Photo: unicosystem.com

As the temperatures rise, homeowners across most of the country face the same dilemma: whether to turnon the noisy air conditioning and suffer the skyrocketing energy billsor sit through a sticky, uncomfortable summer. There doesnt seem to be much of a compromise, given that conventional forced-air systems dominate the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) landscape in the United States. And for owners of historic, architecturally sensitive, or aesthetically challenging houses, these systems may not even bea viable option due to lack of space or the need for extensive renovation. Even window unitsthough they offer some reprievearent necessarily any more ideal: They block views, use energy inefficiently, generate unbearable noise, and can pose security risks if stationed in unlocked windows.

Fortunately, todays homeowners have access to more options and more advanced technology. One such creative and cutting-edge solution that has gained popularity over the past 30 years provides the comfort of central AC without the hassle of tearing down walls and running bulky air ducts or the expensive utility bills thereafter. High-velocity or small-duct HVAC systems comprise flexible mini ducts that can be easily routed through existing space within walls, floors, and ceilings. Moreover, the uniquely small size of their parts plays a role in ensuring operational efficiency and lower monthly billsbut thats just the tip of the iceberg of what the systems smart design can offer.

High-velocity HVACs ease of customization and installation give a homeowner plenty to think about before selecting their new systems. If youre in the market for a most efficient cooling and heating option, weigh these considerations to design a high-velocity system tailored to your home.

Photo: unicosystem.com

1. Desired Amount of Climate ControlHigh-velocity systems are as efficient heating solutions as they are cooling, so long as you set them up to do so. First, assess whether your regions climate demands a system that only cools or one that will maintain year-round comfort with both heating and cooling. (If you aim to do both, a preferred installing contractor will connect the system to a hydronic coil, add-on heat pump, orelectric duct heater.)Next, determine how youd like to set up the system to address climate throughout the house. Theability to designate zones from a single room to an entire floor in size allows a more individual control by separate thermostats, and homeowners can further target rooms that tend to warm up faster than others as well as leave out those infrequently used to conserve energy.

Beyond what arrangements are made during the assembly of a new high-velocity HVAC, homeowners can also count on more precise control over the temperatures simply through the systems design. The Unico System operates through a process called aspiration, in which a high-velocity stream of air entering a room creates enough of a gentle suction around itself to draw the rooms air into its stream. As a result, homeowners enjoy a draft-free comfort even in rooms with once spotty coverage from forced air heating and cooling systems. Plus, temperatures from floor to ceiling and room to room are no more than 2 degrees higher or lower than what is set on the thermostat.

2. Maximum EfficiencyIf your main motivator in choosing a new system is energy savings month after month, a high-velocity system is the way to go.The Unico Systemrelies on the design of its mini ducts as well as specially wrapped and insulated supply tubing in order tominimize air loss from air handler to room. Indeed, Unicos mini ducts developed have one-third less surface area than conventional ductwork and lose that much less heat through their walls. Then, where traditional HVAC systems can lose up to 25 percent of their heating or cooling energy through leaks in ductwork, the Unico Systems quality insulation limits loss to less than 5 percent. In short, homeowners get the cooling or heating that you pay for.

On top of its superior network of ducts, Unico Systems air handler also play a part in the energy savings this high-velocity HVAC system offers. The exceptionally efficient cooling coils removeupto 30 percent more humidity than conventional systems. With less moisture in the air, a homeowner can keep the thermostat at a higher settingreducing energy use by three percent for every additional degreeand still maintain a more comfortable environment.

Photo: unicosystem.com

3. InvisibilityNothing spoils thoughtfully decorated interior quite like the conspicuous metal grillwork of conventional air vents. Not only does their appearance detract from the overall tone of a space, but traditional metal registers are prone to streaking, and those dark, dirty trails makethem look even worse. High-velocity HVAC offers new options for vent styles that make this energy-efficient system easier on the eyes as well as the wallet.

