Tis the season for celebrations and big announcements. While this time of year is known for the holidays, its also the most popular time to get engaged, which means its also time to start thinking about wedding venues for the big day.

According to WeddingWires 2019 Newlywed Report, 19 percent of proposals happen in December compared with seven percent in January and eight percent in February. In addition, 40 percent of couples start to plan their wedding within a month of getting engaged and first steps are setting a date, researching venues and determining a budget. Speaking of wedding dates, nearly 40 percent of weddings take place in the Fall, with October as one of the most popular months to tie the knot.

If you just got engaged (or have a feeling a proposal is coming soon) and are looking for the right venue for your wedding in 2020 or 2021, Arizona has an abundance of wedding venues to choose from that will fit your style, preferences and location with incredible photo opportunities.

Whether you envision your big day as intimate or grand, outdoors or indoors, traditional or modern, here are 10 of Arizonas most unique wedding venues that will help make your wedding day memorable for years to come.

The Clayton House can accommodate 150 to 300 guests.

Couples can choose between the modern and contemporary The Clayton on the Park or the rustic, industrial design of The Clayton House. The Clayton on the Park in Scottsdale is a unique alternative, modern venue. Their second floor gallery with floor-to-ceiling windows and park view are perfect for a ceremony, cocktail hour or dinner. The Terrace, a private outdoor space with bistro lights, is an extension of the reception space that can be used for a cocktail hour, late night desserts, or anything else youd like. The famous LOVE sculpture is steps away from the venue and is the perfect backdrop for photos.

The Clayton House is a different take on the traditional ballroom with a modern mix of refined industrial design with rustic accents. This venue has three spaces like The Rafters for rustic weddings with wooden rafters and exposed block walls, The Great Room for an indoor/outdoor experience, or The Porch with two walls of glass windows and bistro landing outdoors.

The Clayton on the Park can accommodate 50 to 150 guests; The Clayton House can accommodate 150 to 300 guests

Unique and modern, interconnecting spaces

Landscaped, covered patios

Established in 1901, this historic venue in downtown Tucson is family owned and operated. Stillwell House has the two-story Twiggs house, which is a flexible event space with cathedral ceilings, brick walls, and a sweeping staircase with romantic gardens throughout the estate. If youd prefer an outdoor ceremony or dinner, the Courtyard features lush floral grounds, mature shade trees and romantic lighting. The venue also has a newly remodeled cantina featuring a dance floor and an antique bar from Tucsons Original Old Pueblo Club, perfect for a cocktail hour or cake-cutting.

Can accommodate up to 300 guests in its three event spaces

Outdoor courtyard and garden space

Estate with welcoming and intimate atmosphere

Tanque Verde Ranch

This nationally-acclaimed resort and ranch in the expansive Tucson desert oasis offers many options for your wedding venues. They have scenic outside spaces such as the Rincon Terrace with views of the Saguaro Forest and the Rincon Mountain Range; Lake Corchran, with abundant mesquite trees and a lake with a deck to capture photos; Cactus View with a large wood deck showing off the Sonoran Desert; Mesquite Arch for photos; Front Lawn with towering trees and cacti along a horse corral lined backdrop; Cottonwood Grove, which has a dance floor, picnic tables and a fire pit plus a chuck wagon bar; Old Homestead, a historic stone building on a hill that overlooks Tanque Verde Ranch; and desert view terrace.

And inside spaces like the Saguaro Room that has a grand staircase, natural stone fireplace and a flagstone-lined outside patio and their most recent space, The Barn, which features an exterior event lawn, rustic bar and massive dining room with panoramic sliding doors.

Each of the spaces offers a different ambiance ranging from the outdoor feel of the Saguaro Forest to the romance of sunset and candles.

Ten wedding spaces that can accommodate up to 200 guests; The Barn can accommodate up to 350 guests

Offers catering and option to create custom menu

Activities and lodging for guests like yoga, swimming, hiking, horseback riding and more

The modern and contemporary space in Mesa is affordable and all-inclusive with buildings that are over 100 years old. Their spaces offer a downtown urban vibe with original hardwood floors and exposed brick walls. They include: The Bianca, The Blu Cielo, The Piazza reception hall, The Stanza, The Courtyard- an indoor/outdoor space, The Lounge and

They have four wedding packages that range from exclusive use of the venue and any space for the ceremony, cocktail hour or reception, to the use of two select spaces, all with venue services like bride and grooms suites, ceremony rehearsal, a wedding coordinator and service staff, food and beverage, and event rentals and decor.

Can accommodate anywhere from 25 guests to 200

Diverse spaces ranging from historical exposed brick to crystal chandeliers

Perfect location for outdoor photos with nearby murals or their fresh flower wall

Boojum Tree Hidden Gardens

This hidden gem in Phoenix will make you feel like youre in a tropical paradise. The Mexican plaza with rustic double doors and flourishing gardens make for a dramatic ceremony entrance. Have your reception under a canopy of greenery in the tropical garden complete with fountains and even a gazebo thats perfect for your first dance and afterward, a dance floor. The venue was created by an award-winning interior botanical designer ensuring that every picture will be stunning with gardens, flowers and colorful backdrops. They offer two kinds of ceremony and reception packages and two ceremony only packages.

Can accommodate up to 200 guests

Outdoor venue with beautiful fountains and greenery

Unique Mexican architectural style

This unconventional wedding venue will be a sight to see! If doing a daytime wedding, youll be able to see and have photos with some of the animals for truly one-of-a-kind photos and a unique guest experience. Their indoor and outdoor ceremony and reception sites include Lakeside, Savanna, Rubys House- a quaint, garden cottage, Stone House Pavilion or the Zebra Overlook that will make for an unforgettable day. Dont forget to snap some candid photos on their carousel and say I do among these creatures.

Can accommodate 50 to 300 for seated guests for ceremonies or 200 or more for reception-style

One-of-a-kind photo opportunities with some of your favorite animals

Ceremony and reception venues ranging from the quaint garden cottage to the orangutan exhibit

Ashley Castle

Have you ever dreamt of saying I do at a castle? Now you can, at Ashley Castle in Chandler. The castle features sprawling lawns with fountains, a courtyard, stone walls, and a grand ballroom where youll definitely feel like royalty. They have seven different wedding packages that range from exclusive rental of the Castle with flowers, bartending service, a wedding coordinator and ceremony rehearsal, to smaller ceremony and reception options. Inside the venue, there are two Suits of Armor by the 200-year-old castle doors into the foyer. You even have the option to get ready inside in the private dressing room suites.

Can accommodate up to 300 guests

Fountains, gardens, a statue garden and a stone and wrought iron gazebo

Thirty-foot ceilings, marble floors and hand-painted walls with crystal chandeliers

Celebrate your love of music and begin this next chorus of your life at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix. The museum displays more than 6,500 musical instruments and artifacts from around the world. There is over 40,000 square feet of event space perfect for anyones needs. The spaces include the Founders Room, Cafe Allegro for comfortable dining, El Rio with giant windows that resemble piano keys, the Main Courtyard features a beautiful bronze sculpture with water elements and desert plants which is perfect for watching the sunset, and even the Music Theater.

Can accommodate anywhere from 50 to 1,000 guests depending on the space

Outdoor courtyard with desert foliage and a fountain

Founders room features optimum lighting and sound capabilities

Schnepf Farms

Say I do on Schnepf Farms 300 acres with peach orchards, lush green lawns and grapevine-entwined gazebos. The 2,200 square-foot Farmhouse was built in the 1950s by Ray Schnepf in Queen Creek. Your ceremony can also be held in the Big Red Barn, which is 7,000 square feet, with an industrial, rustic feel complete with 30-foot ceilings and bistro lighting. The Meadow location is best for a quiet, private ceremony, as it is tucked away in a forest full of 25-year-old pine trees. Any of these spaces would be perfect for your dream country style wedding right here in Arizona.

Wedding venues can accommodate up to 300 guests

Enchanting and intimate country feel

Orchard gazebo, barn courtyard and beautiful backdrops for photos

Get married among Sedonas red rocks and spiritual vortexes at the beautiful LAuberge de Sedona Resort and Spa. Featuring packages that range from elopement for two to six guests, intimate for parties less than 30, or up to 150 guests, this enchanting and secluded resort will bring your perfect day to life. There are multiple indoor and outdoor event spaces such as The Creekhouse- a two-level suite with five bedrooms and a large deck overlooking Oak Creek; Cottageside Lawn framed by towering sycamore and cottonwood trees; scenic SpiritSong Terrace, Creekside Reserve, an ivy-covered creekside gazebo for small ceremonies or private reception dinners or Serenity Point, a ceremony venue along the banks of Oak Creek for less than 15 guests for stunning photos.

Number of guests can range from two to 150

Scenic and intimate venue with your closest friends and family

Wedding venues immersed in Sedonas breathtaking landscapes

Original post:
Here are 10 of Arizona's most unique wedding venues - AZ Big Media

With CES right around the corner, the announcements are pouring in for new gadgets and products to be on display at the Las Vegas show, including those that will change the way we cook, eat, and think about our food.

Appliance-maker LG is the latest. The company announced this week it will unveil a smart gardening appliance for the consumer kitchen at CES 2020, one that uses advanced lighting, temperature, and water control to let consumers grow greens year-round inside their kitchens.

The as-yet unnamed appliance takes many of the functions found in commercial-scale indoor farming and applies them to a device specifically made for the average consumer. Software, controlled via the users smartphone determines the precise recipe of LED lights, air, and water the plants need and when that recipe should change based on the time of day. The goal is to replicate optimal outdoor conditions by precisely matching the temperature inside the insulated cabinet with the time of day, according to the announcement from LG.

