James “Jim” C. McCutcheon

January 29, 1958 –
June 22, 2022

James “Jim” C. McCutcheon, 64, of Franklin, passed away Wednesday, June 22, 2022, at home following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Jim was born in Olean, NY on January 29, 1958, a son of Ellamay (Hair) and the late Larry McCutcheon.
On December 28, 1984 Jim married Kimberly “Kim” Roberts; she survives.
Following his 1976 graduation from Conneaut Lake High School, Jim entered the US Army and served his country honorably until his discharge as an E-5 in 1979. Most of his service time was spent in Alaska, where he continued to live until 1986. Upon his return to the continental US, he enrolled at Clarion University, graduating in 1990 with a BS in Medical Technology. He then became employed as a lab technician at both the Franklin and Oil City Hospitals. He went on to own and operate his own air duct cleaning business, Indoor Air Repair. Later in life, Jim was employed by the US Postal Service in Franklin as a rural mail carrier until his retirement in 2018. Jim loved spending the winters in Florida. His favorite times there were spent walking on the beach, watching the sunrise and sunset. Jim enjoyed shooting darts, playing pool and sitting around the campfire watching the fireflies. He loved his family deeply and was especially proud of his son and daughter. Jim will be sadly missed.
In addition to his wife, Kim, of 37 years, Jim is survived by two children Ryan James McCutcheon (significant other Brianna Dawkins) of Boise, ID, Melissa McCutcheon (fiance Donald Smuck) of Bastrop, TX; his mother Ellamay Johnson of Girard; a brother Larry McCutcheon (Joanne) of Olean, NY; a sister Kathy Hines (John) of Linesville; his father in law Donald Roberts of Saegertown; brothers in law Tim Roberts of Saegertown, Steve Roberts (Charese) of Mercer, Gene Roberts (Brenda) of Whispering Pines, NC; his beloved dogs Maya and Molly; as well as many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his father, Jim was preceded in death by his step father Raymond Johnson with whom he was very close; and his mother in law Janet Roberts.
Family and friends are invited to call from 4-6 PM on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at STEPHEN P. MIZNER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, 330 BROAD ST., SAEGERTOWN, where a Memorial Service will be held at 6 PM with Pastor Jeff Little of Saegertown United Methodist Church officiating. Full Military Honors by VFW Post #2006 will follow.
Memorial contributions may be made in Jim’s memory to Hirshberg Foundation for pancreatic cancer research, 2990 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90064 or Precious Paws Animal Rescue, 720 Atlantic Ave., Franklin, PA 16323.
Share a memory or condolence at www.miznerfuneralhome.com

Published on June 26, 2022

Originally Appeared Here

Did you know that the indoor air quality in your home or office can affect your health? Poor air quality can cause respiratory illnesses and low productivity levels at home or work. Indoor air may contain many harmful particles and materials with a wide range of effects on a person’s health. So, it’s best to ensure that your home has quality air. One way to monitor this is through air quality testing.

 

In this article, we’ll tackle several reasons for having your indoor air quality tested.

 

• Improved Air Quality Is Good For Your Health

 

Whether you suffer from allergies, asthma, or just a general sense of unease, improving the indoor air quality of your home can be a game changer. Not only can improved indoor air quality make you feel better, but it can also help you sleep better and improve your overall health. Allergies can cause many uncomfortable and even dangerous health conditions.

A professional indoor air quality testing service will help you determine whether your indoor air quality is sufficient for a safe and comfortable environment. So, if you want to ensure that your home has the best air quality possible, you can hire expert services to test your indoor air quality.

 

• Improves Comfort & Productivity

 

Whether at home or in the office, improving indoor air quality is an important task. Improved air quality can reduce the incidence of illnesses, improve comfort, and even prevent some diseases.

