more familiar with their products, or you may not even realize it was a public company. The AZEK (AZEK) company operates in the outdoor living arena. I find this space especially compelling as recently the surge in home demand and time spent at home has led to an increased level of investment and spend around the home. The other large public sector companies that operate in this space have recently seen huge increases and demand and I believe AZEK will as well. Additionally, its closest competitor trades at a level of valuation that makes AZEK much more appealing as a way to play the sector. I believe the relatively unknown nature of the company being public has led to its undervaluation compared to peers. This gives new investors and opportunity to capitalize on the valuation dislocation.

The AZEK company is new to public markets and perhaps is why it is relatively unknown. The company is actually well covered by analysts with 15 ratings on the stock.

Source: Marketwatch

The stock currently has an average analyst price target about 10% higher than where shares currently trade. While I generally do not pay attention much to analysts it is a positive to see the target is higher than where shares currently trade. The shares have performed quite well since its IPO in June of 2020. The shares came out at a price of $23 per share and have only seemingly gone up from there.

So what does AZEK do exactly?

Source: Investor Presentation

Through a portfolio of brands it operates in both residential and commercial building solutions. The primary focus being on residential sales which make up about 84% of sales and over 90% of EBITDA. The most notable of its products is the TimberTech brand. This is primarily a decking solution that is composite which outlast and outperforms traditional wood decking options. It also offers exterior siding options, rail options, and other various products that contribute to its overall residential sales division.

Below we can see a better snapshot of the company and a bit of its recent performance.

Source: Investor Presentation

The company has been growing sales at an attractive clip noted as an 11.4% compounded annual growth rate and has also been expanding margins to quite attractive levels as well. As we can see, a majority of the company's sales come from decking and rail solutions and is primarily driven from the renovation and investment of existing homes. New construction also contributes to about 17% of sales which I predict will continue to be a strong tailwind as new home demand is outpacing supply and the average home continues to be upgraded to new all time high price levels.

The growth in AZEK products is primarily attributable to the fact that in the long run they are less maintenance.

Source: Investor Presentation

While installation costs may be a touch higher versus traditional options, the long run cost of maintaining the composite products makes total ownership cost come in at almost half. AZEK identifies the current market opportunity at around $7.6 billion in which it is growing 7% annually. As the homes built in the early 2000's continue to begin their upgrade and renovation cycle the company believes it can convert about 78% of potential customers to its product type.

Now, there is competition, primarily from industry giant TREX (TREX). TREX has seen its share price continue to reach new highs as it benefits from the very same trends we highlighted above.

Interestingly enough and unbeknownst to me, the TimberTech brand actually has as much recognition/usage as the TREX brand.

Source: Investor Presentation

Of further note is that the company is actually rated number 1 for the highest overall quality.

Of course the company is not just reliant upon residential sales, although it makes up the bulk of its sales. While commercial could be a focus for the future of the company to diversify sales away from being primarily residential, I believe it does not offer the same upside potential. The company has seen strong growth in its commercial division with sales growing 7.1% on average from 2015-2019. The company has made acquisitions in the last few years but those have been primarily focused in the residential space. I expect the company to continue to acquire in the future anything that may be complimented to its reach with distributors and consumers. However, I expect the company to be highly focused on brand reputation as it stands to be of importance to the current management team.

As the company has not been public for very long we have limited financial information to review besides what the company has provided investors.

The company has only reported once since going public, beating estimated on both the top and bottom line.

Source: Seeking Alpha

The company saw a slight overall revenue increase thanks to strong growth in the residential segment of 5.5% or $10 million. There was a decrease in the commercial segment which offset these gains however. The commercial segment reported revenue of $31.7 million down from $38.7 million or almost 20%.

On a positive note, the company gave guidance in which it expects sales to grow 12%-17% year over year and earnings growth of 14%-19%. This should lead to some healthy results.

As we can see below the company has been proving itself for the last few years with a continued trend of sales growth.

Source: Investor Presentation

Not only has sales continued to grow, mostly in the residential category, but earnings and margins have improved.

Source: Investor Presentation

With the margin profile expanding alongside sales and continuing to do so it is a healthy equation that should lead to higher earnings which usually leads to a higher share price. Additionally, the company used its proceeds from its IPO to retire debt and improve its balance sheet.

