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Labor Day weekend is great news on its own but for everything else weve rounded up all the news you might have missed when it comes to the goings on in Hoboken + Jersey City. Catch up on all there is to know, including the following headlines: Six26 honors transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson; Prato Bakery is expanding to Jersey City Heights; 400 people attend Hobokens Spaghetti Dinner Block Party; and so much more. Keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Hoboken, Jersey City, + beyond.

Theres been a lot happening this week in North Jersey news, including a 2.3 magnitude earthquake that rattled Morris County on Tuesday, August 30th. The quake was located just under 3 miles away from Morris Plains and hit at 5:14PM on Tuesday, August 30th, per USGS.NBC New Yorkreported that the quake lasted about 30 seconds and was located about 3 miles underground. This event was likely related to the Ramapo Fault Line, which is considered an active fault line and runs through Morristown. Just after the earthquake, a small aftershock (1.7 magnitude) was reported in nearby Lake Telemark, perPatch. Click here for everything we know.

We know Jersey City ismany things to many people, and starting in 2023, it will be the site of a USA Track and Field sanctioned marathon and half marathon event. In fact, the marathon will be a Boston marathon qualifier and the course will be designed to show off the best of all of JCs neighborhoods for both local runners and out-of-town participants. The Jersey City Road Runners organization is working with the City to host the event, and they have a lot to do to prepare for the big day on April 23rd, 2023. Registration officially opened for both the marathon and the half marathon on September 1st. Click here for what we know so far about the upcoming 2023 Jersey City marathon and half marathon as well as how to register.

Prato Bakery recently announced that it is officially opening a fourth location. After years of customers asking for a location to open in Jersey City Heights, the Prato Bakery owners are granting their wish. Coming to 296 Palisade Avenue, Pratos new space will be opening its doors this fall and will be the new home base for the Italian cafes kitchen. Click here to read allabout Prato Bakery expanding.

Community members gathered at Six26 Lounge + Rooftop in Jersey City to celebrate the life of LGBTQ+ activist Marsha P. Johnson. Marsha was a veteran of the Stonewall riot who has been credited with the birth of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Marsha grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey and eventually moved to Hoboken. Click here to learn more about Marsha P. Johnson.

Local wine shop Wine Dads announced this week that it will be opening a second New Jersey location in Jersey City any day now. According to the new Instagram account @WineDadsSohoJC, the new shop will be housed within SoHo Lofts, located at 273 16th Street in Jersey City.

On Monday, September 26th, White Eagle Hall in Jersey City will host a pro wrestling concert in conjunction with the release of The Last Match: A Pro Wrestling Rock Musical. According to Broadway World, the musical features wrestling superstar Matt Cardona, Tony-nominated actor Ramin Karimloo, and Broadway favorite Amber Ardolino.

Local officials announced the return of the First-Time Homebuyer Program, known as the Golden Neighborhood Homeownership Program, with major impact. Pre-applications for the First-Time Homebuyer Program started being accepted online as of September 1st. The program is designed to assist low- to moderate-income residents looking to buy a home within Jersey City with down payment assistance and closing costs up to $150,000. For more information about the application process, please contact the Division of Community Development by phone at 201-547-6910 or at GNHP@jcnj.org.

Local officials announced this week that the City of Hoboken will distribute over $750,000 to the Hoboken Housing Authority and other local non-profits that service low- and moderate-income residents. According to the press release, this funding comes from the Community Development Block Grant.

A Federal appeals court upheld Jersey Citys short-term rental regulations last week, per TapInto. A city ordinance doesnt ban short-term rentals like Airbnb but it does restrict the total stays per year to 60 days. It also prohibits short-term rentals in buildings with fewer than 4 units.

The 2022 Annual Women Rising Celebration of Service Gala has been announced for Thursday, October 20th. The event will be held at 6PM at Liberty House restaurant, located at 76 Audrey Zapp Drive in Jersey City.

As of Wednesday, August 31st, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the nations first variant-specific COVID-19 vaccine, per Patch. This new vaccine will specifically target Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. Updated boosters could be available in New Jersey as soon as the next few days.

The state is recommending a 25-year sentence for a man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of a Bayonne woman in 2019. Sentencing is scheduled for Friday, December 5th, according to Patch. The Bayonne Police Department responded to 484 John F. Kennedy Boulevard on September 22nd in 2019, to find an unresponsive female, later identified as Diamond Robinson, who was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:30AM.

A redevelopment project in downtown Jersey City has begun with a new section restoring a historic factory, according to Jersey Digs. The industrial building will be converted into loft-style residential units and include ground-floor retail space. The property is located at 301 16th Street in Jersey City.

Jersey City Police Department detective Joel Chaviano has been charged with forging insurance documents to a private company, reported TapInto. Chaviano was arrested on Tuesday, August 30th and taken to the prosecutors office where he was released on a summons pending a September 13th court date.

In a recent statement, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy criticized the proposed congestion pricing plan in New York, per NJ.com. The plan would charge as much as $23 to drive in the Central Business District south of 60th street in Manhattan. Murphy pointed out that New Jersey commuters who work in the city are already double taxed. He also cited previous funding to build two new rail tunnels under the Hudson River and renovate Port Authority Bus Terminal, plans for which have been slow to progress.

Every year, Hoboken holds a block party with spaghetti as the main dish of choice, per Patch. This year, about 400 people attended the waterfront event to eat pasta, chat, and make new friends. The block party was catered by The Brownstone and featured pasta, meatballs, sausage, eggplant parmigiana, salad, bread, and of course cannolis.

Two individuals were shot in an early morning incident outside a bar in the West Side neighborhood of Jersey City. According to NJ.com, the victims were brought to the Jersey City Medical Center on Thursday, September 1st around 1AM. The shooting occurred outside the Halftime Bar + Grill, located at 746 West Side Avenue in Jersey City.

Hoboken is no stranger to water main breaks, and this week, Veolia Water alerted the community to avoid one in downtown Hoboken, per Patch. On Tuesday, August 30th, the company tweeted, Crews are conducting emergency repairs on an 8-inch main at Adams Street between Third and Fourth streets. The previous water main break in Hoboken was located one block away, just the week before.

On Monday, August 29th, the Stevens Institute of Technology campus received a shelter in place order following reports of a man with a weapon near campus. The man was eventually located with a rifle-style BB gun. He was charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes after allegedly getting into an argument with construction workers about beginning their work too early. Click here for everything we reported on the incident.

The Jersey City Planning Board approved an application to redevelop the vacant parcel of land on top of a former railroad embankment that runs along 10th street in Newport. According to Jersey Digs, Newport Associates Development plans to construct a 246-unit residential building to the 3-acre plot near Hamilton Park. The building will be called Rampart House, located at 535 Monmouth Street.

