When To Save Or Splurge On Appliances - Bankrate.com

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Whether you’re buying a refrigerator or a clothes dryer, shopping for home appliances can be overwhelming — especially if it’s been years since your last foray. Appliance tags spout features you’ve never heard of and aren’t sure you even need. Add in the choice of size, color, manufacturer, energy efficiency ratings, rebate availability and apps, and it’s enough to confuse anyone.
So which features should you splurge on, and where can you save?
“What it boils down to is for you to know your lifestyle, what’s valuable or important to you,” says Julie Wood, a senior director at General Electric Appliances.
For example, some features that cost more are purely aesthetic, such as stainless steel exteriors. “Stainless steel is more of a premium appearance, and it really is all about style, it’s not about function,” Wood says. For a side-by-side refrigerator, for example, you’ll pay around $200 more for a model in stainless steel, rather than the usual black or white.
When it comes to functionality, though, saving or splurging can make a big difference. Here are tips for shopping for several of the most popular new home appliances.

The process of drying clothes hasn’t changed much since the dryer was invented in the early 1900s. The machine heats up air and blows it through the drum, raising the water temperature in the clothes and removing it (as steam) through a vent. Dryers now come with a wide array of settings, cycles and touchpads, and some offer more features than you really need. That said, some features — like ones that add steam to release wrinkles or sense the remaining moisture to determine the right length of drying cycle — can be worth the added cost.
Washers, on the other hand, have changed a lot from the top-loading agitators of yesteryear. Clothes washers today can be “engineered to stay fresh and clean by using technology to help prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria and eliminate the need for owners to wipe down their machine or leave the door open after each load,” explains Stephanie Greene, a senior manager at GE Appliances. And that’s just one example. Some washers also include a secondary, smaller door to add items you forgot once the cycle is already running or customization options so you can create your ideal wash cycle.
When to save: Unless you really want your laundry appliances to ping your phone when a cycle is finished, you can probably skip the smart (WiFi-enabled) ones, at least for now. And if you’re truly looking to keep costs low, stick with knobs instead of electronic controls. They serve the same function, but you’ll pay 10 percent to 15 percent more for the electronic touchpad, which tells you where you are in the drying cycle. You can still estimate that from the knob position.
When to splurge: It’s worth paying more for high-efficiency washers and dryers up front, because they’ll help you cut utilities bills in the long run. Choosing an ENERGY STAR-rated washer means using 33 percent less water, while an ENERGY STAR-rated dryer uses 25 percent less energy, which can save you hundreds of dollars over the life of the appliance.
Stabilization features can add 10 percent to the dryer’s cost, but that means a quieter machine. A steam feature might also save you money in the long run. It reduces wrinkles, saving the hassle of ironing button-down shirts or other garments you might otherwise send out for professional laundering or dry cleaning. Expect to pay an extra $50 to $100 for a steamer function, says Wood.
Shopping tip: “Consider ergonomics (e.g., front load can be easier to reach into), washer capacity and size based on how much laundry you are doing and where the washer/dryer will be set up in your home,” Greene advises.

When shopping for a stovetop and an oven range, you’ll need to first decide if you want them together or separate. From there, you also need to choose if you want one or two oven cavities and whether you want it built-in or free-standing. You’ll pay extra for the built-in look. If you choose to separate the cooktop and oven, too, you’ll pay more because you’re technically purchasing two separate appliances.
When to save: “Consider how much oven capacity you need based on your lifestyle,” Greene urges. Double-wall ovens are popular for frequent entertainers or big households: It’s nice during holidays to cook a turkey or roast in one oven and side dishes in another. But if the bird only trots out on Thanksgiving, save some money and stick with a freestanding range, with burners on top and an oven below. Some ranges offer two smaller ovens instead of one large one. While more costly than single-cavity ranges, they are often less expensive than built-in units, says David VanderWaal, head of marketing at LG Electronics North America.
If you’ve a choice in fuel, know that gas ranges fall on the lower-cost end of the stove top spectrum. Many cooks prefer gas stoves to electric or induction cooktops, because they feel the open flame gives them more control over the heat, although this type is generally harder to clean.
When to splurge: If you have an electric range and hate the length of time it takes for the coils to heat and cool, choose an induction range. It costs 20 to 30 percent more, but the food cooks faster and it uses less energy. But be careful. Induction relies on magnetic energy transfer, so pots and pans have to be flat-bottomed and made of cast iron or stainless steel. “It does require certain cookware,” says VanderWaal.
Shopping tip: General Electric estimates that 80 percent of all cooking happens on the range versus in the oven. “You’ll see a lot of features there because that’s where people spend more of their time,” says Wood. Look for a design you like that’s easy to clean.

