Cold Storage Facilities Announced by Ag Minister

by Peak Positions

Article originally appeared in the Angola Press

Construction will begin next year of a cold storage warehouse to help aid in the conservation of products, announced the minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, Afonso Pedro Canga, Caxito, northern Bengo province earlier this week. Cold storage or Walk-in Coolers will preserve produce.

Afonso Canga said the initiative is due to the fact that there is a large number of agricultural and animal producers. He said the cold store or Cold Storage Warehouses will help to revitalize the fishing industry and increase fish production in the region.

The minister noted that at this time are the foundation for achieving results and satisfactory levels of production. He also noted an intention to implement an agro-industrial sector in the provinces of Benguela and Namibe.

New Finish Introduced for Kitchen Appliances

Story first reported on USA Today

On Monday, Whirlpool introduced a new premium exterior finish that they call “White Ice.” With clean lines, silver accents and streamlined controls, the new collection’s refrigerator, range, dishwasher, and microwave are a departure from the flash and glitz of stainless steel and its many lookalikes. In fact, the combination of a white finish, stainless handles and mirrored glass appear to have a lot in common with Apple’s popular design language.

The streamlined new look combines with simplified features that Whirlpool says will make the appliances easier to use. “In addition to the intuitive technology, the line takes a fresh look at appliance design and features flawless exteriors that add beauty to any home,” said Pat Schiavone, Whirlpool’s VP of Global Consumer Design.

Because the whole suite of appliances have such a unique style that’s exclusive to one manufacturer, it’s a safe bet that Whirlpool is hoping customers will upgrade their entire kitchen instead of taking a piecemeal approach.

Whirlpool seems to be aiming their new finish at customers who have grown weary of stainless and its numerous imitators. Indeed, the manufacturer says the new finish is “signifying a shift in the culture of home appliances.” Because it’s essentially an update of the classic white exterior, White Ice may appeal to consumers who are bored by stainless but also don’t want their kitchens to look dated. For Whirlpool, it’s an attempt to appeal to homeowners in a bottomed-out housing market, where renovating is less about increasing resale value and more about appealing to an individual’s own tastes.

Before the recession, investors looking to flip a house for profit wanted to install upscale finishes that could cheaply and easily update the look of a home. So from the HGTV-era onward, the most popular kitchens have combined granite countertops along with stainless steel appliances. Go to any home improvement store and you’ll be sure to see rows upon rows of fridges and dishwashers with stainless steel and stainless-style exteriors. Even walk in coolers and walk in freezers for commercial use sport stainless-styles.

It wasn’t always that way, and all it takes is a look at classic sitcoms to see how far kitchens have come. If I Love Lucy were in color, the Ricardo’s kitchen likely would’ve had pastel finishes alongside white and stainless. Along with shows like Maude and Soap, the ’70s and early ’80s brought in earth tones, like avocado, harvest gold and almond. Later on, white and bisque became popular — even on the upscale appliances that Geoffrey tended to in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

In addition to the modern White Ice, there are several other alternative finishes available on premium appliances. Smeg, an Italian company, builds retro-looking fridges that could easily be mistaken for your grandmother’s Norge. They’re available in a whole rainbow of shades, from bright yellow to deep purple. AGA, a British manufacturer, puts hard vitreous enamel surfaces in a variety of different colors on their ovens and dishwashers. Whirlpool’s own Amana division also introduced a series of colorful refrigerators in 2009, including an exterior called Green Tea which features a floral motif.

The new White Ice refrigerator, range, dishwasher and microwave will be on display at New York City’s Rockefeller Plaza this week for House Beautiful magazine’s Kitchen of Year event.

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Temperatures Cause Second Death, Opening of Cooling Centers

Story first reported from baltimoresun.com

After a week of cooler temperatures, the hot weather is back in Harford County, prompting medical calls and the opening of cooling centers.

Since Sunday, local emergency services personnel responded to four heat-related illness calls, according to Rick Ayers, of the Emergency Operations Center.

In addition, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is reporting a second heat-related death in the county, a man between 45 and 64 years old.

Harford County Health Department spokesperson Bill Wiseman confirmed Thursday the man was 64 years old and had a history of underlying medical problems, including asthma and heart disease.

This follows a nearly two-week heat wave that resulted in one heat-related death in the county and 13 medical calls.

With the two deaths, Wiseman emphasized that excessive heat conditions be taken seriously especially for the young and elderly and people taking medications or with chronic illnesses.

For further information on heat illnesses, Wiseman directed people to the health department website, http://www.harfordcountyhealth.com under the "H" section. Also, the public should try visiting area businesses with Walk In Coolers to find respite.

In anticipation of temperatures reaching 105 degrees Wednesday, the Harford County government again designated public libraries as cooling centers.

Another break in the heat is expected, with the National Weather Service predicting temperatures in the low 80s for the upcoming weekend.

Coupled with the high temperatures earlier in the week, the county is also experiencing a dry spell. As of June 30, Harford has been in a Maryland Department of Environment "drought watch" status, according to Jacqueline Ludwig, of the county division of water and sewer.

"In particular to Harford County, the streams and creeks are mostly below average and continuing to fall," she wrote in an e-mail.

Even with the drought-like conditions, the county is prepared and does not use those streams for water supply, according to Ludwig. Instead, the county's main source of water is from the Baltimore reservoir system and the Susquehanna River, she added.

The county also has three water treatments and sources in operation to meet "anticipated summer demands," Ludwig wrote.

Other locations in the county are not as fortunate, including Aberdeen Proving Ground's Edgewood area. On July 8, the federal government asked the county to start supplying the Edgewood Area with water because of low stream flow, Ludwig said.

She expects APG to remain on the county system into the fall when the streams start to replenish.

Maryland American Water Company, which serves the town of Bel Air, and the City of Aberdeen, its watching its water sources, but has not contacted the county, according to Ludwig.

If the dry spell persists, Ludwig added that a request for back-up water from Maryland American Water is likely.

No water restrictions have been put on county residents.

"At this time, the county has ample capacity and is currently not imposing mandatory water conservation, however we always encourage our customers and citizens to use water wisely," Ludwig wrote.

Wiseman also added there have been no calls in about private wells being affected by the dry spell, but that people should take "reasonable measures to conserve water."

In addition to the lower temperatures, the National Weather Service forecast also shows a chance of thunderstorms and showers into Saturday. If the heat holds up, however, businesses with Walk In Freezers may see a jump in sales.

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