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We didnt know if this day would ever come, but alas, here we are!

The Ohio State Buckeyes played their first game of the year on Saturday, facing off against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. There was an unfamiliar sense of unity between these two teams fighting it out in The Shoe, as there is mutual respect among the pair of Big Ten foes as the most vocal entities trying to resurrect this season. The sense of camaraderie was quickly put aside upon kickoff, as there was now a game to be won.

After a slow start by the Buckeyes, Ryan Day and crew handled business, taking down Scott Frost and the Huskers 52-17 to open the new campaign with a win. Justin Fields was exactly as advertised, throwing for 276 yards on 20-of-21 passing with another 54 yards on the ground and three total TDs. Ohio States defense really struggled for a lot of the afternoon, but a pair fumbles by Nebraska allowed the Bucks to cruise to victory in Week 1.

Its a trend we have seen all across the college football landscape in this weird, pandemic-shortened season. Even the best teams in the country have gotten off to slow starts in games early in the new campaign especially on the defensive side of the ball. Ohio State was certainly no different in following this trend.

Nebraskas offense got off to an incredibly fast start, making it look rather easy as they marched down the field and scored a touchdown on their opening possession, aided by a long 47-yard option run from backup QB Luke McCaffrey. Adrian Martinez waltzed in on the keeper one play later, and quickly the Cornhuskers led 7-0.

The Buckeye offense looked a little slow coming out of the gates as well. Following a run for no gain by Master Teague and a sack of Justin Fields, Ohio State was faced with a 3rd-and-long. They would get some of it back, but were faced with an early 4th-and-5. Ryan Day elected to go for it, and it was the right call as Garrett Wilson converted. The Bucks would go on to punch it in with Teague to tie it up a 7-7.

This offseason, Ohio State lost a ton of talent at wide receiver. Theyll miss guys like Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor, but the biggest loss in that group was of course slot receiver K.J. Hill. Finishing his Buckeye career with 201 receptions, he surpassed David Bostons record of 191 to leave Columbus with the school record for catches in a scarlet and gray uniform. Hill was a big part of Ohio States offense, catching 57 passes for 636 yards and 10 TDs a year ago.

This season, the Buckeyes look to replace Hill with second-year wide receiver Garrett Wilson. Wilson was phenomenal as a freshman, catching 30 balls for 432 yards and five touchdowns. Could he make the necessary leap to fill the huge shoes left by Hill in a critical role for this offense?

Well, those questions were answered in the first quarter. After hauling in a pair of catches for 38 yards on Ohio States opening drive, Wilson made perhaps the biggest play of the first half. Burning his man over the middle, Justin Fields dropped a perfect dime into Wilsons hands for a 42-yard TD to give OSU its first lead of the afternoon.

The spectacular afternoon for the Buckeyes new slot receiver continued until the final whistle, as he finished Saturdays action with seven catches for 129 yards and the long TD.

I don't mind the splitting of carries between two running backs if its done situationally, but I don't agree with the way Ohio State is handling it. We saw a similar system a few years ago when the team tried to rotate J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber, and it did not work out as well as people had hoped. At least early, it seems to be a similar scenario brewing for this Buckeyes offense.

Trey Sermon and Master Teague are two different style runners. Teague is more of the power back, and Sermon is more of your breakaway speed guy. By rotating the RBs in series by series instead of situationally, you are not using the two guys to the best of their abilities. Multiple times in the first half Ohio State was faced with 3rd-and-1 with Sermon in the backfield, but elected not to bring in the power back, and it did not work out.

Sermon finished as the teams leading rusher, padding the stat sheet late as he finished with 55 yards on 11 carries. Fields was right behind him with 54 yards on 15 carries, followed by Teague with 12 carries for 41 yards and two scores. Steele Chambers actually looked perhaps the best of the Buckeye RBs in limited action, picking up 32 yards on just four touches.

After his unbelievable season a year ago, the expectations for Justin Fields heading into 2020 were astronomical. As a first-year starter in 2019, Fields threw for almost 3,300 yards with 41 TD passes to just 3 INTs, while also rushing for 484 yards and an additional 10 scores. With how good he was in his first season in Columbus, could he really improve upon himself in year two?

The first half was a good indication that he certainly hasnt lost a step. Fields threw just one incomplete pass in the first 30 minutes of play, and that one incompletion was a potential touchdown that was knocked out of the hands of Chris Olave. He ended up with 187 yards and a TD on 12-of-13 passing heading into the break.

Not just a pocket-passer, Fields was making the defense pay with his legs as well. He showed off that speed and elusiveness on the teams first drive of the second half, spinning his way around a defender en route to a 17-yard TD run.

Fields was phenomenal all game long, completing 20-of-21 passes for 276 yards and three total touchdowns.

Ohio States defense was certainly not up to snuff in game one especially against the run. The Silver Bullets were getting seriously gouged on the ground game, with Nebraskas entire offense basically being comprised of read-option plays. The linebackers were playing out of position, tackles were being missed, and it seemed a lot like a certain crowd-favorite middle linebacker specifically was struggling to make the correct read.