The Unico System, for example, preserves the aesthetics of your home through a vast array of nearly invisible outlets. Choose either five-inch round or slotted half-inch-by-eight-inch styles, each in a variety of colors and wood stains that let them blend in with virtually any decor. Unfinished wood versions can even be painted or stained to exactly match their surroundings. Mounted on the ceiling, in the floor, or on a wall these vents ensure a highly discreet distribution of conditioned airand whisper-quiet airflow (thanks to sound-deadening insulation in the air handler and the layered design of the supply tubes) wont give away their hiding spots!

4. TimingProfessional installation of a high-velocity HVAC system is so quick and simple that homeowners can start reaping its benefits almost immediately. Whereas the bulky ducts in most conventional cooling and heating systems require a fair amount of renovationfrom the opening of drywall to the construction of soffits and drop ceilingsto incorporate them, a high-velocity system has the upper hand because of the compact size of its components.The flexible ducts can snake between beams and joists throughout existing cavities in ceilings, walls, or floors, while the modular air handlers and coils fit in any opening thats just a couple of feet tall and wide in, for example, an attic or crawl space. In fact, the Unico System uses less than one-third of the space in the built environment that a traditional system requires, meaning it can deliver up to nine tons of air conditioning without taking up any more space than a three-ton traditional unit.

By eliminating the need to gut the home, installation becomes less time-consuming (not to mention less disruptive and less expensive). The only question left to answer is,When should we make the switch?

Next Up: Consult a ProWhile its a good idea to weigh all these considerations on your own as you narrow down your HVAC options, the planning and assessment stage is not truly complete until you involve a professional. A qualified HVAC contractor can help you choose a high-velocity mini-duct system that best meets your needs, right down to the intricacies of determining the right size. The climate in your region, the amount of insulation in the home, the homes square footage, and the number of people typically occupying various rooms all havean impact on air handler requirements. Proper sizing is crucial: An improperly sized system will not perform efficiently and can compromise your comfort.

The Unico System, which has now been installed in more than 500,000 homes, maintains a network of trusted professionals who will evaluate your situation, specify the appropriate products to achieve your cooling and heating goals, and install the system properly. The Unico System technology scales up or down as needed with ease, offering anywhere from one to five tons of cooling and heating, and these professionals understand it best. They can even help you save more money on your new investment by determining if you are eligible for federal, state, or local residential energy tax credits for upgrading to a high-efficiency HVAC system. To start exploring the possibilities, go to the Unico websiteand enter your zip code in the search tool to find a list of qualified HVAC technicians in your area.

This article has been brought to you by Unico. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila.com.

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4 Considerations for Choosing and Installing a High-Velocity HVAC ... - BobVila.com

Valley Stream, NY (PRWEB) August 16, 2017

PreciseLED, an LED lighting manufacturer based in Valley Stream, NY, announced today that Zenlite Arc has been selected for inclusion in the 2017 IES Progress Report. The announcement was first made on stage at the IES Annual Conference on August 11th in Portland, Oregon. The Progress Report is a curated selection of next generation lighting products issued annually by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), the foremost organization representing the lighting community in the United States.

Zenlite Arc is heralded as the first recessed curved product in the U.S. Market that allows for a virtually unlimited degree of freedom. Curves can be as tight as a 30 diameter (15 radius), and there is no maximum. The current version of Zenlite Arc is 1 wide, but there are plans for wider versions in the future.

With Zenlite Arc included in the 2017 Progress Report, it reinforces our drive to continue creating next generation LED lighting products said Daniel Machlis, President of PreciseLED Inc. Despite the youth of our company, we proved to the lighting community that we are one of the leaders of innovation.

Since we introduced the product at Lightfair International 2017, we received tremendous feedback on Zenlite Arc. With applications ranging from artistic freeform designs to circles used as part of logos embedded into drywall, the applications to Zenlite Arc are virtually limitless. We believe that Zenlite Arc is one of the few products on the market that truly harnesses the power of LEDs and allows them to be as flexible as they can be. This is not just another product- this is the future of lighting.

