By MIKE CHRISTEN mchristen@c-dh.net

Students at Mt. Pleasant High School are simultaneously working to battle the Zika virus and earn credit toward an associate degree.

If you are lucky, they might even do some house work for you, too.

The schools mechatronics and AP environmental science classes are working together in an attempt to reduce the citys mosquito population in an effort find ways to prevent the spread of the Zika virus.

Students in the environmental science class made their first presentation of their new project in front of fellow students and local residents at the Mt. Pleasant Community Center last week.

As the mechatronics students continue the work they began last year designing and building both an aerial and aquatic drone to test samples of stagnant water across middle Tennessee, the environmental science class has been working to collect and record Mt. Pleasants current mosquito population.

After taking samples of stagnant water for the past two weeks, the class will soon begin encouraging members of the community to implement methods to reduce the mosquito population.

The students remind the community the most important thing to keep in mind was to avoid letting water lay stagnant.

One of the most common places for mosquitoes to lay eggs are gutters, so the students, assisted by their peers, will offer a gutter cleaning service on Tuesday, Aug. 22.

We wanted to reach out to the community, Nicholas Wilkes said. This is to help the community and aid our own research.

Students will take samples of the stagnant water and then clean the gutters at no charge.

For more information or to request the service call (931) 379-5583.

We dont just want to experiment on campus, Phoebe Hurt said. Not only will we be getting the samples we need but we will be helping the community.

Students do ask that participants live near walking distance to the school.

The teenage researchers will again take samples in the coming weeks to see if there is a change in the local mosquito population.

The results will be recorded and entered as part of the Lexis Eco Challenge, a national STEM competition for grades 612 that awards a total of $500,000 in grants and scholarships to eligible teachers, students, and schools each year

This year we hope to make use of some of the resources we got last year, mechatronics instructor Armin Begtrup said. We will have some real data we can point to. The kids have the motivation and I am loving the collaboration between the classes.

Students participating in the project will earn college credit hours following the school districts partnership with Columbia State and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology.

Although the project will give students a head-start in college showing the similarities between the scientific method and the fundamentals of design and engineering, Begtrup said the projects most importantly giving students a valuable life skill that that they can use no matter what profession they eventually choose.

Learning the content is one thing, but teaching these students how to work and think collaboratively is really what we are doing, Begtrup said. They are learning how to approach a problem and create a solution. That is how the real world works.

Last year, some participating seniors earned scholarships based on their work on the project.

Kem Pounders, an experienced educator at Mt. Pleasant High School, is instructing the young environmental scientists.

The collaboration builds the strengths between science and engineering, Pounder said. We dont need to be isolated, we need to be working together for every project that we do.

For more information on the project visit http://www.tinyurl.com/zikazappers.

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Young scientists want to clean your gutters - Columbia Daily Herald

By KEN LAHMERSReporter

MACEDONIA City Council recently approved an ordinance to amend the zoning code to increase the maximum permissible height of buildings from three stories to four in a B-1 convenience business district.

Council also is considering ordinances which would increase the maximum permissible height of buildings by one story in B-2 community shopping, B-3 general business, B-4 highway business and business office districts.

Those measures remained on second reading at Councils Aug. 17 meeting.

Councilwoman Sylvia Hanneken voted against the increase in height in a B-1 convenience business district, saying she would rather the ordinance go to a third reading so citizens would have additional time to comment.

"The height revisions were considering are radical changes and could have a major impact on residents," she said. "I think were not giving citizens all possible opportunities to understand them."

Other Council members noted the issue had been on Councils agenda since the end of May and most of the input received from residents has been positive.

Mayor Joseph Migliorini explained a major hotel chain is interested in building a four-story structure in the B-1 district, and "this is an opportunity to take advantage of increased revenue for the city and the addition of jobs."

He added since the zoning code was adopted many years ago, the city now has improved firefighting equipment such as an aerial ladder truck, and can provide better protection for higher buildings. "The fire department has no objection to increasing the height," he said.

OTHER MATTERS

Council recently approved legislation to continue setting aside funds to offer services for senior citizens.

One measure authorizes the re-establishment of a refuse collection subsidy, one authorizes the mayor to enter into an agreement with Valley View Properties for a gutter cleaning program this fall and one provides for a snow removal program for the coming winter.

According to Sharon Sopata, administrative assistant for the service department, 99 total senior citizens participated in the programs last year.