When all was said and done, the Buckeyes allowed a total of 217 rushing yards more than they allowed in any game last season. Adrian Martinez himself racked up 77 yards on the ground compared to his 105 through the air as the Achilles heel for the Buckeyes was that read-option; backup QB Luke McCaffrey ran for a team-high 87 yards. Ohio State made up for some of their issues by forcing two fumbles, but as a whole, the defense was average at best.

It is entirely possible that this Nebraska offense will be better than expected this year, as the Huskers did actually manage to put up the second-most yards rushing of any team against OSU last season with 184. However, the Silver Bullets will definitely have to sure things up before their big matchup against Penn State next week, as the effort they got on Saturday will certainly not cut it in Happy Valley.

Ohio States offensive line was built up to be one of the best in the country heading into the new campaign. The returning starters Wyatt Davis, Thayer Munford, and Josh Myers were all awesome a year ago, and the two empty spots have been filled by five-star prospects in Harry Miller and Nicholas Petit-Frere. On paper, they should have been dominant against a Nebraska front replacing a ton of last years starters.

That wasnt exactly the case on Saturday. Its kinda nit-picky to talk about any O-line struggles, as, for the most part, the blocking was solid, but it looks like they went through a bit of growing pains to start the year. Fields was sacked four times which is partially the fault of the QB trying to extend some plays longer than he should and the Huskers tallied up seven tackles for loss as the OSU run game was stymied much of the afternoon.

Offensive lines take some time to gel, and I wouldnt say it is a concern for this team moving forward with how good the offense looked otherwise. There is too much talent along this front five for them to be anything less than great.

Go here to read the rest:
What we learned in Ohio States 52-17 beatdown of Nebraska - Land-Grant Holy Land

Steve Boehme, Correspondent Published 8:25 a.m. ET Oct. 23, 2020

Timing is critical in the battle against invasive Japanese Honeysuckle.(Photo: Photo by GoodSeed Farm)

Ive sounded the alarm about invasive Japanese Honeysuckle, an aggressive shrub that takes over and smothers everything in its path. Under our noses, our woods and stream banks have been taken over, and the bright red berries of mature honeysuckle bushes are being spread everywhere by birds.There are huge, spreading mother plants covered with berries, and a carpet of seedlings under them where their berries have fallen.

Ill bet you have a few in your yard. If you own wooded acreage, Id be surprised if the same invasion isnt well advanced on your property. You need to take action and destroy them before your entire landscape turns into a jungle. In doing so youll contribute to one of the most important environmental battles of our time. Just ask any urban forester, forest ranger, park manager or conservationist. Theyre losing sleep over this problem right now.

Since I first realized that our farm was being invaded by Japanese Honeysuckle, we have devoted many days of hard work to beating back this scourge. Weve tried many different methods, over several years, but our efforts felt like Whack-A-Mole as new colonies continued to appear. We have 180 acres, much of it wooded, and we couldnt seem to turn the tide.

The key to success is timing. Japanese honeysuckle is one of the last woody plants to go dormant and drop its leaves in fall. This gives us a two-week window in late October and early November when we can spray glyphosate on the invaders with little or no damage to other plants. The plants really stand out right now, because most other woodland plants have lost their leaves. Amur honeysuckle bushes practically glow with neon green foliage and shiny red berries.

Small infestations can be treated with an inexpensive pump sprayer, however we have many acres to deal with. Our weapon of mass destruction is our Stihl backpack fogger, suggested to us by ODNR Urban Forester Wendi Van Buren. Similar to a backpack leaf blower, this dandy machine has a 2-1/2 gallon tank and an injector nozzle that mixes glyphosate with a powerful blast of air, creating a fog that can reach plants 15 feet tall and over 30 feet away. The air blast ruffles the leaves, thoroughly coating both the top and underside of the leaf with a fine mist.

We can unleash a glyphosate fog into dense honeysuckle thickets, the wind at our back, hitting the tops of the tallest plants while dousing the carpet of seedlings underneath, as fast as we can walk. We can cover many acres along hedgerows and hillsides in a single afternoon. Hiking with the backpack sprayer is a workout, soaking us with sweat, but so much faster and easier than any other method weve tried by far.

Starting with easily available 44% glyphosate concentrate, we simply measure two cups (16 ounces) into the sprayer tank and top it off with water. Setting the injector nozzle on 2 seems to give just the right amount of coverage. It takes about fifteen minutes per tankful to empty the tank, at a brisk walk.

A key strategy is to focus on the big, established mother plants first, because Japanese honeysuckle cant reproduce until the plants mature and start to have berries. Birds, attracted by the shiny red berries, spread the invader far and wide. Berries drop under the mature plants and create a carpet of seedlings.

Over the years, readers of this column have admonished us for using glyphosate in landscaping, but no one has ever presented us with convincing proof. Experts disagree. For our part, there is a tradeoff between the possible harmful effects of glyphosate and the uncontrolled spread of invasive plants like Japanese honeysuckle, thistle, multiflora rose, poison ivy and autumn olive. An online search turned up no evidence that eating glyphosate-treated berries is harmful to birds.

