ROCK ISLAND- The Rock Island County Health Department issued a warning about potential health concerns that come with recent flooding.

Flooding may cause pollution in water wells, malfunctions in private sewage disposal systems, and mold-related air quality problems, according to the Health Department. The Health Department has a few tips as people respond to these flood-related issues.

Wells

Any time a well is under floodwaters it’s at risk of contamination, according to the Health Department. Even if your well is above the flood waters, neighboring wells can contaminate the main water source.

If you rely on wells for water, the health department says:

• Test your water supplies for coliform bacteria. It’s suggested to wait two weeks after the flood to test the water. In the meantime, residents shouldn’t use well water for drinking, cooking, or other ingestion purposes.
• After the flood property owners should pump water from the well onto the ground surface until the water looks relatively clear. If the well was under water, a shock chlorination needs to be done before the water can be tested. Contact the Health Department or a qualified water well or pump contractor before chlorinating the well.
• Water testing kits may be picked up at the Rock Island Health Department’s office. The fee to conduct the test has been waived, but there is a $10 fee to ship the kits to a testing station.
• Anyone who’s well was submerged are encouraged to contact a water well professional to help bring their wells up to code. By extending the well casing at least two feet above the maximum flood level, future contamination could be prevented. Contact the Health Department for a list of licensed contractors.

Private Sewage

Septic systems or aerated treatment systems in flooded areas may be failing, according to the Health Department. When the systems fail they may cause sewage backups or spill wastewater onto the ground or into the river. Septic systems may temporarily be out of service until the flood waters or high groundwater levels have gone down.

• Pumping the septic tank may restore service.
• Aerobic treatment units may need a professional to assess the damage.

Mold

After heavy flooding it is possible personal possessions or building materials were contaminated or damaged. The Health Department says it is important to clear, clean, dry, or restore damaged material within a few days. Otherwise, mold and air contamination may become a major concern.

• Anyone clearing moldy or water-damaged material should wear a filter face-mask to minimize exposure to dangerous particles in the air.
• Restoration companies are available to help assess what can be salvaged. If immediate action isn’t taken, items won’t be salvageable and further air quality problems can emerge.
• The heating and ventilation systems in a house can help spread mold around a house.
• Presence of mold in a home can lead to later health-related conditions, which can be difficult to diagnose down the line.

For additional resources visit the Health Department’s website.

source https://wqad.com/2019/04/08/ri-health-department-issues-warning-and-gives-tips-on-flood-related-health-concerns/

Hunt’s tomato paste is advertised as coming from all-natural tomatoes that are vine-ripened. Unfortunately, the product was recalled because it may have been affected after the product’s canning process.

The recall issued by the company was for the «no salt added» product.»The final product could have been damaged, creating the potential for mold,» Conagra Brands Inc. said in a press release.

The company stated that they became aware of this issue after they received phone calls from their consumers complaining about the molds that accumulated in the paste. The cans that were affected were distributed within the United States, it falls under the lot code 2105902510, and its expiration date is October 16, 2020.

The company then later stated that there are no other products that are affected. Conagra Brands Inc. said that they had informed the FDA or the Food and Drug Administration about this issue and they are working with the department to make sure that all the affected products are off the shelves and they are not distributed in order to prevent any damage in the health of the consumers. 

Mold is a type of fungus that is consisted of small organisms that are found everywhere. Molds can be white, orange, black, purple or green. Molds play an essential role in the ecosystem as it breaks down plants, dead leaves and trees.

This fungus thrives on moisture, and it can reproduce by having tiny, lightweight spores that can travel through the air. We are exposed to mold every day, and in small amounts, they are considered harmless but when they land in your home or your food and start to grow, they can be inhaled or consumed, and it could start affecting your health. 

You may suffer from asthma, allergies and/or your immune system can be compromised. If you eat food with molds, then you can be poisoned as it has bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter, Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Bacillus cereus, and Entero-pathogenic Escherichia coli.

If you have food that you haven’t consumed yet, it is best to cover them and put them in the fridge (you can use plastic wrap or containers) to avoid mold formation. It is also best to consume leftovers within four days, and perishables must not be left out for more than two hours. 

If you see mold in your food before the expiration date, contact the company’s customer service hotline immediately. If you happen to consume food that has mold in it, drink lots of water in order to help digest it quickly.  

source https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/19843/20190408/cans-of-hunts-tomato-paste-have-been-recalled-because-of-molds.htm

source https://www.newschannel5.com/news/national/cans-of-hunts-tomato-paste-due-to-mold

Q: Our chimney is badly stained from weather. A chimney sweep told us chemicals and power washing would not guarantee removing these stains, and a heavy power wash could even damage the brick. How can we safely remove the stains?

