Indigesteam coach (at home, Left Ohmni) and Siksika First Nation teacher and student (in class on-Nation, right Ohmni) at the Inventures conference in Calgary, 2022

We came to realize that the Ohmni Telepresence Robots would allow us to interact with youth on-Nation to grow our robotics clubs and mentoring activities in ways that have never been tried before.”

— Deanna Burgart, IndigeSTEAM President and “Indigeneer”

SAN JOSE, CA, USA, August 8, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ — What: IndigeSTEAM Society, along with partners Pantala Technologies and OhmniLabs, offers first-of-its-kind telepresence educational experience for First Nations youth. Urban and On-Nation Indigenous Youth will tour OhmniLabs’ state-of-the-art 3D Print Farm in Silicon Valley via the Ohmni Telepresence Robots without traveling the distance.

Where: Indigenous Youth Summer STEAM Camp at the University of Calgary

When: August 9, 2022

Who: IndigeSTEAM Society, Pantala Technologies, OhmniLabs, Telus, Insight Enterprises Canada

Schedule:

10:00 am -12:00 pm Mountain Time (MDT): Context: Coaching in the Classroom via Ohmni Robots, Location: University of Calgary main campus: TRB portable classrooms outside Math Sci, Parking lot 22 off 32 Ave NW, University of Calgary maps

1:00 pm MDT: Youth learning how to drive Ohmni Robots

1:30 pm MDT: OhmniLabs Print Farm tour (Driving themselves remotely in San Francisco via robots)

2:15 pm MDT: Youth doing choreo and costume design

3:00 pm MDT: Robot Flash Mob! Location: University of Calgary, ICT building open area, ground level.

On August 9th, IndigeSTEAM Summer STEAM camp youth will “travel” from Canada to Silicon Valley to tour OhmniLabs’ 3D printing farm. Using Ohmni Telepresence Robots for their tour, students will learn about the growing field of additive manufacturing, learning from experts firsthand. “We are delighted to welcome IndigeSTEAM students to our manufacturing facility. Distance learning has never been easier,” states Tra Vu, COO of OhmniLabs.

Before and especially during the pandemic, IndigeSTEAM Society, an organization that builds Indigenous-led, and culturally relevant STEM/STEAM programming for youth, witnessed immense challenges to support their mentorship and coaching activities across First Nations in Alberta. COVID restrictions not only severely restricted travel to and from the reserves but also the availability of mentor volunteers who could visit the reserves. The missed education and training opportunities further aggravated the dire state of Indigenous youth who already are extremely under-represented in STEM education and careers.

Pantala Technologies has partnered with IndigeSTEAM to bring the Ohmni Telepresence Robots to the First Nations to help IndigeSTEAM improve access to education and expand its coaching and mentoring reach.

“We had some successful robot trials at Siksika High school during the summer of 2021 and found it far better than online conferencing. We came to realize that the Ohmni Telepresence robots would allow us to interact with youth on-Nation to grow our robotics clubs and mentoring activities in ways that have never been tried before. We are extremely keen to work with this technology to expand our STEM outreach programming, and engage and connect Indigenous youth across Canada and elsewhere,” says Deanna Burgart, IndigeSTEAM President and “Indigeneer.”

Pantala Technologies, OhmniLabs’ Canadian partner, is introducing the Ohmni Telepresence Robot to help educational facilities build unique classrooms and social interactions. Using the robots, mentors can visit a classroom, interact with youth directly, and watch what they are doing. In addition, students and teachers can control the robot in a special location for face-to-face conversations, moving room-to-room, and looking around freely. Both uses enable participants to be present as if they were there in person, all while saving time and the cost of travel.

“I was the mentor visiting Siksika in the summer of 2021. The classroom dynamic was awesome! With this Ohmni technology, we really can be in two places at one time!” says IndigeSTEAM/Ohmni mentor, Wendy Hutchins.

“We feel privileged to introduce this advanced robotic platform to Canada that can help make education accessible and inclusive, especially for our First Nations,” says Sanah Jowhari, CEO of Pantala Technologies. “Through our partnership with organizations like IndigeSTEAM we are just beginning to explore the value of telepresence robots to Indigenous communities and so far have been very impressed by the acceptance of this technology as a new way of learning exchange between Indigenous youth, their role models and other non-Indigenous members of the community.” Ohmni Robot has been deployed at educational institutions and communities around the world.

