WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) completes its third transaction of February by financing the construction of 1100 Eastern Avenue Apartments, 63 affordable apartments in Ward 7. DCHFA issued $13.9 million in tax exempt bonds and underwrote $9.8 million in low income housing tax credit (LIHTC) equity. "The Deanwood neighborhood is seeing a great deal of development and has become a sought after place to live, especially since being designated an Opportunity Zone. It is the Agency's goal to ensure that affordable housing remains a top priority amidst all of this development," stated Christopher E. Donald, Interim Executive Director, DCHFA.

The apartments at 1100 Eastern Avenue will consist of 11 efficiencies, 30 one-bedrooms, 2 two-bedrooms, 16 three-bedrooms and 4 four-bedrooms. Thirteen of those apartments will be reserved for residents earning 30 percent or less area median income (AMI), and the remaining 50 apartments will be reserved for those earning up to 50 percent AMI. Twenty percent of the units will be Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) accepting Local Rent Supplement Program (LRSP) vouchers. Residents in the PSH apartments will have access to support services through Community Connections DC (CCDC), to include educational and vocational, psychiatric and behavioral, legal concerns, substance abuse and physical health and more.

The five-story $29.6 million building will feature 4,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor, open-air courtyards, and a green roof. Additional amenities include an advanced security system with an intercom, video surveillance, key FOB access and on-site management. There will be a 16-space parking garage and 21 indoor bicycle storage units. All of the apartments will have new washers and dryers, refrigerators, garbage disposals, dishwashers and central air conditioning.

Additional funding for this project came in the form of an $11.4 million Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF) loan from the DC Department of Housing and Community Development. This is the Agency's third recent project in the Deanwood neighborhood, having financed the construction of the Strand Residences and Providence Place Apartments in August 2019.

Through its Multifamily Lending and Neighborhood Investment and Capital Markets divisions, DCHFA issues tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds to lower the developers' costs of acquiring, constructing and rehabilitating rental housing. The Agency offers private for-profit and non-profit developers low cost predevelopment, construction and permanent financing that supports the new construction, acquisition, and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing in the District.

The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency is an S&P A + rated issuer in its 40th year of serving Washington, D.C.'s residents. The Agency's mission is to advance the District of Columbia's housing priorities; the Agency invests in affordable housing and neighborhood development, which provides pathways for D.C. residents to transform their lives. We accomplish our mission by delivering the most efficient and effective sources of capital available in the market to finance rental housing and to create homeownership opportunities.

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DCHFA Finances Third Affordable Apartment Community of the Month in Ward 7's Deanwood - Benzinga

Construction of commercial buildings should continue at record levels in Auckland and Waikato over the next couple of years, although the outlook in other regions is more mixed.

According to Statistics NZ, consents were issued for a record $682 million of new commercial buildings in Aucklandlast year, excluding the costs of land and other non-construction costs,and that comes after three very strong years in which commercial consents were well above $500 million a year.

The demand for warehouse space was one of themain drivers of that growth, with consents issued for a record 383,564 square metres of new storage buildings in Auckland last year, with a record value of $384 million.

Demand for accommodation in the hospitality sector was also a major factor, with consents issued for 85,434 square metres of new commercial accommodation space suchas motels and hotels, which was a 21 year record.

New factory space consented dropped back from 143,675 square metres in 2018 to 105,014 square metres last year, but remained substantially above the levels consented between 2009 and 2017.

Consents for new office space more than doubled to 93,470 square metres last year, compared to 43,461 square metres in 2018, but remained below the levels of 2014-2017 when more than 100,000 square metres a new office space a year was consented.

Retail went against the trend with a sharp decline in the amount of new retail space consented in Auckland last year,droppingback from the record 256,612square metres consented in 2018 to 107,572square metres last year.

However much the retail space consented last year was probably of higher value, with the average value of retail consents issued last year coming at $3496 per square metre. This was an all time high andmore than double the 2018 average of $1634 per square metre.

The Waikato is also experiencing a commercial construction boom, with a record $127.1 million of new commercial buildings consented in the region last year, more than double the $60.7 million consented in 2018.

That growth was mainly driven by big increases in consents for factories of $134.5 million (up 37% compared to 2018), offices $67.8 million (+78%) and retail space $59.3 million (+161%).

So tower cranes, concrete trucks and traffic cones are likes to remain features of the landscapes in Auckland and Hamilton for some time.

However drivers and pedestrians may get a bit of relief from construction activity in other centres.

In the Bay of Plenty the value of consents for new commercial space plunged dramatically,from $113 million in 2018 to $57 million in 2019, which was its lowest level in five years.

And commercial construction in the Wellington Region can be a bitlike its weather - changeable.