Germantown, Md.

A: The stains could be mold, dirt, algae or soot, judging from the assessments offered by four chimney sweeps who respond to calls in the area.

“Trust me, it’s mold,” said Jim Shortley, owner of My Chimney Sweep Service in Potomac, Md., (301-760-6712; mychimneysweepservice.com). The remedy, he said, is to spray with a bleach-based product labeled for removing mold and mildew, wait 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse. Sometimes he also has to scrub stubborn stains using a synthetic-fiber brush. To keep from bleaching more than the chimney, he covers nearby roofing with a heavy tarp first.

Carlos Aragon, owner of Aragon Chimney Services in Derwood, Md., (301-706-8564; aragonmsi.com) also said the stains are probably mold. He would inspect to make sure the bricks and mortar were in good condition, then use a pressure washer to remove the stains. That’s the “easiest and fastest” way to clean the exterior of a chimney, he said.

[A safe way to get rid of all those old cable and phone wires]

Carmine Ferraro, owner of Colonial Chimney in Germantown (800-685-5225; colonialchimneyhvac.com), said he thinks the problem is algae and he’d use an algae-removing cleaner, “the same stuff we use on the roof,” and a pressure washer. Both Ferraro and Aragon said they would also coat the bricks with a water repellent after the cleaning to help keep the problem from recurring.

Steve Coates, owner of Chimney Masters in Germantown (301-972-9158; chimneymasters.com), said the black stains could be dirt blown off a nearby tree, soot, or a combination of soot and dirt. He would use an acidic cleaner, which bubbles up as it works and requires keen attention to safety and washing everything from the bricks on down to the ground afterward. “Dilute the hell out of things,” he said, adding that if any of the rinse water looked like it were headed to a storm drain, he would direct a hose into the runoff to ensure good dilution. Asked whether a stain that’s just dirt might come off with a gentler cleaner, he said that might work if the stains are not deeply embedded, but it’s a waste of time otherwise. “You’d be up there all day getting nothing done.”

Both Shortley and Coates warned against using a power washer, especially on old bricks. “If you power wash old brick structures, you’re going to blow the mortar out or peel off a layer of bricks,” Coates said.

At each of these companies, the cost varies depending partly on height and access, as well as whether the two sides of the chimney visible in the picture you sent are representative of the stains on the other two sides. Aragon estimated $50 to $150. Ferraro at Colonial Chimney said $200 to $500. Coates at Chimney Masters said $250 to $400. And Shortley at My Chimney Sweep Service said $200 to $1,000.

Given the different opinions, which approach makes sense? You definitely don’t want to damage the bricks or mortar while fixing a cosmetic problem, and you’re dealing with surfaces high up, where it’s hard for you to inspect. So take a cautious approach.

Spraying on a bleach-based product, waiting a few minutes and rinsing it away with water from a hose won’t hurt the bricks or mortar. Hire a chimney sweep and specify that you want the stains treated with a bleach-based cleaner first. Or, if your chimney isn’t too high and you are comfortable being on a ladder, you can do a test patch on your own. The cleaner Shortley uses, Mold Armor Instant Mold & Mildew Stain Remover, costs $5.98 for a 32-ounce bottle at Home Depot. If you want a synthetic-fiber scrub brush, which he uses, also buy the HDX Gong Scrub Brush for $6.98. Be sure to wear goggles in case the spray drifts, as well as rubber gloves and clothing that covers your skin.

Using an acidic cleaner poses more risk both to your plants and chimney. On new masonry, these cleaners are great for removing smeared mortar, but that’s not your situation. The Brick Industry Association, a trade group, warns against using unbuffered muriatic (hydrochloric) or hydrofluoric acid, and it says to always test first. That’s especially important with light-colored bricks, which you have, because they are more susceptible than dark bricks to staining from acidic cleaners.

If the person you hire insists on using a pressure washer, make sure the pressure isn’t so high that it could damage the bricks or mortar. Under the “Read & Research” section of the Brick Industry Association’s website (gobrick.com) a primer titled “Technical Notes on Brick Construction” suggests first saturating the dirty bricks and those below with water at very low pressure (less than 100 pounds per square inch). It says to apply cleaning solution with a brush or a pump sprayer with no more than 30 to 50 psi, followed by a thorough rinse at low pressure (100 to 400 psi). Never exceed 400 psi, it says.

