(Left to right): Rayna Matthews, Chuck Mordock and Lilly Mayfield in Ukiah Players Theater’s ‘Something Rotten!’ opening Nov. 17. The Tony Award-Winning show is a rollicking sendup on Shakespeare and musical theater. (Carole Brodsky/for The Ukiah Daily Journal)

Musical theater. You either love it or you hate it. Shakespeare. You either love him or you can’t stand him. The great thing about Ukiah Players Theater’s season opener, “Something Rotten!” is that it will please both the lovers and the haters.

“Something Rotten!” Is a musical comedy derived from a book by John O’Farrell and Karey Kirkpatrick, with music and lyrics by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick. The Shakespeare-infused sendup played 708 performances on Broadway and was nominated for 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical, and won a Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

Jenny Peterman and Maria Monti are co-directing UPT’s performance, with choreography by Maria Monti, musical direction by Hannah Peterman and Erika Brewer and costume design by Judy and Jenny Peterman. This show features live music performed by “The Rotten Band:” Hannah Peterman, Tony Melville, Keith Feigan, Erika Brewer and Treaston Shmuckley. The show is underwritten by John Chan Plumbing, Black Oak Coffee Roasters and Ukiah Natural Foods Co-op.

“Something Rotten!” is an over-the-top spoof of both Shakespeare and musicals.

“I watched the show during quarantine, and laughed and laughed and laughed,” says Peterman. “I was committed that this would be UPT’s first musical when we came out of quarantine.”

Tim Fischer plays the role of Nick Bottom – one of two brothers who are writers and contemporaries of William Shakespeare. Students of Fischer, who moonlights as an English instructor at Ukiah High, will confirm his obsession with Shakespeare in real life. So this role couldn’t have been more perfect for him.

“The comedy has a Mel Brooks-ish, Frankenstein type of humor. It’s definitely dorky, and for those who get the references and layers of all the musical and Shakespearian jokes, there will be a lot of laughing,” Fisher smiles.

However, says Peterman, the show is laugh-out-loud funny regardless of whether you have read Shakespeare or seen even one musical theater show. Peterman gives the show a PG-13 rating. “We’d like parents to accompany their 13-and-up kids. There’s a little bit of randy innuendo in the show,” she notes.

Chuck Mordock plays Nigel Bottom, Nick’s love-sick brother, whose prose comes to the attention of Shakespeare, played by someone who will not be revealed in this story!

“When I heard the opening song, I had to audition,” said Mordock. “I’ll be in anything where I get to sing, ‘We have the latest gadgets and appliances.’ The humor is utterly tongue in cheek and it’s an incredible homage to Broadway.”

The cast – many of whom perform multiple roles – are Maria Monti, Nena Saucedo, Lilly Mayfield, Rayna Matthews, Eddie Haehl, Blare Elliot, Heidi Peterman, Kyra Cash, Kayla Harrison, Traci Hunt, Grey Wolfe-Smith, Pete Winslow, Lalo Torres, Audrey Sherf, Hannah Hinrichs and Sean Powell. Rayna Matthews is an incredible new addition to the UPT family and is not to be missed.

“These are choice performers. Just a superb cast. There is so much chemistry between Tim and Chuck, who are veteran actors but have never actually acted side by side,” says Peterman.

Choreographer Maria Monti is amazed by the cast’s talent.

“There’s lots of dancing in all styles in this show. It’s really a mishmash of theater dances and includes dance styles that audiences will recognize.” Monti makes a special appearance in the show, and taught several cast members tap dancing. “Tim Fischer took my second semester tap course at Mendocino College, and he’s doing great.”

“I’m dancing a little bit better than a sack of potatoes,” smiles Fischer.

This is Hannah Peterman’s first time as a musical director.

“Working with a live band is wonderful,” Peterman notes. She reads music and is the musical director for her church. “I’ve been thrown into a group of rock musicians who don’t read music, and the theater vernacular is not familiar to me, so I’m aiming to get them to hear what I’m seeing,” she smiles.

“They are absolutely wonderful,” says Monti.

Audiences will love the surprise Shakespeare cast member, says Peterman.

“Our Shakespeare is more Prince than Jaggar. This Shakespeare is a rock star. There are quite a few ‘80’s rock references. For our show, we flipped the art direction and put some funk into Shakespeare, who has soul and a personal soundtrack. All I’ll say about our Shakespeare is that they are a new face to the theater community, but someone you might recognize.”

