By now you are well aware that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been found in a lot of wild birds this year — up and down the East Coast, from Canada to Florida and in many states in between. There have been outbreaks of this viral disease in backyard poultry and commercial flocks, including several in Pennsylvania.

If you’re visiting farms — for business or just dropping in on a neighbor — you should always be thinking about what you can do to prevent bringing a pathogen onto the farm or taking one off of the farm when you leave.

That small pile of bird droppings in the parking lot at your neighborhood convenience store could very well have the HPAI virus in it, and it could end up on the bottom of your boots when you walk from your truck to the store to pick up a coffee. If your next stop is at the farm down the road to drop off some grain or hay, you could also be dropping off the virus from the bottom of your boot.

If one of the chickens that lives on the farm then happens to pick up a bug, or some grain, from the ground where you walked, you might just have become responsible for introducing HPAI onto that farm. The virus could also be on your clothing, on your vehicle, or even on your hands.

John Boney, assistant professor of poultry science, points out that it’s easy to reduce the risk by taking some simple precautions.

The first step is to not drive further onto the farm property than necessary, and avoid driving where dirt (possibly with the HPAI virus in it) from your tires or undercarriage might get onto surfaces where poultry can be foraging, the farm’s equipment or tires could become contaminated, or farm employees might walk.

You also want to avoid getting dirt and manure from the farm on your vehicle, because you might then be taking the virus with you to the farm down the road.

Many larger farms are installing automatic vehicle spraying systems, or there might be a tank full of disinfectant at the end of the lane for you to manually spray down your vehicle. Please make sure you follow any and all instructions that the farm has posted. Keeping your vehicle clean is also a recommended best practice (disinfectants work much better on clean surfaces), so get to know where the car washes are in your territory and use them regularly.

Next, make sure you have a bunch of disposable boot covers in your vehicle, as well as some disinfectant spray and hand sanitizer. The best option is to not get out of your vehicle at all, but if that’s not possible, slip on a set of boot covers. This will prevent you from leaving anything that’s on your footwear on the farm.

Minimize your time out of the vehicle. If you don’t need to be there, don’t go. Instead of bringing the delivery slip or invoice into the office, text or email it to the farm manager. If you have to go into areas where there is a possibility of animal contact, you should put on a pair of disposable coveralls.

When you’ve finished at the farm, remove your boot covers and disposable coveralls. By doing this, you’ve hopefully prevented any harmful viruses or bacteria that might be present on the farm from getting onto your footwear and into your vehicle. Give the used items (they’re meant for single use) to someone at the farm to dispose of in their trash. As you swing your feet back into your vehicle, give your boots or shoes a quick spray with the disinfectant for an extra measure of safety. Then disinfect your hands with a sanitizer, since you were just handling the boot covers.

Those are some simple and inexpensive precautions you can take to reduce the risk of transmitting HPAI onto or off of a farm. Please consider implementing them today, if you aren’t already doing so.

Another thing to consider is whether you have poultry at home. If you do, you should be taking a extra precautions to keep them safe, and reduce the possibility infecting other farms in case your birds get HPAI.

First of all, watch them closely for signs of disease or unexpected death. The signs of HPAI vary substantially (sudden death, lack of appetite, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, incoordination), so almost anything unusual that you observe should be considered suspicious and should be reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at 717-772-2852. PDA has a veterinarian on call 24/7. In the meantime, you should also not allow any visitors onto (or off of) your farm, and you definitely shouldn’t take any birds off the farm unless instructed to do so by the Ag Department.

Secondly, when you leave your farm or home, you should not wear the same boots and clothing that you wore when taking care of your animals. There’s a risk of bringing manure and respiratory secretions (both of which may contain HPAI and other pathogens) to other farms that way. When you come home after work, you should change clothing to reduce the risk of getting your animals sick. If you can change clothes and shoes at the office and disinfect them there, that would be even better.

Reducing the risk of spreading HPAI requires everyone doing their part. Even a few small changes to your routines and habits could make a big difference.

For more information about HPAI, visit Penn State Extension’s avian influenza website and watch a video about biosecurity.

Quote of the Week

“Establish credibility through your deeds, and not your words alone.”