If the stains turn out to be soot, you’ll need a cleaner up to that task. Shortley uses Rutland Brick and Stone Cleaner ($7.16 for a 16-ounce bottle from rutland.com).

source https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/whats-causing-those-stains-on-the-chimney/2019/04/05/7b2ddb58-558d-11e9-814f-e2f46684196e_story.html

Hub on Campus Tuscaloosa, or “the Hub,” opened its doors in August 2018 with promises of the convenience of living near campus, but elevated by luxurious living arrangements and top-notch amenities.

The eight-level, 276,700 square-foot complex sits in the shadow of Bryant-Denny Stadium on Red Drew Avenue and houses 187 units. While its Instagram page looks like a promise for a good time – giveaways, catered events, pool parties and the like – students say living at the Hub is not all it seems to be.

LESS THAN LUXURY

“When we first moved in, within…the first week, our apartment flooded,” resident Keith Halberstadt said. “We had leaks from the ceiling out in the kitchen and my bathroom, which is the first one you see when you walk in. Those leaks, we had to live in the unit while they were doing the repairs. Like, gutted ceiling, everything, the whole nine yards, workers in and out, God knows who.”

AJ Spurr, a sophomore majoring in news media and political science, shared a similar experience regarding move-in and the state of his sixth-floor suite.

“When I first arrived to my room, I was met with a lot of construction-related dust on the floors, minor holes in the walls, unset floor panels, water damage on my walls/roof in the bedroom and a Juul pod stuck into a USB wall outlet,” Spurr said in an email.

Spurr said the move-in process wasn’t terrible, but one he “definitely did not enjoy,” as he was disappointed for being sold on a brand new, luxurious living facility that ended up being more like a construction zone.

For resident Kelly Hoffman, the experience was almost identical.

“I know from my mom’s point of view, she was like, ‘We came in, and everything was so dirty,’” Hoffman said. “Like, they had to scrub down my apartment. There was dirt on the floors, dirt on the counter, dust everywhere. They were like, ‘We can’t even put any of your clothes in here or start to move anything in because everything is dirty,’ because it was like a construction zone.”

At this point, Halberstadt, a junior majoring in operations management, and his roommates are well-acquainted with maintenance issues at the Hub. From backward wiring to missing outlet covers and kick plates upon move-in, Halberstadt has not been happy with the Hub from day one. And after dealing with sewage floods and water floods from the amenities next door to their unit, the quality of work being performed at the Hub is questionable.

“If it goes down to one person, they just do the minimal effort and like, to be deemed done per se, and then it’s no longer their issue,” he said. “They’re not going to go above and beyond to recognize the issue before it boils over to something like another flood because, you know, they just don’t care.”

From the very beginning, students say the Hub was simply not ready to be opened. Spencer Baumruk, a sophomore majoring in finance, math and economics, said after he navigated the “carnival” that was the Hub’s move-in process, his room resembled yet another construction site.

“When we got to our room, we noticed a lot of dust on the floor, some scratches and a lot of wet paint marks that were clearly left there and not cleaned,” Baumruk said. “We had two roommates missing shower doors, and a lot of stuff was missing.”

Beyond this, Baumruk said the appliances were not what was promised, the rooms itself were significantly smaller than they anticipated, and the furniture that was included broke several times over the past seven months.  

PERSISTENT PROBLEMS

A major incident occurred when Baumruk and his roommates arrived home at around midnight to find that their key fobs would not unlock their front door. After they requested help from a representative on the 24/7 helpline, they waited over an hour with no assistance.

“And so I called the line again and I said, ‘Hey, do you know if Nathan Cook is on his way?’” Baumruk said. “And the support line said, ‘No, we don’t actually know if they go, we just send a message. So we don’t know if they’ve received it or not.’ So at this point, I imagine if Nathan Cook hasn’t come by now, an hour, he’s never going to come.”

Being on the sixth floor, which is the top floor of the complex, the locked-out residents decided to dangle one of the roommates over the roof of the complex and drop him onto their balcony, which had an unlocked door. Baumruk said Cook, the property manager for the Hub, showed up to assess the locks shortly after everyone got in.

“And then he used his fob a couple times and it didn’t work,” Baumruk said. “Then he tried again, and on the third time it worked, and he said, ‘Oh I don’t really see a problem with the lock. It works fine.’ And we were like, ‘Well, no.’ And he’s like, ‘Well, if it breaks again, you know, we’ll send someone to fix it.’”