Despite the dozens of modern theater references, Peterman chose to keep the costumes in the 1590’s time period.

“The costumes are fabulous. My mom flew out from Oregon to help with them. We were able to create Farthingales out of dollar store materials to keep the dresses light, because there are layers and layers of skirts. We’ve had tons of costumes and fabric donated over the years, so we sorted through everything and did a housecleaning project at the same time, which made the costumes affordable and definitely reusable for another production.”

This article won’t spoil the fun, but theater nerds everywhere try to identify the scores of references to other musicals throughout the show, including Cats, The Music Man, South Pacific, Chicago, Annie, Jesus Christ Superstar and Guys and Dolls – to name just a few.

“The feedback we’re getting is that many people saw the show in Broadway or San Francisco, and can’t wait to see it again. Come and enjoy us making fun of ourselves, and laugh yourself silly,” Peterman concludes.

The next shows in the UPT season are “Harvey,” directed by Eric Ward, opening Feb. 16, and “Through the Looking Glass,” directed by Traci Hunt, opening April 12.

Auditions for “Harvey” are being held in conjunction with Mendocino College’s “12th Night the Musical” auditions on Dec. 9 at 10 a.m.. Harvey auditions will be held in the college’s Little Theatre, and 12th Night auditions will be held in the dance rooms. No roles for Harvey are precast, so Peterman encourages any interested folks to try out.

“Something Rotten!” runs from Nov. 17 through Dec. 10. A new feature for this season is the option to purchase punch cards, which will give theatergoers a 15- to 25 percent discount on ticket prices. Punch card owners may use as many punches as they want for any regular season show, and the cards never expire. For ticket reservations or information about punch cards, visit https://www.ukiahplayerstheatre.org or phone (707) 462-9226.

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New Hitachi air365 Hybrid system automatically switches between heat pump and furnace operation according to outdoor temperature sensors for a more efficient performance year-round

IRVING, Texas, Sept. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning today introduced the Hitachi air365 Hybrid dual fuel system, which combines a heat pump and furnace to provide efficient, economical home comfort year-round while reducing carbon emissions. The air365 Hybrid system features an electric Hitachi Mini VRF heat pump as the primary heating and cooling source and an innovative dual fuel module that attaches to a home’s new or existing gas furnace.

“By primarily utilizing electricity, dual fuel heat pump systems are a more sustainable way to heat and cool homes, providing homeowners with a way to effortlessly cut their own carbon emissions and make a positive impact on the environment,” said David Budzinski, president, global residential and light commercial at Johnson Controls and Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning. “Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and the Hitachi air365 Hybrid dual fuel system is proof of our commitment to developing best-in-class solutions that prioritize the environment while delivering superior comfort and lower operating costs.”

When temperatures are extremely low, most heat pumps rely on energy-intensive, electric resistance “strip” heating, which can significantly increase utility costs and strain the electric grid. To maximize efficiency and not compromise heating performance, it’s often more sustainable to use the furnace as a backup heat source during the coldest days of the year. When the air365 Hybrid system is in heating mode, a smart sensor monitors the outdoor temperature. If it reaches a temperature where the heat pump cannot efficiently meet the indoor heating demand, it automatically switches from the heat pump to the furnace. This makes it possible for homeowners to easily optimize efficiency and comfort throughout the winter.

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In addition to reducing energy costs, electric heat pumps make it possible for homeowners to decarbonize their heating and cooling. As a result, there are many federal, state and local tax incentives encouraging homeowners to upgrade to energy efficient heat pumps that can greatly reduce the upfront cost of new equipment. air365 Hybrid dual fuel systems can qualify for multiple rebates and incentives, such as the 25C energy efficient home improvement tax credit expanded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Homeowners should talk to their contractors about these opportunities to maximize payback.

The Mini VRF heat pump leads the industry in energy efficiency and is economical to run. For example, when pairing a Hitachi Mini VRF heat pump with a YORK® YP9C Modulating Gas Furnace as part of a dual fuel system, homeowners can cut utility costs by up to two thirds compared to conventional heating systems. The Mini VRF heat pump is available in three different models to better meet a variety of residential applications and offers reliable performance across a wide range of temperatures – as low as 23 F (-5 C) outdoor ambient temperature in cooling mode and as low as -4 F (-20 C) in heating mode. All models feature night shift, which allows the outdoor unit to operate very quietly, as low as 44 decibels or 10 decibels less than the average household refrigerator.