Improved air quality can have a profound impact on the health and productivity of employees. Workers who work in dirty, poorly-ventilated buildings are more prone to suffering from respiratory illnesses and other problems. Poor air quality can even impact the quality of one’s mental health. The good news is that improving indoor air quality is not difficult. It’s an easy way to enhance your comfort level. To improve indoor air quality, hire a professional or get a commercial HEPA air purifier.  

 

• Increased Energy Efficiency

 

If you’ve been thinking about improving your home’s energy efficiency, getting your indoor air quality checked is a great way to start. An indoor air quality test can reveal many problems with your home. It includes an energy audit and other invaluable insights from an expert in home performance.

A professional air quality tester will identify sources of indoor pollutants and recommend solutions to improve air quality. Whether you’re looking to make your home more energy efficient and reduce your monthly electric bills, getting an indoor air quality test can help you with that.

 

• It’s Not That Expensive

 

The price of an indoor air quality test depends on the size of your property or building. An air quality inspector can assess your home or workplace to identify all possible pollutants and their causes. It can also indicate if you need to improve your home to have proper ventilation.

Many homeowners and business owners consider air quality tests unnecessary and expensive. But in reality, it’s an investment that pays for itself in the long run since it guarantees your family or your employees’ health.

 

• Identify Sources Of Airborne Pollutants

 

Using an indoor air quality test can help you detect the source of any airborne pollutants such as allergens. Regardless of the cause, you must address these pollutants immediately to prevent them from causing health problems.

Allergens can cause respiratory issues, including coughing and watery eyes. They can also worsen asthma if left untreated. To reduce the number of allergens in your home, test for airborne allergens and mold. Once you’ve done this, you can start cleaning your home. It won’t only improve your family’s health but also better your quality of life.

 

• Gives You A Peace Of Mind

 

As mentioned, poor air quality can harm everyone’s health. If you’re a homeowner, you don’t want your family to continue breathing dirty air that may cause them to develop several health problems. If you’re a business owner, you don’t want your employees to be sick, as it may reduce their productivity and end up hurting your company’s bottom line.

An indoor air quality test is the only way to improve the indoor environment for it to be a healthier, more comfortable, and more productive place to work or live in.

A handheld IR thermovision camera is seen closeup, checking the insulation levels inside a domestic home with blurred timber beams in background.

Final Thoughts

Many people doubt the necessity of testing indoor air quality in their homes or offices. They may think that it’s unnecessary and expensive. But poor indoor air quality can harm your health. Many people live in houses or work in offices with poor air quality without even realizing it. So, it’s best to perform air quality testing frequently.

Originally Appeared Here

No sooner had Revlon announced bankruptcy, that a suitor emerged for the beleaguered beauty company. News that Indian conglomerate Reliance Corp. was considering placing a bid for Revlon was the most-viewed news on Happi.com for the week ended June 25. It topped news of a new director of business development at SK Capital.

Here are the top 10 most-viewed news items on Happi.com for the week ended June 25.

1. Reliance Mulls Revlon Acquisition

2. SK Capital Taps Asim Bhatia, Director of Business Development

3. P&G’s Febreze/Swiffer Collaborate with Carrier Corp. on Indoor Air Quality

4. Mario Badescu Beauty Brand Debuts Martha Stewart Facial at NYC Event

5. Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Expands with New Probiotic Cleaners

6. Color Cosmetics Consumers Return to Pre-Pandemic Makeup Routines

7. Moroccanoil Introduces Coral Color Depositing Mask

8. Cosmetics Experts Experts Tajmeeli Reveal Summer 2022’s Hottest Nail Trends on TikTok

9. Youtuber Creator of Kravebeauty Liah Yoo Launches Innovative Makeup Remover

10. L’Oréal Canada Launches Business Data Lab

Originally Appeared Here

Any day now, Ania Nolan hopes to hear good news from Ukraine.

The Hudson, Wis., resident sent three boxes of blankets to the war-torn country earlier this month, the final step in a service project that began with her daughter’s fifth=grade teacher, Katy Cook. Six students from Cook’s gifted and talented class at Hudson Prairie Elementary School spent about 8 weeks making 32 tie blankets for kids at the Lviv, Ukraine, children’s hospital.

