Send news about your local business to MWBusiness@wickedlocal.com. We’re interested in news about business people, expansions, openings and community involvement by MetroWest businesses and business people. Follow Daily News Business Editor Bob Tremblay on Twitter @Bob Tremblay_MW.
Coats for Kids seeking Waltham businesses
Waltham businesses are needed for a fall community drive to help thousands of adults, children and infants who will go without a warm winter coat this winter. Celebrating 25 years of caring as New England’s largest coat drive, Coats for Kids is seeking Waltham companies, nonprofits and community organizations to join its collection partners and distribution network for the 25th annual Coats for Kids Drive. Sponsored by Anton’s Cleaners, Jordan’s Furniture and Enterprise Bank, the drive will kick off Oct. 14 and run through Jan. 12, 2020. In 2018, the organization reached its goal of collecting and distributing 1 million coats since the program began in 1995. Coats for Kids accepts warm winter coats that are gently used, good quality and all sizes, especially XL and infant/pre-K sizes. The drive does not accept coats with rips, tears, broken zippers or permanent stains. Sweatshirts, vests and spring coats are not accepted. Coats are accepted at all 42 Anton’s Cleaners, six Jordan’s Furniture stores and 23 Enterprise Bank branches. For more information, call 978-851-3721, ext. 15, or Stephanie@antons.com. To register a school or company online to participate or donate, or for more information, visit https://ift.tt/2nF6xGl.
MutualOne Bank’s Charitable Foundation awards $2.5K to expand program
The MutualOne Charitable Foundation awarded $2,500 to Jeff’s Place Children’s Bereavement Center in Framingham. The grant will support an additional Kid’s Club session focused on children between the ages of 3 and 7 who have experienced a traumatic loss in their lives. In 2018, Jeff’s Place added a second Kid’s Club session in part thanks to support from the MutualOne Charitable Foundation, according to Executive Director David Sternburg. “This demographic remains our fastest-growing segment,” Sternburg said. “We need the third group session to serve families with younger children who are currently on our wait list.” The $2,500 grant supporting Jeff’s Place was among awards totaling $38,000 in the foundation’s most recent round of funding. Established in 1998 as the philanthropic arm of MutualOne Bank, the MutualOne Charitable Foundation has since donated over $4.5 million to charitable, educational and civic initiatives.
Paul Davis of Worcester County opens new office in Shrewsbury
Worcester County area property owners have local experts in emergency services with the opening of Paul Davis of Worcester County. The company has headquarters at 547 Hartford Turnpike, Shrewsbury. The franchise office supports the successful and growing region with a staff of six restoration professionals and a new office with administrative and warehouse space, and showroom with kitchen, bathroom, flooring and tile options, to name a few, according to Todd Newville, who owns the business with his wife and business partner Karen Newville. “We are honored to serve customers in Worcester County and the surrounding areas. The support we’ve received from the community and positive comments from our customers is a privilege and inspiration,” said Todd. Paul Davis provides professional residential and commercial emergency recovery, repairs and reconstruction services for disasters and jobs of all sizes. From water and flood damage, fire damage and mold remediation, to a variety of remodeling services, Paul Davis professionals are available 24/7 to clean up and repair damage to properties with water extraction, applied structural drying, fire and smoke clean up, odor remediation, mold remediation and removal, tarping of roofs, house goods and textile cleaning, among others. For more information, visit https://ift.tt/2nJX1lm.
When buying homeowners insurance, you’ll want to get enough coverage to rebuild your home and replace its contents if it’s completely destroyed.
If it would cost you $300,000 to rebuild your home and another $100,000 to replace items of value, you’d aim for a $400,000 policy. This is a very simplified means of calculating your coverage amount. The point is to give you a general sense of how much coverage you need.
You’ll also need to figure out what deductible makes the most sense for you. Most claims against your homeowners insurance policy will be subject to a deductible.
If you have a $750 deductible and are awarded $2,000 from a claim, you’ll get a $1,250 check from your insurer. The higher the deductible, the lower your monthly or annual premium. You’ll need to decide: Do you want to pay more money off the bat or pay less for coverage but get smaller checks if you make a claim?
How insurance companies determine their rates
It pays to shop around for the most affordable homeowners insurance policy you can get. When calculating rates, insurers will generally account for
the size and age of your home,
the location of your home,
the cost of rebuilding your home,
potential safety hazards on your property (like a swimming pool), and
protective measures for your home (like an alarm system).