To learn more about the Hitachi air365 Hybrid dual fuel system, please visit www.hitachiaircon.com/air365hybrid. To find a Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning contractor, please visit www.hitachiaircon.com/us/where-to-buy/residential-distributors.

About Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning

Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning is a global air conditioning manufacturer established in October 2015 as a joint venture between Johnson Controls and Hitachi Appliances, Inc. (now Hitachi Global Life Solutions, Inc.) Approximately 15,000 employees have offered high-quality residential and commercial products, services, and solutions to our customers. We have released the most diverse HVAC products in the global market including ductless solutions, chillers and residential air conditioning solutions that exceed customer expectations at all times.

Media Contacts
Melissa Talbott
Manager, Global Products, Public Relations & Media
Johnson Controls
melissa.talbott@jci.com

Silvana Vacca
Head of Public Relations & External Communications, EMEALANA
Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning
silvana.vacca@jci-hitachi.com

www.us.hitachi.com

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SOURCE Johnson Controls

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A $4 million marketing campaign touting San Francisco’s resilience, innovation and moxie launches Thursday as the embattled city prepares to host a high-profile global economic summit next month that could boost its image or pile on to its woes.

Business leaders behind the privately funded “It All Starts Here” campaign say they plan to blanket the city with billboards and ads featuring what makes San Francisco great — think the iPhone and Pixar Animation Studios — as tens of thousands converge on the city for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ summit.

President Joe Biden and other heads of state, hundreds of foreign journalists and more than 1,000 business executives from around the globe are expected to attend the summit Nov. 11 to 17.

“Birthplace of the waterbed. And the summer of love,” reads one ad. “The martini. The mai tai. And the Uber ride back home,” reads another. The campaign logo echoes the famous crisscross Haight and Ashbury street signs.

There’s also a spirited two-minute video set to the song “California Dreamin’.” The video opens with fog and mountains, Pacific Ocean waves crashing into majestic cliffs and the Golden Gate Bridge before mixing in historic images of streetcars, beatniks, retailer Gap, Apple and Google. San Francisco is sandwiched between Silicon Valley and Northern California wine country.

The summit comes at a critical time for San Francisco’s bruised image. While there are signs of recovery — an IKEA opened downtown — the city has been hit hard by news of major retailers leaving as street conditions deteriorated over public drug use, homelessness and theft.

“Unfortunately, when you hear about San Francisco, you hear about a lot of negative things,” said Priya David Clemens, spokesperson for the host committee. “And APEC is an opportunity for people to come from all around the Pacific Rim, see this city, and go back and tell their friends and family, ‘Hey, San Francisco’s a great place to do business’ and to come back and visit for pleasure.”

Civic and business leaders, government officials and the tourism and conference industry are anxious to counter the narrative that San Francisco is dying or dead as it might become a self-fulfilling prophecy in today’s era of snap judgments spread through a viral social media ecosystem built in the city’s backyard.

Conditions are not as dire as headlines make out, said Larry Baer, board co-chair of Advance SF, the business group overseeing the campaign. Baer, who is also president and CEO of the San Francisco Giants, said the ads are also aimed at reminding residents of the city’s accomplishments.

“It’s urging a change in the narrative,” said Baer, a San Francisco native. The city is “like other big cities, with modern day challenges, but also with really a unique sparkle to it.”

“We’re not going to have as quick a change perhaps as we want, but I believe … there’s improvement,” he said.

In September, San Francisco successfully hosted 40,000 attendees of an annual Salesforce conference. City native Marc Benioff, the software company’s CEO and chair, raved about how clean and safe streets were around the convention center.

The new ads take some liberties. Apple has its headquarters in Cupertino and Pixar’s is in Emeryville, neither of which are San Francisco. The martini may have been invented San Francisco, or in neighboring Martinez. The mai tai was created in 1944 at a Trader Vic’s restaurant in Oakland across the bay.

The modern waterbed, however, was created in San Francisco, by a design student at San Francisco State University.

Copyright
© 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning (JCH) (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan) today announces the launch of air365 Max, a new top flow variable refrigerant flow (VRF) air conditioning system in Malaysia. The air365 Max is an end-to-end solution developed by JCH to deliver seamless comfort, energy efficiency, and easily workable features for professionals, architects, and building owners in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) sector.

SmoothDrive 2.0 technology delivers higher energy efficiency and seamless comfort

Featuring Hitachi’s original SmoothDrive 2.0 technology, air365 Max produces an Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER[1]) of up to 5.5. This best-in-class energy efficiency performance helps to reduce running costs during part-load operations, leading to reduced CO2 emissions. In addition, air365 Max requires 12% less refrigerant compared to the conventional Hitachi VRF air cooling system.