After successfully deploying multiple Ohmnis at the Siksika Nation earlier this year, IndigeSTEAM is now planning to expand its programming outreach and outcomes via Telepresence robots to other First Nations with the help of new funding from both Telus Indigenous Communities grant and Insight Canada.

About IndigeSTEAM:
IndigeSTEAM’s mission is the provision of Indigenous-led and culturally-relevant programming in STEM/STEAM to support a better future for Indigenous youth in STEM. We do this with spaces that are ethical and respect Indigenous culture and Ways of Knowing. We bring in Indigenous STEM role models and train non-Indigenous and Indigenous STEM professionals on how best to work with Indigenous youth and youth in general. We also provide Indigenous STEM professionals with networking and support that recognizes their need to walk in two worlds. IndigeSTEAM Society is a non-profit society founded in 2018 combining 3 programs for youth programming, mentor support, and community involvement. Website: www.indigesteam.ca

About Pantala Technologies:
At Pantala Technologies our mission is to empower you with transformative technologies that are changing lives. We distribute and integrate unique service robotic platforms that are inclusive-by-design and have demonstrated impact worldwide. Our solutions are designed, tested, and validated by industry experts, and are solving pressing problems within global communities. Website: www.pantalatech.com

About OhmniLabs:
Founded in 2015 by robotics experts Jared Go, Tingxi Tan, and serial entrepreneur Thuc Vu, OhmniLabs, Inc. is a Silicon Valley robotics company that produces service robots at scale. With over 3,000 robots deployed worldwide in 50 countries, OhmniLabs made a name for itself by creating a unique, on-demand robot manufacturing model that allows it to design, engineer, and manufacture custom robots based on customer needs at an unrivaled speed. The company produces all robots in the USA using proprietary 3D printing processes and boasts a vast portfolio of modular accessories that unlock a world of possibilities. OhmniLabs telepresence and UV-C disinfecting robots are used daily by businesses, medical professionals, schools, and major sports teams around the world.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Sanah Jowhari
Co-founder, CEO, Pantala Technologies
[email protected]
403-991-0087

Deanna Burgart
President, IndigeSTEAM Society
[email protected]
368-999-8834

OhmniLabs
[email protected]
(650) 420-6468

Laura Guy
OhmniLabs
email us here
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August 08, 2022, 13:00 GMT

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Originally Appeared Here

» Enter the house only after making sure there is no electric shock, snakes, or reptiles. Put your chappals.

» Disinfect the house thoroughly before occupying it.

» Clean water-logged wells with bleaching powder

» Make sure the toilet waste tank is not damaged by flooding and waste is not mixed with water.

» Use cooking utensils and glasses after washing them in boiled water or 1% chlorine solution for 20–30 minutes.

» Avoid mosquito breeding conditions

» Consume only boiled lukewarm water

How to clean the water-logged well?

For normal chlorination, you need 2.5 grams of bleaching powder per 1000 liters. Mix this with some water and make a paste, then mix this paste in a bucket full of water. Keep it aside for 10 minutes. Then the lime will settle to the bottom of the solution and the chlorine will mix well with the water above. Lower this bucket to the bottom of the well and keep raising and lowering it. Water should be used only after one hour. The water should smell slightly of chlorine. That is the right amount. If you don’t get that smell, add a little more chlorine. The smell will reduce after a day. After leaving the water open for a while, the taste will change. It is better to wait for the murky water to clear slowly.

While using the electronic equipment

» There is a possibility of a short circuit when electricity is flowing because of the presence of water and mud in switches, metres, and plugs.

» Do not touch any broken service wire, line wire, or earth wire around the house.

» Immediately inform the electricity board office.

» Start cleaning the house only after removing the fuse next to the meter and switching off the main switch.

» Those with inverters and solar panels should turn it off and disconnect the battery.

» The condition of the earth electrode should be checked to ensure safety.

» Even if the water goes down, there is a possibility that water will remain inside the wiring pipe. This can also cause a short circuit.

(Information Credit: Reg. V. Kuryakos District Fire Officer, Kottayam.)

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Originally Appeared Here

Press release from the Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services:

𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗘𝗩𝗔𝗖𝗨𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥 issued for zone HUM-E063-A, south of Willow Creek. Residents in this zone should evacuate now. There is no immediate threat to Willow Creek proper.

𝗭𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗣𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

HUM-E063-A

NORTH OF Forest Route 6n39

SOUTH OF Friday Ridge Road

EAST OF Friday Ridge Road, Forest Route 6n08a

WEST OF Friday Ridge Road

Wildfire Evacuation Checklist and more:

 

When an evacuation is anticipated, follow these checklists (if time allows) to give your home the best chance of surviving a wildfire.

