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This story was originally published by Civil Eats and is republished here by permission.

On September 12, Iverson Family Farmsposted ominous images on social mediaof their fields under a ruddy red sky, thick with a stagnant, dense hazea stark contrast to the vibrant annual Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival, a well-known spring attraction in Oregons Willamette Valley. As the Beachie Creek and Riverside fires raged roughly 25 miles away, the farm was in Stage 3 evacuation for 10 surreal autumn days.

Its a scene that has played out throughout the western U.S. as roughly40 large fires, amplified and accelerated by climate change, burned in September. The coastal states were most heavily impacted: California, in particular, hasendured an unprecedented span of fireover the last two months. As of today, Californias devastating Glass Fire has damaged, if not destroyed,nearly 30 wineriesin Napa and Sonoma counties.

Ash has been raining down on farm fields for weeks. Farmers of most crops from fruit to lettuce have been able to wash it away with minimal impact to operations, says Christopher Valadez, President of the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California. Still, since farmers dont necessarily have the labor to clean produce,consumers have been advised to take extra precautionsand wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating them.

Iverson Family Farms did not experience direct fire damage but will not know how smoke damage has affected their crops for some time.

Photo courtesy of Iverson Family Farms

Luckily, Iverson Family Farms, a diverse, third-generation operation growing grass seed, tulips, wine grapes, and hemp, did not experience direct fire damage. Beyond worries over community losses, I was concerned with embers that could have drifted onto the farms and ignited fields and homes, says Giavanna Accurso, director of research and development for Iverson Family Farms and FSoil, the familys hemp oil processing facility.

As the smoke clears, however, many farms, including Iverson Family Farms, are taking steps to make sure no invisible damage occurred in high-value crops susceptible to smoke notably cannabis and wine grapes. Unfortunately, answers wont be swift in either case.

In grapes, smoke damage imparts a burnt, ashy, even medicinal taste to the resulting wine. When wood burns, it releases volatile compounds, called phenols, which canbind to grape sugars, only to be released during fermentation. Cannabis may also be similarly impacted by volatile compounds, and possibly other chemicals if buildings and not just wildlands burned nearby.

The potential for widespread impact has left the labs that test grapes for smoke damage backlogged with requests, says California Farm Bureau Federation director of media relations, Dave Kranz. Tests that would typically take two to three days to process, are now taking several weeks, he says. A message on the website of California-basedETS Laboratories, one of the primary facilities able to test grapes, says they are unable to give customers a timeline to expect results.

One big difference this year is the fires occurred earlier in the season. During the October 2017 fires, only 10-15%of the crop was left on vines by the time the fires started, says Anita Oberholster, a viticulture specialist at University of California at Davis. This year, the wildfires started when only 10 to 15% had been harvested; most grapes were still on the vine, she adds.

An estimate of the amount of smoke damage is really difficult.

An estimate of the amount of smoke damage is really difficult, says Oberholster. Glenn McGourty, a University of California viticulture advisor in Mendocino County, agrees. He says suspended particulates, which you can see in the atmosphere, dont do much damage. Its the volatile phenols, which are released in close proximity to the fire that can bind to the sugars in grapes to form compounds called glycosides.

During fermentation, glycosides break apart, releasing the phenols that have a smoky flavor. In general,red wines, especially ones made with thin-skinned grapes like Pinot Noir,tend to be most affected. And thats why its impossible to predict damage without testing.

Oberholster says that not every farm will necessarily be impacted. Smoke exposure and risk is really complex, she says. For example, only when smoke is really fresh is there a correlation between the density of smoke you see with the naked eye and actual exposure. And any breakdown of phenols in sunlight depends on atmospheric conditions. We dont know the half-life of [phenols], but there is some anecdotal evidence it could be 24 hours, maybe longer, says Oberholster.

Oberholster advises growers to have their grapes tested if they experienced smoke at all, and especially if the wind blew fresh, dense smoke directly towards them. In the case of the current fire the Glass Fire raging in Napa and Sonoma, that could mean a lot of grapes.

We are telling people to wait until as close to harvest as they can to test, she says, for two reasons. With so many fire events, growers should only send grapes ready to be picked to avoid overloading laboratories with samples and unnecessary, additional costs. First, labs inundated with samples will slow the results and cost the grower more. Its around $150-200 per sample to determine which grapes are impacted. And insurance requires that growers test every block of every variety they grow.