Armed with our newfound weapon of mass destruction, well take up the battle again in the coming weeks. I urge you to join it, in your own yard. Mark your calendar, and seize this opportunity to turn the tide of the honeysuckle invasion.

Steve Boehme is a landscape designer/installer specializing in landscape makeovers. Lets Grow is published weekly; column archives are on the Garden Advice page at http://www.goodseedfarm.com. For more information is available at http://www.goodseedfarm.com or call GoodSeed Farm Landscapes at (937) 587-7021.

Read or Share this story: https://www.chillicothegazette.com/story/news/2020/10/23/lets-grow-beat-back-japanese-honeysuckle-invasion/5992094002/

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Let's Grow: Beat back the Japanese Honeysuckle invasion - Chillicothe Gazette

Illinois believes its upset of Wisconsin last year showed how far the program has come. The oddsmakers are reminding the Illini how far they still have to go.

Even after beating a Wisconsin team that was favored by 30 points last year, Illinois heads into Madison as a 19 -point underdog as the two West Division rivals prepare to open the pandemic-delayed Big Ten season Friday night.

I guess were going to have to go prove them wrong again, Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters said.

Illinois took a big step forward last year in coach Lovie Smiths fourth season by earning its first bowl bid since 2014, but the Illini are still searching for their first winning season since a 7-6 finish in 2011.

Beating Wisconsin for a second straight year would be a major move in the right direction. The 14th-ranked Badgers want to make sure that doesnt happen.

Illinois definitely deserves a butt-whooping from last year, Wisconsin running back Nakia Watson said earlier this month.

Watsons comments notwithstanding, Wisconsins players generally have downplayed the revenge motive.

Obviously last year didnt go the way we wanted it to, but we try not to dwell too much on the past, Wisconsin wide receiver Kendric Pryor said. Obviously theyre not the same team as last year and were not the same team as last year.

Wisconsins offense definitely isnt the same as it was last year.

The Badgers lost two-time Doak Walker Award-winning running back and Indianapolis Colts rookie Jonathan Taylor as well as All-America center Tyler Biadasz and leading receiver Quintez Cephus from last years team. Redshirt freshman quarterback Graham Mertz will make his first career start for Wisconsin after preseason foot surgery left returning starter Jack Coan out indefinitely.

Yet the Badgers still have enough talent in place to believe they can win the division for a fourth time in five seasons, whereas Illinois is still attempting to move its way up the standings.

Illinois stunned Wisconsin last year by showing the ball-hawking mentality that the Illini have adopted under Smith, a former NFL head coach and longtime NFL defensive assistant. Illinois had a Big Ten-leading 28 takeaways last season, including an interception against Wisconsin that led to James McCourts game-winning 39-yard field goal as time expired.

Now they want to take the next step.

Last year we were a six win-team, Smith said. And I think were a strong football team right now. We lost a few guys, but for the most part, our best players are back, and weve added quite a few players. So were excited about seeing exactly how we fit into the landscape in 2020.

PLAYING WITHOUT FANS

There wont be any spectators for the first Big Ten game of the season as part of the protocols in place due to the coronavirus pandemic.

STRONG ON THE LINE

Illinois returns four starters on the offensive line. Kendrick Green, Doug Kramer, Vederian Lowe and Alex Palczewski have 125 combined starts.

Wisconsin must replace three of its starting offensive linemen from last season, but the Badgers return Associated Press preseason All-America second-team tackle Cole Van Lanen. Wisconsin also got a boost from the return of Jon Dietzen, who has made 32 career starts but stepped away from the football program in 2019 due to injuries.

REPLACING TAYLOR

Watson and fifth-year senior Garrett Groshek figure to get the bulk of the carries Friday as Wisconsin attempts to replace Taylor, though sophomore Isaac Guerendo also should have a role.

Groshek rushed for 198 yards and two touchdowns and also had 29 catches for 289 yards last season. Watson ran for 331 yards and two touchdowns.

ILLINOIS TRANSFERS

Illinois will be counting on big contributions from plenty of transfers this season.

Some transfers to watch, with former schools in parentheses, include running back Chase Brown (Western Michigan), tight end Luke Ford (Georgia), wide receiver Brian Hightower (Miami), tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe (Southern California), defensive tackle Roderick Perry (South Carolina State) and defensive back Derrick Smith (Miami).

SHOWCASE FOR MERTZ

Coans injury provides a showcase opportunity for Mertz, one of the most hyped recruits in recent Wisconsin history.

When Mertz signed with Wisconsin, it marked the first time since 2007 that the Badgers had signed a 247Sports Composite top-100 recruit who wasnt an offensive lineman. Mertz went 9 of 10 for 73 yards last season while playing in blowout victories over Central Michigan and Kent State.

See more here:
Illinois seeking to surprise No. 14 Wisconsin one more time - Greater Milwaukee Today

Town of Waynesville will conduct its bi-annual cemetery cleanup, beginning Nov. 9.

Items not collected by that date will be removed by Town staff and stored for 60 days.

Any article not contained in an approved memorial box, or that is deemed to be a safety hazard will be tagged and removed.