Home Evacuation Checklist – How to Prepare for Evacuation:

Inside the House

• • Make sure you know your community’s emergency response plan and have a plan on where to go when it is time to evacuate, and best routes for leaving your location.

• • Shut all windows and doors, leaving them unlocked.

• • Remove flammable window shades, curtains and close metal shutters.

• • Remove lightweight curtains.

• • Move flammable furniture to the center of the room, away from windows and doors.

• • Shut off gas at the meter; turn off pilot lights.

• • Leave your lights on so firefighters can see your house under smoky conditions.

• • Shut off the air conditioning.

Outside

• • Gather up flammable items from the exterior of the house and bring them inside (patio furniture, children’s toys, door mats, trash cans, etc.) or place them in your pool.

• • Move propane BBQ appliances away from structures.

• • Connect garden hoses to outside water valves or spigots for use by firefighters. Fill water buckets and place them around the house.

• • Don’t leave sprinklers on or water running, they can affect critical water pressure.

• • Leave exterior lights on so your home is visible to firefighters in the smoke or darkness of night.

• • Put your Emergency Supply Kit in your vehicle.

• • Back your car into the driveway with vehicle loaded and all doors and windows closed. Carry your car keys with you.

• • Have a ladder available and place it at the corner of the house for firefighters to quickly access your roof.

• • Seal attic and ground vents with pre-cut plywood or commercial seals.

• • Patrol your property and monitor the fire situation. Don’t wait for an evacuation order if you feel threatened.

• • Check on neighbors and make sure they are preparing to leave.

Animals

• • Locate your pets and keep them nearby.

• • Prepare farm animals for transport and think about moving them to a safe location early.

• • Pets:  https://www.livingwithfire.com/get-prepared/

Prepare for Pets

Prepare to address the needs of your pets if you have to evacuate.

• • Make sure dogs and cats wear properly fitted collars with identification, vaccination, microchip and license tags.

• • Your pet evacuation plan should include routes, transportation needs and host sites. Share this plan with trusted neighbors in your absence.

• • Exchange veterinary information with neighbors and file a permission slip with the veterinarian authorizing emergency care for your animals if you cannot be located.

• • Make sure all vehicles, trailers and pet carriers needed for evacuation are serviced and ready to be used.

• • Assemble a pet to-go bag with a supply of food, non-spill food and water bowls, cat litter and box and a restraint (chain, leash or harness). Additional items to include are newspaper and paper towels, plastic bags, permanent marker, bleach/disinfectant solution and water buckets.

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The Ann Arbor City Council met Aug. 4 to discuss the city’s response to the contamination of the Huron River by Tribar Manufacturing, backlash regarding an AAPD event flier and more at the first meeting after the primary election.

City Administrator Milton Dohoney Jr. began the meeting by briefing the council on the release of hexavalent chromium into the Huron River that occurred July 30 in Wixom. Water Treatment Manager Brian Steglitz shared insight into the impact of the release on Ann Arbor. 

“I’d like to start with the comment that the city’s drinking water currently is safe to drink,” Steglitz said. “We at the water treatment unit are all focused, as our number one priority of ensuring that that continues to be true and that we will be protecting public health.”

Steglitz also provided updates on the response to the chemical release and the formation of a response team, which includes members of the City of Ann Arbor, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).

“In addition to collecting samples and continuing to monitor and track the movement of this into our intakes, into Barton Pond, we’ve also ordered some materials that will be arriving over the next day or two that will allow us to do some treatability studies over the next week to determine our ability to remove this chemical from the source waters and we hope to have more information about that work over the coming week,” Steglitz said. 

Steglitz said that the contaminated water may reach Ann Arbor anywhere between two weeks and a month from the initial leak. To prepare for the arrival of the contaminated water in Ann Arbor, Steglitz said the city is working to modify the water treatment process to remove hexavalent chromium and will utilize the city’s second water source: wells located on the south side of town.

Steglitz also said it is unnecessary for residents to stockpile water or install a home treatment process. 

In response to the chemical release in the Huron River, City Council approved an action to take legal response efforts against Tribar Manufacturing. 

