Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Work Behind Schedule

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Donate to nonprofits helping those still in need of repairs:

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

Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat.

Read or Share this story: https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2020/10/10/two-years-later-impacts-hurricane-michael-persist-florida-panhandle/4890821002/

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

if you thought youd seen the last of radical proposals on how to rebuild the notre dame cathedral, then think again. despite french president emmanuel macron having declared that paris beloved building would be restored to its original state before the fire of april 15th 2019, dutch architecture studio, trsnfrm, has shared their alternative concept for a sculptural glass roof that twists into a spire.

visualizations by lightmap

the history and cultural heritage of the notre dame cathedral serves as the starting point for trnsfrms design. in respect of the buildings 800 year history, the concept is conceived of first and foremost as a place of worship. to replace the destroyed roof and spire, the architects propose a contemporary sculpture made from colored glass. the idea is partly inspired by the new basilica of our lady guadalupe in mexico city by the late architect pedro ramirez vazquez and the galleria vittorio emanuele in milan. here a huge roof structure embraces the people inside.

the sculpture is made out of stained glass, in this case, fixed in a steel frame. as a result, during the day, the stained glass sculpture brings sunlight into the cathedral. at night, the interior lighting of the cathedral creates the opposite effect. the sculpture becomes a glow in the dark point of reference on the parisian skyline.

See more here:
a stained glass roof twists into a spire for this alternative vision of notre dame cathedral - Designboom

There seems to be some confusion about whether its too late in the season to plant turfgrass. Fear of freeze damage is the main concern.

Well, if planting sod in the fall were a problem, the golf course superintendents and landscape contractors would be in real trouble since they plant and transplant solid sod year-round, including through the winter as long as the ground isnt frozen.

So yes, planting solid sod can be done any time of the year, but fall is the very best time to plant warm-season grasses like St. Augustine, Bermuda and Zoysia, as well as cool-season grasses such as rye, fescue and bluegrass. It is too late in the season to plant Bermudagrass seed, and St. Augustine and Zoysia arent planted by seed.

Now that we have that straight, lets talk about how to best do the planting.

Remove existing grasses, weeds, debris and surface rocks. Rocks down in the soil are no problem and actually aid positive drainage. Till to a depth of 1 inch and rake into a smooth grade. Deep rotor-tilling is unnecessary and a waste of money unless the soil is heavily compacted.

Adding a thin layer of compost 1/4 to 1/2 an inch thick is OK to do, but its really better to wait and apply the compost and other amendments (lava sand, Azomite and whole ground cornmeal) on top of the sod after planting. The addition of topsoil or sand isnt needed.

Its a little late in October, but ryegrass seed can be planted as a winter over-seeding crop now. But I dont do it; its too much trouble. If you decide to, scalp the turf area and catch the clippings. After spreading the seed at about 3 to 5 pounds per 1,000 square feet, thoroughly soak the ground, then lightly water the seeded area at least twice a day. Fertilize with organic fertilizer sometime around the first mowing. Continue light watering until the grass has solidly covered.

Spot sodding is not my favorite way to go because it is too slow to establish, but it can be done by planting 4-inch-by-4-inch (or larger) squares countersunk to be flush with the existing grade.

For solid sod or spot sod planting, organic fertilizer should be applied immediately after planting at the rate of 10 to 15 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Solid sod blocks should be laid joint to joint after thoroughly wetting the top and bottom of each sod piece. After planting, the sod should be tamped down by using a roller full of water. This helps smooth out and level the sod. But more important, it removes air pockets that result in yellow spots. Small areas can be tamped by foot.

Mow your new sod whenever it needs it.

Read this article:
You can plant turfgrass in the fall - The Dallas Morning News

Plans to grass over graves at a cemetery in Reading have been paused as some families were not aware of the maintenance works, the council has announced.

Reading Borough Council (RBC) had planned to begin seeding work on the graves in Henley Road Cemetery so that they fit in with the other graves in this part of the cemetery.

Some members of the Muslim community prefer earth graves, where they can plant flowers, but the graves are located in lawned areas.

READ MORE: Development plans at 'stunning' Edwardian house refused for SIXTH time in THREE years

In 2018, the council identified that it was necessary to find an additional area for Muslim burials within the Henley Road Cemetery.

At that time, the only available location was in an area where graves are laid to lawn.

A meeting was held, and this was agreed by the Imam at the time, but when notice was given of the plans to grass over the graves, families informed the council they were unaware this would happen.