About PreciseLED

PreciseLED is a privately held LED lighting manufacturer based in Valley Stream, NY. With a mission statement of providing highly engineered architectural lighting fixtures at competitive pricing that ship fast, PreciseLED stands behind its mission by ensuring every product it introduces is in line with the companys mission.

About Zenlite

Zenlite is a linear recessed lighting product line designed to be the thickness of drywall itself. The name Zenlite was chosen to imply ease, as the products are designed to specify and install easily. With a proprietary design that includes insertable PVC flanges, the installation process is simple and there arent any post installation issues that can be seen with some other lighting products. The company has, to date, filed four patents for the Zenlite product line.

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PreciseLED's Zenlite Arc Selected for 2017 IES Progress Report - PR Web (press release)

Titan Interiors performed the finishing work on the interior of St. Luke University Parish near Grand Valley State University in Allendale.

Grand Rapids, Michigan (PRWEB) August 11, 2017

Titan Interiors LLC, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based contractor specializing in metal stud framing and drywall installation, was named two years in a row to Walls & Ceilings magazines national list of Top 50 Contractors, one of only two Michigan companies to appear on the list.

Titan Interiors President Bahrudin Rudy Kadiric said he was honored and humbled that his company was highlighted again by Walls & Ceilings as an exceptional contractor in the interior building trade.

We must be doing something right to be selected two years in a row, said Kadiric, who founded the company seven years ago with his brother Muhamed. I think two keys to our success are leadership by example and our high standards of workmanship.

Titan Interiors and the other contractors on the list have exhibited numerous skill-sets that warrant them among the best, said John Wyatt, the magazines editor. All in all, their talents have sustained their business model and made them industry leaders. A monthly magazine with approximate national circulation of 30,000, Walls & Ceilings provides news and information of interest to wall and ceiling contractors, architects, dealers/distributors and other industry professionals.

While he said that Titan Interiors treats every job as if it were a million dollar project, Kadiric said he is especially proud of work that demands creative problem solving and strong project management, such as the high profile 20 Monroe Live entertainment complex, the first Hilton Garden Inn to be built in Grand Rapids, and the St. Luke University Parish in Allendale. Titan Interiors posted revenues of $12.4 million last year in commercial/industrial drywall projects, comparable to the revenues the year before.

Kadiric said the company has a peak staff of about 200 that provide high-quality interior and exterior framing, drywall installation, insulation, acoustical and specialty ceilings, acoustical sound panels, EIFS/stucco, flooring and painting.

We are very pleased to have nearly doubled the number of team members we are working with in the West Michigan region from the prior year, he said. That sets the stage for further growth of Titan Interiors. But we also want controlled growth, so that we never sacrifice our emphasis on quality workmanship that our customers expect.

For more information about Titan Interiors and its projects, please refer to the companys website at http://www.titaninteriors.net.

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Titan Interiors Named to Walls & Ceilings National List of Top 50 Contractors for Two Years in a Row - PR Web (press release)

McQuay Water Source Heat Pumps

In 2009 we added McQuay Water Source Heat Pump units to our product line. We handle Horizontal, Vertical, and Console units up to 72000 BTU. Over 40 years ago McQuay introduced a complete line of water source heat pumps. WSHP units are used in schools, hospitals, office buildings, hotels, and many other applications. Today McQuay incorporates the best of the past and new innovations to produce the most advanced water source heat pumps available.

Enfinity WSHP units are available in horizontal and vertical configurations. Horizontal units are designed to be ceiling hung, while vertical units are installed in a closet or mechanical room. Both types are available in standard range (55F to 110F) or extended range/geothermal (25F to 110F) models. McQuay Water source units are designed for ease of installation. Cabinets are compact and low profile, and work equally well as replacements or new construction. Interchangeable panels on the horizontal models allow airflow to be field modified. Water fittings are flush with the cabinet to minimize potential for shipping damage. McQuay water source heat pumps control options can either be standalone (Mark IV or Microtech III Standalone) or network operation.