If you own a vehicle as well as a home, it pays to ask your auto insurance company for a quote on a homeowners policy. Sometimes, you’ll save money by buying two policies from the same insurer.
Do I really need homeowners insurance?
Unlike auto insurance, which is required by law, you technically don’t have to purchase homeowners insurance. But good luck getting a mortgage without it.
Most lenders want proof of coverage before agreeing to a home loan. Furthermore, by not having homeowners insurance, you’ll face significant financial losses if your property sustains damage. That’s not a risk worth taking.
Send news about your local business to MWBusiness@wickedlocal.com. We’re interested in news about business people, expansions, openings and community involvement by MetroWest businesses and business people. Follow Daily News Business Editor Bob Tremblay on Twitter @Bob Tremblay_MW.
Coats for Kids seeking Waltham businesses
Waltham businesses are needed for a fall community drive to help thousands of adults, children and infants who will go without a warm winter coat this winter. Celebrating 25 years of caring as New England’s largest coat drive, Coats for Kids is seeking Waltham companies, nonprofits and community organizations to join its collection partners and distribution network for the 25th annual Coats for Kids Drive. Sponsored by Anton’s Cleaners, Jordan’s Furniture and Enterprise Bank, the drive will kick off Oct. 14 and run through Jan. 12, 2020. In 2018, the organization reached its goal of collecting and distributing 1 million coats since the program began in 1995. Coats for Kids accepts warm winter coats that are gently used, good quality and all sizes, especially XL and infant/pre-K sizes. The drive does not accept coats with rips, tears, broken zippers or permanent stains. Sweatshirts, vests and spring coats are not accepted. Coats are accepted at all 42 Anton’s Cleaners, six Jordan’s Furniture stores and 23 Enterprise Bank branches. For more information, call 978-851-3721, ext. 15, or Stephanie@antons.com. To register a school or company online to participate or donate, or for more information, visit https://ift.tt/2nF6xGl.
MutualOne Bank’s Charitable Foundation awards $2.5K to expand program
The MutualOne Charitable Foundation awarded $2,500 to Jeff’s Place Children’s Bereavement Center in Framingham. The grant will support an additional Kid’s Club session focused on children between the ages of 3 and 7 who have experienced a traumatic loss in their lives. In 2018, Jeff’s Place added a second Kid’s Club session in part thanks to support from the MutualOne Charitable Foundation, according to Executive Director David Sternburg. “This demographic remains our fastest-growing segment,” Sternburg said. “We need the third group session to serve families with younger children who are currently on our wait list.” The $2,500 grant supporting Jeff’s Place was among awards totaling $38,000 in the foundation’s most recent round of funding. Established in 1998 as the philanthropic arm of MutualOne Bank, the MutualOne Charitable Foundation has since donated over $4.5 million to charitable, educational and civic initiatives.
Paul Davis of Worcester County opens new office in Shrewsbury
Worcester County area property owners have local experts in emergency services with the opening of Paul Davis of Worcester County. The company has headquarters at 547 Hartford Turnpike, Shrewsbury. The franchise office supports the successful and growing region with a staff of six restoration professionals and a new office with administrative and warehouse space, and showroom with kitchen, bathroom, flooring and tile options, to name a few, according to Todd Newville, who owns the business with his wife and business partner Karen Newville. “We are honored to serve customers in Worcester County and the surrounding areas. The support we’ve received from the community and positive comments from our customers is a privilege and inspiration,” said Todd. Paul Davis provides professional residential and commercial emergency recovery, repairs and reconstruction services for disasters and jobs of all sizes. From water and flood damage, fire damage and mold remediation, to a variety of remodeling services, Paul Davis professionals are available 24/7 to clean up and repair damage to properties with water extraction, applied structural drying, fire and smoke clean up, odor remediation, mold remediation and removal, tarping of roofs, house goods and textile cleaning, among others. For more information, visit https://ift.tt/2nJX1lm.
A Saskatoon judge has concluded there is no legal basis to stop the city from demolishing a luxury home that had fallen into disrepair — unbeknownst to its owner in China — but says it is his «fervent hope» that the city will hold off from knocking it down.
In a written decision handed down late Friday, Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Richard Elson dismissed the homeowner Liu Yu’s application for an injunction to stop the city from demolishing his house.
He said there are no grounds to stop the city because it has not acted wrongfully.
«Despite the Court’s decision, I must say that, irrespective of legal and equitable principles at play in this matter, it is my fervent hope that the city will hold off demolition until the applicant and [Bank of Nova Scotia] can determine in a meaningful way whether the residence is economically salvageable,» wrote Elson.