As we can see below the company stands in a position of financial strength.

Source: Investor Presentation

With $215 million in cash on hand and a term loan being the only real debt. This leaves AZEK with a 1.5x DEBT/EBITDA ratio for the current year based on expected earnings. This loan is due in 2024 and gives the company time to reduce it or refinance it at a more attractive rate. Considering current rates, it would make more sense to maintain a reasonable amount of debt so long as there is a better return for the use of capital.

While we need to wait to see earnings normalize, analysts expect the company to earn around $1 per share next year. I believe this is below what the company can do, but given that, the shares trade around a forward multipe of 37x earnings. Not a cheap price by any means.

However, let's see how that compares to peers.

Data by YCharts

The shares trade quite a few turns lower on both a forward P/E basis and P/S ratio than other distributors and manufacturers of outdoor products. This leaves room for AZEK to catch up once it proves itself a bit more as a public company.

I believe AZEK shares while appearing expensive on the surface have plenty of room for growth. The company operates in a space that is experiencing tremendous growth as evident by its fourth quarter forecast. Should demand continue to grow as expected by the increasing demand for home ownership and backyard living experiences than the company should continue to benefit and see increased sales. I believe this is the reason other public companies in the space trade at such premium valuations. My expectation is that as AZEK reports a few quarters of growth beyond analyst expectations the shares will move higher. The company stands in a financially strong position and operates in a space with limited competition and plenty of room for upside. For these reasons, the company has found its way into my portfolio.

Disclosure: I am/we are long AZEK. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Excerpt from:
New Portfolio Addition: The AZEK Company - Seeking Alpha

Forest Service using drip torch for prescribed burning. Photo by George Wuerthner

There has been a spate of articles in various newspapers and magazines, asserting that if the Forest Service were following burning practices of Indigenous people, the massive wildfires we have seen around the West would be tamed.

Here are some representative of Indian burning will save the forest articles.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/23/karuk-tribe-california-slater-fire-insurance

https://www.vox.com/first-person/21517619/california-wildfires-indigenous-controlled-burns

https://www.wweek.com/news/2020/10/07/oregons-indigenous-communities-know-how-to-stop-megafires-will-the-state-let-them/?utm_campaign=2020-10-07+WildNews&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Pew

The October 7th, 2020 article Wildfires has ravaged the Western United States this year. Sending firefighting experts to Indigenous communities for guidance by Jim Cowan in the New York Times is typical of the erroneous assertions about Native American burning and its influence on large wildfires.

Long before California was California, Native Americans used fire to keep the lands where they lived healthy. That meant intentionally burning excess vegetation at regular intervals, during times of the year when the weather would keep blazes smaller and cooler than the destructive wildfires burning today.

And the Guardian article, like most of these recent publications, implies that the loss of native burning is contributing to large blazes: a century of practicing fire suppression over traditional tribal land stewardship has led to larger, more destructive wildfires.

The idea that tribal burning impacted the broad landscape is asserted by some scholars (Williams, G.W. 2004; Lightfoot, K.G. and R.Q. Cuthrell. 2015) but often with scant evidence to back up these claims except for oral traditions of Native people.

MAJOR ISSUES

MYTH OF INDIAN LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT

As Barrett et al. 2005 noted: For many years, the importance of fire use by American Indians in altering North American ecosystems was underappreciated or ignored. Now, there seems to be an opposite trend. It is common now to read or hear statements to the effect that American Indians fired landscapes everywhere and all the time, so there is no such thing as a natural ecosystem. A myth of human manipulation everywhere in pre-Columbus America is replacing the equally erroneous myth of a pristine wilderness.

We believe that it is time to deflate the rapidly spreading myth that American Indians altered all landscapes by means of fire. In short, we believe that the case for landscape-level fire use by American Indians has been dramatically overstated and overextrapolated.

Noss et al. 2014 assert: Despite ample evidence that lightning fire was a primary ecological driver in the NACP [North American Coastal Plain], the myth persists that most fires before the arrival of Europeans were set by Native Americans. For example, Mann (2005; 361) provides a map that shows essentially the entire pre-Columbian NACP, including the lightning-riddled Gulf coast and Florida peninsula, as dominated by anthropogenic fire or with widespread forest clearing for agriculture. No evidence is offered to support these claims.