Cook dreamed up the project, and Nolan, who was born in Lviv, helped with logistics. The Rotary Club of Hudson donated $840 to pay for shipping, which Nolan had to do through a Polish connection because the U.S. Postal Service has stopped deliveries.

The blankets will go to children at the hospital, including refugee children who have fled other areas of Ukraine.

Matt McKinney

South St. Paul

Dakota County, South St. Paul sign library agreement

Dakota County and South St. Paul are joining forces to build a new, 16,000-square-foot library.

Under a joint powers agreement between the city and county, South St. Paul will be responsible for providing the site at the corner of Marie Avenue and 7th Avenue. The city will also transfer the library’s collection to the county, maintain the grounds and pay utility bills.

The county will pay to build the library, transition city employees to county employment and maintain the building.

Whether the library will be constructed as a net-zero energy building remains up in the air. The cost of building the “base design” library is about $9.8 million, while the net-zero building’s price tag would be about $10.5 million.

The cost to operate and maintain the library is estimated at $890,000 a year.

Erin Adler

Anoka

Bike patrols to hit streets

The Anoka Police Department is bringing back bicycle patrols, something the agency last had in the 1990s and early 2000s.

“I had been thinking of how the police could become more visible and approachable and how being on bikes could make that happen,” said Police Chief Eric Peterson. “The bike may be the icebreaker for the public to strike up a conversation and an opportunity for the officer meet people in the community that they might not otherwise have contact with.”

Officers will ride primarily during daytime hours in the downtown area, but could also use bicycles during special events and in areas where squad cars can’t go, such as along trails and in parks, Peterson said.

Tim Harlow

Ramsey County

County pursues smoking ban

Ramsey County may ban smoking, vaping and commercial tobacco product use on property it owns and leases — including by people sitting in cars.

St. Paul–Ramsey County Public Health is sponsoring the tobacco ban, which would apply to indoor and outdoor spaces, including parks, and to private vehicles parked on Ramsey County property.

The County Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed ordinance at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The ordinance is designed to protect public health as well as reduce childhood exposure and use, according to a county press release.

“The Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act and Ramsey County clean indoor air ordinance already ban smoking and vaping indoors and within 25 feet of entrances, exits, open windows and ventilation intakes of public places and places of work,” the release said. “If passed, this ordinance would replace the Ramsey County clean indoor air ordinance, which was adopted in 2015.”

Shannon Prather

Originally Appeared Here

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District board has approved a Clean Air Rooms pilot program, giving people free in-home air purifiers to improve indoor air quality during wildfires.

The pilot program will give about 1,500 free residential air purifier units with one additional replacement filter to residents throughout valley disadvantaged communities, according to an air district news release.

Residents who live in typically low-income communities as defined by CalEnviroScreen can receive a portable air filtration unit to help purify the air in their residence, especially during times of low air quality.

Originally Appeared Here

For the second time this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has formally objected to an air pollution permit issued by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, sending it back to the state for revisions and more detailed explanations on how the existing permit will ensure compliance with the Clean Air Act and other environmental regulations.

The EPA last week granted parts of a petition filed by Alabama environmental groups protesting the Title V air pollution permit for the Alabama Power’s James M. Barry Electric Generating Facility in Mobile County, ordering ADEM to add more detailed explanations about the permit and to add a fugitive dust plan to address coal dust from escaping the site.

The petition was filed by the Sierra Club, Birmingham-based environmental group GASP and the Mobile Environmental Justice Action Coalition (MEJAC).

The EPA denied the parts of the petition arguing that the air pollution permit for Plant Barry was insufficient to ensure compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards for sulfur dioxide (SO2), but granted the petitioner’s request for a formal objection on the grounds that the ADEM permit “is insufficient to explain” how the emissions limits in the permit would ensure that those limits aren’t exceeded.