A RBC spokesman said: When a burial is being arranged, a burial notice must be completed and within this notice, the grave type is specified.

Unfortunately, as the vast majority of burial notice forms in the Muslim community are completed by either the funeral director or more often by the mosque on behalf of the family, it is possible the families have not explicitly been made aware of the grave type.

Therefore, when the recent signs were displayed on site giving notice of planned seeding work in the area, this was the first time some families have been made aware of the situation.

READ MORE: Half of rough sleepers now in longer-term accommodation - Reading update

Obviously if families have not been informed of this situation prior to the burial, we fully understand why they would be upset on discovering it, particularly where a community has strong beliefs regarding burial sites.

We will be discussing this further with those who have loved ones buried, as well as representatives of the Muslim community. In the meantime, we have paused the planned work for the time being.

See the original post here:
Plans to 'grass over' Muslim graves paused as some families 'unaware and upset' - Reading Chronicle

Oct. 6

Education: Parents/guardians of children in Rainbow Schools are invited to take part in a virtual presentation on Life Interrupted: A Pathway Toward Resilience and Growth. Two online sessions will be available on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 3 p.m., and Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. Hosted by the Rainbow District School Board Mental Health Team, the presentation will support parents/guardians as their children transition back to school, whether learning in class or online. Parents/guardians can register online at bit.ly/rdsblifeinterrupted.

Photo contest: Just 50 km northeast of Sudbury is the worlds largest known old growth red pine forest. As part of the Chiniguchi waterway, Wolf Lake is treasured for its popular backcountry canoe routes and recreational opportunities. People come from around the world to experience the beauty of the towering red pines, quartzite cliffs, and sparkling blue water in this critically endangered ecosystem. Sudbury Naturalists, Friends of Temagami, and Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury invite you to share your best Wolf Lake photos and prizes will be awarded. Enter at WolfLakePhotoContest.ca. Applicants are also encouraged to share their pictures on social media with the hashtag #WolfLakePhoto. The deadline to submit is Oct. 31. The winners will be announced at the Nov. 10 Sudbury Naturalist meeting. Grand prizes include an Arcteryx Atom LT Hoody, local glass art inspired by Wolf Lake, a hand-made canoe paddle, and Spirit of the Red Pine art book. Smaller weekly prizes will also be awarded during the contest, by random draw.

Film: Splinters, a Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2018 film, will be opening theatrically at select theatres across Canada, including at the Sudbury Indie Cinema downtown on Oct. 2. A full schedule of showtimes will be available at http://www.sudburyindiecinema.com in the coming weeks.

Trivia Night: Nickel City Trivia is hosting The Quarantine Quiz every Tuesday at 8 p.m. on Facebook. Go to https://bit.ly/3n3IDy9.

Oct. 7

Environment: Vales annual aerial seeding program will take place until Oct. 9 with the use of helicopters. Vales aerial seeding program targets barren land requiring reclamation around the companys operations. This years treatment area will be about 100 hectares (247 acres), north of Wahnapitae. While every effort will be made not to fly over nearby residential areas, local residents may notice low-flying helicopters near Wahnapitae. Residents are advised that this is part of Vales normal land reclamation activities and the low flight paths are necessary for the work to be effective. Weather permitting, planes will depart from a private airstrip in Coniston and deposit loads of agricultural limestone, grass seed and fertilizer on the designated treatment areas.

Photo contest: Just 50 km northeast of Sudbury is the worlds largest known old growth red pine forest. As part of the Chiniguchi waterway, Wolf Lake is treasured for its popular backcountry canoe routes and recreational opportunities. People come from around the world to experience the beauty of the towering red pines, quartzite cliffs, and sparkling blue water in this critically endangered ecosystem. Sudbury Naturalists, Friends of Temagami, and Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury invite you to share your best Wolf Lake photos and prizes will be awarded. Enter at WolfLakePhotoContest.ca. Applicants are also encouraged to share their pictures on social media with the hashtag #WolfLakePhoto. The deadline to submit is Oct. 31. The winners will be announced at the Nov. 10 Sudbury Naturalist meeting. Grand prizes include an Arcteryx Atom LT Hoody, local glass art inspired by Wolf Lake, a hand-made canoe paddle, and Spirit of the Red Pine art book. Smaller weekly prizes will also be awarded during the contest, by random draw.

