Archives for September 2014

Efforts by the real estate community to improve elevator signage in residential and commercial buildings in New York has resulted in implementation of a program supported by the New York City Department of Buildings and the Fire Department.

The new regulations help eliminate any confusion for firefighters and other emergency service personnel when responding to a call. The signage identifies the various elevator banks so responders can more quickly find the bank where assistance is needed.

“This regulation is a good idea,” says Ira Meister, President and CEO, Matthew Adam Properties, a leading New York property management firm.  He explains that the new regulations require buildings to have both a letter and number to designate elevators.  Elevator banks will be identified by a letter and the individual cars by a number. “For example, this makes it easier for firefighters to immediately find the elevator bank where the fire is located,” Meister says.  “Saving precise seconds can save lives.”

The signage must be posted at a designated level, usually the street floor, which best serves the needs of the firefighters or emergency personnel and then on every floor at all entrance points to the elevator bank.  The lettering must be at least 3 inches high.

In addition, all elevator equipment will have the same designation.

“This regulation is being enforced and buildings that have not complied to date should do so as soon as possible to avoid receiving a notice of violation,” Meister says.

Matthew Adam Properties is a leading Manhattan-based residential management firm that brings a strategic approach to the more than 100 properties it manages in the New York area. The company also manages and serves as a consultant to retail properties nationwide.

Judah “Jyreh” P. Cohen, who recently graduated from college and joined the rest of us worker drones, competed in one last male beauty pageant for fun and in the hope that it might open some doors that otherwise might be closed to him. He was drafted to represent the U.S. overseas Filipino community in The Misters of the Philippines 2014, which awards four national titles that go on to compete in international venues. With his good looks, 6’2” height, intelligent responses, karate demonstration and high-wattage smile, he was one of the four winners, winning the coveted title of Mister Tourism International Philippines 2014 and will represent the Philippines in May in the international pageant in Panama. And one of his prizes was a trip to Sydney. We’re terribly proud of him, especially because he’s a great young man that doesn’t let such things go to his head.

Agroworld by DI ZIO S.R.L. is a company in the start-up phase (visit us on facebook and our project web site). Our business is about making a significant contribution to innovation within agricultural technology by the design, construction and sales of Agricultural machines and products.

The general manager is 29 year old Luca Di Zio, who for 5 years has led the company with an inventive business outlook.

Our business idea is to offer a wide range of products and equipment to offer innovative technological solutions to aid agricultural processing. Making agricultural mechanization more accessable.

In particular we are focussing on agricultural tools that will make fruit harvesting easier.

We do also supply other equipment, sundries, and seeds.

What we would like to do: Our project Alpha

We want to manufacture and supply to farmers, an automatic tool capable of easily and efficiently harvesting olives for the production of Extra virgin olive oil. The tool consists of a double rake  with a pneumatically powered movement mounted on a telescopic pole, lightweight and quiet.

Compared to the traditional method of manual harvesting the tool will offer three major advantages to farmers:

1 Allow the the farmer to work safely from the ground without the need for ladders or hazardous tree climbing.

2 Less physical effort required from the farmer compared to the manual method

3 Reduction of harvest time by up to 80% compared to the manual method.

Results of the Alpha prototype

A prototype of the Alpha pneumatic rake has already been built and used to test and assess its functionality. The Alpha prototype was given to a farmer to be used for the harvesting of 1000 Italian Lecciono Olive trees (Olea europaea L.) which are the most common in the world.

We gave the possibility of using Alpha directly to the farmer plantation owner.

The result was surprising: Harvesting rates of approxiamately 80 – 90 kg of olives per hour were achieved with a total harvest of 80 000 Kg.

Read More: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/project-alpha-making-olive-harvesting-easier

Mushroom Gathering and Identification Focus of Museum of Natural History Activity

Hebron, CT – The Connecticut State Museum of Natural History, part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UConn, will hold a mushroom gathering and identification activity in Hebron, CT on Saturday, September 13, 10 am to 11:30 am. Connie Borodenko, from the Connecticut Valley Mycological Society, will lead the program.

Neither plant nor animal, mushrooms and other fungi are curious life forms indeed! They pop up suddenly, often becoming full-grown in a matter of hours. Why are they in their own taxonomic kingdom? What does their lifecycle consist of? Discover the startling, colorful, sometimes delicious, and sometimes deadly, world of mushrooms and fungi with mycologist Connie Borodenko. Bring a basket and paper bags for gathering these denizens of the shadows during the first hour of the program. Then learn about the fascinating world of fungi as we discuss the findings with our mushroom expert. This hike may be challenging for some, and will include hilly areas.

The program fee is $20, $15 for Museum members. Advance registration is required. This program is for adults and children ages 8 and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For registration information visit http:///www.cac.uconn.edu/mnhcurrentcalendar.html or call 860-486-4460.

The Connecticut State Museum of Natural History is part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at UConn.

Record-breaking equestrian action at Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 A record-breaking 74 nations are competing for medals at the planet’s most prestigious international equestrian event – the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 – which takes place in Normandy, France, from 23rd August to the 7th September. The Games, which unite the world championships of seven disciplines governed by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) – Jumping, Dressage and Para-Equestrian Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining – have attracted almost 1,000 of the world’s best riders and 1,000 of the world’s best horses for two weeks of world-class equestrian action. Most of the competitions will be held in the region’s capital, Caen. Le Pin National Stud, also known as the “Equestrian Versailles”, approximately 80km from Caen, will host the Eventing competition (Dressage and Cross Country) with the final Jumping phase held in Caen. The legendary UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mont St Michel will provide a magnificent backdrop for the 160km Endurance ride. For more information visit the event’s official website www.normandy2014.com.