Today's most viewed articles SIS presents annual President's Awards

SANFORD, Maine SIS Bank's annual corporators meeting in March included the presentation of the President's Awards, given to employees who went above and beyond the call of duty during the previous calendar year.

Tina Gagne, a commercial lender at the bank's Portsmouth branch, earned the award for Business Development. Gagne helped the bank exceed its commercial lending goals during its inaugural year in New Hampshire.

The entire South Sanford branch team earned the award for Volunteerism. In 2013, the branch staff set up a program to automatically deduct money from their paychecks to form a fund to be used for donations to local charities. Causes included the Sanford Backpack Program, the Boy Scouts and the Samaritan's Purse, an international relief fund for children who are victims of war, poverty, hunger and disease. Their most recent donation was given to a local family in need of fuel assistance, and their efforts caused a ripple effect of support.

SIS Bank, headquartered in Sanford, has branches in Springvale, South Sanford, Limerick, Buxton, Waterboro, Wells and York, Maine and Portsmouth, N.H.

NEWMARKET Nate Ashton and Adam Pomeroy, certified service technicians, recently completed a two-day Diamond Dealer Technical Training program at Mitsubishi Electric Cooling & Heating training center in Southborough, Mass. Their participation is part of the qualification process for Proulx Oil & Propane to become a Mitsubishi Diamond Dealer.

The two-day M&P Series Service course is a hands-on program with specific training on the sizing, engineering, installation and service of the Mitsubishi Electric Heating and Cooling ductless line. The Mitsubishi Electric Heating and Cooling ductless line are Energy Star Systems that incorporate eco-comfort technology, dual and triple-allergen filtration, and whisper-quiet operation. New technology is revolutionizing the heat pump and a space-saving design means easy and unobtrusive installation, and is a breakthrough in comfort.

Proulx Oil & Propane will continue the qualification process to become a Mitsubishi Diamond Contractor, giving customers the confidence to know it is trained to install and maintain Mitsubishi ductless systems and provide the extended manufacturer's warranty.

Proulx Oil & Propane is a family-owned and operated company in Newmarket and Epping, serving residential and commercial customers in New Hampshire and Maine with additional operations in Center Conway. For more information, visit http://www.proulxoilandpropane.com.

WESTFIELD, Mass. Tighe & Bond, a New England leader in civil and environmental engineering consulting, announced the recent hire of William Hardy, P.E., as chief operating officer.

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Business Names and Faces

SERVES: 4-6

INGREDIENTS:

one 12-ounce box jumbo pasta shells (see hints below) 1/3 cup finely diced sweet onion 1 - 2 Tbs olive oil 1/3 cup thinly sliced asparagus 2 cups chopped fresh spinach 1/3 cup defrosted frozen peas

one 15-ounce tub ricotta cheese 8-ounces grated mozzarella cheese 1 large egg black pepper to taste 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint 1/4 - 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

1 cup marinara sauce plus 1/4 cup water (plus more as needed to serve)

PROCEDURE:

Add one 12-ounce box of jumbo pasta shells to a large pot of boiling water and also preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Next, use a large saute pan with a splash of olive oil to saute 1/3 cup finely diced sweet onion for a minute or two.

Then add 1/3 cup finely sliced asparagus and add about 2 cups of chopped fresh spinach and cook that down.

Then add 1/3 cup defrosted frozen peas and turn the heat off.

Original post:
Stuffed Baked Pasta Shells "Prima Vera"

Paradise Valley, Arizona (PRWEB) April 30, 2014

Frequent colds, allergies, or asthma can all be caused by poor indoor air quality and high pollution inside the home. With summer heat approaching, Arizonans are sure to spend up to 90% of their time indoors, according to AAA Cooling Specialists, an HVAC company providing AC repair in Paradise Valley AZ. With so much reliance on regulated indoor temperatures to stay comfortable, AAA Cooling Specialists also informs indoor air can be cleaned with a few household tasks. AAA Cooling Specialists offers the following tips to Paradise Valley homeowners to consider while conquering spring cleaning duties.