The locks weren’t accepting the key fobs three days later. Baumruk said Cook returned, only to say, “Huh, you’re right, the lock isn’t working.”

Seven months later, other issues continued to surface. Halberstadt and his roommates have been displaced at least twice for flooding in their apartment. The Hub covered the bill for their stay at Hotel Capstone while the repairs were being made, but Halberstadt said they were still required to pay rent during their time away.

“We had two showers and two toilets back up with sewage, and it spewed out all over the apartment,” Halberstadt said. “We were displaced for a week. We live right next to the amenities section, and all that water flooded our apartment. And so we were displaced for, I think that was a total of seven or eight days. Total headache, right during midterms.”

Hoffman, a sophomore majoring in marketing, said she also faced many of the issues that her neighbors mentioned upon move in. She has also dealt with sewage flooding her apartment. For her, the deception from the company is what hurts the most.

“I think it was just like, the shock of moving into this luxurious apartment and still seeing construction equipment everywhere, things being unfinished, just like, the dirty look of it all,” Hoffman said. “You’re like, ‘What did I sign up for?’”

LOOKING AT LAWSUITS

Hoffman believes the Hub’s parent company, Core Spaces, should have waited to begin move-in. With problems with maintenance, security, communication and everything in between happening on a consistent basis, she isn’t confident the Hub’s opening should have been approved in the first place.

“I don’t know how those permits could have been given, because when we had our lawyers come through, they were like, ‘There is no way that should have been issued,’” Hoffman said. “Like when you have something like this, like live wires and things, that should not have been allowed to happen.”

A few months ago, an email was sent out to the parents of Hub residents from Humble Law, an employment and consumer attorneys’ office based out of Vestavia Hills, Alabama. Baumruk said lawyers have been collecting individual complaints with plans to sue the city of Tuscaloosa for issuing the permits for the Hub and the Hub’s management for false advertising and fraud. Dozens of students and their parents are participating in the lawsuit.

“They’re just trying to gather as much information and then work with the Hub’s lawyers and the city of Tuscaloosa and just try to get compensation or whatever for everything we’ve been through,” Hoffman said.

Becci Hart, a public relations official for the Hub, acknowledged issues with flooding from the amenities but said they were quickly rectified. She denied the Hub having any security issues – another problem mentioned by residents.

“We acknowledge that there were issues with the property when the students moved in in the fall,” Hart said. “Since that time, we’ve been working tirelessly to address every problem, as the happiness and security of our residents is our top priority.”

Spurr disagreed with the statements issued by Hart, as he mentioned the absence of security guards at multiple posts around the complex one night when he was locked out of his room. Beyond that, two videos have surfaced showing two different men (presumably maintenance workers or Hub staff) entering and poking around a different resident’s bedroom. The evidence was caught on a surveillance camera the resident set up, and it was posted to the Hub parents’ Facebook group. The mother of the resident said she did not know who these men are or why they were looking at the contents of the resident’s desk.

The lawsuit is still ongoing, with members of the Facebook group receiving updates a couple times a week. Attorneys are still gathering data related to impure air, unannounced intrusions, faulty plumbing or electrical work, problems with Hub staff and more. It has not been revealed if residents will receive compensation of any sort for their living conditions.

WORDS OF WARNING

Halberstadt said there is one thing the Hub is good at doing, and that is deceiving its potential residents. He said it is beyond him as to how leases are still being signed for next year, but Halberstadt said the advertising on social media and during tours is nothing but a dupe.

“When we toured the preview unit when we were signing our lease, it was so deceiving in terms of size and luxury,” he said. “When they give people a tour of the building, it’s when like, everything’s just been cleaned, everything’s nice, people are utilizing the amenities and stuff like that. They’re getting such a skewed image of what they’re signing for. And plus they don’t show people the units.”

During he and his roommates’ worst maintenance spells, Halberstadt said there was “total incompetency” between the Hub’s management and the hotels they were staying in. During their most recent displacement two weeks ago, the roommates had to check out of their room three times because of improper bookings.

“When we were flooded out on Thursday, Nathan [Cook], who’s the property manager, told me specifically that we would first be put in the hotel for two days, and then come Friday morning, I had to check out because they said my reservation was only for one night,” Halberstadt said. “And then when I called the front desk, they’re just clueless and they’re like, ‘Oh, just go book the room again.’ Well, now the hotel has no availability.”