— George C. Marshall

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Originally Appeared Here

Asking what not to clean with vinegar? While distilled white vinegar is recommended for a whole host of cleaning tasks, there are some items that definitely shouldn’t be cleaned with vinegar because it can damage them.

The pantry ingredient is a reliable way to clean many things around the house and cleaning with vinegar is often included in cleaning tips frequently include it because it’s non-toxic and inexpensive as well as effective. But vinegar is an acid, so while it’s ideal for some jobs such as removing limescale, the same action can cause harm to other surfaces.

Here, we’ve put together a list of the things you shouldn’t clean with vinegar (even if you see recommendations to do so by searching online). It could save you a whole lot of heartache.

What not to clean with vinegar

‘When it comes to house cleaning, vinegar is your natural ally,’ says Janice Stewart, co-owner of Castle Keepers, a residential cleaning company with locations in Charleston, SC, Greenville, SC and Atlanta, GA. ‘For instance, vinegar is possibly the best thing to use to remove hard water stains. But just because it’s natural, does not mean it’s risk-free. There are exceptions when using vinegar can cause more harm than good.’

You might be surprised by the list of what not to clean with vinegar. Here’s the lowdown.

1. Dishwashers

Thinking of using vinegar to clean a dishwasher? ‘This has become a popular DIY hack to clean your dishwasher, but it’s a big no-no,’ says home remodeling expert Marina Vaamonde, owner and founder of HouseCashin.

The reason is that vinegar can damage rubber, which is used for some of the parts of the dishwasher including the door seal. Instead, use a specially formulated dishwasher cleaner periodically to keep the dishwasher pristine.

2. Stone countertops

If your kitchen countertops are made from real stone, swerve the vinegar to clean them up. 

‘Avoid using vinegar on natural stones like granite and marble as the acid in the vinegar could not only dull the stone, but also cause spills to penetrate the surface of the stone leaving permanent stains and etching, since vinegar can easily damage any sealers applied to the stone surface,’ explains Janice Stewart.

3. Steam irons

Yes, it’s true that limescale can accumulate inside a steam iron but, even so, don’t reach for the vinegar to clean it. The reason is that typically there’s a coating inside which vinegar can erode, along with other materials used in the iron’s construction.

If it doesn’t self-clean, it’s time to dig out the manual or find it online and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.

4. Hardwood floors

Stay away from vinegar when it comes to cleaning hardwood floors. ‘The acid could actually destroy the finish and make the wood more prone to damage, in addition to giving it a dull, cloudy look,’ says Janice Stewart.

Hardwood flooring manufacturers may stipulate that their floor shouldn’t be cleaned with vinegar and thus using it could invalidate the warranty on the floor.

And while we’re talking wood, vinegar shouldn’t be used on wood furniture either.

5. Stone flooring

What goes for stone countertops goes for cleaning stone floors, too. Vinegar is not the cleaner to use on stones like limestone, granite and marble. ‘Your flooring will eventually lose its shine because of the vinegar even if it’s diluted with water,’ says Edward Jones, managing editor of HomeCareHow.

6. Washing machines

Our cleaners need cleaning themselves from time to time and using vinegar for cleaning the washing machine is a recommendation you’re bound to hit on when you search. But, just as with the dishwasher, rubber seals and hoses can be damaged – and leaks the result – so use the service wash or the manufacturer’s recommended product.

Take note, too, that vinegar shouldn’t be used as a fabric softener or to get rid of stains either for just the same reason.

7. TV, tablet and smartphone screens

The way to clean a TV screen, and those on smartphones, tablets and so on is not with vinegar. Their protective coatings can be damaged. Instead, wipe with a microfiber cloth to get rid of dust, and if more cleaning is required, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to be sure of avoiding harm. 

8. Mirrors

Cleaning a mirror with vinegar might seem like a good idea – after all it’s great for cleaning windows. Don’t do it, though. The vinegar can penetrate through to the mirror’s backing – which is what makes it shine. 

Stick to a cleaning product that’s suitable for mirrors and use a microfiber cloth to apply it.

9. Knives

Keep vinegar away from kitchen knives if you want them to last. It could damage the finish. Dish soap in warm water is the answer if you want to keep them in good condition.

