Protecting heating equipment during a flood: Lessons learned from Irene
As we approach the one year anniversary of Irene, heating fuel providers throughout Vermont are participating in a tank safety education campaign. The outreach effort reminds Vermonters that there are a number of things that should be done before, during and after a flooding event to protect their family and home.Make sure your fuel provider has done an inspection of your tank. Fuel oil tanks should be anchored in place in flood prone areas. In some cases, it is recommended that propane tanks also be anchored. Contact your heating fuel provider for more information.If heating equipment has been flooded, be sure to shut off the tank service valve if it is safe to do so.If you suspect any of your heating equipment, tank, supply regulator or other components have been under water or damaged, or physically moved (even slightly) by flooding, schedule a time for a Vermont certified heating technician to perform a complete inspection. If propane gas supply has been turned off, do not attempt to restore service. Do not use equipment until your system has been inspected by a qualified service technician.If you notice any spilled or leaking oil, contact your fuel provider immediately. Quick response in these situations can help mitigate property damage and prevent fuel oil from seeping into soil and groundwater. You can contact the Vermont Hazmat Hotline at 1-800-641-5005.If your propane tank has become dislodged, or if you suspect you may have a propane leak, immediately shut down the affected equipment and turn off the gas if it is safe to do so. Leave the area and contact your propane dealer. If you can’t reach your propane dealer, call 911. If you find a propane or oil tank on your property that is not yours, or if your tank is missing, contact your local fire department, your local fuel dealer, or the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association. CLICK HERE to download the Vermont Tank Safety brochure. Montpelier, VT (August 15, 2012)
The Kansas City Business Journal’s Rob Roberts reports that the long-vacant commercial property at Antioch and Shawnee Mission Parkway in Merriam could soon be the site of a new mixed-use development featuring restaurants, hospitality, entertainment and some retail.Roberts broke the news Wednesday evening that Kansas City-based Block & Co. had led a group of investors who finalized purchased the property from its New York owners this week. According to his report, Block is negotiating to purchase the adjacent parcel that houses the IHOP restaurant building as well.Menards, the Wisconsin-based home improvement chain, spent months in 2014 on plans to turn the former Kmart site into a new store. But it announced it was pulling back from those efforts in early 2015.Block is reportedly looking to invest around $85 million in construction and development of the new project.
Ambroz Named Big Ten’s Second Star Ben GotzFebruary 3, 2015Jump to CommentsShare on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via EmailPrintIn his Minnesota career, Seth Ambroz earned the reputation as a Badger tamer.11 of the senior forward’s 35 career goals have come against the Wisconsin Badgers, including four last weekend. Four of his six career multi-point games are also against the Badgers. His last goal of the weekend forced Saturday’s 4-4 contest into overtime and saved the Gophers a Big Ten conference point.The assistant captain was honored for his performance on Tuesday, when he was named the Big Ten’s Second Star of the Week. “I don’t know. I enjoy playing against them,” Ambroz told reporters on his success against Wisconsin Friday. “I’ve been fortunate enough to get some nice bounces. I don’t really know what else to say.”The senior arrived at Madison with only three career goals on the season, but left Wisconsin with seven. Ambroz, who scored 14 goals last season during the Gophers trip to the NCAA Championship, struggled to produce at the beginning of the year.But if the senior is able to start putting points on the board on a weekly basis, it would be a major boost to the Gophers chances of climbing out of their current skid.