Most evidence for the widespread influence of indigenous burning is based on oral tradition, which is notoriously subject to variation of interpretation and misinterpretation.

DID INDIGENOUS BURNING PRECLUDE LARGE BLAZES?

The question is not whether Indian burning occurred, but rather to what extent it influenced the landscape as a whole and precluded large mixed to high severity blazes or what some people term mega fires. Is it a panacea for thwarting large blazes as implied? Furthermore, it needs into the notion that high severity blazes are somehow unnatural and ecologically destructive.

The Blow up or 1910 Burn that charred 3.5 million acres of Idaho and Montana occurred well before fire suppression led to fuel build-ups Photo George Wuerthner

The idea that fire suppression has led to some fuel build up in some plant communities is accurate, but fuel build-up is not the primary cause of sizeable high severity blazes. Most of these blazes are burning in plant communities like lodgepole pine, spruce/fire, juniper, and other plant communities that naturally had long intervals between fire events and naturally accumulate fuels. In other words, fuel build up in these plant communities is entirely natural.

There is ample evidence that Indian burning had little effect on large fires on the landscape. Except for some high-use areas, Indian burning did not significantly alter fuels across the broader landscape; more importantly, it did not preclude larger blazes.

Large mega fires have occurred for thousands of years, and Indigenous burning did not preclude them.

Plus, the idea that low severity fires dominated western landscapes ignores the fact that numerous species depend on the high-severity snag forests that result from sizeable high severity blazes. The second-highest biodiversity after old-growth forests is found in the snag forests and down wood that results from these blazes. These high severity habitats would simply not exist if such Indigenous burning were as successful as advocates suggest.

Indeed, the effectiveness of one hundred years of fire suppression can be questioned. For instance, in the early part of the 20th Century, as much as 50 million acres burned annually in the United States during several drought decades. https://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/fireInfo_stats_totalFires.html

https://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/fireInfo_statistics.html

LIVING WITH FIRE

Cultural burning was done for a variety of other purposes. To create favorable conditions for the growth of specific plant foods that might be favored by fire, create fresh new growth of grasses and other plants favored by wildlife like deer, elk, or bison. Fires were also used in warfare to burn out enemies that might be hiding in dense brush.

Just as today, wildfire was a natural force that influenced where people lived. One of the ways tribal people lived with fire was to locally reduce fuels to safeguard their villages, trading centers, and traditional gathering areas from large dangerous blazes.

This is the model that we should be promoting todayworking from home outward to reduce local flammability of homes and communities edge.

Since most tribal people lived in lower elevation landscapes like valley bottoms with grasslands or dry ponderosa pine forests where a wildfire was naturally more frequent, Indigenous burning likely favored the continued existence and expansion of these plant communities.

Ponderosa pine forests characteristically experienced low severity frequent fires that reduced ground fuels. Photo by George Wuerthner

It is important to note that these community types are often a small percentage of the landscape. For instance, dry montane forests (chiefly ponderosa pine) make up only 4% of western Montana and northern Idaho. http://www.northernrockiesfire.org/drymont.htm

However, the question remains as to whether this cultural burning was sufficient to change fire regimes across the broader landscape to the point it precluded larger wildfires.

While there is no doubt that Indigenous burning was widely practiced, the idea that cultural burning was a significant influence on landscape-scale fire influences is questionable.

There are multiple lines of evidence to suggest that Indian burning likely was local and did affect the broader landscape.

FUELS DONT DRIVE LARGE FIRES

Perhaps the biggest problem with the Indigenous burning will preclude large blazes is that it feeds into the narrative that fuels drive the massive fires we see around the West. The problem with this explanation is that large fires are climate-weather driven events-and have always been a consequence of climate-weather. There is abundant coloration between extensive drought and large landscape fires. Conversely, during periods of wet, cool climates, there are fewer large blazes.

If fuels were the primary driver of large blazes, we would expect large mega-fires along the Pacific Northwest coast where forest biomass is the greatest on the continent. Yet these coastal forests burn very infrequently-typically on 500-1000-year rotations due to the cool, moist climate.

