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A charitable-giving organization that manages millions and has grown 380 times its initial size in 24 years is reaching out to smaller communities, including this one, wanting to make a bigger impact.

Not that it hasnt given to local causes in the past.

Just recently, the Ephrata-based Columbia Basin Foundation has given the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce $1,000 for local business support, and its donating another $1,000 to the Care and Share Food Bank, both under the foundations ReCOVIDery, initiative to help during the COVID-19 crisis. Another $600 is pledged to support the Run the Dam event scheduled for Sept. 19.

In addition, the Grand Coulee Dam Senior Center was awarded $3,700, and Friends of the Grand Coulee Special Projects was given $7,138.96.

In 2011 and 2012, the Grand Coulee Dam Rotary Club was awarded a combined $10,000 for its handicapped-accessible fishing pier at Steamboat Rock State Park.

But the foundation wants to do more, says, Corrine Isaak, its executive director, who lives in Coulee City and first got involved as a board member in 2004. She noted that several Grand Coulee organizations have applied for grants currently under evaluation for 2020.

The foundation started with a $25,000 donation for a scholarship in Connell in 1996. Now it manages $9.5 million in assets, all donated or earned on investments of those donations. The principle gift is never touched, Isaak said. Instead, grants are made from the investment earnings they accrue.

So people who find themselves with more money than theyll use sometimes leave it to CBF.

Like Herb Fakenthall, a Coulee City man who made a living digging with his backhoe, lived in a mobile home. A simple, humble man with a great vision, Isaak said. His gift of $1 million now perpetuates a scholarship fund. He never had kids, but hes helped so many with scholarships.

CBF also attracts funds from institutions and businesses. It recently started its reCOVIDery fund to help in the current crisis and raised $126,000 to give away for purposes outlined by givers like Microsoft, which donated $56,000; Grant County PUD, which gave $10,000, and more, to help families, businesses, children, schools.

Isaak said there is currently room on the CBF Board of Directors, and shed love to find someone from the Grand Coulee Dam area to join the 10 on the board now, people who believe in charitable giving.

We have to make a concerted effort to reach out to each county and make sure people know about CBFs work, Isaak said.

The foundation serves Grant, Adams, western Lincoln Counties and beyond, the CBF website states.

An advertisement on page 8 outlines the organizations many facets.

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Foundation wants to help local area - The Star - The Star of Grand Coulee

UPDATE: New Jersey State Police captured and charged a second man with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer in the shooting of an NJSP detective investigating a trailer park home invasion committed by a group of women, authorities said Friday.

Ex-con Tremaine M. Hadden, 27, of Bridgeton, was released from state prison last September after serving 5 years for robbery conspiracy and weapons convictions out of Cumberland County.

Hadden opened fire on Detective Richard Hershey with Najzeir Naz Hutchings, 21, among others, in South Jersey last Saturday, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and NJSP Supt. Col. Patrick J. Callahan said.

Hershey was investigating a home invasion from earlier that evening at the Harding Woods mobile home park on Harding Highway in Pittsgrove, they said.

Five women had forced their way into a trailer and assaulted the owner breaking a rib and lacerating a lung -- while stealing her iPhone, Grewal and Callahan said.

Hershey identified himself as a law enforcement officer when he was approached by a hostile group identified as Hadden, Hutchings, Kareen "Kai" Warner Jr., 19, and Colby Opperman, 18, all of Bridgeton -- who pulled up in a caravan of five vehicles hours later and confronted him, they said.

Some members of the caravan were armed with guns, and at least two Hadden and Hutchings opened fire from separate vehicles, wounding Hershey in the upper leg, Grewal and Callahan said.

The detective returned fire, forcing the defendants to flee, they said.

He underwent surgery at Cooper University Hospital in Camden and was recovering, authorities said.

A member of the caravan was treated at the hospital for a gunshot wound in her leg and was released, they said, adding that she wasnt charged.

Eight defendants were initially identified and captured by New Jersey State Police Fugitive and TEAMS units, assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force and the ATF.

State Police seized Hadden Thursday night, Grewal and Callahan said.

The announcement of Haddens arrest falls on what is known as Survivors Day, when NJSP troopers who made the ultimate sacrifice are honored, Callahan noted.

There have been 75 to date.

