Sales of plants and bulbs are skyrocketing across the UK, especially for ones that healing properties, numbers show.
Customers who shop at Gardening Express can’t get enough of medicinal plants such as echinacea, gingko, sambucus and green tea, the online store told the Guardian. Sales of echinacea alone increased by almost 3,000 percent over last year.
At Patch, also an online marketplace, sales have jumped by 500 percent during lockdown. And the DIY chain Homebase reported a 45 percent spike in fruit and vegetable plants compared to last year.
“Grow-your-own edible plants have seen huge interest,” said Guy Barter, the Royal Horticultural Society’s chief horticulturalist. “Over 3.5 million people have taken up gardening for the first time and there have been shortages of seeds and plants.”
Barter credited the keen interest to Brits simply having more time on their hands, being indoors more and wanting to make the best of their gardens.
“Gardening is also a comfort in troubling times,” he said.
The old saying goes, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” This particularly applies to the reigning Mrs. Hawaii Beauty Pageant winner, a Greeley native.
Adriane Flower, 43, is not the average beauty queen. The pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit nurse grew up on the Front Range where she trained horses, raised chickens and attended the Greeley Stampede. Beauty pageants were not exactly in her wheelhouse.
But an unhealthy marriage, a 3,200-mile move, two decades of volunteer work and a stroke led her the Mrs. Hawaii title — one that means more to her than just the recognition. It was a chance to find herself again and become the person her younger self needed.
“Would I have ever thought over 20 years later, I’d be in a pageant and in this position? Absolutely not,” said Flower, a Greeley West and University of Northern Colorado alumna. “Now I have a chance to be here and be a role model for so many; not just for the youth in Hawaii but for the youth back home in Colorado.”
‘It feels like 100 years’
Most of Flower’s memories of Northern Colorado bring her happiness.
Her parents, Dr. Thomas and Cass Flower, said she took dance classes, rode horses, played soccer and loved her variety of pets. She even participated in snow sledding on the UNC campus.
After graduation, Flower worked for a hospital in Sterling. The plan was to train horses as her “main gig” and work as a nurse on the side, but an unsafe marriage ended her time in Greeley.
Flower, who admitted she experienced suicidal thoughts, left the 48 contiguous states after the relationship ended at age 23.
“‘I don’t want to open up the paper one day and see your obituary. You need to run and you need to run as far as you can,’” Flower recalled her therapist telling her. “I packed up, gave myself a month, and I came to Hawaii. I literally just left.”
Flower moved to Hawaii almost 21 years ago without a job, housing, transportation or loved ones waiting for her. She found a job shortly after arriving and built a new life.
She married her second husband (Rediet), has a son (Joseph) and added a cat (Echo) to the family. Most of her work focused on helping others receive quality health care, while keeping children and families safe through preventative training and accessible resources.
Flower spent time working in Denver after 9/11 and worked two jobs — one in Hawaii and one at the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital — from 2007 to 2009. Aside from those brief stints, however, Hawaii has been her home.
Typically, Flower’s family visits once a year and she travels to Colorado during the summer, but COVID-19 halted their travel plans and changed her own life as a nurse. Flower has relied on her husband and fellow health care workers through all the highs and all the lows she’s faced.
“I feel like I’ve lived 100 years over the last 20,” Flower said.
From a stroke to a sash
An acquaintance approached Flower in 2016 about participating in the Mrs. Hawaii pageant — it focuses mostly on a woman’s family, career and any charity work she has done. What an honor it would be to be a representative for causes she cares about.
A bout of pneumonia and then a stroke ended that plan.
“I really, totally thought my life was done after that,” Flower said of the stroke.
She’d spent her life making sure others were cared for and felt compassion, and it seemed at the time that part of her life was over.
Flower went through the rehabilitation process, during which she thought she would have to quit her job and experienced severe mental health struggles. That period of time was very dark, she said.
But her husband and loved ones, those on and off the mainland, supported her through it all. Her husband took her to the hospital when the stroke occurred and took her to doctor’s appointments. Others, including her parents, provided encouragement while she experienced the various cognitive and physical effects from the stroke.
Last spring, Flower decided she was healthy enough to participate in the 2020 pageant and felt like it would give her a chance to move past the traumatic events in her life. It was a way to build her confidence and feel like herself again.
“We were there (in Hawaii) last spring when she walked in with the sash and tiara on her head,” Thomas Flower said with a laugh. “Her husband and I both rolled our eyes … The important thing is that you want to do what brings joy to a person’s life. That brought her joy.”
‘I needed the pageant’
Mrs. Hawaii is different from other pageants. Contestants receive 50% of their points based on their articulation and confidence in an interview. They discuss their families, careers and any volunteer work.
The pageant also includes a swimsuit and evening gown portion.