Last year consents for $57.2 million of construction work for new commercial spacewere issued in Wellington, up from $39.2 million in 2018 but the second lowest level since 2013, and less than a third of the value of the commercial consents issued in Wellington 2016.

In Otago the outlook for commercial construction is basically flat, with $54.5 million of commercial consents issued last year, up just 2.2% compared to 2018.

Not surprisingly the big downward move in consents issued for new commercial space last year was in Canterbury, where theirtotal value was $128 million last year, down 49% compared to 2018 anddown million last year and down 80% since the 2014 peak of $636 million.

That puts Canterbury within a hair's breadth of being overtaken by Waikato for having the second highest level of new commercial consents issued in the country.

Acrossthe entire country the value of consentsissued fornew commercial space was $1.211 billionlast year, down just a smidgen from the $1.243 billion issued in 2018. Thatmeans the overall contribution to theeconomy from commercial construction is likely to stay around existing levels for at least the next year or two, although it's likely to be increasingly concentrated in the upper North Island.

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Originally posted here:
A boom in commercial construction in Auckland and Waikato is compensating for the wind down of construction activity in Christchurch - Interest.co.nz

Silenos Energy will turn over technical management of the plant to the Munich municipal utility.

Stadtwerke Mnchen (SWM) is one of the largest energy and infrastructure companies in Germany as a municipal energy expert in the state capital of Munich.They provide the city with electricity, natural gas, district heating, district cooling and fresh drinking water in a safe and climate-friendly manner and they operate the 18 indoor and summer pools.

Oliver Friedlaender, technical director of Silenos Energy, said, The decisive factor for us is SWM's many years of extensive expertise in the use of geothermal energy.The existing know-how of SWM, which guarantees safe, legally compliant operation as well as maintenance and repair, convinced usto have found a very good partner for the future. "

Helge-Uve Braun, technical director of SWM, commented," SWM has been operating five of its own geothermal plants for more than 16 years and have already successfully taken on operational management tasks for third-party plants.We will bring our experience from construction and operation into the Bruck geothermal plant as a strong partner.We thank you for the trust that Silenos Energy has placed in us and are convinced that we can meet or even exceed the expectations placed in us.

In Garching an der Alz, SWM will ensure the fully automated, technical operation of the geothermal plant.This includes permanent monitoring, regular system checks, the organization of maintenance work, troubleshooting and repair work.Thanks to the cooperation between Silenos Energy and Stadtwerke Mnchen, the partners not only exchange valuable experience and knowledge, but also work together for safe and reliable renewable energy supply in Garching an der Alz and in Munich.

Silenos Energy is a joint venture between RAG Austria AG, Austria's most traditional exploration and production company, and STRABAG, the European technology company for construction services.In its core business, Silenos Energy combines the expertise of companies in power plant and plant engineering (STRABAG) and in deep drilling technology (RAG) for the development, construction and operation of geothermal plants.

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Geothermal - SWM Will Take Over Technical Operational Management Of Geothermal Power Plant In Bruck - Renewable Energy Magazine

A recent Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair webinar explained both danger and precautions associated with what is likely to be an increasingly electrified fleet.

OEMs are committing to sell more models with at least some electrification as the decade progresses. This might range from merely a hybrid powertrain like a Prius, a plug-in hybrid like a Volt, or a fully battery-electric car like a Model 3. All three categories of powertrain can pose a threat of shock or fire, according to CCAR safety content author Bob McGinn. Volvo, for example, has pledged every one of its next-gen models will be at a minimum a hybrid.

McGinn said the Feb. 5 webinars content would pretty much apply to any electrified vehicle, be it a 20-year-old Prius to a modern Tesla. However, he said an older Prius probably used a nickel-metal hydride battery, which doesnt pose the risk of fire he described for a lithium-ion battery.

Heres a little extra context: The current-generation Prius began with the 2016 model year and featured lithium-ion batteries in most versions, which Toyota called a change from the prior-gens Ni-MH and smaller, lighter. The OEM introduced an electric all-wheel drive model for the 2019 model year which used Ni-MH since nickel batteries are inherently resilient to extreme temperature change, Toyota wrote in 2018. All the front-wheel drive 2019 Priuses were lithium-ion, Toyota said.

So even if youve been fixing hybrids for 20 years, dont assume theres nothing to learn about modern electrified powertrains. You might have merely gotten lucky or worked with a different battery chemistry than OEMs are using today. Which means OEM procedures and education like CCARs webinar are vital.

A presentation slide described the webinar as related to hybrid and battery-electric vehicles that may have been compromised, not those under normal handling or diagnostics. A collision repair fell into the former category, as did students handling the vehicle, salvage yard operations and repairs to the electric drive, according to the presentation.

