2
Williamsville Courier /Friday, February 13, 2015
Williamsville Courier /Friday, February 13, 2015
6
Choose spray foam for lower energy bills and a cozier home this winter (NAPSI) With the chill of winter settled in across much of the country, keeping homes warm while also maintaining manageable energy bills is a major concern for homeowners. Installing spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation may ease these concerns. SPF offers a continuous seal for your home that in addition to providing a layer of insulation can help prevent drafts and
offers improved control of indoor temperatures. It is so effective because it is applied as a liquid and then expands into foam insulation and air sealant, which keeps cold air out by sealing cracks, seams and joints. Because of added insulation and less heat loss due to drafts and cracks, less energy may be needed for heating during the cold winter months. Other benefits of SPF insulation include:
• By reducing air leaks, SPF can improve moisture control to help reduce mold and mildew formation. • Sealing gaps with SPF provides a barrier to the exterior and helps keep pollen and dust outside. • SPF insulation in walls and attics can help minimize noise by reducing both high- and lowfrequency noise.
Program to help students, region, toward STEM-focused future Whether in classrooms, laboratories or the Oval Office of the White House, conversation has persisted about the importance of proper training in science, technology, engineering and math (referred to as STEM) for our nation’s current and future generations of students. Erie Community College recognizes this and, starting with its Spring 2015 semester, is now proud to offer the area’s first two-year degree in Nanotechnology and serve as Western New York’s leader in STEMrelated training. “ECC prides itself on providing affordable, career-focused education for all of Western New York,” said ECC President Jack Quinn. “But after this education, our students need to transition into sustainable careers. In recent years, STEMrelated job opportunities have multiplied not only across the country, but right here in our Buffalo backyard. We want to prep our students for these opportunities, and this program will help us do that.” Instituted with $5.75 million attained in September through NYSUNY’s 2020 Challenge Grant Program and faculty preparation through the Center for Nanotechnology Education and Utilization at Penn State University, ECC’s Nanotechnology AAS degree program is designed to help prepare students from a broad range of disciplines for careers in fields involving nanotechnology, which is engineering at the atomiclength scale, a size range which, until recently, was only available to nature.
Being able to engineer such small structures opens the door to a multitude of new opportunities in the fields of electronic and semiconductor fabrication technology, microtechnology labs, material science labs, chemical technology, biotechnology, biopharmaceutical technology, and environmental science. “ECC is proud to be the first local institution to offer a degree in Nanotechnology,” said Rick Washousky, ECC’s Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs, and a driving force in delivering the program and awarded grant funds to the college. “This new AAS program will further reinforce ECC’s efforts in STEM technology.” Students will study electronic device and circuit behavior, basic chemistry and fabrication techniques used to create micron and submicron scale structures. Techniques covered include reactive ion etching, metallization, thick and thin film deposition and photolithography; and graduates will be able to enter the Western New York job market with the skills necessary for soughtafter positions in such fields as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and university research. The program which will also involve Genesee Community College students working in shared space with ECC students was established in response to the various large scale nanotechnology-related projects announced across upstate New York. And with only two other semiconductor manufacturing-related AAS programs in New York State (at Hudson
Valley Community College and Schenectady County Community College), this degree program will develop a highly skilled homegrown workforce capable in filling the large number of nanotechnologyrelated jobs being created across the state. Existing aforementioned AAS degree programs offered in the Capital Region primarily supply their local employers, who themselves still are forced to hire 50 percent of employees out of state. This project will train homegrown employees to work in the nanotechnology sector here in New York State. $3.1 of the NYSUNY grant million was spent on renovations to ECC North Campus’s Bretschger Hall, with the remaining allocation dedicated to equipment used to train both ECC and GCC students. The program aims to enroll 50 new students; usher 20 graduates into regional employment on an annual basis; ensure that there is a trained workforce to take advantage of forthcoming opportunities at South Buffalo’s RiverBend campus, on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and within the planned WNY Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park in Genesee County. Additional ventures and growth in the region’s nanotechnology sector will lead to more opportunities for community college students, as well as the eventual creation of a homegrown workforce. “Training for sustainable careers, right here in Western New York,” said Quinn. “That’s our pledge to our students, and their success will help move our community forward.”
Williamsville Courier/ Friday, February 13, 2015
Store your mower in eight easy steps (NAPSI) Chances are, your lawn mower has been a faithful fair-weather companion. So at the end of the mowing season, you want to give it the attention it deserves. Here are some tips on what you can do now to be sure your mower will start easily next mowing season. • Make sure your operator’s manual is on hand for quick reference whenever you work on your mower or any such equipment. • Remove the spark plug lead wire from the plug before doing any mower maintenance, and tape or tie it out of the way. • Remove the battery and store it in a cool, dry place away from gas cans, the water heater or furnace. • Change the oil. Old oil has lost much of its ability to coat and protect engine components, which could lead to damage down the
road. Most people avoid changing the oil in their lawn mower because they think about having to tip the mower over to drain the old oil. They worry about spills in the driveway and a mess of rags and cardboard to catch spills. Oil removal kits make the process easier and a lot less messy. For example, the Briggs & Stratton 1.6-liter oil extractor pump has a longreach hose so oil can be extracted through filler or dipstick holes. It is important to return and recycle used oil at the proper collection center in your community. • Clean your mower. Brush or hose off leaves, grass and mud. Gently tip your walk-behind mower on its side to spray the underbody. If debris is caught on the blade, use a stick or tool to remove it never use your hands. • Use a fuel stabilizer.
Never store your lawn equipment with a partially full fuel tank. Either run the equipment out of fuel or use fuel stabilizer in a full tank of fuel. Add Advanced Formula Fuel Treatment and Stabilizer according to the package directions. Then and this is important run the mower for a few minutes so the stabilizer circulates through the carburetor. The stabilizer keeps fuel fresh for up to six months. Turn off the engine and completely fill the gas tank. A full tank will help prevent moisture from condensing in the tank, which can form rust that could break away and clog the carburetor. • Store your mower in a dry, protected place such as your garage or a garden shed. Never store it next to a furnace, water heater or appliance with a pilot light.
Red Cross calls for blood donors as unique as the patients they help In honor of Black History Month this February, and in the spirit of Dr. Charles Drew, an African-American surgeon who was the first medical director of the American Red Cross and a modern blood-banking pioneer, eligible donors as diverse as the patients who need their blood donations are encouraged to give blood to ensure a sufficient blood supply. Blood from a donor with a similar ethnic background as that of the patient is less likely to cause complications, particularly for those patients whose
chronic conditions require repeated transfusions. Sickle cell disease is one such chronic condition affecting as many as 100,000 people in the United States. Prior to transfusion, blood type and Rh factor are matched between donated blood and the patient in need. In some cases, additional red cell markers in donated blood must be matched, as well. These markers are best found in blood from donors of a similar ethnicity. With seasonal flu and inclement winter weather preventing many regular
donors from giving, the Red Cross urges healthy, eligible donors to make an appointment to donate blood in the coming days and weeks. All blood types are currently needed to help maintain a diverse and sufficient blood supply, especially types O negative, A negative and B negative. To learn more about donating blood and to schedule an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800733-2767).
Crossword Puzzle W W W. C P O W N Y . C O M
11