Mining: Gordon Stothart, president and chief executive officer of IAMGOLD, will be the guest speaker at the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerces next Presidents Series Luncheon at Brystons-on-the-Park in Copper Cliff. Tickets for the in-person luncheon, which starts at noon, are $50 for members and $80 for non-members, while admission to the virtual luncheon, which starts at 1 p.m., is $25 for members and $40 for non-members. With the in-person luncheon, masks are mandatory and space is limited. For tickets or more information, contact the chamber at 705-673-7133, ext. 224.

Oct. 8

Food: St. Marys Ukrainian Catholic Church Thanksgiving luncheon, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The church is only accepting preorders and there will only be curbside pickup. A meal is $12 and includes three pyrohy, two cabbage rolls, sausage, sauerkraut and borscht soup. Sausage on a bun is $5, sausage on a bun with sauerkraut is $7, a dozen pyrohy is $9, a dozen cabbage rolls is $9, while a jar of borscht is also $9. All preorders must be placed by Oct. 6. To order, call 705-675-8244.

Environment: Vales annual aerial seeding program will take place until Oct. 9 with the use of helicopters. Vales aerial seeding program targets barren land requiring reclamation around the companys operations. This years treatment area will be about 100 hectares (247 acres), north of Wahnapitae. While every effort will be made not to fly over nearby residential areas, local residents may notice low-flying helicopters near Wahnapitae. Residents are advised that this is part of Vales normal land reclamation activities and the low flight paths are necessary for the work to be effective. Weather permitting, planes will depart from a private airstrip in Coniston and deposit loads of agricultural limestone, grass seed and fertilizer on the designated treatment areas.

Photo contest: Just 50 km northeast of Sudbury is the worlds largest known old growth red pine forest. As part of the Chiniguchi waterway, Wolf Lake is treasured for its popular backcountry canoe routes and recreational opportunities. People come from around the world to experience the beauty of the towering red pines, quartzite cliffs, and sparkling blue water in this critically endangered ecosystem. Sudbury Naturalists, Friends of Temagami, and Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury invite you to share your best Wolf Lake photos and prizes will be awarded. Enter at WolfLakePhotoContest.ca. Applicants are also encouraged to share their pictures on social media with the hashtag #WolfLakePhoto. The deadline to submit is Oct. 31. The winners will be announced at the Nov. 10 Sudbury Naturalist meeting. Grand prizes include an Arcteryx Atom LT Hoody, local glass art inspired by Wolf Lake, a hand-made canoe paddle, and Spirit of the Red Pine art book. Smaller weekly prizes will also be awarded during the contest, by random draw.

Virtual Knit Nights: Sweet Yarns, located at 1465 Bancroft Dr., is livestreaming knitting circles on its Facebook page every Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Join here: https://bit.ly/33lpT5u.

Oct. 9

Haunted Heights Trail: Take a haunted walk through the woods every Friday and Saturday, 8-11 p.m., until Halloween. Social distancing rules in effect. Admission is $7 per person or $5 with a non-perishable food item (human or pet) to be donated to a local food bank and animal shelter. The haunted trail is located at 1764 Kathleen St. in Val Caron. For more, go to https://bit.ly/34f6thQ.

Photo contest: Just 50 km northeast of Sudbury is the worlds largest known old growth red pine forest. As part of the Chiniguchi waterway, Wolf Lake is treasured for its popular backcountry canoe routes and recreational opportunities. People come from around the world to experience the beauty of the towering red pines, quartzite cliffs, and sparkling blue water in this critically endangered ecosystem. Sudbury Naturalists, Friends of Temagami, and Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury invite you to share your best Wolf Lake photos and prizes will be awarded. Enter at WolfLakePhotoContest.ca. Applicants are also encouraged to share their pictures on social media with the hashtag #WolfLakePhoto. The deadline to submit is Oct. 31. The winners will be announced at the Nov. 10 Sudbury Naturalist meeting. Grand prizes include an Arcteryx Atom LT Hoody, local glass art inspired by Wolf Lake, a hand-made canoe paddle, and Spirit of the Red Pine art book. Smaller weekly prizes will also be awarded during the contest, by random draw.

Halloween: The Northern Ontario Railroad Museum and Heritage Centre, along with Northern Screams, has created a new interactive and immersive Halloween attraction that will be open to the public starting Friday, Oct. 2, until Oct. 31. Inferno 6077: Born Out of Fire, is a fully produced theatrical drive-in style haunt that promises to deliver the same intense scares as the Terror Train 6077, which has been derailed due to the COVID 19 pandemic. The event will run from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, as well as Saturday matinees from 2 to 6 p.m. All events will take place at the museums Heritage Centre, 59 Young St. in Capreol. Tickets are $65 per vehicle ($13 per person based on five seats), plus box office fees, and are available online at normhc.ca or by using the Haunt Pay App. Guests must remain in their vehicles throughout the entirety of the experience. Guests in each vehicle must be from the same social bubble. COVID-19 procedures and protocols will be posted and followed.