Console WSHP units are designed to be wall mounted at floor level. The Antique Ivory cabinets are shallow to minimize the overall footprint of the units. Console units are available in slope top or flat top models, either high or low sill versions.

McQuay Horizontal/Vertical Water Source Heat Pump CatalogMcQuay Horizontal/Vertical Water Source Heat Pump BrochureMcQuay Vertical Water Source Heat Pump CatalogMcQuay Console Water Source Heat Pump CatalogMcQuay Console Water Source Heat Pump Brochure

Air Distributors Company, Inc. is a McQuay Factory Authorized Parts Distributor for KY, Southern IN, Southern IL.

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The Newport News School Board Tuesday night unanimously approved a $128 million request for funding capital improvement projects for the upcoming five fiscal years.

The plan, presented to the board in June, calls for replacing Huntington Middle School in fiscal year 2021 at a cost of $34.1 million. Another $2.8 million would cover design costs in FY 2019, a cost that is budgeted for FY 2020 in the current plan the city approved last year.

The current plan covers fiscal years 2018, the current year, through 2022, while the proposal covers 2019 through 2023.

The board has previously requested money to replace Huntington, which was built in 1936 with several additions in the decades following, but it was removed in the final City Council-approved plan.

Other big-ticket items in the request include $42.1 million over the next five years for HVAC replacements, $21.5 million for roof replacements, $10 million for new classroom cabinetry and $10.1 million in bus replacements.

High school teachers from Hampton are training with Hampton Police Division Academies. These teachers are learning about what HPD does in an externship in order to teach their students in a Law and Public Safety Academy coming to Bethel in the fall. The teachers took a short ride on a police boat to learn how their homeland security/marine patrol/dive teams work.

High school teachers from Hampton are training with Hampton Police Division Academies. These teachers are learning about what HPD does in an externship in order to teach their students in a Law and Public Safety Academy coming to Bethel in the fall. The teachers took a short ride on a police boat to learn how their homeland security/marine patrol/dive teams work.

Board members said the plan, if approved in full by the city, would do enough to keep up maintenance of buildings but would not necessarily be enough to truly transform outdated buildings.

"The plan assures that we are replacing buses as we need to, that we're getting HVAC systems replaced as we need to, but in terms of playing out the foundation for the 21st century learner, having attractive classrooms that inspire classrooms, setting those expectations, that we're still not exactly where we need to be," said member Douglas Brown.

The plan now goes on to the city for inclusion in the city's overall capital improvement budget.

The board also voted to install stop-arm cameras on its school buses, provided the city passes an ordinance allowing the school division to issue tickets to drivers who pass a stopped school bus.

During a three-month pilot conducted last year using six buses, 703 violations were captured at 93 different stops, Shay Coates, director of transportation, told the School Board in January. This was the third pilot of stop-arm cameras the division has done, he said.

Part of the move to implement the program requires that, in accordance with state code, the city authorize the division to operate the system.

According to Coates' presentation in January, an outside contracted vendor would install the cameras on 30 percent or 100 percent of the division's bus fleet, depending on which vendor was used. Once they were in operation, the camera would capture an image of the offending driver's license plate with the stop-arm employed, which would be transmitted to the vendor.

The image would be reviewed to determine if it was in violation of the law, and if so, it would be sent to Newport News police to approve the infraction. The vendor would then mail a citation to the offender, who would then either pay the fine or contest it in court.

The board approved the motion in a 5-2 vote, with Brown and Marvin Harris voting against it.

Brown was strongly against the proposal when it was first discussed in January, saying, "I have a lot of grave concerns in terms of the implementation and in terms of having an unelected private corporation collecting fees and fines from citizens." He echoed those concerns on Tuesday before the vote and said he is still "not necessarily in favor" of it but that he hoped it will be "successful."

Hammond can be reached by phone at 757-247-4951.