But despite the ongoing concern in the industry, and the fact that some wineries have already decidednot to make a 2020 vintage, Oberholster cautions against condemning the entire crop.

I dont want people to look at fire maps and think everything is impacted and all wine from 2020 is going to be bad because thats not true, she says. Air quality and smoke exposure risk is not the same thing.

McGourty agrees. There will be plenty of places that make good wine this year, he says.

But the testing may need an overhaul too. Currently, labs search for between two to seven marker compounds of damage, but there is evidence from Australia, which has been dealing with smoke-tainted grapes for 15 years, that there are up to13 marker compounds of smoke damage, according to Oberholster.

West Coast wildfires turn the skies orange over the Iverson Family Farms hemp fields.

Photo courtesy of Iverson Family Farms

Cannabis, too, may have smoke damagebut, compared to wine grapes, there is far less research yet available on the impact of phenols. TheGlobal Hemp Innovation Centerat Oregon State University has just formed an industry collaborative to assess the smoke impacts on everything from smokable cannabis flowers to essential oils, such as CBD.

Given the sticky nature of cannabis flowers, traces of toxic chemicals in ash or smoke carry additional concerns. In Oregons Jackson County, home to the Rogue Valleys 6,300 registered hemp acres, the Almeda Fire burned a number of manufactured homes, raising concerns about heavy metals for chromium to arsenic in pressure-treated wood that could be difficult to wash off.

In Oregon,17%of grow sites statewide faced imminent danger from wildfires in late September, which is roughly 10% of Oregons outdoor cannabis acreage, according to hemp industry analysis group Hemp Benchmarks. Growers, especially those who are relatively new to the crop, have had a lot of questions. More than 350 people attended a September 23 virtual hemp field day, seeking answers.

The most pressing questions were: what amounts of contaminants may affect quality and safety of products, and are residues, such as heavy metal contamination, left behind on the plants, says Jeff Steiner, associate director of Oregon State Universitys Global Hemp Innovation Center, which hosted the online event. We just dont have answers yet, he says.

Steiner is overseeing the formation of the Smoke Effects Working Group, an industry-based stewardship group that will develop methods and collect samples from around the West to analyze for quality, heavy metal content, and the same phenols that can impact wine. Accurso is part of that group. She is particularly interested in compounds including dioxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals, since she says we dont know what burned. Steiner and the growers she works with are doing what they can to determine if the fires had any discernable impacts. We want to be able to back up the quality and safety of our products with scientific data, she says.

Steiner says in addition to short-term research efforts to assess this years crop, the industry group will also develop long-term research and science-based management plans over the next five years to respond to anticipated challenges from wildfires in the western U.S.

Its a strategy similar to the one adopted by the wine and grape industry five years ago, he says. This is not a new issue for agriculture, he adds. Unfortunately, it appears it will be a more prevalent one.

Virginia Gewin is a freelance science journalist and 2016 Alicia Patterson fellow based in Portland, Oregon.

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How the West's wildfires impact crops High Country News Know the West - High Country News

The market has been down on Skyline Champion Corp (SKY) stock recently. SKY gets a Bearish score from InvestorsObserver's Stock Sentiment Indicator.

Sentiment uses short term technical analysis to gauge whether a stock is desired by investors. As a technical indicator, it focuses on recent trends as opposed to the long term health of the underlying company. Updates for the company such as a earnings release can move the stock away from current trends.

Changes in price are generally the best indicator of sentiment for a particular stock. At its core, a stock's trend indicates whether current market sentiment is bullish or bearish. Investors must be bullish if a stock is trending upward, and are bearish if a stock is moving down.

InvestorsObserver's Sentiment Indicator factors in both price changes and variations in volume. An increase in volume usually means a current trend is stengthening, while a drop in volume tends to signal a reversal to the ongoing trend.

Our system also uses the options market in order to receive additional signals on current sentiments. We take into account the ratio of calls and puts for a stock since options allow an investor to bet on future changes in price.

Skyline Champion Corp (SKY) stock has gained 1.76% while the S&P 500 has fallen -1.63% as of 9:47 AM on Tuesday, Oct 20. SKY is higher by $0.47 from the previous closing price of $26.71 on volume of 33,036 shares. Over the past year the S&P 500 is higher by 13.98% while SKY has fallen -11.95%. SKY earned $0.93 a per share in the over the last 12 months, giving it a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.34.