“Tribar’s pollution of the Huron River needs to end,” Councilmember Travis Radina, D-Ward 3, said. “We at the city do not have regulatory authority but we do have the ability to bring aggressive and appropriate action in court to seek injunctions and damages and efforts to do our part to cover our costs and to be compensated for the damages that are accruing as a result of Tribar’s wrongdoing and I am confident that we will do so.”

Lisa Jackson, chair of Ann Arbor’s Independent Community Police Oversight Commission (ICPOC), then provided updates on a flier the Ann Arbor Police Department (AAPD) shared weeks ago inviting residents to “get booked”, “take the cops to court” and “catch me if you can” for a series of community engagement events. 

The names were regarded by some residents as negative labeling and descriptions of punishment, WXYZ Detroit reported. In a now-removed Facebook post showcasing the events, commenters called the descriptions of the events racist and horrific. 

“While one could commend the AAPD for making an effort to engage our community in contexts outside of law enforcement, this incident demonstrated a long-standing problem with the department that it did not occur to the Ann Arbor Police Department that inviting the community to ‘get booked’ would not come across as playful or fun,” Jackson said. “(This) speaks to the dire need for both more diversity within the department and better lines of communication between the department and the community. … No matter what AAPD’s intentions, their message will not get across if they can’t use language appropriate to their very diverse audience.”

Jackson also discussed the search for a new police chief, asking for ICPOC to be included earlier in the process, as well as advocated for the development of an unarmed response team. 

“This project and the potential development of an unarmed response program has the potential to meet the needs of so many disenfranchised groups within our community and it would be a huge disappointment if the potential for such a program were hindered due to a lack of imagination and creativity,” Jackson said. 

Councilmember Kathy Griswold, D-Ward 2, then reviewed the progress that staff members have made over the summer. 

“Staff (members) have made significant progress in three areas: the first one is being reviewed by the legal department, chapter 40, (and) is regarding vegetation, and the revisions also included the ability to replace a lawn with a more pollinator-friendly natural surface covering,” Griswold said. “Number two, the resolution for (the University of Michigan) workforce housing and that’s based on the three principles of equity, sustainability and vision zero, which refers to transportation. One of the opportunities would be living learning laboratories for the students and I am very thankful that a dialogue has begun between the city and the University of Michigan. Lastly, a meeting will happen tomorrow regarding the resolution to optimize our initiatives again.”

City Council then voted to approve closures on Main Street for the 2022 football season and a closure on Washington Street for a fire safety event on Sept. 21.

City Council also approved a Professional Services Agreement with Black & Veatch of Michigan to design the Ultraviolet Disinfection System Replacement Project at the Wastewater Treatment Plant at a cost of $307,401. 

Councilmember Jen Eyer, D-Ward 4, also showed support for the action. 

“Thank you to our city attorney for getting right on this and I think there’s broad support at the table for doing this,” Eyer said. “My feeling is just that our response cannot be strong enough or swift enough. This company has shown itself to, unfortunately, be a bad actor with PFAS discharges with air quality problems and now this, and we need to take every action we can possibly take in order to protect our river and to hold them accountable.”

Summer News Editor Anna Fifelski can be reached at [email protected].

Related articles

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Originally Appeared Here

Relaxing in a hot environment such as a sauna or steam room post-workout is a well-deserved and potentially even healthy treat. For example, research suggests saunas are linked to heart health benefits (via Refinery29). But to make the most out of these health benefits, it’s important to practice good hygiene.

In an interview with Livestrong, Dr. Sara Gottfried shares that these hot, dark, and moist environments are a playground for infections because viruses, mold, and bacteria flourish in these types of spaces. To limit your exposure to infections, Dr. Gottfried recommends sanitizing where you plan to sit down and to sit on top of a towel. Moreover, you’ll want to avoid whirlpools and any common areas if you have a cut, infection, or open wound, shares WebMD.

Practicing good hygiene at public gyms also means making sure your feet are protected too. Since there are a lot of bacteria found in gyms, it’s important to never shower barefoot in a public shower like you would at home. Some of the bacteria and fungi found in gyms locker rooms include E. coli, flu and cold viruses, strep, and staph, points out Dr. Eliza Chakravarty from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (via Livestrong). WebMD suggests showering with flip-flops or water shoes and spending extra time cleansing and drying your feet. Don’t share towels, water bottles, razors, or any other personal care products.

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Originally Appeared Here

Robby Lemonds, owner of SEMO Bin Blasters, poses next to his truck.

David Jenkins ~ Standard Democrat

SIKESTON, Mo. — For many, the smell of their trash bins can often be unpleasant, but a new local business hopes to solve the problem.

