New lighting projects include a reading light over Allamanda’s bedroom heated seating bench:
Another that’s not so obvious, but we changed the fluorescent lights over the dining room buffet to LED:
The look is similar, a little more golden, but since these lights are on 24/7, switching to LED will effect our energy consumption.
You know Pittsburgh’s Taco Truck? James Rich, the owner is looking into a new endeavor, The Taco Boat! He’s currently exploring the idea checking out the health codes, appropriate water craft, etc. He’s hoping to launch it this summer (pun intended). 🙂
A new study out of Duke University found there were 79,000 new jobs created in the solar and wind industries, both direct and spinoff in the last four years. There was 95,000 direct and spinoff new jobs created in the natural gas industry in the same time period, mainly for electric generation. The coal industry lost 49,000 jobs during that time period. A large part of this growth has been driven by the federal push for cleaner energy through incentives that may or may not continue. Another contributing factor is some state mandates that a percentage of renewables be included the power grid. Unfortunately for Appalachia, where most of the lost coal jobs are don’t have state mandates and the terrain and weather aren’t conducive for wind or solar generation. So there’s very little green generation projects there and in the south where they also don’t have state mandates for renewables in their system either. So the job growth is all in the west and northeast.
Phillip Roth’s book American Pastoral is the basis of a new film probably being shot in Ligonier by actor/director (his first) Ewan McGregor this summer. Add that to Cinemax’s 4th season of Banshee that moved filming from North Carolina and the made for TV Sony production of The Outsiders. Films shot in the area being released this year include Me, Earl and the Dying Girl, Southpaw, The Last Witch Hunter, Fathers and Daughters, Love the Coopers and Concussions.
Before the Boiler Makers had their program Guns for a Trade where residents could turn in guns and no questions asked and they would offer to train those that turned in guns the Boiler Makers trade, Stephen Selton started The Trade Institute of Pittsburgh seven years ago training disadvantaged how to be bricklayers. He did this himself in a 20 foot by 50 foot empty boiler room in Wilkinsburg. He’s just moved his program to an old Westinghouse factory in Homewood that is ten times the size. He’s taken around 200 since starting with 100 graduating and 76 with full time bricklaying jobs. With the added space, he intends to expand his 10 week classes of 12 students to 16 students. A few years ago, the Heinz, RK Mellon and Pittsburgh foundations realized the importance of grass roots creation of skills that could give the opportunity to earn living wages and started subsidizing him. He specializes in training ex-cons so they can enter society as an asset.
Spring has sprung and the spring garden sales are all over. Phipps Conservatory is having their 79th annual May Market May 8 & 9 on their front lawn. More info on their website or by calling 412-622-6914. The Greensburg Garden Center is having their annual May Mart May 1 and 2 inside and out their center on Old Salem Road. More info on their website or by calling 724-837-0245. Sewickly’s May Mart will be held May 9 on Broad Street. More info on their website. The Audubon Center for Native Plants will have their sale May 2 at the Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve in Fox Chapel. More info at their website or by calling 412-963-6100. The Indiana Garden Club will have their sale May 15 & 16 at the S & T Bank Arena in White Township. More info at their website or by calling 724-349-8763. West Overton Garden Society’s May Mart will be held May 9 at the West Overton Distillery Museum in Scottdale. More info at their website or by calling 724-640-4180. Dry Ridge Garden Club will have their annual plant sale May 2 in Hempfield. More info at their website or by calling 724-5583457. Penn State Master Gardeners will be hosting sales in Allegheny County, Armstrong County, Butler County, Fayette County, Washington County, and Westmoreland County early May. So anywhere you live in Western Pennsylvania there’s a gardening event to help you gussy up your home.
Speaking of flowers, the tulips I planted last fall are adding a welcome splash of color:
That’s it for day, pretty cool and overcast today, supposed to start clearing up and warming up tomorrow, I’m more than ready. 🙂
ed