Extraordinary events like a crash or penetration of the battery containment, a fire or a flood could lead to extremely dangerous events, McGinn said. He said such events could also be not necessarily collision, such as the chassis being grounded by striking a pothole or a loss of battery cooling.

Electrified vehicles typically initiate a protection strategy automatically in a crash, but an inability to remove stored energy still creates two major hazards for first responders and auto technicians, according to McGinn.

The first is electric shock, which can happen due to a breach of the batterys protective case, according to McGinn. He said technicians should approach a hybrid with the mindset the battery poses an imminent danger of shock. It should be presumed unstable until inspection in a detailed fashion deems otherwise.

Both Ni-MH and lithium-batteries can produce shocks of up to 800 volts or more, McGinn said. Contact with anything protruding from the battery also has to be avoided, he said.

Repairers can prevent being shocked by using the one-hand and live-dead-live rules mentioned above, according to McGinn.

The one-hand rule means that the user only manipulates a high-voltage device with a single hand, McGinn explained. Only a single hand should be touching a lead, the vehicle or the ground at any time, he said. This prevents you from making a contact circuit and sending electricity through your body if isolation is lost, he said.

The live-dead-live rule involves confirming that a hybrid or electric vehicle battery ostensibly powered down to 0 volts is truly dead. We need to know that zero actually means zero, McGinn said.

Touch the meter leads to an alternate source like a 12-volt battery or other item with the appropriate test spec to see if the meter reads 12 volts, McGinn said. If it does, then immediately test the high-voltage power source thats supposed to be at 0 volts. If it reads 0 volts, test the 12-volt battery again to make sure the meter is still working correctly, he said.

Meters should be tested and used in the same range for live-dead-live and system voltage absence tests, McGinn said.

Repairers will also need personal protective equipment. This should include voltage-appropriate rubber gloves covered by a pair of approved leather gloves (which will minimize damage to the rubber ones) and boots of sufficient electrical protection, according to the presentation. A presentation slide suggested an institution might require a face shield able to provide both NFPA 70E arc Class 2 and ANSI Z87 impact protection. McGinn said work goggles alone werent sufficient.

McGinn also suggested storing anything able to activate the vehicle (key fobs or keys, fuses, service plugs, etc.) in a box secured with two separate locks. Each lock requires a distinct key, and the two keys are held by two separate parties. (For example, a teacher and a student or an owner and technician.) The materials are only removed when everyone agrees the vehicle is ready for them.

Lithium-ion batteries also pose a risk of fire. He said repairers should watch out for popping, hissing, leaking, dripping, smoke or sparks coming from the battery.

They probably mean something significant, McGinn said.

If theres damage to the battery case but no thermal event (fire) yet, a shop should still take precautions like isolating the vehicle outside, 50 feet away from flammables or combustibles, according to McGinn.

The repairer would use a noncontact infrared or thermal imaging to determine if the battery is trending hotter or cooler, McGinn said. If its cooling or stable at ambient temperatures, than the repairer might proceed to further operations, he said. Trending or growing warmer is not a good thing, he said.

The battery should also be monitored for changes in the thermal state during removal from the vehicle, according to McGinn. Your expectation should be that the part is poised to experience a thermal event at any time, he said. A removed battery should be stored outside with the 50-foot radius described above but also protected from the elements, according to McGinn.

CCAR most strongly recommended auto body shops follow OEM handling and repair procedures for any compromised batteries contacting the automaker directly for help if necessary, according to McGinn.

McGinn said you might wonder Is this guy crazy?' But the out-of-control blaze of a thermal runaway demands this level of paranoia, he said.

Thermal runaway is accelerated by increased temperatures, which release energy that in turn raises the temperature further, McGinn said. He said theres no time limit for when it could happen after the battery is compromised.

Thermal runaway could take place weeks after a collision or extraordinary event, McGinn said. It can happen without warning and as a result of many conditions, such as physical damage including crushing, tears or punctures; water intrusion; or the ignition or reignition of the battery after a fire, according to McGinn. Hybrids can contribute to the problem by providing another fuel source, he said.

Once runaway happens, the ability to prevent the blaze quickly is extremely difficult, McGinn said.

Typical Class A-D fire extinguishers simply do not possess the ability of water to cool such a blaze, according to McGinn. And even then, it can take more than 2,500 gallons of water to fully cool and extinguish a runaway battery, he said. The only option is to evacuate and let firefighters handle the battery, he said.

(Electricity and water seems like a bad combination. However a Massachusetts fire departments testing determined it was OK to fight an electric vehicle fire with water because the ground and positive are built into a single container, McGinn said. Theres no completion of the circuit, unlike a structure fire to a building with utility electricity where a path of return would exist, he said.)