The city will appropriate up to $15,000 for the refuse collection program and up to $5,250 for the gutter cleaning program. Snow removal will be provided at a cost not to exceed $12.50 per push.

The services will continue thanks in part to voters passage in May of a 0.5 percent income tax increase, which is providing an additional $2 million per year in revenue.

For the refuse collection, all applicants must be at least 65 years old and/or seriously disabled. For the other two programs they must be at least 65 and/or disabled and have no one living in their residence who is capable of performing the snow removal or gutter cleaning tasks.

Applicants must provide proof of age and/or disability and proof of income, and they must fit into certain income guidelines. The snow removal program will provide one push of snow within a 24-hour period when new snowfall exceeds 3 inches.

Eligible persons can contact the service department for information about the programs and how to sign up.

Members passed ordinances confirming the mayors promotion of Sean Hathaway to police sergeant and the appointment of Daniel Edwards as a full-time firefighter. Edwards is moving from part-time to full-time to replace a departed full-timer.

Council also adopted resolutions confirming the appointments of Patrick Velotta as a member of the planning commission,Jessica Brandt as a member of the civil service commission and Terry Repak to the board of zoning and building code appeals.

Council OKd a resolution authorizing the city engineer to advertise for bids for the Sioux Lane culvert replacement project.

Members also authorized the mayor to enter into an agreement with the villages of Glenwillow and Oakwood and city of Twinsburg to make improvements at the intersection of Richmond, Broadway, Shepard and Ravenna roads, and approved service payments in lieu of taxes for the owners of the Ambassadors Football parcel at South Bedford and Highland roads.

Email: klahmers@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-541-9400 ext. 4189

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Height of buildings to increase; hotel eyes Macedonia site - Columbus Parent

Are you having problems with a flooded basement? Maybe its because you didnt clean your gutters. Keeping the rain gutters on your roof cleaned out prevents a lot of seemingly unrelated problems that homeowners seldom think about. When your gutters are clogged and you see rain water running over the top, its not only making messy puddles and trenches on the ground surrounding your home, that rain water has the potential to do a lot of very costly damage.

What you can see soaking into the ground around the home can be soaking into the foundation of the home. When the water freezes during the winter, it causes cracks in the foundation. If you have a basement down there, those cracks can lead to basement flooding. Those leafs and twigs in the gutters become heavy when they soak up water. The gutters can fall off your house. Falling gutters take down outside lighting and even break windows on the way down. But the unseen and most costly damage comes when water backs up under the roof. This causes the roof sheeting to rot (under the shingles or whatever roof top you have), or the trusses to rot, and water can even run down into the walls rotting wall studs, shorting out electrical systems, and water coming in the home. If you dont clean out those gutters, the time may come when you literally no longer have a roof over your head.

You need to clean those gutters at least every spring and autumn. In some regions you may need to do this again late in the autumn after all of the leafs have fallen. While youre at it, you need to check the downspouts to be sure these are draining properly. A blocked downspout will still cause water to backup into the gutters even if the gutters have been cleaned.

Regular gutter cleaning is low cost. It is physical work but its not technically challenging nor does it require expensive tools. To start with, you need is a sturdy ladder in good repair. A sturdy ladder is critical. Never climb a ladder with broken or damaged rungs. Never use a ladder that is shaky or that has a tendency to lean sideways. Houses built on a slope or hillside can be a challenge for propping up a steady ladder. There are attachments available to lengthen the downhill leg of a ladder. This can make the difference between a ladder being steady or falling over when the ladder slants sideways because one foot of the ladder is in a hole or drops off an inch or two on a downhill slope.

The other common tools you need are a pair of work gloves, a handheld garden trowel, a five-gallon bucket, and a garden hose. A good trick is wiring the bucket onto the ladder at a height close to the rain gutter level. That way, you dont have to hold onto the bucket while scooping out the debris. Something else smart to do is check the weather forecast before planning to climb the ladder.

Never clean the gutters from the top of the roof. If you try this, youll be right at the edge of the roof and risk falling off. Start cleaning the gutters at the end nearest the downspout. Use the trowel and your gloved hands to first take out the large twigs, leafs, and other debris. Keep your body centered on the ladder (inside the vertical rails). Work one arm length of the gutter at a time. Get down, move the ladder, and work the next arm length. This takes a little time but a lot less time than a trip to the emergency room with a broken leg or arm from a fall. Also, if you use a ladder that leans against the house, there will be a small diagram on the side of the ladder leg showing you when the bottom of the ladder is the proper distance from the house. Its a little 90-degree diagram (L) that will be vertical and horizontal when the ladder is leaning against the house correctly.