Spurr, who was promised VIP luxury in his sixth-floor suite, could not have been more disappointed since he moved in. While he is upset with the way residents have been treated in the past seven months by management, he stressed that the middlemen not be blamed.

“The people up front are very kind and oftentimes have a difficult time answering questions,” Spurr said. “I know they were not involved in the construction of the building and are not associated with the executives. They are often met with angry parents and residents for issues in which they don’t have a say in.”

While Hoffman agreed that office staff often do not have a say in the overarching problems found at the Hub, her frustration over these past seven months has led her to find an alternative living arrangement than the one she has now. In the nick of time, Hoffman’s sorority house has a vacancy with her name on it. But for those considering moving into the Hub, she offers a warning.

“To me, it’s kind of like they’ve been trying to fix a shark attack with Band-Aids,” Hoffman said. “You can’t just keep putting on Band-Aids because they keep on popping off. It’s April, and we had the second floor flood two weeks ago. I know they’re trying to sell it with gift cards and national championship tickets, but I’m not resigning.”

The Crimson White reached out to the Hub’s property manager, Nathan Cook, who declined to comment. Attorneys of Humble Law were unable to comment at the time of publication.

source https://cw.ua.edu/52118/top-stories/luxury-apartment-complex-disappoints-residents/

BURGAW — Pender County Superior Clerk of Courts Elizabeth Craver has called for the county to address reports among her staff complaining of headaches, sinus issues, and nosebleeds — an issue she referred to as the “sick building syndrome.”

She also revealed that past elected clerks have investigated health issues of court employees who had worked in the historic courthouse building, which has been shut down after Hurricane Florence caused extensive water and mold damage. Craver and her staff have been working in the nearby Judicial Annex building.

“There is something going on in this current annex that [the county] currently has us in. I have clerks with nose bleeds, headaches, sinus issues. And it’s not just one clerk – I have 14 who work for me, and it is 14 of the clerks in this building who have the symptoms,” Craver said.

READ MORE: Pender Courthouse restoration still waiting on approval from state’s historic preservation office

“Sick building syndrome”

According to Craver, an air quality assessment report in October showed high levels of Aspergillus mold, a toxigenic that can cause diseases and allergic infections when found indoors. A subsequent report in November showed low levels of the fungi, but Craver said this was likely due to the assessment performed when the air conditioning system — which she said helps transport mold spores — was turned off.

A third assessment was performed on March 29 after a meeting the day prior in which Craver told Pender Chairman George Brown of her staff’s health concerns; the report concluded that “acceptable levels of ambient airborne mold spores” were in the building.

“Once we heard these complaints from [Craver] and her staff, we immediately went out to get assessments,” Brown said.

A meeting was held yesterday to discuss the new report and Craver’s concerns, which according to Brown included officials from the state’s Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC), the Sheriff’s Department, and Judge Kent Harrell. Brown said the discussion indicated that low humidity levels in the Annex may be a cause of the headaches and nosebleeds.

“The report gave the building a clean bill of health,” Brown said, adding that he felt the consultants from Coastal Environmental and Inspections had indicated “there is nothing in the building that would hurt anyone.”

“The discussion today seemed to recognize the low humidity levels could be the culprit of what would cause some to have nosebleeds,” Brown said.

Although Brown was unfamiliar with the October report that showed high levels of mold in the air, he said such issues were common in buildings during the immediate aftermath of the hurricane.

Craver said the term “sick building syndrome” was used by a hygienist she brought in to observe the conditions of the Annex building, but who could not determine the exact cause of sickness.

“He said, ‘You don’t have 14 people in a building and all 14 end up with the same symptoms and conditions — and it not be something,’” Craver said.

The clerks are awaiting an official county decision to move them into the law offices of Biberstein & Nunalee, which face the now-idle courthouse from the east.

Health concerns “before and since the storm”

Although she was unable to attend, Assistant to the District Attorney Samantha Dooies acknowledged that several officials from the county and the NCAOC have made joint requests to “address the working conditions of courthouse staff in Pender County before and since the storm.”

She said that members of her staff make routine visits to the Annex courthouse.

“Their health and the health of the public visiting the courthouse remains a concern for our office,” Dooies said.

Craver said she brought the recent health concerns of her staff to county officials “because we knew that the annex and the courthouse have both been ‘sick buildings’ since long before I worked here.”

“I have been telling them that this was going on in the old courthouse since I came into office,” Craver said.