The Mrs. Hawaii America website — different from the Mrs. Hawaii United States program — says the judges focus their points on how a contestant carries herself and the overall neatness of her appearance. Points are not based on achieving a certain body type, it says, and allows women to wear one-piece swimsuits and gowns of their choosing.
Flower earned the title of Mrs. Hawaii in September after competing against seven other delegates. The Mrs. America Pageant, located in Las Vegas, is set to take place in January 2021.
The newly-crowned Mrs. Hawaii looks forward to using her new platform to advocate for nonprofits, while giving others hope that they can move past whatever situation they are in.
“What I want the youth in Greeley to know is — you can make it happen. I had a friend in high school commit suicide because she thought she couldn’t do any more in her life. I almost gave up, too, with the situation I was in. I was suicidal, and I thought, ‘This is it,’ because my situation was so bad.”
Her mother, Cass Flower, said it was important for her daughter to participate in the pageant process. was important. She needed a new challenge and something that would make her happy. It provided both.
“I needed the pageant to kind of get me back up to where I was,” Flower said.
The new Flower Mound Library expansion will open Monday
The newly expanded and renovated Flower Mound Public Library will reopen Monday, according to the town of Flower Mound.
The library, 3030 Broadmoor Lane, is expanded from 25,000 square feet to 40,000 square feet over the course of the expansion, which will include new features such as a dedicated children’s storytime and program area, quiet reading room, teen area, four additional study rooms, second multipurpose room and a digital media lab with professional-level software. The expansion also includes increased parking, reading patios and a vending area. The $12.5 million project began in May 2019, and it forced the library to close for most of October.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held Thursday at 5 p.m.
As winter approaches, the pandemic continues and spending time outdoors seems less appealing, how can you still get your fix of nature? By bringing the outdoors inside, or at least that’s what soaring plant sales seem to suggest.
Latest figures show there has been a huge increase in the number of people buying plants and bulbs during lockdown, and medicinal plants have proven particularly popular.
Experts say people want to connect with nature and that customers are buying more bulbs so they can grow their own plants next spring as gardening grows in popularity. Sales at Gardening Express of plants including echinacea, gingko, sambucus and green tea have risen sharply, in the case of echinacea by almost 3,000% compared with last year. It has sold more than 20,000 echinacea plants in the last three months alone.
The online plant store Patch said its sales had increased by 500% during lockdown and the DIY chain Homebase said the number of fruit and vegetable plants purchased has risen by 45% compared with the same time last year.
Guy Barter, the Royal Horticultural Society’s chief horticulturalist, said: “Grow-your-own edible plants have seen huge interest. Over 3.5 million people have taken up gardening for the first time and there have been shortages of seeds and plants.”
He put the rise in interest down to people having more time on their hands, being indoors more and wanting to make the best of their garden. “Gardening is also a comfort in troubling times,” he said.
Barter said indoor plants had been equally popular among those without gardens. “House plants have certainly taken off … They are bought by those who want the benefits of horticulture but don’t have a garden or are not comfortable visiting parks and having to practice social distancing.”
The RHS also said there had been a 533% increase in the number of 18- to 24-year-olds visiting its website in the last five months.
Barter said: “One other thing is the demand for allotments has gone through the roof, certainly here in the suburbs, it has gone from small waiting lists to long ones. That is an interesting puzzle for councils who have to provide to meet the demand for allotments.”
Beth Griffiths, a garden buying assistant at Homebase, said the number of people buying spring bulbs had risen by 18% compared with last year. “This suggests that gardening novices, as well as green-fingered pros, are still busy in their gardens, planning ahead for an edible, fragrant and colourful spring,” she said.
Chris Bonnett from GardeningExpress said: “We’ve had a very busy year and are continuing to see sales increase despite the slight easing of restrictions. September this year was up 200% on the same time last year but interestingly the types of plants that are selling well have changed.
“We’re seeing an increased demand for plants with medicinal properties and health benefits. It seems like customers are looking for natural ways to boost their immune system and remain healthy as lockdown restrictions continue.”
Howard Griffiths, a professor of plant ecology at the University of Cambridge, said that during the lockdown people’s awareness of the natural world “increased as we took our limited walks during springtime and heard the birdsong. It was only natural, as soon as we could get back to garden centres to try and bring some of that verdant world into our homes.”
Hazel R. Flower, 91, of St. Marys, WV, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 29, 2020, at Belpre Landing, Belpre, OH. Hazel was born in Schultz, WV, on November 7, 1928, a daughter of the late Thomas Gale and Mary Hall Maston. She was a graduate of St. Marys High School class of 1946, Band Majorette, National Honor Society, Tri-Hi-Y, and Basketball. After high school, she married her high school sweetheart, Leo E. Flower, Jr., and they were married for 68 years.