10. Coffee makers (or at least some of them)

Coffee machines can suffer from limescale buildup and cleaning a coffee maker with vinegar is an option to descale it. ‘Many of us don’t buy descaling solutions to clean our espresso makers and turn to vinegar,’ says Yannis Tzortzakis, editor-in-chief at Baristas Choice. 

‘While this is a cheaper solution, there are some important drawbacks. Most descaling solutions use citric acid because vinegar has a penetrating odor and taste. So, with vinegar, you’ll have to take many rinse cycles to remove lingering traces.’

Be aware of another possible downside to using vinegar. ‘Some manufacturers claim that vinegar can cause damage to the interior parts of an espresso machine,’ Yannis adds. If that’s the case, use it and you can invalidate the warranty.

Can you clean anything with vinegar?

There are some items you shouldn’t clean with vinegar to avoid damage or spoiling the finish. ‘Vinegar is about five per cent acetic acid, which helps it break down the structure of some dirt, oils, films, stains and bacteria. But that acidic agent can also harm some surfaces,’ explains Mindy Costello, a registered sanitarian and public health professional with global public health and safety organization NSF.

And if the purpose of cleaning is to disinfect, other options are more effective. ‘Be cautious when using vinegar to clean surfaces with a high risk of food contamination, such as cutting boards and refrigerator shelves/drawers,’ Mindy adds. ‘To disinfect these areas, it is recommended to use a bacteria-killing bleach/water solution or disinfectant.’

Will vinegar hurt a stainless steel sink? 

Vinegar can be used for cleaning a stainless steel sink if limescale buildup is the problem. Make sure to use a 1:1 solution of distilled white vinegar and water. Spray it onto the sink, leave for a minute or two, then wipe and rinse. The solution shouldn’t be left on the sink for longer because it can damage the stainless steel in the long term.

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Originally Appeared Here

A French woman ended up threatening to go on hunger strike after spending two years dealing with a tenant who refused to pay rent. 

Aline, 57, was renting out her home to a young man, now 21, in the town of Issoudun (Indre). 

For two years the tenant refused to pay rent of €600 a month and ignored a court-ordered eviction notice and the termination of the rental agreement. 

The situation was reportedly finally resolved on Wednesday (May 11) after an intervention from the local prefecture to expel the tenant, RMC reported. 

But Aline said that the ordeal caused her enormous stress and she even wrote to the prime minister’s office about the issue and also threatened to go on hunger strike. 

She said that every time she had to walk past the house it “tore her apart” to see the state of it. 

“There is a 750 square metre plot and it is littered with rubbish. I’ve also had threats from the tenant: ‘I’ll rot your crappy house, rip off the paper’,” she said.

“It makes me sick and my children too. I feel in a terrible state of stress, I feel like crying all the time.”

The tenants rental agreement was annulled by a court in Châteauroux in February 2021, and then in July that year the court ordered the man to leave the property. 

However, in France the prefecture must send a bailiff to carry out a judicial eviction, which took a long time to organise. One issue was that the authorities had to find alternative housing for the tenant, who refused several offers to move. 

Aline said that the whole affair “cost her a fortune”. 

“You get the impression that these people are [overly] protected. I feel like a rich person when I’m not. What I want is to get my house back, disinfect it, clean it, see it sorted again.”

The house was where Aline raised her children with her husband, who is now deceased. 

Evicting squatters

There are two different procedures in place to reclaim a property that has been taken over by squatters in France. One is by judicial means meaning it must go through courts. This can often take a very long time.

The second procedure is administrative.

A new procedure, launched on February 1 this year, means that bailiffs can now guide property owners who are victims of squatting through the entire process of recovering their property by administrative means. 

The bailiffs can offer free advice to homeowners, but there will be a fee of around €200 to €300 for their assistance in the process, to be specified depending on the case.

This is usually a much more efficient way of dealing with squatters, with the situation usually resolved within 72 hours. However, it took longer than this in 40% of cases in 2021, Le Figaro reports. 

You can find a bailiff near you at this website. 

Related articles

Success of new squatter law in France is ‘postcode lottery’

Solar, erosion, renovation: Four updates for property owners in France

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Originally Appeared Here

Mug shots are a snapshot of the worst days of people’s lives. They’re taken when someone has been accused of a crime, but not convicted; fodder for the public’s voyeuristic impulses even if they serve no purpose to the public.

