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Six casinos in or near the Coachella Valley are opening their doors Friday to guests who are ready to gambleonslot machines andcard games, despite a request from Gov. Gavin Newsom to stay closed.

Newsomsent a letter to California tribeson May 15 urging them not to reopen their gaming facilities. But tribes are sovereign nations and don't have to follow local or state stay-at-home orders. Several popular casinos in the San Diego areaopened earlierthis week.

Casinos are considered higher-risk workplaces because of the volume of people they bring in and fall under Stage 3 of the governor's reopening plan. Other businesses in Stage 3 have not been allowed to reopen yet.

Memorial Day: What you can and can't do this weekend in the Coachella Valley

Coronavirus FAQ: Everything you need to know

When the doors to Spotlight 29 Casino near Coachellaopened at 10 a.m., after aclosure that's lasted more thantwomonths, someone from the crowd yelled out Freedom!

By that time, more than 150 people were already in line to get in.

Over 200 people had entered the casino by 10:15 a.m. Employees at the entrance said people began lining up just after 8:30 a.m., with some saying they had driven from as far as the Los Angeles area and Orange County.

Guests had to get their temperatures checked by security as they pulled up in their vehiclesto help curb the spread of COVID-19. Security staff declined to tell The Desert Sun whether they had turned anyone away.

Everyone who entered the casino was required to wear a face mask, with one provided if needed. Blue latex gloves were also offered, but not requiredto enter.

I saved a lot of money the last couple months, quarantined inside," joked Larry Potter, who drove by himself from Banning."Hopefully I dont lose it today."

Adam Levy, assistant director of marketing for Spotlight 29, said theTwenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indianswasmeticulous in organizing theopening, following guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventionand Riverside County.The casino opened only one entrance, so staff could turn people away in their cars, if needed.

I saved a lot of money the last couple months, quarantined inside. Hopefully I dont lose it today.

Levy said capacity is 2,200, but the casino is only allowing 500 people in at a time to start. That will hopefully change in time, he said.The casino is not hosting a buffetfor safety reasons, Levy added, and that was the only complaint hedheard on Friday.

Inside the casino,staff were enforcing social distancing and facial coverings. Staff wipeddown machines, too. Naturally, not everyone was 6 feet apart at all times, but staff were doing their best to enforce it.

At least two women, Cori Francis and Cheryl Pegram, both of Cathedral City, said they planned to go to the other Coachella Valleycasinos reopening Friday.

This has been the craziest time of my life," Francis said."Hopefully this is the start of things returning to normal.

Pegram said she had "dreamt of this moment" when she could get out again.

The Spotlight 29 Casinoand the Tortoise Rock Casino near Twentynine Palms werethe first to open in the valley Friday,followed by the Agua Caliente casinos in Rancho Mirage and Palm Springs.

While the Agua Caliente casinos werescheduled to open at noon, the Rancho Mirage facility opened its doors at 11 a.m.All entrances wereopen, with security checking people's temperatures inside. Masks were available for thosewho didnt bring their own.

Guests enter the Agua Caliente Resort Casino and Spa in Rancho Mirage after the casino reopened, May 22, 2020.(Photo: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun)

About 400 patrons were inside the Rancho Mirage casino by Friday afternoon, and shops and eateries likeWaters Cafe, Java Caliente, Swarovski and Sports Bar 360were bustling. Like at Spotlight 29, Purell hand sanitizer stations could be found all over the casino.Sanitation crews meticulously wiped down machines, and staff tried to enforce social distancing.

Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Tribal ChairmanJeff L. Grubbe paid a visit to his tribe's casinos Friday.

I walked the floors as we re-opened our casinos today, Grubbe told The Desert Sun in an email. All safety protocols are in place, and our team members and guests were appreciative that we are open again.It feels good to have nearly 1,500 team members back to work and to know that the Tribe is playing a big part in jump starting the Coachella Valley economy again.

In announcing its reopening, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians citedthe Riverside County Board of Supervisors' votesupporting tribal governments' reopening of their casinos with social distancing measures in place and personal protective equipment provided for staff.

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"The County of Riverside has no jurisdiction over tribal lands," Riverside County spokeswoman Brooke Federico said on Friday. "We ask that all businesses consider the ways they can implement safer practices for their employees and customers when considering reopening."

The Morongo Casino & Resort near Banningand the nearby original Casino Morongowere scheduled to open at 2 p.m., but actually opened their doors around11:30a.m. There was no line at first, but once the scheduled opening time came around the parking garage was packed.The casino marquee readMask required and Good times are back!

It was the most bustling of the casinos and had more than 150 people in line outside at 2:45 p.m., more thanthreehours after it opened. Signs were placed outside the entrance to the casino Friday afternoon to inform guests there may be a one- to two-hour wait.Several hopeful gamblers decided to give up after standing in the long line for 20 minutes, heading back to their cars.

Simon Farmer, executive director of marketing for Morongo Casino & Resort, said that the determination was made around 3 p.m. not to let additional guests in until more visitors exited. Farmer wouldn't share an estimate of how many customers were inside at the time, but he said fewer than the casino's total 4,000 slot machines were in use.

He said that the number of occupants allowed will be determined by casino management "in real time," depending on what staff members are observing on the floor.

As for opening the casino earlier in the day than the 2 p.m. scheduled time, Farmer saidmanagement felt there was no reason to wait any longer. First, VIPs were welcomed in at 9 a.m. for a first look of the expanded and renovated casino.

"As the day went on, we had such a force of team members here ready to serve our guests, ready to implement our new safety protocols and procedures, that we knew we were ready to let the guests that were waiting outside come inside," he said.

Security checks the temperature of occupants of vehicles coming into the Spotlight 29 Casino during its reopening in Coachella, May 22, 2020.(Photo: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun)

David Hakimfar and Sam Alishahi traveled tothe casino's reopeningfrom Los Angeles. They left with less money than when they entered, but it didn't dampen their spirits.