Local tech company Propelify announced information for this years Propelify Innovation Festival, reported Patch. The event will take place on Thursday, October 6th at Maxwell Place Park in Hoboken. Speakers include TV personality Al Roker, Pricelines Jeff Hoffman, CMO of MindMed Dr. Dan Karlin, founder of Primary Ventures Ben Sun, and more.

New Jersey real estate moguls the KRE Group plan to build two new skyscrapers in Journal Square, just behind the historic Loews Jersey Theatre. According to NJ.com, the buildings would top out at 55 stories and 49 stories tall with 1,189 units between them, none of which are affordable housing. The land is currently used as a parking garage. The Jersey City Planning Board is scheduled to review the proposal on Tuesday, September 6th.

A relatively unknown law went into effect about nine months ago, requiring shoppers to be above the age of 21 and show ID when purchasing canned whipped cream. According to Today, the cartridge inside the can which uses nitrous oxide to expel the cream is the issue. New York State Senator Joseph Addabbo received numerous complaints from constituents of whipped cream cans littering the streets, allegedly used to do whippits, or inhaling the nitrous oxide to get high.

The next Hoboken Public Safety meeting is scheduled for this Friday, September 9th at 8:30AM at Onieals, located at 343 Park Avenue in Hoboken. According to TapInto, the meeting will focus on public safety initiatives. The meetings are held every other month and hosted by Public Safety Director Ken Ferrante and Councilman Joe Quintero.

On Monday, August 29th, road closures along Route 440 began for emergency sewer repairs, reported Patch. The specific section being repaired runs along western and southern Jersey City, passing Route 9. Construction is expected to take about 14 days.

A lawsuit, which was filed in 2019 against Hoboken Councilman DeFusco for campaign donations, has been dismissed, according to Patch. It is anticipated that the dismissal will trigger a controversial Hoboken ordinance to go into effect, which impacts how much unions can donate to political campaigns.

Last week, we reported on the passing of Hoboken mom Kyelia Colon on Friday, August 19th. According to Patch, a GoFundMe account has been launched in her honor to help support the financial burdens now placed on her six children. At this point, $2,138 has been raised. Little information has been released about circumstances related to her passing.

The Jersey City Police + Fire 9/11 Memorial Blood Drive is happening on Friday, September 9th to honor the heroes of 9/11. According to @JerseyCityNJ, The community is invited to participate and donate blood by making an appointment at redcrossblood.org using sponsor code: Jersey City 911. The blood drive will take place at Hyatt Regency Hotel from 8AM to 6PM.

Photo credit: GoFundMe

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched with the goal of raising $90k for a Hamilton Park bartender and community friend Mel, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. According to the GoFundMe page, she advocates mutual aid, raising money and often paying out-of-pocket to support community fridges, local causes, and small businesses. Shes also a talented artist, a loving dog mom, and incredibly caring friend. She most likely has memorized your drink order, too. At this point, $29,697 has been raised to support Mel as she faces surgery and chemotherapy.

Local officials recently announced that Jersey Citys on-demand, affordable transit service Via has surpassed one million rides since it was launched in 2020. Today, Via is a go-to form of transportation for around 50,000 Jersey City residents and visitors each month, most of whom, according to Mayor Fulop, are lower-income and people of color. The system was put into place to serve areas previously recognized as transit deserts where public transportation was less available.

On Monday, August 29th, industry icons, friends, and family gathered at Liberty House in Jersey City to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Landmark Hospitality. Over the past two decades, Landmark Hospitality Group and its founders, Jeanne and Frank Cretella, have built up a portfolio of restaurants, venues, and boutique hotels in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The first property developed by Landmark Hospitality was Liberty House, located at 76 Audrey Zapp Drive.

The Newport Liberty Half Marathon will take place on Saturday, September 24 beginning at 6AM. The course will span from Newport Green Park to Liberty State Park in Jersey City. According to @JerseyCityNJ, the race will start just north of Newport Green Park and feature seven water stations before finishing at 12th Street and Washington Boulevard. Street closures for the race will affect traffic patterns during these hours so drivers should be aware this may affect normal routes.

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32 Hoboken + Jersey City News Stories You Missed This Week - hobokengirl.com

A vacation resort in the northwest Cape Coral is pending approval by the city and could arrive by 2025.

The Lake Shadroe Resort will be located at 218 Burnt Store Road and will feature 48 resort-style waterfront units with unobstructed views.

The four-floor resort is being brought to life by Cape Coral based developer White Stone Developments, LLC.

It was a real honor to be able to share our vision for the future of the northwest Cape, stated Robert Knight, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of White Stone. Not only will it bring visitors to this beautiful area of the country, it will bring business and jobs to this quickly growing part of Florida.

The Lake Shadroe Resort also includes a two-floor commercial space with spa facilities, retail stores, coffee shop (Because Coffee Co.), waterfront restaurant, tiki bar, and on-site management offices. The marina will have slips and boat rentals, a fuel pump station, and is conveniently located next to the Burnt Store public boat launch.

There will also be a bait and tackle shop where guests have access to marine supplies, souvenirs, and snacks. The Pool Deck will have a resort style pool and Jacuzzi, plenty of lounging chairs and a small private beach.

Its retail, dining, and waterfront amenities will provide great additions to northwest Cape Coral, Knight continued.

The city accepted permits from White Stone Developments in July, and once approved, construction will begin.

Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj

Originally posted here:
Vacation resort planned for northwest Cape Coral | News, Sports, Jobs - Pineisland Eagle - Pine Island Eagle

Photo courtesy Senator Skinners office

By David M. GreenwaldExecutive Editor

Sacramento, CA This week the state legislature approved two bills that they hope will spur housing development (assuming the governor signs them).

AB 2011 and SB 6 would allow for the development at underutilized commercial and retail spaces such as largely vacant strip malls.

These bills will change the trajectory of Californias housing crisis, said Assemblymember Buffy Wicks. The impact will be historic no longer will lack of land be an issue for housing production.

These are the latest efforts by the legislature to attempt to streamline housing and address the housing crisis where some experts believe around 2.5 million additional homes need to be constructed over the next eight years.

As Smart Cities Dive pointed out this week, Housing experts and real estate industry leaders during the Urban Land Institutes spring meeting in April said retail space is overbuilt in the U.S., and the shift to online shopping has prompted retailers to reduce their square footage.

Thus, Replacing those vacant and underutilized strip malls and shopping centers with developments that mix residential housing with stores, restaurants, hotels and commercial space could help the state address its affordable housing needs.

However, many believe that local laws have prevented residential housing in commercially designated zones.

Naturally, California YIMBY praised the effort. In a tweet, Darrell Owens, policy analyst for California YIMBY, praised AB 2011 noting that it upzones for more than 2.4 million additional homes and offers around a 45 percent reduction in GHG over sprawl.