ADEM Air Division Chief Ron Gore told AL.com the department will have 90 days to address the issued specified in the EPA order.

Gore said the only substantive change in Plant Barry’s permit will be the addition of a fugitive dust plan.

“We’re in the process of fixing [the permit] by providing the explanatory material that EPA requested,” Gore said. “We have the information that we have used historically to say, ‘we’re certain there’s not an air quality problem for SO2 around that plant.’”

Gore said the revised permit will be sent back to EPA for approval and the petitioners who objected the first time will also have a chance to review the revisions and can petition again if they feel the result is unsatisfactory.

“We’re going to do our best to satisfy the EPA and hopefully the petitioners as well in the first shot [at revising the permit],” Gore said.

Environmental groups hail EPA decision

The environmental groups that filed the petition issued a news release calling the EPA’s decision a win in the fight against air pollution.

Ramsey Sprague, president of MEJAC, said his group was “encouraged” by the EPA’s response to the petition.

“EPA’s leadership on the letter of the law when it comes to basic Clean Air Act reporting, monitoring, and record keeping standards is key to ending the cycle of abuse that far too many communities have suffered under for far too long,” Sprague said in a news release.

Michael Hansen, executive director of GASP, said the order shows that state regulatory agencies must be vigilant in ensuring that environmental laws are enforced.

“State and local agencies are far too often asleep at the wheel, and they are now on notice,” Hansen said in the release. “ADEM now has the opportunity to draft a stronger, more protective permit for Alabama Power’s Plant Barry.”

ADEM’s second permit objection this year

The permit for Plant Barry was the second ADEM-issued air pollution permit that the EPA has found fault with this year.

Last month, the EPA similarly objected to an air pollution permit issued by ADEM for the UOP Honeywell chemical manufacturing plant near Africatown in Mobile County. In that instance, the agency determined that ADEM had “failed to adequately respond to significant public comments” raising concerns about the facility, as it is required to do by law.

GASP and MEJAC also worked to file the petition challenging the UOP Honeywell permit.

Gore said this week that ADEM was working to address the issued cited by the EPA Administrator in that instance as well, and will provide additional information and explanation for the permit.

EPA decisions could change ADEM permitting

Gore said the added scrutiny from the federal regulators will mean more work for ADEM in issuing permits with lengthier and more detailed explanations.

“It represents a big change in what we’ve done for the last 30 years,” Gore said. “We never thought there was anything wrong with the amount of explanatory material we’ve put in these Title V permits and their bases. It was kind of a surprise to us that EPA granted the petition.”

Gore said ADEM administers approximately 300 major-source pollution permits that have to be renewed every five years.

“If you’ve got 300 permits, and in every five year period there’s 300 weeks, that’s a permit a week, you’ve got to get out,” Gore said. “And so if you’ve got something that’s 10s, or hundreds of pages already, that’s going to make it more more lengthy.

“So yes, it is going to be a burden.”

Gore said that prior to this year, the EPA had objected to “around five” ADEM air permits in the 30-year history of the Title V program, before the two most recent objections.

“A lot of that is the new EPA administration is insisting on more, I guess, public involvement than historically has been provided,” Gore said.

Originally Appeared Here

(KERO) — The Valley Air District Governing Board approved a pilot program which will provide air purifiers to residents in disadvantaged communities.

The Clean Air Rooms program will have about 1,500 free residential air purifier units with one additional replacement filter.

The district said the goal of the program is to lessen the health effects of wildfire smoke.

Residents interested in information about this program can receive information by signing up for the Clean Air Room: Residential Air Purifier Program email notification list.

“Smoke from severe wildfires can inundate the Valley and make its way into homes, causing health impacts to our most vulnerable residents,” said Samir Sheikh, Executive Director/APCO of the Valley Air District.

“This program is designed to help families who may not otherwise be able to buy an in-home air purifier to protect their families during wildfires.