According to Craver, the past three elected head clerks of the Pender Superior Court have been investigating health issues of employees who had worked extensively inside the courthouse.

Craver said the clerks’ investigations were looking into the air quality inside the courtroom, and that mold and mildew showing up in assessments were the cause of homotropal and thyroid issues.

Brown said he is not familiar with past health assessments of the courthouse, but that many buildings in the low-lying areas of the county often hold excessive moisture.

“This building is getting close to one hundred years old,” Brown said. “That’s why we’re going to re-seal the outside of the building, re-mortar the brick: to prevent moisture from coming in between the brick like it does currently, creating moisture inside the brick, creating problems for the interior.”

Now, Craver is concerned that her staff must make consistent trips inside the closed-off courthouse to retrieve files and perform other administrative tasks.

“How is it safe for them to go in but not for the public?” Craver asked.

She said that she is unsure whether her employees’ recent health concerns are caused entirely by working inside the Annex building, trips to the courthouse, or a combination of both.

“Everyone who has worked in the Annex and the main courthouse (mainly including the district attorneys and judges) have been complaining of health concerns all along,” Craver wrote in an email Thursday.

Brown said he was told by several deputies from the sheriff’s office who work inside the building that they had not experienced any health issues.

Continued delays on courthouse repairs

The old courthouse building has sat idle for nearly seven months as county officials, insurance and FEMA representatives, architects, and state preservation officers look for agreement on the scope of mold remediation work needed to reopen the historic building.

On Monday, architect Charles Boney of the firm LS3P discussed a report he has drawn up showing four alternative levels of courthouse repairs.

“There have been a number of people looking at this thing, generating reports, and now it’s a time for action,” architect Charles Boney said.

He said assessments have been made by engineers assessing repairs for the management of hazardous materials, industrial hygiene consultants evaluating moisture and mold repairs, and environmental consultants drawing up a “moisture map” of the building.

The reports, he said, have confirmed what he has known all along: “There is moisture remaining in the walls.”

Last Friday county officials, LS3P associates, and insurance representatives reviewed the report and disagreed on the “responsibility of payment” for the repair items, according to Boney.

“At the last meeting they discussed who’s going to pay for what — FEMA, insurance, or the county,” Craver said. “So we still don’t know.”

Mark Darrough can be reached at Mark@Localvoicemedia.com

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source https://portcitydaily.com/local-news/2019/04/07/sick-building-syndrome-no-mold-but-pender-county-clerks-report-headaches-nosebleeds/

source https://www.sidneyherald.com/news/local_news/all-about-mold/article_e6404f08-57c1-11e9-b601-5765545ddfa3.html

A: Thanks for sending a great photo, showing what is likely gray snow mold. Snow mold is a fungus disease that develops under snowcover, and the longer the snow remains, the greater the risk of spread and damage.

As soon as receding snow reveals the web-like mycelium of snow mold, fluff up the grass area with a leaf rake to aerate the matted grass and remove mycelium. Lightly raking the area will increase exposure to air and help stop the spread of the fungus. Small areas of snow mold usually disappear following the drying effects of raking.

If left unchecked, snow mold can destroy grass crowns, requiring reseeding. To decrease the likelihood of snow mold, mow lawns short in late fall. In lawns bothered repeatedly by snow mold, preventative fungicides containing chlorothalonil or similar labeled ingredients can be applied shortly before winter’s first snowfall.

Q: I would like to remove two low-lying branches on our beautifully shaped green ash tree. The branches are about 2 and 3 inches in diameter, and are just at the height to hit me in the head when mowing. I’m hoping to remove them, but would it be better to wait? — Fred Lehmkuhl, Perham, Minn.

A: Pruning of trees like green ash is best done while they’re still dormant in late winter or early spring before the trees begin to leaf out. Removing the low-lying branches now in early April is fine, and is greatly preferred rather than waiting.

When removing larger branches back to their point of origin on the trunk, it’s important to make the cut just beyond the branch collar, which is the slightly raised ring of tissue on the trunk from which the branch arises. The raised collar contains healing cell tissue that neatly closes and seals large cuts.

There are two mistakes to avoid: If the pruning cut is made too flush against the trunk when removing a branch, the raised collar is destroyed, removing the ring of healing tissue. Oppositely, not pruning back to the collar leaves a stub that dies back, opening the way for disease. Cut back properly, wounds heal best without pruning paints or sealers.

Q: When is the best time to move asparagus? — Alden Lieberg.