Powered by the SmoothDrive 2.0 technology, air365 Max operates a wider temperature range which provides greater seamless comfort for building occupants, and also addresses issues such as unstable temperatures, cold or hot air drafts, seasonal room temperature changes, and more.

As SmoothDrive 2.0 allows for precise temperature monitoring, users can now expect constant regulated indoor temperatures which will improve their comfort level.

Kintaro Izumida, Vice President and General Manager, Japan and Asia Regional Operations, JCH, said: “The air365 Max is our solution to Malaysian HVAC market which demands room air conditioners, including split type air conditioners as well as commercial air conditioners with energy saving and innovative features to enhance the indoor air quality. We are ready to invest in Malaysia and the Southeast Asia markets to develop more energy efficient products.”

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Image for illustration purposes only. Appearance of the actual product is different by region.

airCloud Tap – HVAC app for professionals

The airCloud Tap is a new generation app launched in 2023 to support HVAC professionals to service and install Hitachi equipment easier. Thanks to contactless near-field communication (NFC) technology, they can configure the equipment, customize the settings and conduct troubleshooting on a smart phone.

To maximize the operation of air365 Max, JCH also offers solutions such as:

• Advanced color wired remote controller: A multiple award winning individual remote controller that is intuitive to use with modern pictograms and diagrams.

• airCloud Pro: A cloud-based centralized controller which enables HVAC professionals and building managers to monitor and control the VRF system on the smart phone.

About Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning

Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning is a global air conditioning manufacturer established in October 2015 as a joint venture between Johnson Controls and Hitachi Appliances, Inc. (now Hitachi Global Life Solutions, Inc.) Approximately 15,000 employees have offered high-quality residential and commercial products, services, and solutions to our customers. We have released the most diverse HVAC products in the global market including ductless solutions, chillers and residential air conditioning solutions that exceed customer expectations at all times.

https://www.hitachiaircon.com/my

Cision

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SOURCE Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning

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Imperial College London recently launched an online portal that will empower startup founders to reach global investor audiences.

The investment portal launch coincided with a visit by Imperial President Hugh Brady to San Francisco and the Bay Area –?home to some of the world’s most recognised and established tech companies.  

The new Imperial Investment Portal was launched at a showcase event where five Imperial startups pitched to tech leaders and investors at San Francisco’s iconic SHACK15 venue.  

The Imperial Investment Portal is an exciting new offering to connect our student, staff and alumni founders directly with new and existing investors from around the globe Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London

Imperial’s President, Professor Hugh Brady said: “Imperial has built a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem to support our startup and spinout founders in developing innovative solutions that are helping to address global challenges. But for our ventures to grow, scale and reach their full potential they need vital early-stage investment from a wide range of sources.

“The Imperial Investment Portal is an exciting new offering to connect our student, staff and alumni founders directly with new and existing investors from around the globe – and I look forward to seeing the impact we can achieve together.”

Professor Mary Ryan, Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise) speaks at the showcase

Providing investors across the globe with access to a curated range of startup investment opportunities through a single user-friendly platform is just one example of Imperial’s commitment to being accessible and responsive to do business with.

The investment portal provides a natural extension to Imperial’s current investment and marketing capabilities, furthering the ability to connect diverse investors and startups in our ecosystem, boosting the visibility of Imperial-associated startups seeking investment and offering up-to-date information about them.

Support for budding startups

The new portal will ease investment for budding Imperial startups like those that pitched at the showcase event, where Imperial’s entrepreneurial graduate founders working at the cutting edge of AI and healthcare showcased their innovations to an audience of alumni, investors and tech leaders from the San Francisco tech ecosystem.

The startups included MakeSense: a machine vision navigation device for the blind and vision impaired, Vera.AI: AI hyper-personalised women’s health platform, OSSTEC: 3D Printed Bone Healing Platform Technology, Phare Labs: The next gen AI smoke alarm, and dotplot: At-home breast health monitoring solution. 

Diana Canghizer, co-founder of vera AIArnau Donate Duch, co-founder of Phare LabsDebra Babalola, co-founder of DotPlotDr Max Munford, founder of OSSTECRobert Quinn, co-founder of MakeSense

Explaining the value of the new portal for startups like his, Dr Max Munford, CEO and Founder of one of the pitching startups, OSSTEC, and Imperial PhD graduate, said: “Fundraising is a crucial part of growing a venture but it can be difficult to connect with investors who are the right fit with your company.”

