If energy savings and eco guilt factory heavily in your home appliance shopping, Samsung has your number with its 2023 lineup of snazzy, high-end, kitchen and laundry appliances.

While these modern-looking goods are dressed down in design ornamentation, Samsung’s Bespoke refrigerators, ovens, washers/dryers, and now even a wall-mount vent hood are all tuned up with Samsung’s Energy Star-certified SmartThings Energy management system, enhanced by an all-new AI-Energy Mode.

This smart-monitoring tech promises to reduce the energy consumption of Samsung appliances by as much as 30 percent. The tech takes note of your savings goals and then helpfully adjusts the settings of your appliances accordingly. Your Samsung dishwasher and washing machine might drop the temperature of the water used to wash your dishes and clothes, for example, while your freezer might raise its target temp a degree or two in order to consume a bit less electricity but still keep your food frozen.

New for 2022: Samsung’s side-by-side smart refrigerator/freezer joins the company’s other Bespoke appliances, including a range and a vent hood that can take to each other.

Samsung

The artificial intelligence knows when you’ve been sleeping—and have accidentally left the stove on or the fridge door open—and then sends you an alert to that effect. It also works in mysterious ways to analyze the contents of your refrigerator, the clothes in your washing machine, or the food in your oven. The tech then issues appropriate guidance, prepping must-get shopping lists, dispensing advice on wash-cycle selection and soap additives, or counseling on the best prep time and temperature for food in the oven.

Bespoke 4-door Flex with Family Hub Refrigerator

Truly a centerpiece for the smart home, this four-door fridge boasts a built-in SmartThings hub (pictured up top), so you can easily connect all SmartThings-compatible devices (everything from lighting controls to your smart thermostat) without any additional hub hardware. You can then steer the show on the fridge/freezer’s built-in Family Hub+ touchscreen, which has grown on the new model to 32 inches measured vertically, up significantly from previous models with 21.5-inch screens. Split-screen options let you simultaneously call up recipes, check the oven temp, and even watch TV.

Equal parts cool and spooky, the fridge’s AI-powered internal camera uses optical character recognition to analyze food images and labels, so it can tell you when it’s time to stock up on foodstuffs. A special FlexZone compartment can be converted from fridge to freezer, and the Beverage Center hidden inside the upper-left-hand door serves water and ice—the latter in cube or “ice bites” form.

Bespoke Side-By-Side Refrigerator

You’ll need to do without a big screen on this model, but this fridge abides by the same eco-consciousness and industrial-design aesthetic as the 4 Door Flex.  A Wi-Fi embedded SmartThings app connects to the new and improved ST Energy platform to track, manage and optimize daily power consumption, working and sharing all on your smartphone screen. The sleek Bespoke styling revels in modern minimalism with flat panels, discrete recessed handles, and touch sensors on both doors that magically open and close even when your hands are full.

Bespoke AI Wall Oven

You can control Samsung’s Bespoke wall oven remotely, thanks to its SmartThings connectivity.

Samsung

Nothing’s left to doubt here: Has the cake risen?  Is the roast burning? This AI- and Wi-Fi-enabled, advanced oven knows all. Without opening the door, an in-oven AI Camera will detect and suggest optimal cook settings, allowing you to visually check on your food’s progress on its 7-inch color LCD screen. Or you can tune into the show via the SmartThings app on your phone.

Food bloggers will dig the ability to share pictures and stream live video of their cooks to a social platform or to their cohorts in the SmartThings Cooking community. This wall oven’s snazzy screen and digital touch controls are also at the ready to navigate through cook settings and modes, which include Air Sous Vide, Air Fry, Steam Cook +, and Flex Duo. That Wi-Fi linkup to Samsung SmartThings Cooking also invites you to remotely preheat the oven, set timers, and sync recipe settings from your smartphone, even when you’re out of the house—but hopefully not too far away.

Bespoke Wall Mount Hood

This vent hood can connect with the smart Samsung cooktop beneath it to automatically adjust ventilation depending on your cooking activity. It also has the smarts—including an indoor air quality sensor—to sniff out the cleanliness of the air in your kitchen and send alerts to its built-in screen and/or the SmartThings Air app on your phone. The hood circulates and deodorizes air at a rate of 700 cubic feet per minute, with a noise level of just 65 decibels at its highest fan setting. You’ll  also get a message whenever it’s time to change the air filter inside.