I will be forever grateful that on this Survivors Day, instead of grieving a fallen trooper, I am able to inform the public that we have apprehended a suspect who poses a grave danger to our state troopers and society, the superintendent said. I commend the State Police detectives and our partners who worked tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice.

Najzeir Naz Hutchings NJAG

The Salem County Prosecutors Office charged the five women for the home invasion, while Grewals Office of Public Integrity & Accountability (OPIA) charged the three men in the shooting.

All were being held in the Salem County Jail pending detention hearings.

We have zero tolerance for those who violently attack our law enforcement officers, Grewal said. Our state troopers put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe, and Saturdays incident is an important reminder of the brave work our troopers perform.

Anyone attempting to murder a New Jersey state trooper, or any member of law enforcement, will find no safe haven, Calahan added. Our pursuit will be relentless, unwavering and swift.

It began with a 6:15 p.m. home invasion by the women, identified as Jazmin Valentin, 32, Yomari Lazu, 43, Iramari Lazu, 22, Mayra Roblero, 52, and Maria Betancourt, 39, of Vineland.

Authorities charged all with aggravated assault, robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery, as well as burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary.

Hutchings and Hadden, meanwhile, was charged with first-degree attempted murder, aggravated assault on a police officer and weapons offenses.

For Hadden, that included being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

Warner and Opperman were each charged with weapons offenses.

Anyone who would open fire on a law enforcement officer conducting an investigation, as Hutchings is alleged to have done, represents a grave danger to the community, said Director Thomas Eicher of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability. Justice demanded swift action in this case, as did public safety.

We will continue to work closely with the New Jersey State Police to ensure that those responsible for this attack are prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Investigating were the NJSPs Major Crime Unit South, Troop A Criminal Investigation Office, Crime Scene Investigation Unit and Cold Case Unit, along with the Salem County Prosecutors Office and state Office of Public Integrity and Accountability.

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Second Man Charged With Attempted Murder Of NJ State Trooper Investigating Mobile Home Invasion - Paramus Daily Voice

CAP-PELE, N.B. -- New Brunswick's ban on temporary foreign workers because of the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the workforce in many communities.

The people in one village say foreign workers like Sammy Rodriguez are more than just temporary employees.

Rodriguez works at Westmorland Fisheries in Cap-Pele, N.B., and has been an employee there since 2014.

His first year, Rodriguez stayed for six months. The following year he stayed for nine, and now he wants to make Cap-Pele home for his family.

"I want to stay to try to get the permanent residency to get more money," Rodriquez said. "We come for the best money. Maybe when I'm a permanent resident I can get a little bit more money."

On Tuesday, fish processors had a meeting with the province and were promised that jobs usually filled by temporary foreign workers will be filled by New Brunswickers. Westmoreland Fisheries say they were told the government would be launching an ad campaign to recruit locals.

The village has benefitted from the temporary foreign worker program. Hundreds of people, mainly from Mexico, Jamaica and the Philippines have also made Cap-Pele their new home.

"The majority of the people that were foreign workers under contract but now they have the chance to become permanent residents," said Vinson Mahawan, the Cap-Pele Filipino Association president.

Justin Leblanc is the director of communications for the village of Cape-Pele.

"The foreign workers contribute a lot to the economy whether it's doing their groceries here in Cap-Pele, using our various services like banking, really across the board," said Leblanc. "They're helpful and eventually some of them do make their way to become permanent residents, which of course grows the population here in Cap-Pele."

The village's population was at 2,425 in the most recent census.

"The community has seen a lot of development over the years to accommodate the influx of newcomers into the community," said Leblanc. "Just recently, there were two new streets developed here in Cap-Pele with mobile homes to accommodate the new citizens."

It's a familiar story but it's one that is currently on hold because of the provincial ban on temporary foreign workers.

"There are some people who are foreign workers who are under contract, but right now they are in the Phillippines on hold with their flights," said Mahawan.

With the province now determined to fill these processing plant jobs locally, those flights might not happen for a long time.

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Ban on temporary foreign workers affecting workforce in many N.B. communities - CTV News

Sydney, May 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communicationsfocus report onTonga outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets.Read the full report:https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Tonga-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses

The rural areas of Tonga were to benefit from a 15-year agreement between Kacific Broadband Satellite and the Tongan government which would see additional bandwidth made available for around 89 remote communities and offer speeds similar to the large towns of Tonga. Satellite technology in particular is in widespread use across Tonga and plays an important part in giving the more remote areas access to communications services.