“Building and closing OSSTEC’s oversubscribed £1.2M seed round could have been much more efficient using the Imperial Investment Portal. More importantly, faster access to early angels means the team can focus on building the company.”

Fellow founder, Claire Trant, CEO and co-founder of Untap Health and Imperial PhD graduate, said: “We were lucky enough to be part of the Imperial ecosystem which was a huge help in our 2022 fundraise. But finding relevant and interested early-stage investors was a slow process. Having a portal where you can quickly see many investors and their interests would be a game changer.”

Building ties across the Atlantic

Imperial’s leadership and delegation of innovative startups attended the GBx Gala to network with fellow entrepreneurs, tech leaders and venture capitalists. The UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer gave the event’s keynote speech, as well as hosting a reception which was attended by Imperial’s President, Professor Hugh Brady, and Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise), Professor Mary Ryan. 

The Chancellor was in the area to meet with technology firms on the US West Coast as part of efforts to make Britain the next Silicon Valley and to encourage investment in the UK tech sector. Imperial’s newest campus in one of the most dynamic and rapidly changing parts of London, White City, echoes this ambition, and is fuelling an entrepreneurial ecosystem that mirrors the early days of Silicon Valley. 

During the trip, technology entrepreneur and Imperial alumnus Wendy Tan White welcomed the Imperial delegation to Intrinsic, a pioneering robotics software company, part of the Alphabet Group, where she is CEO.

The delegation also discussed collaborative and student training opportunities at cutting edge electric vehicle company Lucid Motors at invitation of CEO and Imperial alumnus Peter Rawlinson. 

More than just a shop window

Led by Imperial’s in-house Investment Services team, the Imperial Investment Portal is a web-based platform which allows members of Imperial’s Investor Network access real-time and relevant information on investment opportunities.

Startups are quality-assured by the Imperial team for investor readiness and their profiles are completed and updated by the founders – including links to video pitches, intellectual property and investment raised to date.

Members of Imperial’s Investment Network will get notified by email when companies move to ‘actively fundraising’ and investors can filter the opportunities by sector and contact founders directly through the portal – all free of charge to founders and investors.

Dr James Groves, Head of Investment Services at Imperial Enterprise, said: “More than just a shop window, the portal will dynamically alert members of the Investor community to new opportunities. If you are a registered member of our network, you will hear about new companies opening their investment rounds regardless of where you are on the planet.

“We know many investors find it challenging to secure high quality deal flow from UK Universities, with access to founders and opportunities often restricted to personal referrals. Rather than replacing the human interaction which is so key in early stage investing, we see the portal as a means to augment and accelerate the Imperial’s founders engage with the investor community.”

Untapped potential

The innovation ecosystem at Imperial is now extensive and well-developed – ranging from the Enterprise Lab co-working space, where students can experiment and test business ideas, to Scale Space, which takes companies to the next level in the heart of the thriving White City Innovation District.

Imperial’s startups are already having a tangible impact, delivering solutions to global challenges. For example, Dotplot is a healthtech company aiming to increase early detection of breast cancer – the second most prevalent cancer in the world with 2.3 million cases per year causing 685,000 deaths globally. With early detection, survival rates increase up to 93%. Dotplot offers a handheld device that pairs with a mobile app to help women perform breast checks every month.

Meanwhile, Makesense is developing a cost-effective, hand-held ‘sensory substitution device’ to help people with vision impairment navigate completely independently. Users hold the device in front of them like a torch, while advanced AI-based computer vision and localisation technology provides haptic cues to direct them. It could provide a cost-effective alternative to guide dogs, which cost £55,000 to train and are only offered to 1% of people with vision impairment.

Photography: Orange Photography

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Concord, CA, 4th August 2023, zex pr wire , A Californian commercial moving service, Valley Relocation, has been helping businesses move their offices, plants, and heavy machinery to different locations for over thirty-five years. The moving service provider offers a range of services, including commercial moving, facility services, international and domestic shipping, climate-controlled shipping, and more. Moreover, the business has recently started providing warehouse and storage facilities to aid a business’s moving procedure.

Most businesses offer time-sensitive services, and delaying business operations can cost them. However, when a business relocates, services for the business may go down for a few days. The downtime can affect a business’s ability to perform or gain back its customers in the foreseeable future. When relocating can have such drastic effects on a business and its ability to make profits, businesses have to find alternative ways to relocate without causing extended delays.