No matter what happens next — whether a person is cleared, convicted, serves their sentence or has their record expunged — many of those photos continue floating around the internet. They can keep popping up for years, including in searches when someone is looking for a job, when they’re trying to build a safe life or even in news stories when they are victims of a crime. They can make people the targets of racism, threats and public humiliation.

In recent years, there’s been a shift away from publicly posting mug shots in the media and by some law enforcement offices. Several news outlets have said they will no longer publish daily mug shot galleries or post mug shots of people who have been arrested but not yet convicted of a crime.

But that reckoning has yet to hit one of the widest-reaching platforms in the world: Facebook.

The platform continues to allow law enforcement agencies to post mug shots, usually of people who have not been convicted of a crime. If a local law enforcement agency doesn’t actively post mug shots to Facebook, sometimes individual users will — a web of amateur-run “local mug shot” pages have spread across the platform.

Often the person pictured in the mug shot will be recognized, or even tagged, in the comments, prompting a pile-on from members of their community. The more people comment and react to the mug shot, the further the post will travel throughout the social media platform. Even if the individual is never convicted of a crime, there is no mechanism for getting the image removed.

Facebook did not respond to a request for comment, but it often claims that it is a neutral platform rather than a publisher that makes editorial decisions about the content on its site. In reality, Facebook does moderate content and the company has policies prohibiting certain content it deems too harmful. Although enforcement is inconsistent, Facebook claims to prohibit bullying, harassment, hate speech and posts containing personal or confidential information that could lead to physical or financial harm.

Mug shots typically contain or invite all of the above. Pages operated by people who cull mug shots from the local sheriff department’s websites and repost them on Facebook attract tens of thousands of users who gleefully gawk at the arrests of people in their communities. Because the mug shot pages are location-specific, Facebook users often recognize the people in the mug shots and comment with intrusive commentary about their lives.

“She is trash cuz someone else is raising her kids,” a member of the Niagara County Mugshots group — which has 24,000 followers — commented on a picture of a mug shot. “Dude didn’t give her the d she tried to take it im guessing by the look on her face,” another group member commented on a different mug shot. The Niagara County Mugshots page links to a merch page which sells T-shirts that say, “PUBLICLY SHAME YOUR LOCAL SEX OFFENDER.”

Even when group members don’t recognize the individual under arrest, the comments typically devolve into hateful vitriol. “Make sure to disinfect him before you release him into the wild again,” one commenter posted. “Another Polish monster removed from society. Though, is justice really being served? Locking up a Polish person is like sending a dog to prison. They have no idea what they did wrong, or why they are there,” another wrote.

“They’re producing content like any other content creator. It’s to get clicks, it’s to engage.”

– Rutgers associate professor Sarah Esther Lageson on law enforcement Facebook pages

Even some law enforcement officials have acknowledged the harm caused by mug shots spreading online. A spokesperson for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office praised the Houston Chronicle for doing away with mug shot galleries. The San Francisco Police Department announced in 2020 it would no longer release mug shots without an immediate public safety reason. The following year, California state lawmakers restricted law enforcement from posting mug shots on social media for people arrested on nonviolent charges.

But throughout the country, cops continue to post mug shots of the arrests they make as a way of promoting their work — at the expense of those who stand accused but not convicted of a crime. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office in Florida regularly posts mug shots with salacious captions on its Facebook page, where it has 205,000 followers. The Sheriff’s Office refers to the people it arrests as “thugs” and “criminals.” The captions are written in a way that suggests the goal is to make the mug shots go viral. The posts describe the alleged crimes in theatrical detail and include hashtags and jokes about the defendants, including referring to a man arrested around Christmastime as a “Grinch.”

Facebook users often respond by cheering on law enforcement and thanking them for keeping their community safe — even in cases where it’s not clear the individual arrested posed much of a threat.

Facebook’s platform allows police departments to post their own content, rather than relying on the media to cover their arrests and messaging, said Sarah Esther Lageson, an associate professor at Rutgers University who researches the growth of online crime data, mug shots and criminal records.

“They’re controlling the narrative and they use Facebook and mug shots as a way to show how busy they are. They’re producing content like any other content creator. It’s to get clicks, it’s to engage,” Lageson said. “And for what? Who’s bearing the brunt of the problem there? It’s the person that’s going to be publicly shamed.”