Halloween: Halloween at Dynamic Earth, 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until Oct. 30. For a full list of events and experiences, visit https://www.sciencenorth.ca/halloween.

Environment: Vales annual aerial seeding program will take place until Oct. 9 with the use of helicopters. Vales aerial seeding program targets barren land requiring reclamation around the companys operations. This years treatment area will be about 100 hectares (247 acres), north of Wahnapitae. While every effort will be made not to fly over nearby residential areas, local residents may notice low-flying helicopters near Wahnapitae. Residents are advised that this is part of Vales normal land reclamation activities and the low flight paths are necessary for the work to be effective. Weather permitting, planes will depart from a private airstrip in Coniston and deposit loads of agricultural limestone, grass seed and fertilizer on the designated treatment areas.

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Things to do in Sudbury, Oct. 6 to Oct. 9 - The Sudbury Star

Breathe easy, Masters zealots.

Last week photos circulated online from Eureka Earth showing most of the Augusta National grounds painted in brown.

Theoretically the images shouldnt have been surprising; the grass at the hallowed property is famously scalped in the summer months. But with this years Masters Tournament moved to November, the photos of a cocoa-colored Amen Corner had fans fearing the worst. (In their defense, its been that type of year.)

However, with the Masters five weeks out, Eureka Earth posted another round of Augusta National aerials Saturday morning, and the burnt sienna surroundings are no more:

That is the byproduct of ryegrass seeding, and you dont have to squint too hard to see the sprinklers hard at work. In short, Augusta National is back to looking like Augusta National.

Now, if those trees can just start turning orange

The 2020 Masters begins Nov. 12. Tiger Woods is the defending champ.

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You wont believe the transformation Augusta National has made in a week - Golf Digest

-Messenger photo by Kriss NelsonCory Krug, Webster County Fairgrounds president, stands at the new Figure 8 racetrack and pulling track and the grandstand area at the Webster County Fairgrounds.

There has been a lot of action the past few weeks at the grandstand area of the Webster County Fairgrounds. Its not the typical Figure 8 races or truck pulls, however.

A transformation began just a few weeks ago at the fairgrounds when the Webster County Fair Board broke ground on their new grandstand area.

Cory Krug, Webster County Fair Board president said they have made great progress on the project, but there is still plenty to do.

By moving the grandstands and racetrack further east, closer to U.S. Highway 169, the Webster County Fair Board is anticipating the updates to bring more opportunities, comfort and attention to the grandstand events.

We have been running into problems with parking during the fair especially when our grandstand events come in, we have a carnival that takes up space, said Krug. We had a need to move the track and grandstands for several other reasons. The crowd will no longer have to face the sun and it will get better attention being closer to the highway.

-Messenger photo by Kriss NelsonCory Krug, Webster County Fairgrounds president, and Heather Stewart, Webster County Fair board member, discuss the progress that has been made at the new Figure 8 racetrack and pulling track and the grandstand area at the Webster County Fairgrounds.

Heather Stewart, a Webster County Fair Board member, agrees.

Hopefully people on the highway can see us know that we are here, she said. I think people have forgotten about us. We are hoping we will attract more people. We are set up to do so many great things here. Even if its not a grandstand event, we have a great auditorium, indoor and outdoor arenas too.

After the teardown of the old track area, which including pulling fences, barricades, moving the bleachers and more, dirt work began on not only tearing up the old track, but building a new one.

Krug said the new Figure 8 track is approximately 25-feet wider than the previous track, making it now 500 feet long and 210 feet wide with a 55-foot width around the track.

We did all of that based on the feedback from drivers, he said, adding that by moving the grandstand, they have managed to free up an additional five acres that will be used for parking and more.

-Submitted photoDirt work progresses on the new track and grandstand area at the Webster County Fairgrounds.

Krug said they have also improved their pulling track.

We brought in more clay. Packed it a lot better so that those events can go on seamlessly there wont have to be a lot of prep work like there was before, he said.

They have also moved the pit area down to the end of track.

This will allow better access to our facilities for all of the drivers and the people in the pit, so they dont have to cross the track, said Krug. It will be a lot safer that way.

The added space and new design will also allow for events that arent on the regular schedule to happen without tearing up the regular track areas as they have had to do in the past.