This kind of control means users can grow herbs and leafy greens year-round if they choose, and with considerably more ease than they would have with an outdoor garden. Not only does a controlled indoor cabinet mean no pests (or pesticides for that matter), the companion app basically offers a step-by-step guide each day for growing, monitoring, and harvesting plants. Its not unlike the many guided cooking apps out there offering granular advice every step of the way so that experts and less experienced users alike can use the tool successfully.

LGs new appliance marks the companys first foray into the indoor gardening space and possibly a new trend for the future of the home kitchen. Up to now, smart indoor farms for consumers have been mostly standalone devices that dont necessarily have any connection with the homes main kitchen. From the pictures, LGs appliance can be built right into the cabinetry and modular enough to fit many different kitchen formats.

LG isnt the only company exploring how to do this. At the beginning of December, appliance-maker Miele acquired the assets of Agrilution, whose Plantcube indoor vertical farm can be directly built into home kitchens.

It will likely be a long time before we see such devices become standard parts of all kitchens. That idea of building indoor farming into the design of the kitchen was a concept explored in depth at SKS 2019 this past October. It looks expensive, time consuming, and complex right now, but more major appliance-makers entering the space means were slowly but surely inching towards the day when the cost of such systems can come down and the average consumer might someday see at-home smart farming become a reality.

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LG Will Unveil an Indoor Farm for the Consumer Kitchen at CES 2020 - The Spoon

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He read the sign at Kum & Go on East Chestnut Expressway and had to ask: Is Cincinnati "local"?(Photo: Steve Pokin/News-Leader)

Steve Drewry of Springfield was pumping gas at the Kum & Go at 2885 E. Chestnut Expressway when he spotted a sign on one of the pillars that hold up the canopy over the pumps.

It says:

"Local Concrete:The concrete mix for thesite paving, building floor slab and foundation walls were manufacturedand contain raw materials from within 500 miles of this building site. Use of local materials lowers costs associated with transportation like fuel and air pollutants, and supports local economies."

This is the sign that got Steve Drewry thinking. What does "local" really mean?(Photo: Steve Pokin/News-Leader)

According to Steve, "How many people would consider 500 miles from Springfield as being local? To me, I think I consider most anything that is in the Ozarks as being local to us?"

I checked how far the following cities are from Springfield:

In August, I drove to Jackson, Mississippi. Believe me, it is not "local."

Do you reallythink you would behelping the Springfield, Missouri, tax base by purchasing concrete mix in Jackson, Mississippi?

I don't know why Kum & Go chose to define "within 500 miles" as local.

I called the company's corporate spokeswoman Friday afternoon and left a message but did not hear back by deadline.

More: Pokin Around: A man haunted by the Mystery of the Little Liquor Bottles of Southern Hills

But I'm guessing, Steve, you probably did not look at the five other pillars at the station. After all, you would have no reason to do so.

I drove there and went to the first sign I saw; it was not the one about "local concrete."

Each pillar has its own, different sign that details the different environmentally friendly measures taken to build this Kum & Go two years ago.

For example, one of the other signs says:

"Water Efficiency: The lavatory, toilet and urinal fixtures of this store use at least 20 percent less water than conventional fixtures, saving thousands of gallons of water per year. Water conservation reduces the need for municipal water treated (sic) and processing, and reduces potable water use for sewage conveyance."

This makes more sense to me than buying your concrete mix in Mississippi to help the tax base here.

In writing a story, I'm always looking for ways to trim words.

If Moses were a reporter for the Mt. Sinai Times, he would have descended with the Ten Commandments only to be told by an editor: "Gimme your best three!"

In other words, if there were five pillars at this Kum & Go and not six the sign you informed me about would have not survived the editing process.

I should also mention to readers something else you pointed out to me, Steve, the irony of six signs touting environmentally friendly ways to construct a building where you can fill up your car with a fossil fuel.

More: Pokin Around: Nino has a new classic Mustang; the skies opened and love poured down

Nevertheless, I will conclude with a tip of the nozzle toKum & Go for its efforts to be green or as green as possible. Here are what the remaining four signs say:

"Low-Emitting Paint:The paints and coating used in this store contain little to no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which improves our indoor air quality. Conventional products with VOGs have a strong smell, can irritate the eyes and skin, and cause health problems with prolonged exposure."

"Heating & Cooling:The heating and air conditioning systems at this store have a high Energy Efficiency Rating. The system has direct digital control (DDC) that optimizes energy efficiency and a high-level filtration system that maintains excellent indoor air quality for customers and employees."

"LED Lighting:The light fixturesfor this gas canopy and parking lot are highly-efficient LED (light-emitting diode). LEDs give off little heat, and the light is focused. Conventional light fixtures waste electricity in theform of heat and light-loss."

"Reflective Roof:Our flat roof for this store is covered with a white rubber finish that reflects the sun's heat. This decreases heat transfer, reducing the energy needed to cool the building."

There you go.

Now, Steve,I think you and Ishould get together for some "local" lunch.

Feel like somecashew chicken? I hear we can find it in Springfield.

More: Pokin Around: Was there ever a time in Missouri when you could legally kill a Mormon?

These are the views of News-Leader columnist Steve Pokin, who has been at the paper seven years, and overhis career has coveredeverythingfrom courts and cops to features and fitness. He can be reached at 417-836-1253, spokin@gannett.com, on Twitter @stevepokinNL or by mail at 651 Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO 65806.

Read or Share this story: https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2019/12/28/kum-go-springfield-gas-station-signs-500-miles-local-concrete/2757571001/

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Pokin Around: Since when does 'within 500 miles' mean the same thing as 'local'? - News-Leader

Cannabis and its use by humans dates back more than 5000 years in recorded history and even further back according to archaeological evidence. Its value as a cultivated plant ranges from fibre and rope, to food and medicine and due to its psychoactive properties religious and recreational use. Over the course of time, the misuse of cannabis as a psychoactive drug has resulted in a worldwide prohibition.

Despite this, the pharmacological usefulness of cannabis has continued to be revealed over time. Cannabis is often used a generic term to denote the several psychoactive preparations of the plant Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica or its hybrids. The major psychoactive constituent in cannabis is -9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Compounds which are structurally similar to THC are referred to as cannabinoids. In addition, several recently identified compounds that differ structurally from cannabinoids nevertheless share many of their pharmacological properties. Cannabidiol (CBD) is another well-known constituent of these plants and the focus is also increasingly on the terpenes which are organic compounds for medical use.

Although there is a long tradition of the use of cannabis, it seems that the pronounced use of THC as a worldwide prohibited intoxicant has limited its use as a well-recognised medicinal plant. This has changed in recent years, and there is an enormous effort to position cannabis in the phytopharmaceutical industry and also to legalise recreational use.

Today, the focus is clearly on the pharmacological effects of cannabis. CBD is valued as an effective and natural pain reliever with impressive advantages over pharmaceutical products. Cannabidiol is known as antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory and due to its natural composition, the side effects for the patient are less prominent than comparable chemical substances. It has also been shown that cannabis can help with nausea, depressive mood and insomnia. Furthermore, taking CBD can increase concentration and diseases such as hyperactivity syndrome or ADHD can also be treated. Finally, a few fully approved THC enriched phytopharmaceutical products are prescribed by trained doctors.

Overall, the natural ingredients of cannabis have a number of positive effects whereas research into the efficacy of the medical use of cannabis drugs is still in its infancy. The effects are to a vast extent still not sufficiently proven by scientifically executed studies.

There are many hands on applications, but still very little clinical trials that demonstrate quality, safety and efficacy. This handicaps the authorisation of cannabis as a medicine by legal authorities and health insurers, who are reluctant with cost compensation. However, at the same time, it is a perfect outset to enrich the existing phytopharmaceutical industry with a solid and distinguished cannabis-based supply chain. Furthermore, we see a future oriented discussion to establish a legal framework for the production, trade and use of THC and CBD cannabis in both developed and in developing countries.

SANlight was officially founded by two university alumni in the Austrian mountains in 2011. Their sound technological background combined with their green fingers put them in the perfect position to develop highly innovative illumination solutions for horticultural applications. From the beginning the emphasis was exclusively on solid-state light sources combined with smart electronics and sensors. An innovative and forward-looking approach was required to focus on the high-end B2C market for the early years, which not only awarded this a self-financed and profitable company growth, but also a customer centric product development cycle with broad and rapid user feedback via then emerging social media channels.

Today, SANlight is illuminating more than 75,000 indoor and greenhouse facilities all over Europe and is operating its own multi-level indoor grow lab within 250m2 at its headquarters in Bludenz. Linked with strong collaborations with research institutions in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, the focus today is not only on illumination but also the engineering of effective grow facilities. In our almost 10 years of operation, the activities of SANlight have expanded from better light for better plants all the way to grow solutions truly driven by nature says David Schmidmayr, one of the founders.

What is so special about the illumination gear of SANlight? We always put ourselves in the position of the crop, carefully considering the five major external growth parameters with illumination being only one of them. This holistic approach towards plant growth was, and still is the key to our success, says Martin Anker, the other founder of SANlight. This clear commitment to work on system solutions triggered in 2018 the foundation of the SANlight Solution GmbH a company serving the professional horticulture industry as a solution provider for illumination and plant production.

The growth process of a crop is determined by its primary and secondary metabolism. Light emitted in the photosynthetic active region (PAR ranging from 400-700nm) of the daylight spectrum is commonly seen as the driver for the build-up of biomass. The healthiness is heavily determined by the internal signals sent from various photoreceptors. These receptors are sensitive in a selected region of the daylight spectrum ranging from the ultraviolet (UV-A), visible or infra-red regime. With its spectral sensitivity the receptors are triggering different internal signals depending on the light intensity. And there is an interdependency of signals coming from different receptors. Without going into more detail, we can already see quite some complexity here.