Such items include any trinket, toy, shells, sand, artificial material or object not permanently affixed to the headstone; glass jars, tin cans or glass vases; any border, fence, railing trellis, shepherds crook or yard flag stand/holders; bird houses, coping, hedge shrubs, tree or any other bounding or enclosing object or material constructed or planted in or around any lot or space.

Only one solar-powered or artificial light source is permitted per burial spot; no light source shall exceed 8 x 10 inches.

For additional assistance, please contact the Public Works Office at 828-456-3706.

See more here:
Cemetery cleanup to start Nov. 9 | Briefs | themountaineer.com - The Mountaineer

GONZALO CATAN JR. AND BERNARD RYAN ATIENZA

There is no other brand more trusted in the Philippines when it comes pest control but Mapecon. Just a year shy of six decades, what was initially established as Manila Pest Control in 1961 by innovator and entomologist Gonzalo Jun Catan Jr., has consistently delivered excellent service through history so much so that it proudly stands today as the nations leader and largest player in its competitive industry.

Through its 59 years of existence, Mapecon founded by innovator Gonzalo Jun Catan Jr. (left) has proven time and again that fair and just business practices will always be prioritized in this iconic Philippine company as proven today by the work of his grandson Bernard Ryan Atienza (right).

Believe it or not, Catan carefully and industriously grew Mapecon from a single proprietorship entity with only P400 in capital, to its present standing as a multi-million-peso corporation, with approximately 700 employees nationwide. This month of October marks this impressive empires 59-year success story.

The man who started it all, here with the love of his life and greatest motivator, wife Nancy Catan.

Mr. Catan was fresh out of University of the Philippines Los Baos, where he took up BS Agriculture minor in Crop Protection, when he decided that the current options for pest control in the country at the time would be dangerous in the long run. The reason for this is the fact that what was being used were imported from multinationals whose chemicals had already been banned at their source of origin, Bernard Ryan Atienza, Mapecons incumbent assistant national director and very able grandchild of its founder, proudly recalled in an exclusive interview with The Sunday Times Magazine.

The patriarchs mission for establishing the company in 1961 was to create employment for Filipinos, while making sure that quality service is provided to Mapecons clients

Basically, the Philippines and other third world countries were being used as dumping sites of these multinationals surplus and rejects and my grandfather would not stand for it.

Bent on providing his countrymen not only the better but the correct and effective alternative, the beginnings of Mapecon emerged from the young upstanding innovator, which he steeled and grew and with the principles of honest work and earning his customers trust by keeping them informed about the service they require.

Challenges in the time of pandemic

Fifty-nine years laterfollowing a great many years of stabilityMapecon, just like every company and industry in the world, is facing challenges from the relentless coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Before the pandemic, October always saw the companys National Managers Conference; it was still held this year this year albeit virtually on October 15.

Thankfully, according to Atienza, his grandfather was wise not only to hand them over a legacy but the very tools and working principles needed to hurdle an unexpected crisis.

He wouldnt expect any less of us, the well-trained grandson grinned.

Identifying beefed-up safety protocols for both manpower and clients when delivering their integrated, environmentally conscientious and award-winning patented products and services as most vital today, Mapecon is picking up where they abruptly left off, tenaciously and as solidly as the homes and buildings they treat.

Every day before work, employees are encouraged to say a short prayer and also invited to join a weekly prayer meeting for Bible reflection.

We saw a really sharp decline last March and April when all of this [pandemic] started, but we praise and thank the Lord that we have a very good upper management that were able to adapt to the situation immediately, Atienza related. Right now, were almost back at 85 to 90 percent of our normal revenue given that pest control is one of those businesses that is essential when you talk about termite control and general pest control.

These are things that people cant sacrifice and not a non-essential, he added.

Admitting that a great deal of how they do business delivery services have changed because of the pandemic, the top executive said they have continue adapting to the situation and facing the challenges head-on.

Even if they lift the quarantines and loosen restrictions even more, the paradigm has really shifted. Even with our customers, the challenge now is to convince them that its safe to let people into their homes and I sure them that we are being extra careful in providing our services. Its understandable how people or a little less trusting these days and thats very valid. The main challenge really is adapting to the new normal.

Bouncing back the right way

In strictly adhering to the specifically designed health and safety protocols for Mapecon, while taking care to assure their clients that the quality and trustworthy service they have long been known for remains unchanged, Atienza is certain they are well into the stage of bouncing back today.

The company has no intention of stopping when it comes to innovation, creation, providing services and of course, providing employment.

We are definitely bouncing back and I believe our customers have come to understand [how we are proceeding]. This is specially so because we make every effort to explain to them every step of our service in order to make sure that they and our people continue to be safe and healthy, he asserted.

To start with, one of our core values is adhering to integrity, honesty and transparency among all our employees, so even if just one person is suspected to be sick with the virus, we will always let our customers know.

Following protocol, such a disclosure will immediately be followed by quarantine and isolation, even if it means another disruption in operations.