Tonga is also reaping the benefits of being connected to an undersea high-speed fibre-optic cable. The cable was installed in 2013 and links Tonga to Fiji and onto Sydney. It was financed by a combination of funding from the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, the Tongan government and Tonga Cable - as part of the wider Pacific Regional Connectivity Program.

This high-speed Internet access is providing Tonga with the ability to provide better health care services, reliable and faster connections for education and appropriate infrastructure for emerging e-commerce initiatives.

Tonga is also heavily reliant on mobile technology. It has exhibited a strong mobile subscription growth in recent years.

BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Key developments:

Companies covered in this report include:

Tonga Communications Corporation (TCC); Tonga Digicel (formerly TonFon); Tonga Cable; Kacific Broadband Satellite; Asian Development Bank; The World Bank.

List of Tables

List of Charts

Read the full report:https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Tonga-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses

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Satellite communications to be improved for Tonga's rural areas - GlobeNewswire

By: Outdoor Lighting Perspectives | 0Shares 26Reads

EVERETT, WASH. (PRWEB) May 04, 2020 - Americas #1 full-service outdoor lighting company, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, is pleased to announce the opening of Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Everett. This new location is owned and operated by Rob & Beth Bingham.

Starting in May 2020, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Everett will offer outdoor landscape lighting design and maintenance services to the following areas: Arlington, Bellingham, Bothell, Camano Island, Clinton, Duvall, Edmonds, Everett, Lynnwood, Marysville, Monroe, Mount Vernon, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, La Conner, Lake Stevens, Oak Harbor, Snohomish and Stanwood.

Outdoor Lighting Perspectives (OLP) specializes in the design, installation and maintenance of low-voltage, energy-efficient outdoor illumination. The Binghams will custom design and maintain outdoor lighting for residential and business clients, including year-round landscape, deck, patio, driveway and pathway lighting, as well as seasonal holiday lighting and wedding and special event lighting. The company creates custom design outdoor lighting plans for businesses like bed and breakfasts, restaurants, golf and private clubs, hotels and resorts. Outdoor Lighting Perspectives offers premium lighting fixtures and energy-efficient LED technology.

We are thrilled to have Beth and Rob join the Outdoor Lighting Perspectives family, announced Rich Young, Vice President of Outdoor Lighting Perspectives. Robs engineering design and project management background coupled with Beths business and administration experience will, no doubt, help them quickly build a successful Outdoor Lighting Perspectives business in the Snohomish County area.

Beth and Rob have been married for 30 years and have lived in the Pacific Northwest since 1990. They have two daughters in high school and greatly enjoy travel, adventure, cooking, music and DIY home projects. They are very involved in their local church and regularly serve with their neighborhood food bank. They love to participate as a family in the areas annual Day of Hope community volunteering event.

After three decades of corporate life with some of Seattles largest companies, Rob is ecstatic to change course and become an independent business owner. And after working from home doing medical/insurance transcription while raising their kids, Beth is anxious to partner with Rob in building their business.

Because I have always enjoyed doing projects that beautify my own home and yard, when I saw the opportunity to partner with a company like OLP, it was a no-brainer. OLPs long history of quality service, integrity, back-end support and family feel are a perfect fit for this exciting new chapter.

Established in 1995, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives is the nations first and largest full-service, low-voltage outdoor lighting company. With over 150,000 installations across the United States and abroad, the franchise is known for skillful, custom design for the hospitality industry, commercial businesses and residences. Featured in Lodging Magazine, Garden Design, House Beautiful, Better Homes and Gardens, Coastal Living, HGTV Magazine and Martha Stewart Living, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives features stunning handcrafted copper and brass LED lighting.

SOURCE Outdoor Lighting Perspectives

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Outdoor Lighting Perspectives Opens New Location in Snohomish County, WA - Franchising.com

Ring made a name for itself with its video doorbells and then expanded into security cameras, whole-home alarm systems, and even landscape lighting. Now, the company is taking its first tentative steps in traditional smart lighting.