The fact that the interaction of the provided light with the availability of nutrients, the water uptake from the roots, CO2 concentration in the air as well as humidity and temperature are in addition to the spectral composition and intensity of the illumination but do not forget that a plant does usually also require a period of darkness to steer its inner clock or circadian rhythm. Therefore, it becomes obvious to the reader that the holistic approach of SANlight mentioned above requires quite some competence, but at the same time reveals a lot of potential to optimise the grow process of plants.

One early conclusion that has been drawn by the SANlight research team back in formative years is that the use of selective colours only in the blue and red spectral regime (within the PAR region) is a good basis, but certainly not sufficient for modern cannabis cultivation. We have added greenish and far-red spectral signals to compose a well-balanced and broad sun like emission. The relative intensity of the different spectral regimes has been optimised over various grow cycles. We clearly distinguished the spectral distribution of the different grow stages of the cannabis plant. The spectrum for the mother plant nursery is designed to keep the crop healthy and strong for the retrieval of cuttings and at the same time avoiding pullulation even worse blooming.

The spectrum for the rooting of cuttings or the epitaxial growth from seeds needs to be designed carefully to generate resilient young plants. The illumination of the vegetative phase is designed to develop the young plants to pullulation with a strong focus on a concerted transfer into the generative or blooming phase where the red and far-red regime of the spectrum is in the focus. However, at the same time the spectral distribution was carefully optimised to maintain sufficient freedom to use different plant genetics and to apply the most effective LEDs.

Over the years, we have continuously merged the best options provided by the LED world with smart optical concepts and consider the peculiarities of the various cannabis genetics out there. The result is a ground-breaking line up of illumination gear, for efficient cannabis production along with a research and development team who strive to optimise the next product generation working today also beyond illumination, says Christian Hochfilzer, Director of Horticulture at SANlight Solution.

Keep in mind that the focus is on the crop and illumination whereas the design of the light source is a consequence borne out of this approach. Hence, we have decided to use the term illumination gear rather than light source or luminaire for our product line-up. SANlight presents two major product families the FLEX-Series and the Q-Series. The bars of the FLEX-Series are sought-after for their use in multilayer production facilities, where homogeneous light distribution at close proximity is promoted to ensure a healthy and concise growth process.

The optimal ratio of bar-spacing and distance to the crop canopy is simulated and custom tailored to the specific requirements of the production facility. The specifically shaped optical system creates a vertically extended and well illuminated cross section for the young crop. The name of this product family FLEX-series stands for the ease in project planning and execution. The illumination gear is widely used in the production of cuttings and seedlings.

The Q-Series is specially designed to illuminate larger plants as they are common in the vegetative and generative phase of cannabis production. The free-form optics in front of each LED-emitter provides a square like, batwing radiation. What is the advantage of this unique design? The light is evenly distributed onto the canopy area underneath the illumination gear. The optically directed light rays of the Q-Series emulate the natural light coming from the sun on a partly cloudy sky, penetrating all the way down deep into the plant canopy. This is true illumination.

Why for anyones sake should one invest in a solid-state lighting solution rather than in a cheaper(?) conventional HPS light? The simple answer: considering the total cost of ownership it pays off. In the countless installations we have established all over Europe we have one piece of consistent feedback; you save energy as the light generation is more efficient, the light distribution towards the canopy of the crop is more efficient, the heat radiation towards the plant is reduced and the thermal losses in a glasshouse or indoor facility are reduced and help to save investment and energy costs on the HAVC system.

Another fact is, that the optimised spectral emission of LED light sources results in a higher relative concentration of cannabinoids, cannabidiol or terpenes. But the best thing is that our illumination gear is a truly forward-looking investment. We support research programs to breed more resilient cannabis genetics that grow perfectly under dedicated emission spectra. We are perfectly aware that the spectral composition of today might be disused in the future. We have already designed our Q-series in such a way that one can easily replace the LED top part with the latest generation available. No need to replace the illumination gear, simply exchange the LED topping.

The answer is simple all three methods do make perfect sense on their own. Looking at the Swiss market for example, the cultivation of CBD cannabis on open fields was largely expanded in the season of 2019 for the simple reason that the money is in the extraction of CBD oil, and product derivatives and the consistent quality of the plants and buds is not critical for success. What counts is the availability of a large volume of finely chopped plants including the buds for extraction. There is one grow cycle per year. SANlight supports this production approach with FLEX-PRO-Series for seedling and/or cutting nurseries and the Q-Series for young plant propagation in greenhouses during spring and early summer. More advanced is the production process in greenhouses that can be shaded easily to control long day and shorter day cultivation. These facilities allow four and more grow cycles per year.

Official approval from the authorities provided some producers even grow THC strains in greenhouses with appropriate security protection. We often see that existing greenhouses (e.g. former tomato production sites) are refurbished and converted into cannabis production facilities. The products delivered are predominantly dried buds and chopped plants both well separated. A controlled illumination solution is required for the vegetative and generative phase working as so-called supplemental light. The illumination period is usually set to 18hrs per day for the vegetative phase and to 12hrs per day for the generative phase. Whatever is available as natural daylight is taken in the production. The Q-Series is used here as supplemental illumination and the light intensity is adjusted by a control system relative to the available daylight depending on the production phase, weather condition and yearly season.

Further down this article we will show in one of our best practice reports what challenges a greenhouse grower faces. And finally, the indoor production facilities where the plants are only illuminated with artificial light under a fully controlled grow environment. The reproducibility and also the productivity of the grow process can further be increased, and we see often five and more production cycles a year with consistent product quality. The footprint of these facilities has also changed over time. Earlier this year we started the roll-out of fourth generation indoor facilities in Europe.

Case studies

Let us start with a greenhouse facility which has been in operation for more than three years. Naturally, it took some time to optimise the various production parameters mentioned earlier. After one and a half years in operation we teamed up with the producer and his customer to track the influence of the ambient conditions outside the greenhouse and the seasonal changes of the daylight on the product quality and yield. The facility is used for THC production. In this study we measured the relative THC and THC-acid content of the bud, the weight of the dried buds, the THC yield per plant in gram over a period of 12months or four grow-cycles. We could clearly demonstrate a considerable yield variation depending on the position of the plant in the greenhouse. Furthermore, it was shown that there is severe yield variation between the four production cycles. One negative variable is the high temperature during summertime although there is enough natural daylight.

Interestingly, the highest yield was achieved in the autumn/ winter production cycles. In addition, we have also compared the results using supplemental illumination with full-spectrum LEDs and HPS at the same electrical power consumption per square metre. With a year-round average yield increase of 45%, the full-spectrum LEDs were outperforming HPS by far. The yield gap is larger during the lighting season (October March) and narrows down in the summer months. In conclusion we were able to show a cost advantage for full-spectrum LED-illumination in a greenhouse facility. To bring the production variation and losses during summertime further down we have thought up ideas to improve the HAVC system and shading concept in the greenhouse. But it became also clear, that it is not cost effective to lay out the facility for worst case climate situations so there remains the risk of yield loss due to weather extremes.

These are the limiting factors for a greenhouse facility. In further studies we have started to look at indoor facilities in more detail. As mentioned earlier in this article we have had some customer feedback about indoor farms where there have been grown various types of crops outside the cannabis world. In one of our home markets we have worked together with cannabis pioneers to optimise professional indoor farms for CBD cannabis, and today we are shipping fourth generation facilities. They work under CO2 enriched closed environments in an air-tight cabin where the HVAC and watering system is completely controlled and decoupled from the ambient. The production is in moveable two storey racks and facilitates running five or more production cycles per year. The reproducibility and yield of the production process is excellent, and the high-grade dried buds are used for premium medical or recreational products.

Based on our experience with smart and integrated illumination solutions for greenhouse and indoor farming we strive for further improvements in product quality and production yield by combining new plant breeding programs with innovative illumination concepts. Focusing on cannabis production and driving the process improvement together with our customers puts SANlight Solution GmbH as an engineering partner and equipment supplier at the forefront of an emerging phytopharmaceutical cannabis industry.

Christian HochfilzerCo-FounderSANlight Solution GmbH+43 650 8421158 (Office)christian.hochfilzer@sanlight-solution.comhttps://www.sanlight-solution.com

This article has also appeared inHealth Europa Quarterly Issue 11, which is available to read now.

Read more:
SANlight GmbH enables sustainable cannabis growth with illumination driven by nature - Health Europa

Bright light at night interrupts the bodys normal day-night cycles, called circadian rhythms, and can trigger insomnia. So understanding how human eyes sense light could lead to smart lights that can prevent depression, foster sleep at night, and maintain healthy circadian rhythms.

In a Science study published December 5, 2019, researchers at the Salk Institute report the discovery of three cell types in the eye that detect light and align the brains circadian rhythm to our ambient light. The study marks the first direct assessment in humans of light responses from these cells, called intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs)and the implications for health are substantial.

We have become mostly an indoor species, and we are removed from the natural cycle of daylight during the day and near-complete darkness at night, says Salk professor Satchidananda Panda, PhD, senior author of the paper, in a release. Understanding how ipRGCs respond to the quality, quantity, duration, and sequence of light will help us design better lighting for neonatal ICUs, ICUs, childcare centers, schools, factories, offices, hospitals, retirement homes, and even the space station.

This new understanding of ipRGCs may also fuel future research into developing therapeutic lighting that can treat depression, insomnia, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), migraine pain, and even sleep problems among patients with Alzheimers disease.