Together, we lost 400 bucks, with pleasure. Im happy that I gave money to the Indian reservation and I thank them, Alishahi said.

It feels like the foot of Gavin Newsom and (Los Angeles Mayor)Eric Garcetti has been taken off our throats and were getting a taste of freedom, Hakimfar added.

Once inside, each guest's temperature was taken, and masks were required. Video screens inside said Welcome back! and encouraged anyone with a fever to exit, see a doctor and come back soon.

Purell stations were set up throughoutand the entire staff at Morongo, from security guards to blackjack dealers, wore black or gray masks with the casinos name and logo.

The buffet was closed but most of the other eateries inside were open. The casino will be open 24-7 moving forward.

At the Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs and Agua Caliente Casino Rancho Mirage, visitors can expect the following new precautions because of COVID-19:

People walk into the Agua Caliente Resort Casino and Spa in Rancho Mirage after the reopening, May 22, 2020.(Photo: Jay Calderon/The Desert Sun)

Guests at the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians'Spotlight 29 and Tortoise Rock casinos can anticipate these changes:

At theMorongo Casino &Resort, owned by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, visitors will get their first glimpse at the newly completed 65,000-square-foot expansion and renovation project.Among other additions are new restaurants and a 30% expansion ofthe gaming floor.Most of the project wasdone before the casino had to close, but the project officially wrapped during the closure.

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Here are changes guests returning to the new casino and original Casino Morongocan anticipate:

Of casinos in the Coachella Valley, both the Fantasy Springs Casino and Augustine Casino have yet to make reopening dates public.

Jef Bauer, general manager of Augustine Casino near Coachella, said this week that the casino will not reopen before June 1.

"The Tribe is adamant that we not rush into reopening and that we put the health and safety of our team members and guests first," Bauer said in a written statement Friday. "We are taking a cautious and slow approach to this."

In early April, Bauer said in an interview with The Desert Sun that closures stretching into June would be devastating for tribes, with costs for reopening similar to start-up costs for a big gaming facility.

"Youre basically going to have to fire up all the enginesmarketing, hiring, Bauer said at the time. There could be all kinds of costs that you wouldnt even normally have during that time, and your revenues are coming in low. So, the expenses will just be crippling for some businesses, if were not able to get this under control soon and get open.

Fantasy Springs has been announcing new and rescheduled concert dates. The soonest upcoming event on the calendar that hasn't been canceled or postponed is a Chicago concert, set for Sept. 12. For a full list of upcoming shows, go tofantasyspringsresort.com.

Risa Johnson covers Native American affairs in the Coachella Valley and beyond. She can be reached at risa.johnson@desertsun.com or (760) 778-4737. Follow her on Twitter @risamjohnson.

Read or Share this story: https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/health/2020/05/22/morongo-casino-others-reopen-despite-newsoms-request-stay-closed/5242127002/

Read more from the original source:
'Dreamt of this moment': Reopening day is here for six casinos around the Coachella Valley - Desert Sun

The 2020 F1 calendar originally consisted of a record-breaking 22 different races.

Question marks hang over other races. The possibility of racing at Silverstone was thrown into doubt yesterday. The Singapore Grand Prix promoters have said their race can only go ahead on its originally scheduled weekend of September 20th and cannot be held behind closed doors criteria which are going to be challenging to fulfil.

Many postponed events are hopeful of returning to the championship later in the season. But Formula 1 chairman and CEO Chase Carey admitted the sport could end up racing at some tracks which werent originally on the 2020 schedule.

So where could it race? There are 21 venues which hold the FIA grade one certification necessary to hold F1 races which werent originally on the 2020 roster:

Hockenheims last F1 race was a thrillerHockenheimring, GermanyPrevious F1 races: 37

The most recent home of the German Grand Prix was dropped from the calendar at the end of 2019. However Germanys relative success in tackling the spread of the pandemic, plus the fact the Hockenheimring held a race last year, makes it an obvious candidate as a short-notice addition to the calendar. The truncated layout may be hard to love, but it can produce great races, especially when the weather lends a hand like it did last year.

Nurburgring, GermanyPrevious F1 races: 40

Some of the same reasoning for Hockenheim obviously applies here, though F1 hasnt raced on the modern Nurburgring since 2013. Hockenheim therefore represents an easier in for the championship.

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Jerez, SpainPrevious F1 races: 7

Formula 1s motorbike counterpart Moto GP intends to start its postponed season at the twisty Andalusian circuit in July. F1 hasnt raced there since the dramatic, title-deciding 1997 European Grand Prix, and stopped testing at the circuit a few years ago.

Valencia (Ricardo Tormo)Previous F1 races: 0

Not the little-loved street circuit, which fell into disrepair after holding five wholly forgettable races and one cracker between 2008 and 2012, but one of F1s preferred former testing venues. Like Jerez, its more of a bike circuit, rather too tight for F1.

Magny-Cours: Club circuit turned grand prix venueMagny-Cours, FrancePrevious F1 races: 18

The remoteness which played against Magny-Cours when it hosted the French Grand Prix between 1991 and 2008 may work in its favour in the age of the Coronavirus. The track is a bit of an oddball, extremely smooth and with a very short pit lane which excites the kind of people who really like strategic races. Modern F1 cars would looks spectacular in the quick right-hander leading onto the back straight.

Fiorano, ItalyPrevious F1 races: 0

Yes, Ferraris test track has grade one status. At 2.9 kilometres its even shorter than Monaco, and so wouldnt meet the FIAs minimum F1 circuit length. Infrastructure would be a challenge too, and nine of the teams might object to one of their rivals having a bit of a home advantage

Imola, ItalyPrevious F1 races: 27

The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari made noises about standing in for the Chinese Grand Prix before the pandemic took an awful toll on Italy. Its been modernised since it last held the San Marino Grand Prix in 2006, losing one of its many chicanes.