They founded Flower Insurance Agency in 1954. Hazel was an assistant First Aide attendant at the Bronx Zoo, and later dental assistant for Dr. C. R. Gerber, Sr. in St. Marys. Hazel enjoyed life as it came, with never a complaint, and a smiling face. She enjoyed gardening, WVU football and basketball, time at the beach, and friends and family.
Hazel was a lifetime member of the St. Marys United Methodist Church in St. Marys.
Hazel is survived by one daughter, Lee Ann (Randy) Shingleton of Belpre, OH, granddaughters, Kristian (Steve) Shingleton-Wetter of Ft. Myers, FL, Ashley Flowers of Parkersburg, WV, grandsons, Brody Flowers of Belpre, OH, Austin Flowers of Orlando, FL, Jacob Lemley of Clearwater, FL, Ty Flowers of Belpre, OH, Zachary Napolillo of Silver Springs, MD, Kelby Napolillo of Wheeling, WV, great grandchildren, Hazel and Alaina Flowers, Sophia Napolillo, and Aiden Lemley, and sister-in-law, Grace Maston of Vienna, WV.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Leo E. Flower, Jr., two daughters, Jeanne T. DeVincent and Barbara F. Simpson, her brothers, James Maston, Todd Maston, Melvin Eugene Maston, Carlton Maston, and sisters, Opal V. Martin, and Ruby M. Gaines
A private graveside service will be held on Monday, November 2, 2020 at the St. Marys IOOF Cemetery.
Family and friends may call from 12 noon to 1 P. M. Monday at the Ingram Funeral Home in St. Marys, WV. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Hazel’s memory to the St. Marys United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 100, St. Marys, WV 26170.
An online guest register is available at www.ingramfh.com.
There exists a long history between plants and rituals. From ceremonial and religious occasions to seasonal festivals and rites of passage, plants have had a unique place in these events and our lives.
Dia de los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead, is no different. This special day is set aside for honoring our ancestors. According to an online publication by Vanderbilt University, many who observe this day do not view death as the end. It is considered to be part of the cycle of life.
The celebration of Dia de los Muertos was brought by Spaniards to Latin America in the 16th century. It was then “mixed with indigenous rituals honoring the dead”. On Nov. 1, families typically assemble altars for the purpose of honoring their deceased loved ones. Photographs, food, candles and other gifts are laid out. Gravesites are cleaned and adorned. People then gather at the cemetery for food, music and dancing. And, of course, to celebrate life.
Mexican marigold (Tagetes erecta) is the most commonly associated flower for Day of the Dead. This particular marigold represents death. It is said that the flower’s strong fragrance and bright color may “help lead the dead back to their altars.” The petals of the marigold are sometimes spread on the floor from the front door of the home to where the altar is located inside. This is done to help the spirit find their way.
In addition to being decorative, the flowers of Tagetes erecta are edible. Although, the flavor has been described as strong and pungent.
WebMD shares that Tagetes have been traditionally used for respiratory and stomach ailments. Tagetes is used as a flavoring agent in certain drinks and foods while the oil can be found in some perfumes. And, oddly enough, the flowers are dried and ground into chicken feed. This is done to “enhance the characteristic yellow color of chicken skin and egg yolk.”
If you want to grow your own Mexican marigolds in preparation for next year’s Dia de los Muertos, you can start seeds indoors mid to late April. Once we have passed the last frost date in May, they can be transplanted outdoors. Mexican marigolds are an annual plant preferring full sun.
Kelley Rawlsky has an M.S. in horticulture and is the director of Bringing People and Plants Together, an organization dedicated to bringing horticulture education and therapy to the community. For more information: PeopleAndPlantsTogether@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook.
Max and Miles Adams have handed out hundreds of free bouquets to strangers.
BOISE, Idaho — Two young twins who have been working to bring color and joy to people around their city have been honored with a national award.
Miles and Max Adams, both 9, began the "Free Flower Project" back in August with help from their mom Rochelle.
“Max and Miles came up with this really creative idea to take the extra flowers we have in our garden, make bouquets out of them and offer them to strangers," Rochelle said.
After a successful neighborhood handout in August, Max and Miles decided this was something they wanted to do every week. The twins have given away 780 bouquets since then.
“They have really giving hearts and they’re always wanting to help other people,” the twins' mother said. “The other part of that is they really do love flowers, they appreciate the beauty of them, and they want to share that with others."
The Adams family entered the “Free Flower Project” into the national A World of Joy contest in September, put on by Cost Plus World Market.
On Sunday, Rochelle got the news that Max and Miles had won $25,000 for their “acts of service and kindness."
“My instant reaction was just screaming up and down with joy," she said. "I think I jumped on my husband - good thing he caught me!"
The boys' reaction to the news was captured on video, with cheers and screaming.
“Let’s go! Yes, yes, yes! We won!” the boys yell in the video.
Max and Miles have big plans for their $25,000. The award money will go towards expanding the “Free Flower Project” to another location, expanding the project from its original home in their backyard.