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WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Matt Dean of The Heartland Institute warns hard-working Americans will pay the price for efforts to ban gas stoves.

In recent years, global warming zealots have sought to ban gasoline-powered cars, gasoline-powered lawn tools, and a whole host of practical, fossil-fuel-dependent products Americans have come to rely on to make their lives better.

Now the climate change brigade has set its sights on gas stoves. 

Believe it or not, President Joe Biden’s consumer watchdog bureau is threatening to haul away your gas stove by next Christmas. 

The Consumer Product Safety Commission website focuses on the 152,000 toy injuries in 2021 and the 2,400 deaths resulting from home fires. But rather than use a pre-holiday online forum to talk about dangerous toys or sparky space heaters, the CPSC chose to warn people about the dangers of climate change and fossil fuels, starting with your gas stove.

We are now heading into the teeth of an undeniable recession, after two years of historic inflation. But the situationally unaware fabulists cannot be deterred from disconnecting you from things you can burn, starting with gas.

A recent study from Pecan Street found that it could cost nearly $100 billion to transfer the United States from natural gas in just the initial phases of necessary power panel upgrades for homes. Industry representatives estimate that the average family would spend an extra $1,000 per year in energy costs in addition to the unfathomably large up-front money to convert their homes from gas-powered stoves to so-called green energy sources.

Richard Trumka, a commissioner on the Consumer Product Safety Commission, warned Americans about the long-term environmental and health impacts from gas cooking stoves in a recent online message to the Public Interest Research Group. Mr. Trumka asked viewers to “spread the word about this hidden hazard before you gather with family and friends for the holidays.”

The climate action group Mothers Out Front recently asked CPSC to “consider the full range of options at CPSC’s disposal, including mandating lower level CO detectors and requiring warnings on gas stoves, all the way to requiring replacements.” Mr. Trumka seems to have taken that to heart.

Mr. Trumka solicited input on upcoming regulation, saying, “We need to be talking about regulating gas stoves, whether that’s drastically improving emissions or banning gas stoves entirely.” He added, “I think we ought to keep that possibility of a ban in mind because it’s a powerful tool in our tool belt and it’s a real possibility here.” Mr. Trumka warned that new regulation could be “on the books by this time next year.”

The American Medical Association has also adopted resolutions highlighting the potential health hazards of indoor air pollution caused by gas stoves. Lisa Patel, deputy executive director of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate, explained, “So all of these things are really linked in terms of health.” 

“And that’s why I look at getting rid of gas stoves as being an important individual action to improve a person’s immediate health, but then a long term action that we can take to improve community health and global health to stop the process of climate change,” said Ms. Patel.

Through codes, statutes and ordinances such as the ban on new gas hookups in New York City, progressive groups are beginning to dismantle our cheapest energy sources to dump expensive power demands on an already overloaded electrical grid. Those who can least afford to pay are once again going to get stuck with the bill while the elitists pushing these ridiculous policies will assuredly find a way to make sure they are able to keep their luxurious gas ranges.

If there is one certainty in life (aside from death and taxes), it is that when it comes to climate change-inspired bans, you can be assured that those in power will not bear the brunt of the misery that these unnecessary bans inevitably bring. 

On the other hand, hard-working Americans will always pay the price.

Matt Dean ([email protected]) is senior fellow for health care policy outreach at The Heartland Institute. This commentary was provided to the News-Press by The Center Square, a nonprofit dedicated to journalism.

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Arguably the last great Mel Brooks film to date, Spaceballs is in the upper echelon of parody films. It may also be the last great parody film in general, high above Disaster Movie or even Brooks’ own Dracula: Dead and Loving It. Spaceballs sets its sights primarily on the Star Wars films, but takes shots at other great science-fiction films as well, including Alien and Planet of the Apes. It has all the tropes of the parody genre, with the usual Brooks flair atop. Those who know Spaceballs know why it is the epitome of parody films. Those who don’t, well, let’s look at why you should.