Fortunately, Valley Relocation has launched a transformative quick moving service, where they aim to reduce business downtime to save businesses from incurring too many losses during a move. When asked about their recent service additions, a company representative stated the following,“We have always been quick with our moving services, and we aim to accelerate that further. We work with a streamlined procedure where we offer free site surveys, and make sure that the move is conducted as quickly as possible.

With our extensive moving services, we ensure that all the packing, moving, and reassembling are done within a short period to help businesses reduce their downtime and keep their business and operations up and running.”

In addition to their newly launched services, Valley Relocation has been offering e-waste disposal. It helps businesses clear out their old properties and material before moving into a new and improved location. They have a specialized team that takes care of a business’s IT needs and requirements. They’re trained to disassemble, carefully pack, move, and then reassemble heavy and sensitive IT equipment.

Valley Relocation has been providing its commercial moving services to businesses, retail shops, hospitals, and other IT-intensive companies across San Francisco, Silicon Valley, San Jose, and more.

About Valley Relocation

valley relocation is a California-based commercial moving service that helps businesses move their equipment, machinery, and other office belongings. They offer climate-controlled domestic shipping across San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and other surrounding areas. Moreover, they have a diverse storage and warehouse facility that helps businesses store temporary equipment, deliveries, and more.

For additional information and business inquiries, please contact:

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Matt Bryant, owner of a new TruBlue Total House Care franchise in Fort Collins, is hoping to work by the rule of three.

Answer every call by the third ring. Prepare estimates within three days. Start a home improvement project in three weeks.

So far he’s on the right track, even though the company has only been around since March 10th.

Founded in 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio, the franchisor is one of the fastest growing franchise networks in the country. The company specializes in providing services to elderly homeowners who want to age in place.

While Bryant has earned Senior Safety Specialist certification to help elderly homeowners or those with special needs identify their need for handrails, ramps, and lighting, that’s not the only thing the new franchise is doing.

“One day I hung up a picture. Today (Friday) I’m working on a deck rebuild,” he said. He shared that the decking project was originally intended as repair work, but the homeowner had to do more because of the deteriorating substructure.

Bryant’s franchise spans all of Fort Collins, Severance and Timnath, as well as rural areas north of Wyoming.

There’s another franchise in Greeley that includes Windsor, he said.

Bryant would love to add Loveland and Longmont to his franchise.

It has a crew of four plus one part-time worker. Crew members have various certifications and experience.

“One had a craft business for 42 years. Another had a framing and cutting company,” he said.

Bryant has project management experience in the construction of metal buildings and office buildings. He also worked in the Poudre Valley School District, for a time as the director of transportation.

He acknowledged that there is a lot of competition in the handyman space. “There is also a great need,” he said. TruBlue’s focus is on seniors, but that’s not its only focus. Services for seniors are an important factor in the company’s growth, he said.

Projects are priced based on the estimated number of hours required to complete, plus materials.

The interest so far has been great. His rule of three has worked so far – his bookings are now two weeks later, he said. “Once they are three weeks old, we will add technicians,” he said.

This article was first published by BizWest, an independent news organization, and is published under a license agreement. © 2023 BizWest Media LLC.

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• San Francisco is investing millions of dollars in a tourism campaign it hopes will revive its pre-pandemic travel appeal
• SF failed to win back the same number of tourists as in 2019
• The ad campaign comes amid an ongoing rise in violent crime, homelessness and store closures in the city

The city of San Francisco has launched its largest advertising campaign to attract tourists and business travelers to the city, which is suffering from an intense and never-ending homelessness, drug addiction and crime crisis.

The campaign, dubbed “Always San Francisco,” cost a whopping $6 million and is being led by the city’s Bureau of Tourism.

This includes the city’s first television commercial, a kind of music video intended to emphasize the city’s uniqueness and diversity.

The campaign comes at a time when public drug use and high-profile crime are devastating San Francisco, and urges politicians to do more to clean up the California city.

The Always San Francisco video features the quirky characters who live in San Francisco – including Lady Camden, a drag queen made famous by RuPaul’s Drag Race. The campaign comes as San Francisco grapples with rampant crime, homelessness and drug use that have displaced businesses and consumers

The commercial, based on a new version of the song “San Francisco,” originally made famous by Jody Garland, will air in multiple markets including New York, Chicago, Boston, Washington, DC and Houston.