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Newport News School Board approves CIP plan, stop-arm cameras for buses - Daily Press

By Judy Bass

Marybeth Nearen has a long, distinguished record of serving her community and advocating on behalf of students. Now, this lifelong resident of Randolph can add yet another impressive, service-oriented credential to her resume being District School Committee Chair at Blue Hills Regional Technical School in Canton.

The position has been held by only one other woman (Alena Wisgirda of Norwood decades ago) since the school opened in 1966. (Another woman, Christine Seibert of Braintree, was on the District School Committee during the 2002-2003 school year.)

I really have never thought of the position being different with a female as chair, said Mrs. Nearen.

Im more about achieving policy outcomes and transparency than wanting publicity or credit, she added. The only change I see [because I am female] is that I will be more visible as the chair and advocate for my constituents the students and for the tools they need to succeed, but I will go about it differently, advocating for them as if they were my children.

Mrs. Nearen does see herself as a role model for other women, especially her daughters and their friends. Change is hard and it is that first step in finding your voice. I was very hesitant to believe in myself, however, I found my voice through experience. I always try to encourage women I meet to become involved in any way that fits their schedules and to start with small steps if they are hesitant.

Her lengthy slate of tasks will include facilitating meetings, having agendas for DSC meetings created, seeing to it that subcommittee members are appointed, representing the DSC at events, making sure all DSC members are informed before they vote on issues, and ensuring that DSC members are up-to-date on key matters like school policy, the Open Meeting Law and professional development opportunities. Mrs. Nearen said her most important priority is being certain that everyone on the DSC understands their fiscal responsibility to the entire district.

She brings considerable experience to her new role, including being the Randolph School Committees Chair of Policy, Vice Chair and Chair, all between 2006 and 2012. Mrs. Nearen was first elected to the Blue Hills Regional District School Committee in 2012, and served on the School Committees of both Randolph and Blue Hills Regional for one year until December 31, 2013. She was formerly Secretary and then Vice Chair of the Blue Hills Regional DSC. Her DSC colleagues elected her to be chair on July 11, 2017.

As Vice Chair and Chair of the Randolph School Committee, she noted, I was able to advocate for an underperforming school district to the Massachusetts Commissioner of Education and create plans for turnaround success. I have a passion for law and policy, which some think of as a good read to fall asleep to, but those areas fill me with possibilities and ideas to connect policy and laws around education.

Mrs. Nearens community service positions include being Patriots Trail Girl Scouts Event Coordinator (she was Volunteer of the Year in 2002), Randolph Parent Teacher Organization Representative and Council Member, Randolph Town Meeting Member from 2002 to 2010 and local Cultural Council Representative, as well as corporator of Beth Israel Deaconess-Milton Hospital.

A professional mixologist with her own business, Mrs. Nearen is also a member of the support staff at Randolph Podiatry and is a licensed Realtor for Century 21 Kierman in Randolph.

Mrs. Nearens and her husband Pauls three daughters graduated from Blue Hills and subsequently continued their education.

Melissa graduated in 2007, then graduated from the Wentworth Institute of Technology and is a project manager for a company; Kathleen graduated in 2010, studied phlebotomy at the Health Training Center in Stoughton and is currently doing cosmetology, specializing in makeup and skin care; and Christine graduated in 2014, is finishing her last year at Newbury College and works for a record company in Boston.

We are very lucky at Blue Hills to have such a climate of success, said Mrs. Nearen, citing the fact that over the years, Blue Hills grads have furthered their education at a host of outstanding colleges and universities. Blue Hills is special because of the people who walk the corridors, teach and learn there.

Some residents of Blue Hills nine district towns Avon, Braintree, Canton, Dedham, Holbrook, Milton, Norwood, Randolph and Westwood - may not be aware of everything that is happening at the school, the opportunities it offers to students and the mission it seeks to fulfill. To remedy that, Mrs. Nearen said that she hopes to increase outreach to the public.