Lithium-ion batteries can reach a specific energy of 185-200 Watt-hours per kilogram in terms of how much juice they hold, McGinn explained. But depending on the type of battery and, most importantly, its state of charge, the enthalpy of combustion can reach 1,388-5,500 Watt-hours per kilogram, he said. That number refers to the batterys ability to release heat, according to McGinn who called it a big jump from the 185-200 Watt-hours of specific energy.

If the battery is on fire, all chemistries have the ability to expel much higher heat energy than the amount of electrical energy they contain, McGinn said. Testing of one vehicle battery type found a release of 5,200-8,200 Watts of heat energy per second, he said.

For comparison, a birthday candle burns at 60 Watts per second (and 1,600 degrees), McGinn said.

The more juice a battery has remaining, the sooner a thermal runaway occurs, he said.

Three types of battery failures can produce a thermal runaway, according to McGinn. Thermal instability refers to factors like a fire or elevated temperature without the ability to cool itself. Electrirical instability can involve situations involving an overcharge, reversed polarity or a short circuit. Mechanical instability considerations can include the battery being dropped, involved in a collision or immersed in water.

The magic number for a thermal runaway appears to be 374-392 degrees Fahrenheit, McGinn also observed.

McGinn explained that heat generation is exponential, while dissipation is merely linear. This means the battery can increase in temperature very quickly but only cool gradually, McGinn said.

Three types of runaways can occur. The first is preferred and benign, McGinn said. The reaction begins and might get close to thermal runaway but lacks get up and go the battery sheds heat more rapidly than it gained it. The battery cools, and the incident might not even set off a warning light on the vehicle, he said.

An acceptable outcome might see one battery cell entering runaway, venting and exploding but countered by enough heat dissipation that the adjacent cells dont reach the runaway point, according to McGinn. This would definitely set a warning light, he said.

An unacceptable outcome could start with a battery cell heating less than a degree a minute and rising until magically, at 374 Fahrenheit, that line goes straight up. The adjacent cells hit runaway, and a cascade failure burns up the entire battery, he said.

A submerged vehicle presents a different risk scenario, according to McGinn. The water might not deplete all of the batteys charge, and electrolysis gases can arise as the battery arcs and shorts. McGinn suggested taking steps like opening the hood, trunk and windows to ensure such gases dont accumulate. We dont want any boom in the shop, he said.

Shock and thermal runaway also are risks with a submerged vehicle, McGinn said. Just because the waters gone doesnt mean everybodys safe, he said. Submerged vehicles at a body shop or in storage still need to receive temperature monitoring and isolation until the compromised battery is extracted, he said.

Electric Vehicle Safety webinar 02 05 2020

Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair YouTube channel, Feb. 6, 2020

NASTF OEM repair procedure portal

Featured image: Hybrid and other electric vehicle batteries should be monitored to avoid being caught up in a thermal runaway, according to the Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair. (sankai/iStock)

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CCAR shares threats, precautions for working on hybrid, fully-electric cars - Repairer Driven News

UMATILLA COUNTY Umatilla County has transitioned its emergency operations center into recovery operations and reduced staffing, according to a Thursday press release.

The county will continue to coordinate with municipalities, volunteer organizations and other agencies, the release said, but the phone lines at the emergency operations center will no longer be staffed.

Those in need of assistance should contact the Community Action Plan of East Central Oregon for donations at 541-276-1926, or an American Red Cross caseworker for immediate needs, such as food or clothing, at 541-215-2908.

Those who need help with debris cleanup or mold remediation can visit http://www.crisiscleanup.org or call 844-965-1386.

Roads in the Mill Creek area on Oregon's side of the border remain closed but are expected to be reopened on Friday, according to the release. Walla Walla River Road remains closed to all but local residents and emergency personnel. Bingham Road and others along the Umatilla River are now open up to Meacham Creek, and Cayuse Road is open to Thorn Hollow.

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Umatilla River Flooding | Umatilla County transitions into recovery operations - East Oregonian

She is looking forward to greeting students and staff from a school where she served as principal for several years, before becoming Discoverys principal in 2014.

I have nothing but positive memories and connections with people at West," said Parkinson, adding it feels wonderful to welcome the West contingent.

West students will go to school at Discovery starting March 2, but their teachers and classmates will be the same -- their classrooms are moving intact to the new site. That was the goal, school district administrators said, as they searched for an alternate location for West students and staff after high levels of mold were detected in the school in late January and made evacuation necessary.

About 30 staff members and 90 students at West, a school near University Park, will relocate to Discovery Elementary School on 43rd Avenue South. The students are in kindergarten and grades two through five. West does not have a first grade at this time.

Discovery, which opened in August 2015, was built as a five-section school, meaning five classrooms for each grade, but is operating four sections per grade, said Parkinson, who served one year as principal while Discovery was in the planning stage.