You might not want to heat up your oven for a smaller dish, and you don’t need to. With toaster ovens (aka countertop ovens), you get compact kitchen appliances that can prepare or reheat your food.
When to save: “It’s important for consumers to think about how they live now and how they expect to live in the future to determine what features are best for them,” Greene says. If you only need your toaster oven to reheat some pizza or prep a frozen meal, you can probably opt for a fairly straightforward, no-frills model. This is especially true if you have one full-size oven in your inventory of kitchen appliances.
When to splurge: If you don’t have an oven (here’s to you, studio dwellers), it’s worth spending more to get a countertop oven that can do more for you. Often dubbed “multi-function ovens,” their cooking methods are indeed many: They can toast, proof, roast, bake, broil, dehydrate, air fry, steam, and/or keep your food warm, for example. Some also feature convection cooking or offer specialty settings for foods like bagels, toast and pizza — and many are smart, meaning you can operate them remotely via your phone. It’s worth splurging if any of these features directly align with how you plan to use the appliance.
Shopping tip: There’s no standard size for countertop ovens, so Greene advises, “Consider the countertop space that you have and the oven features that you want.” You might also want to measure the length of the cord since a lot of countertop ovens come with short ones. If you want easy cleaning, choose an appliance with a non-stick coating and a removable crumb tray, too.

Water heaters are rarely a planned purchase: The vast majority of consumers buy them when their current water heater breaks down. Before plunking down your credit card, do some research on this seemingly simple appliance because it uses roughly 20 percent of your home energy — the second-highest home energy hog, behind the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system.
When to save: Most people replace their heaters with a style similar to their old ones. But if the kids have moved out, you may be able to get by with a smaller-capacity (read: less expensive) tank. A gas-powered storage tank will be your most affordable option here.
When to splurge: If you want lower energy bills and can afford to spend a little more, opt for a tankless, heat pump or solar water heater. Plus, while they exist for ENERGY STAR-rated gas storage water heaters, rebates for these more efficient types of water heaters are usually much higher (think: $300 instead of $100).
Shopping tip: Before you go shopping, look for available rebates online: You can use this ENERGY STAR rebate finder to get started. Professionally installing the water heater can cost as much or more than the appliance itself, but it’s probably not feasible for DIYers to do.

When it comes to narrowing down the best fridge, a lot hinges on how much refrigerator storage you actually need. A family of six will want something different than a pair of empty nesters who frequently dine out. Think about what you will store in it, too. A French-door refrigerator — with two doors that open outward and a split in the middle — can hold wide trays and pizza boxes, but a side-by-side cannot.
When to save: “French-door refrigerators are considered the premium of the refrigerator market,” says Wood. And that premium style costs more. If your main concern is just keeping things cold, stick with a side-by-side or top or bottom-freezer unit. Top and bottom freezers are the bread and butter of the industry, with many sizes, fewer bells and whistles and lower prices overall. Side-by-side units still have upscale features, but they’re more economical than a French-door model.
When to splurge: If you’re renovating a kitchen, consider spending about 15 percent more for a counter-depth refrigerator. What you lose in space (7 to 8 inches in depth), you’ll make up for in room flow and aesthetics (an appliance almost flush with the cabinets). “It’s more for someone who is design- or style-focused; it’s more of a high-end appearance,” says Wood. Her colleague Greene also recommends exploring newer quad-door configurations, for the ultimate in organization and storage flexibility — some high-end models have sections that can switch from freezer to regular fridge.
Shopping tip: If kitchen space is tight, pay attention to a refrigerator’s measurement with the door open 90 degrees. Features such as adjustable and split shelves allow more customized storage options.