A: Asparagus can be moved in early spring, as soon as the frost leaves the ground and you are able to dig. Doing so as early as possible increases the success rate. Waiting until asparagus spears emerge from the soil is risky.

Asparagus plants are visible while they’re still dormant by the dried fernlike tops left intact over winter. The younger the asparagus bed, the easier the plants are to successfully transplant. Old plants in a long-established bed have thick crowns and deep roots that are more difficult to move.

Iowa State and Michigan State Universities mention a low rate of survival when trying to move old asparagus plants, but when I was young, that’s how we started our asparagus bed, by transplanting old asparagus from the farm to our in-town garden. Move the plants while they’re still dormant, dig deeply and replant at the same depth as originally growing.

If you have a gardening or lawn care question, email Don Kinzler at ForumGrowingTogether@hotmail.com. All questions will be answered, and those with broad appeal may be published, so please include your name, city and state for appropriate advice.

source https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/lifestyle/home-and-garden/4594210-fielding-questions-snow-mold-low-hanging-branches-and-moving

Inaction by library officials has resulted in the loss of approximately 34,000 books at the now defunct Charles Tisdale Library. The books were destroyed by black mold.

Meanwhile, any hopes of cleaning the collection were dashed recently, when an insurance claim filed to cover the books’ restoration costs was denied.

The Northside Drive branch was closed in April 2017, after storm-related flooding caused a black mold problem there to grow out of control.

The books were never relocated and last October, inspectors learned that many hardcover volumes had been contaminated by the toxic substance.

Further inspections earlier this year determined that even more books had been infected. 

Moving the books was not an option, largely because the system didn’t have the money or space to do so, said Jackson-Hinds Library System (JHLS) Executive Director Patty Furr.

Furr was afraid of moving the books to other branches for fear the mold would spread to those collections.

A couple of free storage options were offered to the system but none worked out.

In 2018, owners of the Metrocenter Mall offered temporary storage space but closed before the library could act on it.

 “They (the mall owners) even showed us where we would be able to move them. We were about two or three weeks from moving them and the Metrocenter closed,” Furr told the Sun previously.

Another patron donated temporary storage space, but officials rejected it because it wasn’t air conditioned.

“There has to be an air-conditioned place to put them,” she said.

To prevent black mold from spreading, books have to be stored in well-ventilated areas on open shelves.

Furr said she couldn’t store the collection at Welty, because the floors at the system’s flagship branch weren’t strong enough to support the additional weight.

Tests revealed that the books had not been contaminated at least six months after the branch’s closure. Library officials learned the insurance claim was denied in March..

“The decision was based on the basis of flooding in the building,” she said. “We had to have flood insurance.”

The policy is with State Auto and was supposed to cover damage to books, computers, shelves and other library content.

Costs for cleaning the books was expected to run between $40,000 and $50,000.

Furr said it’s up to the library’s board of trustees to decide the next move. Options include removing and disposing the books at the system’s expense or leaving the titles there for the building’s next owner to deal with.

The system had not gotten estimates on disposal costs at press time.

The building itself could have a new owner sooner than later.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said at a recent city council meeting that a potential buyer was interested in the purchasing the 6,800-square-foot facility at 807 E. Northside Dr.

RePublic Schools is considering purchasing the facility to expand Smilow Prep charter school, also on East Northside.

However, no deal between the city and school had been worked out at press time.

Tisdale was closed in April 2017 after heavy rains caused flooding in the basement, exacerbating an already existing mold problem. 

Mold growth occurs “where there is moisture from water damage, excessive humidity, water leaks (and) condensation,” according to the Center for Disease Control’s Web site.

While the building still has electricity, the main air conditioning unit was shut down last spring after black mold infiltrated it. Later, the upstairs unit also went out, creating a perfect environment for the mold to expand.

In October 2018, inspectors noticed numerous hardcover books were covered in mold. Earlier this year, inspectors discovered that the mold had expanded to other titles.

source https://www.northsidesun.com/front-page-slideshow-news-breaking-news/lack-action-results-loss-34000-library-books

Whenever your home gets flooded because of water from ruptured pipes or a massive storm, the water introduced into your home can bring many types of pathogens such as bacteria, mildew and algae. All these things are not just bad for the structural integrity of your home, but they are also dangerous for your health. Aside from making your home smell bad, they can also give rise to allergic reactions in people as well as pets. Carpets are among the biggest victims of water damage. They aren’t meant to get wet and when water spreads all over them, the fibre and padding need your attention right away. Wet carpets start getting infested with mold and mildew within as little as 24 to 48 hours. Once that’s done, the carpet will emanate a really bad odour. One of the big reasons behind that is the sponge like characteristic of carpets. They absorb everything that falls (and has fallen) over them. Including, but not limited to dirt, dust, dead skin cells and pet hair. All of those pre-existing ingredients are like a feast for the mold and mildew, making your house smell like a rickety, 30 year old cab.