We are better off losing a little in the short term than gambling on the trust that the customers place in us, Atienza explained. Just to elaborate on our protocols, our service people are especially screened daily. Before theyre deployed to the field, they have to fulfill a health checklist, which has the mandatory temperature check and so on, including a detailed interview with our administrative staff.

If found necessary, we immediately refer the employee to our company physician or nurse, so we definitely dont take risks. Even if the medical team just gives a suspicion of infection, we quarantine them pending results of the test.

In moving on and bouncing back the right way, Atienza believes the company should be able to endure in its mission to provide employment in whatever part of the country they do business and of course deliver unchanging quality service to their patrons.

The mission, vision and core values with which Mapecon began remains its foundation almost 60 years to the day. That hasnt changed and will never change, emphasized.

The primary mission of Mapecon has always been to provide employment to our fellow Filipinos, so that everything we do, everything that we innovate to expand the business and create new lines of business, is all about the bottom line. And thats to be able to hire more people because of Mr. Catans belief that the best way to solve poverty is not through handouts, but by providing employment.

Very proudly as he should be, Atienza reported that while most businesses have been forced to streamline their payrolls, Mapecon has not laid off a single employee since the lockdowns began in March.

Even if our personnel werent able to report for duty, we found ways to let them work from home so they can continue to have steady income, he shared. We have no plans of retrenching, and no plans of reducing the number of hours of our people. We want them to know that if they want and are willing to work, they can depend on us as a steady source employment.

According to the top executive, his grandfather, the rest of the family and their associates have worked very hard through the decades to maintain the integrity of this iconic Philippine brand and they have no plans of stopping, even when a pandemic or any calamity strikes.

I believe the integrity or the name Mapecon has come to mean something very specific to our clients and employees. Thats whatever happens, Mapecon will always be there.

To underline the point, the third-generation steward of this consistent entity of nation building reiterated, They can rely Mapeconand to be reliable, I think, is not something you just can say. You have to prove it over the years which I trust many will agree weve proven over the past 59 years.

Whatever anyone sayswe have competitors, we have detractors, we have people trying to bring Mapecon down who have always been unable to do soat the end of the day we let our actions and our reputation speaks for itself.

59 and counting

As expected, the pandemic is not stopping Mapecon from marking its 59th founding anniversary as it should. But while previous celebrations have been grand to befit the companys achievements, a simple online commemoration will be held this year.

We have 56 branches nationwide and we usually mount a Managers Conference to coincide with our anniversary, because it is set on the same day of Mr. Catans birthday. He likes seeing all the branch managers so we have this big conference that involves all of the managers coming either to Manila or all of us going to a province of choice, Atienza happily recalled.

But since thats not possible with the pandemic, were having our first Virtual Managers Conference this year, he continued, as well as an online celebration of Mr. Catans birthday with the company.

Chuckling, Atienza added, To be honest, we dont have any experience creating, handling or facilitating an online conference but were drawing on what weve experienced from other online conferences that weve attended.

Blessing in disguise

As Mapecons tradition, however, the company will nevertheless join the National Committee on Urban Pest Controls (NUCP) commemoration of National Urban Pest Control Week in this final leg of October.

The National Urban Pest Control Week is usually held in the third week of September along with the NUCP-organized conference, but similarly, they will hold a virtual conference as everyone is forced to do today, Atienza noted.

But basically, the event is held to remind the public and industry stakeholders about the basic principles of proper pest control, to address the common misconception that this process is all about spraying chemicals. Thats not true of course and can be very harmful, he furthered.

So, in order to have good pest control, you have to rely on the principles of effective pest management, which was actually released in 1975 via Health Circular 155. Now there are seven principles and these are what the NCUP reminds participants every year.

Ever open minded to the changing times, Atienza actually believes that the idea of virtual commemorations is a blessing in disguise.

Because of this pandemic, a lot of people are affected and a lot of changes had to be made. But we choose to view the situation as a blessing in disguise because we can finally accept and benefit from the use of technology. For example, weve come to realize we can actually meet with our managers and regional directors every month, rather than once a year as before, because we dont need to be face to face for thatand at no additional cost, he enthused.

Even better, using technology will also save both our company and our clients time because unlike before when we could only submit our proposal of service after weve done our site inspection, we can already minimize the face to face interaction via virtual inspection in their homes and offices.

As he looked back at the past seven months Atienza observed, Its been a challenging time indeed but its also been cornucopia of opportunities. If theres anything that Mapecon prides on, its creative honest work, and if not for the pandemic, we wouldnt be able to try all these possibilities. Necessity is really the mother of invention as they say.

Noting that the coronavirus pandemic is not the first trial or hardship that Mapecon has had to overcome through the decades, he informed The Sunday Times Magazine that companys theme for their conference is, very fittingly, Resiliency and Adversity Relying on Sound Foundation.

Everything were experiencing right now the hardships, the trials we know were equipped with the right tools to deal with them but our President Jesus Christ will not let us down during these times, Atienza averred.

So with this opportunity, I just want to assure everyone who has an interest in Mapecons success that we have no plans of stopping. In fact, Mr. Catan has recently provided us managers with a 100 year-plan for the company! So, theres definitely no stopping when it comes to innovation, creation and providing services with us, he continued.