Its also going to open a number of avenues to try new drugs or work on particular diseases that are specific to humans, says Ludovic Mure, a postdoctoral researcher in the Panda lab and first author of the new study.

While ipRGCs had been identified before in mouse retinas, these cells had never been reported in humans. For the new study, the Salk team used a new method developed by study co-authors Anne Hanneken of Scripps Research Institute and Frans Vinberg of John A. Moran Eye Center of the University of Utah to keep retina samples healthy and functional after donors passed away. The researchers then placed these samples on an electrode grid to study how they reacted to light.

They found that a small group of cells began firing after just a 30-second pulse of light. After the light was turned off, some of these cells took several seconds to stop firing. The researchers tested several colors of light, and found that these intrinsically photosensitive cells were most sensitive to blue lightthe type used in popular cool-white LED lights and in many of our devices, such as smartphones and laptops.

Follow-up experiments revealed three distinct types of ipRGCs. Type 1 responded to light relatively quickly but took a long time to turn off. Type 2 took longer to turn on and also very long to turn off. Type 3 responded only when a light was very bright, but they turned on faster and then switched off as soon as the light was gone. Understanding how each ipRGC type functions may allow researchers to better design lighting or even therapeutics that can turn the cell activity on or off.

The new study actually helps explain a phenomenon reported in past studies of some blind people. These people, despite not being able to see, are still able to align their sleep-wake cycle and circadian rhythms to a day-night cycle. Thus, they must be sensing light somehow.

Now it appears that ipRGCs are the cells responsible for sending that light signal to the brain, even in people who lack the rod and cone cells needed to relay an image to the brain.

It also appears that, in people with functional rods and cones, ipRGCs actually work closely with these other visual cells. The new study suggests that ipRGCs can combine their own light sensitively with light detected by the rods and cones to add brightness and contrast information to what we see.

This adds another dimension to designing better televisions, computer monitors and smartphone screens in which changing the proportion of blue light can trick the brain into seeing an image as bright or dim, says Panda.

Panda says the next step in this research will be to study the net output of these cells under different light colors, intensity and durationfor example, comparing how they react to short pulses of light versus a longer duration of a few minutes. The team is also interested in how the cells react to sequences of light, such as a blue light that turns orange or vice versa, which would mimic some of the variety of light we encounter in nature at dawn and dusk.

Repeating these experiments in donor retina preparations from various ages will also help us understand whether or to what extent young and older individuals differ in their ipRGC function, which may help in designing indoor light for better day-night synchronization generally and perhaps even such applications as mood improvement among older individuals and patients with dementia, says Panda.

See the article here:
Researchers ID 3 Cell Types That Help the Brain Tell Day from Night - Sleep Review

multimedia, photos-and-video, plants, Green Altar, indoor

There's a theory that the most opposite view to a computer screen is a tree. After spending all week, 40-odd hours staring at an artificially-lit screen, the best thing you can do to rest your eyes is to look at nature. Sadly, we often don't have time. We go from office, to car, to home, to bed, to office, and so on. The trick is to break this cycle - and the best way? Bring nature into your house. Introducing plants to your home is positive for many reasons, and not just because they give your eyes a rest from the screen, or for aesthetic reasons. We've all seen stunning images of creatively positioned, healthy plants in designer-styled living spaces. "The benefits of having indoor plants include purifying the air, improving the mood of a person and the atmosphere of a room," Amanda Marsh, co-owner of The Green Altar at Newcastle Station with husband Andrew, says "Having plants teaches responsibility and patience as it incorporates the nurture factor. "It also gives people the opportunity to get creative and get their hands dirty. You can talk to your plants and they provide you with a sense of connection." Since opening the luscious and vivid store at the end of September (and before that via the House Plant Revival and Desert Sunday Co), Amanda has been guiding fledgling green thumbs into the world of indoor flora. But before you try to emulate some interior design that you've seen on social media, it's best to know what will work in your space. "For a beginner, I ask three questions: where will it go and be positioned; how much lighting will it receive, and how often are you willing to water it? The answers to these play a big role in deciding which plant to get," she says. Positioning in a house can often be overlooked, but always plays a key role. If you park a plant under the air-conditioner, it is going to have a different effect on it compared with if you put it near a window or in the bedroom. Similarly, a plant in the bathroom will experience different conditions than those in the lounge room. A plant that prefers things a little drier won't appreciate the humidity of the bathroom. You're just setting yourself, and the plant, up for a tough time. Lighting is divided into three categories: direct, indirect and shade. Certain plants respond better to each type. If you've got a dark corner, you could try a Chinese evergreen, rubber plant or a prayer plant, while the devil's ivy or maidenhair fern appreciate the more humid environs of the bathroom. If you're the forgetful type, you may want to remind yourself to water your plant, but without killing it with kindness. Amanda recommends ferns if you're an "over-lover", or if you need a bit of a reminder, then the prayer plant is the perfect choice. "It's very good at being neglected, but the real reason it's good is because it talks to you. When it needs watering the leaves droop and curl up and in. You know it's thirsty then. It's the hardest plant to kill." "Generally, indoor plants only need to be watered every seven to 10 days, but obviously this needs to be altered if the temperature gets below 15 degrees or above 30 degrees, or if they get too much sea spray or air-conditioning." Like any other covetable object, plants go through trends and phases with enthusiasts. "Indoor plants started to trend on social media at first because of their aesthetic appeal - interior designers were using them often used in funky city apartments to give people their own sense of a garden. Now, as we move towards a focus on wellness, it's more about looking after yourself and your environment," Amanda said. At the moment, a popular way to arrange plants is in a 'gang'. "A gang is three or more plants, usually different sizes, positioned to create a mini garden. Sometimes people put all the same plant together, like the snake plant, but other times just different varieties," she says. "The fiddle leaf fig was a phase, but they're really hard to care for and so many people had trouble looking after them. We're seeing ferns coming back in vogue, people feel that now they've managed to keep other plants alive, they'd like to try for something different. Rhipsalis (mistletoe cactus) is a great plant to make a statement due to its interesting foliage and leaf shapes." Essentially it's up to you and individual needs and taste, but any addition is going to be a lovely one. Amanda wants to ensure you've got the odds in your favour from the beginning. And with a little preparation and knowledge, there's little room for failure - a photograph of the room you plan to put it in can help with the selection process. "My goal is to take the stigma out of the thought that if you kill a plant once, you can't own one ever again. Plant ownership should be engaging for all ages, not just because it's trendy." While you're with us, did you know the Newcastle Herald offers breaking news alerts, daily email newsletters and more? Keep up to date with all the local news - sign up here.

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/324VkdtvqnBSp7aYw6KyqmM/2919bedf-a7d2-4ecf-bf36-7ea54579f39b.jpg/r0_417_4494_2956_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg

PHOTOS

December 29 2019 - 9:00AM

+9

There's a theory that the most opposite view to a computer screen is a tree.

After spending all week, 40-odd hours staring at an artificially-lit screen, the best thing you can do to rest your eyes is to look at nature.

Sadly, we often don't have time.

We go from office, to car, to home, to bed, to office, and so on. The trick is to break this cycle - and the best way? Bring nature into your house.

Introducing plants to your home is positive for many reasons, and not just because they give your eyes a rest from the screen, or for aesthetic reasons.

We've all seen stunning images of creatively positioned, healthy plants in designer-styled living spaces.

"The benefits of having indoor plants include purifying the air, improving the mood of a person and the atmosphere of a room," Amanda Marsh, co-owner of The Green Altar at Newcastle Station with husband Andrew, says

"Having plants teaches responsibility and patience as it incorporates the nurture factor.

"It also gives people the opportunity to get creative and get their hands dirty. You can talk to your plants and they provide you with a sense of connection."

Since opening the luscious and vivid store at the end of September (and before that via the House Plant Revival and Desert Sunday Co), Amanda has been guiding fledgling green thumbs into the world of indoor flora. But before you try to emulate some interior design that you've seen on social media, it's best to know what will work in your space.

"For a beginner, I ask three questions: where will it go and be positioned; how much lighting will it receive, and how often are you willing to water it? The answers to these play a big role in deciding which plant to get," she says.

Positioning in a house can often be overlooked, but always plays a key role.

If you park a plant under the air-conditioner, it is going to have a different effect on it compared with if you put it near a window or in the bedroom. Similarly, a plant in the bathroom will experience different conditions than those in the lounge room. A plant that prefers things a little drier won't appreciate the humidity of the bathroom. You're just setting yourself, and the plant, up for a tough time.

Lighting is divided into three categories: direct, indirect and shade. Certain plants respond better to each type. If you've got a dark corner, you could try a Chinese evergreen, rubber plant or a prayer plant, while the devil's ivy or maidenhair fern appreciate the more humid environs of the bathroom.

If you're the forgetful type, you may want to remind yourself to water your plant, but without killing it with kindness. Amanda recommends ferns if you're an "over-lover", or if you need a bit of a reminder, then the prayer plant is the perfect choice.

"It's very good at being neglected, but the real reason it's good is because it talks to you. When it needs watering the leaves droop and curl up and in. You know it's thirsty then. It's the hardest plant to kill."

"Generally, indoor plants only need to be watered every seven to 10 days, but obviously this needs to be altered if the temperature gets below 15 degrees or above 30 degrees, or if they get too much sea spray or air-conditioning."

Like any other covetable object, plants go through trends and phases with enthusiasts.

"Indoor plants started to trend on social media at first because of their aesthetic appeal - interior designers were using them often used in funky city apartments to give people their own sense of a garden. Now, as we move towards a focus on wellness, it's more about looking after yourself and your environment," Amanda said.

