Latest news with #Brunswick
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- News.com.au
Brunswick: Victorian-era house transforms after major reno
It was a very different world when Matt Smyth and his now wife Emma Rigby bought their first home, a heritage Victorian, in August, 2020. 'We bought the house on the day we went into the second lockdown. It was around the time when everyone was predicting prices would tank due to the 'mortgage cliff', so it felt quite risky at the time,' Smyth says. The three-bedroom Brunswick home was also very different to what it is now. 'The house hadn't been touched since the 1950s but because of the significant work needed, it fell into our price range,' he says. 'With the deep block, we knew that eventually, with a lot of work, it would be a ripper house,' he adds. And that is what the couple set out to achieve through their extensive renovations. Due to the planning, the pandemic, and the shortage of materials, the extension took considerably more time to complete. The extension features a large, open-plan kitchen, dining and living area built on a heated, polished concrete slab, as well as a double garage and the conversion of the old living room into an ensuite and main bathroom. 'The biggest difference from what it was before is the fact that it's warm in winter and cool in summer,' Smyth says. 'Putting in proper insulation, double-glazed windows in the extension, and providing the option of panel heaters, underfloor heating, split systems in all the major rooms and a wood-burning fire has completely changed the enjoyment of living in the classic, draughty Victorian weatherboard.'
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Mills signs bill to shut off fire suppression systems with forever chemicals at Brunswick Landing
May 28—Gov. Janet Mills has signed one of several bills aimed at preventing another discharge of "forever chemical"-containing firefighting foam at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station. The governor signed LD 407, An Act to Prohibit the Use of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam at the Former Brunswick Naval Air Station, last week. It stipulates that starting Jan. 1, 2026, the use and storage of AFFF — a fire suppression foam containing a toxic PFAS chemical known as PFOS — will be prohibited at the former air station. Now known as Brunswick Landing, the area is operated by the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, which has overseen the development of homes, businesses and the Brunswick Executive Airport on the former base. LD 407 among several "forever chemicals" bills that lawmakers are considering this session following a catastrophic firefighting spill at the Brunswick Executive Airport's hangar 4 in August 2024. The spill released 1,450 gallons of aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, containing a toxic PFAS chemical known as PFOS, mixed with 50,000 gallons of water. "The Governor was pleased to sign this bill into law to direct the permanent removal of harmful fire suppressant foam from the former Brunswick Naval Air Station," a Mills spokesperson said in an email. "This accountability measure will avoid future environmental harm and give the community peace of mind about conducting business at Brunswick Landing in the years ahead." MRRA Executive Director Dan Stevenson said the authority is on-track to remove all AFFF by the end of the calendar year, as required by the law. "We were aware of [LD 407] and had worked with Rep. (Dan) Ankeles on it," Stevenson said. Brunswick Executive Airport's hangar 5 still contains an active AFFF system. MRRA shut off the system in hangar 6 and removed 975 gallons of AFFF concentrate, which was shipped out by the Army Corps of Engineers for research last month. MRRA has also removed AFFF from hangar 7, which remains on-site as it awaits transportation by PFAS remediation company ECT2. ECT2 has also removed remnants of AFFF from hangar 6, Stevenson said. The now-law assigns the Department of Environmental Protection with enforcing the prohibition on property leased or owned by MRRA. Brunswick lawmakers have backed four additional bills related to the August 2024 PFAS spill. The bills call for a statewide foam inventory (LD 400); a state-run voluntary foam collection, storage and disposal program (LD 222); increased public information on PFAS contamination standards (LD 1786); and the restructuring of the MRRA to add more