The promise and commitment of Mapecon has been the same from the past 59 years and that will never change. Our promise is to stay true to our mission and vision. We promise to create employment and provide our fellow Filipinos a way toward a steady source of income. We promise our customers and friends that they will have holistic, integrated pest control technology that is environment friendly, safe to use and ever effective. We promise everyone that everything that we do and say will always be for the greater glory of our President Jesus Christ, Atienza ended.

Originally posted here:
Meet the men behind Mapecons massive success The Manila Times - The Manila Times

Extending the life of a product even relatively briefly can have significant benefits, according to Nathan Proctor, who leads the right-to-repair campaign at the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, a consumer advocacy group. If Americans would extend the life of their cellphones by one year, for instance, it would be the climate-saving equivalent of taking 636,000 cars off the road, or about the amount of passenger vehicles registered in the state of New Mexico.

Right to repair advocates like Ms. Gordon-Byrne and Mr. Proctor highlight recent strides in the automotive industry. In next months election, Massachusetts will have a question on the ballot designed to ensure that drivers will continue to be able to have local repair shops not just authorized dealers work on their cars as they become more automated and manufacturers control access to that data.

That measure is designed to build on a 2012 bill in the state that required carmakers to provide independent repair shops with access to the diagnostic tools that had been available only to dealerships.

The new measure, known as Question 1 on the ballot, has met resistance.

If Question 1 passes in Massachusetts, anyone could access the most personal data stored in your vehicle, says the narrator in one advertisement. The campaign against the measure talks about the risks of hacking, identity theft and cyberstalking as part of a multimillion-dollar advertising spend by a group called Coalition for Safe and Secure Data, a manufacturer-backed organization that is fighting the question in November.

Conor Yunits, a spokesman for the coalition, said it sees the new measure as unnecessary: Massachusetts is already the only state that has a right to repair law on the books. The technology they care about telematics is already covered by the existing law. In our view, this is an attempt by national auto parts chains to get access to more consumer data.

Manufacturers have considerable influence over the standards to which their products are made, said Mark Schaffer, a consultant on the life cycle of electronics. According to a 2017 report that he wrote, thats because major manufacturers sit on the panels that set guidelines for things like environmental impact. As a result, he said, tougher standards can be difficult to achieve.

As a whole, the industry needs to raise the floor on repairability, Mr. Schaffer said. Thats probably not going to happen until there is a legal requirement at a state or at a national level.

See the article here:
Fix, or Toss? The Right to Repair Movement Gains Ground - The New York Times

Neighborhoods of single-family homes that don't allow renters are nothing new. But do you know what is? Neighborhoods of single-family homes that only allow renters -- that's what. In a table-turning sort of way, Minneapolis' Twin Cities are seeing a new trend: single-family rental neighborhoods, otherwise known as "built-for-rent" or "built-to-rent" housing. Is there something to this?

Single-family rental neighborhoods, like those currently being built in the Twin Cities' suburban areas, are upscale homes that rent for between $2,000 and $4,000 a month (or more). The homes range from 1,500 square feet to over 3,000 square feet and come with all the latest accouterments, such as keyless entry, front-door cameras, and smart-home features.

The neighborhoods offer plenty of amenities as well, such as walking trails, clubhouses, swimming pools, and dog parks. But the main attraction for many residents is a maintenance-free lifestyle. Rent includes lawn care, snow plowing, and appliance repair, all of which is generally handled by a property management company.

The Twin Cities area, as of October 2020, has one single-family rental community of 66 homes already built, and this neighborhood was completely rented out in a matter of months. Plans from the developer, Watermark Equity Group, are to build two more of these neighborhoods in the Twin Cities area, one with 58 homes and the other with 81 homes.

The built-to-rent concept might be new for the Twin Cities, but the Phoenix area has seen these types of developments since 2014. Phoenix now has 11 single-family rental neighborhoods, all by developer NexMetro. This builder features rental home communities with one-, two-, three-, and sometimes four-bedroom homes, some attached and some detached, but all with upscale features such as cathedral ceilings, private yards, quartz countertops, and hardwood floors. Plans are to expand this single-family rental model to other areas of the country.

Most people who are interested in the built-to-rent community would probably be candidates for a luxury apartment building that features all the latest amenities. The problem many people have with apartment living, however, is the shared wall aspect. Single-family rental neighborhoods provide residents with a detached home and with all the convenience features of apartment living.

1. Young professionals who relocate frequently for work. In the Twin Cities area, for example, a cluster of Fortune 500 companies fuels the trend for single-family rental neighborhoods.

2. Empty nesters. This group typically can afford to buy but chooses to rent, preferring a lifestyle that doesn't involve home maintenance.

3. Single people or people who recently divorced. Renting provides the freedom to easily relocate if need be.

4. Newly married young couples. Not sure how they want to settle down just yet, this group wants to test the lifestyle of living in a single-family home in the suburbs before committing to it.