‘Spaceballs’: The Story

Image via MGM

Spaceballs begins on the planet Druidia, where King Roland (Dick Van Patten) is intent on marrying his daughter, Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga), to the perpetually yawning, drowsy Prince Valium (Jim J. Bullock). Meanwhile, the leader of the neighboring planet Spaceball, President Skroob (Mel Brooks), hatches a plan to steal the fresh air of Druidia, having used up almost all of their own. The plan involves sending Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis) to kidnap the princess. She, however, has fled the planet with her trusty droid Dot Matrix (Joan Rivers). King Roland hires mercenary Lone Starr (Bill Pullman) and his sidekick Barf (John Candy), a mog (half-man, half-dog) to find them, which they do, but when their Winnebago spaceship runs out of fuel, they crash on the desert moon Vega. After passing out from walking in the desert, the group are rescued by the small, robed alien Dinks and are taken to a cave where they meet the wise Yogurt (Mel Brooks), who teaches Lone Starr about the mystical power of “the Schwartz.” Unfortunately, Dark Helmet finds them and captures Vespa, who reveals the code to open Druidia’s shield after being threatened with a reversal of her nose job. With this information in hand, Skroob gives the command to transform their ship Spaceball One into Mega Maid, which begins to vacuum all the fresh air from Druidia. But Lone Starr saves the day, rescuing Vespa and Dot, defeating Dark Helmet in a Schwartz showdown, and reversing the Mega Maid vacuum to blow the air back onto the planet. Cue the happy ending, where it is revealed that Lone Starr is actually a prince, and as such is free to marry Princess Vespa, with the two having grown closer over the course of Spaceballs.

‘Spaceballs’: The Low-Hanging Fruit

Image via MGM

There is no denying that Brooks is having a field day with the cheap laughs in Spaceballs. Some may even say that Brooks should be above that, clearly forgetting how the most memorable scene from his classic Blazing Saddles is a group of cowboys sitting around a campfire, eating beans, and farting. Spaceballs starts off innocently enough, with a shot of Spaceball One’s underside, mirroring the appearance of the Imperial Star Destroyer at the beginning of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, except the ship goes on, and on, and on. From there, it is a veritable cornucopia of corniness. The introduction of space gangster Pizza the Hutt (Dom DeLuise). The absurdly large helmet of the Darth Vader-like Dark Helmet. The entirety of the bridge crew with the surname “Asshole,” prompting Dark Helmet’s immortal line “I’m surrounded by assholes!” Troopers combing the desert for clues… with a large, plastic comb, faring only slightly better than the two black troopers using the large afro pick (“We ain’t found s**t!). Ludicrous speed. Vespa’s Princess Leia-like hair buns as headphones. Brooks knows that the unsubtle joke is still a joke, putting the need for the laugh above the need for anything highbrow.

RELATED: Why ‘Spaceballs’ Is a Better ‘Star Wars’ Sequel Than ‘The Rise of Skywalker’

‘Spaceballs’: The Genius of Brooks

Image via MGM

Yet among the gags and quips in Spaceballs, Brooks weaves in moments of comic genius that only one with the deft touch of a comedy master is capable of. There’s the unexpected cameo of actor John Hurt, dining at a space cafeteria with friends when an alien bursts from his chest, prompting Hurt to cry “oh no, not again,” a very funny call back to the actor’s demise in Alien (but at least this alien puts on a top hat and dances). It’s a meta joke made funnier by its randomness, but there are two specific moments in Spaceballs that make an even better argument for Brooks’ talent. The first is in the cave with Yogurt, where he shows off the wide array of Spaceballs merchandise, a hilarious exaggeration of the scope of Star Wars merchandise. There’s Spaceballs: The T-Shirt; Spaceballs: The Yogurt Doll; Spaceballs: The Breakfast Cereal; and even Spaceballs: The Flamethrower. Better yet, the merchandise continues to show up randomly throughout the rest of the movie, which ties into the second moment: Spaceballs: The Movie on VHS (hey, kids — VHS was almost like streaming a film, except tactile with an infuriating need to rewind). Having overshot Lone Starr’s “Eagle-5” Winnebago ship, Dark Helmet and Colonel Sandurz (George Wyner) look at the VHS copy of the film — the film they’re in the middle of — to track down Starr and Vespa, which leads to a very Abbott and Costello bit between the two about what they’re looking at (“You’re looking at now, sir.”).

‘Spaceballs’: The Legacy

Image via MGM

While Spaceballs was met with mixed reviews upon release, the years since have seen a deeper appreciation of the film, above and beyond its cult classic status. The appearance of movie posters for a Spaceballs sequel, Spaceballs 2: The Search for More Money, became an international news story back in 2016, with the positive, hopeful reaction that it was true (it wasn’t), proof of its popularity. Steven Spielberg‘s Ready Player One has the Eagle-5 in the background of Aech’s (Lena Waithe) garage, acknowledging Spaceballs’ presence in pop culture. Interestingly, Spaceballs would also foretell, unintentionally (or possibly intentionally), the environmental concerns about clean air, and the release of films to media within days of a theatrical release (exaggerated, yes, but still eerily prescient). Spaceballs, ultimately, is a feather in the cap for Brooks, and does for the science-fiction genre just what his Young Frankenstein did for the horror genre, Blazing Saddles did for the western, what High Anxiety did for Hitchcock thrillers, what Silent Movie did for… well, you get the point.