To screen for more stocks like Skyline Champion Corp click here.

Skyline Champion Corp operates as a producer of factory-built housing in the United States and Canada. It's business activities consist of designing, producing and marketing of manufactured housing, modular housing, and park models to independent dealers and manufactured housing communities. Its segments are U.S. Factory-built Housing and Canadian Factory-built Housing. It markets its homes under the brand names including Skyline Homes, Champion Home Builders, Athens Park Models, Dutch Housing, Excel Homes, Homes of Merit, New Era, Redman Homes, Shore Park, Silvercrest, Titan Homes in the U.S. and Moduline and SRI Homes in western Canada.

Click Here to get the full Stock Score Report on Skyline Champion Corp (SKY) Stock.

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Should You Buy Skyline Champion Corp (SKY) Stock After it Has Fallen 4.19% in a Week? - InvestorsObserver

In 2019, homes sales increased in real market values in Benton County, according to a reportpublished on the Benton County website Thursday. This increase will be reported to property owners in tax statementsthis fall.

A propertys taxable value is not affected by an increase in real market value, instead, property is taxed on its assessed value. According to the county, A propertys assessed value is the lower of its real market value and its maximum assessed value. The maximum assessed valueis the taxable value limit established for each property and is limited to a 3% annual increase unless there is a change or addition to the property.

Surprisingly, values for manufactured homes in Oregon have increased dramatically over the last five years. In Benton County, the average real market values have increased by 67% since 2016. These homes are classified as personal property and are located both in rural areas or in manufactured home parks, of which there are 17 in Benton County.

2020 tax statements, as well as certified values, will be mailed by the county no later than October 25, but they are also available now on theAssessors website.If you wish to speak with the Assessors office, it continues to request that you utilize phone and email communication. You can schedule an appointment to visit the office in person or ask questions about your property values by calling the office at (541) 766-6855 or by sending an email tobentonassessment@co.benton.or.us.

By Kyra Young

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Benton County Property Values Still on the Rise - The Corvallis Advocate

Now that voting season is in full swing, I feel the time is right to speak up regarding the Ashtabula County Treasurers race. The incumbent Treasurer, Dawn Cragon has been an exemplary Treasurer in the state of Ohio. She has served the County Treasurers Association of Ohio (CTAO) in many rolls and as its most recent past president. Dawn has been a member of the Hospitality and Legislative Committees, she Chairs the CTAO Committee that represents County Treasurers in the Ohio Council of County Officials, Manufactured Homes Committee, and the State Auditor Advisory Committee.

Dawns knowledge of the issues and commitment to our association shows a work ethic that carries over to her duties as Ashtabula Counties Treasurer, Chief Investment Officer and Land Bank Chair.

Her passion for the work, passion for service and her passion for the people of Ashtabula County are what make Dawn Cragon, the right choice to continue as your County Treasurer.

Bill Ogg

Treasurer

Scioto County, Ohio

We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story.

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Fellow treasurer backs Dawn Cragon | Letters To The Editor - The Star Beacon

In response to an urgent need for low-cost, dignified, and quick-to-construct housing in sub-Saharan Africa brought on by accelerating rates of urbanization, the Bergen, Norway-based building tech startup Othalo is simultaneously seeking to tackle another pressing issue by incorporating the global surfeit of plastic waste into affordable new dwellings.

The patent-pending technology to manufacture building systems using recycled plastic waste developed by Othalo has caught the attention of UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, which marked World Habitat Day 2020 earlier this month in part by announcing a partnership with Othalo. The plan is to further develop the technology and complete three housing prototypes built from 100 percent recycled plastic waste within the next 18 months before moving to the mass production stage. There is only one technology in the world today that can do something real about Africas housing deficiency and the plastic waste problem, and that is Othalo, said Vincent Kitio of UN-Habitats Urban Energy division in a recent press statement.

The three pilot dwellings will be constructed in the rapidly growing cities of Nairobi, Kenya, Dakar, Senegal, and Yaound, the capital of Cameroon, using componentsroofing, flooring, wall partitions, etc.that have been manufactured in an Estonian factory. Following the pilot phase, a factory is planned to be built in Kenya.