oversight by members of the Brunswick community (LD 1637). Both LD 400 and LD 222, the state inventory and takeback programs, are awaiting funding in the Senate before they reach the governor's desk. LD 1786 and LD 1637 have both received initial approval in committee and face additional votes in the House and Senate. The AFFF prohibition bill was introduced by Ankeles and backed by other Brunswick-area lawmakers, including Maine Senate President Mattie Daughtry and Rep. Poppy Arford. "I'm very grateful to my colleagues for passing LD 407, the governor for signing it, and the people of Brunswick for using the power of their advocacy to ensure its success," Ankeles wrote in an emailed statement Wednesday, calling the legislation "a victory for every resident in the path of the spill." "Brunswick will still have plenty to reckon with, especially those on private wells," Ankeles continued. "We must remain diligent in our efforts to protect them and make them whole, and we must keep pushing those in power not to abandon a cleanup effort that is likely to go on for years. Nobody deserves to be exposed to these poisons, in Brunswick or anywhere else." Copy the Story Link
The Guardian
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Shein turns to Hong Kong for flotation as London attempt stalls, reports say
Shein is reportedly aiming to list on the Hong Kong stock exchange as the online fast-fashion retailer struggles to gain the go-ahead from Chinese regulators for a flotation in London. The company, which was founded in China where the majority of its suppliers are based but now has its headquarters in Singapore, is aiming to file a draft prospectus with Hong Kong's stock exchange in the coming weeks, according to Reuters. It said Shein plans to go public in the Asian financial hub this year, which would scotch hopes of what would have been one of the biggest listings ever to hit the London Stock Exchange. Fears about a change of heart have been rising since it emerged earlier this month that Shein had dropped Brunswick and FGS, two communications companies that were aiding its push for a London listing. Shein, which was valued at $66bn (£48.9bn) in a 2023 fundraising round, filed papers with Britain's markets regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, almost a year ago and gained the go-ahead last month. However, it also requires approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission from which it has faced unexpected delays, according to Reuters. The reported change in venue comes amid wider concerns about Shein's planned market listing after the US government closed a loophole that allowed overseas sellers to import parcels of goods worth less than $800 direct to shoppers without paying tax. The company had initially been expected to list with a value of as much as £50bn in the UK but estimates have fallen to as little as half of that amount amid changes to US import rules and planned government action in the EU and UK. Official Chinese data showed its total e-commerce shipping to the US dropped 65% by volume in the first three months of the year but rose by 28% in Europe, as companies such as Shein and Temu were hit by the change and additional US tariffs on Chinese-made goods. While Shein has indicated it may shift production to different countries to help ease the effect on its prices, its low-tax model is facing challenges around the world. The EU also said in February it would join the US in phasing out its exemption on customs duties for low-value parcels. The UK chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is also reviewing the tax regime for imports of low-value goods in an effort to prevent Chinese companies undercutting British retailers by dumping cheap items on online marketplaces. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion Meanwhile, in the UK, Shein has faced questions about its links to forced Uyghur labour in the Xinjiang region of China. In January, the company refused to reassure British MPs that its products do not include items produced in Xinjiang, prompting one MP to accuse its representative of 'wilful ignorance'. The advocacy group Stop Uyghur Genocide announced a legal challenge in June last year and sent the FCA a dossier in August alleging that Shein uses cotton from the region. In February, Shein told MPs it had found two cases of child labour at its suppliers, and insisted it took a 'strict zero-tolerance approach' to the issue.