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Final OK of letter expected Jan. 9.

The Select Board voted, 4-0, with Eric Helmuth absent, to produce a letter in support of a 43-unit low-income housing project at 10 Sunnyside Ave., off the Broadway corridor near the town border with Somerville.

Town Counsel Doug Heim plans to work with Claire Ricker, director of planning, to draft the letter for project site approval, so that he and the board can complete the letter at their next board meeting, Monday, Jan. 9.

In a letter to the board, Ricker wrote, “10 Sunnyside Avenue is a former automobile-heavy use site in East Arlington approximately one mile from the Alewife transit terminal that has been vacant and underutilized for several years . . . .

“The project is consistent with goals and recommendations related to housing development in the Arlington Master Plan, ConnectArlington Transportation Plan, Housing Production Plan, Open Space Plan, Affordable Housing Action Plan, and the Mill Brook Corridor Report. The project will serve to provide much needed income-restricted housing as well as establish new growth for the town tax rolls.”

43-unit HCA project

At the Dec. 21 board meeting, attorney Mary Winstanley O’Connor said that the applicant, the Housing Corporation of Arlington (HCA), proposes a 43-unit project of all-affordable housing, with some at 60 percent of median income, and some at 30 percent. 

“This is a tremendous and great use of this site. It’s in a B4 zone, which is an automotive-use zone, and our zoning code is trying to change B4 uses to other uses. We’re an MBTA-type community, and this particular area is appropriate for this type of housing. The Housing Corporation of Arlington has done some tremendous projects in town. They’ve purchased the property and have control of the site,” said O’Connor.

HCA Executive Director Erica Schwarz said that Arlington has 150 units of affordable housing, located throughout every neighborhood: 102 were acquisitions of existing properties, which were rehabilitated to preserve and restrict them as affordable housing into perpetuity. The remaining 48 are the year-old sites at Downing Square and Broadway. 

“We also have a range of social-service programs that help families remain stable in their homes,” she said. “We’ll be ramping up in the new year, engaging other Arlington residents, and advocating and participating in town and state processes focused on affordable housing. 

“We acquired 10 Sunnyside Ave. in October, on the site of a former auto-body shop. We propose to remove everything that’s there now and create 43 new apartments, with car and bike parking, a community room, roof deck garden and a new sidewalk.”

Affordable guidelines

She said the goal is to be highly energy efficient, and 100-percent affordable under the low-income tax-credit program. The maximum household income would be 60 percent of the area medium income ― approximately $67,320 for a household of two, and $84,120 for a household of four. Some units are reserved for even-lower income families ― maximum household incomes of 30 percent of the area medium income ― $33,650 for household of two and $42,050 for household of four. 

Construction is expected to start in December 2024, be completed in January 2026, with tenants to move in between February and March. 2026, said Schwarz.

Nick Buehrens, associate principal at Utile Architecture & Planning, Boston said that this location, right off an increasingly dense commercial corridor, is a great opportunity for affordable housing. 

“It has great access to the Alewife Brook Parkway greenway, and good access to both public transportation and public amenities . . . . A lot of debris has accumulated, so there’s lots of room for improvement.

“The building will be highly energy efficient and have good indoor air quality, reducing our carbon footprint. We’ll also add some public street trees on both Sunnyside Ave and side yards. The building will contain a mixture of one- , two- and three-bedroom apartments. The second floor will have a commonly available outdoor area as an amenity for residents, with greenery along the street, to provide a welcoming streetscape.

All parking is at grade, but entirely screened from the street. Currently there are 21 spaces, about 0.5 spaces per residential unit,” said Buehrens.

Regarding the building’s proximity to the Alewife Brook and the Greenway, as well as the flooding issues there, O’Connor said, “The setbacks that appear on the plan are what we’ll present to the Zoning Board of Appeals for approval.”

Town management feedback

“I’m excited to see more affordable housing being built in town,” said Town Manager Sandy Pooler.