Semo Bin Blasters, owned by Robby Lemonds of Benton, Missouri, now offers to disinfect, deodorize and sanitize trash bins.

“Generally we pull up on the day of or day after service runs,” Lemonds said. “We have a unit on the back of the truck that lifts the trash can up. We have a hot water unit that heats the water up to over 200 degrees and basically it has a spray head that spins inside the trash can, 360 degrees and cleans the trash can up.”

Lemonds said the hot water is where the disinfectant and sanitizing come from and there are no chemicals involved in the cleaning process.

The process is also environmentally friendly.

“We collect all the water that is used to clean the trash can,” Lemonds said. “It falls into a hopper that pumps into a separate tank to be disposed of later.”

They offer monthly services, quarterly and one-time cleanings.

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Lemonds just started the business in April and said the first year or two is about education and telling people about what the company does as some question the cleaning of trash cans.

“People keep (the trash bins) in their garages,” Lemonds said. “There are flies. They stink.”

After getting the cans cleaned over a couple months, there is a noticeable difference.

“The more you clean it, obviously the better it is,” Lemonds said. “It’s fairly inexpensive. It’s $20 for the first month and then it’s $15 for each month after that.”

The business is one that has been overseas for years and has just been in the United States the last 12 to 13 years, and is bigger in more populated areas such as cities.

Lemonds said while looking to start his own business with his family, he came across the bin cleaning, and after research found it interesting. Ultimately he decided to start the business with his family.

“I have a wife and two kids,” Lemonds said. “My son is in college and is going to school for business and finance. That’s what our driving fact was is he wanted to see something from the ground up. What he likes to see is results, so this is something we thought we would tackle together.”

Semo Bin Blasters is more than cleaning trash bins. The company motto is “We have you covered from the roof to curb,” and it offers roof washing, house washing, driveway washing and patio washing along with the trash can cleanings.

“Roof cleaning is a process I don’t think many people are aware of,” Lemonds said. “It’s a soft wash process. So rain water falls harder than the pressure that would be used on your roof. We have a solution you spray on the roof and it simply rinses itself off.”

Lemonds said the black streaks on people’s roof is a basically a black mold.

“A lot of people think it is the roof deteriorating and in reality it’s just mold and you clean the mold off just by spraying this solution on there,” Lemonds said. “It basically regenerates the roof to looking almost like new again. It’s a harmless process. There’s not a lot to it.”

They also offer house cleaning, something Lemonds said if residents did more regularly, they would save money.

“You have a car you wash 26 times a year, 52 times a year, but you have a few hundred thousand dollar home investment and you don’t wash it but once every three or four years or when it gets dirty,” Lemonds said. “Don’t ever let it get to that filthy stage, the cost is obviously less. You’re going to be able to keep that cost down because you’re not washing all the moldy, nasty, grimy off. You’re going to be able to keep it clean.”

To find out more about Semo Bin Blasters, call Lemonds at (573) 313-0039 or visit www.semobinblasters.com. The business is also on Facebook.

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Originally Appeared Here

New insight from Lysol Pro finds illness-causing germs travel around the workplace differently than before.

With the onset of a new hybrid work model working following the pandemic, Reckitt’s Lysol Pro Solutions has revealed the top 10 germiest surfaces in the workplace.

More than 50% of American workers are currently working from home more than four days each week. The move to hybrid working also means that when employees come into the office, they often do so specifically to meet with their co-workers in communal spaces. Coupled with the rise in “hot desking” or “hotel desking,” where almost a fifth (19%) of all American office workers now have no assigned desk, this combination can lead to shared surfaces being touched more regularly by different people than in a pre-pandemic office. As a result, illness-causing germs travel around the workplace differently than before.

“The sheer number of shared surfaces in today’s evolving workplaces makes it easy for germs to be spread and harder for cleaning teams and employees to understand where, when, and how to clean and disinfect potential hotspots. To help protect offices, additional germ-protection must be implemented by both employers and by employees themselves. Knowing exactly which areas to focus disinfection on and when provides the framework for a more intelligent approach to hygiene, helping inspire confidence amongst America’s workforce to return to the office,” said Dr. Lisa Ackerley, director, medical and scientific engagement, hygiene, at Reckitt’s Lysol Pro Solutions.