Tom Butler hugs old growth Sitka spruce, Hoh River Valley Olympic National Park Washington. Photo by George Wuerthner

CLIMATE/WEATHER DRIVES LARGE BLAZES

If you have severe drought, low humidity, high temperatures, and, most importantly, wind, you get large landscape fires. If you do not have these weather/climate conditions, you get fewer ignitions, smaller fires that mostly self-extinguish.

The wind driving flames through vegetation during the 1988 fires that charred more than a million acres of Yellowstone National Park.

While Indian burning likely did influence fuel loading in some localized areas, it did not change the basic weather/climate ingredients that drive all large blazes (Whitlock, C et al. 2010).

Furthermore, you simply will not get large acreages to burn unless you have these extreme fire weather conditions.

First, most cultural burning, like the prescribed fires set today by state and federal agencies, was practiced in the spring and fall when fire spread was limited by moist fuels, high humidity, cool temperatures, and when winds are calm. High fuel moisture and cool temperatures limit fire spread. In other words, you will not burn much acreage. Under such conditions, most fires simply self-extinguish and are challenging to maintain.

Despite the implied notion in some of the above articles that somehow the Forest Service is ignorance of burning practices, this is the same reason federal and state agencies usually do prescribe burning during these seasons.

By contrast, all our larger landscape fires occur during extreme fire weather conditions, typically in the summer and early fall months. These include severe drought, low humidity, high temperatures, and, most importantly, wind.

Why is this important? Because most fires, even natural fires, are small. Unless you have these extreme fire weather conditions, 97-99% of all fires will burn 1-5 acres even if you dont suppress them. Whether the ignitions are from lightning or humans, if you dont have the right weather conditions, you will not burn a significant amount of the landscape.

For instance, 56,320 fires burned over 9 million acres in the Rocky Mountains between 1980-2003. 98% of these fires (55,220) burned less than 500 acres and accounted for 4% of the area burned. By contrast, only 2% of all fires accounted for 96% of the acreage burned. And 0.1% (50) of blazes were responsible for half of the acres charred. (Baker 2009 Fire Ecology in Rocky Mountain Landscapes).

In another example, between 1972 and 1987, Yellowstone National Park did not suppress backcountry fires. During this period, there were 235 blazes. Of these, 222 charred less than 5 acres and most burned less than 1 acre. And all 235 fires self-extinguished.

Then in 1988, more than a million acres burned in Yellowstone. Did fuels suddenly balloon overnight to sustain large high severity blazes? 1988 was the driest year on record since the park was established, with humidity as low as 1-2% and winds exceeding 50 mph.

Mosiac pattern of the 1988 wind-driven fire in Yellowstone National Park. Photo by George Wuerthner.

Thus, it would require setting thousands of these small fires when the climate/weather is not conducive for fire spread to burn any substantial amount of the landscape. So, the idea that Indian burning, which can be characterized as primarily low-severity frequent fires, was of sufficient size and scale to affect larger landscapes is questionable based on such ignitions timing.

Native people were wise enough to avoid purposely setting fires in the middle of extreme fire weather. Setting a blaze under conditions with variable high winds and drought was a recipe for disaster because it quickly leads to uncontrollable fires threatening villages and lives.

ECOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

Most of the Wests plant communities tend to naturally have long to very long fire rotations between fires, of many decades to hundreds of years in length. These communities include aspen, most fir species, mountain hemlock, western hemlock, west-side Douglas fir, chaparral, sagebrush, juniper-pinyon, lodgepole pine, white pine, western larch, and various spruce species.

Old-growth mountain hemlock forest which typically remains fire-free for hundreds of years between blazes.

This means wildfire historically did not burn in these communities except at infrequent intervals, almost always dictated by climate/weather.

During extreme weather conditions, the relative importance of fuels diminishes since all stands achieve the threshold required to permit crown fire development. Weather/climate is important since most of the area burned in subalpine forests has historically occurred during very extreme weather (i.e., drought coupled to high winds). The fire behavior relationships predicted in the models support the concept that forest fire behavior is determined primarily by weather variation among years rather than fuel variation associated with stand age (Bessie and Johnson 1995).

Many of these species have few adaptations to withstand frequent fires and would simply not exist if tribal burning affected them.

HISTORICAL EVIDENCE FOR LARGE BLAZES

Though most fire ecologists concede that native burning likely declined after European American settlement due to population decline resulting from disease, warfare, and displacement, there is plenty of evidence for large fires before large scale Euro American occupation.