Board Chair Len Diggins said, “It’s nice that this large structure, the gateway to Arlington, is all affordable housing, and could be a trigger for other types of development. It could stimulate more development that could also bring in other businesses there. I’m enthusiastic about it.”

Board member Diane Mahon said several residents look forward to future meetings to hear more about the Sunnyside Ave. project. “However, during construction, there’ll be an upheaval of the rodents we have here in Arlington,” and asked whether there’s a plan for that. O’Connor said, “Absolutely.”

Mahon also inquired about the traffic impacts in terms of road closures, because Broadway is a main thoroughfare. O’Connor said, “We’ve already had engineering do a complete traffic impact study of this development, and there’ll be no impact from this project on traffic in that area.”

Board member Steve DeCourcey said he was impressed with the work done at Downing Square, and asked about the extent of the abutter outreach to date, and the time frame going forward.

“We took all the names of who would receive legal notice on the project and sent them letters. We then had a meeting and presented this plan. Three people attended, and were all positive about the project and had some comments and suggestions. We’re going to hold another abutter meeting via Zoom, and another abutter outreach as well,” said O’Connor.

Schwarz welcomes feedback

Schwarz also said she welcomes anyone who’s interested or concerned to reach out by email. “I’m always happy to have people contact me directly if they have questions or concerns.”

DeCourcey also asked whether MassHousing had performed the site visit yet. Schwarz said it had conducted a minimal visit just to make sure the site is as it seems from the initial project-availability letter. “Whatever write-up happens after that should be happening internally at the state level,” added Schwarz.

Board member John Hurd said, “Affordable housing is on the top of the hearts and minds of a lot of Arlington residents. But sometimes discussions are hard to have, and some residents don’t want to understand what it takes to create more affordable-housing units.

“We don’t have a lot of space to have a project like this. The extremely affordable nature and designs for this project clearly reflect some of the values important to Arlington. The architects listened to the residents and looked at other projects, and certainly took the wise advice of attorney O’Connor as to what is important to Arlington residents, including bicycle parking, open space and the setbacks. 

“They found a good location for this project, and there aren’t many locations in Arlington where you can build a building of this size. Based on what we’ve seen, we can make it work, and continue to work with neighbors and allay concerns that any abutters may have, because there are different uses here. This is starkly different than what’s been here in the past, and there are other auto shops around there that want to make sure that they can continue running their businesses.

“I am excited to see this project move forward, and think it’s something that can be beneficial for the town. I look forward to getting more affordable housing in Arlington and seeing this project as it progresses The ACA has a great name in Arlington, and we trust the work that will come out of the ACA,” added Hurd.

Watch the Dec. 21 meeting on ACMi:

Read the Dec. 21 agenda documents for the 40B project >> 

 

Dec.12, 2022: New town manager’s salary to be in the $200k range 

  

This news summary by YourArlington freelance writer Susan Gilbert was published Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023.

This reporting demonstrates your donations at work to support democracy here. YourArlington is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.Your contributions are tax-deductible.Donate here >> 

 

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Originally Appeared Here

174

It will still be a family affair at 174 Worcester Road in Princeton, when Gabi Bennett and her mother, Carla Zottoli, open The Barn in early 2023 at the former location of The Mountain Barn Restaurant. Bennett, 30, of Princeton, said the menu of The Barn will be a continuation of The Mountain Barn, the establishment which her grandfather, Bill Zottoli founded in 1983. The Zottolis owned it for more than 20 years until August 2021, when they closed due to staffing issues, until Bennett started renovating this year after making the decision to take over operations.

5

The company that provided buses for the Worcester Public Schools is being sued by a nonprofit environmental advocacy organization. The suit filed last month in U.S. District Court by the Conservation Law Foundation claimed Durham School Services violated the federal Clean Air Act by letting buses idle for more than the legally allowed limit of five minutes while parked in a city bus lot.  The idling spewed harmful chemicals into the air, compromising the health of Worcester residents who live and work near the lot, the lawsuit claims. National Express LLC, Durham’s parent company, declined to comment, citing pending litigation. 

$38.2M

UMass Memorial Health, the largest employer in Central Massachusetts, released its fiscal 2022 financial statements recently, and the results aren’t rosy.  What jumps out is a $38.2 million operating loss in fiscal 2022, which ended Sept. 30, compared to $64.7 million in income from operations in the prior fiscal year. The two numbers represent a downward swing of $102.9 million. Its financial stress is further reflected in another number in fiscal 2022. When both operating expenses and nonoperating income are taken into account, expenses exceeded revenues by $161.4 million compared to $220.7 million on the plus side in the prior fiscal year. 