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Mugello, ItalyPrevious F1 races: 0

While Mugello (pictured top) has never held a round of the world championship, F1 last tested there as recently as 2012. Its not unlikely Zandvoort in that it has a quick, flowing layout which and offer little room for error. The Coronavirus cloud really would have a silver lining if this gem of a track got an F1 race.

F1 tested twice at Algarve in PortugalAutodromo do Algarve, PortugalPrevious F1 races: 0

One of the more interesting modern facilities, the Algarve track had the misfortune to be built just as F1 imposed strict limits on track testing. Aside from two visits in the 2008-09 off-season, F1 has stayed away. It is understood to have expressed an interest in welcoming the world championship.

Estoril, PortugalPrevious F1 races: 14

The best corners at F1s Portuguese home of the eighties and nineties have been neutered. The viciously tight Saca Rolhas (corkscrew, but not in the epic Laguna Seca sense) slows the approach to Parabolica, and the first two corners were tightened after F1 left in 1996.

Istanbul Park, TurkeyPrevious F1 races: 9

Widely considered one of the best creations by Formula 1s favourite circuit designer Hermann Tilke and thats not just damning with faint praised. Blessed with an expansive tract of land (albeit a long way from its titular host city), Tilke produced a layout which blends gradient, challenging corners such as the dramatic turn eight, and natural overtaking opportunities.

Moscow Raceway, RussiaPrevious F1 races: 0

A few too many corners crammed into a relatively confined space means gives Moscow Raceway the feel of a scaled-up go-kart circuit. Its best remembered for the DTMs inaugural visit, when a qualifying session had to be abandoned because president Vladimir Putins jet flew over, meaning the medical helicopter was not allowed to fly

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Dubai Autodrome, United Arab EmiratesGrand Prix circuit and International circuitPrevious F1 races: 0

Romain Grosjean would surely like the idea of racing here he won GP2 Asias first three visits to the track in 2008. Featuring a fairly quick opening sector, it has some potential as an F1 venue.

Vettel took three wins and his fourth title at BuddhBuddh International Circuit, IndiaPrevious F1 races: 3

And Sebastian Vettel would be first to call for a return to the former home of the Indian Grand Prix: He won all three F1 races at the Buddh International Circuit from pole position between 2011 and 2013. The track has developed some outrageous bumps since F1 left and was turned into a quarantine centre when the pandemic hit the region in March.

Fuji Speedway, JapanFull and shortPrevious F1 races: 4

Having been the scene of that epic 1976 championship-decider, then dropped from the calendar 12 months later, Fuji was welcomed back to F1 in the late noughties. However what had previously been a very quick track was heavily modified, especially at the end of the lap, where the dauntingly quick right-hander leading onto the main straight was replaced by several slow corners. The track therefore lost much of the spectacle a venue sat in the shadow of Mount Fuji deserved.

Korea International Circuit, South KoreaPrevious F1 races: 4

There arent many people clamouring for a return to South Koreas remote track outside Mokpo. The layout was derivative of many other additions to the calendar around the same time, there was little evident local enthusiasm for the race, and after four visits F1 never went back.

Kuwait Motor Town, KuwaitPrevious F1 races: 0

The newest track on this list is another Hermann Tilke creation which opened last year. It packs 20 corners into its near-six kilometre length with an up-tempo middle sector. Istanbuls quadruple-apex turn eight, mimicked at Circuit of the Americas, has another replica here too.

Sepang joined the F1 calendar in 1999Sepang, MalaysiaPrevious F1 races: 19

While F1 prompted the building of Malaysias first F1 track in 1999, Moto GP has out-lasted it at the venue. Quick corners, punishing humidity and volatile local weather often created memorable races here.

Losail International Circuit, QatarPrevious F1 races: 0

Losails tight, slow corners lend it more to motorbikes than F1 cars. Floodlighting allows competitors and fans to avoid the punishing midday heat.

Buriram International Circuit, ThailandPrevious F1 races: 0

How about a home race for Alexander Albon? Buriram is another Asian track which has taken Moto GP to heart.

F1 went the wrong way around IndianapolisIndianapolis (Grand Prix circuit)Previous F1 races: 19

Indianapolis hosted the world championship when the Indy 500 was a points-scoring race from 1950 to 1960, despite not being run to Formula 1 rules. The championship proper raced there from 2000, on a little-loved road circuit inside the oval, but succeeded largely in disgracing itself with a contrived finish in 2002 and a six-car farce three years later. IndyCar races more successfully on a revised version of the track, but nothing is ever going to compare to that mighty oval.

What, no Kymiring?

The newly-built Kymiring is expected to become Finlands first F1-standard track, but doesnt have its FIA grade one certification yet.

Which of these tracks would make good venues for F1 pandemic or otherwise? Have your say in the comments.

See the rest here:
The 21 other tracks F1 could race at in 2020 - RaceFans

Ahead of its launch on the Test Server tomorrow, here's everything revealed about the new season of Rainbow Six -- Operation Steel Wave.

Jump to:

Firstly, we have Hvard "Ace" Haugland, a Norwegian member of the Nighthaven mercenary group run by Kali.This two speed, two armour operator acts as R6's fourth hard breacher as his SELMA gadget is a "sequentially exploding hard breach" charge which he can throw onto reinforced walls. However, if thrown on a surface that is non-explosive, the gadget will not detonate and will be retrievable.

Each SELMA charge thrown on a reinforced then explodes in three stages, with each stage located below the previous and each hole being approximately the same size as one set of Hibana X-KAIROS pellets, to create a full-body sized hole in totality. An unreinforced hatch can also be opened with one SELMA charge, but two charges are necessary for reinforced ones.

This gadget, of which he has three of, also can be used to as soft destruction on unreinforced walls, or to destroy gadgets such as Goyo shields and Maestro Evil Eyes that are in the vicinity of the extensible explosive arms of each SELMA charge. However, outside of destroying defender gadgets, the explosives do no damage to operators themselves.

The gadgets themselves can be stopped from deploying by destroying the canisters with all of the usual hard breach denial used to counter Thermite and Hibana -- Bandit Batteries, Kaid Electroclaws, Mute Jammers, hacked Twitch drones, or by simply shooting the canisters off of a wall (including Evil Eye tasers) -- and can be interrupted by both Wamai and Jager while being thrown. Electrifying or shooting the extensible arms will not destroy the gadget, however.

However, due to the lack of a cooldown on his throwable, a Bandit trick attempt cannot successfully deny the opening of at least one single X-KAIROS set sized hole if Ace throws a charge each on two walls alongside each other. A properly timed Kaid electroclaw would thus be the only viable option in most scenarios.

What's more, unlike Hibana, Thermite, or Maverick, Ace can deploy his charges through drone holes or throw them in between the metal bars in destructible floors from above, thus allowing him to breach far more safely than any operator so far.

Concerning the loadout, he comes with a choice of the AK-12Assault Rifle (used by Fuze) or theM1014 Shotgun (used byThermite, Castle, and Pulse) for his primary, the P9 Handgun (used by the GIGN) for his secondary weapon, and a choice of either Smoke Grenades or Breaching Charges as his secondary gadget, giving him an opportunity to bring a second form of soft breach.

Next up is the new defender of Tentevwe "Melusi" Ilovu who represents the South African National Defence Force (SADF) and is R6's first three-speed Defender to be introduced since Alibi during Operation Para Bellum two years ago. Her three "Banshee Sonic Defense" gadgets are localised disruptors, which create a loud "buzzing" as a sound cue when attackers get within 6 meters of it and also have a line of sight to the gadget.

As well as this, it also slows down the affected attacker as if they were in Barbed Wire, making it a strong counter to entry fraggers, though the effect is less pronounced when a Finka boost is active. Of note is that the aim is unaffected, unlike an Ela Grzmot mine.

Both effects also are triggered byNkk, but not by the Iana hologram, and also work through a destroyed floor or a hatch.

The gadget can be disabled with Thatcher's EMP Grenade or a Shock Drone, and destroyed by both meleeing it -- which will be hard, with it slowing you down in the process -- orby targeting it with any explosive, such as an Ash or Zofia charge, grenades, or Kali'sExplosive Lance. Alternatively, if the gadget has been placed on a soft wall or floor, it can be destroyed from its mounting point through the wall or floor.

The gadget itself is rather large, must be mounted similar to an Evil Eye and only affects operators within a line of sight, meaning it cannot be hidden in a site and should be easily spotted with some drone work. The effects are singular, meaning that the slowing and auditory effects of multiple Banshees is not added together, but they are negated if placed behind a deployable shield despite a line of sight through the bulletproof slits.

Furthermore, the duration of the effects is non-finite, requiring destruction of the gadget for its effects to cease, and the effects affect all attackers in range of the Banshee instead of targeting just one attacker.

As well as this gadget, Melusi also brings with her either theT-5 SMGSubmachine Gun (used by Lesion) or the Super 90 Shotgun (used byFrost) for her primary, theRG15 Pistol (used by Ela and Zofia) as her secondary, and the secondary gadget options of Impact Grenades or a Deployable Shield.

Designed to be a "casual rework" without esports or likely even Ranked play in mind, the new-look House removes a lot of the clutter and adds a new stairway, four new rooms, and increased destruction throughout the map.

These new rooms all come on the south side of the house with two upstairs and two on the ground floor. On the first floor is the Music Room and TV Room below where the old Kids and Master Bedrooms used to be which makes up a new defensive objective in the Bomb game mode. Upstairs meanwhile, is the new Reading Room and Kid's Playroom areas with the bomb sites themselves not moving.

As well as these new additions, a new corridor has been added between the Girls' Bedroom site (where Construction used to be) and Bathroom, a doorway has replaced one of the Garage entrances, a new stairway connects Reading and TV Room, and a lot of the ceiling of the basement has been made destructible, allowing you to hold Garage from above.

As revealed during the Six Invitational panel three months ago, a new "Proximity Alarm" secondary gadget has been introduced for some operators, including Caveira, Mira, and Rook. The gadget, which is thrown similar to that of Wamai'sMag-NETs, starts beeping when an attacker comes within its radius alerting nearby defenders of their presence. It, therefore, acts as a possible Barbed Wire replacement gadget.

Unlike the Melusi'sBanshee Sonic Defense Primary gadget, these Proximity Alarms create a much higher pitched sound, can be destroyed by simply shooting them and have no slowing effect on the attacker.

In order to give her more of a surprise factor, whenAmaru swings into a barricaded window using her gadget, the wooden barricades now break just as she hits them, giving the defenders much less time to react. The defenders can still hear the Hook pulling her in, but it is now much quieter, meaning any other loud noises, such as gunfire, could obscure the sound. Her gun also now comes up more quickly than before after using the Garra Hook.

As well as this, when attempting to use her gadget to traverse up a hatch, the Garra Hook itself breaks the hatch rather than her needing to break it with her shotgun secondary, once again giving her the element of surprise. This is aimed at improving her pick rate and make her a more viable operator, as she currently has a pick rate similar to Clash at around 4% in high-level Ranked games.

Three changes have been made to the Ranked playlist.

Firstly, you must be level 50 to play Ranked, up from level 30, to dissuade cheaters from making new accounts and to encourage new players to learn more of the ins-and-outs of each map and operator before queuing into the playlist.

Secondly, a player can only reach Champion rank once they have played 100 Ranked games to hopefully make the achievement even harder to get and to give the game's anti-cheat more time to catch an offender before they earn the title.

Finally, each player will have a single rank across all regions, rather than each region counting your MMR separately. This means if you Rank into Gold I while playing in Europe, you'll still be Gold I in North American or Australian servers as well, and that there are now just 100 Champion ranked players across the world rather than in each region, further increasing the prestige of the title.

Both the new ping and replay systems showed off at the Six Invitational have been delayed from this Season due to the Coronavirus lockdown. They will still be coming in Year 5 at a later date.

The new "weapon attachment skins" are equipable cosmetic item similar to gun skins which change the colour of all attachments on the gun. On launch, there will be three free skins to chose from -- Grey, Black, and Tan -- with more coming in the future.

Finally, a new Elite Skin will be released with the new season in the form of the Echo Tenkamusou Ninja Elite.

---

Check back here at SiegeGG for full coverage of Operation Steel Wave when it launches in a few weeks time.

See original here:
Operation Steel Wave Reveal: Two New Ops, Proximity Mines, Ranked and Balance Changes - SiegeGG

Do these look like weeds? Native plants can create a beautiful landscape that's more eco-friendly than grass. (Ron Frazier / Flickr)

You know how when Taylor Swift or the Grateful Dead, U2 or K-Pop sensations BTS sell out Soldier Field, they always seem to add another date? And then that show sells out too, so maybe they add a third? And thats not even enough to meet demand?

Thats what it feels like to be Sarah Michehl.

If the name doesnt ring a bell, thats because Michehl isnt a rock star. Shes a community engagement specialist with theLand Conservancy of McHenry County, a nonprofit land trust organization. Its a business-card mouthful that essentially means Michehl teaches people about nature.

In April, with in-person instruction on hold during Illinois stay-at-home order, Michehl came up with an idea for a free onlinehow-to webinar for people interested in converting their lawn to prairie plantings. She had to cap registration at 100, because of her Zoom license, but didnt think that would be a problem.

Well, that first session quickly reached capacity, with people signing up from as far away as Kansas and Ohio, so she scheduled a second, which promptly filled up, then a third, and a fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh.

I just kept adding, said Michehl, who now has webinars booked into July. This is the busiest Ive ever been in my job.

Michehl said she suspects the unexpected flood of interest has something to do with the coronavirus and people being stuck at home.

People are getting intimately acquainted with their property, she said. Maybe something good can come out of this pandemic.

Prairie smoke, a lower-growing native plant. (Krista Lundgren, USFWS / Flickr)

The lawn-to-prairie movement has been steadily growing in recent years as people have become more knowledgeable about the way local ecosystems work.

EntomologistDoug Tallamy, one of the leading proponents of native plants, explained the interconnectedness of plants and pollinators in a recentinterview withSmithsonianmagazine: Ninety percent of the insects that eat plants can develop and reproduce only on the plants with which they share an evolutionary history.

The plight of the monarch butterfly, the caterpillars of which are totally dependent on milkweed for food, brought global attention to the decimation of native habitats and really opened the door for natives resurgence, Michehl said.

People are ready to hear this message, she said.

Swapping out turf for natives turns whats essentially a food desert for insects into a buffet that can support a diverse array of bees, butterflies and other tiny but vital creatures. Native plants also have far deeper roots than grass, meaning they absorb more stormwater and are more resistant to drought.

Because 85% of land east of the Mississippi River is privately owned be it utility rights of way, school properties, farms or residential areas Michehl said educating the public about steps that individuals and private entities can take is crucial to creating eco-friendly habitat.

We cant leave it up to state DNRs (Departments of Natural Resources) or forest preserves to make the difference, she said, because their footprint is comparatively small.

Lawns, on the other hand, cover 40 million acres in the U.S., according to anoft-cited research articlepublished inEnvironmental Management.

Thats where the impact is going to be made, said Michehl.

Referencing Tallamys latest work, Natures Best Hope, Michehl said, If everybody could cut down their amount of lawn by half and turn it into native plants, we could have a homegrown national park of eco-beneficial land.

Blazing star, a native plant. (USFWS Midwest Region / Flickr)

Whats good for the planet isnt necessarily great for relationships between neighbors, though. Prairie lovers often find themselves at odds with adjacent property owners, the most common complaint being that the native plants look like weeds.

Thats where Michehl and her webinar come in.

Natives do not have to equal messy, untidy and uncared for, she said, nor should prairies low-maintenance reputation be misconstrued as no maintenance.

The key, Michehl said, is for prairie fans to be good ambassadors of natives by choosing the appropriate plants and managing them.

Youve got to be smart, she said. Show how beautiful sustainability can be.

One option is to choose a quality seed mix of lower-growing plants none of that meadow in a can stuff, she said such as columbine, wild geranium and Jacobs ladder (to name a shade-loving trio). Another is to consider judicious use of sedges and grasses (grasses not grass its a key distinction), which are important to landscape design from both an ecological and aesthetic perspective, Michehl said.

They shoot up right away, are great for weed suppression, hold soil in place and provide winter interest when all the flowers are gone, she said.

And dont skimp on research, Michehl added.

Natives arent interchangeable, and each plants characteristics should be taken into account before purchasing seeds or seedlings, she said. Some plants are extremely aggressive, for example, and should only be considered by people who have acres and acres of land.

Theres an amazing book, Invasive Plants of the Upper Midwest. Thats my bible, said Michehl. Its an amazing resource for when youre wondering, Why is this thing even here? and how to control it.

Thats just a hint of the content Michehl has incorporated into her webinar, including lessons learned from mistakes shes made at her own Crystal Lake home.

Her first attempt at smothering the grass in her back yard a non-herbicidal way of killing grass to prep an area for prairie seeding was a hot mess, Michehl said.

But even with mistakes, I have a thing of beauty, she said.

Notably, Michehl has received zero pushback from neighbors.

In fact, the one time she got tagged in one of those nosy neighborhood Facebook groups, it was by someone who wanted to copy her prairie conversion.

On second thought, maybe she is a rock star.

Contact Patty Wetli:@pattywetli| (773) 509-5623 |[emailprotected]

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Go Figure, But a 'Convert Your Lawn to Prairie' Webinar is the Hottest Ticket in Town - WTTW News

I am not certain about you and your family, but the nine weeks of quarantine has commenced a hankering within me to go shopping.

Not to a mall. Not to Walmart. (Price Chopper is my favorite local place to shop because I always seem to find someone I know with whom I may chat in the social distancing style.)

But what I REALLY crave is a trip to a flower nursery where I can meander amongst a vast array of kaleidoscopic flowers and bushes and trees. I would spend a Stimulus Checks worth of money to plant plants throughout our yard.

Unfortunately, our check has still not arrived, so my trip to a nursery will be placed on the back burner, and new plants are not on the list of essentials right now.

~~~

I have planted seeds in all my gardens zinnias, marigolds, sunflowers. Some I have labeled with seed packet markers and others with little sticks poked in the ground.

Well, some of the papers have blown away. My noble garden creatures, two cats and three dogs who wander the gardens with me as I plant, have rubbed onto or walked over or have laid upon my little stick markers.

Now I am unsure what is planted where, and what in the world did I actually plant.

I started with great intentions. I told myself to create a pictorial guide at the beginning of my garden adventures this spring. It was short lived. That is when chaotic seeding began.

Last night, as I carried around half full packages of seeds, sprinkling here, sprinkling there, my husband said, You are planting things all over the place and you wont remember where anything is.

Probably and for sure. Chaotic seeding may be the new look of the future.

I can think of myself like the female version of Johnny Appleseed, only not with apples but with flower seeds. My name could be ummmmm Bethy Flick-a-seed. It has a nice ring to it.

~~~

My yard is acquiring many areas of little white clovers. I love them like I admire their predecessor, the dandelions. Both plants are living havens of hope for honey bees.

Having clover in your yard is a wonder with reverence. Really!!! It is! I promise you!!!

Clover is a member of the pea family like alfalfa, green beans, soybeans, honey locust trees, mimosa trees and over 20,000 other species of plants. All are good for adding nutrients to the soil.

I had no intention to write about clovers necessity. I accidentally fell into it last night while my husband and I sat on our yard swing gazing out at our imperfect lawnery (a Beth Conner made-up word meaning the yard or lawn area around a home).

We were looking at our thickets of clover in front of us. I mentioned how the bees would be happy and how my big tortoise would have loved eating them.

I read an article today by Melissa Sharpova, a landscape and design expert as well as a botanist.

She says, Clover in your yard will fix the atmospheric nitrogen into a soil fertilizer, with the root nodules and colonies of symbiotic bacteria. Rather fancy terms meaning that clover has the ability to bring up and pull together trace minerals to make your lawn better.

This sounds good to me. When the clover decomposes, the minerals it creates will provide the lawn and soil with a more disease-free area requiring less fertilizer and weed-killer.

This is not only great for the grass but also the streams and lakes. With less nutrient soil run-off, the waterways will be much better.

Have you ever noticed the lakes around golf courses and heavily fertilized fields having the pond scum, or in real terms, filamentous algae? It normally means the pond is out of balance from too many synthetic nutrients placed on the surrounding field or grass.

About 60 years ago, it became the perspective of the Lawn Masters to declare war and annihilate all broadleaf plants in a yard...good or bad. People were told, and believed, a perfect lawn was of necessity. AH, this is where the integrity of clover comes in.

Clover is GOOD! It is not the enemy!

If you have a clover-filled lawn, it will crowd out the broadleaf weeds you dont want. The bees will adore you and produce clover honey a much wanted variety of honey lovers.

Also remember that clover stays green all summer long.

Clover also allows for hours of fun searching for a four-leafed one that I am sure your children will delight in finding. It means faith, hope, love and luck.

Dont tell them, but the chances of finding a four-leafer is 10,000 to 1.

Five-leafed clovers are out there too, but the chances of discovering it is one million to one.

Hey give clover a chipper chance.

Beth Conner is a Miami County resident, teacher and outdoor enthusiast.

Link:
Sharing thoughts on shopping, clover and chaotic seeding - Miami County Republic

Mount Prospect has yet to see the completion of the flood relief project at Burning Bush Trails Park. But Public Works Director Sean Dorsey told the village board this week that the detention facility was pressed into premature service during Sunday's heavy rain.

As a result, many homes in the neighborhood were spared from flooding.

Dorsey said public works officials initially didn't want to disturb the site, which is mostly complete and is at the proper grade.

But seeing that the manhole near Park Drive and Tano Lane had reached maximum level readings at about 6:45 p.m., public works decided to open a bulkhead, an inflatable bladder that blocks a pipe. This provided an avenue for the stormwater into the detention pond.

"None of the grass seeding is in, so we didn't want to fill it with water and have all the dirt wash off. But given the intensity of the storm and the potential for damage, we elected to pull the bulkhead and have the detention pond take on water," Dorsey said.

By 7:20 p.m., the water level in the manhole dropped, and extensive street flooding was avoided.

A grateful Trustee William Grossi, who lives near Burning Bush Trails Park, thanked Dorsey, telling him, "I think you saved quite a few homes," particular on the lower section of Park Drive.

Dorsey said the Des Plaines River at the gauge just north of Euclid Avenue crested at 19.77 feet, short of the record of 20.9 feet at that location in 2013.

The amount of rainfall for the month was 8.25 inches, a new record for May, set last year at 8.24 inches.

Dorsey said the village received 220 requests for service between 6 and 8 p.m. Sunday night. Some were related to storm sewers, and others for private property drainage issues and sanitary sewer backups.

Most of the complaints, 155 total, were about street flooding.

Almost all the issues, he said, were resolved that night.

Read more:
Mount Prospect's Burning Bush detention area put to the test early - Chicago Daily Herald

Ernest Brayshaw.

A Richmond pensioner has been praised for clearly an overgrown embankment in his spare time.

Ernest Brayshaw, 71, has been spending three hours a day clearing weeds and tidying up the bank in the towns Gallowgate, near the police, fire and ambulance stations.

He said: I have a part-time job so have a lot of spare time on my hands.

One day when I was fed up so I decided to do some voluntary work on Barrack Hill.

I go there for three hours a day cutting all the brambles out and grass seeding, and putting plastic steps into work from because its so steep.

The public have stopped and talked to me and praised my efforts. The police have said the same and given me chocolates and said how much they appreciate my efforts.

Mr Brayshaw has so far planted wildflowers and montbretia.

He added: I have other ideas of plants to add a bit of colour to the embankment.

Richmond district and county councillor Stuart Parsons praised the efforts of Mr Brayshaw.

He said: Hes done a brilliant job as it was a very untidy area.

Yet again theres another example of during these difficult times people still finding a way to contribute to the environment and the town without endangering themselves.

Cllr Parsons added: The excuse we always got for why it was so untidy was that they wanted it to go back to nature which is often a local authority way of saying we cant be bothered.

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Pensioner volunteers to tidy overgrown Richmond embankment - Richmondshire Today

Analysis of the Global Indoor Farming Technology Market

A recently published market report on the Indoor Farming Technology market highlights the pitfalls that companies might come across due to the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Buyers can request comprehensive market analysis of Coronavirus and its impact on the Indoor Farming Technology market to mitigate revenue losses.

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According to the analysts at Indoor Farming Technology , the Indoor Farming Technology market is predicted to register a CAGR growth of ~XX% during the assessment and reach a value of ~US$ XX by the end of 20XX. The report analyzes the micro and macro-economic factors that are projected to influence the growth of the Indoor Farming Technology market in the coming decade.

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Key market playersMajor competitors identified in this market include Philips Lighting (Netherlands), Netafim (Israel), Argus Controls Systems (Canada), EVERLIGHT Electronics (Taiwan), LumiGrow (US), etc.

Based on the Region:Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, South Korea, India and ASEAN)North America (US and Canada)Europe (Germany, France, UK and Italy)Rest of World (Latin America, Middle East & Africa)

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Based on the Application:Fruits & vegetablesHerbs & microgreensFlowers & ornamentalsOthers

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Assessing the Fallout From the Coronavirus Pandemic Indoor Farming Technology Market Size Includes Dynamics, Products, Application, Forecast Report...

An expanded market requirement of solar water heater is for the most part determined by growing awareness about different cost and the environment associated recipients of solar energy since it is green, free of cost, as well as renewal source of energy. In addition, the several backings from United Nations (UN) and government to emerging economies are driving the worldwide market for the solar water heater.

The proficiency level of the solar water heater shifts from a climatic area to another climatic area in view of the power of daylight. The constraint of solar water heater in cold climatic region and winters is one of the prominent constraints of the overall market. With customers preferring high-effectiveness and tankless water heater design, the makers of water heater are concentrating on upgrading their products to keep up their status in the worldwide water heater market. A tankless water heater provides space-sparing advantages and is exceedingly proficient.

Various Government Schemes and Programs to Boost the Solar Water Heater Market

Governments in various nations are likewise boosting the utilization of natural resources of energy, hence fuelling the requirement forsolar water heaters market.The aspect that affects the solar category is the high price of ownership from the structured market in addition to inferior quality from the un-structured market which in turn heightens the upkeep cost. With innovations going in the industry will offer the bunch of products that will be able to cater to the needs of the customers. Energy effective hybrid water heaters are additionally being produced on a vast scale by makers.

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Smart water heaters are likewise picking up status in the worldwide market for water heaters. These are outfitted with regulating and communication systems which could be carried off with the assistance of a mobile application or cell phones or even smart assistants, for example, thermostats. The majority of smart electric heaters are environment-friendly integrated with low power utilization measures. The electric water heaters are the leading market since it goes with lower maintenance and low ownership cost, thus it moreover dominates the global market in the approaching years. On the other hand, the business is moreover profited from, growing customers capability to pay for new water heaters along with the rise in the disposable income.

Launching of green building standards and regulations to hold back greenhouse gas emissions are considered to positively influence the business setting. Technological innovation in voided tube collector figure is expected to diminish the cost as well as enhance the effectiveness of the solar thermal system would additionally further the demand for the product.

Refurbish of social housing schemes for lower income groups is indicated to fuel the Brazil market for the solar water heater. During August 2016, the United Nation relaunched the Minha Vida, Minha Casa, a social housing scheme for lower-income families which assigned installing of solar water heaters in new buildings.China is considered to be the biggest market for the solar water heater (SWH) capturing all over half of the overall market. It is trailed by Australia, Japan and India. The Asia Pacific market has the fastest developing business sector inferable from the regions vast capability of solar power generation. In the course of recent years both China and India are contributing intensely to the advancement of solar power based appliances and solar power generation.

Chinas Himin Solar had witnessed a lucrative market a decade ago as the worlds biggest solar water-heating company. However owing to a shift in customer preference, the sales are plummeting at present. The company reflects as an exemplar of how big Chinese groups can scramble to accommodate to their quick-shifting domestic market. A few prominent market players functioning in the Asia Pacific market for solar water heater are Genersys, EMMVEE Solar Systems, Phoneix Solar System, Nuetech Solar System, GE Co., Siemens AG, Rheem Manufacturing Co., Heat Transfer Products Inc., in addition to Rinnai Corp.