For instance, in Oregons Willamette Valley, most large trees were established after large, high severity fires that occurred long before Euro-American influences on native populations. The 1865 Silverton Fire burned more than a million acres of the western Cascades. The 1853 Yaquina Fire burned nearly a half-million acres. Recent records from Washington estimate that a series of large fires in 1701 may have burned between 3 and 10 million acres in a single summer. To quote from a recent article on fires in Washington state: 1701 is given as the best estimate for the last devastating fire that occurred throughout Western Washington, a fire that burned an estimated 3 million to 10 million acres. At the upper end of that range, the area is roughly equal to 10 Olympic National Parks. (https://www.pugetsoundinstitute.org/2020/05/western-washington-wildfire-what-are-we-facing-this-year-and-beyond/).

Although individual accounts can vary, the observers detail can provide some hint of early accounts accuracy. For instance, David Douglas (for whom Douglas Fir is named) traveled from the Hudson Bay Post at Fort Vancouver down the Willamette Valley in 1826, carefully noting the vegetation. Douglas reported seeing burnt patches but indicated that most were small (Knox and Whitlock 2002).

Oak woodland in Willamette Valley, Oregon. Photo by George Wuerthner

Peter Skene Ogden noted extensive burns in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon and attributed it to natives. However, unless one actually observed Natives setting fires, it is difficult to know the source of ignition.

On the other hand, numerous travelers who kept meticulous notes like Lewis and Clark and John Fremont seldom mention encountering Indian burning. The absence of evidence is not the same as no evidence; nevertheless, when someone like Lewis and Clark or John Fremont fails to report extensive Indian burning, it does raise a cautionary note about interpreting historical accounts.

The other consideration is that Douglas, like most people traveling through the landscape, used the Indian trails and natural travel routes. Since human occupation is greatest in such areas, it may provide a biased view of the occurrence of human ignitions. Even today, the majority of wildfires occur near roads. Also, since most of these areas were dominated by grasslands and low elevation dry pines where fire is more frequent even today, it does not support the broader influence of human burning on the landscape.

FIRE STUDY TECHNIQUES GIVE A BETTER LANDSCAPE SCALE PICTURE OF FIRE

Beyond just historical accounts of fires, there is proxy evidence for past fire occurrence. Scientists use various methods to determine the fire history of any location.

The scientific evidence for historical fire regimes is based on a few different methods. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages (Whitlock et al. 2004).

The most common method for reconstructing fire history is fire scars, but other ways, including charcoal and pollen studies, among other techniques, result in different perspectives.

When a fire burns through an area at low severity (i.e., typically does not kill mature trees), it can leave a scar in the surviving trees. The scar eventually heals and is recorded in the tree rings. By examining tree rings, one can count the years between fires, and in some cases, even determine the season of the burn. This is the most popular method of determining fire histories.

Fire scar in ponderosa pine Oregon. Photo by George Wuerthner

There are, however, some problems with fire scar methods that some researchers believe results in an overestimation of fire frequency and influence (see Baker and Ehle 2001). For more detail on the problems of fire scar historical reconstructions, see (Wuerthner 2018) https://www.thewildlifenews.com/2018/07/14/fire-scar-historical-reconstructions-accurate-or-flawed/

There have been numerous studies that have looked at Indian burning and its influence on fire regimes. Most work done by fire ecologists who focus on large landscape fires do not find any additive impact from Indigenous burning. Instead, climate/weather appears to control periods of significant wildfire activity (Baker W.L. 2002).

In other words, they find evidence for more frequent fires during major droughts and in the immediate area of villages, along major travel corridors, trading centers, and other high use areas. Still, across the landscape as a whole, they do not find evidence that human ignitions were additive to total landscape acreage charred by wildfire.

In my view, the best way to document whether human ignitions were an important influence for landscape-scale fires is to use charcoal or pollen studies. But other techniques such as air photo, General Land Office (GLO) surveys, and even historical accounts of early Euro Americans can also provide insights.

Charcoal studies are a proxy for wildfires that rely on examining core drillings in lakes and ponds to extract sediments where charcoal from major wildfires are recorded. By reviewing such cores, researchers can document the larger wildfires in a landscape going back thousands of years. Charcoal studies tend to record the larger regional blazes.