$1.9M

Gilbane/Hunt, the company in charge of constructing Polar Park has agreed to pay $1.9 million for allegedly falsifying its efforts to hire woman- and minority-owned businesses as subcontractors on the ballpark project. The penalty was filed in Suffolk Superior Court by the office of state Attorney General Maura Healey, which alleged that Gilbane/Hunt violated the state’s False Claims Act and consumer protection laws by falsely stating in its bid for the project that it planned to maximize participation of woman- and minority-owned businesses. Gilbane/Hunt allegedly misrepresented the status of woman- and minority-owned businesses participation to the Worcester Redevelopment Authority until the project was substantially complete. 

46

Worcester has seen its share of porch thefts since Nov. 1 with 46 reports of stolen packages, according to the Worcester Police Department. Nineteen of those have been during November, and for December there have been 27 reports as of Dec. 19, according to data provided by a spokesperson for the Worcester police. Central Worcester seems to have been hit the worst during the November, according to a map provided by WPD, with the majority of thefts reported along Main Street and heavily on Belmont Hill. In December, thefts stretched across the city on Stafford Street, Packachoag and Union Hill.

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Girish Shukla • Updated: 3 hours ago • FollowAir purifiers are becoming essential due to the air pollution around us. An air purifier sometimes referred to as an air cleaner, is a tool that improves indoor air quality by removing contaminants from the air in a space. Indoor air is cleaned by air purifiers using mechanical, ionic, electrostatic, or hybrid filtration.

Filters are used to take contaminated air out of the room, which is then circulated again. The atmosphere within a space iscleaned by the purifiers, by absorbing contaminants, airborne particles, and even smell.

You need to be aware of a few things when you purchase an air purifier.

1.Filter Levels and Types

Pre-Filters

Prior to the next step of filtration, pre-filters made of foam and microfiber polyester remove big particulates.

HEPA filters

HEPA filters are able to capture 99.9% of contaminants, including those as fine as 0.3 microns. The more particles that can be removed by a HEPA filter are directly proportional to their size.

Filters Made of Activated Carbon

These filters work by absorbing gases and aromas to eliminate fumes and smells from smoking, pharmaceuticals, cooking, and other sources.

Anti-bacterial and germicidal filters

Filters that are antimicrobial and germicidal aid in eliminating hazardous germs and harmful bacteria. In order to reduce the danger of airborne diseases, this filter is typically used in clinics, eateries, laboratories, and healthcare facilities.

Charged Media Filters

To filter particles as fine as 0.1 microns, charged media filters combine a particle filter with an electrostatic charge filter.

PCO Filters

A titanium dioxide-coated metal plate and UV light are used in photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) filters to oxidise and effectively decompose contaminants as they are being filtered.

2.Rate of Air Change (ACH)

The exact number of times an air purifier filters the air in a room in an hour is indicated by the ACH.

3.CADR Scores

The CADR represents the amount of clean air that is delivered by an air purifier at its highest speed setting. Look at the CADR prior to purchasing a product since it will indicate how effective the air purifier will be.

4 Adapting the air purifier to the area or room

For the greatest performance, make sure you get an air purifier that can function in an area that is 20–40% greater than the room. Larger rooms will require larger air purifiers.

Read:This winter, arm yourself with curry leaves for nasal protection

5. Warranty and Customer Support

After 12 to 18 months, every air purifier has to be replaced. Make sure your product has good post-sale support so that substitution is quick and simple.

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TEWKSBURY — Al Man­cini speaks for the trees. The Tewksbury resident, a longtime advocate for tree preservation in town, has been known to quote Dr. Seuss’ environmental tome “The Lorax” in public meet­ings and has pushed the town to make trees a priority.

Now, Mancini and a group of residents are taking the next step to get Tewksbury declared a Tree City.

The Arbor Day Founda­tion, a national nonprofit dedicated to tree planting, runs the Tree City USA pro­gram as a way to en­courage cities and towns to invest in natural infrastructure and realize the benefits of tree planting in communities. The organization was founded in 1976 and includes over 3,600 communities from every state in the country; it boasts over 941,000 trees planted and $1.4 billion invested in urban forestry in 2021.