CNN
27-05-2025
- Business
- CNN
Economic warning sign: Tinned fish sales are on the rise
Tinned fish in America no longer means a sad, forgotten can of tuna collecting dust in the pantry. And Americans looking to save money in the face of economic headwinds are fueling their soaring popularity. Social media users are proudly posting a mosaic of gourmet ocean-dwellers plucked from waters off the coasts of countries like Spain and Italy, with vibrant packaging that evokes a Mediterranean seaside vacation. Try a lemon caper mackerel over poached egg and toast, or chop up spicy sardines over bruschetta and balsamic, they encourage. Even Trader Joe's, long a mainstream cultural bellwether, makes a surprisingly flavorful canned calamari. Social butterflies are hosting tinned fish parties, while those who want a chill night in are creating 'seacuterie' boards – like charcuterie boards but with tinned fish – or whipping up gourmet pastas with a $4.99 can of sardines. Tinned fish, unlike toilet paper and dalgona coffee is one of those pandemic purchases that has had relative staying power in the American psyche. But chatter about tinned fish has particularly spiked in recent months, at the same time as economic anxiety and declining consumer sentiment amid the Trump administration's chaotic trade war. Though the United States isn't in a recession right now, economic optimism is at a near-record low, according to University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index this month. It's a sign that tinned fish could be a grim 'recession indicator,' some social media commentators – and experts – lament. Searches for 'tinned fish' on Google spiked to the highest 2023 levels around the holiday season in 2024 and maintained an uptick since then. In the past 90 days, searches for Nuri's Portuguese sardines in spiced olive oil skyrocketed 2,750% and Brunswick sardines in olive oil jumped 4,000%. When you want to feel fancy, tinned fish is a 'happy medium between a can of Bumble (tuna) and going to the fresh case in the grocery,' Chris Sherman, CEO of New England-based Island Creek Oysters, told CNN. Consumers are looking for 'affordable escapism,' Ross Steinman, a consumer psychologist and professor at Widener University, told CNN. Americans may not be traveling as much this summer. So instead of booking that trip to Mallorca, they're sampling tinned fish imported from Spain in colorful Mediterranean-blue packaging. Whether it's a straight recession indicator is complicated, Amelia Finaret, a food economist at Allegheny College and registered dietician, said to CNN. If only cheap cans of tuna were increasing in popularity, that would be an alarming sign. The growth of both affordable and artisanal cans of sardines and mussels could just show Americans are diversifying their preferences for healthy sources of proteins. However, she said when people are stressed out about the economy, they turn to two types of foods at the grocery stores: ones with a long shelf life and ones that are convenient, both qualities that tinned fish possess. 'If convenience is really what people are looking for, then maybe this is an indicator of strain, versus being able to spend time in the kitchen with fresh fish,' she said. And there's no escaping sardines, even if the salty snacks aren't your thing: Fashion bloggers predict it's going to be a Sardine Girl Summer. Anthropologie storefronts in Manhattan last month were adorned with human-sized decorations that looked like fish tins, and the retailer recently dropped a new collection that features sardines on glassware, towels and even candles - the $26 Original Tinned Fish Candle comes in a 'tin,' with scents like olive oil and sea salt. Fashion retailer Staud's beaded 'Staudines' bag was on many a whimsical fashionista's wish list. The trend is similar to a luxury brand, Widener University's Steinman said. But while luxury brands symbolize wealth, donning a sardine tote shows 'you're on the pulse and are aware of what's going on.' Island Creek Oysters began selling online in 2019, and it has 'continued on an upward trend ever since,' Sherman said. Tinned fish was a way to bring restaurant-level food to your kitchen, he said, and the years-long shelf life also evoked the doomsday prepping sentiment that overtook some during the pandemic. The growing tinned fish industry is still the 'wild west,' said Dan Waber, co-owner of Rainbow Tomatoes Garden, a retailer of tinned fish. In niche industries like tinned fish, he notices even a good football game over the weekend or a post by a social media influencer can impact short-term sales. Neah Patkunas, who reviews tinned fish on her Instagram, first got into the canned creatures in 2021 and was known in her circles as the 'tinned fish girl.' People thought it 'kind of strange that I was eating it as frequently as I did,' she said. For Patkunas, tinned fish is a cheap and easy source of protein, but at the same time, she considers the pricier tins from Europe to be a luxury import. Spain and Portugal are renowned for their tinned fish exports, and Northern Europe has a strong history in canning. Tinned fish industries are also strong in Japan, Korea and China. And that could be making it harder for those who sell tinned fish in the US to plan ahead, since most fish in the US is imported. Tariffs have thrown many businesses that rely on imports into a loop and put a damper on consumer sentiment. With the back-and-forth on tariffs, Waber hasn't been able to make any major decisions on the imported goods. 