To accommodate the West students, Discovery classrooms are being moved into spaces occupied by itinerant teachers, who, like the Spanish teacher, do not teach fulltime in the school.

At a meeting Wednesday, Feb. 19, at West, an audience of about 80 parents and others heard details of an evacuation plan -- and what it will mean for their families -- presented by school district officials.

West students will not all be together at Discovery, but each West classroom will be kept intact and located in an area with the same grade-level classrooms, said Jody Thompson, associate superintendent of elementary education for the Grand Forks school district.

West teachers visited Discovery on Wednesday to see where their classrooms will be located, and an open house for West parents and students to visit the school is planned for 3 to 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28. If parents cannot be present at that time, Thompson said, Discovery staff will welcome them when they can visit.

Thompson asked parents if the West school could be closed on Thursday, Feb. 27, to allow teachers to prepare their new classrooms at Discovery; parents agreed. That will give teachers two days to prepare, he said, since Friday has already been set aside as a professional development day. That Thursday would not have to be made up as a school day, he said.

About 40 children in the Early Childhood Special Education program at West will relocate to Phoenix Elementary School, which also has an ECSE classroom, Superintendent Terry Brenner said at the meeting.

In response to a question from the audience, Brenner emphasized that the move to West does not constitute a hidden agenda.

Theres no conspiracy theory; theres no plan the superintendent has to close West, he assured parents.

School district administrators considered about a dozen venues as an alternate location for West, including churches near West and elsewhere, Brenner said.

The decision was narrowed to Discovery based on the availability of a sufficient number of classrooms, licensed kitchen, meeting rooms for teachers, office space for administrators, indoor and outdoor space for physical activity and music room, Brenner said.

Discovery, which has an enrollment of about 500, was seen as ideal because of its separate vehicle lanes for student drop-off and pick-up, access to technology and a push-to-talk security system at the building entrance.

West students who will move to Discovery include 18 in kindergarten, 17 in second grade, 12 in third grade, 21 in fourth grade and 18 in fifth grade, Parkinson said.

How long the West students and teachers will be housed at Discovery is unknown at this time, because the extent of the problem is not yet known, Thompson said at Wednesdays meeting.

The inspection at West revealed a type of mold that is typically known as black mold, said Chris Arnold, director of buildings and grounds for Grand Forks Public Schools. And Im not comfortable with the potential for a wet spring.

The mold poses too great a health risk to allow West to continue to function as a learning environment while remediation work is in progress, Arnold said in response to a parents question about the need for evacuation.

Arnold said he does know yet the extent of the mold problem at West -- and wont until walls are opened and interiors examined.

Arnold and his colleagues want to address the reasons why youre getting mold in this building, he said, but cautioned that the project will require patience.

The mold remediation project is going to be extensive, its going to be costly, and its going to take us time to get you guys back up.

Parents appeared to be satisfied with the information they received from school officials.

Im glad theyre fixing the problem and getting West to where it needs to be, and we can be back and start fresh next year, said Tracey Taylor, a West parent.

Her daughter, Sheylynn, 9, said she is nervous about attending a different school, when asked about her feelings after the meeting.

Shes a third-grader in Mrs. Raymonds class, Taylor said. She loves going to school at West.

Like many parents who spoke in Wednesdays meeting, Taylor expressed concern about transportation.

We live right across the street from West, so she walks to school, she said. Itll be a change, but well get through it.

Free bus transportation, to and from Discovery, will be available for West students who live in the schools attendance area, Thompson said.

West parents will be contacted by the district to provide information for bag tags, which will help to assure that each child is dropped off at the right location.

In an email Parkinson sent to Discovery parents Wednesday informing them of the changes to accommodate the transition, she said, We are one district, and being one district means that we look out for each other, which is exactly why this is the right thing to do.

Each school is unique, and our goal is to allow each school to flourish in their own way while being housed in the same building, she said.

After the email was sent, she said, my inbox was inundated with Discovery parents asking what they can do to help and commenting on how wonderful this is for our community.

Parkinson is planning to have extra staff on hand before and after school to make sure all students are dropped off and picked up safely, she said.

Adding 89 new students and 25 West staff members to Discovery will be an adjustment, she said. I see it as an opportunity to honor the West community and the Discovery community and to find ways to learn from each other.

She is intent, she said, on having this be a positive experience for everybody.

See the rest here:
Discovery Elementary poised to welcome West students, staff - Grand Forks Herald

Gabor Degre | BDN

Gabor Degre | BDN

The Stockton Springs Elementary School.

STOCKTON SPRINGS, Maine Voters here will go to the polls next month to decide whether they want to authorize selectpeople to sell the former town elementary school.

The 1970s building is known to have a mold problem and town officials say it would cost between $100,000 and $225,000 for remediation. A meeting held earlier this month to discuss the school drew more than 60 people, according to Town Manager Jennifer King, who said most seemed disinclined to authorize its sale.