The partnership comes after four years of research and development of the technology by Othalo founder Frank Cato Lahti, working alongside SINTEF, a 70-year-old independent research organization in Trondheim, Norway, and experts at the University of Troms. To help further realize Lahtis vision of mass-producing much-needed housing out of plastic waste for UN-Habitat-spearheaded developments in Africa, Othalo has teamed with Norwegian entrepreneur Silje Vallestad and Belgian-born architect and pre-BIG Bjarke Ingels partner Julien de Smedt of JDS Architects.

From the sounds of it, the team has their work cut out for them. As described by Othalo, 160 million new housing units are needed now to lift people out of slums on the outskirts of African cities and into sturdily-built, and considerably-designed homes. (Roughly 60 percent of people living in Africas urban areas live in unsafe and unsanitary informal settlements that lack basic infrastructure, per UN-Habitat). That number is expected to increase to 360 million homes within the next 30 years. Traditional building methods, described by the startup as being neither efficient, economical, nor sufficiently sustainable to succeed simply arent viable considering the urgency at hand.

Othalos tech-based solution makes use out locally-sourced waste plastic, which theres certainly no shortage of. As noted by UN-Habitat, from 1990 to 2017 African countries imported roughly 230 metric tons of waste plastic, with the bulk of it winding up in dump sites. One 645-square-foot Othalo home involves the upcycling of eight tons of plastic waste according to the startup. This may seem like a lot but, again, theres plenty of the material to go around.

Like the sourcing of waste plastic, Othalo aims to keep the manufacturing of housing components local to spur new economic opportunities. Vallestad describes Othalos vision as being like a Kinder Egg, serving three-gifts-in one: affordable quality houses for the one billion who live in slums, large-volume recycling of plastic and job creation.

Othalo imagines that the technology can have a wide range of applications beyond housing that it hopes to eventually expand into including mobile storage units for food and medical supplies, refugee shelters, and larger modular buildings like schools and hospitals. Design renderings of Othalos housing developments being planned with UN-Habitat depict boxy, stacked apartment blocks made of interlocking modules accented by splashes of color, shaded outdoor terraces, and social spaces, and irregularly shaped windows. Climatically appropriate, playful, and responsive to and respectful of local customs and traditions, the Othalo housing system is intended to be safe and accessible to all.

In thinking new environments we will set our focus towards the co-creation of living conditions in direct partnership with the local communities and end users, said de Smedt in a statement. What we find particularly uplifting in our approach as a company and as architects is the desire to bridge the manufacturing world with the one of the local crafts and culture.

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Norwegian startup Othalo eyes plastic waste recycling to solve the housing crisis - The Architect's Newspaper

In the upcoming research study on the Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals market by Future Market Insights (FMI) is a valuable source of information for market players vying to establish a strong foothold in the current Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals market landscape. The detailed assessment of the Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals market offers domestic as well as international market players a clear picture of the prospective growth opportunities in various geographies.

The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has caused a slowdown in business activities of the Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals market. With the help of our upcoming report, market players can gain important insights on alternative strategies that can help in revenue generation. Learn which countries are flourishing amidst the Coronavirus era and how your product offerings can reach the right target consumer. The leading factors that are likely to impact the growth of the Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals market over the assessment period are thoroughly analyzed in the report.

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Various Segments of the Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals Market Evaluated in the Report:

On the basis of application process, the global air duct cleaning chemicals market can be segmented as:

On the basis of application, the global air duct cleaning chemicals market can be segmented as:

Competitive Analysis

The competitive analysis chapter of the report sheds light on the major developments of the prominent players operating in the Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals market. The report provides information related to the recent mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, and other strategic alliances within the Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals market. Further, the pricing, sales, promotional, and marketing strategies of each company are enclosed in the report.

Prominent players profiled in the report:

In-depth Analysis on How Businesses Can Bounce Back from COVID-19 Crisis https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/353033

Important queries addressed in the report:

Crucial data that can be drawn from the Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals market report:

About Us:

Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights and an aerial view of the competitive framework and future market trends.

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Mr. Abhishek Budholiya616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705T (UK): + 44 (0) 20 7692 8790Press Office: [emailprotected]Blog: Market Research BlogWebsite: https:www.futuremarketinsights.com

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Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals Market to Suffer Slight Decline in 2020, Efforts to Mitigate Coronavirus-related Disruptions Ramp Up - The Think Curiouser

NORRISTOWN Montgomery County Commissioners authorized more than $2.7 million worth of contracts last week as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues, and the county prepares for an unprecedented voting turnout in the Nov. 3 General Election.

