Jessica's Press Releases

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

One in Three Americans Who Will Take a Summer Vacation Haven't Started Planning Yet

As summer approaches, a new study reveals that more than a third (36 percent) of Americans who intend to take a summer vacation haven't even started planning yet. HomeAway® commissioned the survey of 1,004 adults, which showed a split between planners and procrastinators. About one in three Americans (35 percent) who plan to travel are booked and ready to go, and 29 percent have started planning but haven't booked. Click here to read the latest news.

"The research shows there are millions of people out there who want to get away but haven't figured out where or when. Let's get going!" said Melanie Fish, family travel expert at HomeAway. "Americans are doing a better job of using their vacation time than in the past but have a way to go in taking advantage of summer when school is out and the beach is calling. Fortunately, since there are more than two million places to stay on HomeAway.com, there is still availability even in the most popular beach destinations."

HomeAway - a site to book beach houses, cabins, condos and more, worldwide - offers hacks for travelers who need help getting started:

For last-minute planners, filter the available properties on HomeAway.com to see only places offering instant confirmation. The experience is more like booking a hotel, with no wait for an owner to approve the request. HomeAway hack: Narrow the search even more by scrolling to properties that have the premier partner badge on them. That means the owner has a track record of providing quick, good customer service.

For planners on the move, use the HomeAway app to browse while waiting in the carpool line or for a conference call to start. HomeAway hack: Keep track of the properties by "hearting" them, and text or email links immediately to fellow travelers for quick decision making.

For those who waited too long to snag a spot in a super popular area, expand the search. If the house right on the beach is no longer available, move the map to see the closest available places. HomeAway hack: The HomeAway app lets you draw a circle on a map and will create a list of available properties in that area. Read here.

For first-time renters, make sure to book through a reputable site, whether it's HomeAway.com or VRBO.com. Paying through the site activates protections and gives access to 24/7 customer service. HomeAway hack: If renters have a complaint about the vacation home when upon arrival, they should contact the property manager immediately. If the owner or property manager doesn't fix the problem, renters should call HomeAway customer service before spending any time in the house.

About the Study
Findings are from an Ipsos poll conducted May 11 - 14, 2018, on behalf of HomeAway. For the survey, 1,004 adults ages 18 and older from the U.S. Were interviewed online, in English. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of ±3.5 percentage points for all respondents surveyed.

About HomeAway
HomeAway, based in Austin, Texas, is a leading online marketplace for the vacation rental industry with sites representing more than 2 million unique places to stay in 190 countries, and is a part of the Expedia Group family of brands. For more information about HomeAway, please visit http://www.homeaway.com.

All information are taken from the news source. We do not promise anything nor take any responsibility for anything the news owner claim. We just share the news as is. You can contact news owner directly in the message for more information.

Common Workplace Items May be Hazardous to Your Pets

Businesses around the globe will open their doors to employees' canines to celebrate the great companions dogs make and to promote pet adoptions on Friday, June 22— the 20th annual celebration of Take Your Dog To Work Day®(TYDTWDay®). Event creator Pet Sitters International (PSI) encourages pet owners to do a "safety sweep" of their workplaces to ensure all hazardous items are out of paws' reach before bringing their dogs. Read all the related news.

"Everyday items found in workspaces, breakrooms and supply closets can pose a threat to dogs," explained Beth Stultz, PSI vice president and TYDTWDay spokesperson. "Taking just a few moments to ensure potentially hazardous items are not accessible ensures that dogs can have a fun and safe time when accompanying their owners to work." Read here.

These items, potentially found in breakrooms or community kitchens, can pose a threat:

If these items may be present, pet owners should ensure their dogs cannot access food that may be left in the refrigerator or on the counters—or leftovers that may be thrown away.

Other common workplace items that could pose a hazard to dogs include:

"A good rule of thumb is to designate bathrooms, breakrooms and on-site cafes or kitchens as off-limits to dogs in the office," said Stultz.