'All we can do is react,' he said. 'When the price goes up, the price we sell for goes up.' At the same time, a wide price range of tinned fish means that consumers can buy a $6 tin of sardines instead of a $10 one, he said. Patkunas, the tinned fish reviewer, said Americans are late to the party, only now viewing tinned fish as a way to try another country's delicacy. It wasn't until late 2024 that her friends began viewing tinned fish as a new delicacy, and this year, she finally feels like 'it's something that I don't feel weird bringing up.' The few canneries based in the United States are enjoying the rise in popularity among Americans. Mathew Scaletta's grandmother started Wildfish Cannery in 1987 in southeastern Alaska. The business began as a stop for fishermen to have their catches smoked and preserved, open for just the few months of the summer fishing season. Then in the 2010s, Scaletta wondered why there wasn't a cannery in the US that treated tinned goods like a delicacy with the best quality fish instead of a bare-bones commodity. Ten years ago, he came back to Alaska and took over Wildfish Cannery with that vision, developing product lines and redesigning packaging. Once the first pandemic lockdown happened, 'we sold what would've been months' worth of stock in a week.' He predicts that in five years, the US market will view tinned fish as more established, rather than a trend. Five years after the pandemic, he still expressed surprise that the food he grew up eating over rice and hot sauce has become so trendy. But is tinned fish's resurgence truly a recession indicator? 'I'm here selling $10 cans of fish, which is bougie as hell, so I don't know,' he said.
CNN
27-05-2025
- Business
- CNN
Economic warning sign: Tinned fish sales are on the rise
Tinned fish in America no longer means a sad, forgotten can of tuna collecting dust in the pantry. And Americans looking to save money in the face of economic headwinds are fueling their soaring popularity. Social media users are proudly posting a mosaic of gourmet ocean-dwellers plucked from waters off the coasts of countries like Spain and Italy, with vibrant packaging that evokes a Mediterranean seaside vacation. Try a lemon caper mackerel over poached egg and toast, or chop up spicy sardines over bruschetta and balsamic, they encourage. Even Trader Joe's, long a mainstream cultural bellwether, makes a surprisingly flavorful canned calamari. Social butterflies are hosting tinned fish parties, while those who want a chill night in are creating 'seacuterie' boards – like charcuterie boards but with tinned fish – or whipping up gourmet pastas with a $4.99 can of sardines. Tinned fish, unlike toilet paper and dalgona coffee is one of those pandemic purchases that has had relative staying power in the American psyche. But chatter about tinned fish has particularly spiked in recent months, at the same time as economic anxiety and declining consumer sentiment amid the Trump administration's chaotic trade war. Though the United States isn't in a recession right now, economic optimism is at a near-record low, according to University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index this month. It's a sign that tinned fish could be a grim 'recession indicator,' some social media commentators – and experts – lament. Searches for 'tinned fish' on Google spiked to the highest 2023 levels around the holiday season in 2024 and maintained an uptick since then. In the past 90 days, searches for Nuri's Portuguese sardines in spiced olive oil skyrocketed 2,750% and Brunswick sardines in olive oil jumped 4,000%. When you want to feel fancy, tinned fish is a 'happy medium between a can of Bumble (tuna) and going to the fresh case in the grocery,' Chris Sherman, CEO of New England-based Island Creek Oysters, told CNN. Consumers are looking for 'affordable escapism,' Ross Steinman, a consumer psychologist and professor at Widener University, told CNN. Americans may not be traveling as much this summer. So instead of booking that trip to Mallorca, they're sampling tinned fish imported from Spain in colorful Mediterranean-blue packaging. Whether it's a straight recession indicator is complicated, Amelia Finaret, a food economist at Allegheny College and registered dietician, said to CNN. If only cheap cans of tuna were increasing in popularity, that would be an alarming sign. The growth of both affordable and artisanal cans of sardines and mussels could just show Americans are diversifying their preferences for healthy sources of proteins. However, she said when people are stressed out about the economy, they turn to two types of foods at the grocery stores: ones with a long shelf life and ones that are convenient, both qualities that tinned fish possess. 