The city said in written statement the decision does not necessarily mean the home will be demolished.
«Demolition will depend on whether a plan can be formulated with the city to determine if the property can be remediated safely, legally and quickly,» said the statement.
«If the city will be proceeding to demolition, further notice will be provided to the surrounding residents before demolition commences.»
Elke Churchman, who represented the home’s owner, said the judge’s order has been communicated to his client.
«Our client had expressed his intention to remedy the deficiencies multiple times after he became aware of the situation,» Churchman said in a statement, and added legal proceedings have created a financial burden on his client.
«It would be a tragedy if he were to run out of financial resources before an agreement with the city and the bank can be reached.»
Earlier in the day, Elson told a packed courtroom Friday that the case of a dilapidated Saskatoon luxury home that the city wanted to demolish — unbeknownst to its owner in China — has been «wacky since the moment it hit my desk.»
The homeowner, Yu, is fighting the city’s plan to knock down the house by asking for an injunction to stop the demolition. He says he was never told the house was falling into disrepair, and has taken immediate action to bring the house back up to code.
Friday’s hearing at the Court of Queen’s Bench was to determine whether the city should be allowed to knock down the house, which is listed by Land Titles as being valued at $710,000, and assessed by the city as being worth $650,000.
What basis in law do I have to enjoin the City of Saskatoon?— Court of Queen’s Bench Judge Richard Elson
However, Yu’s lawyers are technically not fighting the city in court — their lawsuit is against the Remax associate Sky Wu — who the homeowner says was authorized to manage the property and list it for sale.
The statement of claim alleges that the owner had not been told that, in 2016, the electrical meter was removed, the natural gas shut off and that the piping and plumbing had frozen and burst.
None of the allegations in the statement of claim have been tested in court.
Yu’s laywer, Elke Churchman, argued at length with Elson on Friday that the court has the authority to order an injunction stopping the city from demolishing the house.
But Elson questioned the legal grounding for such an order, given that the lawsuit is not against the city, and noted differences between this case and the legal decision the defence cited as a precedent.
«What basis in law do I have to enjoin the City of Saskatoon?» Elson asked, describing the case as a «significant conundrum.»
Churchman said the city had followed the «letter of the law,» but could have done more to notify the house’s owner in China.
She said the city would not negotiate, a claim the city’s lawyer later denied, and that it had used a stop work order to prevent Yu from repairing the house.
Since the owner was given notice of the problem he has undertaken significant work to remedy the situation and has shown good faith in making those efforts in the face of a demolition order.— John Orr, engineer
«What is the imminent threat to the public, why not allow our people in to fix it?» she said. «Why this extreme haste to demolish this house?»
Churchman said the owner only received direct contact from the city on Sept. 30, the day before it planned to demolish the house, and that the owner had only heard about the planned demolition in the news around Sept. 28.
A backhoe and skid-steer loader sat parked on the front lawn of 166 Beechdale Crescent on Oct. 1. The big machines were scheduled to begin tearing down the half-million-dollar, two-storey house.
An engineer says the water and mould damage to the Briarwood house could be repaired for $20,000. (Saskatoon Fire Department)
On the same day, Elson granted a 10-day reprieve, allowing the lawyer for the home’s owner to prepare a proper argument to save the property.
Lawyers for Yu and the city provided briefs, reports and affidavits to the court ahead of Friday’s hearing.
Churchman said a seven-day national holiday in China had made it harder for the owner to gather evidence before the hearing.
The report did include a six-page report by John Orr, a veteran Saskatoon engineer, who said the house could be made habitable again for $20,000.
«Since the owner was given notice of the problem he has undertaken significant work to remedy the situation and has shown good faith in making those efforts in the face of a demolition order,» Orr wrote.
«The amount of time and work remaining to make this house habitable again is not significant when compared to the final value and lifespan of the property.»
Judge, city lawyer question $20K repair price tag
He said there was no evidence of structural damage and there should be no health concern in occupying the building once the remediation is complete, adding that it could be liveable again by Nov. 10.
However, Elson said he suspected it would cost more than that to return the house to its original form, a suspicion echoed by a lawyer for the bank that holds the mortgage.
David Gerecke appeared on behalf of Scotiabank, which proposed a plan to the city in negotiations on Thursday. He also questioned the $20,000 price tag to repair the house.
The bank wants to do its own structural and air quality inspections of the property. He said the reports could be provided back to the city within two weeks.