Every dishwasher has to meet a minimum performance level — national- and state-set standards, says Wood. When you spend more, you’re paying for things such as energy efficiency, upgraded filtration, additional wash arms, rack styles and noise reduction.
When to save: Higher-end dishwashers are integrated, with no buttons on the front. Instead they’re hidden on the door top. This only affects function if you’re prone to leaning on the dishwasher and setting it off. If you’re more careful and don’t mind the look of dishwasher buttons, you’ll save 20 percent by avoiding these models. You can also skip dishwashers with a heated dry cycle to save on your electricity bill. A dishwasher with condensation drying will dry dishes more energy efficiently, or you can simply turn off your dishwasher’s heated dry cycle to slash the electrical cost to run it in half.
When to splurge: If a quiet machine is important to you — you don’t want your dishwasher drowning out conversation or interrupting your sleep — splurge on a dishwasher with a stainless steel interior, which costs 10 percent to 15 percent more. Not only is it quieter than one with a plastic lining, it will be better sealed, smell better and won’t get cuts in the lining. You may also want to explore newer drawer-like dishwashers that pull out from the surrounding counter. Some of these dishwashers feature two separate compartments so you can wash smaller loads of dishes without wasting water and energy.
Shopping tip: Pay attention to the model’s decibel rating — the lower the better, of course. And if you’re looking for a way to keep the cost of running your dishwasher down, the best appliances for you will be ENERGY STAR-certified.
Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. Bankrate is compensated in exchange for featured placement of sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links posted on this website. This compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear. Bankrate.com does not include all companies or all available products.
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Entrepreneurship Is Booming—Here's Why That's Great News - Forbes

Over the last three years entrepreneurship has soared.
In 2021, U.S. small businesses—defined as small businesses with fewer than 500 employees—topped 32.5 million, accounting for 99.9% of all U.S. businesses. Businesses with fewer than 10 employees account for 78.5% of the businesses in the U.S.
Small businesses employ almost half of the U.S. workforce. Entrepreneurs are a vital part of keeping the economy turning. They are the fabric of the global economy. They accelerate economic growth, stimulate innovation, and promote social change.
1. Entrepreneurs accelerate economic growth.
Creating new products and services stimulates employment and accelerates economic development. A large number of entry-level jobs are created by small businesses – small businesses turn unskilled workers into skilled workers. They contribute to new wealth by stimulating economic growth.
2. Entrepreneurs solve problems through innovation.
Entrepreneurship is driven by either necessity—jobs do not exist or are not being created—or lack of opportunity—a niche or market sector is not being filled. Solving problems that existing products or services have not solved is the cornerstone of entrepreneurship. It is driven by innovation.
3. Entrepreneurs drive social change.
More recently, entrepreneurship has a focus on social change. Many of the new technologies and services created through entrepreneurship are created to improve lifestyle. Innovative thinkers are using entrepreneurship to build a more just and sustainable world.
So, what is an entrepreneur? According to Investopedia, an entrepreneur is someone who takes on risk to start their own business based on an idea. It’s scary. And not everyone is cut out to take on those kinds of risks. When you’re starting out there’s an apparent safety net included with a j-o-b. You do the work and you’re paid for the work you do. That’s not the case when you step out on your own. You might work for weeks, months, or even years barely getting by. But what if the jobs don’t exist? What if you start your job only to receive a pink slip due to restructuring? What do you do then?
Young people have more opportunities today than ever before. We’re living in a digitally connected global economy. So, you need to ask yourself: Can I do it? Is entrepreneurship right for me? More and more young people are saying “yes.”
Here’s what you need to know.
1. Entrepreneurs are always on.
In the past, these people were characterized as inherent salespeople, naturally outgoing, with an ability to talk to anyone. That’s not necessarily the case anymore. “On” is defined in new ways. Where before it was all about in-person outreach, today, social media makes it possible for even the most introverted person to tackle outreach. But you must be “on.” Entrepreneurs are always in-tune with what is going on around them – how can their idea succeed while they make money in the process?
2. Entrepreneurs are confident.
Another trait common to entrepreneurs is their confidence – they tend to be more decisive (a huge leadership quality) and they deeply believe in their vision. It’s great to have a cheerleader in your corner, but at the end of the day, you have to believe in yourself to make it happen. True entrepreneurs don’t believe in failure, because everything is an opportunity for growth. That doesn’t mean you can’t wallow for a moment in defeat. It just means while you’re wallowing, you’re innovating.
3. Entrepreneurs never give up.
One thing is common for all entrepreneurs: They do not give up. Serial entrepreneurs might go from one idea to the next, but they’re always going. When they fail, they pick themselves up and try again using different methods or talking to different people. Most entrepreneurs don’t get it right the first time. There’s a romantic idea of tinkering on a project before reaching that “ah ha” moment where it works, and you make lots of money. That’s not the reality. That idea likely went through numerous iterations and that entrepreneur likely heard the word “no” more than once.
We’ve talked a lot about small business and entrepreneurship. But what are the differences? Some sources say no. Small businesses operate on a local level. Entrepreneurs want to disrupt the status quo by bringing an innovative idea to market. The not-so-subtle difference might be that small businesses owners will reach a point of “enough,” but entrepreneurs never reach that point. Two true entrepreneurs of our time include Elan Musk and Jeff Bezos. These men hold the number 1 and 2 spots, respectively, for richest people in the world, yet they continue to innovate. That doesn’t mean that being a small business owner doesn’t take the same guts and stick-to-it attitude of being an entrepreneur or have the same rewards. Because it does. And small business owners are vital to our economic growth.
Whatever you believe, making it on your own takes a lot of courage. But the rewards make the journey with it.