I can see potential, said Leslie Devine, who lives close to the property. I like to investigate before I make a big decision. It feels like Im being asked to make a big decision and then investigate.

Its not the first vote that Stockton Springs has made regarding the Church Street property. After Regional School Unit 20 board members learned the extent of the mold and the potential cost of the remediation, they offered the school as a free gift to the towns of Searsport and Stockton Springs.

Last June, Searsport voters turned it down. But in Stockton Springs, voters said yes.

We took it as is, King said. We were told we couldnt enter the building because the mold was so terrible.

It was bad, she said, but further tests indicated the problem wasnt as extensive as initially reported. Town officials have made improvements. They fixed the leak in the ceiling, which caused mold spores to spread, King said. They hauled out everything from moldy library books to gym equipment to food that had been left in the cafeteria. They also aired out the building, by opening the doors in the summer and fall, and started running an air-exchange unit.

We have not turned that off, she said, adding that these efforts likely could have lessened the problem if enacted earlier. [The school district] just didnt do it any justice. They failed the people who pay taxes to keep that school standing, because that school would have been a wonderful asset to the town, had they not let the mold grow.

Residents Ryan King and Sarah Faragher, who also live close to the school, believe it still could be an asset. They cite Orland as a positive example of how an abandoned school can be redeveloped. The former elementary school there has become the Orland Community Center, which is home to a commercial community kitchen, a fitness center, event space and rental office and business space.

The selectpeople at the meetings came across as being very afraid of a disaster happening at the school, Faragher said. Theyre acting from a place of fear versus the possibilities.

Faragher and Ryan King were among about 15 who volunteered to serve on a strategic planning committee to look at potential uses of the school if voters choose to keep it.

We want to make sure we as a town make the right decision and not rush it, he said. Make sure were not short-sighted.

But Jennifer King, the town manager, said that the board of selectpeople has asked for this vote as part of the process of determining the schools future.

Its a stepping stone, she said.

Last fall, residents were surveyed about what they wanted to do with the school, and the majority of the 87 who responded said they wanted to sell some or all of the property, she said. Multiple prospective buyers have inquired about the property, including a man who is interested in creating an assisted-living facility there.

He has been waiting patiently for the town to make its decision, she said. Thats another reason we have been trying to move forward.

No matter what voters decide, she hopes that they come out to the polls in force on Tuesday, March 3.

Whether its a yes or no, I want it to be strongly voiced, so that we all can move forward with the decision, Jennifer King said. So we can figure out together whats best.

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Voters in Stockton Springs will decide the fate of an abandoned school - Bangor Daily News

After more than a decade of hosting graduations outside or in the gym because of an inoperable chapel that wasnt up to standard, Paul Quinn College and the 10thEpiscopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church are excited to announce the re-opening and building re-dedication of the Richard Allen Chapel. The dedication ceremony and unveiling of the newly renovated chapel will take place on Friday, February 21, 2020 at 7 p.m. in the chapel on the campus of Paul Quinn College,3837 Simpson Stuart Road, Dallas, Texas 75241.

Under the leadership of its presiding prelate, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, the 10thEpiscopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church invested more than three-quarters of a million dollars to perform an in-house sterilization, disinfection and restoration of the Richard Allen Chapel (RAC). The sterilization and disinfection process included the removal ofantiquated flooring, ceiling tiles, lighting fixtures, bathroom upgrades, etc. Extended restoration activities included, but were not limited to the upgrades and replacement of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; a modernized sound system; replacement of cotton broad-cloth seating to purple velour seating; lighting; automated toilet flush and hand faucet systems, along with designated seating areas for persons with disabilities. The historic lighting was able to be preserved.

The newly renovated chapel will serve as a worship center, classroom, lecture hall and fine arts space for the more than 500 students at Paul Quinn. It also has adequate space for graduation ceremonies and other large community events such as the annual performance of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

The 10th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church has been working since 2016 to restore and reopen the historic Richard Allen Chapel on the campus of Paul Quinn College in South Dallas. The first phase of renovation began in April 2019, with asbestos and mold remediation, where more than 11 tons of material and waste was removed.

The chapel dedication will take place during the annual Founders Day Celebration of the 10th Episcopal District of the AME Church. Services will start on Thursday, February 20, 2020 in the Richard Allen Chapel. Dr. Ralph D. West, pastor of the Church Without Walls in Houston and Dr. Freddie Haynes, pastor of Friendship West Baptist Church in Dallas will be preaching on the opening night. The praise team from Friendship West, the 10th District choirs and the Paul Quinn College Choir, will be providing the music.