Ring is starting with two very basic LED bulbs that require the same bridge to connect to your Wi-Fi network that the companys landscape lighting uses. Theres the $15 indoor Ring A19 Smart LED Bulb reviewed here, and a $25 weatherproof PAR38 bulb (you can read our opinion of Rings PAR38 bulb here). Both bulbs produce white light only and have fixed color temperatures.

The Ring A19 bulb boasts some of the same functionality weve seen in smart lights from the likes of Philips Hue, WiZ, LIFX, and others, including light grouping and scheduling, and it also works well with motion-sensing devices in the ever-growing Ring ecosystem. But this dimmable and Alexa-enabled bulb lacks such standard smart lighting features as scenes and a vacation mode.

Rated to last up to 25,000 hours, the A19 Smart LED Bulb is basically a garden-variety household bulb with an E26 base that fits in standard light sockets.

The Ring A19 bulb is dimmable (it produces 800 lumens at full brightness, which is roughly equivalent to a 60-watt bulb), but you cant change the bulbs color temperature, which has been tuned to a neutral white 3,500 Kelvin. Thats a far cry from the look of a 5,000K fluorescent bulb, but 3,500K is noticeably cooler than the 2,500-ish Kelvin warm white bulbs that youll generally find in bedrooms and living rooms. (I tested the bulb in my wifes bedside lamp and she immediately spotted the difference.) The Ring A19 will probably look best in a desk lamp or an enclosed outdoor fixture, although it could also work in a living area with an earthy color scheme.

Speaking of outdoors, the Ring A19 Smart LED Bulb is designed for both indoor and outdoor use, but Ring warns against using it in a location where [its] directly exposed to water. If you do want to use the bulb outdoors, it should be installed in a protected location, such as under an overhang or in an outdoor fixture.

Getting the Ring A19 Smart LED Bulb up and running is a simple process, but remember that youll need a Ring Bridge to take advantage of its smart features, such as dimming, scheduling, light grouping, and so on. Its also worth noting here thathe Ring Bridge is limited to supporting 50 Ring lighting devices, and you cant deploy more than one.

If you already have a Ring Bridge in your home, youre all set; otherwise, youll need to factor in the cost of the bridge when considering your investment. While the Ring Bridge costs $50 as a stand-alone product, you can also get it as part of a bundle with other Ring devices. The Ring A19 bulb two-pack starter kit, which inclues the bridge, was selling for $60 as of this writing. Theres also an even cheaper alternative for those without a Ring Bridge: opting for a different smart bulb that doesnt require a bridge at all, such as the Wi-Fi bulbs from LiFX and WiZ, or Hues newer hub-optional bulbs that support both Bluetooth and Zigbee.

Once you have the Ring Bridge installed, setting up the Ring A19 bulb is (or was for me, at least) a simple and painless operation. You simply open the Ring mobile app, tap the menu button, then tap Set Up a Device and pick the Smart Lighting category. You then scan a QR code on the bulb itself or the box it came in, and (assuming youve screwed the bulb in and turned it on), the app will discover the bulb, install any available updates, and prompt you to add the bulb to a room and name it. The whole process went smoothly for me, and I had the bulb up and running in a few minutes.

While the Ring app offers all the basic functionality youd expect for a dimmable white smart bulb, there are a few missing features compared to what youll see in more developed smart lighting systems, such as those offered by the budget WiZ line or Philips Hue, the 800-pound gorilla of smart lighting.

The Ring app lets you set up basic light schedules for the Ring A19 Smart LED Bulb, as well as group it with other Ring lights.

On the plus side, the Ring app lets you set up light groups that allow you to control all the lights in a group at the same time. If you group the A19 bulb with motion sensor-equipped Ring lights (such as the Floodlight Wired or Floodlight Battery), you can set it (along with any other lights in the group) to turn on when motion is detected. You can also schedule times when motion sensing is disabled, snooze motion sensing for up to four hours, and set how long the lights in the group stay on after motion is detected (anywhere from 30 seconds to five minutes).

The Ring app also offers some basic light-scheduling features, including the ability to set custom schedules as well as dawn-to-dusk schedules. But while you can set the brightness for a given lighting schedule, theres no way (using the Ring app, anyway) to ramp the brightness up or down (handy for wake-up/bedtime routines), nor is there a randomized vacation schedule for fooling crooks while youre away.