Clean with microfibers

Towels and dusters do their job to attract dust, but by cleaning with microfibers, the dust and pollutants cling to the dusters instead of redistribute through the air. Properly clean or discard microfiber products according to the manufacturers suggestions.

Vacuum floors and clean blinds more frequently

With more time spent indoors, the need to clean high traffic areas becomes more important. The air conditioner can circulate cleaner air if the dust and pollutants are kept to a minimum.

Change air filters once a month

Even if the air conditioner hasnt been turned on yet, a new filter will ensure the cleanest air possible is flowing through all vents and ducts. Call a professional if a leak in the duct system is suspected as this could lead to large amounts of dust coming from the attic.

Bathe and brush animals outside

Most homeowners are committed to keeping windows and doors closed during the summer to save money on energy bills, but trapping pet dander indoors will give it no place to go. Groom animals outdoors in the early morning or evening and only let pets inside once their excess fur has been brushed off as much as possible.

Originally posted here:
AAA Cooling Specialists Offers Spring Cleaning Tips for Optimum Indoor Air Quality

Vancouver, BC (PRWEB) April 29, 2014

Pro Ace Heating & Mechanical Ltd., has recently announced that their air ducts Vancouver services lower energy bills by up to 21% and eliminate the risk of severe respiratory diseases that families may be vulnerable to due to dirty air ducts. Often people install air ducts and forget all about them. This can be very dangerous for the family living inside the house since dirty air ducts carry a host of allergies, bacteria, pollen particles and toxins that work to destroy the health of the family in the long-run. The build-up of these notorious particles and layers of dust and dirt can greatly reduce the efficiency of the HVAC system and cause it to break down in severe cases.

Air Duct Vancouver & Health Hazards

Getting air ducts cleaned should be a part of every households routine. Pro Ace duct cleaning services not only flush out dust and other dirt particles from the air ducts, they also improve indoor air quality and the smell of air. Many harmful allergies and toxins can also be eliminated, along with the risk of severe respiratory diseases.

Cleaning your air ducts regularly is one of the most important services that Pro Ace Heating is proud to provide. Not only is air duct cleaning good for your central heating system and removing dust and allergens from your home, but it is also a great way to save money by reducing energy consumption by allowing your HVAC appliances to be more efficient, states a company representative. Dust, mold and bacteria in an air duct system will create a musty smell in a home that no amount of air fresheners or candles can eliminate. Regular air duct cleaning can eliminate this problem almost entirely.

Heating and cooling systems that breakdown due to a lack of proper maintenance cost thousands of dollars to repair. Air duct cleaning by Pro Ace increases the life of the HVAC system and reduces its energy consumption up to 21%.

About Pro Ace Heating & Mechanical Ltd

Serving Metro Vancouver for over 17 years with 75,000 happy clients, the Pro Ace team is made up of qualified professionals, with every technician possessing either a Class-A or Class-B gas fitting license. Pro Ace Heating is a company that values customer satisfaction and is committed to trying to make every customer into a lifelong customer. They offer free quotes and estimates with no obligation, and are prepared to beat any competitors price. Pro Ace Heating also offers one year no-interest, no-payment financing on installations.

For more information on the company, log on to http://acecare.ca/. To inquire about free membership and benefits, visit the website http://acecare.ca/ or call 604-293-3770.

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Pro Ace Air Duct Services Reduce Energy Costs & Eliminate Health Hazards

Collingwood Connection

At Collus PowerStream, we promote a culture of conservation in the communities we serve. While environmental sustainability is important to us, so is saving you money on your electrical bills.

Cutting back on energy consumption, however, doesnt mean you have to skimp on comfort. In fact, upgrading your electrical heating and cooling sources will serve to better regulate temperatures in your living space while improving the efficiency of your entire home.

With the Ontario Power Authoritys Heating and Cooling Incentive, right now you can receive up to $650 to invest in a more efficient unit that offers improved reliability and warranty protection along with ongoing savings. As well as being beneficial to your wallet, newer units use a refrigerant that is ozone-friendly.