According to Rochelle, the new garden site will allow the twins to produce ten times as many bouquets as before. They have set a goal of handing out 5,000 free bouquets in 2021.
“I am so proud that this idea started with them and it’s just so fun to see how big it’s become,” she said. “We’re so glad that Cost Plus World Market put this contest on. $25,000 is going to go a long way.”
October 30, 2020 at 09:03PM
https://www.ktvb.com/article/life/boise-twins-free-flower-project-national-award-max-miles-adams/277-77adbea6-75b0-415b-b33e-23a62ccd4bbf
9-year-old Boise boys honored for 'Free Flower Project' - KTVB.com
(Photo courtesy of the Flower Mound Lacrosse Association)
The Flower Mound Lacrosse Association continues to make strides, and this year, has enjoyed unprecedented success.
The club program has six athletes from its high school team that are moving on to play at the college level, and High School Program Director & Varsity Head Coach Gabby Sinmaz said that is a big coup for the FMLA.
“Our girls have worked incredibly hard to earn the honor of getting to play at the next level,” Sinmaz said. “We are proud of what they have accomplished both on and off the field. Their drive and love of this game will continue to propel them to success in their future. We’re excited to see them grow at the next level.”
Senior Midfielder Taylor Ambrosio will play for High Point University, while defender Mackenzie (Mack) Smith is headed to Florida Tech University.
Goalie Mackenzie (Kenzie) McCormick will play for Furman University, and defender Nicole Philips will play at Hamline University.
Attacker Anna Day signed with Fresno State and midfielder Ava Kristynik will play for the University of Notre Dame.
The FMLA also recently had two members of its junior class commit to play college lacrosse, with attacker Brynn Belmont signing with George Mason University and Goalie Avery Williams committing to Florida Southern College.
With the season about to get underway, Sinmaz said she is optimistic 2020-21 will be a good season.
“We are incredibly excited for this season and are preparing both a Varsity and JV team to compete,” Sinmaz said. “After having our last season shortened due to the pandemic, our girls are more ready than ever to return to the field of competition. We are constantly looking to improve as a program and with new faces and many returning players, we look forward to fighting for an opportunity to appear in the state tournament again this year.”
The FMLA is hosting a kickoff event for the new season.
“Our annual new player clinic is a great opportunity for girls of all ages and skill levels to come out and learn more about the game and our program,” Sinmaz said. “New players will get to explore and experience different aspects of the game – like shooting, stick tricks, and the fundamentals of Girls Lacrosse.
“This clinic specifically is led by some of our current high school players (supervised and supported by program coaches), many of which joined our program after attending this clinic in years prior. It is a really special way for them to give back to their community and share their love of this growing sport.”
The lacrosse clinic will be held on Nov. 14 at the Flower Mound Community Activity Center, 1200 Gerault Rd., from 1-2:30 p.m.
Obviously, a big concern is the COVID-19 outbreak, and Sinmaz said safety is of the utmost importance to the organization.
“We are taking every precaution to ensure the health and safety of our girls and their families,” Sinmaz said. “We thankfully have been able to return to semi-normal practices and compete in some local tournaments. Our players have been incredibly respectful and understanding of the limitations that COVID-19 has presented and continue to put in the work at home when necessary.
“We really applaud the leadership of our board, and specifically our Board President Tom McCormick, as their direction through this chaotic time has been infallible.”
October 30, 2020 at 06:18AM
https://www.ourquadcities.com/news/local-news/geneseo-flower-shops-mission-is-brightening-the-day-of-nursing-home-residents/
Geneseo flower shop’s mission brightening the day of nursing home residents - WHBF - OurQuadCities.com
The Noblesville City Council met Oct. 27. It unanimously approved several items. For more, visit cityofnoblesville.org.
An image depicting where the apartment complex and office building will be on the former Marsh site. (Submitted image)
What happened: The council unanimously approved 290 units and an office building for former Marsh site.
What it means: The project takes place on 9.8 acres at 17901 River Rd., the former site for Marsh. Approximately 7.8 acres will be used to construct a luxury apartment complex with 290 units, mostly comprised of one and two bedrooms and some studios. The apartment building will be 4 stories tall, and it is within walking distance to Federal Hill Commons and trails. The remaining 2 acres will be used for an office building to be constructed at a later date, after the construction of the apartments.
What happened: The council unanimously approved a request to establish a planned development on approximately 8 acres at 11411 E. 156th St.
What it means: The applicant plans to use the space to construct a residence, an accessory barn for you-pick flowers and conducting classes, tours and field trips related to flower production and flower arranging.
What happened: The council unanimously approved an ordinance for the issuance and sale of bonds for the purpose of providing funds to be used for certain capital projects.
What it means: City CFO and controller Jeff Spalding presented the proposal to the council.