PSI has partnered with 2018 TYDTWDay sponsor Embrace Pet Insurance to offer pet owners a helpful infographic that highlights common workplace items that are hazardous to dogs.

Embrace Pet Insurance allows employees to bring dogs to the office throughout the year and has found that implementing simple policies ensures a positive, safe environment for employees and their pets.

"We have an open office environment at Embrace Pet Insurance, so we ask employees to keep their dog in their gated department while they are working. The dog should not roam free in the office and should be escorted by the pet parent if out and about in the office," said Dawn Pyne, brand manager at Embrace. "Having dogs at work has been a positive experience for Embrace, and we truly believe having dogs at work improves productivity and morale."

For more tips to ensure a successful, safe Take Your Dog To Work Day and to learn more about the event's history, creator and 2018 sponsors, visit http://www.petsit.com/takeyourdog. PSI also offers a free downloadable Take Your Dog To Work Day Toolkit, which includes a sample dog-friendly work policy, at http://www.petsit.com/toolkit.

About Pet Sitters International: Founded in 1994 by Patti J. Moran, author of Pet Sitting for Profit, Pet Sitters International (PSI) is the world's largest educational association for professional pet sitters, with member pet-sitting businesses in the United States, Canada and more than 20 other countries. PSI created Take Your Dog To Work Day® in 1999 to celebrate the great companions dogs make and promote their adoptions. PSI's Pet Sitter Locator is the largest online directory of professional pet sitters, and pet owners can visit petsit.com/locate to find local professional pet sitters.

mStoner, Inc. and Clients Win Six Communicator Awards

With thousands of entries received from across the United States and around the world, the Communicator Awards is one of the largest and most competitive awards programs honoring creative excellence by communications professionals. Be alert to read related news.

Wheaton College and Johnson & Wales University both received top marks and the highest honor, the Communicator Award of Excellence, in their respective education and university categories. Wheaton received an additional Award of Excellence for Aesthetic Visual Appeal.

Three Communicator Awards of Distinction were given to Colburn School, Mills College, and St. John Fisher College in the School/University category.

"I'm proud of the design, which has taken our site from looking dated and cramped to looking modern and open," said Rebecca Larson, director of web communications at Wheaton College. "We have a much larger toolbox of visual ways to display content, all of which work well on mobile devices."

"mStoner was a true partner in the website development process from beginning to end," said Judy Silva, associate vice president of marketing at Mills College. "And we're working with them now for our next phase of development. Their entire team excelled at client service and creative problem-solving. ... We worked with the company's leadership throughout the entire process, and they were genuinely invested in our organization's challenges and long-term success."

About mStoner
mStoner, Inc. is a digital-first creative agency. We craft powerful, tailored, human-centric experiences to illuminate your brand and allow you to tell the story only you can tell. We connect you with the right audience at the right time so you can form right-fit relationships. We position your team for improved productivity, sustainable growth, internal alignment, and proof-positive success. And we aim to make your job fun again and help you create inspired work that you are proud to show off. Since 2001, we've worked with more than 350 colleges, universities, and professional schools in the U.S. and abroad. For much more, visit our website at mStoner.com.

Scriptel Launches 3-Tiered Support: Enterprise, Premium, Standard

Keeping pace with technology while minimizing downtime can be a challenge. Yet, Scriptel Corporation is reversing that trend. More info here.

The leader in digitizing technology solutions recently launched a three-tiered Extended Support Agreement program, helping organizations worldwide stay steps ahead of the competition and seamlessly adjust to rapid changes within their respective industries.

"Scriptel hardware and software end users around the world have a distinct need to achieve and maintain a 'zero failure' rate," says Scriptel President & CEO Stephan Herron. "With our tiered support packages, they get the exact level of service and support they want and need—when they want and need it most.

"That enhances UX internally, enhances our clients' ability to deliver an exceptional user experience for their own clientele, and minimizes downtime overall."

As health care agencies transition to fully electronic health record (EHR) systems, an increasing number of back-office computer systems and networks are then tasked with operating in sync—so that they continue to perform well, in tandem with one another.