At the moment, a popular way to arrange plants is in a 'gang'.

"A gang is three or more plants, usually different sizes, positioned to create a mini garden. Sometimes people put all the same plant together, like the snake plant, but other times just different varieties," she says.

"The fiddle leaf fig was a phase, but they're really hard to care for and so many people had trouble looking after them. We're seeing ferns coming back in vogue, people feel that now they've managed to keep other plants alive, they'd like to try for something different. Rhipsalis (mistletoe cactus) is a great plant to make a statement due to its interesting foliage and leaf shapes."

Essentially it's up to you and individual needs and taste, but any addition is going to be a lovely one.

Amanda wants to ensure you've got the odds in your favour from the beginning. And with a little preparation and knowledge, there's little room for failure - a photograph of the room you plan to put it in can help with the selection process.

"My goal is to take the stigma out of the thought that if you kill a plant once, you can't own one ever again. Plant ownership should be engaging for all ages, not just because it's trendy."

While you're with us, did you know the Newcastle Herald offers breaking news alerts, daily email newsletters and more? Keep up to date with all the local news - sign up here.

Link:
Praying at the Green Altar to the calming qualities of indoor plants - Newcastle Herald

Posted on January 1, 2020By EditorSan Jose, San Marco, St. Nicholas, Top Stories

Presbyterian Church elders want to rezone the property where their sanctuary stands into a large PUD that also allows the maximum density allowed 170 residential units as well as retail sale and service of alcoholic beverages for off-premises and on-premises consumption in conjunction with a restaurant, causing worry among San Marco residents that the historic church edifice might eventually be torn down changing forever the north entrance of San Marco Square.

Oppositionto the effort by church elders to rezone property owned by South JacksonvillePresbyterian Church into a Planned Unit Development (PUD) is heating up asleaders of the neighborhood group RightSize San Marco aim to work with Doug Skiles, project engineer for thedevelopment team, the San Marco Preservation Society (SMPS) and independentarchitect William Jaycox, who has been hired by SMPS for advice, to make ParkPlace at San Marco, the residential development planned for the property morepalatable to the neighboring community.

As of press time, SMPS still had not voted on orofficially taken a position on the project, said President Linzee Ott. Theboard does have several concerns about the project and has shared some of thoseconcerns with the development team. The board does feel the architecture asoriginally presented is not appropriate for San Marco, she said, adding thatJaycoxs role is not to design the building or change the site plan but tooffer specific ideas and design characteristics that will help the project lookand feel more San Marco.

As it stands now, Park Place at SanMarco, which is being developed by Harbert Realty Services and Corner LotDevelopment Group, is a mixed-use development comprised of 143 multi-familyresidential units, a three-level, four-story parking garage, and recreationalamenities proposed to be built on approximately three quarters of campus ownedby South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church.

Church officials are petitioning the City of Jacksonvilleto rezone their 2.87 acres of property in the heart of San Marco from CommunityCommercial General 1 (CCG-1) and Community Residential Office (CRO) to a PUD.As it is currently written, the PUD would allow 170 multi-family dwellings aswell as a four-level, three-story parking garage to support residential units,church parking and some public parking, and commercial retail sales and serviceestablishments, restaurants with outside sales and service, the establishmentof facility which includes retail sale and service alcoholic beverages foroff-premises consumption or for on-premises consumption in conjunction with arestaurant.

The proposed PUD also requests adeviation that will allow 1.3 parking spaces be allowed for each unit in theapartment building, as opposed to the Citys normal stipulation of 1.7 spacesper unit for each one bedroom above 500 square feet in size. Parking may alsobe provided on-street, off-street or in the parking garage, with 104 parkingspaces reserved for use by South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church duringservices and other events. Parking will be located in the parking garage orwithin Area A where the existing church sanctuary now resides or on thestreet. Up to 35 spaces may accommodate compact cars, and vehicular access tothe garage will be via Mango Place and Mitchell Avenue, according to the PUDapplication.

The church is also asking for a deviation so that theactive recreation space, be reduced from 150 square feet per unit toapproximately 80 feet per unit. Because of the urban setting of the area, itis impossible to meet the same recreational standards as would be applicable toa suburban site, according to the application.

Design guidelines in the proposed PUD call for a setbacksfrom the apartment building of 7.5 feet from Alford Place and Mango Place rightof ways, a 0-foot setback from the garage and a six-foot setback from Area A,where the church sanctuary will be located, a 43-foot setback from HendricksAvenue right of way, a 0 setback allowance to the parking garage

On the conceptual site plan, theparking garage on the southeastern portion of the property allows for a 20-footsetback from Area A, a 0-foot setback from Mitchell Avenue and Mango Placeright of ways and a 7.5-foot setback from the multi-family units in thebuilding from Mitchell Avenue. The maximum height of the garage will be 40 feetand will not include rooftop mechanical equipment and architectural featuresthat may extend another five feet from the roof line.

In Area A, located on the southwestern portion of theproperty, there is allowed a 0-foot setback from Mitchell Avenue and HendricksAvenue right of ways, a 20-foot setback from the eastern Area A boundary and a0-foot setback from the northern Area A boundary. The maximum height of thebuilding is 45 feet, and this does not include rooftop mechanical equipment andarchitectural features which may extend another five feet above the roofline.

During a Jacksonville City Councilmeeting held Dec. 10 at City Hall, 14 residents addressed the councilconcerning RE#081704 and RE#081712 during the Councils public comment session,with one resident speaking in favor of the project and 13 speaking against. Intheir comments, most residents cited increased density, traffic congestion, thesale of alcohol on the church sanctuary parcel, the possibility of increasedflooding and the large scale of the proposed apartment building and parkinggarage as the reasons they were against the project.

During his comments, Jon Livingston,founder of Right Size San Marco, a group of residents formed to oppose thedevelopment, said his group has grown to more than 500 residents with 350homeowners now sporting yard signs in support of the organization. In hiscomments, he complained about the lack of aesthetics and integration of theapartment building and garage into the neighborhood, the ability to serve andsell alcohol on the Area A parcel, and the requested deviation of 1.3 parkingspaces per unit in the garage, noting that no spaces have been allowed foremployees, guests or future commercial enterprises that might be built in thePUD in the future.

If they ever have a restaurant, they wont have to gothrough rezoning to allow for extra spaces, he said. Were wondering wheretheyre going to park? said Livingston. I asked the developer, and he saidthey are going to tow the people from the apartments on the bottom floor whenthe church wants to come in. Are you going to tow somebody paying $1,700 amonth for a one-bedroom? He said, they will get the point after a couple oftows. My point is, where do they park if they cant park in the parkinggarage?

Morgan Roberts, a River Road resident,spoke in favor of the project. She said she believes San Marco will have toface increased traffic regardless of whether this happens or not. If you lookat the traffic generated by this type of project, it is much less than otherthings that could be put on the property. I think the developer has beenresponsible with the highest part of the building, and they are using expensivematerials that will help keep the San Marco look and feel. As a formerresident of Charlotte, N.C., Roberts said she saw the property values of bungalowsskyrocket once a similar multi-family project such as Park Place at San Marcomoved into the neighborhood. Jacksonville needs to stay competitive withother cities when it comes to supplying suitable housing for employees thatearn six-figure salaries, she said.

Representing the developers, Skiles said he has met several times with representatives from Right Size San Marco and SMPS and is currently working on several changes to the plan, which will have to be approved by the church leadership. We have been meeting with SMPS to better understand the concerns. It is difficult to respond to a general statement of we dont like it, which has led SMPS to consult with local architect Bill Jaycox to provide more detailed feedback. We had our first meeting Dec. 11 with SMPS and Bill to get a sense of where we should go with future revisions. It is my understanding that SMPS will be sharing this feedback with other community members. These conversations will continue so that we can deliver a development to San Marco that will provide a valuable place for new residents to live as well as an enhanced street/sidewalk, additional parking and financial resources for the future success of South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church.

Many San Marco residents openlyoppose the rezoning of the South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church campus becausethe Planned Unit Development will increase the density of the neighborhood and allowthe area where the church sanctuary is located to include the retail sale andservice of alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption or for on-premisesconsumption in conjunction with a restaurant.

Also worrisome to manywho are not members of South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church, was the terminationof employment of Pastor C.J. Dates, who worked for the church approximately 100days and gave his first sermon in August 2019, after the church membershipvoted in favor of selling and developing the property.

We heard this last weekthat the pastor was let go from the church, and were really worried about thesanctuary, said Jon Livingston, founder of Right Size San Marco, aneighborhood group opposed to the project during a public comment sessionbefore the Jacksonville City Council Dec. 10. Were talking about them keepingthe sanctuary, but unfortunately, the church is going through some difficulttimes. They will not come to the table. They also have an incentive with thedeveloper, who agreed to give them $2 million for the first 100 apartments and$20,000 for every apartment built after that. What this has done is put thechurch in a position to make more money by having a higher density. The densityis already on the edge, and this is a travesty to the neighborhood, he said.

Responding toneighborhood concerns, the church leadership issued a statement to TheResident via email. The dismissal of Pastor C.J. Dates was an employmentissue and was in no way connected the planned development project. In fact, C.J.was a strong advocate for the project and was excited to see the opportunitiesfor both the church and the community as a result of the planned development.

While the proposed usesfor the retained property, outlined in the PUD seek to maximize the potentialuses of the property, our intent, as stated before, is for SJPC to have apresence on the corner of Hendricks for the next 100 years. However, the churchtrustees and elders have a fiduciary responsibility to not limit prospectiveuses and thus value. The broader descriptions outlined in the PUD will enhancethe propertys value in the unlikely event that the church decides for anyreason that it is in its best interest to sell.