Of course, theres not only the Ring app to consider. Given that Ring is owned by Amazon, the Ring A19 bulb boasts tight integration with Alexa, which means you can create Alexa routines using the bulb, including routines with morning and night schedules that ramp the brightness up and down. Still, its a nuisance to have to jump back and forth between the Ring and Alexa apps for more advanced light scheduling features, and not even Alexa offers a substitute for the missing vacation mode.

Another curious missing feature in the Ring app is the ability to set up lighting scenes, such as Bright, Dimmed or Nightlight. That means if you want to adjust the brightness for the Ring lights in a given room, youll have to do so individually, or youll have to go to the trouble of setting up an Alexa routine thatll do the job for you.

Overall, it feels that the Ring app is (for now) much more focused on home security than traditional smart lighting, and that could be frustrating for those looking to use the Ring A19 bulb as a standard indoor bulb rather than in concert with Rings outdoor security lights and cameras.

Besides its Alexa support, the Ring A19 bulb also offers IFTTT integration. Perhaps unsurprisingly, however, the Ring bulb wont work with Google Assistant, nor does it work with HomeKit.

It makes sense that Ring would want in on the traditional smart lighting market, and we can see how the A19 Smart LED Bulb would appeal to existing Ring users who want to add indoor and outdoor bulbs that play nice with their motion-sensing Ring devices. But if you dont already have a Ring Bridge or youre not interested in investing in delving into the Ring ecosystem, youre probably better off sticking to such tried-and-true lighting brands as Philips Hue, WiZ, or LIFX.

As we mentioned earlier, Ring is also shipping a PAR38 smart bulb. You can read our opinion of that device here.

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Ring A19 Smart LED Bulb review: Ring dips its toe into traditional smart bulbs - TechHive

Amazon-owned Ring is spreading its wings into smart light bulbs (the company already has a broad array of smart light fixtures), and the Ring PAR38 Smart LED Bulb should appeal for people who havent invested in other smart lighting solutions or who are already in the Ring ecosystem.

This bright, dimmable, and weather-resistant outdoor bulb fits in standard light sockets, and you can set it to turn on when motion-sensing Ring cameras, video doorbells, and landscape lights detect movement. The PAR38 requires a Ring Bridge, but that shouldnt be a problem for its target audience.

Rated to last up to 25,000 hours, the Ring PAR38 Smart LED Bulb joins the new Ring A19 bulb (reviewed here) as the brands first standard smart bulbs. Fitted with an E26 base that screws into a standard light socket, theRing PAR38 is available in both black and white finishes. It feels reassuringly hefty, sturdy, and substantial.

The dimmable PAR38 has been tuned to a neutral white 3,500 Kelvin, a warm-but-not-too-warm color temperature thats ideal for brightly lighting an outdoor space. Capable of emitting up to 1,500 lumens (nearly twice the output of a 60-watt incandescent), the PAR38 smart bulb had no trouble bathing my apartments rear entryway in light.

Measuring 2.34 x 2.46 x 0.79 inches, the Ring PAR38 Smart Bulb is UL rated for wet conditions, meaning you can install it outside where itll be directly exposed to the elements. My PAR38 test unit endured several April downpours here in Brooklyn and appeared no worse for the wear.

The Ring PAR38 Smart LED Bulb had no trouble weathering some strong Brooklyn downpours.

Like Rings A19 Smart LED Bulb, the PAR38 Smart Bulb requires the Ring Bridge in order to take advantage of its smart features (such as dimming, scheduling, and so on). You can buy a standalone Ring BridgeRemove non-product link for $50 if you dont have one already, although youll find better deals when the bridge is bundled with other Ring products; a two-pack of PAR38 bulbs with the Ring BridgeRemove non-product link is currently selling for just $70, for example. The bridge communicates with the PAR38 bulbs using a proprietary RF long-range communication system and can support up to 50 compatible Ring devices, but you can deploy only one Ring Bridge per home.

The setup process for the PAR38 bulb is identical to that of Rings A19 smart bulb, and you can read all about that in our review of that bulb. The short version is that adding the PAR38 bulb to the Ring mobile app is a quick, painless process that worked flawlessly for me.

As with its setup process, the PAR38s features are identical to that of the A19 bulb. In a nutshell, were talking standard light grouping and scheduling features, although the Ring app lacks the ability to ramp brightness up or down automatically, and its also missing a vacation mode to fool would-be burglars when youre not around. That said, you can build brightness ramping into an Alexa routine, while vacation mode is arguably more important for indoor lights than it is for outdoor bulbs.