According to Lysol Pro, research uncovered higher-risk hotspots a typical office worker can unknowingly encounter throughout the working day, potentially exposing them to germs such as rhinovirus, rotavirus and norovirus. These encounters can lead to catching a cold or unpleasant stomach issues like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

So, what are the hot spots? Click through the slider above to see the surfaces identified by the Lysol Pro Solutions team as the top 10 germiest hotspots in a typical US office.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go1UlVAdKMY

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Originally Appeared Here

August 03, 2022

As someone who’s already had two heart attacks, the potential for another is in the back of local musician George Smith’s mind whenever he takes the stage — and on his lips.

“My wife said, ‘George, you should mention to everybody where your nitro is at,’” Smith said of advice he has heeded in informing audiences about nitroglycerin sublingual tablets being in his pocket which could prove invaluable in such an emergency.

“It probably would never happen,” he said of total strangers frantically administering that medication used to treat cardiac episodes by relaxing one’s blood vessels so the heart doesn’t need to work as hard while also requiring less oxygen.

Smith, who lives in Lowgap, agrees that such an announcement could save his life — or that of someone else under the same scenario through the gift of awareness.

“I think I used it as a way to help others that might have the same problem,” he said of incorporating the nitro advisory into his shows. The underlying message is that, with time being of the essence in such a crisis, people shouldn’t be bashful about intervening “if you see somebody keel over.”

As a 43-year-old man who had his first heart attack at age 35 and his most recent on July 12, George Smith has learned to live with that possibility. While others might have chosen to avoid any type of stress, including giving their all during concerts, Smith vowed to continue performing — to pursue his passion.

“I just love playing so much,” he explained. “It’s just a big part of who I am — I kind of lose myself when performing.”

Immediately after undergoing various medical procedures over the years, the musician says his physical condition has always rebounded as a result.

“I also feel much better currently than I have in a long time,” he said in discussing the aftermath of the heart attack in July.

“The challenge is to do as much as you can without overdoing it,” added Smith, who also must be cognizant of dietary and other restrictions.

“I have to remember to sort of take it easy.”

Multi-faceted career

Many people know George Smith as the leader of a group known as MAUI — the Mount Airy Ukulele Invasion — a unique rock orchestra class he started which has included students ranging in age from 5 to 85.

More than 50 ukulele players sometimes perform at concerts and for special events in this area, and Smith is looking forward to MAUI recording a live album at the Reeves Theater in Elkin later this month.

“Everybody in MAUI has been really supportive,” he said of members’ response to his medical condition.

Smith’s musical talents aren’t just limited to the off-the-beaten-path instrument popularized in Hawaii.

He has played the mandolin in opening for Ralph Stanley, and the bass opening for Darius Rucker and Jason Michael Carroll.

The local musician also has been featured playing six-string banjo on an episode of the PBS television show “Song of the Mountains” with the Porch Dog Revival band, along with opening for musicians such as the Steep Canyon Rangers and Larry Keel.

As a member of the band Mood Cultivation Project, he did so for Lynyrd Skynyrd at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem. Mood Cultivation Project also was the warm-up act for groups including The Marshall Tucker Band and Goose Creek Symphony.

Smith additionally has used his musical talents to fill in with different groups where needed while also writing his own material.

“Now it’s either I’m a band leader or a hired gun — I enjoy doing both,” he said of gigs that mostly have included playing bass — although Smith has dabbled in a little bit of everything.

“Of course, I teach and I tune pianos as well,” he said of a multi-faceted career as “a self-employed musician.”

Smith is a longtime instructor at Olde Mill Music in Mount Airy, a family operation run by Jennie Lowry and her husband Rick.

“He’s very well-liked and thought of in this community,” Lowry said.

Heart troubles surface

The veteran musician grew up in the Beulah community, attending White Plains Elementary, Gentry Middle and North Surry High schools. During his senior year, Smith was a foreign exchange student in Germany.

He eventually would earn a college degree in German, but his musical interests grew to dominate Smith’s career goals. He held factory jobs in the early 2000s which he juggled with band-organizing activities.

Music became his main pursuit, especially with many local industries closing as the result of NAFTA.

Fate dealt George Smith an unwelcome hand about eight years ago when he experienced the first heart attack and was diagnosed with a condition involving a major blockage in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery.

“They refer to it as the widow maker,” Smith said, which in his case was a 99% blockage. He’s endured multiple artery blockages requiring the insertion of stents — small mesh tubes that hold open narrowed arteries.

Smith underwent a particular procedure in which two stents were positioned together to form one “because I have an extra-large heart.”