Inspections revealed the extent of the damage to the home. (Saskatoon Fire Department)
He said allowing the house to fall into disrepair could be considered a default on Yu’s mortgage. The bank could force the demolition of the house if its own reports find it is not salvageable.
The city’s lawyer, Alan Rankine, said the plan proposed by the bank — to investigate further through additional reports before deciding on subsequent steps — is the most «concrete» solution offered to date.
Rankine said the application for an injunction against the city should be dismissed because the city was not the defendant. Only the property manager is a party in the lawsuit.
He said the city would consider Gerecke’s proposal but that the negotiations should not be done through the court.
Churchman said any decision from the judge should include provisions to allow immediate access to the house to address issues that could cause further damage during the winter months.
Wu ‘never took one dime’: Saskatoon Remax CEO
Liu Yu purchased the house through Sky Wu in 2012.
According to the statement of claim, one year later, Yu and his sister, Yuwei, signed a limited power of attorney authorizing Wu to manage the property and list it for sale.
«The plaintiff and Sky Wu had an oral agreement that Sky Wu would collect commission once the property was sold,» the statement of claim said.
«The plaintiff also paid the mortgage, insurance, and property tax from the time he purchased the property until present.»
Sky Wu declined interview requests from CBC. He referred questions to Larry G. Stewart, the chief executive officer for Remax in Saskatoon.
«He’s never property managed anybody’s stuff. He’s not licensed to property manage,» Stewart said.
«[Sky] says he never took one dime.»
The house apparently sat vacant from about 2013 until 2016, when Yu indicated he wanted the house listed and sold.
It was listed in 2017 but by August 2018 the asking price had dropped to $570,000, the statement of claim said.
STAMFORD — Mold and aging school facilities dominated the discussion in a Board of Education candidates forum Thursday.
When asked how to best address infrastructure problems in Stamford public schools and whether unused office space could be re-purposed for students, Democratic candidates, to varying degrees, said they’d be open to the idea.
“If there is a property that is perfectly suitable, why not take a look at that option?” said Fritz Chery, a Democrat who has experience in commercial real estate and property management. “Instead of just building a brand new school with whatever cost that may be, we could take a look at what it will cost to use a building that already exists here in Stamford.”
Next November, a mix of nine candidates are fighting for three spots on the city’s Board of Education. The board boasts nine seats with three-year terms.
Burke and fellow Democratic candidate Jack Bryant concurred with Chery — noting that a comprehensive review of school facilities was also crucial — though the latter added the office space option should not dictate the future of Stamford schools.
Republican candidates, highlighting the need to devise a short- and long-term plan for facilities, called for an independent analysis of buildings and periodic check-ins with management.
“We need an independent analysis of those buildings,” Republican candidate Margaret Feeney said. “We need an unbiased review to look at what’s best for the students.”
Eva Maldonado, a Republican candidate and former law enforcement officer, said it wasn’t right for students to be in unhealthy buildings and that creating a system to foster solutions would help avoid future predicaments.
Last year’s mold crisis, particularly at Westover Magnet Elementary School, has caused the city’s debt limit to double for the current fiscal year, tentatively affecting the next cycle as well. Repairing the mold damage at Westover is estimated to cost between $13 and $23 million; the school is currently leasing space at 1 Elmcroft in Harbor Point.
Tarzia was the one voice advocating against re-purposing office space, instead emphasizing that Stamford Public Schools should be kept under public management.
“I’m not a big fan of unused office space and giving up our assets,” Tarzia said. “They’re good for transitions but we’d be lining the pockets of corporations and what if they struggle or go out of business? Then what do we do?”
Another topic to come up during the forum centered around maintaining and fostering conversations with Stamford teachers and staff, something that all candidates said they are pursuing through community collaboration.
“You need to trust these professionals,” Republican candidate Becky Hamman said. “These individuals put their time and effort into these students 24/7, they care about every kid. We need to listen to them and their needs.”
Bryant, a Westhill High School graduate, in a nod to the city’s diverse population, proposed adding black and Hispanic history to the curriculum.
“We have a very diverse population,” Bryant said. “I had a teacher who taught black history. … It opened my mind to get involved with the NAACP.”
Currently, Democrats hold six of the nine Board of Education seats. With a minority representation rule, no more than six of the nine members may belong to the same party.
Dear Neil: Several years ago I had a tree guy remove some large oak branches that were touching our roof. The tree seems to have resented it, and now I need to prune it again. Do you have any advice?