Health organizations and hospitals deploying multiple Scriptel signature pads will benefit most from the highest level of support: Enterprise. Sophisticated IT installations like theirs often require use of Citrix, VMware or both. Enterprise users get priority access to Scriptel's technical team, during periods of critical need, and additional software utilities.

"With a range of technologies to oversee and manage already," adds Herron, "in-house health IT staff feel understandably overwhelmed. Our trio of Extended Support programs solves that problem, by making sure everything goes off without a hitch. If those systems fail to 'play nicely' together, our new options ensure minimal downtime."

Scriptel's Extended Support Agreements give business users of its rugged, reliable eSignature capture pad hardware and handwriting recognition software solutions three robust, time-saving options to choose from:

Standard—the best in the industry

Premium—when uptime is important

        + Registration/Certification of related systems
        + Unlimited Remote Support 8am-5pm ET
        + Priority service beyond Standard levels
        + Physical Simulation Setup, as needed

Enterprise—mission-critical support for mission-critical systems

        + Designated Key Engineers (Primary/Ba ckup)
        + On-Site Support for complex problems
        + Software Customization via coding
        + Free Scriptel Utility Software

Scriptel electronic signature solutions are proven to streamline patient registration, document management, and information security for improved UX at every level.

Since 1982, Scriptel has been the leader in capacitive pen and other digital workflow technologies. It has deployed more than 3 Million paperless technology solutions worldwide in clinical care, Point-of-Sale (POS), and other dynamic environments. Its no-scratch, glass-surface ScripTouch electronic signature pads, Sign and Save software packages, and custom OEM components deliver high reliability backed by Industry Best service and unrivaled technical support. Read related news here.

Ready to upgrade to the Premium or Enterprise levels? Email Sales(at)Scriptel.com. Not a customer yet? Request a 30 Day Risk-Free Trial by calling (877) 848-6824. Need help with an existing product? Contact (844) 972-7478 or Support(at)my.Scriptel.com.

Learn more at Scriptel.com.

SCRIPTEL CORPORATION leads the way by advancing rugged, reliable eSignature and signature capture technology. Our Citrix Ready, plug-and-play hardware and software solutions make easy work of document signing, electronic recordkeeping and practice management in Dental, Healthcare, Retail, Tax Prep and other dynamic environments. Click here to read the latest news.

Scriptel (est. 1982) has a history of leading through innovation, bringing the first peripheral to mimic superior pen input on an LCD screen to market. Today we produce and provide unmatched support for a full suite of ScripTouch® signature pad and workflow products, including EasyScript™, ProScript™ and mSign®.

Scriptel is based in Columbus, Ohio, and has deployed more than 3 Million products worldwide. Which of our hardware and software solutions best suit your needs? Find out! Request a 30-Day, Risk-Free Trial at Scriptel.com. Read all the related news.

Copyright © 2018. Scriptel®, ScripTouch®, Assist™, EasyScript™, mSign®, OmniScript™, ProScript™, StaticCap™, and Sign and Save™, along with their associated logos, are the property of Scriptel Corporation.

Monday, May 21, 2018

Mosquito Control Tips from Giroud Tree and Lawn Include Organic Treatments and Clean-up of Mosquito Hot Spots in the Yard to Protect from Itchy Bites and Deadly Illnesses

Mosquito control is essential between now and October to protect family and pets from itchy bites and other dangerous illnesses like the Zika virus. Giroud Tree and Lawn provides Mosquito Control strategies homeowners can use to prevent mosquito bites and make the yard a "No Itch Zone."

"The first step in mosquito control is to know where mosquitoes thrive and hide," says Lou Giroud, President of Giroud Tree and Lawn and ISA Certified Arborist. "The most important control points are outdoor gathering and play spaces as well as Hot Spots like foliage, vegetation areas, mulch beds, buildings, porches, eaves, decks and patios."
To ensure child and pet safety, a 100% Organic Mosquito Control Program works best. Giroud's treatments are made from essential oils including Peppermint and Cedar oils which are a natural repellent. As an added benefit, these treatments also protect against ticks and nuisance pests like fleas, gnats and ants. Read this for more information.