More than half of Massa­chusetts residents live in a Tree City USA community — the program is administered locally by the state’s Department of Con­servation and Recreation’s Urban and Community Forestry Program. A community of any size may be recognized for its commitment to maintain and man­age tree resources; neighboring towns that have al­ready received the designation include Andover, Chelmsford, Lowell, and Wilmington.

Eligible communities can receive road signs and flags to be displayed around town, and Challenge Grants can help support further de­velopment of tree management activities. The program promotes countless benefits to increasing and maintaining trees in town, including lower temperatures, clean air, re­duced noise pollution, climate change mitigation, energy cost savings, im­proved resident health, and increased property values.

The town currently fulfills three out of four re­quirements to be recognized as a Tree City: Tewks­bury has a tree board or department, satisfied by the DPW forestry division and tree warden; a tree care ordinance under Chap­ter 8 of the Massachusetts General Laws; and spends a minimum of $2 per capita in the town’s annual forestry budget. The final requirement is an Arbor Day observance and pro­clamation.

At the Dec. 20 meeting of the Tewksbury Select Board, Mancini, resident Susan Young, and open space and recreation plan committee chair Tom Bran­chaud requested that the board take the step of is­suing an observance pro­clamation.

Young, treasurer of the Tewksbury Garden Club, noted that the club has ob­served Arbor Day for about 40 years, annually distributing balsam fir saplings to third grade students in Tewksbury Public Schools and providing accompanying environmental education.

Mancini emphasized the importance of trees in the community and urged the board to support the proposal.

“It would be really cool for the town to celebrate trees,” he said. “We need to recognize Arbor Day with a celebration.”

The Select Board voted to issue a proclamation ob­serving Arbor Day on the last Friday in April.

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2022 was a year which saw many changes on the roads in the UK and abroad. Drivers faced more fines as councils looked to crack down on both pollution and careless driving. With many more changes to be introduced in 2023, Express.co.uk analysed which new rules had the biggest impact on drivers, and which laws went under the radar.

Highway Code

One of the biggest updates to the Highway Code was made earlier this year, with the Department for Transport aiming to create a “hierarchy of road users”.

This ensures that quicker or heavier modes of travel have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat they may pose to others on the road.

Fresh guidance was given to cyclists and pedestrians, giving them greater protection when on the road. Drivers were advised to adopt the “Dutch Reach” when leaving the car, while punishments were increased for those using their mobile phone at the wheel.

READ MORE: Warning issued to drivers over simple de-frosting mistake

Red diesel

On Friday, April 1, rebated diesel, which is commonly referred to as red diesel, as well as rebated biofuels were restricted, meaning many industries which rely on the fuel would have to look for alternatives. 

Some organisations predicted that the law changes could lead to businesses facing additional fuel expenses of between £100,000 and £400,000 per year.

Research from Interact Analysis has found that some businesses will see costs increase by more than £170,000 just by using one machine – a 50 tonne excavator.

Fuel duty

During the Spring Statement, then-Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a 5p per litre cut in fuel duty – the first reduction in 10 years.

The change will apply for 12 months, with many questioning what Jeremy Hunt will do in March. He could continue the 5p cut, allow it to expire and return to the normal rate or increase fuel duty.

The Office for Budget Responsibility suggested that fuel duty may increase by 23 percent, which would add £5.7billion to Government coffers next year, but hammer drivers.

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Alpha Clean Air is one of New Jersey’s trusted air duct cleaning providers. Its services also include dryer vent cleaning, repair, and replacement, chimney repair, and nest removal. Through its professional air duct cleaning service, it ensures cleaner indoor air and efficient HVAC functioning.

According to announcements released by Alpha Clean Air and Amit, the air duct cleaning NJ services by this business are delivered through the use of the latest techniques and equipment. The business is certified by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA).

Its air duct cleaning services for homeowners, businesses, and government organizations cover duct cleaning, air purification, dehumidification, humidification, air filtration, and ventilation. Alpha Clean Air cleans ducts across a property. 

Over time, the ductwork becomes clogged with dust, mold, dirt, or debris. Allergies, asthma, headaches, respiratory conditions, and fatigue are some of the potential fallouts of poor air quality that result from clogged air ducts. 

Bacterial and fungal colonies can form in the ductwork and harm the health of the inhabitants of a property.

Dryer vent cleaning requires technical expertise and heavy-duty equipment. The team from Alpha Clean Air arrives at the site with powerful suction trucks to clean dryer vents of even major lint build-ups. This reduces the chances of dust getting airborne and ingested.