Gophers play one of two games in this year’s Gophers ClassicMinnesota defeated Green Bay on Thursday in three straight sets.Tony SaundersGopher women’s volleyball defeated Green Bay in three straight sets on Thursday, Sept. 13. David MullenSeptember 17, 2018Jump to CommentsShare on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via EmailPrintThe No. 7 Gophers (6-2) were hosts of the annual Gopher Classic this weekend, but only played one match due to unusually hot weather conditions. “Due to extreme heat and unplayable conditions inside Maturi Pavilion, tonight’s volleyball match between the University of Minnesota and Kansas State has been postponed,” according to a press release from the University’s athletics department. In the same email, athletics director Mark Coyle said, “The safety and health of our student-athletes is always our primary concern when making these decisions.”The game Minnesota did play was Thursday evening. It was the kick-off for the Gopher Classic at Maturi Pavilion against the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (5-6).Although the Gophers swept the Phoenix, it was a highly contested match. The results of the competitive three sets were 25-18, 25-15 and 25-22. Green Bay took the first three points in the third set and eventually took a 7-2 lead over the Gophers.“We dug ourselves into a pretty big hole at the beginning of the set,” head coach Hugh McCutcheon said. “Certainly, Green Bay made some plays that made that happen.”After two attack errors by Green Bay, the score was 7-4 and the Gophers answered by matching each point made by the Phoenix, but the were still training 10-7. The Gophers then took seven points in a row to put them ahead 14-10. The final set continued to go back and forth, but the Gophers eventually took the set and swept Green Bay 25-22.“We had a lot of energy tonight and if we made a mistake we’d move onto the next point,” junior outside hitter Alexis Hart said. “I think it was great that we had each other’s back but we were all like, ‘let’s do this.’”Hart led the game with 14 points off of 13 kills. Hart, who has not seen as much playing time this season as in previous years, said whenever she goes in she is ready to play due to her teammates’ hard work in practice.“It’s just being consistent, and it helps that my teammates push me so hard in practice,” Hart said. In the first set against Green Bay, the Gophers showed their dominance by never trailing throughout the set — at one point they led the Phoenix by double digits with a score of 21-11.Although Green Bay fought back after multiple timeouts, they fell 25-18 in the opening set.After the first set, Hart led the Gophers with five kills followed by sophomore Stephanie Samedy with four kills. In the second set, the Gophers took a 10-6 lead after a service ace by senior Samantha Seliger-Swenson put the Gophers in control.After Green Bay fired back to make the second set close at 12-10, the Gophers answered and scored five-straight points.Green Bay scored only two more points in the set while the Gophers would finish the set after a service error, winning 25-15.“[I’m] happy to win and I thought it was some good positives. Lots of elements in the game that we thought we did pretty well,” McCutcheon said.Although the Gophers swept Green Bay, McCutcheon says there is still plenty of things to work on.“I do think though there were some nice opportunities for improvement so hopefully we can work on that,” McCutcheon said.
Barnhart continues to keep its 600-tonne capacity mobile crane stationed at the port for heavy lifts, and Tulsa claims that it will remain busy. The port added that Barnhart has several inbound project cargo shipments scheduled for January 2016.The port’s dock restoration programme is also moving forward, with the main 200-tonne capacity bridge crane now in operation again. Further enhancements to the dock will continue into the winter months, said the port.November saw a total of 146,410 tonnes of cargo shipped through the port – a slightly lower amount than the previous month.The total volume of cargo shipped through the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS) in November was 819,103 tonnes. Of that total, 472,847 tonnes were shipped through Oklahoma. www.tulsaport.com
In early April, Schmidbauer took delivery of the 450-tonne lifting capacity LTM 1450-8.1 at the Liebherr plant in Ehingen, as HLPFI reported here.The company is due to take delivery of an LTM 1650-8.1, which has a lifting capacity of 650 tonnes in 2021.The Liebherr MK88-4.1 mobile crane, which was unveiled at the 2019 bauma trade fair in Germany, has also joined the Schmidbauer fleet. Axle loads of up to 10 tonnes can be achieved by splitting and detaching the ballast, fulfilling many strict national road regulations, said Schmidbauer. The reduction of the support width to 5.75 m and the half-sided support feature enable the mobile crane to be used on streets and construction sites in confined areas, amongst other places, it added.The Spierings SK487 AT3 City Boy mobile crane is one of the most compact cranes in Schmidbauer’s fleet. With a width of 2.5 m and length of 13.08 m allows for manoeuverability, particularly in city environments.The Cesab B885 electric powered forklift with a lifting capacity of 8.5 tonnes will also be a powerful addition, said Schmidbauer.According to Schmidbauer, the expansion of its range with high performance equipment will better equip it to serve the variety of new challenges national and international markets pose.www.schmidbauer-gruppe.de
Two solicitors from a Yorkshire firm have been charged with conspiracy to defraud.West Yorkshire Police confirmed Neil Frew and Mohammed Ayub, from Chambers Solicitors in Bradford, were charged ‘in relation to past financial matters at the firm’.Frew, 47, and Ayub, 53, have been released on bail to attend court at a future date. A third man, aged 47, has also been summoned to appear at court in relation to the charge.The charges relate to financial matters at the firm between October 2010 and March 2013.A spokesperson from the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the charges relate to payments from the Legal Aid Agency for the provision of interpretation services.Chambers Solicitors, which was established in 2003, specialises in criminal, family, personal injury and immigration law.In a statement, the firm said all the charges will be ‘vigorously contested’.It added: ‘We have co-operated throughout with the LAA in this matter and demonstrated that this firm have done nothing wrong.‘Despite the LAA having conducted a full investigation and its extensive statutory powers to reclaim incorrect claims, it has not found any sufficient grounds to take action against this firm nor raise the matters in this charge.’The three charged individuals will appear at Leeds Magistrates’ Court (pictured) on 17 July.