Bishop John Richard Bryant, retired Senior Bishop of the AME Church, former Chair of the Board of Trustees of Paul Quinn College and former presiding Bishop of the 10th District, will preach the dedication sermon on Friday, February 21st. The Unity Choir of Dallas, composed of multi-generational, multi-ethnic members will be the featured musical artists, along with the combined choir members of Paul Quinn and 10th District Choir. The Founders Day celebration concludes on Saturday, February 22nd, starting at 10 a.m. at the Anatole Hilton Hotel in Dallas. Bishop Preston W. Williams, retired Commission Chair of Higher Education, willbring the closing message.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visitwww.10thdistrictame.org

Originally posted here:
THE AME CHURCH AND PAUL QUINN COLLEGE ANNOUNCES THE RE-OPENING AND DEDICATION OF ITS CHAPEL IN TIME FOR SPRING GRADUATION - Dallasweekly

The report titled on Inorganic Antimicrobial Coating Market report offers in-intensity analysis of the worldwide market size (Production, Value and Consumption), splits the breakdown (data status 2014-2019 and 6 Forces forecast 2020 to 2026), by manufacturers, region, type and application. Inorganic Antimicrobial Coating market competitive landscape provides details by topmost manufactures like (AkzoNobel, Microban International, Axalta, PPG, AK Coatings, Nippon Paint, Biointeractions, Hydromer, Mankiewicz, AKALI TECHNOLOGY, Specialty Coating Systems, Sureshield Coatings Company, BESCO), including Company Overview, Company Total Revenue (Financials), Market Potential, Presence, Inorganic Antimicrobial Coating Sales and Revenue Generated, Market Share, Price, Production Sites And Facilities, SWOT Analysis, Product Launch. In the end, there are 4 key segments covered in this Inorganic Antimicrobial Coating market report: Competitor Segment, Product Type Segment, End Use/Application Segment and Inorganic Antimicrobial Coating industry geography segment.

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Inorganic Antimicrobial Coating Market Report Offers Comprehensive Assessment of:

1) Executive Summary, 2) Inorganic Antimicrobial Coating Market Overview, 3) Key Market Trends, 4) Key Success Factors, 5) Market Demand/Consumption (Value or Size in US$ Mn) Analysis, 6) Inorganic Antimicrobial Coating Market Background, 7) Inorganic Antimicrobial Coating industry Analysis & Forecast 20202026 by Type, Application and Region, 8) Inorganic Antimicrobial Coating Market Structure Analysis, 9) Competition Landscape, 10) Company Share and Company Profiles, 11) Assumptions and Acronyms and, 12) Research Methodology etc.

Scope of Inorganic Antimicrobial Coating Market:In 2019, the market size of Inorganic Antimicrobial Coating is million US$ and it will reach million US$ in 2025, growing at a CAGR of from 2019; while in China, the market size is valued at xx million US$ and will increase to xx million US$ in 2025, with a CAGR of xx% during forecast period.

In this report, 2018 has been considered as the base year and 2019 to 2025 as the forecast period to estimate the market size for Inorganic Antimicrobial Coating.

On the basis of product type, this report displays the shipments, revenue (Million USD), price, and market share and growth rate of each type.

Silver Copper Zinc Others

On the basis on the end users/applications,this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, shipments, revenue (Million USD), price, and market share and growth rate foreach application.

Indoor Air / HVAC Medical Mold Remediation Building & Construction Foods & Beverages Textiles Others

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The report offers in-depth assessment of the growth and other aspects of the Inorganic Antimicrobial Coating Market in Important Countries (Regions), including:

Important Key Questions Answered In Inorganic Antimicrobial Coating Market Report:

What will the Market Growth Rate, Overview, and Analysis by Type of Inorganic Antimicrobial Coating in 2026?

What are the key factors affecting market dynamics? What are the Drivers, Challenges, and Business Risks in Inorganic Antimicrobial Coating market?

What is Dynamics, This Overview Includes Analysis of Scope and price analysis of top Manufacturers Profiles?

Who Are Opportunities, Risk and Driving Force of Inorganic Antimicrobial Coating market? Knows Upstream Raw Materials Sourcing and Downstream Buyers.

Who are the key manufacturers in space? Business Overview by Type, Applications, Gross Margin, and Inorganic Antimicrobial Coating Market Share

What are the Opportunities and Threats Faced by Manufacturers in the global Inorganic Antimicrobial Coating market?

Contact:

ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email:[emailprotected]

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Read more:
Inorganic Antimicrobial Coating Market Anticipated Forecast 2026 In Key Regions World (United States, International Organization And China) - Nyse...