After you clean the large debris out, check to make sure the downspout is draining properly. Use the garden hose to run water down the spout. The water should not back up when you run plenty of water through it. This also helps flush out any small debris that might in there. Once youre sure the downspout is clean, hose out the length of the gutters of any dirt and small debris that didnt come out with the trowel. Afterwards, check one more time to be sure the downspout is flowing freely. Thats all there is to this twice a year chore. Put your tools away.

If the downspout isnt flowing freely, you may have some more work to do. First, try flushing it out from the top using a spray attachment on your garden hose. If that doesnt work, try flushing from the bottom going up. If the downspout goes underground, you might need to disconnect it at ground level and spray up the spout as well as underground. If these tricks dont work, try unplugging it with a plumbers snake or pressure washer before calling in a professional.

While youre cleaning the gutters and downspouts, look for any damage to the entire system. The most common is for the gutters to be pulling away from the roof. If it is, youre probably going to need to make a trip to the hardware store for some replacement hardware or need to call in a professional. Another thing to look for are leaks at the joints and corners. These can usually be sealed by cleaning the area thoroughly and applying some silicon sealant.

Please leave a comment about your own experiences with gutter cleaning or if you have questions/comments about this article.

Author bio: Brian Kline has been investing in real estate for more than 35 years and writing about real estate investing for 10 years. He also draws upon 30 plus years of business experience including 12 years as a manager at Boeing Aircraft Company. Brian currently lives at Lake Cushman, Washington. A vacation destination, a few short miles from a national forest. With the Pacific Ocean a couple of miles in the opposite direction.

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Do My Gutters need Cleaning or Replacing - RealtyBizNews

Locally owned and operated since 2004, Greenawalt Roofing has built a reputation of excellence since its founding, as well as a long list of satisfied customers who helped to vote the company the Readers Choice No. 1 favorite roofer in Lancaster County.

At Greenawalt Roofing Company you will find fully trained and insured employees. They specialize in residential and commercial roof repair and replacement, and provide a free gutter cleaning with all roof replacement projects.

But Greenawalt Roofing is more than great roofs. They also offer additional exterior services, including seamless spouting, siding, windows and doors.

The roofing industry has recognized Greenawalts reputation for professionalism and knowledge, featuring the companys educational article for contractors in its nationally published Roofing Magazine.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment Saturday and Sunday.

For more information and helpful tips, or to schedule a free roof assessment and estimate, visit http://www.greenawaltroofing.com or call 717-898-6000.

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Greenawalt Roofing family-owned and operated since 2004 - LancasterOnline

Officials this week approved a $32,780 contract for a Darien-based company to do masonry repairs to the town-owned Schoolhouse Apartments building on South Avenue.

The Schoolhouse Apartments building was constructed in 1931 as New Canaans first junior high school, complementing the original New Canaan High School, built in 1927 (now the New Canaan Police Department next door). Credit: Michael Dinan

The funds will come from the senior living facility itself, through HUD, according to Bill Oestmann, superintendent of buildings with the New Canaan Department of Public Works.

[Schoolhouse officials] had went out and got some quotes to do repairs on the buildings and sidewalks and they were confused because the numbers were so crazyall the quotes were something differentso explained to them at that time that these policies had been implemented there, that the town owns all that property, we are liable for all that stuff, so we will mange the project, they are going to give us all the funds through HUD, Oestmann said at the meeting, held in Town Hall. They had no problem with that.

He added: And at the end of the day, the town owns the building and so we want the work done properly so it will last.

The 1931-built Schoolhouse Apartments originally had been constructed as New Canaans first junior high school, and it was built in a stylebrick, with a cupolathat complemented the original New Canaan High School (now the New Canaan Police Department), which opened in 1927(the same year Karl Chevrolet was founded).

Oestmann said DPW officials met with contractors and after the project went out to bid it garnered estimates that varied widelysome $20,000 between them. A company called FGS Masonry put in a bid for $29,800, which comes to $32,780 with a 10 percent contingency add-on.

First Selectman Rob Mallozzi and Selectmen Beth Jones and Nick Williams voted 3-0 in favor of the contract.