A: My guess would be that the first person left stubs. The sprouts probably originated from those stubs, but of course, I can’t see through all the brush to know for sure. You can prune oaks now. The oak wilt season has abated. I would start removing the odd growth to see what is beneath it. Cut the old branches so that there is only a short piece of the branch collar. That will ensure that the tree will heal properly without further sprouts forming.
Dear Neil: I have a weed growing in my yard. It is very close to the ground. It has round leaves and shoots that go up about 14 inches with seeds on the end. I’ve tried pulling them up to no avail. Have I waited too long to use Dimension, Halts or Balan?
A: Those are pre-emergent herbicides, and they must be applied before weed seeds sprout — that is, before you can see the weeds themselves. I don’t know what weed you have, but obviously it’s at the other end of its life cycle. I’d suggest you take a sample of the entire plant to a Texas Certified Nursery Professional for identification and for recommendations of the best control. If it’s an annual weed you might get some control with a spring application. Always feel free to attach a photograph with your question in the future.
Dear Neil: Why are there ants on my crape myrtle? Do they hurt anything? What should I do?
A: The ants are there feeding off honeydew exudate from some other insect, probably crape myrtle aphids. The ants are harmless, but the honeydew will result in growth of sooty mold, an unattractive black fungus that will coat the leaves and stems. To control the sooty mold you need to control the aphids (or crape myrtle bark scale), and to do that it’s usually easiest to use a systemic insecticide as a soil drench in late spring.
Dear Neil: Some 20 years ago a friend gave me a start of English ivy to use as a groundcover beneath a large, old oak tree. It sat there for 19 years without doing much, but this year it suddenly grew up the trunk. I know that ivy can damage the surface of walls. Will it harm the tree’s trunk, too?
A: English ivy damages trees in two ways when it’s allowed to climb them. One is when it forms a canopy out and over the limbs. It can add weight to the branches, so that should ice or snow fall those limbs might break. Also, it shades the tree’s leaves and can deprive them of much-needed sunlight. But it will do nothing to damage the trunk. Nor does it do anything to masonry walls other than possibly trap dirt and debris behind it.
Dear Neil: We built our house 26 years ago. The nursery folks planted these crape myrtles probably too close to the house. Do we need to be concerned? They’re on the west side, and we really are grateful for their shade. Is there anything we should do? Should we have them taken out and have the stumps killed?
A: I’m not sure why people plant crape myrtles so close to houses. Perhaps they don’t read the descriptions saying that they’re going to develop large trunks and grow to be 20 to 30 feet tall. But we are where we are. I’d suggest just leaving them where they are and keeping their branches pruned well away from the root line. If you see any large surface roots starting to threaten the foundation, you can remove one or two of them per year, but do so in the fall (this time of year) when the plants’ need for water has lessened.
Dear Neil: I had a beautiful lawn that has now gone to this. At first I thought it was a disease, so I treated with a fungicide. Then I thought it might be chinch bugs. Even though I didn’t find any, I treated with Sevin. Still it got worse. What can I do? I have a large lawn, and I want to keep it looking good. My husband used to do it.
A: You’re not going to find them this late in the growing season, but I’m pretty sure the browned St. Augustine was indeed caused by chinch bugs. They show up when it’s really hot, and they’ll always be out in the sun. You’ve probably seen my many notes here about having to get down on your hands and knees to look for them on the surface of the soil. They’re BB-sized and black with irregular white diamonds on their wings. Watch for them in the same areas next summer. At this point all you need to do is keep the lawn moist the balance of the growing season and get it off to a good start next spring. Imidacloprid is one of the better controls for chinch bugs, usually applied in mid-summer when their damage first becomes evident. The grass will appear to be dry, but it won’t respond to irrigation.
Dear Neil: Each year the late summer bloom cycle of our roses-of-Sharon is ruined by small white insects and black mold. What is this, and how can we save the blooms?
A: The black mold is sooty mold, the same as we’ve talked about on crape myrtles, pecans and elsewhere. And the small white insects are aphids. To control the mold you need to control the aphids. Most insecticides will do that, but watch out for warnings on product labels about not using them on any members of the hibiscus clan (including rose-of-Sharon). The systemic insecticide Imidacloprid will do a good job of stopping aphids if applied several weeks ahead of time. Once blamed in part for bee colony collapse, that insecticide has been essentially cleared by many university entomologists who now feel that it’s more of a combination of assorted factors, not just insecticides. I’m also going to warn you that roses-of-Sharon are much better suited to parts of America where summers are more mild with more rainfall. I grow them in my own Texas landscape, and the spring bloom is always superior to what I get in the fall. However, when we get rain in August and September they can put on a good late show.