“This is our second year of what I am anticipating becoming a routine cycle where we will be doing a short-term capital project bond, a one-year bond, that helps us manage the city’s property tax rate,” Spalding said. The bonds, which will not exceed $5.3 million, will go to various capital projects around the city including Firestone redevelopment, Hobbs Station, Stony Creek Trail under Ind. 37, downtown improvements, a pedestrian bridge on Little Chicago Road, roundabouts at Ind. 32/Ind. 38 and Ind. 32/River Road and a trail on South 10th Street.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - It’s never been seen in the Volunteer State, and it’s 200 miles from its closest neighbor. We’re not talking about a lost tourist or an off-course black bear, but a plant. And it might have been hiding out on a cliff since the last ice age!
“We were all really excited and there was high fives,” TVA botanist Adam Dattilo told us.
Dattilo has a cool job. He searches for rare wild plants for the Tennessee Valley Authority. And when Adam caught a flash of purple, he was intrigued. “If you see something, doesn’t ring a bell, kind of gets the juices flowing.”
His curiosity led to an incredible find.
“We had no idea how much of this species was present,” Dattilo said. The common harebell isn’t supposed to be here. As for its name, the bell-shaped flowering plant is fairly common at higher latitudes, but not around here.
“Almost 200 air miles away from the nearest known location,” Dattilo said. Those are in Virginia and North Carolina.
“Both of those locations are a lot colder than where we found it in Meigs County. In addition to that, it’s new to Tennessee,” Datillo said. “It’s never been seen in the wild in the state of Tennessee.”
Thanks to TVA’s fleet of drones, Adam got a close-up of what he calls a ‘relic’ species.
“They just hang on in these little habitats as the rest of the world is changed,” Dattilo said.
That change means this little violet flower may not have much time.
“As the climate continues to change, it will be interesting to watch populations like this one, to see if they persist or if they don’t,” Dattilo said.
But for now, if you know just where to look:
“These things are right here in our own backyard,” Dattilo said. These amazing natural features."
Tri-Valley residents have a new option when looking for fresh flowers for their home or office.
Poppy the Flower Truck sprouted into business in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and is flourishing at pop-ups all over town.
“Poppy is a build-your-own-bouquet flower truck,” explained owner Kristy Hootman. “Everything is priced by the stem, so you can make whatever kind of bouquet you want, whether you want one kind of flower or you want to do a mixture, or even just a single flower.”
Hootman purchased Poppy – a 1969 Volkswagen Transporter – on eBay. She had seen similar flower trucks emerging across the country and decided to jump feet-first into the growing trend.
“I always just thought the flower trucks were so cute, and I feel like Livermore needs one,” Hootman said, noting she has lived in town seven years. “I think people like that there’s something to do that’s outside and safe.”
Hootman parks Poppy at various spots around the Tri-Valley, most often at Story Coffee in Livermore and the San Ramon Farmers Market. She said she enjoys helping her customers flex their creative muscles by making a customized bouquet out of her seasonal selection.
“It’s been super fun,” Hootman said. “A lot of people are really shy when they come up, they want me to just make the bouquet for them. So I kind of push them to tell me their favorites, and they get into it. And it’s been fun watching people be creative, and I’ve learned you can’t make an ugly bouquet. It just brightens people’s days, and I think we all need that right now. And who doesn’t like fresh flowers in the house they’re sitting in all day?”
Courtney Franco is one of Hootman’s best friends and best customers. Franco likes to pick up flowers when Poppy is parked outside of Story Coffee, so she can get her morning caffeine fix and stock up on fresh blooms.
“I love it. I think it was the perfect thing in 2020 to have something that was fun and new and exciting, and who doesn’t love flowers?” Franco said. “It’s just a really creative activity. Kristy has a great selection of flowers . . . they are different and seasonal from local farmers.”
Hootman partners with Dutch Roots farm in Ripon and the San Francisco Flower Market to keep her selection bright and unique. She makes an effort to offer more than the floral departments at the grocery stores, so her customers come away with something special.
“During the summer, I had a lot of dahlias and ranunculus, I had peonies for a few weeks people were really into, but it’s all seasonal,” she said. “I get a few dry things now that the season is ending, and I also try to get some crazier, rare things from the San Francisco Flower market.”
This business venture took Hootman outside her comfort zone in terms of work experience, but she was looking for something that would allow her to still spend time at home with her young daughter. She said she has always enjoyed creative endeavors like photography and floral arrangements, so this felt like a good fit. Her husband, Peter, works in marketing, and she has pulled on his expertise to help Poppy get growing.
“I have learned so much in these last few months,” said Hootman. “I’ve always been a creative person, so it’s worked out really well, and it’s been really fun.”
As Hootman works on growing her business at pop-ups and small, private events – where her bouquets serve as a fun favor – she said she appreciates the community’s support of her small business. Her customers have enjoyed creating unique floral arrangements for themselves, and she hopes to be available even more in the future.