This bill could result in 400,000 low income subsidized units, many of which may be in my own NIMBY backyard, Owens added.

In a statement, state Sen. Anna Caballero said the Senate bill would spur the creation of housing in existing commercial and retail space, and help make homeownership more attainable for working families.

The assembly bill, meanwhile,would accelerate production of millions of affordable and mixed-income housing along transit-friendly commercial corridors, Caballero added.

But, of course, the bill has attracted complaints.

Livable California for instance, called it the worst bill of 2022 for taking away local control.

Among other things, It requires ministerial approval of construction across a broad category of zones including office, retail, and parking.

They add, AB 2011 is a massive state taking of flexibility needed by local jurisdictions to place housing where it best meets the needs of the community. CEQA is circumvented on these projects. CEQA is an important source of information to the community and developers and helps protect the environment.

On the other hand, the bill comes with affordability requirementsfor infill and mixed-use housing, often affordable requirements fall short.

The Senate Bill analysis points out a housing development project may submit an application for a housing development that shall be a use by right and subject to a streamlined ministerial review in a zone where office, retail, or parking are a principally permitted use but one of the keys to ministerial review is that it must meet the affordability requirements where 100% of the units are affordable to lower income households.

It also offers a path for mixed-income housingwhere it requires the project to meet the 15 percent affordability for lower-income households or 8 percent for very low and 5 percent for extremely low. For owner-occupied units, 30% of the units are required to be affordable to moderate-income or 15% affordable to lower-income households for 45 years.

If people dont want peripheral development, then there has to be a way to build housing that is infill. One of the best places to do so is with antiquated and underutilized commercial parcels.

The problem as we know is that it is difficult and expensive to build infill, and especially to redevelop existing structures. While this bill isnt going to address cost, it will make it easier to gain approvals.

This will allow housing projects to get approved and permitted by staff without further approval from elected officials.

The bill analysis notes, Projects reviewed ministerially, or by-right, require only an administrative review designed to ensure they are consistent with existing general plan and zoning rules, as well as meet standards for building quality, health, and safety. Most large housing projects are not allowed ministerial review. Instead, these projects are vetted through both public hearings and administrative review.

Unlike SB 9 and SB 10, with huge amounts of underutilized commercial centers, this bill has a chance to be the kind of gamechanger that the legislature needs to address the housing shortfall.

Excerpt from:
Commentary: Will Housing Bills Help Address Housing Shortfalls? - The Peoples Vanguard of Davis

Building or renovating your home? What an exciting time: it's that rare opportunity to really think about how you like to live and what you need from a space.

Of course, you can choose flooring, think about appliances, the colours you love, etc - but one area that has a huge impact on both design impressions and quality of living, but is often overlooked in the early stages, is electrical design.

Whether you're a typical aesthete, with countless home inspiration Pinterest boards and a love for interiors; or someone who wants their home to perform - to be liveable, smart, and a good investment - speaking to your electrician early will pay serious dividends, in terms of both the finished project and your ease of living in the home.

Homes are becoming smarter by the day, and there are now a huge range of electricinnovations that are about enhancing living. A good electrician can speak to you about your needs, dreams and aspirations, and suggest solutions that will help your home come alive.

SUPPLIED

Bad lighting ruins good design, so if this is top of mind, electrical should be too.

Robert Knight, Residential Electric Design Consultant at PDL by Schneider Electric, says that in the past, homeowners tended to approach the electrical considerations of their home as a kind of afterthought, instead of thinking about it early in the process and as part of the grand scheme.

"By the time some people get to the electrical, they've used up much of their budget and are forced to make critical sacrifices, which means their home doesn't operate as well as it could. We hear it time and time again, people wishing they put in more power points, or thought about their lighting plan earlier on. It really impacts how much they can enjoy their day-to-day use of their home."

He says that simple aspects such as drawing up aplan with an electrician and installing enough power points can make a huge difference to the overall outcome of the build or renovation.

For starters, homes these days can contain literally dozens of devices, including phones, tablets and computers, so having ample USB chargers is a must.

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A good electrician can speak to you about your needs, dreams and suggest solutions to help your home come alive.

Knight also notes that modern households rely on the convenience of wireless Wi-Fi in their everyday lives more than people often realise. However, not all devices arewireless, so it's wise to run data cabling whenever possible for bandwidth-heavy streaming and gaming, for example.

"Even fridges can be smart appliances these days, so plan to put a data cable behind yours."

He says fixtures such as heated towel rails chew up power if they're left on permanently, but now you can set them on timers and even control them from your phone (as you can with many other appliances). Keeping energy consumption at a minimum.

"Motion sensors are another useful feature, allowing you to move around your house safely as lights come on at night or when you open the pantry - or even your wardrobe." Another wonderful space for a motion sensor is the laundry - a space in which we often have our hands full.

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Another wonderful space for a motion sensor is the laundry - a space in which we often have our hands full.

Knight has also noticed that Kiwis have a tendency to under-light their homes in a general sense, but he believes it's actually better to overdo the lighting in the first place, and then make it customisable so that you can dial it back using tools such as dimmers.

Bad lighting ruins good design, so if the latter is top of mind, electrical should be too: plan so that you can have lighting that complements and showcases the elements you're most proud of in your home, such as a special artwork or a feature staircase. You don't want your most beloved items to end up in the shadows.

Savvy designers should also consider the design and style of light switches and power points. PDL has ranges that include anodised aluminium, modern matte and fingerprint-resistant finishes, and in a variety of shades and styles. "You often see this beautiful kitchen with every element considered, except the look of power points, it completely changes the whole aesthetic. Homeowners often just don't know that there are switch and power point design choices out there that actually contributes to the overall design and feel of the space."

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More people are getting online to research all the electrical options for their new build or renovation, and are showing an increased understanding of the benefits of thinking ahead about electrical.

Other key things to consider are security cameras, two-way switches in hallways or large rooms, outdoor power access to create alfresco spaces that are perfect for entertaining and remote access and control of a home.

Knight says that the most compelling reason for factoring in an electricalplan at the outset of a project is the fact that much of this groundwork is difficult to do retrospectively not to mention more expensive.

But he's pleased to note that more and more people are getting online to research all the electrical options for their new build or renovation, and are showing an increased understanding of the benefits of thinking ahead about electrical.

"Good electric home design adds value to your property and is something that will always pay off in the end, especially how much you enjoy just living in your home and it being suitable for your day to day needs."

PDL offers a comprehensive range ofelectrical solutions for seamless, stylish living on their website where you can discover more exciting possibilities for your home. Visit pdl.co.nz/homebodies

See the original post here:
Home design 101: why you need to think about electrical early in the process - Stuff

PEDESTRIAN.TV has teamed up with Blundstone to celebrate tradies.