We are working on several avenues of communication now, she said, one being having our meetings televised in all our district towns and having our School Committee members attend every Town Meeting, Council Meeting and Finance Committee meeting where Blue Hills is invited to make a presentation. In doing so, we would show support and talk with constituents. Also, we are working on seeing that our meetings have more attendance by our parents, guardians and significant representatives.

One major upcoming project that Mrs. Nearen foresees communications as crucial for is a planned multi-million dollar renovation of the school. The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) is expected to contribute approximately 52 per cent of the renovation costs. The project will entail replacement of windows and building entries, plus systems replacements such as heat, HVAC, electrical and others.

Communication is key to getting rid of the status quo and being able to have all DSC members articulate why this project is needed, Mrs. Nearen said. We need to support our administration team while attending our nine district Town Meetings or Council Meetings on this MSBA project. By educating our member towns on why this project is needed, I believe we will have a successful outcome.

Mrs. Nearen expressed her dedication to serving all of Blue Hills member towns and students. I know I am our district towns voice and I will do whats right in my heart for them. Being the second woman as chair of the Blue Hills DSC will not change that.

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Randolph resident named chair of Blue Hills ... - Randolph Herald - Wicked Local Randolph

President Trump may be in New Jersey for a 17-day vacation, but the White House has been humming with activity as it undergoes a series of renovations.

Construction started just before Trump and other White House staff left the West Wing last week.

Crews are working toreplace the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, a White House officialtold reporters last week. Because of the frequency of use, the HVAC system's usage age is pegged at around 84 years old.

South Porticosteps on the South Lawn are also being restored for the first time since PresidentDwight Eisenhower was in the White House.

Other improvements include: refurbishing the Navy mess kitchen, the building's lower lobby, the information technology system and other cosmetic upgrades such as carpet replacements.

See photos of the ongoing construction and upgrades below:

All furniture and carpeting have been removed from the Oval Office as it undergoes renovation work. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Furniture from the White House as well as other materials are being stored in temporary containers outside the West Wing as construction work continues. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

New carpeting for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is measured and cut by workers.(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Workers lay out new carpeting in the hallway between the Lower and Upper Press Offices.(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Parts of the Rose Garden have been left closed off as construction continues.(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

New granite curb is installed on the ground of the White House in front of the West Wing. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The South Portico steps are being repaired for the first time since Eisenhower's administration.(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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A look inside the White House as it undergoes renovations - The Hill

The New Mexico Museum of Space History is offering half price admission for the museum from Monday August 14 through Friday September 1, while new carpeting is being installed on several floors in the building.

Although our guests will be temporarily inconvenienced by the flooring work, we are very pleased that progress continues to be made in upgrades to our museum, exhibits and grounds. Its this kind of work that resulted in our visitation increases over the past few years and will continue to make a positive impact on our guests, said Orwoll.

This phase of carpet installation with complete the new carpeting throughout the museum. In addition to the flooring, sheetrock installation will also be taking place in certain areas of the building.

We worked very hard with Home Service Contractors and First Street Carpet and Tile to come up with a work schedule that would allow us to remain open, but even with before and after hours work there will still be disruption in the galleries, said Museum Executive Director Chris Orwoll.

Well have to move exhibit cases and close off sections of galleries as the installation progresses in steps, so we felt like offering half price admission would be a way to help offset the inconvenience for our guests. Orwoll added that there is a possibility of an early closure when the work makes its way to the ground floor, where the reception area and gift shop is located.

The carpet installation is just one of many planned projects at the museum over the next several months. As sheetrock is installed in strategic locations, gallery redesign will begin on floor 2 B and throughout the rampways, where the International Space Hall of Fame Inductees will be honored.

Graphic design elements and artifact displays will begin being incorporated on to floor 3 B, showcasing the existing satellites and incorporating the story of the global positioning system (GPS). Floor 2A will also undergo changes as the exhibit begins to explore manned spaceflight.