“I think it’s been really fun to see a business start during very tumultuous times when most business are questioning if they should still be open,” Franco said. “They’ve also done things in partnership with other small local businesses that have recently opened and had to be a very flexible about things and it’s been fun to see how the community supports each other. You get to enjoy the flowers and have a good feeling and like what you’re supporting.”
October 29, 2020 at 07:00AM
https://www.independentnews.com/news/build-your-own-bouquet-flower-truck-rolls-through-tri-valley/article_9d97a2b0-198f-11eb-9f33-af67ae110694.html
"Build-Your-Own-Bouquet" Flower Truck Rolls Through Tri-Valley - Livermore Independent
Change Clocks this Weekend - Another Tina Haiku - 10/28The hits keep coming with another haiku from Tina, don't forget to "Fall Back" on Saturday night! This one's especially for GoodDay superfan Angie the Tab Lady!
Change Clocks this Weekend - Tina's Haiku - 10/28In an ongoing effort to remind you to "Fall Back" this weekend, Tina has a haiku to help you remember.
Question of the Day - 10/28Tina has today's question: When are you going to start decorating for the holidays? Thanks for watching today, have a great Wednesday!
Roman Spinale Magic - The Cleanest CardThe magic is back! Roman Spinale rejoins us to amaze us with another illusion! As usual, Cody, John and Court are amazed!
Mullet Championships - The Results!Cody had a young guest on last week who was participating in the Mullet Championships, now we can find out the results! Kevin Begola from the Mullet Championships joins Cody to give us the news, and they talk about the rest of the competitions coming up!
Good Eats Cooking Classes - Online!Grab your chef's hat, apron, and ingredients, Good Eats has cooking classes you can get in on! Paulette Bruce from Good Eats is with Tina showing us what's cookin', and how you can get in on the fun!
Floating Pumpkin Patch - Little Whale Swim SchoolGet ready to take a dip and let your kids search for the perfect pumpkin! Ashley Williams is at Little Whale Swim School in Sacramento to give us a tour and let us know how your little ones can participate!
Show and Tell - 10/28Cody has today's Show and Tell, it's fire ants who are artists!
Roman Spinale MagicWatch Roman Spinale perform this INSANE magic trick...Can you explain this??
Officers: Esparto Family’s Home Destroyed By Marijuana DUI SuspectOfficers say a Yolo County family’s home was destroyed after a driver apparently under the influence of marijuana crashed into it Tuesday night.
Dolfo's DonutsLori takes a look (and taste) at the family run donut busiess: Dolfo's Donuts.
Fashion ForumCourtney and the cast give their opinion about the celebrities get ups during the BET Awards. As an added bonus, John Dabkovich shares his impression of Snoop Dogg. You don't want to miss this!
Teen's Tune - 10/28Tina is here with today's Teen's Tune...let's head back to the mid 80s!
The Scarecrow Stroll - LodiThere's a Halloween event happening in Lodi that the whole family can enjoy! The Scarecrow Stroll promises to be a lot of fun, and Julissa Ortiz is there to give us a preview!
Fourscore Coffee House - RosevilleCoffee, music, art, and activism go together at Fourscore Coffee House in Old Roseville. Ashley Williams is there to show us some of the changes they've made, and we meet the artist whose work is displayed inside!
Wacky Tacky is Open!A popular spot for kids to have fun is back open, with limited capacity. Lori Wallace is in Rancho Cordova at Wacky Tacky to show us the changes they have made, and how your kids can get out and have some fun!
Impractical Jokers: Dinner PartyIt's been a rough year (ya think?), so we could all use a good laugh. Joe Gatto and James Murray from Impractical Jokers join John to talk about how they're making their comedy work, even when they can't be together! We also revisit the last time the guys were on the show, and check in on camera guy Scott Z. to make sure he's ok.
Holiday Makeup Tips with Sofia TilburyYour holiday party will probably look...different this year. But even if your party is a Zoom party, you still want to look your best! Sofia Tilbury, Brand Ambassador for Charlotte Tilbury Cosmetics, joins Courtney (via Zoom) to give us some tips!
Trick-O-Treating with Kona IceJulissa shows us how you can get your Shave Ice from Kona Ice for Halloween
Costanza's is Back Open!Ashley shows us that Costanza's is back open and what changes they made during the pandemic.
Spooktacular HalloweenLori shows us how you can be a part of a Spooktacular Halloween Drive Thru event
That Animal Rescue ShowCody talks to Richard Linklater about his new 10-episode docuseries which features the people in Austin saving animals.
Photographer Dave Grashoff Celebrates the Dodgers' World Series WinIt was a long time coming but the Los Angeles Dodgers finally won another World Championship in 32 years! Photographer Dave Grashoff celebrates and pays tribute to the Dodgers' World Championship. See how he does it!