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Movie Producer Sentenced to Over 21 Years for Role in Film Financing Scheme - Department of Justice

Miami, Florida - Yesterday, a federal district judge in South Florida sentenced a 44-year-old former actor and movie producer from Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to 262 months in prison for his role in a financing scheme that defrauded investors out of more than $60 million.  The defendant, Jason Van Eman, also was ordered to pay certain victims over $9 million in restitution.
The sentence comes after a federal jury found Van Eman guilty of conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering in May.
According to the evidence, Van Eman held himself out as a film producer and financier, offering to fund independent motion pictures, Broadway shows, music festivals, and other productions.  Van Eman promised the victims (producers and others seeking financing), that his partner (a co-conspirator named Benjamin McConley) would match any cash that the victims contributed to their projects.  Then, with the combined starting capital (which made the projects more attractive to investors), McConley would apply for and secure financing from financial institutions.
Based on these lies, victims sent over $60 million to accounts controlled by the fraudsters.  Contrary to what Van Eman promised victims, his partner never matched their cash contributions or applied for financing.  Instead, Van Eman and his co-conspirators stole the victims' money by transferring it to their personal and corporate bank accounts, often within days of deposit.  To make the scam more believable, Van Eman and McConley recruited Benjamin Rafael, a bank employee, whose role was to assure victims that their cash contributions had been matched and that their money was secure - neither of which was true.
Van Eman, McConley, and Rafael used the stolen money to purchase luxury automobiles, personal watercraft, real estate, jewelry, home furnishings, designer clothes, hotel accommodations, and private and commercial air travel.  Van Eman used some of the stolen cash to fund movies in which he was cast as an actor.    
Juan Antonio Gonzalez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John J. Bernardo, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Raag Singhal.
FBI Miami Field Division investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Browne and Yisel Valdes prosecuted it.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Stone is handling asset forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 19-cr-20447.
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Injured Coventry Man Rescued While Hiking In New Hampshire Mountains - Patch

BEAN'S GRANT, NH — A Coventry man was rescued Wednesday after suffering an injury while hiking in the mountains of New Hampshire, officials with New Hampshire Fish and Game said.
Around 12:45 p.m., conservation officers were called to Edmands Path in Bean's Grant to help an injured hiker. Michael Haley, 61, was working his way down a steep section of trail when he got hurt, officials said.
Haley and his wife splinted his leg and tried to make it down the trail, but officials said he was unable to continue under his own power. So a rescue team of several conservation officers and volunteers from the Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team came to help.
Officials said the first members of the rescue team made contact with Haley just after 3:00 p.m. An assessment was conducted, and Haley was fitted with a brace that was provided by the rescuers.
With assistance, Haley attempted to continue down the trail. After approximately 50 minutes of slow progress, the decision was made to place Haley in the litter and carry him the rest of the way down the trail.
The rescue team arrived at the trailhead at 5:30 p.m. Haley opted to forgo an ambulance and instead chose to seek medical treatment on his own, officials said.