-Submitted photoThis photo shows how the grandstand area and racetrack was laid out prior to it being moved further to the east.

This will allow the grandstand area to be more versatile, said Krug. We also have UTV races, tough truck races and weve been getting some interest to bring back moto-cross races. We now have the space for those types of events to occur so we dont have to tear up our regular tracks like we have had to in the past.

Krug said there is still a lot of work left to be done.

Phase one is nearly complete, but will also include moving all of the electrical components, a new fence and also hopefully new lighting.

Phase two, according to Krug includes new bleachers with a shade roof. The cost for that starts in the $300,000 range, so there is a definite need for fundraising to achieve those plans.

In terms of enhancements, we would like better fencing instead of having to repurpose what we have, that is something we are looking at doing, he said.

Stewart said they are also looking into building a permanent beer garden with restroom facilities as well as a new facility for checking in and checking out on race day.

Fundraising

Krug said they were able to raise the funds to begin the transition with a Grandstand Fundraising Festival last summer, which replaced money that would have been raised during the 2020 Webster County Fair.

Local businesses and supporters came in and helped put on some of the events. Those large crowds that attended, allowed us to get the dirt work done and hopefully everything we need to do from an electrical standpoint, said Krug.

But more donations are needed in order to complete the work.

Both Stewart and Krug emphasized donations dont always have to be in the monetary form.

The seeding has been donated we have about 11 acres that needs seeded to have grass ready to go next year, said Krug. Same with the electrical we are hoping to get assistance with funding or for equipment and the labor. That is how most things happen out here. If the money is not there, then we hopefully get businesses to step up and help us out.

Some items that top their priority list include:

Water/sewer work

Highway barriers

6-by6-foot beams (4 feet to 16 feet)

2-by-10-by-18-foot treated boards

New light poles

LED stadium lights

Electric work

Crows nest build

Flag stand build

Beer garden/bathroom build

A list of needs will be updated on the Webster County Fair Boards website.

Stewart said if anyone or a business is willing to donate money, equipment or labor, they can contact the Webster County Fair Board. They will be a part of the sponsorship list that is listed on the fence that surrounds the grandstand area.

Krug said the Webster County Fairgrounds is a non-profit volunteer run organization.

We are always looking for more volunteers or members that are interested in helping to improve the fairgrounds for our local youth and the benefit of the community, he said.

Having a venue brings people to our area, said Stewart.

Krug said he would like to see the new grandstand area and the Webster County Fairgrounds eventually become a premier venue for Fort Dodge and Webster County.

Our main thing we do here is Figure 8s, but, we are going to expand on that. We are going to have more races next year. We bring in a lot of cars from different counties and places in Iowa. We want to expand that even further. Have more truck pulls to put on and just more stuff for people to get out and do, he said. We would love to have bigger concerts and also use it for venues like that.

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The 15th annual Pumpkins and Ponies is today and tomorrow at SpringVale Farm, 2603 Lone Tree Road outside Humboldt. ...

Around the areaHUMBOLDT Pumpkins & Ponies is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. TODAY and 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. SUNDAY at ...

Editors note: With the election for Webster County sheriff less than a month away, The Messenger asked the ...

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Transformation and opportunity | News, Sports, Jobs - Fort Dodge Messenger

Danielle Strong and Samantha Hardy from My Fantastic Maid stop by the United Way office to discuss their three-month promotion where Fantastic Maid will donate 10 per cent of their profits to the United Way of Sarnia Lambton until Dec. 31. While at the office, the Fantastic Maid employees dust off the original Letters Patent of the United Way from Oct. 11, 1957 when the organization was known as the Sarnia and District Community Chest. United Way photojpeg, SO

The 2020 United Way of Sarnia-Lambton campaign is zeroing in on the one-third mark of its Needs Target thermometer.

We have reached $600,000 so far this year from nearly 1,000 donors, campaign chair Vicky Ducharme reported this week. We remain behind last years pace, but we are grateful to those first 1,000 donors who pledged their support.

Ducharme said the first employee campaign to reach its goal is Reliance Home Comfort. She said the campaign began on Sept. 30 and, by that afternoon, had surpassed its $6,000 goal and had reached almost $10,000, which will be matched by Reliance Home Comfort. That employee campaign will be soon completed.

Meanwhile, INEOS Styrolution just closed its employee campaign and surpassed its 2019 totals.