Various treatments over the years led to his most recent heart attack last month and an outlook of further medical uncertainties.

“I’m on my way to my cardiologist appointment right now,” Smith said when contacted last week.

“In two weeks, I’ll go back for another heart cath,” he added regarding a procedure whereby a thin flexible tube, or catheter, is guided through a blood vessel to the heart to treat clogged arteries.

If that catheterization is unsuccessful, Smith will face heart bypass surgery, in which blood vessels are taken from another part of one’s body to circumvent a blocked artery.

Career could be curtailed

“I know I have missed a little bit of work because of this,” Smith said of how his heart condition has affected performance schedules — which also were hampered by COVID-19.

And even if the upcoming catheterization goes perfectly, he still faces the further prospect of that.

In the past, Smith has travelled to such places as New York for concert dates. Efforts now are made to keep destinations within a 16-hour travel radius to and back, such as Virginia Beach or northern West Virginia, in order to spend as much time as possible with wife Gin and 6-year-old son Dorian.

At one time, Smith had no health insurance, but does now, with the loss of income concerning him in looking ahead.

The local musician, who says he always has tried to be self-sufficient, did not broach the subject of possible donations from the public during an interview, discussing that only after being queried about how others might help.

“You don’t want to ask for anything,” Smith said proudly. “I’ve always been taught to work for what I have.”

He’s gotten a few dollars here and there from friends, which the performer says has been “overwhelmingly wonderful” and difficult to fully express in words.

And while Smith doesn’t want to ask for assistance from anyone, he acknowledged that at this point “it certainly would help.”

Folks can do so electronically via two popular online payment systems, Venmo and PayPal.

The respective account access information includes Venmo:@themusicofgeorgesmith and PayPal, [email protected]

Those without Internet access may make donations at Olde Mill Music.

“If I receive anything, I will certainly pay it forward in the future,” Smith pledged. “If people want to help, it would be appreciated.”

No matter what the future holds, George Smith is “grateful” at this point in time.

“I’m so grateful for the life I’ve had already,” he said.

And in looking ahead “I hope to be here a lot longer,” Smith observed. “But I’m still doing far better than the majority of the world in the grand scheme of things.”

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A lot of DIY hacks and home remedies benefit our skin hugely. They help us maintain our day-to-day physical and mental health. But we often tend to apply some home remedies without proper research. Word of mouth is enough to convince us that something is good for us. This can sometimes backfire as the science behind some of these remedies says otherwise. Same goes for our skin-care routine.

Proper research is necessary before applying anything to our skin. While a lot of us use medical products to treat our skin problems such as acne, blackheads, whiteheads, and excessive sebum, some of us do turn to home remedies while treating them. According to Healthline, some of them need to be avoided.

Let us know what home remedies and DIY hacks cause harm to our skin and why.

Lemon Juice – Lemon juice has citric acid. The acidic nature of the juice can cause dryness and irritation on the skin. It can also cause dark spots to appear after sun exposure.

Baking soda – It has a ph level of 8 which is far too basic for our skin. This can cause dryness and stress on your skin.

Garlic – Raw garlic can cause a lot of problems such as eczema, skin inflammation, skin allergies and watery blisters.

Toothpaste – Toothpaste helps disinfect and oil reduction, but it can cause dryness of the skin and irritation.

Sugar – Sugar is used as an exfoliant, but it is too harsh for the skin on our face.

Vitamin E – Vitamin E is used to improve appearance but there’s no proof that it does so. Rather, it can have a negative effect and irritate your skin.

While these are the remedies that can cause irritation and damage your skin, some other products like honey, silicone, vitamin C, niacinamide and more help reduce blemishes, scars and hyperpigmentation.

Read all the Latest News and Breaking News here

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NEW JERSEY — Has monkeypox been detected in your county? With the state’s case total up to 175 as of Wednesday morning, the New Jersey Department of Health released county-level case data on the outbreak.

State officials have identified the most cases in the following areas: Hudson County (61 cases), Essex County (35) and Bergen County (23). All three counties are right by New York City, which reported 1,558 cases as of Wednesday.

Eight New Jersey counties have no reported monkeypox cases — the westernmost areas up north (Sussex, Warren and Hunterdon) and the five southernmost counties (Gloucester, Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem).