Mosquito control requires more than just a spray here or there. Giroud recommends a comprehensive approach that starts with a professional inspection:

1. Risk Assessment: Ask a professional to do a comprehensive inspection that includes identifying mosquito hot spots and developing a customized Mosquito Control Program.

2. Best Timing for Treatment: Mosquito populations skyrocket as the weather gets warmer. Mosquito Control treatments should be done every 3 weeks especially during the warmest months from late Spring through early Fall. Additional treatments may be required for properties with unusually high mosquito populations.

3. 100% Organic Mosquito Control: To be successful, mosquitoes must be controlled where they hide which is typically any dark, moist environment or dense vegetation. For safety and effectiveness, a 100% Organic treatment should be used for:

4. Remove or Empty Objects that Collect Water: Mosquitoes need water. The inspection will identify areas where water collects that must be removed, emptied frequently or treated. Recommendations may include: old tires, buckets, plastic covers, or any other container.

5. Prune or Remove Overgrown Vegetation: Mosquitoes are shade lovers. Shady habitats should be minimized in two ways. First, cleaning up and/or clearing overgrown areas. Second, pruning tree branches and shrubs around the lawn edge to let in more sunlight.
For more information on mosquito control actions contact Giroud Tree and Lawn at 215-682-7704 or go to: https://www.giroudtree.com/mosquito-control.

About Giroud Tree and Lawn
Giroud Tree and Lawn specializes in tree service, lawn care and mosquito and tick control programs that make customers love doing business with the company since 1974. Serving Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties, the company offers professional tree and lawn evaluation, tree pruning, tree removal, insect and disease control, fertilizing, stump removal, traditional and 100% organic lawn programs and mosquito and tick control. Giroud Arborists are certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and have the knowledge and experience required to properly diagnose, treat and maintain trees and lawn health. The company is Accredited by the Tree Care Industry Association and Better Business Bureau. Giroud has also been awarded the Angie's List Super Service Award® every year since 2005. The "Giroud Treework for Charity" program donates free tree care services to parks, historical sites and other non-profit organizations located in the Company's service area. For more information, visit the company website at http://www.giroudtree.com or call 215-682-7704.

iRel8 Poised for Rapid Growth with Expanded Functionality, New Partnerships, and Acceptance into the Microsoft for Startups

iRel8 will provide its app to the City of Lakewood, CO, Denver Dream Center, and the State of Colorado's 18th Judicial District. These new partners serve different populations and complement the recently announced partnership with the Green Beret Association, who provides immediate and ongoing support and assistance to U.S. Special Forces community and their families. The recent acceptance of iRel8 into the Microsoft for Startups program provides several important technical advantages to increase speed-to-market for new innovations as well as an industry-best infrastructure to handle rapid growth.

The City of Lakewood is forward thinking and inspired a First Responder version of iRel8. First responders face tremendously stressful life and death events frequently and often carry the burden of these situations inside, which can lead to a negative impact on their mental wellbeing. iRel8's confidential platform gives first responders a safe place where they can share experiences with their peers and get, or give, advice. "The City of Lakewood is focused on thoughtful leadership by taking proactive measures towards reinforcing mental wellness. We are excited to work with iRel8 on their innovative platform to support first responders," said Cory Peterson, Organizational Development and Risk Manager of The City of Lakewood. For more information visit: https://www.lakewood.org Read here.