Originally Appeared Here

Jun. 24—LIMA — Lima/Allen County Regional Planning Commission is a voluntary association of delegates interested in understanding and addressing the needs of Allen County.

The LACRPC has established a plan known as the 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan. It includes a list of 137 projects, resulting in over $238.5 million in infrastructure investment.

These projects will consist of roadway resurfacing, bridge replacement, intersection enhancements, technology upgrades, bicycle and pedestrian improvements and more. The LACRPC reports that no new capacity-adding projects have been added to the 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan since that plan was approved on August 16, 2018.

In order to remain within air quality standards and regulations, the LACRPC is seeking public comments on the Air Quality Transportation Conformity of the 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan. According to the Conformity report, ‘the concept of transportation conformity was introduced in the Clean Air Act of 1977, which includes provisions to insure transportation investments meet the Federal air quality standards’. A new conformity determination must occur every four years in order to the standards of the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).

This LACRPC is looking forward to hearing from the community. The close of business will be July 22, 2022. The plan can be found on their website at www.lacrpc.com. Comments can be submitted by email to [email protected], by phone at 419-228-1836 or in person during business hours at 130 W North Street, Lima, Ohio. For more information, contact Shaunna Basinger at [email protected]

Originally Appeared Here

Question: Are residential landlords required to supply working air conditioning (AC) in each habitable unit?

Answer: No, air conditioning is not required for a property to be considered habitable — but proposed legislation in 2022 may change that.

It’s getting hot in here

Every summer, California’s dangerously hot temperatures lead to discomfort, hospitalizations and even death.

In 2017, a massive heat wave hit San Francisco resulting in 14 people dying of heat stroke and 79% of those people experienced symptoms at home, according to the Public Health Institute. Socioeconomic inequality plays a major role in many poor industrialized neighborhoods that won’t beat the heat, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Many homes in San Francisco don’t have central air conditioning (AC) or even individual AC units. Homes in Northern California are not equipped to handle major heat waves and heat can get trapped inside, AC having never been standard, according to the San Francisco Times. As climate change causes more consistent heatwaves in California, it’s more dangerous than ever to be without an AC.

But does California’s building code consider homes uninhabitable when individuals are experiencing heat strokes and dying?

Related Article:

FARM: Heat safety tips

A habitable dwelling

Every residential tenant is entitled to a unit with habitable conditions. A habitable unit requires a minimum acceptable level of safety, utility and sanitation in a residential rental. Landlords need to care for the premises by maintaining habitable conditions. This entitlement requires all amenities or appurtenances to be present and working, including:

• weather protection, including working windows or doors;
• proper plumbing;
• working gas facilities;
• hot and cold running water connected to a sewage disposal system;
• heating facilities;
• access to electricity and regulated wiring;
• a property free of pests or vermin with sanitary conditions;
• clean garbage and recycling bins;
• working floors, stairways, or railings; and
• a residential mailbox. [Calif. Civil Code §1941.1]

When any of these amenities stop working or become faulty, the landlord is required to make repairs, since the malfunction will determine a residence uninhabitable, according to the California Department of Consumer Affairs.

However, air conditioning is notably absent from this list. Likewise, when a property does have central air, but the AC unit stops working, it must be repaired within thirty days after a notice is served since it is considered an inconvenience. [CC §1941]

A do-it-yourself tenant

When a tenant takes it upon themselves to repair an AC unit, there are some things to keep in mind.

The tenant of a residential property is not expected to make repairs to major components of a residential or rental property. A landlord ought to make changes and repairs to plumbing or electrical issues— when a tenant takes it upon themselves to repair something it must be less than one month’s rent and the tenant may deduct the cost from the rent under, repair-and-deduct remedy. This is only possible when the landlord agrees to these conditions. [CC §1942]

When a landlord refuses to let the tenant repair a unit, and desires to fix it themselves, a landlord has 30 days to repair an inconvenience. [CC §1942(b)]

The landlord is exempt from repairs when the tenant breaks or damages the unit themselves. [CC §1941.2]

Related Article:

Letter to the editor: Can I list an “as-is” property for sale in California?