We all know this world would be a dark place without tradies literally. They keep our lights on, our houses standing and our water flowing. Yet in return, the folks in fluoro seem to cop a lot of judgement from the rest of us.

Why is the world like this?!

Our mates at Blundstone know whats up though and have launched RotoFlex, a range of lightweight safety boots for men and women. Designed with all-new tech built to cushion, ventilate and control moisture, theyre made for next-gen tradies.

To celebrate, were giving five tradies the floor. Fellas from a range of trades are setting the record straight on some of the biggest misconceptions people have about them.

Lets dig in.

We often feel when we enter office spaces that those in a suit give us a certain look or simply perceive us as uneducated scum. From our point of view, this is so wrong because without us dumb tradies, those in suits would not be able to sit in their air-conditioned or fire-protected office space. Phillip, Sprinkler Fitter

Perhaps in the past, people had misconceptions about tradies, thinking they arent smart because they drop out of school, arent educated and have no skills. Which is completely incorrect. Being a tradie teaches you many great lessons which you can adopt in your everyday life, such as work ethic, structure, communication and problem-solving to name just a few. Will, Plumber

People often assume that you are from a low socioeconomic background and werent able to reach a higher education after high school. To become a top-level carpenter, you need to be switched on, have a great understanding of maths, quick problem-solving skills, and decisive delegation for tasks and the team youre presented with. Elijah, Carpenter

Being an electrician is not as physically demanding as some other trades but requires a higher level of thinking. Therefore being a tradie, especially an electrician, can often be mentally draining, rather than physical as you are constantly problem-solving throughout the day at work then, again, not switching off at night. James, Electrician.

People assume were there to rip you off and steal from you. With the prices of materials on the rise and the labour that goes into constructing something, people often dont understand the cost of getting a job done. This leads to people thinking youre trying to rip them off, when in reality, youre just trying to make a fair rate for yourself while giving the best product to your client. Transparency is your best friend here. Elijah

Being a tradie actually has great quality of life as it brings variety, allows you to work outside in the sun, you are part of a team, brings life skills such as problem-solving and youre not stuck behind a desk. It is more practical, active and hands on.

At school, there is a focus on getting a good ATAR to get into uni, only to come out earning $50,000 a year and having $100,000 HECS debt. On the other hand, tradies get paid while they study a four-year apprenticeship, with a $100,000 wage and zero HECS to pay. During school, kids arent made aware of the choice to become a tradie, or the major financial, physical and mental benefits. Instead, it is portrayed as the dumb or second option. Tom, Leading Hand Carpenter.

Every day on site we face different challenges and require problem-solving skills to ensure the job gets done. Im proud to be a tradie, and would much rather wake up and throw a fluoro on rather than having to iron my shirt and put a tie on every morning, Phillip

I also think that tradies are portrayed as grubs with the stereotype that everyone smokes during smoko. This is now inaccurate as most of our generation is actually quite health-conscious, exercising and eating well.

As a Plumber, people automatically assume that all we deal with is poo and blocked toilets when actually there are many different aspects I deal with week to week. Such as roof leaks from all the storms, water leaks from one unit to another, pipe relining due to cracked sewer pipes from tree roots and your general plumbing works and bathroom renovations. Will

As a small business owner, there is no such thing as nine to five. I think most people assume we start early, finish early, and [head] straight to the pub. We also do night shifts and most weekends! Looking back on the pandemic, most trades (if not all), continued to work. This in itself demonstrates not only that we are essential, but how trades of this kind keep the economy functioning. Phillip

A big misconception is that our job is easy. With reno shows like The Block and House Rules, a lot of people find themselves thinking that they can achieve whats on TV. In reality, it takes years of formal training and on-site experience to become a great carpenter. You need the knowledge, skills and physicality to get the job done five days a week. Elijah

I think the general biggest misconception about tradies is that females cant do trades or arent good at trades. There are many females in my company and it is becoming more and more common to see females on the worksite. Tom

And lets not forget, tradies get the ladies! Phillip

So, there you have it. If youve ever made a snarky judgement about a tradie, time to pipe down.

RotoFlex by Blundstone offers stability with the freedom to move. The range is available now, so you can suss out participating stores, here.

Read more:
Tradies Drill Down On What Peoples Biggest Misconceptions About Them Are So Time To Listen Up - Pedestrian.TV

LAKESIDE, Iowa Jenny Ahlers wants her younger brother Craig and her father Rick to be remembered for who they were and how they lived, not the fact that they died by suicide 12 years apart.

Craig Ahlers, 25, was a proud father who adored his baby daughter. He was independent, strong-willed and extremely competitive at darts, bowling and pool. He worked at feed mills and, later, Schoon Construction & Excavation in Cherokee.

"It didn't matter what he was doing, he was going to be the best at it," Ahlers said of her brother, whom she was very close with. The two even lived together for a time as adults. "He was always very driven in whatever he was into."

Rick Ahlers, 58, was just as determined as his son. He was an "amazing" electrician and handyman who could fix anything, according to Ahlers. "Papa Rick" added headlights and a horn to his grandchildren's Power Wheels and made Ahlers an automatic popup camper. Camping with his family in Spencer and Storm Lake was one of Rick's favorite pastimes.

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"He loved to help fix things for other people. It made him feel good," Ahlers said, as she sat in a beige recliner in her Lakeside home. A framed photo of a wide-smiling Rick sat on a TV cabinet nearby. "He always liked to make things more fun. If it was for the grandkids, he definitely went all out on making it awesome."

Jenny Ahlers holds a photo of her brother, Craig Ahlers, playing with her daughter Brooklyn Larson, who is now 23 years old and expecting a baby boy on Craig Ahlers' birthday.

Craig died first on Oct. 19, 2006, in Storm Lake. He is among the 1,031 Siouxlanders who lost their lives to suicide from 1999 to 2020. During that time frame, suicide was the 11th-leading cause of deathin the 21-county region, which includes Buena Vista County, according to data from the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention.

Eighty-five Siouxlanders died by suicide in 2020 alone, the highest number of suicide deaths in a single year overthat 22-year period. Such deaths increased 77% between 2019 to 2020, the year the region's suicide death rate per 100,000 people also topped the national rate by 44.6%.

Siouxlanders, overall, died by suicide at a rate slightly lower (4.1%) than the national average over those roughly two decades. The data shows the greatest number of suicide deaths in Siouxland, 143, was tallied among non-Hispanic white males ages 45 to 54, followed by non-Hispanic white males ages 25 to 34, 136. Males of all races accounted for 81.9% of such deaths in the region.

Jessica Barnes, community-based services administrator for Heartland Counseling Services in South Sioux City, said males tend to turn to more lethal means of suicide. White males, in particular, are less likely to seek help for a mental health condition, she said.