The minute-long music spot features a range of local talent, including Lady Camden, a drag queen made famous by RuPaul’s Drag Race, and local muralist Sirron Norris.

A digital advertising campaign will also reach international markets. The effort is funded by a city grant, a grant from the State Bureau of Tourism and San Francisco Travel.

Since the country overcame its COVID-related travel scare, San Francisco has not been able to match its pre-pandemic visitor numbers.

According to the SF Travel Association, the city welcomed 26.2 million visitors in 2019. Because of the pandemic, that number bottomed out in 2020, but only reached 21.9 million in 2022.

In 2022, numerous major conferences and events, including the Outside Lands music festival, returned to the city in full force, resulting in $7.4 billion in spending — more than double 2021’s figure.

However, a handful of high-profile criminal cases and a string of retail closures due to rampant and unpunished theft have tarnished the city’s image with potential visitors.

According to one analysis, San Francisco is suffering the slowest downtown recovery of all 62 largest cities in the US and Canada post-pandemic.

Traveler numbers in San Francisco continue to decline, not returning to pre-pandemic levels. Some major conference organizers have said they will no longer choose to hold their events in the city, specifically because of homelessness. A homeless man is spotted on the streets of San Francisco as officials struggle to solve the city’s seemingly endless problems

The recovery is being slowed further as businesses have announced plans to abandon downtown SF.

Nordstrom, Whole Foods, Saks Off 5th, Anthropologie, Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Office Depot have all decided to vacate their downtown locations.

Even before the pandemic, organizers began making differing decisions about where to hold their conferences. In 2018, a major medical industry conference announced they would be meeting elsewhere because of the city’s homelessness issues.

SF expects 23.9 million visitors in 2023, spending a total of $8.7 billion. Record spending was reached in 2019 and amounted to $9.6 billion.

However, given the problems the city is facing and without much progress in cleaning up the streets, that number could be lower.

The new San Francisco campaign cost the city and various state funds and supporters $6 million. The campaign comes amid the city’s ongoing struggle with a severe crime and homelessness crisis

Public order in San Francisco has consistently fueled a proliferation of homeless, drug addicts, and mentally unstable populations on the city’s streets.

The city also faces an increasing problem of violent crime. Tech executive Bob Lee became one of the city’s youngest murder victims last month.

Lee, 43, was allegedly murdered by another technology executive on April 4 while visiting San Francisco from Miami, where he and his family moved last year.

A coroner’s report reveals in vivid detail how Lee was found slumped in front of a block of flats without a pulse before paramedics rushed him to the hospital, where knife wounds were found on his heart and one lung.

He died with ketamine, cocaine and alcohol in his system.

In another criminal incident, 53-year-old Don Carmignani, a former fire chief, has been charged with using pepper spray on a homeless man who then brutally attacked him with a metal crowbar.

Carmignani suffered a fractured skull and jaw. Prosecutors can charge him with pepper spraying the homeless man and instigating the attack. However, the city’s district attorney has opted not to prosecute the homeless man for acting in “self-defense.”

The number of homeless people in San Francisco was nearly 8,000 as of February last year, the second-highest number since 2005, according to the government’s official triennial census.

Cash App founder Bob Lee died of stab wounds outside a San Francisco apartment building. Former fire chief Don Carmignani suffered a fractured skull and jaw in the attack and required 51 stitches after 24-year-old Garrett Doty allegedly hit him in the head with a crowbar

Various liberal politicians and city leaders have attempted to implement numerous measures to stem the many problems created by the growing homeless and drug addict population.

One specific harm reduction policy that failed was the opening of the Tenderloin Center last year to help alleviate the city’s drug and homelessness crises.

It cost taxpayers a whopping $22 million and was intended to be a “safe place” for addicts to “get high without getting mugged” and without fear of a fatal overdose.

Users should also be referred to help centers, although in the first four months of operation only 18 of the more than 23,000 people welcomed to the site were referred.

Overall, less than one percent of visits ended with a “complete link” to behavioral health programs.

Despite their efforts, over 500 people died from overdoses in San Francisco in 2022. In 2021 there were 641.

Many people living on the streets suffer from serious illnesses that are often made worse by substance use.

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The latest scandal involves 17 officers who sent the inappropriate text messages and other officers who received them – a significant percentage of a department with only about 100 officers.

Bonta said his office has been keeping tabs on the Antioch Police for some time — over concerns including the inappropriate use of force and dogs.