'If convenience is really what people are looking for, then maybe this is an indicator of strain, versus being able to spend time in the kitchen with fresh fish,' she said. And there's no escaping sardines, even if the salty snacks aren't your thing: Fashion bloggers predict it's going to be a Sardine Girl Summer. Anthropologie storefronts in Manhattan last month were adorned with human-sized decorations that looked like fish tins, and the retailer recently dropped a new collection that features sardines on glassware, towels and even candles - the $26 Original Tinned Fish Candle comes in a 'tin,' with scents like olive oil and sea salt. Fashion retailer Staud's beaded 'Staudines' bag was on many a whimsical fashionista's wish list. The trend is similar to a luxury brand, Widener University's Steinman said. But while luxury brands symbolize wealth, donning a sardine tote shows 'you're on the pulse and are aware of what's going on.' Island Creek Oysters began selling online in 2019, and it has 'continued on an upward trend ever since,' Sherman said. Tinned fish was a way to bring restaurant-level food to your kitchen, he said, and the years-long shelf life also evoked the doomsday prepping sentiment that overtook some during the pandemic. The growing tinned fish industry is still the 'wild west,' said Dan Waber, co-owner of Rainbow Tomatoes Garden, a retailer of tinned fish. In niche industries like tinned fish, he notices even a good football game over the weekend or a post by a social media influencer can impact short-term sales. Neah Patkunas, who reviews tinned fish on her Instagram, first got into the canned creatures in 2021 and was known in her circles as the 'tinned fish girl.' People thought it 'kind of strange that I was eating it as frequently as I did,' she said. For Patkunas, tinned fish is a cheap and easy source of protein, but at the same time, she considers the pricier tins from Europe to be a luxury import. Spain and Portugal are renowned for their tinned fish exports, and Northern Europe has a strong history in canning. Tinned fish industries are also strong in Japan, Korea and China. And that could be making it harder for those who sell tinned fish in the US to plan ahead, since most fish in the US is imported. Tariffs have thrown many businesses that rely on imports into a loop and put a damper on consumer sentiment. With the back-and-forth on tariffs, Waber hasn't been able to make any major decisions on the imported goods. 'All we can do is react,' he said. 'When the price goes up, the price we sell for goes up.' At the same time, a wide price range of tinned fish means that consumers can buy a $6 tin of sardines instead of a $10 one, he said. Patkunas, the tinned fish reviewer, said Americans are late to the party, only now viewing tinned fish as a way to try another country's delicacy. It wasn't until late 2024 that her friends began viewing tinned fish as a new delicacy, and this year, she finally feels like 'it's something that I don't feel weird bringing up.' The few canneries based in the United States are enjoying the rise in popularity among Americans. Mathew Scaletta's grandmother started Wildfish Cannery in 1987 in southeastern Alaska. The business began as a stop for fishermen to have their catches smoked and preserved, open for just the few months of the summer fishing season. Then in the 2010s, Scaletta wondered why there wasn't a cannery in the US that treated tinned goods like a delicacy with the best quality fish instead of a bare-bones commodity. Ten years ago, he came back to Alaska and took over Wildfish Cannery with that vision, developing product lines and redesigning packaging. Once the first pandemic lockdown happened, 'we sold what would've been months' worth of stock in a week.' He predicts that in five years, the US market will view tinned fish as more established, rather than a trend. Five years after the pandemic, he still expressed surprise that the food he grew up eating over rice and hot sauce has become so trendy. But is tinned fish's resurgence truly a recession indicator? 'I'm here selling $10 cans of fish, which is bougie as hell, so I don't know,' he said.