About 90% of American homeowners surveyed stated that it's important to have a home inspection before moving in. And yet, many of us fail to investigate homes we've lived in for years for evidence of serious damage. It's critical to pay attention to signs of water damage. Not only can this type of damage have significant effects on the value of your home and the protection of your belongings, but it can have major health consequences, too. Mold, for instance, can grow and spread just 48 hours after the formation of a leak, which can lead to the need for expensive remediation -- and if left unaddressed, it can put your well-being at risk.

To that end, here are seven signs of water damage you should look for every two months, as well as the risks involved if you don't get them fixed as soon as possible.

Many homeowners don't notice changes to structural elements. They are hard to spot in familiar surroundings, even if you're diligent about cleaning and upkeep. Some of the first warning signs of damage caused by water include bubbles or peeling in wallpaper or paint. Eventually, these will take on a swollen or warped appearance. If water damage is especially severe, ceilings and walls can acquire a sponge-like feel.

Pools of water that return after you clean them up are obvious signs of a leak. Water-damaged floors may not be immediately apparent, particularly if the wetness is evident only in corners or in spaces that don't see much foot traffic. By the time you spot wet carpet or peeling tile, there may be damage underneath. In advanced cases, carpets may feel spongy or waterlogged. Tiles made of ceramic materials often develop mold and cracks in the grout when damaged by water. Tiles made of linoleum and vinyl show cracks and peeling. Floors made of laminate and wood can buckle, cup, and warp.

Look for discolored or dark patches on your ceilings and the inside and outside walls, as these are common signs of leaks. You should also inspect the drywall on your walls and ceilings for bubbles, flakes, and cracks.

Slow, steady leaks frequently result in stains, whereas mold grows in places that stay damp over time. Water stains are typically yellowish-brown and form irregular shapes around the source of the leak. They are most commonly found in bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms, or other spaces that see considerable water flow or that have a larger plumbing network. Stains are signs that a leak stems from a plumbing fixture. They take shape as the wet areas dry out and get wet repeatedly over time.

Mold is a fungus that spreads through the air and needs consistent moisture to grow. Drywall, ceilings, carpeting, and wood are common sources of mold if they are allowed to stay wet. Mold is most frequently seen in bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and other spaces where water buildup might not be detected right away. Mold can cause health problems, such as worsening allergy symptoms and even respiratory infections. If you spot stains or mold in your home, it's likely that there's extensive water damage that needs to be taken care of.

Water damage isn't always visible, but it might make noticeable sounds. Drips, creaks in the floorboards, and the sound of constantly running water may be signs that you need repairs. What's tricky is that they can also be the sounds of a system that's operating smoothly. The noises to be concerned about are those that change over time, as these indicate a change in the flow or force of water. Even small drips can result in holes in your concrete foundation, threatening the structure of your entire home.

A sudden increase in your water costs could indicate a leak you don't know about. Over 6.5 years, the typical family in the U.S. uses 660,000 gallons of water. Some of this usage could be attributed to plumbing leaks. Keep an eye on your water bill and note any unusual spikes. If the increase cannot be attributed to other causes, it's worth calling a plumber to look into.

The musty smell attributed to water damage is like the odor of damp cardboard or newspaper. The odor is most potent near the site of the damage. The space might also be humid or damp. If an area of your home smells musty, look it over carefully and see if there are additional signs of water damage, such as stains or mold.

Older homes often have a range of odors, particularly in attics and basements, but abrupt changes in odor may signal water damage. A new smell in a newer house is unusual and may also indicate water damage. If you detect musty odors soon after a big rain or a winter thaw, you may have damage in your foundation.

As appliances age, they develop cracks and rust. You may also see a weakening in the hoses. These problems can occur with refrigerators, water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, which means that older models should be monitored. In particular, washing machines and hot water tanks are most likely to contribute to water damage.

Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems also frequently cause water damage. If your air conditioner is not regularly maintained by an HVAC professional, moisture can build up in the unit. That moisture, when cooled, can spark mold growth from spores inside the ducts. Be sure to stay on top of appliance and HVAC maintenance to avoid any issues with water damage down the line.

Pipes tend to endure over the lifespan of the home, but valves, faucets, and connections typically wear out over the years. Look at those pipes, valves, and faucets that are visible to see if you can spot leaks. With pipes that aren't visible, you can detect problems by listening to the flow of water. Inspect the areas under sinks and near toilets to make sure connecting pipes are in good repair and don't have leaks. Check cabinets for dampness and mold.

If you spot any of these signs of water damage, call a plumber as soon as possible. Water damage stains furniture and carpets. It also harms the structure of your home, including your foundation, which brings down your property value. Mold and microbial growth pose health risks to you and your family, as well. You need to inspect your home regularly for signs of water damage to protect your family and your property. The longer you wait, the more difficult the damage may be to fix.

Excerpt from:
7 Telltale Signs of Water Damage in Your Home - The Rock Father Magazine