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office does not appear to delete comments even when they are racist or threatening. Their mug shot posts include comments such as: “Send Pedro back to Haiti,” “Hope he gets what he deserves in prison, hopefully he will find out what’s it’s like to get violated by the other inmates,” “Illegal?,” and “Will he get a slap on the hand because he is a minority, underprivileged?”

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office often posts mug shots of kids, including many who will never be found guilty of a crime. Even those who are later found guilty may be eligible for an expungement of their juvenile record as adults.

Caitlyn Mumma, a public information officer at the sheriff’s office, said they try to remove mugshots of individuals whose records are expunged but not for people who are never convicted of a crime after their arrest “because it’s still a public record even if the charges get dropped.”

Last year, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office posted a mug shot of a 12-year-old boy accused of making violent threats on social media, with a caption that includes the boy’s home address. The image of the child, captured on what was likely one of the worst days of his life, has been shared 27,000 times and has 45,000 comments. Several of the commenters took it upon themselves to diagnose the child with severe mental illnesses, citing the absence of tears in the mug shot.

The 12-year-old boy’s parents could not be reached for comment but Lageson has done extensive research on how people respond to their mug shot blowing up online. “They get totally overwhelmed. And even if they feel like it’s a privacy violation, or due process violation, their instinct is to sort of avoid it as much as possible,” Lageson said.

That leads to avoiding any circumstance that could prompt others to discover the mug shot. “Online dating, volunteering at schools, churches, applying for promotions, applying for more safe or stable housing or employment — these are all real things that people have told me they’ve stopped doing because of this,” Lageson said. “And of course, these are all the things that make us safer, because those are all factors that prevent crime.”

In 2020, Facebook put out a call for proposals from academics seeking funding for research related to digital privacy. Lageson submitted a proposal that included creating a process for people to request their mug shot be removed from the platform, especially if their record had been expunged.

Lageson did not receive the grant.

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Originally Appeared Here

Who needs an air freshener when you can ask your local health worker to disinfect your whole home!

Flag of China/Twitter/

Looking at what’s going on in China is something that is both scary and unsafe, too.

There have been reports from Shanghai indicating that health workers within the country are carrying out mandatory disinfectant sprays inside people’s homes. 

Read more: Chilling story of KZN’s Demi Brodie on life in lockdown facility in China

This is being done regardless of whether you as a home owner gave consent to it or not. This was not a welcomed surprise that the locals took kindly to and comes while the city is already in a strict COVID-19 lockdown.

And according to the Economist, the lockdown is not even close to over.

Read more: China knows the zero-Covid strategy 

The viral video below has been making the rounds on social media:

上海白卫兵入室做无死角消杀 pic.twitter.com/VCLzko4BWg

— 方舟子 (@fangshimin) May 10, 2022

Imagine that was your home? 

The Chinese health officials believe that by spraying disinfectant, it can help eliminate COVID-19. 

However, what the officials fail to understand from the information shared by World Health Organisation (WHO) is that the measure is somewhat pointless as the risk of transmission via contaminated surfaces is low.

READ: Half of Shanghai already in lockdown to stop COVID-19

One thing is definitely for sure, this would receive loads of complaints had this happened in South Africa. Sharing their thoughts on the matter was Darren Maule:

China’s approach to its people is less like a citizen and more like a hive. The individual bee is inconsequential but what the hive produces is important. China only recently abolished its one family, one child policy, and not long before that, the mutilating foot-binding policy to make concubines ‘appear’ more attractive was the status quo.

– Darren Maule

We are heading into the middle of the year already. Most countries have a laissez-faire attitude to the pandemic now with restrictions all but disappeared, so why is China ramping up their interventions? 

READ: WHO criticises China for their hardline approach to zero-Covid

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Main image attribution: Twitter

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Originally Appeared Here

The additional deaths being reported today include the following:

• A woman in her 60s who was a resident of the City of Farmers Branch. She was found deceased at home and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
• A woman in her 60s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
• A woman in her 70s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She had been critically ill in an area hospital and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
• A woman in her 80s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. She expired in hospice and had underlying high-risk health conditions.
• A man in his 90s who was a resident of the City of Dallas. He expired in hospice and had underlying high-risk health conditions.