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New appliances can help keep people in their homes, but upfront costs are a big obstacle - Energy News Network

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Many individuals and households have at least one outdated appliance — a refrigerator, a water heater or a window-mounted air conditioner that they hold onto because of the expense involved with replacing them. Yet the money they save is often more than canceled out by higher utility bills. 
Upgrading outdated appliances can help low-income households stay in their homes by reducing their utility bills — and by extension, lowering their overall housing costs. The money saved can be used toward other necessities such as food or transportation to work or school.
However, it can take years for a new appliance to pay for itself through energy savings. Without incentives, it often simply doesn’t make financial sense for a low-income household to upgrade outdated appliances solely to save on energy bills. This is especially true for renters or homeowners who are unsure about how long they will remain in a given location, or who are unsure about whether they can take new appliances with them when they move. 
The challenge is in bridging the gap to bring the necessary up-front investment in energy-efficient appliances within reach. That’s where organizations like Elevate and Meadows Eastside Community Resource Organization, also known as MECRO, come in. They coordinate resources such as incentives offered by utilities, grants and low-interest loans, and make them available for low-income households to eliminate this dilemma.
Through its headquarters in Chicago’s West Loop, along with offices in downstate Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin, Oregon and California, Elevate works to help homeowners and owners of multifamily units across the country obtain financing to improve the energy efficiency in their homes and buildings. MECRO is located on the busy 79th Street commercial corridor of Chicago’s Southeast Side and focuses its services on residents in the community. (The name Meadows in the MECRO acronym is in honor of Rufus and Everlena Meadows, the parents of Sharon “Sy” Lewis, founder and executive director of MECRO.) 
Through a collaboration with the City of Chicago, ComEd and Elevate, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory utilized its trademarked ResStock tool and place-based data to develop residential energy efficiency strategies for the city’s residential building stock, primarily comprised of bungalows and other single-family homes built before 1942. Through the Chicago Advanced Building Construction project, a series of simulations was executed, which generated up to $49 billion in potential utility bill savings. An especially significant finding was that sizable savings could be achieved through installing heat pumps and other off-the-shelf technologies. 
An old refrigerator uses up to three times as much electricity as a newer, energy-efficient model. Energy-certified clothes dryers use 20% less electricity than a standard dryer. Certified clothes washers require between 40% and 50% less energy and 55% less water to operate than conventional washers. 
Utilities such as ComEd and Ameren in Illinois provide a number of incentives for ratepayers — such as rebates for trade-ins of old appliances — to facilitate the switch for customers to energy-efficient appliances. 
Elevate has a number of funders that provide grants to heavily incentivize or provide upgrades at no cost for homeowners. In addition, in areas where utility incentives aren’t in place, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund can provide financing, according to Jackie Montesdeoca, director of building electrification for Elevate. 
“There are models where we can have a lender include energy efficiency as part of the overall rehab. We do that in the Chicago area, but that’s a model that can be replicated [in other locations]. … The underwriters or the loan officers know that high-efficiency equipment or adding a little more insulation than code requires is going to make that building more resilient [with] lower operating costs, as opposed to a building that didn’t go through those measures in their rehab,” Montesdeoca said. 
According to U.S. Census Bureau data cited in a 2020 report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, utility costs for poor households averaged 8.1% of their income, versus just 2.3% of income spent by more affluent households on utility bills. 
While the lion’s share of these expenditures was for heating and cooling, household appliances accounted for a significant percentage of utility costs as well. 
A comprehensive energy efficiency upgrade that includes replacing outdated appliances can translate to savings of 30% or more, according to Montesdeoca. 
Yet many eligible households remain unaware of these programs, or have the mistaken belief that they do not qualify, according to Lewis.
“One of the things that I really try to push is that all of these programs are available, [but there is a] lack of information. You would think somebody who lives in Beverly” — a middle-class, racially diverse community on Chicago’s far Southwest Side — “wouldn’t be income-eligible and they wouldn’t be suffering from housing insecurity. They are. It does not matter. There are very affluent neighborhoods where people are suffering. You know, it’s a lot when you’re making a hundred thousand dollars, [but] there are eight people in your house,” Lewis said. 
Reducing utility bills by replacing outdated household appliances is a vital tool in enhancing housing affordability through the knock-on effect in freeing up funds that were formerly needed for those bills — funds that can be used for other necessities that enhance overall housing affordability. Even small improvements, such as installing aerators on faucets or converting incandescent lighting to LEDs, can contribute to cumulative money savings, Lewis said. 