Find out what’s happening in Across New Jerseywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But that doesn’t mean the virus hasn’t hit those counties, since the figures don’t account for people who haven’t gotten tested. Testing availability is also limited to people with certain risk factors, symptoms or “strong clinical suspicion” that a patient may have the disease. People who think they have been exposed to monkeypox or have symptoms of the disease should still consult with a health care provider.

Here’s the breakdown of cases by county as of Wednesday morning:

Find out what’s happening in Across New Jerseywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

(New Jersey Department of Health)

Global Outbreak Hits 25K Cases

The World Health Organization declared monkeypox a “global health emergency” on July 23. The global outbreak — first detected in May — has brought 25,391 cases to 83 nations, including 6,325 in the United States as of Wednesday, according to the CDC.

Symptoms generally start one to two weeks after exposure but in some cases may not appear for up to 21 days. Monkeypox symptoms can include the following, according to the New Jersey Department of Health

• A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth and on other parts of the body such as the hands, feet, chest, genitals or anus
• fever
• headache
• muscle aches and backache
• swollen lymph nodes
• chills
• feeling very tired

The CDC recommends that people with monkeypox isolate until all lesions have resolved, the scabs have fallen off and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed. This usually takes 2 to 4 weeks — a longer period than New Jersey’s minimum requirements for earned sick leave.

How It Spreads

The virus can spread in the following ways, according to the New York City Department of Health:

• direct contact with a rash or sores of someone who has the virus
• contact with clothing, bedding and other items used by a person with monkeypox
• prolonged face-to-face contact

Many of the cases in the outbreak have spread through sexual activity and other types of intimate contact, such as hugging, kissing and cuddling, according to New York City health officials. Experts are currently studying whether the virus can also spread through semen, saliva, feces and other bodily fluids.

Monkeypox is currently not considered a sexually transmitted infection. Health officials have pointed to cases in men who have sex with men, but monkeypox can spread from direct contact with any affected individual.

Several LGBTQ organizations have criticized the public-health messaging and media coverage of monkeypox that has put the spotlight on their community, drawing parallels to homophobic and incorrect public-health information that circulated during the emergence of AIDS.

“As we saw with HIV, COVID-19, and now MPV (monkeypox), discrimination, disinformation, racism and systemic breakdowns in the health care system continue to challenge LGBTQ Americans’ health as well as public health and safety, especially for LGBTQ people of color,” said DaShawn Usher, GLAAD’s director for communities of color. “All people are susceptible to MPV, but it showed up early in LGBTQ communities, resulting in additional stigma for us. We must keep our community safe and informed.”

Along with isolation, the CDC advises people who test positive to do the following:

• Stay home except as required for emergencies or follow-up medical care.
• If possible, use a separate bathroom if there are others who live in the same household.
• Wear a well-fitting mask or respirator if you need to be around other people in the home.
• Routinely clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces using an EPA-registered disinfectant.
• Wash hands with soap and water, and use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Abstain from all sexual activity.
• Avoid close contact with other people and pets in the home.
• Avoid shaving areas of the body with blisters or legions to prevent the spread of the virus.

About The Vaccines

The following people in New Jersey are eligible for the JYNNEOS vaccine for monkeypox:

• People who have known contact with someone who tested positive for orthopoxvirus or monkeypox virus within past 14 days (contact your local health department to coordinate vaccination).
• People who attended an event where known monkeypox exposure occurred within 14 days (make an appointment at a vaccine location)
• gay, bisexual, transgender, gender nonconforming, nonbinary individuals and men who have sex with men
  • who also have had multiple sex partners or at least one anonymous sex partner within the past 14 days (make an appointment at a vaccine location)

New Jersey expects additional vaccine doses from the CDC in the coming days and will continue to expand access to vaccination, according to the state health department.

Vaccines are available by appointment only through the following community partners:

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
Location: Annex 2 (white tent structure), 230 East Ridgewood Ave, Paramus
Phone: 800-730-2762
Schedule an appointment: www.newbridgehealth.org

Cooper Vaccine & Testing Clinic, Cooper University Hospital
Location: 300 Broadway, Camden
Phone: 856-968-7100
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Website: https://my.cooperhealth.org/mychart/authentication/login

Hyacinth AIDS Foundation/Project Living Out Loud!
Location: Jersey City
Phone: 201-706-3480

The Prevention Resource Network, a program of the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey
Location: Asbury Park
Phone: 732-502-5100

North Jersey Community Research Initiative (NJCRI)
Location: Newark
Phone: 973-483-3444 ext. 200
Check with your local health department or visit this page for updates on vaccination.

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