If you’d like Neil Sperry’s help with a plant question, drop him a note in care of The Eagle, P.O. Box 3000, Bryan, Texas 77805. Or email him at mailbag@sperrygardens.com.
Entrepreneurial Family to Meet Local Demand for Commercial and Residential Restoration Specialists
October 10, 2019 // Franchising.com // SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Delta Restoration Services®, a nationally recognized and award-winning franchise brand that provides restoration services to commercial and residential properties, is opening a new location in Sioux City this winter.
Owned and operated by Joe Stephens, Delta Restoration Services of Siouxland will provide a reliable, experienced solution to those who require restoration services – whether it involves flood and water damage; smoke and fire damage; or mold damage and environmental testing.
“Our spring season came with a lot of rain this year, so unfortunately, there’s a substantial need in the region for water and mold damage restoration experts,” said Joe Stephens, owner of Delta Restoration Services of Siouxland. “The services we will offer and our insurance-friendly approach will be extremely valuable to the area. I’m proud to be able to help alleviate stress for residents across the neighborhoods we’ll be serving who experience a loss and assist them in getting back on their feet. I’ve been incredibly impressed with the Delta Restoration Services model – from the cloud-based project management platform to its intensive training regimen and top-notch support team – and I’m confident that we’ll be ready to serve the community well when we open our doors.”
In the spirit of a true family business, Joe Stephens will operate his Delta Restoration Services franchise alongside his wife Pamela and son Tim. Notably, the Stephens have owned and operated successful Chem-Dry® Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning franchises in the region since 1995.
Delta Restoration Services provides restoration solutions to both its residential and commercial clients. Its services cover damage from flood and water, smoke and fire, mold and other environmental conditions, as well as additional services such as contents restoration and reconstruction. The organization also has a significant company-owned operation in the competitive Denver market that serves as a model franchise and provides continual learning and benefits to franchise owners in areas including research and development and training. Franchise owners also benefit from the company’s seamless, highly-integrated communication platform that tracks projects from initial call through completion, incorporating all documentation and providing real-time access.
“We recently launched an aggressive growth strategy to become a dominant force in the restoration industry in the coming years, and it’s exciting to see this plan coming to fruition so quickly,” said Mike Mastous, founder and president of Delta Restoration Services. “We welcome the Stephens to the Delta Restoration Services family as new franchise owners as well as the rest of their team, and we’re thrilled to have them represent our brand in Sioux City. The team’s experience and talents will help us further expand in the area, and their strong business management acumen, dedication to the community and restoration experience will deliver significant benefits for home and business owners in the area who experience property damage.”
HRI Holdings, Inc. (HRI) acquired Delta Restoration Services in late March 2018. Under the direction of HRI, parent company to the Chem-Dry® Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning and N-Hance® Wood Refinishing franchise businesses, Delta Restoration Services is benefitting from the organization’s proven ability to scale concepts.
In addition to its market-leading technology platform, Delta Restoration Services distinguishes itself with thorough and rigorous education for its staff. In fact, its certification requirements put Delta Restoration Services franchisees in the top one percent of restoration companies nationwide. Further, the brand has strong relationships with insurance carriers and third-party administrators who value the company’s technology, ease of communication, highly-trained employees and superior quality of work.
Currently, Delta Restoration Services has operations in more than 40 markets, including its corporately run territory in Denver. Franchise units operate in California, Utah, Colorado, Texas, Oregon, Washington, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Nebraska, Missouri and Indiana.
For more information about Delta Restoration Services of Siouxland, visit deltarestoration.com.
About Delta Restoration Services
Delta Restoration Services is a nationally recognized, award-winning franchise brand in the 210-billion-dollar restoration industry, providing restoration services to commercial and residential properties for water, fire and environmental damage, including reconstruction. Their rigorous training regimen puts their franchise owners in the top one percent of all restoration companies nationwide. Delta Restoration Services franchise offices, located in more than 40 markets across the United States, are certified in all restoration services they offer. Delta Restoration Services is part of HRI Holdings’ portfolio of franchise brands, which also includes the Chem-Dry® Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning and N-Hance® Wood Refinishing businesses. For more information about Delta Restoration Services, please visit https://trydelta.com.
Media Contact:
Jenna Giragosian All Points PR Office: 847-897-7474 jgiragosian@allpointspr.com
If you’re from Southeast Texas, then the image of emergency responders wading waist-deep through floodwaters is probably a familiar site to you. Usually, this wading is unavoidable, a necessary evil that must be performed in order for emergency services to be rendered.