Our contract withHerbert Realty does provide the church with certain approval rights. Our rightsregarding the density of the property are intended to limit, rather thanincrease, the density of the project. Our congregation was concerned aboutselling to a developer that would maximize the property for the developersbenefit but leave the neighborhood and the church feeling claustrophobic andcongested. We believe that the current plans strike a balance between providingthe developer with a reasonable financial return yet remaining well below themaximum allowable density.

By Marcia HodgsonResident Community News

Corner Lot Development Group, Harbert Realty Services, Park Place, Right Size San Marco, San Marco Preservation Society, South Jacksonville Presbyterian

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Developer works on architectural changes amidst opposition to church development - The Resident Community News

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This announcement is hereby issued for International Tender for the Architectural Design of the First Projects in Shenzhen Park of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone (Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Integrated Service Center), and excellent design agencies at home and abroad are invited to join. We desire to solicit the most creative design scheme with the international vision and high standards.

I. Project Name:International Tender for the Architectural Design of the First Projects in Shenzhen Park of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone (Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Integrated Service Center)

II. Project Location:Shenzhen Futian Free Trade Zone

III. Time:Deadline for submission of pre-qualification application materials: Feb. 10, 2020 (by 17: 00) 3.1 Bidders must register information on the website below before submitting prequalification documents:https://www.szjsjy.com.cn:8001/jy-toubiao/czindex.html (If the bidder is a joint group, all members must register).

3.2 Pre-qualification application documents and Electronic files are sealed in a sealed bag indicated with "project name" and "bidder's name". (The name of the bidder shall be the same as the name of the company registered in Shenzhen Construction Project Transaction Service Centre). The seal of the sealed bag shall be sealed and stamped with the official seal or legal person signature of the bidder (if the bidder is a joint group, the domestic firm shall be affixed with the official seal and legal person signature, and the foreign firm shall be affixed with the official seal or legal person signature).

3.3 The bidder shall send the required information to the second floor window of Design Building, No. 8 Zhenhua Road, Futian District, Shenzhen before the deadline for submission of bidding document in the bidding announcement of Shenzhen Construction Project Transaction Service Centre (http://zjj.sz.gov.cn/jsjy/) (no mail or express delivery is acceptable, documents must be submitted on site). The tenderee will not accept pre-qualification application documents submitted after the deadline.

3.4 When submitting the prequalification application documents, the bidder shall present a certificate of legal person and letter of authorization of legal person, so that the staff of Shenzhen Construction Project Transaction Service Centre can verify the identity of the submitting staff when accepting the prequalification application documents.

IV. Tenderee: Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone Development Co., Ltd.Contact Persons: Mr. Tang, Mr. YangContact phones: 0755-23912284, 18503009314Email: sgck_02@163.com, competition@ehow.net.cn

V. Organizing Agent(s) and their Contact Information:Tendering Agency: Shenzhen International Tendering Co., LtdContact Persons: Chen Shuhuan, Li Jiachan, Wan ZhuoContact phones: 0755-22965605, 83500322, 83500113,18603013345, 15989469552, 13316523090

VI. Project Overview:Located in Futian Free Trade Zone, west wing of Shenzhen Park of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Integrated Service Center is a window for image display and transport gateway of the free trade zone, which is inside the customs fence. On the east side of the project are Futian Free Trade Zone Central Park and Changping Business Building, on the north side is Fuyuan Garden, on the west side is Turbo Logistics Building, on the south side are HGST (Shenzhen) Co., LTD and Changfu Jinmao Building. The commercial area of the project is 8118.1, the cultural and sports facilities area is 3000, and the rail transit (metro entrance) area is 249.5.

The total floor area of commercial office plot (plot 01) included into FAR calculation is 89569.70 . The commercial office area is 75110 , the public supporting facilities area is 8600 (including public supporting housing, community health service center and police room), the tower height is up to 200m, no less than 312 underground parking spaces, and the underground public passageway area is about 530.

The total area of the land for cultural and sports facilities (lot 02) included into FAR calculation is about 6,400 . The basement has no more than three floors. The distance between the boundary line of commercial office basement and the boundary line of office & commercial plot is zero. The commercial office basement is connected with the office & commercial plot above the ground.

This project is designed to limit the design, construction and installation of commercial office plot (plot 01) total cost should be controlled within RMB 713.22 million, total cultural and sports facilities (lot 02) construction and installation costs should be controlled within RMB 120.00 million.(See the Design Brief for details)

VII. Design Contents:7.1 Scope of Tender:The whole process design is for the integrated design of office and commercial (plot 01) and cultural and sports facilities (plot 02) of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Integrated Service Center. The work contents in the bidding stage include but are not limited to (see "Design Brief" for details) :

7.2The winning bidder shall complete the following contents in the form of design general contracting and meet the corresponding requirements:7.2.1 All design and design services related to this project such as early-stage design coordination (such as coordination of land-use-related procedures), overall urban design, general drawing design within the construction land area, outdoor engineering design, building and structure design, underground engineering design, planning design and single design, including scheme design and scheme deepening design (including investment estimation), design development (including design development budget estimate), construction drawing design, construction cooperation and completion acceptance, preparation of as-built drawings.

7.2.2The work contents and scope include but are not limited to the following: architecture, structure, building electricity, water supply and drainage, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, gas (the design contents of relevant specialties included in the above-mentioned construction projects include general layout and vertical design), design of fine decoration of model rooms for public areas and office demonstration zones (all public spaces in office, commercial and other functional spaces), design of prefabricated building, design of indoor and outdoor garden landscape and greening, outdoor general drawings, various pipe networks and roads and their integrated design; municipal supporting facilities within the boundary line and interface design of municipal pipelines outside the boundary line; deepening design of height limit, civil air defense, fire protection, anti-seismic support and hangers, reserved holes, energy conservation, water conservation, flood control, traffic, metro impact assessment, environmental assessment, geological disaster, traffic impact assessment, road opening, metro impact assessment, green building, lightning protection, floodlighting, marking system (including above-ground and basement traffic marking), intelligence, design of prefabricated building, window washer design, elevator and escalator engineering, BIM design, external wall and roof cleaning and maintenance system engineering, curtain wall, steel structure and grid structure, etc.; prepare all the special reports, including but not limited to project application report, environmental impact assessment report, Soil testing, soil and water conservation report, geological disaster report, green building, sponge city, seismic safety assessment, wind tunnel test and traffic impact assessment report, and connection of municipal pipeline network, etc.; relevant documents such as technical requirements and descriptions required for project bidding; all special consultation, special design, special research and special review (including communicating with the metro company and submitting the design at all stages to the metro company for approval) required by Party A meeting the requirements of relevant government departments for review, review materials for application and approval, meeting affairs and coordination with relevant government departments. The design of the systems, specialties, other special projects and projects included in the investment plan that are not listed above but are essential to the project.

7.2.3The winning bidder shall also cooperate with the tenderee to complete the following work during the design and project implementation: cooperation in construction start application; cooperation in secondary deepening design and review of relevant secondary deepening drawings; all the cooperation related to project implementation (such as subway connection design coordination, engineering foundation survey coordination, foundation pit design and pile foundation engineering bidding coordination, project general contracting bidding coordination);

7.2.4Other design work related to the project.

7.2.5If the winning bidder has no corresponding special design qualification, or the work that requires the cooperation of other professional companies (such as curtain wall design, interior design, mechanical and electrical consulting, structural consulting)it shall entrust a unit with corresponding qualification and strength to undertake the project. For projects requiring intensive design by professional companies, including but not limited to those described in (1-4) above, the design depth must meet the design depth requirements of construction drawings. The design results shall be reviewed and approved by the winning bidder.

7.2.6Participate in and accept the necessary and special reviews in the design process, such as over-limit reviews, accept the drawing review of third-party consulting companies entrusted by the bidder and the drawing review agencies and fine drawing review agencies, and negotiate with them to modify their opinions until the approval of the review.

VIII. Requirements for Registration:8.1 The bidder must be an architectural design company with legal operation qualification, and the bidding contents of this project are one of its main business scope, and the application of individuals and combinations of individuals is not accepted.

8.2The bidder (or the leading member of the joint group) shall have Grade A qualification for construction industry (construction engineering) or comprehensive engineering design issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the Peoples Republic of China, The expiry date of the qualification certificate shall not be earlier than the cut-off date. If it expires before the cut-off date, a renewal certificate provided by the competent government department shall be provided.

8.3This tender accepts agencies to form a joint group for tendering. The overseas bidder shall be a legal person registered independently or a member of the local construction industry association, and shall team up with domestic bidders to form a joint group for registration and tendering. The joint group shall have no more than two members. The domestic bidder shall be the leading member of the joint group, and shall meet the requirements of Articles 1 and 2 of the application conditions. The leading member of the joint group shall bear all legal liabilities and obligations to be assumed in the bidding and performance of the contract, and other members of the joint group shall bear joint and several liabilities. For units bidding in the form of a joint group, each member of the joint group shall not participate in the bidding in its own name alone or in a joint group formed with another design unit.

8.4The person in charge of the project must be the staff of a domestic bidder and have the qualification of first-grade registered architect issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the Peoples Republic of China.

IX. Competition Rules (including schedule):9.1 The tender is divided into three stages, separately, Stage 1 Application &Qualification, Stage 2 Design bidding, and Stage 3 Determination of Winning bidder. Design schemes will be collected at the first stage where bidders shall submit the corresponding application documents and conceptual proposal according to the tender rules and design brief, and 5 bidders will be pre-qualified to enter the second stage, with another 2 alternative bidders (sequenced).