As much as 60 per cent of your homes energy goes toward heating costs, so it makes sense to swap your old units for energy-efficient cooling and heating sources. You could save up to $325 annually for making the switch.

Any Ontario resident or business (with residential heating and cooling systems) is eligible for the incentive, provided they install a suitable, ENERGY STAR qualified system or electrically commutated motor (ECM) furnace. You can check out the terms and conditions on the Ontario Power Authoritys saveONenergy website.

As the second largest municipally-owned electricity distribution company in Ontario, Collus PowerStream provides power to more than 365,000 residents and businesses located in communities north of Toronto and in Central Ontario.

Jointly owned by three of the most progressive municipalities in the province, the cities of Barrie, Markham and Vaughn, we are committed to providing the communities we serve with affordable, reliable and responsible electrical power.

With a focus on open communication, we pride ourselves on our prompt responsiveness to customer concerns and emergency situations, like outages due to extreme weather.

As a socially responsible company, we are dedicated to environmental sustainability and the safe distribution and use of electricity.

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Take advantage of HVAC rebates

SIOUX CITY | The screech of saws and drills and hum of compressors and generators echoed inside the juxtaposition of contemporary steel and concrete with century-old timber and brick.

"This is where the future meets the past, with the Hard Rock casino meeting the Battery Building," Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City developer Bill Warner said, raising his voice to be heard over the din of the construction noise. "You can really start to see the connection of the two buildings."

Wearing a hard hat and safety glasses, Warner stood next to what once was the east exterior wall of the Battery, a former warehouse built in 1906. Now connected to a new 58,000-square-foot, one-story structure, the original brick facade is visible from almost everywhere on the future casino floor.

The facade, which was faded and in need of repair after decades of exposure to the elements, has been tuckpointed and cleaned as part of an extensive restoration of the warehouse.

"It looks beautiful, doesn't it?" Warner asked a Journal reporter and photographer/videographer.

Warner and Hard Rock Sioux City General Manager Todd Moyer on April 16 gave the Journal an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the vast downtown entertainment venue under construction at Third and Water streets.

Despite some foul-weather-related setbacks, the $128.5 million project is on pace to open as scheduled in mid- to late summer, Warner said. Officials are waiting to announce a specific date until they have a better idea of when all the work will be done.

"We don't want to pick a date and then go past it," he said.

A small city of construction workers -- a half-dozen or more contractors employing a total of nearly 300 people -- are deployed inside and outside the job site, with some crews putting in seven-day weeks.

During the tour, a Journal reporter watched workers perform a multitude of tasks, from drywall and painting to welding and wiring to pushing a wheelbarrow of wet cement to installing equipment on the roof.

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Hard Rock leaders show off Sioux City casino construction

47 ABC News Simple do-it-yourself changes to your home can save you a lot of green on your monthly utility bills.

A lot of money goes down the drain. People don't realize that the living space is an area that has to retain heating and cooling, Darren Lombardo, President at Home Energy Solutions said.

First, attack that attic! For $80, install an attic fan to keep things cool. Staple a radiant barrier to the attic trusses and use an attic stair cover to keep the cold air where it belongs. Sealing your attic can save you anywhere from 20 to 25 percent on your energy bill.

An attic is a collector for heat, so we want to keep the attic space as cool as possible. Theres the radiant barrier, along with a fan with a thermostat control. Between those two, you can save a lot. And some people might say the fan is using electricity, but its less to run that fan and keep the upstairs cool as opposed to not running a fan at all, Lombardo said.

Lombardo says all the holes throughout the house add up to one giant hole. All electrical outlets and switch plates leak too. Place foam electrical outlet sealers behind your electrical outlet faceplates for just 10 -15 cents apiece. Use the knockout portion of the sealers behind child safety prongs to save even more.

Use an insulation blanket on your hot water heater and duct work.

For $10, get an HVAC gauge for your refrigeration system.

When the refrigerant is low, the system will cycle and cycle and cycle and use unnecessary energy, Lombardo said.