But when Dr. Laila Woc-Colburn saw a newly viral video posted at Lamar University which showed people diving into the deep floodwaters at a local underpass for the fun of it, she had more than a negative reaction.
Woc-Colburn is an associate professor at Baylor College of Medicine, and specializes in infectious diseases. The academic says that when seeing a video like the one described, what comes to mind is all of the things that you can contract: bacterial infections like staph, vibrio, fungal infections, and Leptospira.
Woc-Colburn co-authored a study in 2018 called “Infectious Diseases in the Aftermath of Hurricanes in the United States,” which details the fact that hurricanes “facilitate the spread of infectious pathogens through population displacement, flooding, and trauma.”
What Diseases Can You Get?
“If you have chronic infections, liver disease or you’re pregnant, your immune system is low,” Woc-Colburn says. “Then you’re exposed to water in the Gulf Coast area where vibrio is very common because of the (warmer) water temperature. It’s a very rapid infection.”
Vibrio is an infection that manifests as red, blistered skin. While an early case can be treated and cured within a matter of days, if left untreated it can become very serious very fast. If someone infected waits too long for a diagnosis, then the consequences might even include amputation of infected areas. According to the CDC, roughly 1 in 5 with this type of infection will die within days of getting sick.
For patients with diabetes or anyone who suffers from poor blood circulation, infections might spread even faster. These can and usually do come with fever and fatigue in addition to the usual redness/blistering. However, even if you’re a typically healthy person you need to be cautious. You can get sick too – it all depends on what’s actually in the water. This can be a great number of things, including pesticides, bacteria from agricultural areas, animal stool, and countless chemicals from industrial plants, gas stations, and other places that harbor them.
“Another one we do see during flooding is (the bacteria) leptospira,” said Woc-Colburn. “Mice and rats carry leptospira in their urine, and it’s found in the water.”
Leptospirosis is a disease that can affect both animals and humans. Scarily, it can sometimes have no symptoms, which can obviously make it very difficult to detect. The bacterial illness can enter the body through one’s epidermis or mucous membranes, and can do so easily through an open wound. Infections from this disease usually start from being exposed to contaminated flood water.
The symptoms are run-of-the-mill, and can include headache, fever, chills, etc. Basically, the symptoms can be a million things you might mistake for other illnesses, so it’s important to go to a hospital if you’ve been exposed to flood water of any kind and for any duration.
How Else Can These Diseases Spread?
Yet another thing to be careful of is debris that can get caught in the skin’s dermis. This debris can cause abscesses or infections of the soft tissue. Additionally, if you ever accidentally ingest flood water, you might be exposing yourself to immediate diarrhea and vomiting … this can be especially dangerous to those with weak immune systems, as dehydration is a factor of both.
Houston’s humid atmosphere has made mold a near constant threat, but it can get especially bad after a flood. If you’re cleaning out your home after a flooding, then you should invest in a respiratory mask. Additionally, Mold inspection and Testing Houston weise, residents should hire agents of the highest quality. According to AP News’ interview with housing inspectors, everyone needs to ensure that home dwellers do not get sick from any mold presence. After the floods, it’s sure to be an issue for most in the raging waters’ path.
“If your house took on water, the first thing you’ll want to do is try to get the dry wall out — that space is where the mold goes,” says Woc-Colburn. “If you’re helping someone whose house was flooded, you want to use an N95 mask because the air might be full of mold by that time.”
In the two years it has been since Hurricane Harvey came through Texas, Woc-Colburn has seen patients with fungal infections that didn’t develop until six to twelve months after the storm. Some of these people only has one to two inches of flood water. These fungal infections can be very dangerous to anyone with preexisting lung conditions, so be wary!
Overall, just don’t expose yourself to contaminated water. The best way to do this is to try to avoid flood water – and definitely don’t go diving into it headfirst.
Cited Sources| Sites we used to make article & only other websites, we want linked to form our articles:
Q: Each year the late summer bloom cycle of our roses-of-Sharon is ruined by small white insects and black mold. What is this, and how can we save the blooms?
A: The black mold is sooty mold, the same as we’ve talked about on crape myrtles, pecans and elsewhere. And the small white insects are aphids.
To control the mold you need to control the aphids. Most insecticides will do that, but watch out for warnings on product labels about not using them on any members of the hibiscus clan (including rose-of-Sharon).