9.2Tender Schedule

This schedule is for the convenience of the bidders to understand the general process of the project. All dates and time listed are Beijing time, which shall be subject to the actual events and time of each stage of the project (dynamic announcement by Shenzhen Construction Project Transaction Service Centre) (dynamically announced by Shenzhen Construction Project Transaction Service Centre). The tenderee reserves the right to adjust the schedule.

X. Bidding Compensation10.1 This tender will select the top two winning candidates, from which the award committee will determine one winning bidder. The winning bidder will obtain the design contract of the project, and the other candidate will receive a design compensation of RMB800,000(including tax).

10.2 Other shortlisted bidders who have entered the design bidding process and whose schemes have been approved by the review committee will receive a design compensation of RMB 600,000(including tax).

10.3 Payment of design compensation: the design compensation for this tender shall be paid in RMB, including tax. The bidders that have obtained the design compensation fee shall sign the substandard compensation agreement and provide the payment request information within one month after the conclusion of the bid-winning publicity (without objection). The tenderee shall go through the payment formalities after the bid-winning publicity (without objection). The payment agreement and the payment request information will be published in the tender documents.

XI. Design Fee:The shortlisted bidders shall make a quotation for the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Integrated Service Center according to the design scheme, and submit the quotation together with the design tender outcome document.

The total contract price for the design of commercial office plot (plot 01) shall not exceed RMB 32.69 million (tax included). The total price of the design fee is inclusive. Units bidding for 01 plots are quoted at the total price.

The design contract design cost of the cultural and sports facilities plot (Plot 02) is tentatively set at RMB5.2664 million.Units bidding for Plot 02 shall quote at a unit price, and thebid price shall not exceed RMB 487.63/m2 (including tax). The area is based on the total floorarea in the Construction Engineering Planning Permit. The design fee is a fixed unit price. The cultural and sports facilities plot is contribution land. After the planned funds are allocated, they will be paid according to the relevant contents of the fund supervision agreement in the administrative measures for the agent construction system of investment projects of Futian District Government.

The fees paid by the tenderee shall include tax. The winning bidder shall provide the tax payment invoice in China. Design fee payees must be domestic (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) companies.

XII. Special Prompts:12.1 Please download the Pre-Qualification Document via the link to the announcement released by the Construction Project Transaction Service Centre:https://www.szjsjy.com.cn:8001/jyw/jyw/zbGongGao_View.do?ggguid=2c9e8ac26ef99c70016f3b2a0a45450e

12.2 Bidders (including leaders and members of consortiums) must handle the online enterprise information registration in advance according to requirements of the follow-up procedures of Shenzhen Construction Project Transaction Service Centre.Shenzhen Construction Project Transaction Service CentreOnline handling address: https://www.szjsjy.com.cn:8001/jy-toubiao/Enquiry hotline: +86-0755-83785155; +86-0755-83787822

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Call for Entries: International Tender for the Architectural Design of the First Projects in Shenzhen Park of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and...

About Town

Best Art Gallery

A Gallery Fine Art.(Photo: The Desert Sun file photo)

A Gallery Fine Art

Sophistication, impeccable taste, knowledge and understanding have come together at A Gallery Fine Art on El Paseo for two decades, featuring a vast collection of contemporary paintings, sculpture, functional art, jewelry and glass art to Palm Desert collectors and art admirers. Currently highlighting the creations of more than 30 glass artists from around the world, the gallery is showcasing the effervescent works of both established and emerging artists in memorable exhibits.

73956 El Paseo B, Palm Desert

http://www.agalleryfineart.com

Finalist:

Galleria Marconi Palm Springs

2668 Cherokee Way, Palm Springs, CA 92264

http://www.galleriamarconips.com/

Palm Springs Art Museum

101 N Museum Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262

https://www.psmuseum.org/

Best Auto Dealer

Fiesta Ford.(Photo: Courtesy of Fiesta Ford)

Fiesta Ford, Inc.

This family-owned and operated dealer in Indio is one of the largest full-service dealerships in the country, and you dont need to drive a Ford to make full use of their services. Both the Body Shop and Quick Lane services offer customers convenient complete car care on all makes and models, making it the reliable go-to drop-off for desert drivers.

78990 Varner Rd, Indio, CA 92203

http://www.fiestafordinc.com

Finalist:

BMW of Palm Springs

3737 E Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92264

https://www.bmwpalmsprings.com/

Honda of the Desert

68-025 Kyle Rd, Cathedral City, CA 92234

https://www.hondaofthedesert.com/

Best Boutique Hotel (100 rooms or less)

The pool area at Arrive Hotel in Palm Springs.(Photo: Desert Sun file photo.)

ARRIVE Palm Springs

The first posh property to launch under the ARRIVE brand,this 32-room boutique hotel in Palm Springs Uptown Design District features a striking landmark design that honors the citys rich modernist legacy. Founded by Chris Pardo and Peter Karpinski, who met while working at Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts in the late 1990s, the hotel is anchored by unique and locally oriented restaurants, bars, retail outlets and public spaces, and immerses visitors and locals in the style, tastes and lifestyle that define this desert playground.

1551 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs

http://www.arrivehotels.com

Finalist:

Holiday House Palm Springs

200 W Arenas Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262

Intro

Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Hotel

100 W Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262

https://www.rowanpalmsprings.com/

Best Cannabis Delivery

Flower Market Cannabis Delivery.(Photo: Courtesy of Flower Market Cannabis Delivery)

Flower Market Cannabis Delivery

Flower Market sprouts a curated selection of the best cannabis brands and products in the industry in order to offer a seamless shopping experience that ties into an on-demand delivery service. Order hand-picked selections to any location whether on vacation or coming home from work, shop the online menu and coordinate a delivery when its convenient for you.

19021 Ruppert St, Palm Springs

http://www.flowermarket.delivery

Finalist:

Atomic Budz

68415 Perez Rd, Cathedral City, CA 92234

https://cathedralcity.atomicbudz.com/

Leaf El Paseo

73740 El Paseo, Palm Desert, CA 92260

https://www.leafelpaseo.com/

Best Cannabis Dispensary

Joy of Life Wellness Center.(Photo: Courtesy of Joy of Life Wellness Center)

Joy of Life Wellness Center

For what crystals and tuning forks cant cure, the owners of Palm Springs Crystal Fantasy offer something a little stronger: cannabis. At this family-owned, multigenerational dispensary, expert staff curate high-quality strains of specialty cannabis for both medical and recreational use, as well as offer guidance to each customer to help them find what buds are best suited for their needs.

142 W Oasis Rd, Palm Springs

http://www.joyfulifewellnesscenter.com

Finalist:

Leaf El Paseo

73740 El Paseo, Palm Desert, CA 92260

https://www.leafelpaseo.com/

Atomic Budz

68415 Perez Rd, Cathedral City, CA 92234

https://cathedralcity.atomicbudz.com/

Best Carpet Cleaning Company

Smiths Carpet, Tile & Upholstery Cleaning.(Photo: Courtesy of Smiths Carpet, Tile & Upholstery Cleaning)

Smiths Carpet, Tile & Upholstery Cleaning

Locally owned and operated, Smith's Carpet, Tile & Upholstery Cleaningis a IICRC Certified Firm with more than 20 years of servicing the Coachella Valley. As a WoolSafe USA service provider, they guarantee that area rugs are treated with the utmost care and provide customers with a healthier living environment through cleaning all fiber types for carpet and upholstery, as well as a four-step cleaning process for tiles that leaves grout and stone looking like new.

31735 Thelma Ave. Thousand Palms

http://www.smithscarpet.com

Finalist:

Sunny Hills Chem-Dry

74804 Joni Dr Ste 9A, Palm Desert, CA 92260

https://sunnyhillschemdry.com/

Rapid Dry Restoration

43695 Jackson Street, Indio, CA 92201

https://rapiddryinc.com/

Best Caterer

The patio dining area at Spencer's Restaurant in downtown Palm Springs, owned and operated by Harold Matzner.(Photo: Courtesy of Spencer's Restaurant)

Spencer's Restaurant

When you need to host a party, you want award-winning cuisine and an awe-inspiring ambiance. Check, check. This four-star establishment caters to the best, in one of the valleys best locations. Tucked in a quiet Palm Springs neighborhood, Spencers offers an innovative menu and can accommodate large parties in multiple settingseach accented by beautiful gardens or mountain views.

701 W Baristo Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262

https://www.spencersrestaurant.com/

Finalist:

Eight4Nine Restaurant & Lounge

849 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262

http://eight4nine.com/

Cork & Fork

47875 Caleo Bay Dr, La Quinta, CA 92253

https://corkandforkwinebar.com/

Best Charity

Continued here:
Best of the Valley 2020 winners - Desert Sun

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL December 30, 2019 Zacks Equity Research Shares of Spotify SPOT as the Bull of the Day, Apogee Enterprises APOG asthe Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Costco COST, Tesla TSLA and Microsoft MSFT.

Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:

Bull of the Day:

Shares of Spotify have surged 35% in the last three months and it crushed Q3 Wall Street estimates, posting surprise positive earnings. Spotify has also continued to expand its paid subscriber base in a crowded streaming music market and focused on new ways to grow.

Spotifys Playlist

Spotify helped jump start the paid streaming music space back in 2008 that has helped reinvigorate a music industry that long feared illegal downloads would take over. In fact, streaming represents roughly 80% of recorded music sales, according to industry reports, and Spotify is the worlds largest streaming music company.

Spotify beat Q3 2019 top and bottom line estimates at the end of October and reported adjusted earnings of +$0.41 per share, which destroyed our Zacks estimate that called for a loss of -$0.40 per share.