Warning signs pointing to clogged dryer vents include clothes that take too long to dry, increased cycle time, lint traps getting overloaded quickly, heat and humidity inside the laundry, clothes smelling musty, and clothes being hot to touch at the end of the cycle.

Alpha Clean Air recommends that dryer vents be cleaned at least once a year but not later than once every two years. Lint buildup in vents can lead to fires. Regular cleaning prevents such accidents and keeps individuals and property safe.

For more information, go to https://alphacleanair.com/

Amit of Alpha Clean Air said, “Alpha Clean Air is a trusted name for duct cleaning in NJ. We have been operational for over two decades and in this time, we have helped countless residents achieve clean & high-quality air in their homes, offices, retail stores, hospitals, schools, & many other similar locations. 

We understand the importance of breathing clean air. After all, it is something that we all do every day, multiple times. And it is only getting more important by the day as the air quality around us continues to decline.

Unclean dryer vents can be a leading cause of a fire breakout. These fire hazards often occur because of lint build-up or some other form of blockage in the vent. If you want to protect your home and keep it safe, it is essential to have your dryer vents cleaned by a professional service.

Alpha Clean Air can help you with this by providing professional dryer vent cleaning services across New Jersey. We will clean your vents and ensure they are free of lint or debris. This will help to reduce the risk of a fire occurring in your home. 

Clearing up lint and other debris from the dryer vents is pretty straightforward. We use professional cleaning equipment to initially loosen the lint build-up and then vacuum it out through powerful suction trucks or advanced cleaning equipment.”

About the Company:

Alpha Clean Air provides comprehensive air duct cleaning services in New Jersey. It has the equipment and the expertise to remove dirt, creosote, pet dander, and other materials that clog air ducts and impact health. The business offers 24/7 customer service to back its affordable cleaning services.

Media Contact
Company Name: Alpha Clean Air
Contact Person: Amit
Email: Send Email
Phone: (862) 500-3828
Address:311 12th St
City: Union City
State: NJ 07087
Country: United States
Website: https://alphacleanair.com/

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My husband and I both say we have a favorite spot to add to our list of restaurants here in Lake County, Florida. Lake Eustis Waterfront Grille located at 350 Lakeshore Drive in Eustis is a really nice place to go if you’re looking for scenic waterfront dining. According to their Facebook page, they opened on November 3, 2022, following an extensive building process. Trust me, it was worth the wait!

Lake Eustis Waterfront Grille offers indoor air-conditioned dining, dining in their screened-in patio, and outdoor dining.Photo byCindy Rybaczyk / Lake County Florida – Here’s What’s Happening

When you enter the restaurant, you are on the first floor in the indoor air-conditioned dining room which consists of a full bar. When we were there, the second-floor dining room wasn’t yet opened so we dined downstairs. You also have the option of dining on their screened-in patio which had portable heaters or you can dine outside.

Indoor dining offers air conditioning and there is a full bar.Photo byCindy Rybaczyk / Lake County Florida – Here’s What’s Happening

We’ve dined there three times so far and we have enjoyed their Jumbo Soft Pretzel appetizer which is served with a beer cheese sauce and stone ground mustard. Their Shrimp & Chips entree is excellent – six huge battered & fried tiger shrimp served with french fries and coleslaw.

Dining on Lake Eustis at the Lake Eustis Waterfront GrillePhoto byCindy Rybaczyk / Lake County Florida – Here’s What’s Happening

Lake Eustis Waterfront Grille is open from 11 am – 9 pm Sunday – Thursday and 11 am – 11 pm Friday – Saturday. They are currently not accepting reservations but say call-ahead seating is available if you call 352-602-7446.

The first-floor dining room connects to the screened-in patio at Lake Eustis Waterfront GrillePhoto byCindy Rybaczyk / Lake County Florida – Here’s What’s Happening

Without a doubt, they have built a beautiful restaurant on the shores of Lake Eustis. We are looking forward to arriving by boat and tying up at the docks on our next boating trip. This is a great place for date night or for family dining.

Are you interested in following along to keep up with upcoming events, interesting dining spots, and places to visit in Lake County, Florida? Here’s what you need to do – download the Newsbreak app, create a User Account, and follow me at Lake County Florida – Here’s What’s Happening! If you liked this article, I appreciate your comments and suggestions and your sharing it with others. Thanks and I hope you enjoy Lake Eustis Waterfront Grill as much as I did!

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