Of the seven new and amended agreements that were presented during last Thursdays Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting, the contract between the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety and Motorola Solutions Inc., of Chicago, tops the list as the most expensive, coming in at a whopping $1,991,234.40.

The nearly $2 million agreement covers the upgrade of over-the-air management of all APX subscriber radios on the new public radio system used by public safety staff, police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians, the contract states.

This radio system upgrade will eliminate the person-to-person, or person-to-device, contact that is necessary to make radio programming changes, the contract states.

A $450,000 contract with multiple providers covers temporary staffing services required to answer the high volume of telephone calls related to the 2020 general election.

The six-figure contract is between the countys Office of Voter Services and the following firms.

As for the potential for high volume of calls, the countys voter services office cited the relocation of polling places and increased requests for mail-in ballots.

A previously approved contract between the Montgomery County Correctional Facility and INX Indoor Air Quality, of Exton was amended during last weeks meeting.

Officials authorized another $189,040 for the suburban company to provide for air duct cleaning services for the prisons heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system as the services and equipment [were] determined to be necessary outside of the original estimated project costs, according to the contract amendment.

The contract figure now stands at $494,040.

A $43,471 agreement between the countys IT department and New Era Technology of Islandia, N.Y., provides for additional SIP core licenses for the countys remote workforce.

The commissioners approved several contracts dealing with the Montgomery County Office of Health and Human Services.

An additional $15,000 was authorized for influenza vaccination scheduling services. The initial agreement between the county health department and HMFDF Inc. dba Solv Health, of San Francisco, is now valued at $42,000.

A $25,398 agreement with Safeware Inc., of Lanham, Md., covers disposable gloves for health workers at the countys area COVID-19 testing sites. According to the contracts, the gloves were made available through a U.S. Communities Cooperative Contract

Additionally, a $12,000 contract with TJ Billing Company of Lafayette Hill provides for insurance claim submission services for COVID[-19] tests for the [Montgomery County] Office of Public Health.

According to the contract, the rates must not exceed $6.75 for new tests and $8.20 for previous tests, and the amendment provides for set-up with eight insurance carriers to enable electronic billing.

The next Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Oct. 29.

Read more here:
Montgomery County approves $2.7M in contracts related to pandemic and election - The Reporter

OAK FOREST, IL An early voting kick off event will take place at the Oak Forest City Hall, 15440 S. Central Ave. on Monday, Oct. 19. The event begins at 8 a.m.

Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller (D-6th) is hosting the suburban Cook early voting kick-off event, with Mayor Henry Kuspa, Dana London from Cook County Clerk's office, Karen Wingfield-Bond, Clerk-Village of Lynwood, and Joan Klarich from the League of Women Voters Palos Orland League.

"The most fundamental right in a democracy is the right to vote." Miller said. "Let us not forget that not all citizens were afforded that right in this country, rather it took decades of struggle to attain that right, and we must never take it for granted."

"I'm reminded of the late great Civil Rights Leader, Voting Rights Champion and Congressman John Lewis who said, 'The vote is precious. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democratic society, and we must use it,'" Miller said.

For inquiries and to confirm attendance, email:

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Stroll To The Polls Event At Oak Forest City Hall - Oak Forest, IL Patch

3. Damp Mop and DustAccording to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the act of dusting can actually make allergies worse, since the cloud of dust stirred up can make sufferers sneeze, and get stuffy noses and watery or red, itchy eyes. To avoid dust and the tiny dust mites that feed off of it, avoid wall-to-wall carpeting, especially in bedrooms. If youre the sufferer, wear an N95 mask while youre cleaning (and for a couple hours after, while the dust settles); if a family member is sensitive to dust, its best to ask them to leave for the few hours it takes to clean the house. Get rid of unnecessary clutter, which is a dust magnet, and dampen your microfiber dusting cloth before swiping it across a surface, so that youre not circulating the dust.4. Test Your Air Quality

Air quality testers use laser beams and electrochemical sensors to determine pollutants in the air. While noted tech-testing site Wirecutter cautions against investing in a pricey air quality monitor since these devices only report and dont remedy the problem, the sites product testers allow that it can still be helpful to have a finer assessment of your homes air quality than just looking up your neighborhood AQI. The Temtop M10 monitor is a sleek little cube thats relatively affordable at $80 and detects particles in the air, volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde. One user said she had the monitor in a nearby room when she opened a bottle of nail polish and the HCHO (formaldehyde) and TVOC (total volatile organic compounds) numbers skyrocketed and didnt go down for hours.

