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Jessica Schwartz
New Season Of Military Makeover Sponsored by CASE Construction Equipment
The latest season of “Military Makeover,” which debuts today on the Lifetime Network (check local listings for screening times), was sponsored by, and includes equipment from, CASE Construction Equipment. The show, hosted by Montel Williams, enlists “designers, contractors, landscapers and other home improvement professionals to transform the homes and lives of military families across the country.” This new season — the show’s 20th — focuses on Steven Wojcik and his family in Strum, WI. Wojcik, who served four years of active duty with the U.S. Marines and, to date has served sixteen years in the Army Reserves, earned the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in combat, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. He continues to serve his community today as a Wisconsin State Trooper. “We are honored to be a part of this. Wisconsin is where CASE got its start, and we’ve always had a strong working relationship with the veteran community, here in the state and throughout the country,” says Debbie Townsley, director of marketing — North America, CASE Construction Equipment. “Steven’s story, which will unfold throughout the Military Makeover series, is inspiring. He has sacrificed so much for the community — and the love and dedication of his family and friends inspired us to participate as we did.” CASE employees and equipment assisted in work on the renovation, as well as volunteers from CASE partner Team Rubicon, who deploys emergency response teams of military veterans, first responders and civilians. The project was completed last ...
Phipps Conservatory Displays Vertical Gardening: This Week’s Industry News
Want to keep up with the latest news in lawn care and landscaping? Check back every Thursday for a quick recap of recent happenings in the green industry. Phipps Conservatory Displays Vertical Gardening Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh has created a display of LiveWall green walls to showcase vertical gardening as an option for growing local produce in urban areas. Founded in 1893, Phipps has been Pittsburgh’s green oasis for more than 120 years. The conservatory is a green leader among public gardens — widely recognized for its leadership and commitment to sustainability including environmental conservation, renewable energy, green building design, and healthy living. LiveWall, LLC is the leading designer of practical and sustainable living wall system solutions for vertical gardening. In the spring, beets, carrots, collard greens, kale, and kohlrabi grow on the green walls. Summer plantings include basil, rosemary, thyme, celery root, and various peppers. Starting in 2015, Phipps tested LiveWall Inspire Living Wall Panels alongside several other living wall systems on the south facing wall of its Production Greenhouse Facility. The standardized panels are 4-feet wide and 7-feet, four inches tall. Each has 24 molded plastic modular planter boxes. After completing initial testing, Phipps installed nine more Inspire standard panels. Billy Goat’s Next Gen Hydro-Drive Sod Cutter Released Billy Goat’s Next Gen Hydro-Drive Sod Cutter now features an exclusive laser clad cutting blade which provides a hardened leading edge and offers three times longer blade life. The blade has a uniquely coated edge with proprietary ...
CASE Begins Heavy Equipment Operations for Hurricane Harvey Recovery: This Week’s Industry News
Want to keep up with the latest news in lawn care and landscaping? Check back every Thursday for a quick recap of recent happenings in the green industry. CASE Teams Up With Team Rubicon To Provide Hurricane Relief CASE kicked off heavy equipment operations in the Rockport, Texas area, in partnership with Team Rubicon, this past Thursday, September 14. Initial heavy equipment operations included debris removal and home demolition near Rockport and Aransas Pass, Texas, where the eye of Hurricane Harvey made landfall in August. Sonsray Machinery, Inc. of California also shipped compact track loaders in for the operation, and Michelin North America, Inc. donated sets of its Tweel airless radial tires to outfit skid steers working in demolition applications. Since Hurricane Harvey made landfall, Team Rubicon has deployed 768 volunteers to Texas in support of the ongoing relief efforts with debris removal, damage assessments, muck outs, expedient home repair and chainsaw operations. Arborjet Launches New Mn-jet Fe Liquid Micronutrient Solution Arborjet Inc. has announced Mn-jet Fe, its new liquid micronutrient solution for trees, palms, shrubs and groundcovers. Fast and effective, Mn-jet Fe alleviates interveinal chlorosis caused by micronutrient deficiencies. Interveinal chlorosis in plants is result of micronutrient deficiencies, specifically iron and manganese. The foliage on chlorotic trees turns a pale green to yellow hue while the veins remain dark green; necrosis and twig dieback occurs in severe cases. When left untreated, chlorotic trees decline over several years and become more susceptible to insects and disease. This is a common ...