To date, a total of 2,592 cases with SARS-CoV-2 variants have been identified and investigated in residents of Dallas County, including 288 cases of B.1.1.7 (Alpha); 4 cases of B.1.351 (Beta); 1,858 cases of B.1.617.2 (Delta); 31 cases of B.1.427 (Epsilon);  29 cases of P.1 (Gamma);  15 cases of B.1.526 (Iota); 5 cases of C.37 (Lambda); 4 cases of B.1.621 (Mu); 355 cases of B.1.1.529 (Omicron); and 3 cases of P.2 (Zeta). Four hundred and forty-nine cases have been hospitalized and 64 have died. Forty-nine COVID-19 variant cases were reinfections. Seven hundred and thirty-six people were considered fully vaccinated before infection with a COVID-19 variant.

For week 17, area hospital labs have continued to report elevated numbers and proportions of respiratory specimens that are positive for other respiratory viruses by molecular tests: parainfluenza (10.51%), rhinovirus/enterovirus (35.35 %), and RSV (2.79%).

There are currently 15 active long-term care facility outbreaks. A cumulative total of 6,493 residents and 4,365 healthcare workers in long-term facilities in Dallas have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Of these, 1,338 have been hospitalized and 911 have died. About 16% of all deaths reported to date have been associated with long-term care facilities.

There have been 0 outbreaks of COVID-19 in a congregate-living facility (e.g. homeless shelters, group homes, and halfway homes) reported within the past 30 days. A cumulative total of 1,152 residents and staff members (856 residents and 296 staff) in congregate-living facilities in Dallas have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

New cases are being reported as a daily aggregate, with more detailed data dashboards and summary reports updated on Friday evenings, available at: https://www.dallascounty.org/departments/dchhs/2019-novel-coronavirus/daily-updates.php.

“As today’s numbers illustrate, the risk of serious complications from COVID-19 is not gone. Vaccination is the best way to protect against a serious case of COVID. Find a vaccine or booster near you at COVID.gov,” said Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins.

All Dallas County COVID-19 Updates and Information can be found here: https://www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/ and all guidance documents can be found here: https://www.dallascounty.org/covid-19/guidance-health.php
Specific Guidance for the Public:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends taking everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

• Avoid close contact outside your home: Put 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who don’t live in your household.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others and continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.
• Stay home when you are sick, except to seek medical care
• Wash your hands often and with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and help young children to do the same. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces daily using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you do not have a tissue, use your sleeve, not your hands. Immediately wash your hands.
• Monitor your health daily. Be alert for symptoms. Take your temperature and follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.

Additional information is available at the following websites:

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Originally Appeared Here

Lindsey Smith cuts the ribbon to open the new office of Porter-Blair Cleaning & Co. along with Mayor Eddie Sundquist; James Feldmann representing County Executive PJ Wendel; Lisa Vanstrom representing state Sen. George Borrello; Lindsey’s son Porter; Jamestown Community Chamber Coordinator Carrie Swanson; state Assemblyman Andrew Goodell; and Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dan Heitzenrater.
Submitted photo

Porter-Blair Cleaning & Co. recently cut the ribbon on its new office in the Medical Arts Building at 500 Pine St., Jamestown.

Owner Lindsey Smith is a Jamestown native who recently returned home to launch her business.

“The past two years have been challenging for so many including Porter-Blair Cleaning & Co.,” Smith said. “I’m happy to be moving forward and serving this community. Not only are we providing valuable cleaning solutions to homeowners and commercial spaces we are also creating new employment opportunities. We look forward to growing in the Chautauqua County region.”

Porter-Blair Cleaning & Co. offers commercial and residential cleaning including disinfecting all high-touch surfaces, trash removal, floor cleaning, kitchens, bathrooms and more. Specialized floor care and carpet cleaning is available, as is special event cleaning and vacation property cleaning solutions. They are licensed, insured and bonded.

Joining Smith and her family for the grand opening were Mayor Eddie Sundquist, state Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, and representatives for County Executive PJ Wendel and state Sen. George Borrello, along with the staff of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce.

Sundquist congratulated Smith and noted, “It is exciting to see business growth in the city.”