Keep your AC unit and heat pumps clean with a foam coil cleaner.

A power cost monitor will help you keep track of energy consumption.

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Do-It-Yourself Energy-Saving Tips For Your Home

The winter of 2014 was a wake-up call for homeowners facing higher-than-normal heating costs.

With polar vortex cold sweeps, heavy snowfalls and ice blizzards affecting much of the country, energy prices for electricity, gas and oil have increased. Propane prices have skyrocketed due to scarcity of supplies, leading some governors to declare a state of emergency.

The hefty costs of

heating and cooling

Many homeowners, concerned that energy prices for air conditioning this summer could be just as high, followed by yet another tough winter, are looking for alternative sources for heating and cooling. Higher performing, energy-efficient heating and cooling products are available, but they are still dependent on fossil fuels.

Renewable forms of energy like solar and wind wont solve the problem.

Such sources dont work all the time and require backup in the form of a conventional heating-cooling system, so the dependence on high-cost fossil fuels remains.

from the ground up

However, there is a viable renewable solution. Its called geothermal and its energy source is the very earth beneath our feet. Because the earth absorbs 50 percent of the suns energy more than 500 times more energy than mankind needs every year there is an abundant power source in the earth to tap for heating and cooling. Geothermal systems transfer this heat from a home during the cooling season and return it to the earth during the heating season. Geothermal is possible because the temperature of the earth at 4 to 6 feet below ground remains relatively constant year-round.

A geothermal system is the answer to todays and tomorrows high energy prices, said Lyndal Moore, national geothermal sales manager for Bosch, a manufacturer of geothermal heat pumps. But thats just the beginning.

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Homeowners can cut costs with geothermal systems

This is part of a series on minority parties.

Promotion of environmentally sound technologies and green initiatives are not surprisingly part of Green Party gubernatorial candidate Paul Glovers platform.

The effects of such policies go beyond just helping the environment, Glover said.

A keystone for the Keystone State is to create green jobs. Jobs fight crime, Glover said.

The plan to create jobs goes along with Glovers top campaign priority, which is to reduce dependency on fossil fuels by 80 to 90 percent using technologies that have proven practical.

Glover said he has a plan to create 500,000 green collar jobs through the creation of a program called the Green Labor Administration. One job these workers would do is install superinsulation to buildings that would make heating and cooling more efficient and reduce costs and emissions.

Glover also said he would ban fracking, cancel construction of new prisons and push to legalize marijuana, free prisoners of marijuana offenses and clear their records to lessen prison populations as governor.

Addressing student debt is something else Glover would do if elected. As governor, Glover said he would start a priority to pay off student debt for those doing work that most benefits society like doctors and dentists.

In return, the student or graduate would agree to work in a low-income area for a period of time. The priority would expand as practical to the whole system, he said.

Glovers background as a community organizer would assist him as governor, he said. He has started 18 organizations and campaigns over the years, Glover said, proving dedication to creating rather than consuming.

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Energy efficiency, conservation major part of Green Party gubernatorial platform

DELAWARE - In an effort to revitalize Delawares manufacturing industry, state Senate and House Republican leaders reportedly announced legislation to create right-to-work zones in Delaware on Tuesday.

According to reports, nearly half of U.S. states have right-to-work laws, stipulating that workers cannot be forced to join or financially support a union as a condition of employment.The new bill, currently circulating in the state legislature for sponsorship, reportedly seeks to empower the Director of the Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO) to create right-to-work zones as part of the agencys inducements to bring new businesses to Delaware.

Under the measure, manufacturing businesses in a right-to-work zone, adding at least 20 new workers, would reportedly be exempt from paying the Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) for five years after the hirings.

Reports say Senate Minority Leader Gary Simpson (R-Milford), Senate Minority Whip Greg Lavelle (R-Sharpley), House Minority Leader Danny Short (R-Seaford) and House Minority Whip Deborah Hudson (R-Fairthorne)argue such an initiative would create a more competitive environment, attract new businesses to Delaware, and generate more jobs.

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"Right To Work Zones" Could Come To DE