CASE Dealer Donates Heavy Equipment to Team Rubicon: This Week’s Industry News
Want to keep up with the latest news in lawn care and landscaping? Check back every Thursday for a quick recap of recent happenings in the green industry. Conserva Irrigation Expands National Franchise Presence Conserva Irrigation announced on July 31 that it’s actively seeking potential franchise candidates to expand the brand’s national footprint. Conserva Irrigation is the only irrigation company built around a franchise business model targeting the repair and maintenance of both commercial and residential sprinkler systems. Conserva Irrigation currently operates in 32 territories around the country. Conserva’s franchisees will benefit from the company’s exclusive use of products from, Toro. Other brand partners include SiteOne Landscape Supply and HindSite Software. Ewing Irrigation and Upstart Products Announce Merger Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply and Upstart Products, Inc. announced a merger expanding their product offerings and services to professional landscape contractors, golf course superintendents and other industry professionals. Upstart has served the golf industry in Florida with sustainable fertilizers, soil amendments, plant nutrients and more for more than 20 years. Through this merger, Upstart customers will have access to a full line of irrigation, landscape and specialty products as well as additional Ewing services, such as open warehouse shopping, product delivers and online services. Ewing, which currently has over 200 stores, will be investing in facility upgrades to the current 8,000-square-foot Upstart headquarters in Titusville, Florida. Scotts Quarterly Results Beat Analysts’ Estimates Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. announced its most recent quarterly financial results on August 1. The company said it had a ...
DHS Increases Number of H-2B Visas by 15,000: This Week’s Industry News
Want to keep up with the latest news in lawn care and landscaping? Check back every Thursday for a quick recap of recent happenings in the green industry. DHS Increases Number of H-2B Visas by 15,000 The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on July 17 that it will be increasing the number of H-2B visas by 15,000. To qualify for the additional visas, petitioners must attest, under penalty of perjury, that their business is likely to suffer irreparable harm if it cannot employ H-2B nonimmigrant workers during fiscal year 2017. “Congress gave me the discretionary authority to provide temporary relief to American businesses in danger of suffering irreparable harm due to a lack of available temporary workers,” announced Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly. “As a demonstration of the administration’s commitment to supporting American businesses, DHS is providing this one-time increase to the congressionally set annual cap.” A-LIST Releases Environmentally Friendly Lawn Grass List Want to provide your clients with turfgrass better able to withstand a variety of stresses? Check out the new list of perennial ryegrasses and fine fescues approved by The Alliance for Low Input Sustainable Turf (A-LIST). The A-LIST is an independent, non-profit industry initiative fostering the development of turfgrass varieties that meet metrics like water conservation, reduced fertility, heat and drought stress tolerances, all with no fungicide or insecticide applications. Nationally recognized cooperators selected on a regional basis test the turfgrass to include environmental adaptability. Monsanto Fights California’s Listing of Glyphosate as Cancer Causer On July ...