"Especially when you're talking about our region, rural areas -- just that mentality of, 'Pull up your bootstraps and deal with it and get through it' and 'Seeking help makes you weak,' or whatever types of beliefs that a person might have that would prevent them from reaching out," she said.

Before his death, Ahlers said her brother was busy working and being a new dad. He was "just living his life," according to Ahlers, who said she never thought Craig was depressed or that he would ever die by suicide.

Ahlers said depression and other mental health conditions are no different than any other illness, but she said the general public doesn't view it that way.

"You can't see mental illness in the same way you can see a broken bone or any type of injury. I don't feel like it's treated in the same manner and it's not given the same support that someone who is ill perhaps with cancer or something else is," she said.

Jenny Ahlers holds photos of her brother, Craig Ahlers, left, and father, Rick Ahlers, right, at her home in Lakeside, Iowa. Craig and Rick Ahlers both died by suicide.

Dr. Nesrin Abu Ata, a board-certified psychiatrist who practices at Rosecrance Jackson Centers in Sioux City, said the incidence of depression and anxiety, as well as substance use, has increased in Siouxland amid the pandemic.

"Depression is one of the top debilitating diseases; and with depression comes suicide. It's not just people dying of suicide, there's an increase in the burden of the mental health diseases," said Abu Ata, who noted that groups who have low access to mental health care, such as African Americans, Latinos, children, women and transgender people, are at greater risk of dying by suicide, as are those who are incarcerated or have comorbidities.

"And, then, you add to it the economy, a lot of the political, socio-cultural factors -- all that just fed into suicide. We think of suicide as a downstream kind of effect. It's the tip of the iceberg. But, there's all these things that are leading up to it."

In April, Heartland Counseling Services broke ground on a new 20,000-square-foot facility to help address a state-wide shortage of mental health providers and rising suicide rates. Over the past decade, Barnes said the need for staff at Heartland has steadily grown. She ties the increase in demand for services to the pandemic, as well as the rise of social media and more community awareness about mental health.

Barnes said sudden changes in behavior, such as increased irritability, withdrawal, isolation and direct and indirect suicidal statements are warning signs of suicide.

"If they're saying, 'Yes, please help me,' reaching out to any medical professional or any mental health professional is a good start," she said. "Sometimes, people are in such a bad state of mind that it's not that simple to just say, 'Let's go to an appointment.' If that's the case, they could reach out to a crisis line, like Heartland's."

Jessica Barnes, community-based services administrator for Heartland Counseling Services, is pictured in her South Sioux City office.In April, Heartland Counseling Services broke ground on a new 20,000-square-foot facility to help address a state-wide shortage of mental health providers and rising suicide rates.

Heartland's 24/7 crisis line, 402-494-7655 or 877-958-7776, is staffed by responders who screen all calls to assess the problem. If the problem is severe, the responder will contact the licensed mental health therapist on call to request that a crisis assessment be conducted.

Calling, texting or chatting 988 is another option. The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline connects individuals nationwide with a trained counselor who will listen to their problems, provide support and refer them to additional resources.

If you notice warning signs of an undiagnosed mental health condition in a loved one, Abu Ata said you shouldn't be afraid to talk to them about it.

"'If I talk about it, are they going to be sensitive? Is it going to put ideas in their head?' It doesn't," she said. "If you're worried about a loved one, talk to them."

Abu Ata said you can begin the conversation by simply asking, "How have things been?" Ask specifically about quality of sleep, eating habits and how work or school is going. Next, she recommends asking, "How do you think you are doing?" Then, Abu Ata advises bringing up the changes you have observed, before posing the question, "What do you think would help you best?"

Abu Ata said she would help an individual return to their "sense of community" by accompanying them to their church, gym or volunteer organization.

"We all want to feel like we are contributing to something bigger than ourselves and that we are worthwhile and have a purpose. That's the layman kind of intervention," she said. "If you're really worried about somebody, that's when you say, 'Let's go this clinic where you can get help' or 'Let's talk to the suicide hotline.'"

Three weeks after Craig's death, Ahlers said her father was involved in a serious car crash. He suffered disabling injuries and was no longer able to do maintenance work at Metal Works in Spencer, a job Ahlers said Rick loved.

"He was in the hospital for several months in Des Moines at a rehabilitation center learning how to do a lot of things again, but it didn't stop him. He was always very motivated to be better and do more," she said. "He was a fighter in many ways. He just did what he could when he could."

The anniversary of Craig's death was always a hard time for Rick, but Ahlers said her dad was particularly struggling with it in the fall of 2018. Rick was living in Laurens, a city in Pocahontas County, roughly 30 miles northwest of Storm Lake. Ahlers reached out to her dad; and the two communicated before he died on Oct. 21.

"Ultimately, I didn't think that I would lose him by suicide," Ahlers said, voicing quaking, as she wiped tears from her eyes. "I can't imagine being in the pain that he was in and that Craig was in and being in such a deep dark place that you feel that the world is better off without you in it. I can't imagine feeling that hopeless. It makes me extremely sad that he and Craig both were there, because the world was a better place with them here."

Ahlers said she was able to process the grief of her father's death differently than that of her brother's, because she didn't blame herself. Over the years, she said she has gone through counseling and participated in a number of mental health training sessions. Giving back to others has also helped Ahlers heal.

In August 2020, she officially established the Buena Vista County Suicide Prevention Coalition with Casey Orth-Nebitt, a friend who also lost a loved one to suicide. The women recognized a need for an organization in the community that would help reduce the stigma associated with suicide and promote healing, with the goal of ultimately eliminating suicide. The coalition consists of representatives from mental health counseling centers, the school district, media and others who have lost loved ones to suicide.

Ahlers said coalition members reach out to families in the community who have been impacted by suicide with caring baskets and a list of resources. The coalition hosted its first suicide prevention and family wellness 5K run/walk in the fall of 2021 and has another planned for Sept. 24 at Chautauqua Park in Storm Lake. Ahlers said participants will have the opportunity to write messages of hope in chalk on the path during the event.

"I don't want anyone to ever feel like they don't deserve to be here with all of us. I don't want anyone else's story to end too soon," she said.

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Siouxland woman raises awareness of suicide prevention after deaths of brother, father - Sioux City Journal

Abortion vote returns spotlight to obscure Michigan board

A once obscure Michigan elections panel is back in the spotlight after rejecting a ballot initiative asking voters whether abortion rights should be enshrined in the states constitution and another to expand voting in the state.

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers deadlocked 2-2 on party lines on both initiatives Wednesday.

Abortion rights supporters have already said they will ask the state Supreme Court to intervene to place the measure on the November ballot. The organization backing the voting measure is expected do the same.