Also, one of the Ring apps best featuresthe ability to turn on all the lights in a group when a Ring sensor detects motionis key when it comes to the PAR38 bulb, which is well suited for illuminating driveways, backyards, side entrances, and other outdoor areas.

Besides its Alexa support, the Ring PAR38 Smart LED Bulb integrates with IFTTT, but (like other Ring products) it lacks support for Google Assistant and HomeKit.

If youre an existing Ring user and youre looking to turn some of your outdoor bulbs into smart ones, the Ring PAR38 Smart LED Bulb makes for an enticing choice. This affordable Alexa-enabled bulb works well with other Ring security cameras and lights, and its bright and UL-rated for wet conditions. The Ring app lacks the advanced smart lighting features of competing brands, but thats more of an issue with Rings new indoor/outdoor A19 bulb than it is for the PAR38, which is mainly intended for outdoor use.

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Ring PAR38 Smart LED Bulb review: A bright, weatherproof outdoor bulb for folks in the Ring ecosystem - TechHive

These franchise companies ranked among the best in 2020 despite only franchising for a few years.

May4, 20204 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Nine companies in the 2020 Franchise 500 have shown that being a rookie to the game doesnt mean you cant play in the big leagues. With only a few years of franchising experience under their belts, these companies went up against the more than 1,100 other franchisors that applied including many that have been franchising for decades and managed to claim a spot in our annual ranking.

Scroll down to see which brands are making their mark on the industry.

RELATED:The Top 11 Companies in the Franchise 500, Ranked From Cheapest to Most Expensive

Conserva Irrigation is the newest brand under parent company Outdoor Living Brands, which also franchises Archadeck and Outdoor Lighting Perspectives. Conserva specializes in environmentally conscious lawn irrigation repair, maintenanceand upgrades. The company began franchising in 2017 and had more than 80 franchise units open in the U.S. as of last July.

RELATED:Basics of Buying a Franchise Business for Entrepreneurs

Five years ago, Julie Selby took her neighborhood wine and craft night to a whole new level with the founding of Board & Brush. Franchising since 2017, Board & Brush Creative Studio had already grown to 231 U.S. franchises by mid-2019. Franchises offer DIY workshops where friends and family can create custom wood signs while sipping wine.

RELATED:The Top 100 Franchises for Less Than $150,000 in 2020

Lendio is a small-business-loan marketplace founded by Brock Blake and Trent Miskin in 2011. The company began franchising five years later, and despite its youth, this is Lendios third consecutive year ranking in the Franchise 500. Franchisees help entrepreneurs complete a single application that is submitted to more than 75 lenders to get the right loan for their needs.

RELATED:The Hottest Franchise Categories of 2020

SmartStyle is a full-service hair salon brand with more than 500 locations inside of Walmarts across the U.S. and Canada. The business was founded in 1996, but franchises did not become available until 20 years later. Parent company Regis Corporation also franchises Supercuts, Cost Cutters, First Choice Haircuttersand Roosters Mens Grooming Centers.

RELATED:What You Need To Know Before Starting A Franchise Business

My Eyelabs 60-plus locations offer eye exams and eyewear sales, with more than 2,000 frames for men, womenand children to choose from. The retailer utilizes telehealth technology to provide quick and affordable eye care services to customers and reduce costs and inefficiencies for franchisees.

RELATED: 8 Things You Need to Know to Turn Your Business Into a Franchise

In 2010, bodybuilders and personal trainers Dr. Saman Bakhtiar and Alejandra Font made it their mission to reinvent the personal training and gym experience into one that was goal- and group-oriented. On this principle, they founded The Camp Transformation Center, a gym specializing in group bootcamps, community supportand educated nutritional guidance. They began franchising in 2016.

RELATED:Expensive Mistakes to Avoid as a New Franchisee

Motto Mortgage is a mortgage brokerage franchise that was founded in 2016 under its parent company and real estate industry giant RE/MAX. Motto Mortgage franchises can be added onto existing real estate businesses to create a one-stop shop experience for home buyers and refinancers. Mottos franchisees have already closed more than $1 billion in loan volume.