2017 Product Roundup: Snow Plows
Arctic Sectional Sno-Pusher The Sectional Sno-Pusher from Arctic has a patented moldboard design and slip hitch. The AR-400 steel cutting edges can scrape compacted snow and ice down to the pavement, eliminating followup plowing. The universal mounting system enables the mounting hookup to be changed in minutes. BOSS Snowplow HTX V-Plow The HTX V-Plow from Boss is for lighter-duty and half-ton trucks. The plow is built with a Full Moldboard Trip Design to help prevent plow damage when an obstacle is encountered. The enclosed hydraulics protect against corrosion and hydraulic freeze-up, according to the company CASE Sectional Snow Pushers The Sectional Snow Pushers from CASE Construction Equipment are available in six different sizes for heavy- and light-duty applications. The moldboard sections move independently and have a Hardox 450 steel cutting edge. The pushers are compatible with CASE equipment as well as other brands. Bobcat Company Snow Blade The Snow Blade from Bobcat has an angle that is adjustable from the operator’s seat. It can oscillate five degrees. The moldboard can angle right or left up to 30 degrees. Optional features include rubber or polyurethane cutting edges and end-wing kits. Buyers/SnowDogg VXF Generation II The VXF Generation II has simplified harnesses and connectors for quicker installation. The floating A-frame helps with even cutting edge wear and optimal scraping. It has an energized rod seal cylinder design with anodized aluminum gland nuts for efficiency and long life. Caterpillar Straight Snow Push The Straight Snow Push without Trip is a new attachment for ...
Former STIHL President Fred Whyte Dies at 70: This Week’s Industry News
Want to keep up with the latest news in lawn care and landscaping? Check back every Thursday for a quick recap of recent happenings in the green industry. Man of STIHL, and Power Tool Icon, Dies after 45 Years of Service Fred Whyte, former president of STIHL Inc., passed away July 7, 2017 surrounded by his family at his home in Virginia Beach, Virginia after a battle with an aggressive form of cancer. He was 70 years old. A Vancouver, British Columbia native, Whyte began his STIHL career in 1971, working as a regional manager for STIHL American. After serving STIHL for more than 45 years and leading STIHL Inc. for 23 years, Whyte retired, and was named sole director and chairman of the Board of Directors for STIHL Inc. and influenced STIHL strategy worldwide. Arborjet Adds to Marketing, Research & Development Teams Sydnie Lopolito joins Arborjet’s Marketing team as Marketing Communications and Social Media Specialist; John-Michael Alexy has taken on a new appointment at the company as Research and Formulation Specialist; and Francesca Holinko joins Arborjet as a Research Horticulturist. John Deere Awards Winner of “Small Machines. Big Impact.” Contest Eric Moores, a high school building trades instructor in Woodbine, Iowa, was crowned the grand prize winner of the inaugural John Deere “Small Machines. Big Impact.” contest at the 2017 John Deere Classic pairings party. As the winner, Moores will take home a new 333G compact track loader with a WorkSite Pro bucket attachment to help with his project ...
Kawasaki Motors Teams with Pro Wrestler Steve Austin: This Week’s Industry News
Want to keep up with the latest news in lawn care and landscaping? Check back every Thursday for a quick recap of recent happenings in the green industry. Ruppert Adds Software Development Team Ruppert Landscape has added a software development team within the company’s IT department. Emil Saweros, a 6-year Ruppert employee with more than 20 years of combined IT experience, will lead the team that also includes Melanie Halsey, Luke Ardizzone and Jordan Marshall. Aqua-Yield and Harmony Brands Enter into Joint Agreement Nano-technology-based fertilizer supplier Aqua-Yield and turfgrass supplier Harmony Brands, have announced a promotional partnership. Under the agreement, Aqua-Yield will have direct access to sell its fertilizer to Harmony growers across the United States. The promotional partnership ultimately means turfgrass with less inputs; less water, less fertilizer and an end product that is much more environmentally friendly. The turfgrass, supplied to and then distributed by Harmony, will ultimately find its way to our nation’s largest and best-known retailers, including; Home Depot, Lowe’s and WalMart, claims a release announcing the agreement. Rotolo Acquires Greenscape Grounds Management Rotolo Consultants (RCI) recently acquired Greenscape Grounds Management, a commercial landscape maintenance company with operations in Lafayette and Lake Charles, Louisiana. Greenscape Grounds Management owner, Brad Breaux, and his brother, Ross Breaux, will continue in management roles with RCI. Brad Breaux said, “We are thrilled to join RCI for our next chapter of growth. RCI brings additional expertise and resources to help us expand our scope of services to new and existing clients ...