Ducharme said other employee drives seem to be off to a great start, including Imperial, Nova Chemicals, CF Industries and Shell Canada, which had a very successful campaign kick-off breakfast and is planning a socially distant chili cook-off later this month.

The LCBO Point-of-Sale campaign will end this weekend. LCBO customers and employees will have until the end of the day on Sunday to pledge their support in that way. In 2019, more than $40,000 was raised by the 11 LCBO stores in Sarnia and Lambton County by generous employees and customers.

Ducharme said one of the things the United Way is doing differently this year is the use of YouTube.

We have a number of presentations that we would normally do at employee rallies and meetings but is not possible this year, so we have done video presentations, she said. As well, we have a number of videos of both volunteers and clients of the funded agencies. Most of the videos are just a minute or two long and can be viewed by searching for the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton channel on YouTube.

Ducharme said many of the videos have been watched by a large number of viewers, and she has heard good feedback from them.

The United Way of Sarnia-Lambton YouTube channel is also accessible from the United Way website, http://www.theunitedway.on.ca, by clicking on the YouTube icon.

My Fantastic Maid service in Sarnia is running a campaign all fall for the first time this year.

Fantastic Maid will donate 10 per cent from its profits for the months of October, November and December.

Its this kind of creativity that we really encourage and ask local businesses to talk to us about setting up their own unique events to help raise awareness and funds for the United Way, said Ducharme.

To book an appointment with My Fantastic Maid, log on to http://www.myfanasticmaid.com.

The United Way of Sarnia-Lambton campaign will run until the end of the year. More than 18 agencies that provide over 36 local programs and services depend on the United Way of Sarnia-Lambton for funding on an annual basis.

More here:
United Way fundraising campaign approaches one-third of objective - Sarnia Observer

Pentagon Carpet Cleaning has a jubilee a decade on the market.

Pentagon Carpet Cleaning is a cleaning company providing carpet and upholstery cleaning services in Alexandria VA. Throughout many years, it has made the entire cleaning process super simple and effective by taking care of the nature of the fabrics and the right choice of the washing equipment. The type of material is what greatly matters together with the applying of the best cleaning equipment on the market.

High-pressure cleaning is integrated into the Pentagon Carpet Cleaning business. It is important to use adequately chosen cleaning detergent and utilize the added cleaning power properly. This is detailly done by the skillful Pentagon Carpet Cleaning team who always try to give their best in the cleaning process making it both simple and highly productive.

Tile and grout cleaning in Alexandria VA is one of the cleaning services provided by Pentagon Carpet Cleaning. During this procedure proprietary, hot water extraction cleaning is used to clean out all hidden dirt. At the same time, the luster is restored to the floors and more than 95% of allergens are removed from the grout which is known as porous material that collects grime, spills, or dirt.

Hot water extraction upholstery cleaning is one of the most beneficial methods of upholstery cleaning available nowadays. During this process, hot water and special cleaning solution are injected into the upholstery to dislodge debris. At the same time, all dirt and stains are extracted with powerful wet vacuums. Pentagon Carpet cleaning uses hot water extraction for upholstery cleaning because it provides optimal cleaning results in an eco-friendly way and the drying time is much shorter.

Pentagon Carpet Cleaning provides services in the area of carpet and upholstery disinfection in Alexandria VA. Its professional technicians are trained to clean and disinfect all types of materials from microfiber to leather. Since ottomans, sofas, beds and other furniture pieces can easily get dirty they have to be cleaned regularly in the best possible way. Allergens, dirt, or some other unwanted elements may damage the fibers and with that may ruin its overall look. Professional carpet and upholstery cleaning is a great procedure to regain the fresh and clean look to all types of carpets and upholstery parts despite their age.

Pentagon Carpet Cleaning Alexandria VA was founded in 2010. By hard and dedicated work, this company has established its name and a positive reputation in the community. The members of its staff are well-organized and experienced cleaning professionals who are 24/7 at a clients disposal. Carpet cleaning, tile, grout, and upholstery cleaning together with hardwood cleaning and water damage restoration represent some of the crucial services offered by Pentagon Carpet Cleaning.

For more information, please visit http://pentagoncarpetcleaning.com/

Contact info:Company: Pentagon Carpet CleaningAddress: 4722 Kenmore Ave, Alexandria, VA, 22304Phone: (703) 665-7659Email: carpetcleaningpentagon@gmail.comWebsite: http://pentagoncarpetcleaning.com/Contact Person: Ilija Stevanovic

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Pentagon Carpet Cleaning Celebrated Its 10th Anniversary - PR.com