The experiment with single-family rental neighborhoods is proving to be a success, as the model is a win for both residents and owners. What's been happening with these developments is builders/developers build the single-family rental neighborhoods, get a property manager to manage them, and then -- after all the homes are rented -- the builder typically sells the entire community to a real estate investment trust (REIT) or a huge rental operator like Invitation Homes.

Renewals are more likely. Renters tend to view these homes as long-term commitments more than renters of typical rental units usually do, partly because the homes in build-to-rent communities are built and designed the same way as typical subdivisions are, giving them a more permanent feel.

Higher rent growth. Rent raises tend to outperform those of typical rental units. NexMetro's Avilla neighborhoods in Phoenix have experienced rent increases between 6% and 11%, compared with between 1.6% and 5.4% for apartment rentals nationwide.

Pride in home and community. Because people tend to view single-family rental homes as long-term commitments, they tend to care more about the home and the neighborhood than renters in typical rental units generally do. This isn't to say that renters as a whole don't care about their rental units or the neighborhood, but people who plan to live in an area for a longer term tend to act more like homeowners who have a greater stake in their homes and community.

Expect to see more built-to-rent neighborhoods in the future. Home builders Lennar (Lennar Corporation (NYSE: LEN)), JMC Homes, Camillo Properties, and AHV Communities are all planning to build single-family rental neighborhoods across the nation.

But let's hope these communities are managed better than what happened post-2008 recession. The huge conglomerates that bought foreclosed homes earned a poor reputation based on neglectful maintenance practices, high rent hikes, and excessive late fees. If you like to follow trends, this is one to watch.

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Single-Family Rental Neighborhoods Are Hot in the Twin Cities Right Now - Motley Fool

Certifications

Matthew Griffith, prevention section chief with the Montreal Fire Department, said shoppers should look for patio heaters with certifications from the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC). These independent certification bodies test and ensure various appliances meet specific safety standards. Griffith said a lot of inexpensive products don't have these safety certifications, which can be quite expensive for brands to obtain."There's a reason why one company can sell it at half the price," he said. Though a product with safety certifications often costs more, Griffith said it's important to prioritize safety over price.

You're buying a patio heater to keep warm when it gets cold, so heat output should be a key consideration. Most manufacturers list heat output in British thermal units (Btu) and estimate the square footage a heater can handle in ideal conditions. The higher the Btu of a heater, the more heat it will produce and the larger an area it will cover.

You can estimate the Btu you need to heat your outdoor area by multiplying the cubic footage of the space by your desired temperature increase. My patio is about 1,500 cubic feet (assuming a height of around 5 feet I'm short, so I don't need to heat the air too far above my head), and if I want to hang out outside in the fall when it's 50 degrees outside, I'll probably want to raise the temperature by at least 10 degrees. That means I'll need a heater that puts out at least 15,000 Btu. Bigger spaces or colder climates will require more Btu to heat comfortably.

If you live in a colder area or are looking to entertain guests, we recommend looking for a heater that produces 40,000 Btu or more, which is enough to heat around 2,000 square feet comfortably. Dome or pyramid-shaped heaters are typically larger and have a higher Btu output, so they can usually heat a larger area than tabletop patio heaters. These tall patio heaters are often seen at restaurants because they can keep a large number of guests comfortable at one time. Thomas Bonfiglio, CEO and founder of Triple T Hospitality, said that the high heat output is one of the reasons he chose pyramid and dome-top heaters for his New York and New Jersey restaurants. "Diners who may still not be comfortable eating inside anywhere can have a pleasant experience outside for many months," Bonfiglio said.

Propane-powered heaters typically produce more heat than electric heaters because they aren't limited by the circuit system of your home. That, of course, means there are some additional safety considerations for propane heaters, since they won't shut off automatically like an electric heater will when a circuit is overloaded. You can read more about safety considerations in the section below.

The majority of propane patio heaters are compatible with standard 15-20 pound propane tanks, but some portable versions work with smaller, 16 ounce canisters. You'll have to buy propane tanks separately from the heater, as you would for a gas-powered outdoor fireplace or grill. Fortunately, small and large propane tanks are readily available at most hardware stores; it typically costs about $20 to $25 to refill or buy a 20 pound propane tank at Home Depot.

How much gas your patio heater uses depends on its heat output, what setting you're using, and the surrounding air temperature (the colder it is, the more gas you'll use to heat the area). Amerigas says that you can expect to generate 22,000 Btu per hour for each pound of propane. So if you have a 40,000 Btu patio heater, it'll burn through about 2 pounds of propane every hour you're operating it on its highest setting. Patio heaters guzzle a lot of propane, so I always like to keep an extra tank on hand, since I have multiple outdoor gas-powered appliances like a grill and an outdoor fireplace.

Electric heaters are usually cheaper and safer to operate because they produce less heat. They also don't require regular trips to the hardware store for fuel refills. But the heat isn't very powerful or far-reaching if you're looking to keep a crowd warm.

If aesthetics are important to you, keep in mind that electric and propane heaters give off different types of light. Gas-powered patio heaters create actual flames, which produce a natural, fireplace-like glow. Bonfiglio said he settled on gas models for his restaurant because of their ability to evenly diffuse heat without adding unnecessary bright light.