The systemic insecticide Imidacloprid will do a good job of stopping aphids if applied several weeks ahead of time. Once blamed in part for bee colony collapse, that insecticide has been essentially cleared by many university entomologists who now feel that it’s more of a combination of assorted factors, not just insecticides.
I’m also going to warn you that roses-of-Sharon are much better suited to parts of America where summers are more mild with more rainfall. I grow them in my own Texas landscape, and the spring bloom is always superior to what I get in the fall. However, when we get rain in August and September they can put on a good late show.
Q: Several years ago I had a tree guy remove some large oak branches that were touching our roof. The tree seems to have resented it and now I need to prune it again. Do you have any advice?
A: My guess would be that the first person left stubs. The sprouts probably originated from those stubs, but of course, I can’t see through all the brush to know for sure.
You can prune oaks now. The oak wilt season has abated. I would start by removing the odd growth to see what is beneath it. Cut the old branches so that there is only a short piece of the branch collar. That will ensure that the tree will heal properly without decay setting in and without further sprouts forming.
Q: I have a weed growing in my yard. It is very close to the ground. It has round leaves and shoots that go up about 14 inches with seeds on the end. I’ve tried pulling them up to no avail. Have I waited too long to use Dimension, Halts or Balan?
A: Those are pre-emergent herbicides, and they must be applied before weed seeds sprout, that is, before you can see the weeds themselves. I don’t know what weed you have, but obviously it’s at the other end of its life cycle.
I’d suggest you take a sample of the entire plant to a Texas Certified Nursery Professional for identification and for recommendations of the best control. If it’s an annual weed you might get some control with a spring application. Always feel free to attach a photograph with your question in the future.
Q: Why are there ants on my crape myrtle? Do they hurt anything? What should I do?
A: The ants are there feeding off honeydew exudate from some other insect, probably crape myrtle aphids. The ants are harmless, but the honeydew will result in growth of sooty mold, an unattractive black fungus that will coat the leaves and stems.
To control the sooty mold you need to control the aphids (or crape myrtle bark scale), and to do that it’s usually easiest to use a systemic insecticide as a soil drench in late spring.
Q: Some 20 years ago a friend gave me a start of English ivy to use as a groundcover beneath a large, old oak tree. It sat there for 19 years without doing much, but this year it suddenly grew up the trunk. I know that ivy can damage the surface of walls. Will it harm the tree’s trunk, too?
A: English ivy damages trees in two ways when it’s allowed to climb them. One is when it forms a canopy out and over the limbs. It can add weight to the branches so that should ice or snow fall those limbs might break.
Also, it shades the tree’s leaves and can deprive them of much-needed sunlight. But it will do nothing to damage the trunk. Nor does it do anything to masonry walls other than possibly trap dirt and debris behind it.
Q: We built our house 26 years ago. The nursery folks planted these crape myrtles probably too close to the house. Do we need to be concerned? They’re on the west side and we really are grateful for their shade. Is there anything we should do? Should we have them taken out and have the stumps killed?
A: I’m not sure why people plant crape myrtles so close to houses. Perhaps they don’t read the descriptions saying that they’re going to develop large trunks and grow to be 20 to 30 feet tall. But we are where we are.
I’d suggest just leaving them where they are and keeping their branches pruned well away from the root line. If you see any large surface roots starting to threaten the foundation, you can remove one or two of them per year, but do so in the fall (this time of year) when the plants’ need for water has lessened.
Q: I had a beautiful lawn that has now gone to this. At first I thought it was a disease, so I treated with a fungicide. Then I thought it might be chinch bugs. Even though I didn’t find any, I treated with Sevin. Still it got worse.
What can I do? I have a large lawn and I want to keep it looking good. My husband used to do it.
A: You’re not going to find them this late in the growing season, but I’m pretty sure the browned St. Augustine was indeed caused by chinch bugs. They show up when it’s really hot, and they’ll always be out in the sun.
You’ve probably seen my many notes here about having to get down on your hands and knees to look for them on the surface of the soil. They’re BB-size and black with irregular white diamonds on their wings. Watch for them in the same areas next summer.
At this point all you need to do is keep the lawn moist the balance of the growing season and get it off to a good start next spring. Imidacloprid is one of the better controls for chinch bugs, usually applied in midsummer when their damage first becomes evident. The grass will appear to be dry, but it won’t respond to irrigation.
Mail questions to Neil Sperry, c/o Features Department, San Antonio Express-News, P.O. Box 2171, San Antonio, TX 78297-2171, or email him at SAENgardenQA@ sperrygardens.com.
Damage Mold 