Another important population that needs immediate help are individuals living with extremely difficult life challenges including those moving from incarceration into everyday society. The Denver Dream Center strives to reconnect people who have been isolated by poverty, substance abuse, gangs, imprisonment, abuse, and neglect. "The Denver Dream Center serves families and individuals in the Denver community to restore hope and assist in rebuilding lives. Having access to iRel8's platform is a much needed resource for our staff and the people we serve," stated Kristin Brooks, GratiGive Program Director for the Denver Dream Center. For more information visit: https://www.denverdreamcenter.org/

The core functionality of iRel8 focuses on providing an anonymous, peer-to-peer platform where users can help and heal, much like anonymous, in-person recovery groups have done for decades, but in a confidential and immediately accessible format – people's smartphones. For users, the technology allows anonymity, which encourages open dialogue without fear of the stigma often associated with mental health needs. IRel8 also maintains strict terms of use ensuring conversations are safe and appropriate. For more information visit: https://irel8.org Read all the latest news.

Grid Investments Totaling as Much as $500 Billion Challenged by Clean Energy Technologies According to a New Rocky Mountain Institute Report

Yet advances in renewable energy and distributed energy resources (DERs) offer lower rates and emissions-free energy while delivering all the grid reliability services that new power plants can, according to a new Rocky Mountain Institute report, The Economics of Clean Energy Portfolios.

According to the analysis, in addition to beating proposed gas-fired power plants on a levelized cost basis, "clean energy portfolios" of renewables and DERs will also increasingly threaten the profitability of existing gas plants.

The fleet of operating power plants that convert fossil fuels like coal and natural gas to electricity is aging, with over half of US generation capacity more than 30 years old and expected to reach retirement age by 2030. Encouraged by advances in power plant technology and historically low natural gas prices, developers and power producers, including utilities and merchant generators, have announced plans to invest over $110 billion in new gas-fired power plants through 2025. Extrapolating this trend to 2030 suggests that over $500 billion will be required to replace all retiring power plants with new natural gas-fired capacity. This will lock in another $480 billion in fuel costs and 5 billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions through 2030, and up to 16 billion tons of emissions through 2050—about half of total global emissions in 2017, according to the International Energy Agency.

Amid this "rush to gas," renewable energy technologies, including wind and solar, and DERs, such as batteries, have fallen precipitously in price in the past 10 years. And developer and grid-operator experience with these resources has demonstrated their ability to provide all of the grid services typically provided by fossil-fueled power plants. Together, these technologies can be combined into clean portfolios of energy resources that can provide the same services as power plants, often at net cost savings, according to The Economics of Clean Energy Portfolios report.

"Renewables and DERs are outcompeting and beginning to capture market share from natural gas-fired generation in many parts of the country, including both peaking capacity as well as higher-efficiency, combined-cycle plants," Mark Dyson, a principal at RMI and an author of the report, said. "The consequences of continuing a business-as-usual approach—building new gas generation when clean energy technologies are increasingly winning the day—promises to negatively impact customers, investors, and the environment through higher energy costs, the risk of stranded assets and greater carbon and air emissions."

The report analyzes four natural gas-fired power plants currently proposed for construction across the US and compares them with optimized, region-specific clean portfolios of renewable energy and DERs that can provide the same services. The analysis includes two announced combined-cycle gas turbine power plants, planned for high capacity-factor operation, and two announced combustion-turbine power plants, planned for peak-hour operation. In three of the four cases, an optimized clean energy portfolio would cost 8–60% less than the announced power plant. In only one case the analysis finds the net cost of the optimized clean energy portfolio is slightly (~6%) greater than the proposed power plant. Factoring in expected further cost reductions in distributed solar and/or a $7.50/ton price on CO2 emissions, all four cases show that an optimized clean energy portfolio is more cost-effective and lower in risk than the proposed gas plant.

The Economics of Clean Energy Portfolios report was released at Greentech Media's GTM Forum: Energy Storage vs. Gas event in New York today.

About Rocky Mountain Institute
Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)—an independent nonprofit founded in 1982—transforms global energy use to create a clean, prosperous, and secure low-carbon future. It engages businesses, communities, institutions, and entrepreneurs to accelerate the adoption of market-based solutions that cost-effectively shift from fossil fuels to efficiency and renewables. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing. Be alert to the latest news.

Media Inquiries please contact:
Nick Steel, Tel: +1 347-574-0887, Email: nsteel(at)rmi(dot)org