We are very comfortable with FGS Masonry to cover everything we want for that project, so the contract is actually contingent on us receiving all the funds and putting it into a special project [account], Oestmann said.

Jones urged the town to close the dedicated account as soon as it is done.

Williams asked whether the Schoolhouse Apartments building is one of the 40-plus town-owned structures being studied by a selectmen-appointed committee. Oestmann said yes.

So we are responsible as a town for that infrastructure. Williams said.

Oestmann responded that responsibilities are laid out in detail in the Schoolhouse Apartments lease with New Canaan.

But they have been very proactive in assisting us and not putting any big burdens on us, he said. We do gutter cleaning over there, we do minor repairs. We take care of everything for the daycare portion of the building.

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Town Approves $32780 Contract for Masonry Repairs at Schoolhouse Apartments; Senior Living Facility To Secure ... - New Canaanite

HILLSDALE, N.J. The Reserve at Arden Place, an active adult community in Hillsdale, has homes for sale at $895,000.

Every home at Arden Place is a single-family, detached home designed for active adults. Each home includes agreat room with a fireplace, kitchen with granite breakfast bar, master bedroom suite, two walk-in closets, platform soaking tub and lavish shower, formal living/den/office, laundry with utility sink and full-size, two-car on grade garage with one or two steps.

The 36 homes will be set on 14, landscaped acres, each with a backyard, paver patios and more.

The condominium fee covers all outdoor maintenance including lawn, shrub, landscaping and tree care, street and driveway cleaning, snow and ice removal from driveways, walkway, steps and stoop, along with gutter cleaning and roof maintenance.

CLICK HERE FOR THE ZILLOW LINK.

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Homes In Active Adult Hillsdale Community Hit Real Estate Market - Pascack Valley Daily Voice

Digital Trends

Soundbar & TV speaker buying guide: Everything you need to know Digital Trends Powered speakers, also called computer speakers or multimedia speakers, are self-powered speakers that usually require more wiring to connect and install to the TV. This means you will spend more time on the set up, but the payoff will be worth it ...

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Soundbar & TV speaker buying guide: Everything you need to know - Digital Trends

NuBryte, the company behind the world's firsthome control system at the light switch, has unveiled their new product line, NuBryte Smart Switches. Featuring built-in features unlike any on the market, these motion-based smart switches go on sale today for the first time ever.

NuBryte is the easiest way to bring homeowners the top smart home features; no programming or dedicated wiring needed. With an installation clocking in at under ten minutes, a NuBryte PRO can successfully enter the emerging mass market for home automation, outfitting multiple homes in a day.

The NuBryte Smart Switch collection extends top features, like motion-based lighting and security across the home and to unique switch configurations. The switches, which run on a ZigBee protocol, connect wirelessly with the touchscreen NuBryte Touchpoint for customizable whole home control. Mix and match up to four Smart Switches per switch box for a customized smart home solution, ideal for retrofits or custom-built homes:

NuBryte Smart Switches

*Additional features coming soon.

NuBryte Smart Switches retail from$79, and are available for installation by Professional Installers and Dealers via NuBryte partnerHome Controls.PROs: Use coupon code CEDIA17 to save 15% until 9/9/17.

FIRST LOOK at Smart Switches, and Experience the Fastest Way to Whole-Home Control at CEDIA

NuBryte is the easiest way to bring homeowners the top smart home features; no programming or dedicated wiring needed. With an installation clocking in at under ten minutes, a NuBryte PRO can successfully enter the emerging mass market for home automation, outfitting multiple homes in a day.

"We're pioneering technology that's a reliable and customizable solution for home automation professionals looking to expand. By providing an all-inclusive smart home solution, NuBryte gives PROs the competitive advantage," says NuBryte PresidentSteven Gutteridge.

Visit us at CEDIA 2017 inSan DiegoSeptember 7-9, Booth #5055 to see the NuBryte Smart Switches, live demos of NuBryte's 10-minute installation, and all-new integrations.

During CEDIA, the country's premier event for home automation professionals, NuBryte experts will be available onsite to perform live product installation demos at their booth. Attendees will get an up-close look at the easy installation and experience the seamless whole-home solution.

NuBryte will also unveil and accept applications for its new Referral Program andNuBryte PROplatform, which includes a combination of incentives and resources to enhance the dealer experience. Schedule a demo of the NuBryte system during CEDIA 2017here.