“We have seen data that shows an increase in excessive use of force in the Antioch Police Department more clearly than other local police departments in the vicinity and region,” Bonta said. “We have seen that excessive violence has differential effects on communities of color, including black community members.”

The investigation follows years of complaints by numerous Antioch residents of color about harmful and potentially illegal police practices, and comes amid ongoing investigations by the FBI and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office into alleged misconduct within the department.

But Bonta said the recent SMS scandal has hastened the launch of his office’s investigation.

“These texts are difficult to read. You are racist. You are homophobic. They are misogynistic. And these are not just comments that have nothing to do with official duties. They are directly related to official duties, including the use of force,” Bonta said, noting that he felt an “emotional, visceral, guttural response” as he read it.

“I think almost 20% of the police force is involved in text messaging,” he added. “Almost half of the police are involved in receiving this text message.”

This story includes reports from KQED’s Spencer Whitney and Bay City News.

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SAN FRANCISCO, April 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Dreame Technology (“Dreametech”), a global leader in smart home cleaning appliances, announced the launch of its all-new DreameBot L10 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop in the US market. DreameBot L10 Ultra is ready to bring highly accessible fully automatic cleaning to the market with a powerful combination of advanced robotic technologies and base station automation. With market-leading suction, incredibly thorough dual-rotation mopping and auto-drain, mop cleaning, mop-drying, and automatic water and solution addition functions, as well as powerful navigation technologies, DreameBot L10 Ultra is a complete cleaning companion for any household.

Dreame Technology launches DreameBot L10 Ultra – the latest fully automatic cleaning robot

At the heart of the DreameBot L10 Ultra is a commitment to convenience and efficiency. For this reason, Dreametech devotes great priority to the complete automation of the base station functions.

With high-capacity 3-liter dust bags, the DreameBot L10 Ultra provides up to 60 days of continuous cleaning before the bag needs to be changed. In addition, an advanced filter system firmly traps dust in the dust bag to keep it out of the air. The bag also automatically seals when removed from the base station to prevent leakage or accidental spills, keeping a clean house clean.

With an advanced DualBoost 2.0 auto-empty system, the DreameBot L10 Ultra thoroughly empties the dust bin in seconds while reducing clogging, so you only have to throw away the full dust bag. In connection with the automatic wiping wash with hot air drying, the maintenance of the vacuum and wiping robot is practically hands-free.

DreameBot L10 Ultra is further automated with water features that ensure DreameBot L10 Ultra has enough water to refresh floors throughout the home.

The robot’s state-of-the-art technology allows it to perform a variety of tasks automatically, making it the perfect solution for busy individuals and families who want to maintain a clean home without constant attention. The DreameBot L10 Ultra’s powerful combination of robust vacuuming and mopping with advanced LiDAR navigation allows it to navigate complicated environments to tackle any surface in your home, whether it’s hardwood, tile, vinyl, or carpet.

With market-leading suction power of 5,300 Pa and ultrasonic carpet detection, the DreameBot L10 Ultra raises its mopping pads by 10 mm and boosts suction power on carpets to the maximum to remove deeply embedded dirt and fine dust. When it’s time to mop, the DreameBot L10 Ultra uses its powerful suction, edge-sweeping side brushes, and high-speed rotary mopping to thoroughly scrub and clean floors. Whether you need a thorough household clean or a quick clean before the company comes over, DreameBot L10 Ultra has you covered.

“We at Dreame Technology are very excited to introduce our latest innovation, the DreameBot L10 Ultra, to the US market. We believe it’s a game changer for anyone looking for a more convenient and efficient way to clean. Its advanced automation features and powerful cleaning capabilities make it the perfect companion for busy households, and we’re confident it will transform the way people approach cleaning,” said Dreametech Product Manager, “We can’t wait to see the impact this advanced robot vacuum and mopping is having on the lives of our users and we are proud to be able to offer such an amazing product at an affordable price.”

Dreame plans to launch the DreameBot L10 Ultra on Amazon at a price of $899.99, making it an affordable and accessible device for anyone wanting to experience the benefits of fully automated cleaning. This state-of-the-art product is the perfect choice for anyone looking to improve their cleaning routine, whether they’re busy professionals, time-crunched parents, or just those looking for a high-tech solution to their weekly cleaning routine.

About Dreame Technology

Founded in 2017, Dreame Technology is an innovative consumer products company focused on smart home cleaning appliances with a vision to empower life through technology. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For more information, visit https://www.dreametech.com/

SOURCE Dreame Technology

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