Legislative Gossip

While air conditioning is not currently required, proposed legislation may change that.

Assembly Bill (AB) 2597 proposes to require safe indoor temperatures by means of improved insulation, air sealing, increased shade, cool roofs, fans, heat pumps, and, when necessary, air conditioning.

In terms of changing the law, this bill will make safe indoor air temperatures a requirement and will mandate landlords to provide access to proper air conditioning for a property to be considered habitable. The Department of Housing and Community Development will be required to develop and propose a mandatory standard for safe maximum indoor temperatures. This will change future homes in California forever.

 

 

 

Originally Appeared Here

Context:

A Facebook post claims that “99 percent of cancer is caused by parabens (toxins) found in most beauty products, skin products & home fragrances… ” The user shares a video showing how an air purifier reacts to deodorant and air freshener sprays. However, the user does not present any reliable evidence to back the claim or its relevance to the air purifier test.

In Fact:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explains parabens as chemicals used in small amounts as preservatives in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, foods, and beverages. The commonly used parabens are methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben. The FDA is continuously reviewing, researching, and studying the effects of parabens on human health. The FDA has stated that no research confirms that parabens used in cosmetics could affect human health. 

Cancer Research U.K. updated an article on “Do cosmetics and toiletries cause cancer?” in November 2020. It noted that “small studies in rats found that parabens might act like the hormone estrogen, which is linked to breast cancer.” However, there is no scientific consensus over any evidence linking parabens to cancer in humans.

Healthline writes that the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has listed methylparaben as a “low to moderate health hazard.” However, the hazard is only regarding allergic reactions or product usage exceeding the recommended level. 

Chemical Safety Facts, a website managed by the American Chemistry Council, explains reports that suggest parabens can cause cancer through an endocrine disruption that acts like estrogen. They noted the studies conducted on animals showed a positive reaction to estrogenic reaction only when the paraben dose was in extremely high amounts. This amount is far greater than anyone would be exposed to “under actual or repeated use conditions.”

Similarly, Breast Cancer U.K. stated that parabens were found in the breast tissue, “but this really doesn’t mean much;” as they have been found in many other tissues because of the wide use of parabens. Parabens are known to “penetrate the skin and act like a very weak estrogen in the body.” 

On February 8, 2022, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) published a study titled “A Minireview: Parabens Exposure and Breast Cancer” in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. The paper concluded that “the direct link of the estrogenic effect of parabens to breast carcinogenesis is debatable.” They note that some research findings have suggested “parabens may negatively interfere with some endocrine targets relevant to breast carcinogenesis; however, evidence from in vivo and epidemiological studies linking paraben exposure to breast cancer is limited.” Also, future studies are required to investigate “paraben mixtures and their crosstalk with other endocrine-disruptive chemicals (EDCs) or signaling pathways both in vitro and in vivo in the context of breast cancer development are warranted.”

The FDA notes that if any health hazard is discovered, it will take action and notify industries and the public. It will further consider the agency’s legal options under the authority of the FD&C Act to protect the consumer’s health and welfare.

The air purifier used in the video in question is of the brand Scentsy. The official website of Scentsy describes the product’s function. It “automatically detects particles in the air,” and its filter is “capable of removing at least 99.95 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns (µm) including dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria.” Therefore, regardless of what is sprayed near the air purifier, it is designed to start the filter function, and a glowing red light indicates the function. There is no exception for specific chemicals, including parabens.

The Verdict:

There are various combinations of chemicals in cosmetics, and it isn’t easy to show a definite cause and effect of a specific chemical. Health organizations have suggested that reports showing parabens can cause cancer are limited, and further studies are needed. No substantial evidence shows a direct link between the use of cosmetics and cancer. It is exaggerated to say parabens found in cosmetics cause 99 percent of cancer. Hence, we have marked this claim as false.

Originally Appeared Here