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn has launched a railway training scheme for refugees who have previous experience of electrical engineering. An initial group of 15 people originally from Nigeria, Eritrea, Congo, Iran, Algeria, Somalia, Syria and Tunisia have been selected for the programme, which runs for 28 months and starts with a four-month language course. The programme has been devised by DB in collaboration with the Federal Employment Agency, the city of München and local business and education partners. If the pilot scheme proves successful, it could be expanded. A separate scheme is providing an initial six commercial and technical training places for younger refugees without professional experience, and a further 30 places are planned.
Peter ObiCourtesy: Facebook/The Platform Nigeria Nigeria’s main opposition party said authorities had frozen the bank accounts of its vice presidential candidate in the run-up to elections next February.Peter ObiCourtesy: Facebook/The Platform NigeriaThe People’s Democratic Party (PDP) said late on Saturday accounts belonging to Peter Obi, its vice presidential candidate, his wife, family members and their businesses had been blocked by government agencies. The PDP did not identify them.The presidency could not be reached for comment and Obi did not respond to a call, text message or email seeking comment.“Why is the presidency on a wild goose chase in investigating Peter Obi, who left office as Governor of Anambra state five years ago with a nationally acclaimed clean record,” the PDP said in a statement.President Muhammadu Buhari last month launched his campaign for re-election for a second term, running on his track record on corruption. Buhari’s handling of a struggling economy will also be a central campaign issue.PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, a former ally to Buhari, chose as running mate Obi, 57, to generate support in the southeast region, which includes Anambra, where the president has polled badly in past elections.Geographical affiliations in Nigeria are crucial in a sprawling nation of 190 million people from 250 ethnic groups.With a tight race in prospect, a strong showing in the southeast could give the PDP enough votes to deny Buhari, a former military ruler, a second four-year term.
Rwanda confirms 8th case of COVID-19 Jack Ma Foundation to donate medical supplies to all African countries to fight COVID-19 Rwandan President Paul Kagame. /PHOTO: Rwanda PresidencyRwanda’s President Paul Kagame has expressed his country’s gratitude to Jack Ma Foundation for a donation of COVID-19 test kits.The Jack Ma announced on Monday that his foundation and Alibaba would supply medical equipment to all African countries to help in the fight against COVID-19.The pledge would see each of the 54 African nations get 20,000 testing kits, 100,000 masks, and 1,000 medical use protective suits and face shields.“Thank you Jack Ma and Jack Ma Foundation for your generous donation of test kits delivered in Kigali today. This is a huge shot in the arm and a much needed contribution in our work to stop the spread of #Coronavirus. I know the people of Rwanda join me in gratitude,” President Kagame wrote on Twitter. Rwanda urges vigilance over COVID-19 The Jack Ma Foundation also promised to begin working with medical institutions around Africa to provide online training material for COVID-19 clinical treatment.COVID-19 cases continue to be reported across Africa, with more than 900 cases recorded in 38 countries.Various African countries have since imposed travel restrictions and suspended flights to the COVID-19-hit regions in a bid to contain the spread of the disease.The Jack Ma Foundation has also made similar donations to countries in other continents in a bid to better prepare them for the fight against COVID-19.Related
Bad mortgages, those described as foreclosed or delinquent, rose slightly in Vermont last month to 9 percent. This continues to rank Vermont 14th best in the nation and second best in the East.The December Mortgage Monitor report released by Lender Processing Services (NYSE: LPS) shows mortgage originations continued their decline from 2011’s September peak, down 10.1 percent from the month before. At the same time, those loans originated over the last two years have proven to be some of the best quality originations on record. Likely a result of tighter lending requirements, 2010-11 vintage originations showed 90-day default rates below those of all other years, going back to 2005. December origination data also shows that recent prepayment activity – a key indicator of mortgage refinances – has remained strong, with 2008-09 originations, high credit score borrowers and government-backed loans having benefited the most from recent, historically low interest rates.Looking at judicial vs. non-judicial foreclosure states, LPS found that half of all loans in foreclosure in judicial states have not made a payment in more than two years. Foreclosure sale rates in non-judicial states stood at approximately four times that of judicial foreclosure states in December. Still, on average, pipeline ratios (the time it would take to clear through the inventory of loans either seriously delinquent or in foreclosure at the current rate of foreclosure sales) have declined significantly from earlier this year. The December mortgage performance data