“So, with these little aerators people think, oh, that’s just something cute. No, it’s not. It is saving you water. It’s saving you gallons and gallons and gallons of water. Is it impactful? Yes, absolutely. Will it be able to keep more people in their homes? Absolutely. Because this is now an expense that they do not have to pay on their property, that they can invest on their bills, that they can invest in their property,” Lewis said. 
Nonetheless, many would-be beneficiaries find it difficult to justify the expense to replace a functional refrigerator or water heater. A lack of awareness about available incentives also contributes to resistance. It’s often necessary to educate people about how the return on investment combined with available incentives and other resources actually helps them save money in the long run, Montesdeoca said.
“Owners need a clear expectation of estimated savings related to their upfront investment. We work to make the process easy for them and break down costs along with identifying the funding gap. For a lot of small multifamily owners … these owners don’t have a lot of cash flow to play around with. So if we aren’t bringing incentives, grant dollars, or some kind of financing as a resource it is hard to otherwise make that project work. The best scenario is that we can connect the owner to the problem and the financial tools that can help get to solutions,” Montesdeoca said.
Many energy efficiency incentives are geared toward single-family homes, but multi-family building owners and renters also struggle with high utility bills. Energy-efficient upgrades for multifamily units are essential in retaining affordable housing, according to Karen Lusson, staff attorney for the National Consumer Law Center, with offices in Boston and Washington D.C.
“The multifamily building market has always been a larger challenge. With the single family, it’s about reaching the homeowner and convincing the homeowner that this makes sense. Ideally, weatherization [and related] services should be provided at zero cost to the homeowner. In terms of the multifamily building owner, there can be variances in terms of the copays. There can be sliding scale copays for the building owner. But if we’re trying to increase the availability of affordable housing, we want to make sure those incentives are large enough, and those copays aren’t so big that they lose interest, or turn down these opportunities to invest in energy efficiency,” Lusson said.
Both ComEd and Ameren provide incentives for energy-efficient appliances for multifamily units as well as for single-family homes — working in Chicago and surrounding communities in collaboration with organizations like Elevate and MECRO.
Marcia Ellis is the owner of a six-unit property in Chicago’s New City community area located on the city’s Southwest Side. The legacy building, which was constructed in 1924, has been in the family since 1984. Ellis received a free energy assessment through Elevate, a loan through Community Investment Corporation and $44,697 in incentives from ComEd and Peoples Gas Energy Efficiency Programs to cover the cost of lighting retrofits, roof and pipe insulation, bathroom and kitchen aerators, LED lighting, a new high-efficiency boiler and other improvements. The return on investment? An estimated $2,380 in estimated annual savings, not to mention happy tenants. 
MECRO worked with a senior in the community to improve the energy efficiency of her 100-year-old three-flat. Along with weatherstripping, insulation and replacement doors, the dwelling was fitted out with all-new appliances in each unit, according to Lewis. 
“She gets three new air conditioners. … And she’s got a freezer in the basement that you could put a body in. It’s not energy efficient. She got a brand-new freezer. She got a stove and a refrigerator for three units, and a deep freezer. And she had her grandson’s college refrigerator. It’s not energy efficient. So, she got one of those. She got a new furnace and a new water heater. So, every appliance in her house is energy efficient. 
“I visit her from time to time. You can tell the difference. You can literally tell the difference,” Lewis said.
And while making the conversion from gas or other carbon-based heating fuels to electric increases overall electric bills, making the switch can make up the difference by eliminating a gas bill altogether, according to Emma Baumgart, senior associate for communications at Elevate. 
“With electrification [there] is the added benefit of having no gas bill. And especially in Chicago, People’s Gas has high fixed costs on your bill, where even if you’re not using any gas, you still are paying that monthly charge. And so that’s an added benefit of going fully electric. You still have fixed costs on your electric bill, but it’s just one instead of two. So obviously your electric bill goes up when you are converting to all electric, but by completely removing that fixed cost is another way that electrification can help with affordability,” Baumgart said. 
For Lewis, a lifetime resident of Chicago’s Southeast Side, her work with MECRO in enabling residents to remain in their homes represents one way of investing in the well-being and stability of the community she calls home.
“Those things that impact the quality of life, impact how low-income housing exists in our community and how people are able to stay in their places and live comfortably,” Lewis said.
Audrey is an independent writer and researcher based in the greater Chicago area with advanced degrees in sociology and law from Northwestern University. She specializes in sustainability in the built environment, culture and arts, policy, and related topics. Her work has been featured in Wallpaper magazine, the Chicago Reader, Chicago Architect magazine, Next City, Transitions Abroad, Belt Magazine and other consumer and trade publications. Her coverage focuses on environmental justice and equity.
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by Audrey Henderson, Energy News Network
June 21, 2022
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Gear Of The Year: The best new guitars, pedals and amps of 2021 - Guitar.com