The streaming music powerhouse also posted its 8th consecutive quarter of positive free cash flow. And SPOT saw its total monthly active users jump 30% to 248 million, which outpaced the high end of its own guidance.

More importantly, the companys vital Premium Subscriberswho pay monthly fees for ad-free musicsurged 31% to 113 million. The growth was driven by the continued success of its $14.99 a month Family Plan and the $4.99/month Student Plans. This user expansion has helped curb some of Wall Streets worries that Spotifys much larger tech titan peers would make things far harder on the much smaller firm.

Tech Giant Competition

Apple Music has grown in popularity, but luckily for Spotify the iPhone giant hasnt tired to undercut its pricing models with both their individual premium plans coming in at $9.99 per month. Meanwhile, Amazons premium streaming music service hasnt gained as much steam as Jeff Bezos might have hoped.

Overall, Spotify has been able to grow in the crowded and lucrative streaming music space compared to its rivals. Last quarter, Spotify said, relative to Apple, the publicly available data shows that we are adding roughly twice as many subscribers per month as they are. Additionally, we believe that our monthly engagement is roughly 2x as high and our churn is at half the rate. Spotify boasted similar claims about its superiority to Amazon.

Investors should also note that Spotify has invested heavily in its podcast business over the last year and it is now the second-largest player in the growing market behind only Apple. SPOT plans to increase its podcast unit to help bring in more advertising dollars as the division only accounts for 10% of its ad revenue. It is worth noting that 90% of the companys total revenue currently comes from its non-ad supported Premium business.

But the Stockholm-headquartered firms paid-users still hear ads through podcasts that have ads as part of their own separate business model. We continue to see exponential growth in podcast hours streamed (up approximately 39% Q/Q) and early indications that podcast engagement is driving a virtuous cycle of increased overall engagement and significantly increased conversion of free to paid users, Spotify wrote in prepared Q3 remarks.

Other Fundamentals

Spotify went public in April of 2018 and found early success. Then SPOT stock fell from August 2018 until near the end of the year. Shares of SPOT are now up 34% in 2019, 35% in the last 12 weeks, and 6% in the past month, all of which outpace the S&P 500s average climbs.

Clearly, Spotify is still a growth stock, with its valuation still pretty out of whack as it spends to expand. But Wall Street seems okay with its focus on expansion in a crowded and growing space. Meanwhile, SPOT holds a B grade for Growth in our Style Scores system and it is part of an industry that rests in the top 30% of our more than 250 Zacks industries.

Outlook & Earnings Trends

Spotifys Q4 fiscal 2019 revenue is projected to jump 22.6% to $2.09 billion, based on our current Zacks estimates (Spotify reports its sales in euros). Looking further ahead, SPOTs full-year fiscal 2019 revenue is projected to surge roughly 28% to reach $7.56 billion, with 2020 projected to come in nearly 25% higher at $9.43 billion.

Story continues

For reference, Spotifys full-year fiscal 2018 revenue climbed 28.5%, which shows that the firms top-line growth is expected to churn along at a solid pace.

At the bottom end of the income statement, the firms adjusted quarterly earnings are projected to tumble from +$0.41 per share to -$0.48. Plus, Spotifys full-year earnings are expected to sink from -$0.60 to -$0.90 a share as it spends on expansion. Then, peeking ahead, SPOTs fiscal 2020 adjusted EPS figure is projected to improve significantly to a -$0.50 loss.

We can also see just how much more positive Spotifys adjusted earnings outlook appears. The firms full-year fiscal 2019 estimate is up 50% in the last 60 days and 73% over this same stretch for 2020.

Bottom Line

Spotifys strong upward earnings revision trends help the firm earn a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at the moment. SPOT does face tough competition, but growth-focused tech investors might want to take a bite out of Spotify because of its ability to thrive in an industry that looks poised to expand for years to come.

Bear of the Day:

Apogee Enterprisesis a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) and it is the Bear of the Day today. Let's take a look at why this stock has fallen to the lowest Zacks Rank and became the Bear.

Description

Apogee Enterprises is a leader in technologies for the design and development of value-added glass products, services, and systems. The company operates under four segments, with three of the segments serving the commercial construction market:

The Architectural Glass segment (25% of total revenues in fiscal 2019) fabricates glass used in customized window and wall systems forming the outside skin of commercial and institutional buildings. The segment consists of Viracon, a fabricator of coated, high-performance architectural glass for global markets. Its markets include the U.S. government, offices, education, health care and hotels.

Recent Earnings

The most recent quarter was a big miss of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The company reported $0.57 in EPS when the estimate was calling for $0.76. That 19 cent difference translates to a negative earnings surprise of 25%.

The company also lowered guidance when they reported and that is the reason that estimates took a tumble.

Estimates Fall

When earnings estimates fall, the Zacks Rank tends to fall as well. The movement in earnings estimates is the single biggest factor that influences the Rank, so when a company lowers guidance you can rest assured that the Rnak will slide.

APOG saw estimates for the current quarter slide from 98 cents to 84 cents. The full year 2019 number fell from $3.04 to $2.84.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 slid from $3.57 to $3.35 as well.

Valuation

At 11x forward estimates the stock looks pretty attractive after taking a steep drop. This stock has been a good one for a long time, so this reduction in guidance is something that needs to be explored in a deeper fashion. Sure the estimates fell and that pushed the Rank down, but there could be a bigger problem or it could be a buying opportunity. I am going to keep this stock on my radar screen and see how next quarter comes in.

Additional content:

3 Large-Cap Stocks to Improve Your Portfolio in 2020

The stock market continued its historic run Thursday as the NASDAQ Composite reached 9,000 for the first time. The S&P 500 also rose over 0.5% to a new all-time high, while the DJIA grew over 100 points. Consumer spending continued to anchor the economy as MasterCard (MA) reported a strong holiday season that was propelled by the digital marketplace.

As the consumer continues to display good overall health, some stocks look poised to reap the benefits in 2020. Lets take a look at a few large cap stocks that will carry positive momentum into the new year.

Costcois a company with a business model that can weather most twist and turns. The retailer has steadily maintained customer renewal rates around 90%, which is a testament to the continued success the firm has seen with its valued memberships. The treasure hunt nature of its giant warehouses keeps shoppers coming back to its stores to find the latest deals on almost any item imaginable.

Costco is coming off a first quarter where it saw its average transaction ticket rise 1.4% and its e-commerce sales jump over 5%. In addition to the recent success, Costco also pays out a dividend with a yield of 0.88%. The firm has also steadily raised its dividend for the better part of the past decade and has even paid out a special dividend recently.

Costco paid out a dividend of $7 per share in 2017, $5 per share in 2015, and $5 per share in 2012. Some investors believe that this special dividend may be paid out soon, which might make this an opportune time to pick up shares of the warehouse giant.

Our fiscal 2020 estimates call for a top-line increase of 6.5% to $162.7 billion and a bottom-line rally of 4.7% to $8.58 per share. Costco has seen its earnings revised higher, helping the stock earn a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Teslais a stock that has put together a strong rally recently that can propel it into the new year. TSLA shares have risen over 62% since the company reported its third quarter results, where it reported $143 million in net income. The surprisingly profitable quarter for the company was followed by an announcement that stated it was on track to deliver at least 360,000 vehicles during 2019.

The electric vehicle manufacturer has also stoked investor optimism with its Gigafactory in China. Tesla is already making 1,000 Model 3s a week, according to a report from The Driven, which would put in on track to produce the 3,000 a week that Elon Musk expects once the factory is fully operational.

The companys Gigafactory in China will be a key catalyst for years to come as Tesla attempts to expand its innovative products into the international market. In addition to its international endeavors, vehicle deliveries have soared, with trailing-12-month vehicle deliveries up an impressive 88%. Our 2020 consensus estimates call for earnings to soar over 1,200% to $5.73 per share and for net revenue to grow over 23% to $29.9 billion. Tesla has seen its earnings estimates revised higher giving the stock a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Microsoftis a blue-chip stock that has put together a spectacular year with its shares up over 56%. The tech juggernaut is coming off a quarter where it saw its bottom-line improve 21% and its top-line gain 14%. MSFT has made its cloud operations a focal point as the public cloud service market is projected to grow at an annual growth rate of 12.6% to $331.2B in 2022.

Microsoft saw its intelligent cloud segment grow over 26% in Q1 to $10.8 billion and also secured a $10 billion cloud contract from the Pentagon in late October. The company had to beat out rival cloud services firm Amazon to earn the lucrative government contract. As the cloud computing market continues to mature, Microsoft will likely see substantial growth in its cloud computing business.

In addition to Microsofts cloud operations, it pays out a dividend with a yield of 1.3%. The company has lifted its dividend payouts for the better part of the last 10 years and will likely continue this trend going forward, given its healthy balance sheet.

Our fiscal 2019 estimates project a bottom-line hike of 12.6% to $5.35 per share and for its top-line to climb over 11% to $140.1 billion. The firms cloud segment is forecasted to rise over 20% to $47 billion. MSFT looks poised to cash in on the secular shift towards the cloud and currently sports a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?

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Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss.This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumedthat any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein andis subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free reportTesla, Inc. (TSLA) : Free Stock Analysis ReportMicrosoft Corporation (MSFT) : Free Stock Analysis ReportApogee Enterprises, Inc. (APOG) : Free Stock Analysis ReportCostco Wholesale Corporation (COST) : Free Stock Analysis ReportSpotify Technology SA (SPOT) : Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment Research

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Spotify, Apogee Enterprises, Costco, Tesla and Microsoft highlighted as Zacks Bull and Bear of the Day - Yahoo Finance