The board last came under national scrutiny in November 2020 when then-President Donald Trump and his supporters tried to convince Republican members not to certify Democrat Joe Bidens victory in the state. One GOP member abstained, but the other joined Democrats in voting to certify.

It highlighted the possibility that the panel charged with largely clerical duties, not investigating elections could become another hyperpartisan battleground.

The stakes of the abortion rights proposal are particularly high. Its backers are aiming to negate a 91-year-old state law that would ban abortion in all instances except to save the life of the mother.

Michigans 1931 law which abortion opponents had hoped would be triggered by a conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe vs. Wade in June remains blocked after months of court battles.

WHAT IS THE BOARD OF STATE CANVASSERS?

Michigans state constitution of 1850 created the board to handle administrative duties before and after an election. The boards structure has changed over time.

Current law provides for four members two from each political party that earned the most votes in the latest secretary of state election. Michigans 1908 Constitution was the first to mandate that a majority of the board could not be made up of members of the same political party. Theres no process to break a 2-2 deadlock; typically that leads to a court challenge.

Election experts say similar structures arose elsewhere during the Progressive Era as reformers hoped a system of mutual policing would cut down on the influence of party machines on election outcomes.

Since then, federal courts have gained more legal authority to examine evidence and question witnesses, and to address claims related to state-level elections, said Kevin Johnson, executive director of the Election Reformers Network. The nonpartisan group advocates for ranked choice voting and independent redistricting among other election reforms.

Mutual policing is a system that becomes risky in a hyperpartisan environment, so it needs some new thinking, Johnson said.

WHAT DOES THE BOARD DO?

Michigan courts have repeatedly described the boards responsibilities as administrative or clerical, while Michigans elected secretary of state is the chief election official.

But the boards potential to dramatically influence elections has come to the fore in recent years.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin have a board or a commission that fully oversees elections. Most of those states require a certain numbers of members from each major political party, according to NCSL research.

Key responsibilities of the Michigan board include: canvassing and certifying statewide elections, judicial elections and legislative elections that cross county lines; conducting statewide office recounts; and approving electronic voting systems.

The board meets after elections to determine official results based on reports from local clerks. The board members do not audit election results or investigate accusations of fraud.

The board also has a significant role in statewide ballot proposals. Aided by state elections staff, it reviews petitions seeking to put a proposal on ballots and approves the exact language that voters will see on those ballots.

Christopher Thomas, director of the Michigan Bureau of Elections for 36 years until retiring in 2017, said that process became more heated during his career as attorneys representing battling groups sought to win board members over, largely playing to their political alliances.

Its unfortunate, Thomas said. Ive heard board members say theyre there to represent their party, and I found that so antithetical to their purpose.

Still, prior to 2020, the dynamic rarely captured wide public attention.

WHAT CHANGED?

Following the 2020 presidential election, then-President Donald Trump and his allies targeted Michigans Board of State Canvassers as part of a broad and futile attempt to challenge his loss in several states. Trump and his backers, despite no evidence of fraud, demanded that the board refuse to certify the results.

But ultimately, one Republican board member joined two Democrats in certifying Joe Bidens 154,000 vote victory in Michigan. The other Republican board member abstained from voting.

Election experts worry the unsuccessful attempt has fueled efforts to further politicize Michigans canvassing system, pointing to people with a history of backing Trumps unproven claims of fraud getting appointed to county-level canvassing slots.

That heightens the chance of local canvassing boards deadlocking or members refusing to vote, undercutting voters confidence in the system and even risking agitation or spillover into the streets, said Johnson, with the Election Reformers Network.

WHOS ON THE BOARD NOW?

State parties provide a list of potential candidates to Michigans governor, who selects a member from those options. Four-year terms are staggered.

Both Republicans who held the partys seats in 2020 are gone. Aaron Van Langevelde, who voted to certify the results despite pressure from Trump supporters, was not nominated again by the state GOP when his term ended that winter. The board member who abstained from a vote in 2020, Norman Shinkle, resigned in June to run for a state legislative seat.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer selected Tony Daunt from three nominees submitted by the GOP to replace Van Langevelde. Daunt, a longtime party activist, was an outspoken critic of Trumps bid to challenge the 2020 results.

Whitmer appointed Richard Houskamp, another longtime activist, to replace Shinkle. Houskamp told the Detroit Free Press in July that he hadnt seen any evidence of fraud in the 2020 election and that continuing to make those claims is not healthy for the country.

One of the two Democrats who voted to certify the 2020 election results is still on the board: Jeannette Bradshaw, an electrician and elected leader within Detroits International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

The other, Julie Matuzak, resigned in December 2020 after 10 years on the board. Mary Ellen Gurewitz, an attorney who represented Michigan Democrats before the board in 2020, was appointed to replace her.

By KATHLEEN FOODYAssociated Press

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Abortion vote returns spotlight to obscure Michigan board - MyMotherLode.com

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. North American Hoganas steelworker John Swanson takes pride in leading a union, which he calls a voice in your workplace.

Swanson is president of a local branch of the United Steelworkers union USW Local 2632, which includes 342 workers at companies including North American Hoganas powder metal facilities in Hollsopple and Johnstown, Highland Tank & Manufacturing Co. and Gautier Steel Ltd.

With a membership of 1.2 million across North America, he said, the USW is seeing membership grow at a rate it hasnt experienced in decades.

The USW organized 80 years ago, in May 1942.

John Swanson, president of Local 2632 of the United Steelworkers of America, speaks during an interview Aug. 29, 2022, at the union's localoffice at 525 Tire Hill Road.

You want safe working conditions. You want to be able to go to work, put your hours in and go home, Swanson said. You want to go home. You dont go to work to get killed. You go to work to go home with a paycheck for your family.

One of the USWs watershed victories in recent times unfolded in 2020 and involved Johnstown, said USW Pittsburgh education department member John Lepley. That was the unionization of University of Pittsburgh faculty, which includes the Johnstown campus as well as the main campus in Pittsburgh.

The establishment of the United Steelworkers of America began a process of lifting families from generational poverty to middle-class status and safer working conditions, historians say.

Pitt-Johnstown history professor Paul Newman said he is intensely proud of being a USW member.

I think of the incredible work the USW did in the 1930s and 1940s to bring American laborers out of the 19th century and into the modern world, he said.

Johnstown had an important and largely untold role in the creation of the USW, which exists today as North Americas largest industrial union.

A long arc of disgruntlement in the mills in Johnstown and a desire for unionization can be traced back to the 1870s, Johnstown Area Heritage Association President and CEO Richard Burkert said.

Exploitation had followed people for generations as many immigrated to America from Europe and working in the steel mills of Johnstown where they could die any number of ways, but certainly poor, in the fiery, dusty mill plants.