Bonfiglio also chose patio heaters with controls that are high up and out of reach to customers, which keeps diners safe and the atmosphere consistent. If your household has children, pets, or fidgety adults who like to play with controls, you might also consider a patio heater with out-of-reach controls to prevent any accidents. Most tall, freestanding patio heaters naturally have controls that are high up. My AmazonBasics patio heater has controls so high that I need to stand on my tippy toes to reach them.

On the flip side, if you don't have any wayward hands in your home, you might find it a pain to break out the step ladder every time you want to turn on your patio heater. Some models come with remote controls for easier operation, or you may opt for a tabletop unit.

Experts told us you can store most propane heaters outside all year round. Just add a cover to prevent unnecessary wear and tear during rainstorms and cold winter months. We recommend choosing a model with wheels if you're opting for a standalone unit like a dome-top or pyramid heater, so that it's easy to wheel out of the way when not in use. If storing a portable patio heater indoors, remove the propane attachment before doing so.

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How to buy the best patio heater - Business Insider - Business Insider

The retaining wall on Lake Front Boulevard will be completed by Memorial Day 2021 according to a contract in discussion between Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas and contractor St. George Enterprises.

The Lake Front Boulevard situation, we are moving forward with that, I have made contact with the contractor, Rosas said during Tuesdays Dunkirk Common Council meeting. We have a new contract, we just added a couple of things to the other contract that was approved, basically two issues that were spoken about in executive session. The contractor is agreeing to have the project 100% complete by Memorial Day of 2021. The payment plan will be that were working with FEMA, the contractor has agreed to work with us with the FEMA payment plan.

The contract, which is still in negotiation, is expected to be signed soon and the supplies and materials will be ordered and the crew should be working on the project next week.

First Ward Councilman Don Williams questioned what might happen if the contractor is unable to finish the repair by the agreed upon date.

We considered all the options. There was a lot of behind the scenes communication, Rosas responded. To get to the point where were at now, there was a lot of work done, the process with FEMA and getting that plan approved was a long process.

Rosas added that the city could have decided to re-bid the project out after conferring various department heads, but ultimately what was decided that what was best for the city was to try to work with this St. George Enterprises.

In an effort to get them to agree we have been very lenient with the contract language, Rosas said. If he didnt agree then our options would be that there is no timeline in the contract or we bid it and find another contractor, if we did that wed jeopardize paying more for this project and wed also jeopardize the timeline with FEMA.

Another project that was also mentioned was the LED Replacement program the city was working on. A letter read during the public portion of the project from Cassandra Pinkoski questioned what buildings have been done currently, what buildings are slated the be completed, if street lighting is still a part of the project and what are the savings to date?

Rosas said LED updates were provided throughout the year but due to COVID, the $1 million in funding earmarked by the state and approved by the Financial Restructuring Board was withheld.

We have not received those funds, Rosas said. I have stopped the project until such time that we receive those funds. The good news is that I directed our Fiscal Affairs officer to contact Albany every week and this week the funding process is going to be moving forward, so we expect to receive funds soon. Ive been in contact with the contractor and he is ready to start as soon as we can start moving the process forward.

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Retaining wall to begin construction, LED plan on hold - Evening Observer

InYourArea Community

The nearby Castle Inn Footbridge remains closed to ensure the safety of the public, following damage it sustained during Storm Dennis.

Image:Rhondda Cynon Taf Council

Submitted by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has started work to repair and rebuild sections of the retaining wall at A4054 Cardiff Road in Treforest following damage caused by Storm Dennis and the current traffic lights will be removed when complete next month.

Sections of the wall, along the River Taff near Castle Inn Footbridge, were damaged by the unprecedented weather in February 2020.

The repairs are scheduled across two phases of work the first of these started on Monday, October 19. The council has appointed Kaymac Marine & Civil Engineering Ltd as the contractor to carry out this work, which will last up to two weeks, subject to good weather.

The second phase of work will see the collapsed section of wall rebuilt by contractor Hammond Civil Engineering Ltd. This is expected to start in early November and last around three weeks.

Once complete, the temporary traffic lights will be removed and Cardiff Road will be re-opened for two-way traffic. Work across both phases will adhere to the latest social distancing guidance.

Please note, the nearby Castle Inn Footbridge remains closed to ensure the safety of the public, following the significant damage it sustained during Storm Dennis. The council will provide an update to residents in the near future.

Councillor Andrew Morgan, leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and cabinet member with responsibility for highways and transportation, said:

Important schemes to repair damaged structures have progressed in recent months including retaining wall repairs at Ynysybwl Road and Blaen-y-Cwm Road, while work has recently been completed at Station Street in Treherbert.

Preparations are also ongoing at Ynysangharad Park in Pontypridd to repair the Marks and Spencer Bridge over the coming months, while specialist surveys at Castell Ifor Bridge in Treforest and the White Bridge in Pontypriddare are under review.

The council is committed to repairing or replacing both of these damaged bridges and will provide an update to residents in due course.

Cllr Morgan said:

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Retaining wall repairs at A4054 Cardiff Road in Treforest - In Your Area