Outside, near the rocket park, a new playground will be installed along with a sunshade and picnic tables. The playground project was made possible through a large grant from PNM and support from our Foundation. Were very excited about it and look forward to everyone coming to play on our new rocket climber! said Orwoll.

An announcement will be made when installation of the playground begins.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is a division of the NM Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information, call 575-437-2840 or toll free 1-877-333-6589 or visit the websiteor Facebook Page.

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NM Museum of Space History Offers Reduced Admission Fees During Carpet Installation - El Paso Herald-Post (press release) (registration) (blog)

BEATRICE Its back to classes for students in the Beatrice Public School District. Kindergarten through 9th grade students open the new school year with a half-day, today. All grades have their first full day, on Wednesday.

Preschool students will start the new year on Tuesday, August 22nd, with home visits being conducted this week. Its been a busy summer in the district, transforming the former Cedar Elementary to the Beatrice Community Preschool, and making building changes at Stoddard, Lincoln and Paddock Lane buildings.

Monday night, the school board recognized the maintenance and custodial staff led by Building and Grounds Director Terry Brethouwer. Elementary Principal Betty Replogle says there was a lot of work accomplished.

:35 no small task

Replogle says the transition work was on top of regular maintenance work and equipment replacement.

:17 family

New carpet installation, responding to water within buildings, taking care of wind storm damage and repainting, were also on the list.

Board of Education President Lisa Pieper presented certificates, a plaque and small gift to the maintenance and custodial staff members.

Superintendent Pat Nauroth credited staff for getting things ready.

:14 with that

An all-elementary event is Friday at 10 a.m., at the Homestead National Monument of America.where kindergarten through 5th grade students from Beatrice, St. Pauls and St. Josephs schools and Tri County elementary will hear a NASA speaker.

Nauroth says during Mondays upcoming solar eclipse, provisions have been made to allow students to view it, with their parentswhile school remains in session.

:34 do that

School parking lots will not be available to eclipse viewers, since theyll be in use for school activity during the start of the new year.

Districts such as Beatrice, Norris, Crete, Fairbury, Tri County, York and others in the area are having school, while still having eclipse-related activities.

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New School Year Underway, in BeatriceStaff Lauded For Transition Efforts - US92 - News Channel Nebraska (press release)

GRUNDY CENTER -- Velma Teresa Ulferts, 60, of Grundy Center, died Friday, Aug. 11, at her home.

She was born Jan. 30, 1957, daughter of Merlin and Marian Sternhagen Hillebrand. She married Robert Olsen; he died in 1998. She married Gerry Ulferts.

She attended Grundy Center High School and then worked at the hardware store in Grundy Center for many years. Velma and Robert Olsen owned operated a carpet installation business in Grundy Center for many years. She later was employed in a local factory.

Survived by: her husband; stepchildren, Trent, Trae and Tate; siblings, Ruth Ann (Ray) Wilson of Grundy Center, Gerald (Kathi) Sternhagen of Grundy Center, Joan Sternhagen of Waterloo, Elaine (Mike) Costello of Waterloo, Joe (LaVonne) Sternhagen of Grundy Center, Donna Fowler of Grundy Center, Linda (Bill) Harrington of Des Moines, Roger (Jean) Sternhagen of Grundy Center, Barbara Eiklenborg of Marshalltown and Debbie (Mike) Schmidt of Marshalltown; a sister-in-law, Ronda Sternhagen of Holland; many nieces and nephews; and her best friend, Randi Hoffman of Grundy Center.

Preceded in death by: her parents; husband Robert Olsen; two brothers, Marvin and Ralph Sternhagen; a sister-in-law; a brother-in-law; and nieces and nephews.

Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, at Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home, Grundy Center, with visitation for an hour before services. Burial will be private at Rose Hill Cemetery at a later date.

Memorials: may be directed to the American Diabetes Association.

Velma was always there to help her family and was Gerrys rock to lean on. She enjoyed shopping, craft shows and collecting antiques. She also enjoyed cooking and watching television.

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Velma Teresa Ulferts (1957-2017) - Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier