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Jim Mann recites the numbers without hesitation: he had 19 tests and seven meetings during a marathon week of screening at a Toronto hospital in March.

The reward at the end was nothing less than a new chance at life, a spot on the facilitys lung transplantation list as emphysema cuts his own lungs capacity by almost 75 per cent.

Then just days later, the University Health Network called to inform him everything was on hold. Mann knew he still had to wait for a matching organ from a deceased donor. But Ontarios cancellation of elective surgeries to ready for a feared surge of COVID-19 patients meant nothing could be done for him until the restrictions were lifted.

Its very heartbreaking, to be honest, says Mann, a retired home-renovation salesman from Niagara Falls. Its definitely worrisome. Im only 65 years old.

Hes part of an overlooked fall-out from the pandemic lockdown the thousands of Canadians whose treatments have been delayed for close to two months already and could be postponed for weeks more.

Almost 200,000 surgeries and other procedures, cancer screening tests and clinical trials of experimental medicines were shelved indefinitely as hospitals braced for a possible flood of COVID-19 patients. A deluge that never quite materialized.

Meanwhile, many hospitals have sat barely half-full.

Doctors and patient advocates say the dramatic, overnight retooling of the nations health-care system, luckily, didnt trigger a tsunami of deaths or other bad outcomes for non-COVID patients, thanks largely to careful planning.

But there is evidence of negative impacts nonetheless.

Modelling in Ontario estimated the cancellation of elective heart surgeries would result in more than 30 deaths by early May.

Colleagues of Dr. Andrew Krahn, Vancouver-based president of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, called to check on a patient awaiting the pandemic-delayed implant of a defibrillator, a device designed to prevent lethal heart rhythm problems. His daughter answered, revealing that the patient had already died, says Krahn.

Delia Oliveira, a Surrey, B.C., woman, told media that her 50-year-old husband, Chris Walcroft, passed away April 15, weeks after the procedure to prepare him for life-saving kidney dialysis was cancelled.

For other patients, there was at least the anxiety of having to wait longer to have a tumour removed, clogged artery cleared or painful joint replaced. In Ontario, only about 20 to 40 per cent of the usual volume of elective cancer surgeries has taken place during the lockdown, estimates Dr. Chris Booth, an oncologist and professor at Queens University.

Thats been a massive problem for patients, he said. You can imagine how anxiety-provoking a cancer diagnosis is at the best of times, let alone during COVID-19 and then on top of that they have uncertainty about when they can have their surgery.

Provinces like Ontario and B.C. announced this week theyre resuming the suspended operations, but now have to cope with the backlog. That could take as much as two years to clear in British Columbia, Health Minister Adrian Dix said this week.

And the longer the delays last, the worse the possible outcomes, predicted the Ontario Financial Accountability Office in a report on the pandemic, echoing others concerns.

Sad comment: It will become more and more difficult to reassure our patients about the impact of this delay on their prognosis, wrote Dr. Diane Francoeur, president of the Quebec Federation of Medical Specialists, in a newsletter Monday.

This is the great stress, said Eva Villalba of the Quebec Cancer Coalition. If you have a stage-three cancer or stage two that is still operable, you can wait four to six weeks. But if you finally get operated on four months later, maybe its not operable any more, maybe its progressed to a stage-four cancer.

Hospitals began to transform themselves in the middle of March as horror stories from Italy convinced authorities they had to free-up room on wards and in intensive care units for potential COVID-19 sufferers. Cancelling non-emergency and non-urgent operations, the thinking went, would mean fewer patients recovering in ICUs or being exposed to the infection.

Since the changes began, Ontario has performed 72,400 fewer surgeries than the year before, while B.C. saw 30,000 cancelled. A rough extrapolation based on the two provinces share of the population points to 189,000 postponed operations nationwide.

But with stay-at-home orders and other factors flattening the epidemic curve, the COVID-19 wave never reached the heights it did in places like New York City.

By mid-April, Ontario hospitals that are typically at close to 100 per cent capacity were just 69 per cent full, with 11,200 free beds, according to the Financial Accountability Office.

Quebecs Villalba, like other patient advocates, doesnt question the decision to largely clear hospitals of non-COVID patients, but believes too little heed was paid the patients affected by the momentous shift. Many found out about their cancellations by automated message, she said.

At the beginning, we do feel that other patients were completely forgotten and abandoned, said Villalba. They dont want to be sacrificed in the name of COVID patients.

Health authorities insist non-coronavirus patients never were abandoned, and that triaging meant those who needed surgery urgently got it within a reasonable time.

In Ontario at least, only cancer patients with slow-progressing tumours would still be waiting, argues Dr. Ralph Meyer, a vice-president of oncology at Hamilton Health Sciences and a regional head of Cancer Care Ontario.

At the beginning, we do feel that other patients were completely forgotten and abandoned

And for patients with breast cancers at an earlier stage, for instance, there is good evidence that a two-month surgery delay is not going to affect their overall survival, said Dr. Jory Simpson, a surgical oncology professor at the University of Toronto.

But that has done little to relieve patients fears, especially when the risk around delay was not well-explained to many of them, said Villalba. Surveys by her coalition and Rethink Breast Cancer, a national advocacy group for young patients, both found about 70 per cent of patients felt high anxiety over delayed treatment.

That is very emotionally unsettling for most cancer patients, said MJ DeCoteau, Rethinks founder. The instinct is I have cancer, I want it out of my body.

Deb Maskens, a kidney cancer patient and spokeswoman for the cancer advocacy group CanCertainty, said shes spoken to many patients who are freaking out because of surgery postponements. But she urges them to have faith in their doctors, saying theres actually no burning urgency to remove a malignancy that is not growing aggressively.

MRIs, CT scans and other diagnostic tests for cancer have also been pared back where deemed safe to do so, reducing the number of scans by 25 per cent in Ontario, that province says.

Regular screening tests mammograms, pap smears, colon-cancer tests have been put on hold. Screening is by definition for asymptomatic people and designed to find cancers early, but its unclear what the impact will be, said Meyer.

Chemotherapy and radiation treatment have gone ahead in many provinces, though with pauses for some patients, said Maskens. Theres little evidence as to what effect that change will have, either, she said.

Meanwhile, some patients waiting for surgery or other treatment are being prescribed oral, take-home drugs, such as tamoxifen, that can fight the cancer but typically would be started later in treatment.

The people who do come to hospital are sicker. Thats because they started getting sick and they waited until they were desperate to come in

New trials of experimental drugs, often the last best hope for patients with metastatic cancers, though, have also been halted, noted Villalba.

For heart patients, cardiac specialists are trying to keep in regular contact so if symptoms like fainting suddenly appear, their delayed surgery can be moved ahead, said Krahn.

Meanwhile, physicians are concerned about another side effect of the pandemic: a reluctance on the part of some Canadians to seek help when they feel ill.

The people who do come to hospital are sicker, said cardiologist Krahn. Thats because they started getting sick and they waited until they were desperate to come in.

Indeed, the family member of a cardiovascular society employee in Ottawa started feeling acutely unwell recently, put off seeking help and three days later died in her sleep. She had likely suffered a heart attack, then heart failure, said Krahn.

Ontario has reported a 30 per cent reduction and B.C. a 40 per cent drop in people presenting to emergency departments with STEMIs, the most serious type of heart attack, according to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

There also seems to be less demand for MRIs, CT scans and other diagnostic tests that can detect cancer, again suggesting people are avoiding help, said Meyer.

What are we missing? he asked. Are people tolerating things because of the hope theyre just going to blow over?

Mann certainly is not avoiding treatment for his condition, which forced him to quit his job and start using an oxygen tank eight years ago.

But if the hospital eases its lockdown and allows visitors like his wife Lori by the time he has his double-lung transplant an operation that can last 12 hours that would be a definite silver lining.

This is pretty major stuff Im going to go through, he said. I dont want to do it alone.

Read more:
'Sacrificed in the name of COVID patients': Tens of thousands affected by surgery cancellations - National Post

Photo: The Canadian Press

A passenger on a flight into Kelowna last week has tested positive for COVID-19.

The British Columbia Centre for Disease Control recently added an additional impacted domestic flight to its list of flights where a passenger later tested positive for the virus.

On May 5, a passenger on WestJet flight 3387 from Calgary to Kelowna later tested positive. The passenger was sitting in seat 5A.

As of March 27, the BC CDC no longer contacts passengers who were sitting near passengers with the virus. Instead, the organization has been updating its online list.

Several local domestic flights have carried passengers who later tested positive for COVID-19.

In early April, a lack of demand saw all international flights into and out of Kelowna International Airport end.

With few events taking place this spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Castanet and Total Restoration's Total Fun Cruiser is finding new ways to help spread good will in the community.

Under normal circumstances, the Total Fun Cruiser can be found at all sorts of events in the Central Okanagan, handing out goodies and spreading fun.

Total Restoration and Castanet's Total Fun Cruiser generally has a pretty full schedule this time of year. We're spotlighting events fundraisers, charity events, festivals, concerts and more throughout the Central Okanagan, but due to the current situation, those events have been cancelled or otherwise postponed, said Marisa Wilson, CEO of Total Restoration.

We wanted to do something with the cruiser in the community so we contacted some of our community contacts to find out what we could do to help people that are facing challenges during this time.

Saturday morning, Wilson used the cruiser and help deliver Mother's Day care packages to families in need around Kelowna and West Kelowna.

Wilson is looking for more ways to help over the coming weeks.

If you have any ideas of how we can help, we're happy to entertain everything, she said.

Photo: Contributed

Kelowna native Mia Burgess has been appointed co-CEO of an Okanagan-based organization that focuses on brain injuries.

BrainTrust Canada announced this week that Burgess, who previously served as the non-profits programs director, is sharing role with current CEO Mona Hennefent. The move became official on Monday.

I am committed to building a healthier, more inclusive community for our clients and championing a positive work culture with the dedicated and hard-working staff at BrainTrust, Burgess said in a press release.

BrainTrusts goal is to maximize the potential of those who have been affected by brain injury and reduce preventable brain injury.

Burgess, who has experience in policy advising, government relations, advocacy, funding management, communications, media relations and program design and delivery, has also worked with Community Corrections, John Howard Society and Central Okanagan Foundation.

Photo: Nicholas Johansen

Total Restoration crews outside 534 Sutherland Avenue.

Downtown Kelowna residents near Mill Creek woke early Thursday morning to find the creek had flooded its banks, no doubt bringing back flashbacks of 2017.

Almost three years ago to the day, the same area near Sutherland and Rowcliffe avenues and Marshall Street flooded in 2017, forcing many to evacuateand causing extensive damage to a number of homes in the area. Thankfully, Thursday's flooding was not as widespread, but several homes were still hit hard.

Some of the places we were at (Thursday) were also the same places we were at in 2017 so it was a bit of a heartbreaker for those guys, said Marisa Wilson, CEO of Total Restoration.

We responded to three apartment buildings, varying from one with a little bit of water in it, one had a couple inches of water and another had a couple feet of water. Some of the houses, the same thing. One had a couple of feet in the basement.

The flooding wascaused by a pulse of debris thathad been washed down the creek by the heavy rain Wednesday.

By Thursday afternoon, Mill Creek's water levels had come down significantly, leaving several flooded basements in its wake.

Wilson said her crews will be working to restore some affected homes in the area forseveral months.

Total Restoration had about 20 of their 60 employees working in the area, while other restoration companies also attended. Wilson said they're also working to restore Big White's Snow Ghost Inn after the roof collapsed last month.

Construction crews on the corner of Sunset Drive and Water Street spent all Friday pouring 2,200 cubic metres of concrete, forming the base of the second tower of One Water Street.

Construction of the development began in early 2018, and 33 of the 36 stories of the east tower have since been completed. With the pouring of the base for the west tower Friday, Kelowna residents will begin to see the second tower take shape over the next few months.

Exciting pours, these things, said Leonard Kerkhoff, CEO of Kerkhoff Construction. It takes a lot of effort to co-ordinate, months of planning, and it all comes down to today.

The pour began at 3 a.m. Friday, and continued through the afternoon.

About 30 concrete trucks were involved in the pour, more than are generally available in Kelowna. As a result, the construction company had to pull trucks from across the Okanagan.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many industries to a grinding halt, construction was deemed an essential service in British Columbia.

Obviously it's been a troubling couple of months, the last couple of months, Kerkhoff said. "It's been hard on our workers to adapt to the new policies and procedures around COVID-19 and there's been a lot of team effort to make that happen, to keep the work moving forward in a safe manner.

Kerkhoff doesn't expect the pandemic to impact the towers' completion dates, which are scheduled for Spring 2021 and Spring 2022. Currently, about 86 per cent of the two towers' units have been sold.

During the big pour Friday, Kerkhoff Construction bought 200 meals from the nearby Train Station Pub and Soul de Cuba for their workers, as part of the Lunch Box Challenge. Started by a couple of contractors in Vancouver, the initiative helps support local restaurants during the tough economic times that the pandemic has brought.

Photo: Facebook

A group of Filipino-Canadian friends based in Lake Country have created a dance video in dedication to all frontline workers.

Allan Evangelista, Immanuel Sahol,Grace Sahol andNarvi Mendoza wanted to do something to thank those who have been, and continue tocombatthe COVID-19 pandemic on the frontlines.

The inspiration came from hearing his friends' stories, says Evangelista, who immigrated to Canada as a permanent resident in 2015.

"Most of my high school classmates are now nurses and doctors and then hearing from them their sacrifices and their hard work ... it's the least we could do.

"We have many friends and family members that are frontliners. Its just our simple way of saying thank you and then we hear stories, we hear the news about their sacrifices and for us, if they see the video it just puts some smile on their faces. Itsa humble way of showing that we appreciate their sacrifices in the fight against the pandemic."

He says the video, filmed overlooking Wood Lake on a Sunday afternoon hike,has now been viewed by friends in the Philippines, London, New Zealand and across Canada via social media.

When it comes to the dance moves, those were inspired by a popular video going viral right now in the Philippines, says Evangelista.

To watch the video, click here.

Photo: Flickr

As businesses in B.C look to ramp back up and get back to work they are facing many COVID-19 related challenges.

Many businesses say they are scrambling to find personal protection equipment and figure out the best way to keep employees and customers safe.

In places where people are allowed to congregate, if high-touch surfaces such as handrails, fixtures, countertops, and public seating aren't disinfected, harmful viruses like COVID-19 could spread.

Companies like NorHaz and Orkin Canada have ramped up the disinfectant cleaning side of their businesses in an effort to fill a void.

Sean Rollo, technical director with Orkin tells Castanet, they have started a new service geared directly towards helping business disinfect and stay clean.

"The Orkin VitalClean service uses aHealth Canadaregistered disinfectant labeled for use against a wide variety of pathogens and is included on Health Canadas list of products that meet their criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19," Rollo says.

Some businesses have been shut down for eightweeks, so who knows what they may look like inside. Aside from a good cleaning and disinfecting, some may also see an increase in pest activity. "Pests don't read the Wall Street Journal, it doesn't matter to them what the economy is doing, they're going to find a way to flourish."

Rollo says cleaning and disinfecting after fumigation is a normal part of their business but this expansion is a natural progression. He believes they will be busy.

"As these businesses get back into the swing of things we fully expect to be really busy on the pest control front as well as the disinfection side," Rollo says.

Photo: @mattworona

Construction on the latest addition to Kelowna's active transportation network is complete.

In a news release Friday, the city says construction is now complete on work at the intersection of Ethel Street and Sutherland Avenue.

Transportation engineering manager Gordon Foy notes the project is a significant milestone for the city in that it connects two major active transportation projects, Phase 4 of the Ethel Street active transportation corridor and Phase 1 of the Sutherland Avenue protected bike lanes.

People riding bikes or driving in this area should be aware that thetravel patterns have changedand be alert to the movements of others, said Foy.

These two projects are key componentsofthe citysPedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, whichaims to create an interconnected active transportation networkin Kelowna.

Work has includedotherneighbourhood improvementsin addition to cycling infrastructure, includingnew sidewalk, landscaping,traffic signal and utility upgrades, improved street lighting, and a new multi-use pedestrian/bicyclebridge at MillCreek.For increased safety, the bike corridors are separated from vehicle traffic by a concrete barrier.

We urge residents to pay close attentionwhen travelling,notonlyon Ethel Street and Sutherland Avenue, but anywhere in the city.

People riding bikesshoulduse hand signals when turning,activatebike signals, yield to pedestrians and use the green bike turn box when available.

Photo: file photo

Mission Creek

The snowpack in the hills across the Okanagan remains slightly above normal, but not in a range to cause serious concern.

The latest snow survey, compiled May 1, shows the snowpack is at 110 per cent of normal, down from 116 per cent a month ago.

BC River Forecast hydrologist Jonathan Boyd says the Okanagan overall is in pretty good shape when it comes to flood risk, but does indicate there are some pockets that are still pretty high and could become problematic.

One of those is Mission Creek, which Boyd says has a snowpack 143 per cent of normal.

"In terms of the risk to places like Mission or Mill Creek, there still is that chance, there still is a lot of snow up at Mission Creek. We're not quite through the season yet," said Boyd.

Much of the lower to mid-low areas have already either melted off or are close to being snow free.

But, Boyd says there is still a lot of snow at the higher elevations.

"The last few years we've some really hot temperatures in late April and early May and, although it's pretty nice right now, it hasn't really been that extreme yet for most of the province.

"The danger is if we have an extended period of heat for five to seven days, then have another rain event like we had this week fall on that melting snow."

Conditions across the region are much different than they were during the floods of 2017 and 2018 when the snowpack on May 1 was 147 and 206 per cent above normal respectively.

The really good news, Boyd says, is the fact Okanagan Lake is relatively low. He says dam operators are looking to get the lake level a bit higher.

In the South Okanagan and Shuswap, Boys says the snowpack is 119 per cent of normal which is not a major concern.

"Of course there is that chance of flooding if we get an extended hot spell and big rain in the Similkameen of Tulameen valley's."

Further north, the snowpack around the South Thompson is 124 per cent above normal, which is basically the same as two years ago.

"Even just 24 per cent above normal is quite significant there, so it really revolves again how the melt process takes place.

"If we continue with this dry period and season temperatures, we'll have this slow melt off of the snow. That might be one of the most ideal situations"

Photo: Contributed

Photo: Flickr

UPDATE 1:47 p.m.

The cancellation of graduation ceremonies across the province and here in the Okanagan is having a polarizing impact on students, parents and school boards.

Ally Wyllie, a grade 12 student at Rutland Senior Secondary has started a petition to have grad when it's safe, "I do not believe a virtual zoom which we have to pay for is acceptable. We have been working our whole life working so hard to be able to walk downtown in our pretty dresses, and cross that stage. I dreamed of this day for my whole life. I didnt spend $500 (plus) on a dress to never wear it, and I know lots of girls are in the same boat."

Tammy Hobbs says, "students are devastated, so many have invested into grad dresses and suits, want to walk across the stage and celebrate 13 years of hard work and dedication. Virtual grad is not acceptable."

Scott Sieben, Principal of Mount Boucherie Secondary School tells Castanet, "we are meeting with our Grad Council this afternoon (Friday) to help develop a plan. We are hoping to have this ironed out by next week. As well, we collect monies for a dinner/dance (All of these funds will be refunded to families; we are hoping by next week) separately from the ceremony. We are determining costs for the [virtual] ceremony, and then families will be reimbursed any leftover monies."

As of Friday afternoon Wyllie's petition had been signed by more than 600 people.

ORIGINAL 4:00 a.m.

Graduating high school students and their parents in the Central Okanaganare upset and disappointed after learning that this year's graduation ceremonies have been postponed indefinitely.

Parents received an emailfrom the Central Okanagan School Board indicating, "there is currently no model in place to accommodate the logisticsof our graduating class size to ensure the safety of students and their families."

As a result, planning for prom and grad walk and been shelved with focus turning to a "virtual convocation ceremony."

Central Okanagan Public Schools assistant superintendent, Rick Oliver tells Castanet, "we are all heartbroken for the students and their families" that some celebrations have been cancelled, "others will be able to be reimagined and will go ahead."

Kristina Wheeler's daughter goes to Kelowna Secondary School and was very much looking forward to this year's grad, "I understand why (grad was cancelled). What I don't understand is why they can't do it at a later date?"

Wheeler says manystudents have been looking forward to graduation for many years and feel let down that they won't have one.

Here is the original post:
Some homes hit by Thursday's flooding were also flooded in 2017 - Kelowna News - Castanet.net

The greatest global pandemic in over 100 years has created chaos, threatened lives and livelihoods and brought much of industry and commerce to a standstill.

While the pandemic has created uncertainty, it has also created new markets and opportunities for the post-Covid-19 era.

After all, this crisis has shown us how we can change the way we work and play.

Businesses that were previously in the peripheries could grow. Perhaps no more so than those occupying the digital space.

Around 80 per cent of the white-collar workforce are deployed under the work-from-home regime, creating a cottage industry in everything from e-meetings and e-seminars to e-sales and e-marketing.

Online teleconferencing, chats and discussions and digital marketing have all sped up the journey towards a digital economy.

With Web conferencing exploding, companies offering support services for webinars will do very well in the new normal. New opportunities have also emerged for telcos, Internet service providers and vendors of computer accessories.

The advent of 5G will accelerate these trends and opportunities.

There are even opportunities for furnishing and home renovation companies and interior decorators who can create functional and comfortable home offices.

But remote working arrangements and telecommuting will also raise challenges in online security, stability and bandwidth capability.

Companies that can provide data storage, technology support, secure platforms, cyber security and even backup facilities will see demand for their services grow rapidly.

The same goes for those in the education space. The closure of schools has forced the entire education system to embrace e-learning.

An entire new pedagogy will have to be devised.

Singapore has been a leading player in many fields, ranging from medicine and digital technology and banking to supply chain management and education. This crisis provides it with an opportunity to solidify its leadership position in all these segments.

Besides schools, this will also open opportunities for providers of online tuition, both in software and curriculum development.

Beyond learning, this crisis has also catalysed the growth of home entertainment, video streaming and e-sports. For example, the Singapore Esports Association based here has been busy putting together a community e-gaming programme and has been engaging with businesses and entrepreneurs.

The market for e-sports and entertainment will continue to grow.

Online retail, which was already gaining traction with the millennial generation before the pandemic, will also accelerate in the post-Covid-19 economy.

Companies and individuals whose businesses support this new e-commerce reality, spanning the entire belt from logistics to last-mile delivery, stand to benefit.

The acceptance of e-commerce is also likely to spread beyond traditional goods and services like consumables, groceries and food.

Some real estate players have started venturing onto online platforms to market new projects. For example, property portal ShowSuite has started helping developers market properties online, including fulfilling the protocols for all paperwork seamlessly on its platform.

Could we see more developers turning to online sales, instead of paying property agencies hefty commissions to sell their new projects?

Opportunities abound to capitalise on this digitalisation trend, not just in real estate, but in other business segments as well.

In a similar vein, this crisis has taught many of us that aspects of physical banking may be more a luxury than a need.

Banks will have to rethink their branch network strategies. Besides rolling out more online services, they could consider alternative cash payment systems, such as counters at 24-hour convenience stores, to supplement the teller network.

Paperless billing could also increase, while cashless payment systems will gain more traction.

After all, reducing the handling of physical paper or bank notes can also reduce the likelihood of viral transmission.

The net impact would be a lower cost of doing business and higher efficiency for both banks and businesses.

Could this be just the crisis digital currencies needed?

The pandemic has also forced the wealth and asset management sectors to devise new ways of engaging clients.

The wealth management industry, in particular, has been on the low end of financial technology and works very much in a paper-driven world.

This has kept the cost-to-income ratios high. But this crisis has forced a reckoning, with the industry deploying more technology than it has in the last decade.

The industry should also perhaps look at using more independent asset managers and lowering the emphasis on its product-driven approach.

The regulatory environment may also need a relook.

Singapore has already proven itself to be an important node in the pan-Asian supply chain game but this crisis could strengthen its hand.

The long queues and empty shelves at supermarkets have been seared into the psyche of the average consumer and raised the spectre of supply shortages for everything, from toilet paper to tea.

As a result, supply chain management has evolved from being a nebulous phrase used by industry specialists to becoming part of the vocabulary of the average shopper.

For a small nation such as Singapore, it is a strategic imperative to ensure a steady and reliable supply of goods from a diversified base of suppliers. Businesses that can make this happen will do well.

Singapore must build up its domestic food production capability via biotechnology and specialised farming. There is potential to achieve some level of self-sufficiency via agri-farming ventures such as fish farming, poultry and eggs.

There are also opportunities for companies that can effectively apply advanced technology to farming via hydroponics, aero farming, aquaponics or other forms of food production.

Given that this is a crisis created by a pandemic, the healthcare sector could see a huge transformation during the post-Covid-19 era.

Government spending on healthcare to avert or prepare for future pandemics is likely to increase, in turn creating opportunities for companies in this segment.

The demand for healthcare products and personal protection gear, be it protective garments, masks, gloves or other products, will not disappear any time soon.

This pandemic has also underscored the importance of having a sufficiently large pool of trained healthcare workers.

More training facilities will need to be established even as Singapore imports more healthcare workers, not just to cater for pandemics but also to prepare for an ageing population.

Pharmaceutical and medical tech companies will also be in focus as the search for vaccines, cures and therapeutics becomes critical in the post-Covid-19 era. The future for Singapore's biotech and biomedical sectors remains bright.

Demand for telemedicine could also grow as people avoid going to crowded clinics for minor ailments.

This pandemic has also created greater awareness about the need for insurance that covers comprehensive hospitalisation, critical illness and disability, and life policies.

Insurers that can offer innovative coverage for such eventualities will become leaders in their game.

The new normal will create a new economy: Some industries will disappear; others will grow; new ones will emerge.

Businesses that can cater for a faster, cheaper and more convenient future will find new opportunities. Individuals who can think out of the box and devise unconventional solutions to complex issues will find a niche in a new marketplace.

Singapore has been a leading player in many fields, ranging from medicine and digital technology and banking to supply chain management and education.

This crisis provides it with an opportunity to solidify its leadership position in all these segments.

As the old adage goes, every threat creates its own opportunities.

Excerpt from:
New economy will emerge from new normal after pandemic - The Straits Times

SOCIAL DISTANCING AND DELIVERY HOLD-UPS WILL DELAY BUILDING WORK ON DOMESTIC EXTENSIONS, PUSHING UP COSTS

What happens when you finally get your dream home project off the ground, only for Covid-19 to shut down the build?

For first-time buyers Thomas McGirr and Fiona Murphy, it means the newlyweds, who are about to have their first child, have had to abandon plans to begin family life in a newly renovated home. The refurbishment of their end-terrace, three-bed property in Irishtown, Dublin 4, which was very close to being completed, is on pause as a result of the restrictions.

But it could be worse, McGirr says. The couple live locally, having moved in with Fionas mother, Mary, a couple of years back, to save for a deposit. McGirr visits the site every day to open windows to help dry out the concrete skimmed floors laid the day Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the lockdown which ensure the home will have luxurious underfloor heating.

His brother Brian McGirr, a plumber, advised on the plumbing and heating decisions. Our builder, Dermot Harper of Harper Homes, kept us right, McGirr says.

When they bought the property in December 2018, the house needed complete renovation, insulation, rewiring and replumbing. As is typical of much of the older housing stock in the area, its only bathroom was situated downstairs.

Some homeowners turn one of the bedrooms upstairs into a washroom. The couple didnt want to make that compromise and so enlisted the services of Joe Fallon Design and Architecture to add the tiny extension to give them the additional space.

He also reconfigured the layout to create a far better sense of flow and to give them a second space to escape to, or to use as a kids playroom.

The site has been closed but a skip left outside the house over the course of the lockdown began to fill with other peoples waste. McGinn had it removed.

He feels theyre one of the lucky ones. Were not in a rush. Were comfortable enough. Were living rent-free and only have the one mortgage to pay.

One south county Dublin resident in Monkstown is mid-conversion of a garage into a home office with a separate entrance, which should have been a timely move.

While only two weeks out from being finished, the structure is just bare block walls for now. It doesnt yet have a roof but has a roof membrane. The architect is in touch and hes being told that works will be allowed on site from Monday May 18th, with social distancing. The downside is that there is no longer a timeline to completion, he says. Meanwhile, hes working at a table that he borrowed from his mother.

Across the city in Inchicore, Dublin 8, a couple is living with a kitchen extension that is not even halfway through, says contractor Kevin Moran of Moran Builders. Its been built and has a roof but thats it. He has done his best and has fixed them up with an oven and a microwave, which is set up in the living room, as well as a temporary sink.

Moran managed to get the roof on before lockdown and has checked in with them since to make sure theyre okay, reasoning that he might be able to consider the works essential.

The windows arent yet in and the back is exposed. The couple say it is cold and very draughty but they are toughing it out. Its not ideal but the weather has been really good, says one half of the pair.

But they have no counter space and the couple say their diet has gone to pot as theyre living mainly off ready meals. Something like this is a first world problem, they say.

The Inchicore couple are not alone. A lot of sites are exposed or open, says architect Denise OConnor of Optimise Design, but she says anyone in that position shouldnt worry. A builder wont have installed anything that can be damaged if the roof isnt yet on. Furnishings generally dont go in until the windows do.

But some people who are mid-project already have concerns and while not clients of Optimise Design, have contacted OConnor for help.

One has a joiner who cant be reached. Others are worried that their tradesperson may go out of business. She says its really important to keep the lines of communication open. Dont rely on third parties, is her advice. Talk directly to your build team to try and find out timelines.

With construction sites due to reopen on May 18th, the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has issued a document to all contractors on safety measures to make sites safe. Ahead of this some 60,000 workers have already undergone an induction programme to make sure they understand the new safety measures. Recommendations include the addition of a Covid-19 compliance officer on larger scale developments. On smaller scale residential jobs Shane Dempsey, director of communications at the CIF, sees this role being taken by the main contractor.

The new social distancing measures will see some delays or loss of productivity, he says. Social distancing will mean that less workers can be on site at one time. On residential renovations, this will lead to longer timeframes.

Most builders on residential projects work under contract, says architect Paul Brazil of Brazil & Associates. It [the contract] still stands, he says. Hes reasonably confident that theyre all on board and anxious to get back. But we dont yet know working procedures and how they may affect fixed price contracts if the workload period has to be extended.

While he says there is an underlying belief that subcontractors will happily work for less, he doesnt believe this will be the case and wonders how the work model is going to operate or where costs are going.

What is certain is that social distancing is going to delay the build period, says Lisa OBrien of OBrien Quantity Surveyors.

Contractors may look to issue notice for an extension of time. A four-week timeframe might become eight or 12 weeks. This will increase the cost of some elements of the build, a foreman for example, if youre hiring one, will have to be on site for longer and so will any scaffolding needed.

How this will be arranged comes down to forward planning, says David Dwyer of Summit Scaffolding. It is an aspect of the building process that he already has to manage. As it is most jobs about 98 per cent run over by six to eight weeks so we already have to be pretty flexible.

The supply chain may also need addressing, OBrien says. What may have been a six-week lead on tiles or sanitaryware to come from Italy may now become 12 weeks.

One solution she suggests is revisiting the spec sheet to try to replace those choices with something more readily available. Another issue is that some materials, such as stoves, kitchens and/or ironmongery, may have been already paid for by the contractor, who may now end up out of pocket, at least for the duration of the delays.

Contractors ability to resource current and future jobs is another big question, she says. Can any foreign workers who went home get back into the country and where will they self-isolate before coming on site?

OBrien doesnt foresee supply shortages. Nor does Moran, at least for those who are already mid-build, but he expresses concern about the availability of plywood and medium-density fibreboard later this year.

OBrien doesnt see building rates going down but raises a bigger question. As long as this situation prevails, she queries what will be deemed essential works by the Government.

Affordable housing schemes will be but will a house extension or refurbishment be considered essential? Tradespeople and contractors working in the residential sector may diversify and become sub-contractors to bigger, affordable housing developments.

And if so, will the residential sector lose the talent working in it and push the costs of renovation even higher and out of the hands of ordinary buyers?

With much of the housing stock in Ireland already in need of upgrading, buyers looking to do small-scale extensions will have to spend far more time crunching the numbers to see if the costs are worth it, especially if property prices soften.

moranbuilders.ie; optimise-design.com;brazilassociates.com; obqs.ie; summitscaffolding.ie

Read more here:
Renovations in lockdown: There is no timeline to completion - The Irish Times

news, local-news, Tighes Hill, Homes of the Hunter, renovation

When Wes O'Donohue and Kamisha Refalo bought their home in Tighes Hill in 2017, it was to be the fifth house they had renovated. The house needed a lot of work, but they were up for the challenge. When they first saw the house, Refalo described it as "unbelievable". "We generally buy houses that aren't very aesthetically pleasing," she says. It was built in the 1920s and one of three miner's cottages on the block. The house was falling apart, but it also had ornate details. They couldn't keep much of it. "There were still cracks in the walls from the earthquake," she says. There were a few fireplaces, but they had been covered up. "We completely stripped it back to the bones because there was no insulation, or heating or cooling," she says. Now that the house is finished, Refalo describes it as modern, industrial, recycled and rustic. Its finishes are textural. Refalo, O'Donohue and their two teenage boys lived next door in a rented house for seven months when they started the renovations. Then they moved in and continued. The renovation took the house from one storey to three storeys. This involved digging, adding levels and taking out walls and redoing them. "I was a bit embarrassed by the house because it's so massive, but I have to remember where we came from with it," Refalo says. "We were in desperate need of space at that time." While they lived there, the upper level was the "adults level" and the kids spent time below. She said that living in the place during the renovations was pretty intense. "It's a good way to live in the space and make decisions and also save money. You can do it a lot slower. Once we moved in, I don't think anything happened very quickly," Refalo says. The house remained a three bedroom, but the pair added more living spaces. They got rid of one of the bedrooms to make a kitchen and they added a study and a room upstairs and downstairs. They levelled the yard to put in a pool. Everything is matte in the renovated house. Deciding on the stairs took a long time. They were built last, so everyone had to use a ladder to get up and down. "Wes looked at that empty void for two years, and I was like 'can you just build the stairs?' and at one stage we had metal guys going to fold steel, but we weren't into it; it was too heavy and too much," she says. "Then we found some recycled timber in a yard and Wes was like 'this is perfect for the stairs!' It's such a big piece in the house, it's so in-your-face. I think for him, being a builder, it was big thing. I just wanted to be able to walk upstairs." The kitchen and the top veranda is their favourite place, with views to Stockton. You can see Throsby Creek and the bridge that crosses it from Tighes Hill to Maryville. "I think the other thing that we really were stumped with was the railing out on the deck. We had chicken wire there for two years. We were just going to put mesh; we were actually going to get stronger wire. Then we went to look at it; it wasn't right. We just ended up using steel rods that we oiled up," she says. All the windows were made in Melbourne and double glazed. The house doesn't have air-conditioning but it has a fire and ceiling fans. They didn't plan to move out until they had finished, and by the time they had completed the renovation they were over it. Refalo still can't get over the crazy amount of work and time they put into it. They'd been living in Tighes Hill for the past 12 years until earlier this year when the family moved to Bungwahl. They kept their newly renovated home and rented it out for short and long-term stays. They're loving their quieter life by the ocean now, but Refalo enjoys looking back at when they lived in Tighes Hill and their crazy project. If you want to see more of the before and after journey of their house in Tighes Hill, visit their Instagram account instagram.com/67elizabethstreet_/

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/SZjBdCvXzdW4Ygt94axh3r/cdb0baf6-bfd2-44c5-ba9c-0eec1e2285b1.jpg/r0_47_4500_2590_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg

PHOTOS

May 10 2020 - 6:00AM

+18

When Wes O'Donohue and Kamisha Refalo bought their home in Tighes Hill in 2017, it was to be the fifth house they had renovated.

The house needed a lot of work, but they were up for the challenge.

When they first saw the house, Refalo described it as "unbelievable".

"We generally buy houses that aren't very aesthetically pleasing," she says.

It was built in the 1920s and one of three miner's cottages on the block.

The house was falling apart, but it also had ornate details.

They couldn't keep much of it.

"There were still cracks in the walls from the earthquake," she says.

There were a few fireplaces, but they had been covered up.

"We completely stripped it back to the bones because there was no insulation, or heating or cooling," she says.

Now that the house is finished, Refalo describes it as modern, industrial, recycled and rustic. Its finishes are textural.

Refalo, O'Donohue and their two teenage boys lived next door in a rented house for seven months when they started the renovations.

Then they moved in and continued.

The renovation took the house from one storey to three storeys. This involved digging, adding levels and taking out walls and redoing them.

"I was a bit embarrassed by the house because it's so massive, but I have to remember where we came from with it," Refalo says.

"We were in desperate need of space at that time."

While they lived there, the upper level was the "adults level" and the kids spent time below.

She said that living in the place during the renovations was pretty intense.

"It's a good way to live in the space and make decisions and also save money. You can do it a lot slower. Once we moved in, I don't think anything happened very quickly," Refalo says.

The house remained a three bedroom, but the pair added more living spaces. They got rid of one of the bedrooms to make a kitchen and they added a study and a room upstairs and downstairs.

They levelled the yard to put in a pool.

Everything is matte in the renovated house.

Deciding on the stairs took a long time. They were built last, so everyone had to use a ladder to get up and down.

"Wes looked at that empty void for two years, and I was like 'can you just build the stairs?' and at one stage we had metal guys going to fold steel, but we weren't into it; it was too heavy and too much," she says.

"Then we found some recycled timber in a yard and Wes was like 'this is perfect for the stairs!' It's such a big piece in the house, it's so in-your-face. I think for him, being a builder, it was big thing. I just wanted to be able to walk upstairs."

The kitchen and the top veranda is their favourite place, with views to Stockton. You can see Throsby Creek and the bridge that crosses it from Tighes Hill to Maryville.

"I think the other thing that we really were stumped with was the railing out on the deck. We had chicken wire there for two years. We were just going to put mesh; we were actually going to get stronger wire. Then we went to look at it; it wasn't right. We just ended up using steel rods that we oiled up," she says.

All the windows were made in Melbourne and double glazed. The house doesn't have air-conditioning but it has a fire and ceiling fans.

They didn't plan to move out until they had finished, and by the time they had completed the renovation they were over it. Refalo still can't get over the crazy amount of work and time they put into it.

They'd been living in Tighes Hill for the past 12 years until earlier this year when the family moved to Bungwahl. They kept their newly renovated home and rented it out for short and long-term stays.

They're loving their quieter life by the ocean now, but Refalo enjoys looking back at when they lived in Tighes Hill and their crazy project.

If you want to see more of the before and after journey of their house in Tighes Hill, visit their Instagram account instagram.com/67elizabethstreet_/

Go here to see the original:
Homes of the Hunter | New industrial meets recycled chic in Tighes Hill - Newcastle Herald

Dear Ken: I have a portable evaporative cooler, but it doesnt seem to do a good job in any room. Can you help? Pete

Answer: These small coolers do best when they have access to dry air from outside the room youre trying to cool. Its a little like the high school physics conundrum: What happens to the kitchen if you leave the refrigerator open? Of course, the kitchen gets warmer.

In your example, if you set a portable cooler in a room, it will increase the humidity to a certain level and thats it. So instead, position it on a window sill or at about table-top height in the doorway from a room with windows.

Dear Ken: Weve got an older fiberglass shower base thats worn out, hard to clean and stains easily. Can we paint it? Fran

Answer: Apply some Easy-Off Oven Cleaner (the low-odor type in the blue can). After an hour or so, scrub it off with a stiff brush. Rinse and repeat until its clean.

That might be enough. If not, one of my radio listeners recommends trying these two steps: Apply a couple of layers of KILZ or Bulls Eye 1-2-3 primer; after that cures, coat the base with water-based, SPAR, urethane varnish. He says its lasted for months and is easy to clean.

Dear Ken: Ive got an old tar-and-gravel roof on my adobe-style house that was installed many years ago. Id like to have it looked at to see if its OK. Whom do you recommend? Jack

Answer: Flat (built-up) roofs can be problematic. They break down in harsh sunshine and usually start to leak when relatively young. Youll have to sort through roofing companies online.

Not all residential companies work with flat roofs, so you might end up with a commercial company. Id count on having to get a new roof.

The tar-and-gravel system has been replaced by a membrane-style roof. Its a thick, rubberized coating essentially one piece that lasts a long time and comes with a quality warranty. One type I recommend is called modified bitumen a variation of asphalt roofing but much thicker and tougher.

Dear Ken: Were putting an offer on a house with a plywood floor in the basement. Its in an expansive soil area, so we assume this is the reason for the unusual floor. What are the problems with this system? Brad

Answer: These wood floors suspended over dirt instead of resting on it, like concrete are a good engineering solution to overcome the effects of hot, expansive soil. We find that we can load up the perimeter foundation enough to hold it down, but concrete slabs are pushed around easily by the expansion of clay when it gets wet. Hence the suspended floor system.

The major pitfall remains water. Pay scrupulous attention to downspouts and drainage around the foundation.

The floor likely was built with some combination of treated lumber and steel. Even so, dampness under it must be kept to a minimum. Check to see if the builders installed plastic sheeting over the dirt underneath and some sort of mechanical ventilator to keep fresh air moving into the space under that floor system.

Dear Ken: Can I paint my steel siding? Its faded and dirty. Paul

Answer: Try power washing it. Your neighborhood rental center can loan you the unit and some detergent, which will dissolve the airborne dust, pollution and oxidation.

That might brighten it up enough that you wont need to paint. If not, youll have to apply a specialized metal primer before painting.

After that, regular exterior acrylic latex will be a fine topcoat.

Dear readers: There are two often-neglected areas of home maintenance that need attention periodically.

One is in the breaker box. Breakers do wear out. This week, I ran across a bad main breaker in a relatively new home it wouldnt reset from off to on without a lot of effort. Most breaker boxes have a 100 or 200 amp main breaker switch that controls all electricity entering the panel and the house. Once a year, it needs to be cycled, along with all the others in the box, to make sure theyre not sticky or weak from overheating.

The same is true for the pressure relief valve on the top of a water heater. When its needed, its got to be clean and free of rust and other crud that accumulate under it. Give it a gentle lift and hold it until the water escaping from it runs clear. Then let it snap back into position to restore its seal.

If it begins to leak afterward, its probably time to replace it.

Moon is a home inspector in the Pikes Peak region. His radio show airs at 4 p.m. Saturdays on KRDO, FM 105.5 and AM 1240. Visit aroundthehouse.com.

See the article here:
Around the house: No need to get heated over cooler that won't cool - Colorado Springs Gazette

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW)- Many of the hundreds of COVID-19 patients that Registered Nurse Sarah Sullivan has cared for in New York have died in the emergency room where shes working.

As a nurse, Ive lost patients before, but loss on such a grand scale and when theyre so young , she said before taking a breath and looking down.

I dont think any of us came out here thinking we were going to be superheroes and save the world, she continued. It is a very, very helpless feeling when you have no beds and theres nothing you can do even through all of your best efforts. Thats incredibly challenging for me, she paused again.

I never wanted to be a hospice nurse for that very reason, she continued. Thats been my role lately, just holding peoples hands. Theyre alone. They dont have visitors. And they know theyre dying.

Sarah Sullivan, RN. All photos provided by APSU

The nurses here were drowning

Sullivan has worked 12- to 14-hour shifts every day except one since she arrived April 8 in New York City to help with the coronavirus pandemic.

I have a skill, and it was needed, said Sullivan, an Austin Peay State University student who will earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in July. I went into nursing to help people, and there were a lot of people here who needed help. Not just the patients but other health care workers. The nurses here were drowning.

Sullivan is working in a Level 1 Trauma emergency room at a hospital now, but shes also helped at field hospitals in the city.

Most of what were seeing right now are patients with COVID complications, she said. At first, there were about 300 patients (citywide) a day being ventilated. Now, were down to dozens a day.

Sullivan is caring for people with acute respiratory distress who need intubation before going to the intensive care unit (ICU).

A lot of our patients actually are in the 25-to-40-year range, she said. Theyre having a lot of heart attacks and strokes (because of clotting). So, its mostly trying to stabilize those and get them to the ICUs.

Reversal of roles

Sullivan ended up in New York City after a company she had done contract work for contacted her on April 6 about helping in New York.

Shes a nurse at El Paso (Texas) Behavioral Health, and shes completing Austin Peays BSN work online.

The El Paso hospitals medical director told Sullivan that I needed to follow my heart and my skill set and go where the need was greatest. He allowed me to take a leave of absence.

Her husband, Sgt. First Class William Sullivan, and she also needed to decide if she should go.

He served at Fort Campbell for seven years before being reassigned to Fort Bliss, Texas.

It was kind of a role reversal for my husband and me because hes usually the one leaving to go help people, Sullivan said.

The company contacted Sullivan on April 6. She was on a plane to New York on April 8. Her husband, an Army career counselor at Fort Bliss, is home with their five kids.

Returning home

The hospitals are not quite as busy, and part of that is because a lot of nurses answered the call for help, Sullivan said. Another part of it is stay at home worked.

Sullivans contract ends May 25, but she doesnt know if shell return home then.

The city is starting to open things back up now, so were probably going to see another surge right about the time my contract is up, she said.

Sullivan also has to consider classwork. Once she graduates in July, shell start in Austin Peays family nurse practitioner program.

As hard as its been trying to keep up with homework for the BSN program, I dont know that I want to be here for the masters program, she said.

Her Austin Peay professors, however, know where Sullivan is and what shes doing. Theyve worked with her on extended deadlines.

Im immensely grateful to all the faculty in the nursing department, every single one of them, and to the faculty in my core classes, she said. They have been phenomenal.

Sullivan works nights and sleeps during the day. Her shift is 7 p.m.-7 a.m., but she works longer if she has a critical patient.

She usually does her homework for a couple of hours when she gets back to the hotel room where shes living. She usually sleeps from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

In an email to APSU School of Nursings Dr. Debra Wilson, Sullivan said the schools public and community health lessons helped prepare her for her service in New York.

Nobody really knows whats going on sometimes, were just taking care of patients, but sometimes you just have to step up and say, OK, were going to break it down this way, Sullivan said. My education at Austin Peay, had I not had those components, the leadership in community and public health, I dont think Id be as successful or as prepared as I am.

For more about Austin Peay State Universitys School of Nursing, go to https://www.apsu.edu/nursing/.

Continue reading here:
APSU nursing student helping in New York: 'Loss on such a grand scale is incredibly challenging for me' - Clarksville Now

While mandated regulations are still requiring nonessential businesses to remain closed to the public, small business owners are getting creative with their newly freed-up schedules. At Steve's Flooring & Design in Morris, owner Steve Meyer is finding ways to keep certain operations functioning, all while completing a large renovation and expansion project in the store.

"We've taken advantage of the shelter-in-place directive by freshening up our showroom and expanding our displays," explained Meyer. "We're still receiving new samples of carpeting and Luxury Vinyl Tile and Planking, so there's a lot to see. We've added a nice color to our walls and installed new carpeting in our offices. Our entire showroom is being upgraded, and will even include a new shower display that highlights the Schluter Shower System, complete with different tile sizes and patterns and available shower doors." The Schluter Shower System is an integrated group of products that form a fully watertight and bonded assembly for tiled showers. It eliminates the risk of water and vapor penetration and overwhelmingly reduces total installation time.

In addition to the renovation, Steve's Flooring is broadening its display of Cambria quartz countertops, which feature new patterns and colors that will give customers more options for their new kitchen and bath designs. "Cambria is our bestselling quartz countertop manufacturer, so we're excited to roll out the new product line," said Meyer. "Cambria countertops are made in Minnesota; we're very proud to offer American-made products to the community."

Although the store is currently closed to the general public, some business transactions can be done by appointment. "Some of our services are still being performed," added Meyer. "We're still able to take measurements and install floor coverings. Customers can call or email us to set up an appointment. We're very flexible with our timing, and we are adhering to social distancing and other safety requirements during this crisis." For more information, please contact:

Steve's Flooring & Design

717 Liberty St.

Morris, IL 60450

Phone: 815-941-4505

Email: stevesflooring@sbcglobal.net

http://www.stevesflooring-design.com

Read the original post:
Steve's Flooring Prepares for Store Reopening with Renovations, Expanded Offerings - Morris Daily Herald

Your home may never be a castle, but it can definitely be a haven your own private refuge (at least after the kids are asleep) from the mayhem outside.

Creating a stress-free and soothing home environment can mean hiring a contractor to install serious soundproofing or a spa-worthy steam shower pricey upgrades that are likely to add property value. But just as often, its about simple things you can do without laying out a cent.

Ready to boost your homes relaxation quotient? Here are some easy ways to do it:

l Clear the decks Clear open surfaces of extraneous stuff, clean out closets and generally straighten up. This kind of orderliness really helps people feel more energetic and cheerful.

l Muffle irritating noises If youre serious about blocking out noise such as traffic you can soundproof walls and ceilings by doubling up on drywall and caulking gaps where sound enters. Carpets, drapes and other soft materials help absorb sound. For walls, a quick, cheap, sound-muffling solution is Homasote, a recycled cardboard material that costs about $25 for a 4-by-8-foot sheet. It doubles as a pinboard, making it especially suited for childrens rooms and home offices and takes paint like a dream.

l Soak out the stress A prefab steam shower can run you $5,000 or more, but there are less pricey ways to take your bathroom in a spa-like direction. If your existing tub isnt deep enough, a 30-inch-deep soaking tub starts at around $500 (plus installation, of course). Dont forget the bath salts.

l Color yourself calm Blue is considered a restful paint color, which is why decorators often choose it for bedrooms. Followers of the Chinese art of feng shui believe pink calms a room, while green because it symbolizes nature is serene and refreshing. As luck would have it, classic blue is the color for 2020.

l Light it right Overhead lighting can be glary and unflattering, whereas light at lower levels creates warmth and intimacy. Balance an overhead fixture with wall sconces and table lamps, and be sure to put that ceiling fixture on a dimmer, especially over a dining table.

l Flickering flames Sitting by a crackling fire has nurtured souls from time immemorial. If youre lucky enough to have a fireplace, use it to create relaxing ambience.

l No fireplace? Make the most of candlelight for a cool spring mood boost. Plain, long-burning candles from the supermarket are so inexpensive ($7 for a box of 72), youll feel free to use them in abundance.

l Flower power Freshly cut flowers provide measurable uplift. Chrysanthemums last the longest; they can go up to three weeks in a vase, with alstroemeria, roses and lilies a close second.

Remember, when its time to sell or buy a new home, contact the Warren Area Board of Realtors. They are the experts and can help you through the real estate process.

Cunningham is the 2020 president of the Warren Area Board of Realtors.

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Give your home some TLC; it will love you back | News, Sports, Jobs - Warren Tribune Chronicle

Subodh Kerkar, like any other ethos aware artist, is in search of answers. Gandhi could be one. Before the pandemic started its rampage, the Goan installation maestro had been exploring the theme, and has spoken on Gandhi at many forums his recent session at the Kerala Literature Festival in Kozikode was Mahatma through the Arts.

"Gandhi has helped me understand the situation in the country and cope with it. Ive begun to propagate his ideas which, I believe, have a great role in educating people," says Kerkar. Before COVID-19 put a spanner in his works, he was on the brink of starting a year-long residential programme for students in Goa and mulling a corporate art programme to educate leaders in collecting and collating art.

A full-time artist for the past 30 years since he abandoned a career in medicine at Calangute Hospital to become a water colourist, Kerkar has founded art galleries, exhibited in India and overseas and spoken at prestigious venues such as Amsterdams Van Gogh Museum.

His first art lessons were from his father, whose palette he used to clean. By the time he was 10, he could weild a mean watercolour brush. He says, As an 18-year-old, I had many ambitionsamong them were to be a priest, soldier, mafia don and shopkeeper. Now, he calls himself an ocean artist, because the sea, beside which he was born, lives, sleeps and creates is my master and my muse.

Ever since 2004, when a half-kilometre long line of installations along Miramar beach brought him acclaim, the muse has never left him. Mediums challenge and delight him sand, shells, truck tires, coconut shells, boats, bones, palm leaves, laterite stones and of course discarded plastic bottles.

For example, one of his critically acclaimed recent works, the Carpet of Joy used almost 100,000 plastic bottlesthe bane of beaches. I wanted to spread awareness about littering because its an act of violence against Mother Nature and against yourself, he says.

Kerkars work resonates with current concerns. "An artist is like a receptor and transmitter of ideas of an age," he says. His current mission is popularising contemporary art in India through the Museum of Goa (MOG) he started four years ago. "I realised that in this country of 1.3 billion people not more than 100,000 people can connect with contemporary art. Most galleries are in five-star spaces. I want to democratise art," he explains.

He sold houses to get funds to start his first gallery. A doyen of installations, Kerkars works have different meanings at different levelspolitical, social and otherwise. Once while passing by a beef shop he was struck by the translucent quality of bull intestines, which are used to make Goan chorizos. From Gandhi to chorizo, Kerkar continues to wield art as an instrument of conscience.

Read more from the original source:
The Bold Man and the Sea - The New Indian Express