Don’t worry, today we will talk about some of the steps you can take to restore a water damaged carpet to its previous, non-stinky glory. And don’t worry, you can do most of it by yourself, without spending a lot of money.

Drying Small Areas

Even if only a small section of the carpet is wet, it still needs to be addressed right away. Don’t worry, you don’t need some heavy equipment for it and you can easily find these items at home/for cheap in a local home improvement store:

• Clean and dry towels
• Baking Soda
• White vinegar
• Scrub Brush
• Anti fungal spray
• Blow drier
• Regular vacuum cleaner

Once you’ve got the items, follow these steps:

1. Take some clean, dry towels and spread them over the wet area. Apply pressure till the towel is soaked with water. Replace the wet towel with a dry one and repeat the process, soaking as much water as possible.
2. Generously sprinkle some good-old baking soda (not baking powder) over the damp spots and leave overnight. Vacuum clean the next day. This will help absorb the moisture and reduce odours.
3. To combat mold growth, spray the area with white vinegar. Use a stiff brush to scrub vigorously and then use a blow drier over the affected area.
4. Pick up some carpet-specific antifungal spray from your local hardware store and spray all over the affected area.
5. Keep the area ventilated for several days with the help of your air conditioner and fans. Fresh air circulation will inhibit growth of fungal spores in your carpets.
6. If you still have any smell left in your room, pour some white vinegar into a bowl and leave it over the water damaged area for a few hours. It should be able to absorb all the remaining odour during this time.

Drying The Entire Room

Never, ever try to use a normal household vacuum cleaner over a soaking wet carpet. You can receive a serious electric shock through it. To tackle soaking carpets, rent the necessary equipment from home improvement centres (you can also buy it in case you live in a flood prone area and have to deal with flooded carpets often).

Here’s what you will need:

• Wet-Dry vacuum cleaner
• Ceiling, window and table fans
• Dehumidifier
• Steam cleaners for carpets

Once you have got the necessary equipment, follow these steps:

1. Get rid of all the furniture from the room and check thoroughly for water damage. Turn the furniture over so that the base and legs can dry properly.
2. Set your wet-dry vacuum cleaner to ‘dry’ and go over the wet carpet in a  straight line throughout the room. This will ensure that the entire surface of the carpet is thoroughly dried and cleaned. Keep emptying the cleaner’s water canister in between.
3. Set up your dehumidfier and fans away from the wet carpet to avoid electric shock. Then, turn them on, along with your air conditioner to help create fresh air cross-currents. The process of drying might take several days to complete so be patient.
4. Once the carpets feel completely dry, use a steam cleaner to treat them with solutions designed for carpet care and mold control. Ensure that the solutions have a pH balance of 10 or below, in order to preserve the colours and fibres of your carpet. Finish up with a clear water rinse.
5. Repeat the ‘dehumidifier + AC + Fans’ combo from step 3. Depending on external conditions, you can also open up the windows to speed the process up.

If you follow all these steps, you will soon be able to get rid of all the carpet odour from your home and prevent your guests from having a nasal spasm the moment they walk into your door. However, you must remember, water damage to your carpet won’t always happen as per your schedule, which means you might not have the free time to take all the necessary steps in order to handle the calamity. Within as little as 24 hours of soaking, your carpet can be infested by mold, rendering the DIY techniques less effective. If the volume of water is very high, it can oversaturate carpet padding, underlayment, sub flooring and base boards. This makes it very difficult for conventional methods to help you dry the carpet out and get rid of the odour.

So before you embark on a clean up process, calmly assess the extent of the water damage. If the damage is extensive, you can save time and effort by taking the help of pros. A restoration contractor will use state-of-the-art heavy duty equipment to quickly remove water, dry affected areas and inhibit mold infestation. If handled within a certain time frame, expert water extraction and mold remediation might help you save the monumental expense of replacing your damaged carpets.  

source https://www.dailyhawker.com/how-to/get-rid-of-carpet-odour-from-water-damage/