Leading up to the formation of the USW, Johnstown steelworkers were part of the Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC), which carried out strikes in steel towns across America in 1937.

Johnstown was a national flashpoint in the SWOCs 1937 Little Steel Strike.

Johnstowns then-mayor, Daniel Shields, received funding from Bethlehem Steel Corp. to supply hundreds of vigilantes with gas munitions to patrol the streets of Johnstown and provide physical support for the back to work movement, said a Johnstown Area Heritage Association publication.

Following the strike, a special committee of the U.S. Senate known as the La Follette Civil Liberties Committee, held the most extensive hearings in American history at the time into employer violations of the rights of workers to organize and bargain collectively.

A record of the hearings archived on Congress official website reads: The mayor of Johnstown, Pa., Daniel J. Shields, was confronted with evidence that he had received large donations of gas and gas equipment from the Bethlehem Steel Corporation during the 1937 steel strike. Mr. Shields attempted to deny that he had received such gifts People engaged in a controversy should not provide public officials with arms to shoot the other fellow; yet this is just what happened in Johnstown, as the record shows, and in many other towns.

The strikes culminated in organization at companies including Bethlehem Steel Corp. and confirmed the validity of the National Labor Relations Act, paving the way for the United Steelworkers of America, labor histories say.

When the USW was firmly established in the 1940s, the steelworkers ability to improve working conditions and increase wages began reaching not only to the thousands of workers at Bethlehem Steel Corp., but other sectors of the Johnstown economy, too.

The USW continues today, representing workers of AmeriServ Financial Bank, Gallikers Dairy, Safari Contract Cleaners and the Church of the Brethren nursing home.

Unionization of bank tellers was welcomed by AmeriServ officials in 1971, said Michele Scanlan, AmeriServ vice president for human resources. AmeriServ is among 10 or fewer banks out of 4,900 in the U.S. with unionized employees, she said.

The steel workers were our customers, she said. You want to do union work with a union bank. I was always told unionization was a welcomed addition at the bank. It wasnt met with, Oh, we dont want this. It was, Yes, this makes sense for our business.

More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic era ushered in a new generation of laborers to join the USW.

The organization of Pitt faculty was four years in the making.

Paul Douglas Newman sits in his office in Krebs Hall at the Pitt-Johnstown campus in Richland Township on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019.

Newman helped lead a successful union vote at the Johnstown campus in 2021.

Since then, university administration and the union have not come to terms on a contract, Newman said.

Here we are a year later, and we still dont have a contract, he said. One of the paramount things when we pushed to unionize was we felt like we were never consulted about any safety protocols during COVID. Protocols were changing on a daily basis, and we were never really included in making decisions about our own safety and health. So that was one of the big issues that pushed us toward the union, and of course there are a bunch of others.

Although the USW is evolving, the company it was most closely associated with in Johnstown has become a memory.

From the 1950s through the early 1970s, a high school graduate could get a good job with generous benefits and vacation time working at Bethlehem Steel Corp.

Tom Leslie, 67, of Johnstown, followed his father and his grandfather into the Bethlehem mills by the early 1980s. He worked at the Franklin steel plant for 18 years as a stockyard crane operator.

The town had brightened up. People were making money. People were getting old clapboard houses sided, so now they are not just gray company houses everywhere, he said. My dad had a new car every three years, and everybody in the West End of Johnstown were blue- collar workers.

Tom Leslie, curator of A Steelworker's Story at the Frank & Sylvia Pasquerilla Heritage Discovery Center, displays on Sept. 18, 2020, the stopwatch that was in possession of his grandfather Hetrick Miller when he died during a train accident at Cambria Steel Company's Gautier yard, 100 years ago on Sept. 22, 1920.

The prosperity of the steel industry looked like it was going to last forever, but in a matter of years it fell apart, he said.

There was more than one reason for Bethlehem Steel Corps bankruptcy in 1992 after 130 years of steelmaking in Johnstown.

Across the country, the bulk of steel job losses occurred between 1974 and 1986 as foreign competition exported cheaper, below-market steel and steelmaking technology evolved to require fewer man-hours, archives show.

On the final day in business at Bethlehem, Leslie filled a furnace with a few massive bucket-loads of steel ingredients and went home.

In my mind on that last day, Im saying this cant be shutting down, he said. This plant is too big and too important to the defense industry, to General Motors, to Ford. There were manufacturers that demanded Johnstown steel.

Leslie has since worked in health insurance and has built an immense exhibit of Bethlehem Steel Corp. artifacts at the Johnstown Area Heritage Associations Heritage Discovery Center, where he gives historical talks.

The Gautier division of Bethlehem survived and exists today as Gautier Steel Ltd. It continues a 100-year-old process of rolling steel billets to complex shapes for construction of steel buildings. The USW continues its work there, too, negotiating benefits and working conditions around its century-old 14-inch rolling mill as well as its newer, 2010 plate mill.

Gautier has 70 USW union members who negotiate with the companys 30 managers and CEO at 80 Clinton St. in Johnstown, union leader Jeff Plummer said.

Jeff Plummer, financial secretary for USW Local 2632, talks about the history of the United Steelworkers of America in Johnstown during an interview Aug. 29, 2022, at the union's local office at 525 Tire Hill Road.

Plummer, 34, is a Gautier electrician, USW unit president for Gautier and financial secretary for USW Local 2632. He said his motivation to take a leadership role in the union grew from his experience of benefiting from the unions contract when he joined Gautier 11 years ago.

Its nice knowing you can make a better life for not only yourself, but the members beside you, he said. When you can help someone in a way that makes them feel good about themselves and their jobs theres pride in knowing that no matter what, the union always has your back.

Years after Bethlehems bankruptcy, Johnstowns steelmaking workforce attracted the Sweden-based company North American Hoganas to open sites in 2002. The company has a site in Hollsopple and another in Johnstowns Moxham neighborhood. The companys production process involves melding steel to make powder for automobile parts.

Ninety percent of cars on the road have our powder in them, Swanson said.

Swanson, 58, has worked at North American Hoganas Hollsopple location since it opened and at First Mississippi Steel at the same site before that.

When we went from the prior company here First Miss to North American Hoganas there was a clause that they had to recognize the United Steelworkers, he said. And they did, without hesitation, which was the best thing ever.

Organizing is often difficult and always political, Swanson said. The education of young members and constant awareness of political candidates positions regarding unionization is crucial to maintaining labor laws won by the unions forefathers.

We are political, he said. We back candidates to back labor laws and back unions and workers and not just unions, but all workers, because labor laws belong to everybody.

The United Steelworkers of America sign on the wall at the Tire Hill office, 525 Tire Hill Road, on Aug. 29, 2022.

The local USW representatives see the union branching out to new types of workers in the future, Plummer said.