“It demonstrates true initiative when small business owners make an investment in the community,” Goodell added. “We salute your entrepreneurship.”

Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dan Heitzenrater noted, “We wish great success to Porter-Blair and to all of our local businesses.”

To learn more about Porter-Blair Cleaning & Co., visit their website at porterblaircleaning.com or call 716-489-8881.

Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

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Originally Appeared Here

• By Cheng Wei-chi and Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporter, with staff writer

About 100 taxi drivers yesterday protested in front of the buildings housing the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) in Taipei, demanding that the government ensure sufficient supplies of COVID-19 rapid test kits for drivers.

The government launched a rapid test kit rationing scheme on April 28, fixing the price at NT$500, with each kit containing five rapid tests. However, supplies are limited, with long lines forming at pharmacies that sell them.

On Thursday last week, some supermarkets and other retailers also began selling COVID-19 rapid test kits for NT$180 apiece, but many have complained about the price.

Photo: CNA

The protest was organized by the Taipei City Taxi Drivers’ Union and an industrial union representing shuttle service by appointment on digital platforms.

Peng Chih-yuan (彭芝園) from the industrial union said that other countries provide the kits to citizens for free, while the Taiwanese government “sells them for NT$180 per kit.”

KiKi, a self-employed taxi driver, said she used to earn about NT$1,000 to NT$2,000 working eight hours a day, but now works about 24 hours a day, but only earns about NT$500 to NT$600.

Passengers would ask her whether she had taken a rapid test, and would complain if she said no, KiKi said.

They would ask “Why don’t you have a test since you have contact with so many people?” or “How can you prove that you are virus-free without taking a test?” she said.

The protesters said that some passengers would even get exit their cab and take a bus or walk home because they considered it too dangerous.

Aside from testing kits, many drivers have encountered difficulties buying antipyretics and can only drink salted water when they have a fever.

Taxi driver A Mu (阿沐) said that he lives with his 80-year-old father, 75-year-old mother and a second-grade son, and he is afraid of passing on the virus to them.

He said that he already spends a few hundred dollars every day to disinfect his taxi, and buying rapid test kits would further reduce his income.

The two unions presented four appeals to the government: replace quarantine with rapid tests to allow people to return to normal life; ask the CECC to provide enough kits for taxi drivers to ensure drivers’ safety and put passengers at ease; order the MOTC to increase the number of disease prevention taxis; and grant further subsidies to help transportation service providers survive.

The protesters were upset to see only a ministry section chief show up to accept their petition and no representative from the CECC.

Well Lee (李威爾), a spokesperson for the labor union, tore down a cardboard cut-out of Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中), who heads the CECC, and said they would consider more drastic measures during their next protest, such as besieging the CECC with their taxis and throwing eggs.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Adopt a dog for the day and help the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center during its spring cleaning event.

How to get involved

• Weekend sleepover: Take a pup home for the weekend and see if having a dog will work for your household. On Friday you can pick up your dog and return them on Sunday.
• DogVenture: Whether you’re taking a hike or going home to relax, getting a dog out of the shelter for a few hours is essential for the pups.
• Dog Walking: You take a dog for a walk and they’ll clean. Basically, you accept the dog for a walk while the staff and other volunteers deep-clean the kennels.
• Help Clean: You have a deep passion for cleanliness and will help care for inside and outside windows and other projects. There is a list of tasks to tackle and all supplies are provided.

There are 152 dogs available for adoption this week, and one of them is “Feather.” This 3 1/2-year-old pitbull mix is medium-sized and weighs 40 pounds. Feather prefers to be the only pet in the house and loves attention. She knows how to sit and is excited to learn new commands. You can help her understand them by using treats! Oh, how she loves a tasty treat.

Click on the photos below to see the shelter’s profile page. Here’s a link to some of the shelter’s favorite dogs.