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Organic Flower Investments Group Inc. (CSE: SOW)(FWB: 2K6)(OTC: QILFF) (“Organic Flower” or the “Company” or "SOW") is pleased to announce that further to the Company’s news release on August 21, 2020 announcing its intention to augment its investment portfolio with a hydrogen sector investment, the Company has acquired a 90% equity interest in California-based PowerTap Hydrogen Fueling Corp. (“PowerTap”) as at October 27, 2020. “PowerTap is very excited to have had this investment and recognition from SOW and plans to quickly build out a large North American hydrogen fueling station network from its strong position in IP and over two decades of continuous progress in creating hydrogen fueling solutions.As an experienced developer of technology in an important area that is finally having its time as a green but also economically compelling energy options, PowerTap is intent on becoming a leading part of the multi-billion dollar hydrogen fueling space,” said Raghu Kilambi, CEO of PowerTap.PowerTap’s corporate presentation may be accessed at the following link: https://sowinvestments.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/PowerTap-Deck-Oct28.pdfOrganic Flower and PowerTap will work together to develop the hydrogen fueling station network in stages, consisting of engineering & design; ongoing development of PowerTap 3.0; and permitting and site preparation. The development of the hydrogen fueling station network is expected to commence with further updates to engineering and design in Q4 of 2021. Subject to the progress of this initial stage, the remaining stages of development and initial manufacturing are expected to start in Q1 2021 and progress with production of units in 2021. The anticipated aggregate cost of all stages of development of PowerTap's 3rd generation product is approximately $17m. At each stage of development, Organic Flower and PowerTap plan to secure financing of the project through available government financing & credits, and equity, debt & convertible debt offerings. The timing of the development to the next stages and the cost of each stage is subject to the success at each stage of development, the general development of the hydrogen fueling industry and the availability of funding.This investment in PowerTap aligns with the Company’s investment policy, which was previously amended and restated to include the renewable energy sector as an area of focus for the Company. The amended and restated investment policy is available for review on the Company‘s website at (https://sowinvestments.ca/) and will be tabled for ratification at the Company’s next annual general meeting of shareholders. The Company intends to change its name to better align with its current investment policy and will announce the new name, ticker and effective date of the name change shortly.HydrogenInfrastructure SectorThe Company believes that finally hydrogen is going to have its time due to the clean tech revolution and economic advantages over incumbent fueling technologies, especially in commercial transportation. Industry reports forecast hydrogen to be a US$130 billion industry by 2030 in the USA with 700,000 jobs1.Hydrogen powered vehicles have major advantages over battery electric, gas and diesel vehicles (driving range, fueling time and cost per mile)2. Billions of dollars’ worth of hydrogen long haul trucks and cars are expected on the market in next 2-4 years from incumbents and upstarts in the next 36 months3. Once produced, hydrogen powered vehicles generate electrical power in a fuel cell, emitting only water vapor and warm air.Established vehicle manufacturers (Toyota, Hyundai, Daimler and Volvo) have announced that they are ramping up their delivery schedules of hydrogen powered cars and long-haul trucks and Nikola Motors has announced it will be manufacturing hydrogen electric long-haul vehicles4. The Company anticipates that the biggest need for the industry to receive general adoption are hydrogen fueling/refueling stations. There are currently only approximately 70 consumer hydrogen fueling stations in the U.S. versus approximately 150,000 gas stations and approximately ~25,000 battery electric vehicle (BEV) recharging stations5.About PowerTapPowerTap is leading the charge to build out cost-effective hydrogen fueling infrastructure through its environmentally friendly intellectual property, product design for the modularized and lowest tier production cost of hydrogen, and launch plan. Substantial investment continuously over a 20 year period from serious and sizeable public and private organizations and partnerships including energy multinationals, the U.S. government and further investments from a major auto manufacturer, has resulted in the PowerTap portfolio of IP and advanced deployed technologies as they exist in the present day.For this reason amongst others, PowerTap believes that it has accrued and can deliver advantages over peers, battery electric vehicles (BEV), and gas and diesel fuel solutions, including quicker refueling, lower cost per mile and longer driving ranges - and of course, lowest tier overall emissions including initial inputs and processing.PowerTap’s advantage over other hydrogen fueling station systems is that it has a small physical footprint where it can produce hydrogen fuel cost effectively on site at the individual station. Most existing USA hydrogen fueling stations buy hydrogen for storage at individual stations at much higher costs than PowerTap’s production cost. PowerTap technology-based hydrogen fueling stations are located in private enterprises and public stations (near LAX airport) in California, Texas, Massachusetts, and Maryland.PowerTap is expected to qualify for attractive infrastructure loans plus the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard credit program allows PowerTap to earn attractive cash flow generating credits for building out the hydrogen production infrastructure at the individual station level. The California Low Carbon Fuel Standard credit program was a multibillion dollar market in 2019.PowerTap’s plans include co-location of its hydrogen fueling infrastructure at existing gas station/truck stops. PowerTap’s goal is to deploy 500 to 1,000 stations within the next 3-5 yrs in the