We have active campaigns going on with workplaces, he said. I cant name where, but its happening. We are also looking at places where people maybe 20 or 30 years ago wouldnt form a union, but they are now.

The USW in Pittsburgh has Google contractors among its members.

I think this is a novel workforce, but they still have a lot of the same issues than any other working person would have, Plummer said. In Canada, weve already organized several Starbucks locations very different industries, very different kinds of workplaces. But the bottom line is they go to work to put bread on their table. They have concerns about safety, health care and treatment on the job.

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'Voice in your workplace': Johnstown helped shape United Steelworkers, now 80 years old and reaching into many industries - TribDem.com

From dogs in heat-protectant boots to construction workers advocating for additional protections, Austins historically hot summer has ranged from inconvenient to dangerous.

This year, Austin hit record-high temperatures at least 27 times, had more than 60 triple-digit days and saw an average high of over 103 degrees Fahrenheit in July, according to the National Weather Service. Drought conditions worsened across Central Texas and much of the area saw in elevated risk of wildfires. While the NWS predicts most days in September will remain below 100 degrees, the oppressively hot summer has many Austinites considering what the future holdsboth adapting to short-term needs and addressing long-term changes.

Its concerning because we may be heading in a direction where this might be more the norm, said Jay Banner,

professor in the department of geological sciences and director of the Environmental Science Institute.

Central Texas hot future

Over the years, Central Texas has seen Southwest desert conditions spread east, bringing worse droughts and higher temperatures, Banner said. In a normal year, Austin averages about 40 days of triple-digit temperatures. By the end of the 21st century, it could reach 120 days, Banner said.

Using a climate model to simulate business as usualor no significant changes to the factors causing climate changeBanner said the area could expect about four months of triple-digit days.

The tangible effects of hotter and drier conditions include loss of vegetation, livestock and crops, and significant changes to Austin-area bodies of water, such as Barton Creek. The future could be a very different world for Texans, Banner said.

Surviving the heat

A few years ago, Kasey Lansangan, an electrician and president of the IBEW Local Union 520, was digging a trench when his hands started cramping. When he got home, his wife noticed he was not acting right.

Lansangan later learned he was suffering from heat stress or heat cramping, which is a precursor to heat stroke or exhaustion.

The symptoms of heat exhaustion include general weakness and heavy sweating, a weak but fast pulse. Heat stroke includes a rapid and strong pulse, loss of consciousness and disorientation, according to the NWS.

When you are out there, there doesnt seem to be even a recollection of anything being hotter, Lansangan said.

Now as president of the union, Lansangan stresses the importance of education about the heat and precautions on the job site.

If that saves one life, that is worth it, but if you save one life you are probably saving more without knowing it, Lansangan said.

The union negotiates protections with builders, such as providing water, holding toolbox talksjobsite conversationsabout heat and enforcing Austins mandatory Rest Break Ordinance, which is one 10-minute break for every four hours.

Lansangan said about 15% of Austin-area electricians are in a union, and estimates the other construction trades see a similar representation.

Especially for those individuals who are not represented by a union, Lansangan said it is important the city continue to find ways to protect workers.

Brittney Baize, director of development and communications for Family Elder Care, a nonprofit that helps older adults and people with disabilities with health and wellness, helps oversee the summer fan drive every year. The drive provides fans to low-income individuals over age 65.

We are seeing unprecedented demand, which I feel like I see every summer, but this summer is record-breaking, Baize said.

While most Texas homes are equipped with air conditioning, many elderly residents cannot afford repairs when the system breaks or cannot cover an increase in their electricity bill, Baize said.

Heat is the No. 1 weather-related killer [nationally], Baize said. For older adults or children or those with a medical issue, they struggle to regulate their body temperature. When they get hot, it can be really dangerous.

Making changes

Throughout the summer, the city of Austin has encouraged residents to utilize cooling centers around the city.These centers are places such as libraries, park facilities and community centers that are regularly open to the public.

On July 11, in 109-degree weather, Austin Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison and her family took refuge at City Hall due to a power outage at her East Austin home.

She posted on the council messaging board about the experience and urged her fellow councilors to look for ways to better support residents through the ongoing heat wave and hot summers to come.As a matter of environmental justice, we are obligated as a municipality to have in place the sort of resilient strategies that will protect the least among us even in the worst of situations, Harper-Madison said.

A few weeks earlier she had called for a special meeting to discuss heat-related issues, but it failed to reach quorum.

That same day, June 28, Assistant City Manager Rey Arellano put out a memo detailing the Austin-Travis County Heat Plan.

The plan includes extending the hours of cooling centers during excessive heat warningstypically cooling centers are only open during normal business hoursand increasing surveillance of vulnerable populations during heat advisories.

The city has taken other precautions this year, including opening the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless during the daytypically it is only open in the eveningsto offer unhoused individuals a place to cool off and has coordinated water distribution at homeless encampments.

Beyond concerns around individual safety, local authorities have taken action to address drought conditions and wildfire concerns. In June, Austin entered Stage 1 water conservation standards, and Dripping Springs entered Stage 3. Travis and Hays counties have been under a burn ban for most of the summer. Travis County passed a resolution asking the Lower Colorado River Authority to speed up its conservation plan.

Even as residents find ways to deal with the hotter temperatures, Banner said it is never too late to begin making changes to address climate change and stave off the worst-case scenario for the future.

I think it is easy to think, Wow this is doom and gloom, and this doesnt sound good ... and that is decades off in the future, Banner said. I would say it should be a cause of concern, and a cause for concern now, because we can act now.

Original post:
Central Texans prepare for the future amid one of the hottest summers on record - Community Impact Newspaper

The disco ball is well on its way to making a comeback, and if its reemergence in interiors proves anything, its the magic of mosaic tile. But why stick to a single sphere of tiled goodness when you can introduce mirrored or colored glass to just about any surface? Whether youre looking to add color to an outdoor living space or texture to an otherwise humdrum bathroom, mosaic can easily step in to transform a space into something dynamic, dramatic, and full of sparkle. Below, we take a look at 19 rooms from the AD archive that utilize mosaic to its full potential.

Photo: Oberto Gili, AD, April 2017

Old-world ornament

Roman-style mosaics add a worldly feel to this Studio Peregallidesigned bathroom, while a wood vanity and side table add delicacy to the sea of stone and marble work.

Photo: Jon Miller, AD, March 2004

Tons of texture

Mosaic tile envelops this galley bathroom designed by Tigerman McCurry, creating the sense of a true escape for the homeowners. The frosted glass-pane doors further solidify this spa-like atmosphere. English sycamore cabinetry plays off the color of the mosaic while calling back to the adjacent walk-in closets cabinetry.

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19 Beautiful Rooms With Mosaic Tile in the AD Archive | Architectural Digest - Architectural Digest