About NuBryte:

NuBryte turns the light switch into a high-performance smart home system. Its flagship all-in-one console, NuBryte Touchpoint, features Home Security, Smart Lighting, Intercom, Home Hub and more.The light switch is now the center of the smart home.Division of Silicon Valley's LUCIS Technologies.

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NuBryte Smart Switch Hits the Market: Motion-based Lighting, Security, Climate and More, All in the Light Switch. - Home Toys (press release)

Australia/New Zealand Wiring Rules Being Updated

WorkCover Queensland is advising stakeholders that transitioning from one edition of the Wiring Rules to the next can affect the compliance requirements for an electrical installation.

Standards Australia AS/NZS3000, known as the Australia/New Zealand Wiring Rules, is being updated, with the update expected to be published later this year. WorkCover Queensland is advising stakeholders that transitioning from one edition of the Wiring Rules to the next can affect the compliance requirements for an electrical installation.

To help them transition smoothly, the enforcement date for the new edition of the rules will be six months after the publication date of the standard -- such as in July 2018 if the new standard is published in December 2017, according to the agency, which has posted videos explaining key changes in the standard and will be hosting events for electrical workers and contractors during Electrical Safety Week, Sept. 4-8.

These following exceptions will allow the 2007 Wiring Rules to be applied beyond the enforcement date, according to the agency:

WorkCover Queensland will notify stakeholders about the enforcement commencement date and further transitional arrangements for the new Wiring Rules once they are finalized by Standards Australia.

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Australia/New Zealand Wiring Rules Being Updated -- Occupational ... - Occupational Health and Safety

SARATOGA COUNTY A popular solar company in the Hudson Valley has partnered with a geothermal firm to expand both types of energy consumption at homes in Saratoga County.

On Monday, only hours before a well-publicized eclipse captivated people in upstate New York, a partnership was announced between Hudson Solar and Dandelion Energy. Both companies have increased marketing operations in the Capital Region.

In a statement, it was reported that Dandelion has developed a new geothermal installation process that can convert homeowners away from oil or gas heat and offer them substantial savings.

A geothermal system uses a heat pump and underground pipes to move heat between the earth and your homeits the most efficient way to heat and cool your home, the company explains on its website (https://dandelionenergy.com).

Jeff Irish, the founder and president of Hudson Solar, said: Dandelion has lowered the cost of geothermal and set up financing so a homeowner switching to geothermal from oil or propane can save money from day one, just like with solar. When we combine our offerings, we enable customers to save money on their energy bills and completely eliminate their greenhouse gas emissions.

In a subsequent email, Irish explained that Hudson Solar originally installed geothermal systems after it started as a business nearly 15 years ago. But the company has focused exclusively on solar panels for the last eight, he added.

Irish said an average single-family home solar system is in the $8,000 to $15,000 range after federal and state incentives and tax credits.

He added that Dandelion and Hudson Solar are now working closely together on advertising, information sessions and events to promote geothermal and on-site and community solar projects.

As a former Town of Rhinebeck Zoning Board of Appeals member, Irish further indicated that he is sensitive to and experienced with zoning laws and issues.

Katie Ullmann, vice president of marketing for Dandelion, said in her own email that single-family homeowners who want a geothermal system installed could expect to pay $150 per month over 20 years with no upfront costs; or $20,000 upfront with no additional costs and minimal long-term maintenance.

Either way, when homeowners get our geothermal installation, they completely eliminate their oil, propane or natural gas bills, Ullmann said.

Dandelion has an office on Railroad Place in Saratoga Springs, Ullmann explained, and also has partnered with the firm Aztech Geothermal off Route 50 south of Ballston Spa.

Dandelion officially launched on July 6, so local marketing efforts are only just getting organized. An ESPN radio host regularly endorses Dandelion on-air and some outreach is taking place this summer at county and street fairs, Ullmann said.

According to Ryan Riper, director of planning and engineering in the Town of Wilton, at present there are 107 residential and seven commercial solar arrays in Wilton. Town officials are currently reviewing a comprehensive solar zoning policy.

Riper said he is not aware of any homeowners in Wilton who utilize geothermal heating and cooling, though one Route 50 business did install such a system.

Homeowners who desire to have solar panels installed must apply for a permit, Riper added, so that firefighters can expect to encounter that type of electrical wiring in the case of an emergency.

[Readers are encouraged to post respectful comments regarding the article below.]

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Firms Join Forces to Promote Solar, Geothermal Energy for Local Homes - Saratoga TODAY Newspaper