FEATHER

Age: 3.1 Years
Breed: Pit Bull (Mix)
Adult Size: Medium
Weight: 40 lbs
Sex: Female (Spayed)
Adoption Amount: $ 18

MOLLY

Age: 2 Years 2 Weeks (approx)
Breed: Pit Bull Mix
Weight: 33 Ibs
Size: Medium
Primary Color: Black
Secondary Color: White
Sex: Spayed Female

Go-Getter
No Cats
No Dogs
Recommend Kids 8+

JADE

Age: 6 Years 1 Month 3 Weeks (approx)
Breed: Pit Bull Mix
Weight: 56.2 lbs
Size: Large
Primary Color: White
Secondary Color: Brindle
Sex: Spayed Female

Housebroken
Shelter
Favorite
Constant Companion
Senior Favorite

MUMBLE

Age: 4 Years 3 Months 1 Week
Breed: Pit Bull Mix
Weight: 50 Ibs
Size: Large
Primary Color: Grey
Secondary Color: White
Sex: Neutered Male

Shelter Favorite
No Dogs
Recommend Kids 12+

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GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA: A South Carolina woman, who won season 20 of ‘Worst Cooks in America’, has been given life behind bars for taking the life of her foster daughter. Ariel Robinson killed Victoria Rose Smith on January 14, 2021, and was found guilty of the crime on Thursday, May 12, by jurors after an hour and a half of discussion following the four-day trial.

The 30-year-old was arrested along with her 35-year-old husband, Jerry, who pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting homicide by child abuse in April. Police were called to the couple’s house in Greenville, South Carolina, on January 14, 2021, after Victoria became unresponsive. At the time, Ariel reportedly said that the little girl’s worrisome condition was due to excess consumption of a liquid, and she “thought the girl had choked,” The Daily Mail reported.

READ MORE

Who was Victoria Rose Smith? How Ariel Robinson’s 3-year-old foster child died after blunt force trauma to head

Jerry Robinson: Ariel Robinson’s husband pleads guilty in abuse and death of foster daughter, 3

At the time, the woman, who has two of her own kids, was also questioned about the bruises on Victoria’s body and she accused her brother. The toddler was living in “an adoptive home with her two biological brothers for around a year,” according to a Change.org’s petition started by children’s biological great aunt, Michelle Urps.

But prosecutors refuted her allegations and claimed that Ariel had mercilessly beaten the child that night. Greenville County Chief Medical Examiner Dr Michael Ward gave his testimony on Wednesday and said that the woman’s torture was so evil that Victoria’s blood vessels ruptured. He added: “If we lose enough blood, the heart doesn’t have enough volume to pump.”

Jerry had also admitted that Victoria was beaten heartlessly on January 14, 2021, because she angered Ariel a day before while going to the church as she had vomited at that time. Two witnesses, Jean Smith and Avery Santiago, supported Jerry’s claims in the court on Wednesday and said they saw her cleaning the victim’s dress in the church’s bathroom that day. Smith told the court that when he asked Ariel if Victoria was unwell, she replied: “[The girl] eats too much and makes herself throw up. [It’s] a game.” Santiago added that she heard the woman telling the girl that “Oh, you’re cold. You’re cold. Girls that make themselves throw up deserve to be cold.” Besides, Jerry too took the stand against his wife and told the court that she was constantly abusive towards Victoria and used to beat her using a wooden paddle or a belt.

Meanwhile, Urps had blamed social workers for negligence and told DailyMail.com in 2021: “I knew something was wrong by looking at her social media so why couldn’t they? You have to question, do these case workers have the right training? Is the screening process adequate? Are they looking in the right places?” The Change.org’s petition initiated by her last year demanding — ‘Victoria’s Law for Department of Social Services and Child Protective Services Reform’ — read: “It is apparent that DSS and CPS did not do the due diligence needed to truly safe, healthy home.  Photos posted on social media appear to show the children always recovering from bruises on their head, neck and arms.  Most of them on Victoria.  We are calling upon the State of South Carolina to pass the bill to be name Victoria’s Law which will call for reform of the current screening process to become not only an adoptive parent but a foster parent as well.”

It added: “We want there to be frequent non-scheduled home visits to the foster and adoptive parents even after adoptions are finalized.  We want Guardian Ad Litem’s and case workers to talk privately with children in these homes so that they have the chance to ask for help if they need it. By signing this petition for change you are saying fix DSS and CPS system so that our most venerable and innocent citizens don’t go through what Victoria, her brothers and countless other’s in the SC DSS and CPS are going through.”

If you or anyone you know suspects child abuse, you are urged to immediately call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential and the hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

If you have a news scoop or an interesting story for us, please reach out at (323) 421-7514

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