The best guitars, amps, pedals and more from another fantastic year for the guitar industry.
The ongoing pandemic has impacted the guitar industry in myriad ways, and here at the tail end of 2021 we’re still feeling the effects of that. On the positive side, the enforced downtime of 2020 led to a huge explosion of people picking up guitar for the first time, or coming back to the instrument leading to a demand for guitars, amps and effects that shows no sign of stopping – leading one industry analyst to declare that for guitar brands, “current prospects are brighter than during the post-Beatles era”.
If that’s the exciting stuff, then the flipside is that many brands are still trying to get back up to speed following the enforced closure of factories and workshops all over the world in 2020, something that has been compounded by the global supply chain crisis of 2021. Across the industry, order books are full, and even the biggest brands are struggling to keep up – in March, even Fender admitted that it was struggling to keep up with the demand for its beginner and intermediate guitars.
Which is all to say that it’s been another strange year for guitar, but a hugely exciting one with it. Despite the challenges and obstacles presented to them, the guitar industry has responded with fantastic innovation and creativity over the last 12 months. Whether that’s conversation-starting acoustic guitars, revolutionary new developments in the worlds of effects and modelling, or further refinements to some of the most iconic guitars ever made, 2021 has defied the odds to deliver some game-changing gear for us to get our teeth into – here’s our pick of the very best of it.

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Friends of Bixby Park arts and crafts fair will raise money for Ukraine - Signal Tribune

A colorful and artful celebration held at Bixby Park in Long Beach will not only honor Ukrainian refugees, but also provide direct aid to the men, women and children directly affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 
The biannual arts and craft fair is hosted by the Friends of Bixby Park, a community-led organization that regularly hosts events for people in the city to gather, celebrate and connect at one of the oldest parks in Long Beach. This year’s fair marks the first in-person arts and crafts fair hosted by the organization since the COVID-19 pandemic began. 
On Sunday, May 22, artists from throughout the city will be selling original pieces as local businesses raffle off gift certificates, all with the common goal of providing aid to Ukrainian refugees. Those attending will be entertained by hand-selected local artists. 
While the primary goal of the Friends of Bixby Park is to support all things Long Beach, president Ketty Citterio, 53, felt compelled to think bigger after attending a vigil held for Ukrainian refugees in Belmont Shore in late March.
Citterio seized the opportunity to make a difference, connecting with each organization present at the vigil. She then chose three groups that she vetted herself to help with the crisis in Ukraine. 
The groups that will benefit from the fair include Citadel Cherkasy, non-profit Grandkids and From People to People, all of which have pledged to send all money to Ukraine. 
“[The groups] are lobbying and collecting money that they send directly to people there [in Ukraine],” Citterio said. “There are people there who are actually doing it so it’s not going to the UN or some other organization.” 
Baskets of goodies and gift certificates will be donated by some of the best Long Beach has to offer. Restaurants that donated include Portfolio, Breakfast Bar, The Attic, Wild Chive and Gallagher’s, to name a few. 
The arts and crafts fair will also feature pieces from artists throughout the city, from seniors living in the Long Beach Arts Colony, students at Long Beach City College and people holding their own art classes looking for business. 
Citterio explained that in the spirit of helping other communities, she has either waived or “dramatically lowered” the vendor fees and booth fees so more people can participate in Sunday’s event. 
The fair will be held at Bixby Park at 130 Cherry Ave. in Long Beach on Sunday, May 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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