Pollen from the same core samples also documents the primary vegetation present in surrounding lands.

For instance, Vachula et al. 2019 studied Yosemite National Park, where historically large Indigenous communities resided. Their research found a direct correlation between climate and the amount of burning on the landscape.

Yosemite Valley, smoke from fire, Yosemite NP, CA. Photo by George Wuerthner

We analyzed charcoal preserved in lake sediments from Yosemite National Park and spanning the last 1400 years to reconstruct local and regional area burned. Warm and dry climates promoted burning at both local and regional scales Regional area burned peaked during the Medieval Climate Anomaly and declined during the last millennium, as climate became cooler and wetter and Native American burning declined.

Our record indicates that (1) climate changes influenced burning at all spatial scales, (2) Native American influences appear to have been limited to local scales, but (3) high Miwok populations resulted in fire even during periods of climate conditions unfavorable to fires. However, at the regional scale (< 150 km from the lake), fire was generally controlled by the top-down influence of climate. (Vachula et al. 2019)

Another study in the Willamette Valley found that the mean fire interval in Oregons Coast Range was 230 years, and the presence of fire-sensitive species like Sitka spruce indicates a lack of frequent fire (Knox and Whitlock 2002).

Sitka spruce in Oregons Coast Range experience a mean fire interval of 230 years. Photo by George Wuerthner

Regarding Indigenous ignitions in the Willamette Valley, Whitlock notes: The idea that Native Americans burned from one end of the valley to the other is not supported by our data, says Whitlock. Most fires seem to have been fairly localized, and broad changes in fire activity seem to track large-scale variations in climate, she says. (Fire Science, 2010).

In another charcoal study of Washingtons Battle Ground Lake, Megan Walsh (Walsh et al. 2008) concluded that Fire frequency was highest during the middle Holocene when oak savanna and prairie were widespread near Battle Ground Lake. She suggests: The vegetation and fire conditions were most likely the result of warmer and drier conditions compared with the present, not from human use of fire (Fire Science 2010).

The authors (Walsh et al. 2008) concluded that wildfires were: mostly large or high-severity fire episodes. The fire history at Battle Ground Lake was driven by climate, directly through the length and severity of the fire season, and indirectly through climate-driven vegetation shifts, which affected available fuel biomass.

To give another example, one can show that Indian burning was more frequent in the Yosemite Valley where Indian people resided much of the year, but no evidence for wide-spread human burning in the majority of what is now Yosemite Valley or the Sierra Nevada Mountains as a whole (Vale 1998).

Hoffman et al. 2016 looked at Indian burning influence in coastal British Columbia and concluded: fires. At the decadal scale, fires were more likely to occur after positive El Nio-Southern Oscillation and Pacific Decadal Oscillation phases and exhibited 30-year periods of synchrony with the negative phase of the Arctic Oscillation. Fire frequency was significantly inversely correlated with the distance from former Indigenous habitation sites.

Though the Karuk and other tribes in northern Californias Siskiyou Mountains assert that their traditional burning precluded large fires, and that fire suppression of native burning practices contributed to the sizeable high severity blazes now burning the region. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/23/karuk-tribe-california-slater-fire-insurance

Columbaroil and Gavin (2002) documented that large fires always occurred in the Siskiyou Mountains, primarily due to climate/weather, even during the pre-European period. Fire is a primary mode of natural disturbance in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. Increased fuel loads following fire suppression and the occurrence of several large and severe fires have led to the perception that in many areas, there is a greatly increased risk of high-severity fire compared with presettlement forests. To reconstruct the variability of the fire regime in the Siskiyou Mountains, Oregon, we analyzed a 10-m, 2,000-y sediment core for charcoal, pollen, and sedimentological data. The record reveals a highly episodic pattern of fire in which 77% of the 68 charcoal peaks before Euro-American settlement

High severity burns always occurred in the Siskiyou Mountains, despite Indigenous burning. Photo by George Wuerthner

Odion et al. (2004) (Conservation Biology), conducted in a 98,814-hectare area burned in 1987 in the California Klamath region, found that the most fire-suppressed forests in this area (areas that had not burned since at least 1920) burned at significantly lower severity levels, likely due to a reduction in combustible native shrubs as forests mature and canopy cover increases: The hypothesis that fire severity is greater where previous fire has been long absent was refuted by our studyThe amount of high-severity fire in long-unburned closed forests was the lowest of any proportion of the landscape and differed from that in the landscape as a whole (Z = -2.62, n = 66, p = 0.004).