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Solar Water Heater Market to Record a Robust Growth Rate for the COVID-19 Period 2026 - Cole of Duty

Global Solar Water Heater Market is estimated to surpass US$ XX Bn mark in 2019 and reach US$ XX Bn by 2026, at a CAGR of XX% during the forecast period 2019-2026 globally.

This can be attributed to increasing energy prices, growing global population, and rising demand for energy-efficient water heaters. Strict government regulations to curb greenhouse gases emissions, along with growing demand for water heating systems especially in colder regions, is predicted to augment adoption of these systems and boost industry growth.

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Demand for efficient water heaters is expected to witness rapid growth every year, along with increasing measures to control energy consumption owing to the fast depletion of non-renewable resources. This is expected to augment market growth over the forecast period. These systems are reasonably priced to cater to a wider spectrum of consumers based on their economic condition. Increasing ecological awareness in developed as well as developing regions is also expected to result in industry growth. Growing demand for eco-friendly, dependable, and affordable technologies to heat water, especially in residential and industrial sectors, is anticipated to drive industry growth. The systems capability to function at lower costs, 30% to 40% lower in winters and up to 75% lower in summer, is expected to spur their adoption over other products currently available in the Solar Water Heater Market.

The report study has analyzed revenue impact of covid-19 pandemic on the sales revenue of market leaders, market followers and disrupters in the report and same is reflected in our analysis.

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has introduced regulatory standards to effectively assess the quality of solar water heaters manufactured. It also aims to implement several technical and financial plans to protect consumers against substandard products that can be potentially dangerous to use. These trends have augmented industry growth in the U.S. over the past decade and are expected to continue over the forecast period.Thermosyphon systems had the highest market share in 2017 and expected to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period. It accounts for the largest share of the solar water heaters market by volume as well as revenue. This is primarily owing to affordable pricing and convenient installation and usage of the product. Thermosyphons are preferred with liquid-based, preferably water-based, solar water heating systems.

The Asia Pacific is predicted to lead the global industry, in terms of revenue, over the forecast period. High growth rate, coupled with positive economic performance, is predicted to propel China over the next decade, as large investments in research and development are expected to augment growth. The country is introducing extensive changes to its energy policy and shifting its dependence from fossil fuels to renewable fuels in a bid to curb pollution and maintain ecological balance.

Maximize Market Research has comprehensively analyzed the Solar Water Heater Market emphasizing each segment keeping global and regional dynamics in perspective. The driving forces, as well as considerable restraints, have been explained in depth to attain a balanced scenario. The report classifies Solar Water Heater Market into various segments such as Technology, Applications, Systems and Regions providing the thorough understanding of the Solar Water Heater Ecosystem. Importantly, the report delivers forecasts of the market, giving an insight into the future opportunities that exist in the Solar Water Heater Market.

The objective of the report is to present comprehensive Global Solar Water Heater Market including all the stakeholders of the industry. The past and current status of the industry with forecasted market size and trends are presented in the report with analysis of complicated data in simple language. The report covers all the aspects of industry with dedicated study of key players that includes market leaders, followers and new entrants by region. PORTER, SVOR, PESTEL analysis with the potential impact of micro-economic factors by region on the market have been presented in the report. External as well as internal factors that are supposed to affect the business positively or negatively have been analyzed, which will give clear futuristic view of the industry to the decision makers.

The report also helps in understanding Global Solar Water Heater Market North America for Asia Pacific dynamics, structure by analyzing the market segments, and project the Global Solar Water Heater Market North America for Asia Pacific size. Clear representation of competitive analysis of key players by type, price, financial position, product portfolio, growth strategies, and regional presence in the Global Solar Water Heater Market North America for Asia Pacific make the report investors guide.

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The Scope of the Report:

Global Solar Water Heater Market By Technology:

Evacuated Tube Collector Flat Plate Collector Unglazed Water CollectorGlobal Solar Water Heater Market By Application:

Residential Commercial IndustrialGlobal Solar Water Heater Market By System:

Thermosyphon PumpedGlobal Solar Water Heater Market By Geography:

North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa Latin AmericaKey Players inGlobal Solar Water Heater Market:

Azure Power India Central Electronics Chemtrols Solar Emmvee Solar Systems Euro Multivision Indosolar Jupiter Solar Power Lanco Solar Private Mahindra Solar One Moser Baer Photovoltaic Photon Energy Systems PLG Power Surana Ventures Tata Power Solar Systems Vikram Solar Websol Energy System XL Energy SunTank A.O. Smith Alternate Energy Technologies Rheem manufacturing Viessmann Wagner Solar Bradford White EMMVEE

MAJOR TOC OF THE REPORT

Chapter One: Solar Water Heater Market Overview

Chapter Two: Manufacturers Profiles

Chapter Three: Global Solar Water Heater Market Competition, by Players

Chapter Four: Global Solar Water Heater Market Size by Regions

Chapter Five: North America Solar Water Heater Revenue by Countries

Chapter Six: Europe Solar Water Heater Revenue by Countries

Chapter Seven: Asia-Pacific Solar Water Heater Revenue by Countries

Chapter Eight: South America Solar Water Heater Revenue by Countries

Chapter Nine: Middle East and Africa Revenue Solar Water Heater by Countries

Chapter Ten: Global Solar Water Heater Market Segment by Type

Chapter Eleven: Global Solar Water Heater Market Segment by Application

Chapter Twelve: Global Solar Water Heater Market Size Forecast (2019-2026)

Browse Full Report with Facts and Figures of Solar Water Heater Market Report at:https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/market-report/solar-water-heater-market/11436/

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Global Solar Water Heater Market Analysis and Forecast (2019-2026) by Technology, by Applications,... - Azizsalon News