U.S. alone. There are currently under 100 active consumer hydrogen fueling stations operational in the U.S.Additional information about PowerTap may be found at its webstie at http://www.powertapfuels.comAcquisition of PowerTapThe acquisition of 90% of PowerTap (the “Acquisition”) is the cumulation of the transactions contemplated under the previously announced letter of intent dated August 12, 2020 between the Company and PowerTap (the “Letter of Intent”). The Letter of Intent granted the Company with the option to acquire up to a 90% interest of PowerTap (the “Option”). Upon exercise of the Option, PowerTap's shareholders (collectively, the “Vendors”) entered into a definitive agreement whereby the Company acquired 90% of PowerTap. The consideration paid to the Vendors consisted of an aggregate of 106,210,708 common shares in the capital of the Company (the “Consideration Shares”), under an 18-month escrow release program, at a deemed value of CA$0.30 per Consideration Share. The Vendors are arm’s-length to one another and none of whom, individually holds 10% or more of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company on a non-diluted basis. The Acquisition does not constitute a fundamental change or change of business for the Company, within the meaning of the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange, but as the Acquisition constitutes a significant acquisition pursuant to National Instrument 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations, the Company will file a business acquisition report within 75 days from the date hereof.The issuance of the Consideration Shares relied on the take-over bid exemption under Section 2.16 of National Instrument 45-106 – Prospectus Exemptions and therefore the Consideration Shares are not subject to a four month and one day hold period. However, the Vendors agreed to escrows of up to 18 months after the acquisition closes.In connection with the Acquisition, the CA$4.4 million previously advanced by the Company to PowerTap pursuant to the Letter of Intent, was converted into an 8% demand promissory note, payable to the Company.Engagement of First Marketing GMBHOrganic Flower has retained First Marketing GmbH, a leading investor relations and marketing firm based in Heidelberg, Germany, to provide marketing services focused on the European markets. Under the agreement, which commences on the date hereof, the service provider is to provide content distribution, translation and advertising services in Europe. The company agrees to pay the service provider up to 500,000 euros over the 6-month period to develop required content and artwork and to launch its market awareness programs in the European Union.ABOUT ORGANIC FLOWER INVESTMENTSOrganic Flower is an investment company, that specializes in investing into private and public companies opportunistically that may be engaged in a variety of industries, with a current focus in the health and renewable energy industries. In particular, the investment mandate is focused on high return investment opportunities, the ability to achieve a reasonable rate of capital appreciation and to seek liquidity in our investments. A copy of Organic Flower’s amended and restated investment policy may be found under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com.ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANIC FLOWER INVESTMENTS GROUP INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS“Joel Dumaresq”Joel Dumaresq CEO
+1 (604) 687-2038 info@sowinvestments.ca Learn more about Organic Flower by visiting our website at: https://sowinvestments.ca/THE CSE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE.Notice Regarding Forward Looking Information:This press release contains "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Such forward- looking statements include, without limitation, forecasts, estimates, expectations and objectives for future operations that are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Organic Flower. Some assumptions include, without limitation, the development of hydrogen powered vehicles by vehicle makers, the adoption of hydrogen powered vehicles by the market, and legislation and regulations favoring the use of hydrogen as an alternative energy source. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur or be achieved. This press release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to, among other things, the timing and ability of the Company to complete any potential investments or acquisitions, if at all, and the timing thereof. Forward-looking information is based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks, which could cause actual results to vary and, in some instances, to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company and described in the forward-looking information contained in this press release.Although the Company believes that the material factors, expectations and assumptions expressed in such forward- looking statements are reasonable based on information available to it on the date such statements were made, no assurances can be given as to future results, levels of activity and achievements and such statements are not guarantees of future performance.The forward-looking information contained in this release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements and is made as of the date of this release. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward- looking information to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise.____________________________
1http://www.fchea.org/us-hydrogen-study 2https://www.businessinsider.com/nikola-motors-founder-investors-dont-care-company-has-no-revenue-2020-6 3https://www.trucks.com/2019/11/12/hyundai-nikola-toyota-build-hydrogen-highway/ 4https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/10/26/hydrogen-trucks-nikola-gm-toyota-hyundai-zero-emissions/5981340002/ 5https://www.statista.com/statistics/416750/number-of-electric-vehicle-charging-stations-outlets-united-states/ The Link Lonk
October 29, 2020 at 04:33AM
http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/10/28/2116394/0/en/Organic-Flower-Acquires-Ownership-of-90-Percent-of-PowerTap-Hydrogen-Fueling.html
Organic Flower Acquires Ownership of 90 Percent of PowerTap Hydrogen Fueling - GlobeNewswire