You track in pollutants on your shoes, and your home is a veritable soup of dead skin cells, animal dander and whatever wafts in the windows from nearby roadways, according to Todd Nelson at Studio City Vacuum and Sewing. Theres no point in having any air purifier if youre just moving dust around with your vacuum, he says, so he recommends skipping the bagless models because almost all of them spew dust. Look for a model that has a HEPA filter, in addition to other filters (i.e., charcoal for odors), such as a Miele model that uses its cloth dust bags as filters. While the expense of a high-end vacuum might be daunting (Miele, for example, ranges from $400 to $1,500), refurbished models are often available at licensed retailers for half the cost of a new model.

Read more from the original source:
6 Way to Improve Your Home Air Quality (And 1 Solution Thats a Waste of Time) - PureWow

Vote yes on OOB Question 1

To the editor,

For a town in which I was born, and one where Ill spend my golden years walking the beaches and drinking coffee and enjoying lively discussions at the Ocean Park Sub and Grocery, I am deeply committed to preserving a safe and prosperous Old Orchard Beach for generations to come. That is why Im voting YES on Question 1.

Question 1 will bond $23.5 million so that we can finally fix our aging wastewater system. As a Planning Board member, I know first-hand that our system is not capable of growing with us. There have been a number of new developments in town that weve approved, but we could not put them on the current sewer system because of capacity issues. These developments have had to install private septic tanks to process their waste, which is not ideal.

We can no longer put off the inevitable long-term repairs required to keep the wastewater system functional. Its impossible to find replacement parts; the odor is terrible and we need to expand capacity. These are all things weve needed to do for 20 years.

I volunteer with the State of Maines Healthy Beaches organization, testing water quality to make sure that we are continually meeting State of Maine standards water quality standards. It is critical that we protect our watershed and our beaches to provide a safe environment for our residents, businesses and guests to enjoy. We risk our future if we dont invest in it today. Please join me in voting YES on Question 1 this November. We may never get this opportunity again.

David WalkerOld Orchard Beach

Re-elect Susan Deschambault, SD 32

To the editor,

With the turmoil created by the pandemic, economic recession, and current political climate, re-electing Susan Deschambault to the SD 32 seat in the Maine State Senate is essential. Senator Deschambault consistently represents the needs of our community at the state level, and her record of success speaks to her leadership.

Senator Deschambault cares about fixing our health care system which we need now more than ever. She has worked to lower the cost of prescription drugs, ensured Mainers cannot be denied health care coverage because of pre-existing conditions, and believes that no one should be thrown into poverty because of unexpected illness.

Senator Deschambault cares about community safety a conversation that requires experienced leadership to navigate. Not only was she Biddefords first-ever female police commissioner, she also worked for the Department of Corrections as a social worker for more than 40 years. This breadth of experience in criminal justice, rehabilitation, and community support is essential to tackling the questions of safety and security for all that face us anew today.

To tackle the complex issues ahead, we must re-elect Susan Deschambault to the Maine State Senate. I hope you will join me in voting for Susan Deschambault to represent Maine SD 32.

Stephanie EdwardsBiddeford

To the editor,

As a middle school teacher with over 20 years of experience, one of the great joys of my career is witnessing former students become successful, contributing members of their community. This is why I was elated to get word that one of my former students, Joshua Parks, was running for the School Board in Saco. As a student, I found Josh passionate about learning and invested in his school. His witty sense of humor and overall respect for his peers and teachers made him a favorite to all that associated with him. It is because of these skills that he developed early in his schooling, that I was not surprised to hear that he was voted as president of the Student Senate while attending Southern Maine Community College. Josh is, and always has been, someone that looks out for people and wants what is best for his community. I couldnt be happier that he is running for school board and will be encouraging my friends and family to vote for Joshua Parks in the upcoming election on Nov. 3.

Robert LePauloueThornton Academy Middle School teacher

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Letters to the editor Oct. 15 - Portland Press Herald - pressherald.com