RELATED:6 Risk Factors You Need to Consider Before Purchasing a Franchise

Take 5 Oil Change has been providing quick oil changes since 1984, but just began franchising in 2016 after being acquired by Driven Brands, franchisor of Meineke, Maacoand Carstar. Each location offers a drive-thr- style oil change service, allowing customers to remain inside their vehicle while Take 5s staff handle the rest.

RELATED:Travel Agencies Aren't Dying. They're Thriving!

Inspired to make eyelash extension services accessible to a wider range of beauty consumers, Jennifer Blair and her husband, Mike, founded Deka Lash in 2013, and then began franchising in 2016. Franchisees offer lash services through a membership program, and sell related beauty products, at more than 80 locations across the U.S.

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Want to Run a Hot New Brand? Here Are the 9 Youngest Franchises on the Franchise 500 - Entrepreneur

Residents and businesses in the Morrisons Cove region and surrounding communities are encouraged to show their appreciation for everyone who has been working tirelessly and unselfishly to provide for and support their families, friends and neighbors during the COVID-19 pandemic by taking part in Light Up the Cove at 8:20 p.m. Friday, May 8.

The Morrisons Cove Rotary Club has planned the event as a sign of strength and unity.

The club is collaborating with its members, residents, the business community, municipalities, and fire companies, encouraging them to Light Up the Cove by turning on their indoor and outdoor lights, go outside to clap and cheer, ring bells, and honk horns when the clock strikes 8:20 p.m.

Area fire companies have been invited to bring their fire trucks to designated areas and join the event by turning on their lights and sirens.

The Roaring Spring Athletic Stadium lights will be lit and the scoreboard will display 2020.

The Morrisons Cove Rotary Club is happy to be the catalyst to organize the local community in a special way with Light Up the Cove, said Chrissy Dively, Morrisons Cove Rotary Club president. Our area has many frontline workers, families, kids, and businesses plagued with uncertainty throughout the last few months. This event is to show that we as a community will stick together through these times and show our fellow community members that we are here to support each other. We are encouraging all businesses and individual home dwellings to join us in Lighting Up the Cove.

For more information, contact Dively at 814-224-5556, cdively@procaretlp.com, or visit the clubs Facebook page and website at morrisonscoverotary.org.

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Cove Rotary Club to host 'Light Up the Cove' - bedfordgazette.com

Whether your porch is a place to have a cup of coffee, watch your kids play, or dine alfresco on a nice summer evening, its probably not the first place you think of when considering home repairs and upgrades. But there are several budget-friendly improvements that can make your porch a place to enjoy throughout the year.

Do you notice wobbly railings or faded paint on columns and trim? For a cleaner, more stylish space, consider tightening screws, replacing old wood or giving the area a fresh coat of paint. You can also order outdoor decor, like throw rugs and placemats, to cozy up the space. If your front doors seen better days, you might consider replacing it or painting it a vibrant, happy color like red, yellow or blue.

If your porch fan is buzzing, squeaking or moving slowly, its likely time for a replacement. The same goes for lighting if you see flickering and dimming, or hear humming, its a good idea to call an electrician to evaluate the issue. If your fixtures are dated, replacing them is a simple project with instant results. Hanging string or fairy lights can also add a special, inviting touch to any outdoor space.

Potted plants are the gold standard when it comes to sprucing up your porch for spring and summer whether youre keen to keep things monochromatic or go all-out with a vibrant mix. For a fail-safe design, consider hanging plants on the interior and placing potted plants at either side of the door and along the edge of the porch itself. You can also use potted plants and flowers to line your walkway and add a few path lights to highlight them at night.

Porches, pathways, driveways and other hardscaping elements require regular maintenance to keep them looking their best. Spring is a good time to have a professional pressure-wash the concrete around your homes exterior, as well as siding and other exterior surfaces. Its also a good time to inspect for and take note of any cracks or damage. If you notice an issue, have a pro take a look and get ahead of costly repairs.

Soaking up the sun or settling in for a cup of evening tea is that much better when you can lean back and relax. Even the smallest porches can usually accommodate a chair or two. When it comes to seating, the skys the limit: Choose a classic bench swing, a bistro set, rocking chairs, colorful Adirondacks or even trendy hanging basket chairs. When it comes to perking up your porch, it all comes down to what best fits your space, budget and taste.

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5 inexpensive ways to perk up your porch - The Seattle Times