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Indigenous Burning: Myth and Realities - The Wildlife News

By InYourArea Community

Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter are raising money to replace the plastic roofing for their cattery.

Submitted by Beth Codling

Its been all hands-on deck here at Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter over the past couple of months due to the Covid-19 pandemic and whilst we are still unable to get back to normal rehoming procedures, we are very pleased to say that we have now started rehoming using online applications.

Since we began rehoming again in June, 59 dogs, 172 cats and 64 small animals have now found their forever homes. All monetary donations help us to provide vital care for our animals until we can find them a forever home. This could be everything from heating to water, veterinary bills and medicines.

The new guidelines which we have in place mean that we have very limited space for storage of physical donations, so we are currently only accepting donations of bedding, newspapers, toys and poop bags on designated days. All designated donations days are posted on our website.

Please note we arent able to accept donations of food at present.

We are currently running an appeal to replace the plastic roofing which shieldsthe outdoor areas of our cat pens which has been damaged by the bad weatherweve had in the North East over the past couple of years.

Our Benton shelter has 64 pens which are currently full of lost, unwanted, abandoned and neglected cats and kittens. We have 25 pens on our maternitysuite which is full of young, fragile kittens who need to be kept warm and dry tokeep them healthy and give them the best start to life.

It is incredibly important that each of our cat pens has a sheltered outdoor area for our cats to get some fresh air as many of them need their time outside to keep them happy and healthy.

The cattery roof is going to cost 6,000 to replace so we are appealing for donations to help us pay for this essential repair.

The Covid-19 pandemic has hit us hard, as it has many people. We appreciate not everyone has disposable income to spare but even a 1 donation would make a huge difference. To make a donation to our appeal, please visit our Cold at Christmas fundraising page.

To apply to give a dog, cat or small animal their forever home or to find out more about the donation of money or items the the Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter, visit their website, or call them on 0191 215 0435.

Shine a spotlight on your neighbourhood by becoming an Area Ambassador.

Click here to learn more!

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Column: Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter - Replacing the cattery roof - In Your Area

In this day and age, one of the largest threats to the human race is the detrimental effect of climate change. As a result, there is a societal push to be more environmentally conscious. From the way we eat, sleep, and shop, there is a drive to make changes and improvements that lessen our ecological footprint. This drive should also extend to the different businesses and corporations that exist. If you own your own business, its imperative to be a part of the solution and do your part by practicing sustainable efforts. For insight on how to do this, check out these tips to make your business eco-friendly.

To make your business more environmentally friendly, there are a few renovations you can make to your store or warehouse. For example, you can replace your old roofing materials with an eco-friendly alternative, such as metal roofing. There are many reasons to choose metal roofing over traditional commercial roofing options.

The most important reason, however, is the fact that metal roofing is an eco-conscious option. Rather than discarding old roofing materials to end up in landfills for decades, metal roofing can be 100% recycled at the end of its lifespan. It is also largely made up of recycled steel.

You can also invest in solar panels. These are easy to install with metal roofing. Metal roofs are also known to improve the efficiency of solar panels. The combination of solar panels and metal roofs lets your customers and clients know that you are an environmentally responsible entity. This can have positive effects on your business as more and more people opt to support eco-conscious businesses and eco-friendly products.

Another way to make your business more environmentally friendly is to recycle old electronics. Rather than throwing away your brands old computers and technology, recycle them correctly. You can do this by searching for an electronic waste company. These are companies that specialize in recycling old electronics, deleting all personal information, and performing certified data destruction.

For your business, its best to opt for energy efficiency. If your building currently uses traditional light sources, choose a green alternative, such as LED lightbulbs. There are also many appliances that are considered energy efficient. Look out for these and upgrade your old items. For example, if you have an old stove or fridge in the breakroom, upgrade to something that isnt as energy consuming. The same goes for your other office equipment.

The last way to make your business more environmentally friendly is to encourage carpooling among your employees. This can be done in many fun and creative ways. Consider making it a challenge where employees can compete over who carpooled the most or who used the least amount of fuel to get to work. This will encourage your employees to get creative in their commuting efforts.