also showed that foreclosure starts continued to decline, remaining at multi-year lows as of the end of 2011; down 3.7 percent for the month, and nearly 40 percent for the year.As reported in LPS’ First Look release, other key results from LPS’ latest Mortgage Monitor report include:Total U.S. loan delinquency rate: 8.15%Month-over-month change in delinquency rate: 0.0%Total U.S foreclosure pre-sale inventory rate: 4.11%Month-over-month change in foreclosure pre-sale inventory rate: -1.3% States with highest percentage of non-current* loans: FL, MS, NV, NJ, ILStates with the lowest percentage of non-current* loans: MT, WY, SD, AK, ND*Non-current totals combine foreclosures and delinquencies as a percent of active loans in that state.Notes:(1) Totals are extrapolated based on LPS Applied Analytics’ loan-level database of mortgage assets.(2) All whole numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand.About the Mortgage MonitorLPS manages the nation’s leading repository of loan-level residential mortgage data and performance information on nearly 40 million loans across the spectrum of credit products. The company’s research experts carefully analyze this data to produce a summary supplemented by dozens of charts and graphs that reflect trend and point-in-time observations for LPS’ monthly Mortgage Monitor Report. To review the full report, visit http://www.lpsvcs.com/NEWSROOM/INDUSTRYDATA/Pages/default.aspx(link is external).LPS JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – January 27, 2012 -About Lender Processing Services Lender Processing Services, Inc. (NYSE: LPS) is a leading provider of integrated technology, services and mortgage performance data and analytics to the mortgage and real estate industries. LPS offers solutions that span the mortgage continuum, including lead generation, origination, servicing, workflow automation, portfolio retention and default, augmented by the company’s award-winning customer support and professional services. Approximately 50 percent of all U.S. mortgages by dollar volume are serviced using LPS’ loan servicing platform, MSP. LPS also offers proprietary mortgage and real estate data and analytics for the mortgage and capital markets industries. For more information about LPS, visit www.lpsvcs.com(link is external).
STC has retained Brandthropology to provide an array of marketing services. Brandthropology will conduct both internal and external research to strategically pursue potential markets. The engagement will include branding and identity development, as well as web development and analytics. Traditional marketing initiatives, such as print and collateral development, will also coincide with the overall marketing system. STC President Richard Feeser said of his partnership with Brandthropology, â As we look to increase our annual revenue, weâ ve identified the need for a more disciplined and orchestrated marketing system to achieve our goal.â Matt Dodds, Chief Brandthropologist of Brandthropology said, â We are strong believers in a Vermont that still makes things, and are thrilled to be supporting a job-creating business that has such a vibrant local and global presence.’He added â Itâ s also exciting for us to bring out our global skill sets to support STCâ s strong international componentâ . The partnership with STC adds another client to Brandthropologyâ s portfolio of work in the field of IT Technology. Other IT clients include Emphase (a division of Logic Supply), Audubon Guides iPhone Apps, the Computer and Digital Forensics Division at Champlain College, and Digitumbra. Brandthropology. 4.12.2012. Delivering unique solutions to a range of industries, STC caters to the aviation and aerospace, military and government, oil and gas, and medical and telecommunications industries. Over 130 skilled local employees pioneer some of the industryâ s most technologically advanced products and processes in their St. Albans location.
About BrandthropologyBrandthropology is a Burlington, Vermont based marketing firm with a distinctly Darwinian approach. It creates highly evolved marketing systems for a select group of clients who are interested in embracing change ‘and the many opportunities that new technologies now offer. For more information, visit www.Brandthropology.com(link is external) Superior Technical Ceramics (STC) has chosen Brandthropology to spearhead its new marketing efforts. The St. Albans based company is an internationally recognized leader in the specialized technical ceramics field. After a three agency pitch, STC felt Brandthropology was the right partner to design a more cohesive brand. â We found their record of creating outsized returns by intelligently orchestrating branded communications, via both offline and online marketing channels, especially impressive,’Feeser said. About Superior Technical CeramicsSince 1898, Superior Technical Ceramics (STC), located in St. Albans, Vermont, has provided fully integrated technical solutions in ceramic manufacturing. STC has complete in-house capabilities to assist with design, engineer, tool and manufacture of technical ceramics to customer requirements. STC invests in state-of-the-art equipment and in highly skilled, knowledgeable employees to produce the industryâ s best components. STC is a privately owned company with over 100 employees. For more information, visit www.Ceramics.net(link is external).