These are just a few helpful tips to make your business eco-friendly. Now that you have them, youre ready to make a positive impact on the environment.

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Tips To Make Your Business Eco-Friendly The Dixon Pilot - Dixon Pilot

Used vehicles are parked on the sales lot at a CarMax store on Sept. 24 in Colma, Calif. CarMax reported a surge in earnings after used-car prices climbed steadily and surprisingly for months. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

Used vehicles are parked on the sales lot at a CarMax store on Sept. 24 in Colma, Calif. CarMax reported a surge in earnings after used-car prices climbed steadily and surprisingly for months.

Aaron Springer of Odenton, Md., wasn't looking to sell his 2014 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, which he bought used a couple of years ago.

"I love this car," he says.

But Springer heard the used-car market was hot, so he decided he might as well check. To his astonishment, used-car site Carvana offered him $1,500 more than he paid for the vehicle in 2018.

"I mean, it's just too good of a price to not sell it," he says.

Add used-car values to the list of things turned topsy-turvy in 2020. Springer's experience is exceptional, but it's also a sign of the times: Prices for used cars, trucks and SUVs rose remarkably all summer long as demand far outstripped supply.

According to Cox Automotive, as of September, wholesale used-vehicle values were up 15% compared with last year. And listings on CarGurus are now averaging $22,470, which is over $1,800 more than at the start of 2020.

The rate of growth appears to have calmed down, but prices remain remarkably high.

"Anybody who tracks them ... would be shocked, I think. Almost flabbergasted," says Ivan Drury, the senior director of insights at Edmunds, the automotive information company.

Drury, like Springer, felt the benefit firsthand. He bought two cars last year and sold them both a couple of months ago.

He broke even on one vehicle and made money off the other, which Drury calls "remarkable, to say the least."

This spring, when the coronavirus pandemic started to spread, auto plants temporarily shut down operations for safety. That has created a shortage of new-car inventory, pushing more people onto the used-car market.

Meanwhile, plenty of people are looking for cars. Partly that's because of concerns over the safety of carpooling or riding public transit (although transit systems are taking steps to promote safety).

There was a policy-based boost in demand as well, as buyers put their coronavirus relief checks toward new vehicles.

"People were able to come up with a little bit more money down," says used-car salesman Orby Galarza of Harrisonburg, Va., who saw a direct connection between relief checks and sales.

In short, the pandemic reduced the supply of cars at the same time it increased demand for them. It's Econ 101 the result was prices went up. And up. And up.

For those who have good-condition cars to sell or trade in, this is a big boost. Some drivers are putting that extra money toward even pricier brand-new cars.

Drivers who lease vehicles can also benefit from these rising prices if their leases are ending soon. The buyout price that was set at the start of the lease, based on projected value, might now be thousands of dollars less than the vehicle's actual value.

That means drivers can buy out their leases, then turn around to trade that vehicle in or sell it for cash and immediately turn a tidy profit.

But for buyers looking for affordable used vehicles, the spiking prices are bad news, and the shortage of inventory can lead to frustration.

It's another sign of how the pandemic and the economic upheaval it created are hitting the haves and the have-nots very differently.

Some drivers are stuck with older, less reliable vehicles that they are driving into the ground, waiting for the market to calm down enough so that they can afford to buy a replacement. Others don't have that choice.

Danielle Jennings of Baltimore needed a new vehicle this summer after her 17-year-old car finally gave up the ghost. But she scoured the used-car market for a reliable vehicle in her price range, with no luck.

"I just wanted to be able to get to work and be able to take care of my family," she says. "My back was against the wall."

Jennings, much to her relief, wound up getting a 2013 Chrysler 200 through a nonprofit called Vehicles for Change, which takes donated cars and gives them at a discount to people who need transportation.

Vehicles for Change says it has seen an increase in need because of the pandemic, but because the program requires participants to have a job, it's also finding that many applicants are disqualified.

Vehicle affordability is not a new issue. Even if car prices were dropping instead of rising, many low-income Americans would still struggle with transportation costs.

But this surprising spike in prices certainly isn't helping would-be car buyers on tight budgets. And until prices return to normal, bargains will be few and far between.

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Sticker Shock: Why Used-Car Prices Are So High - NPR