Latest news with #Formica
Boston Globe
3 hours ago
- General
- Boston Globe
Walden Pond's makeover: Renovations bring accessibility to Thoreau's haven
'We risk loving that pond to death, but at the same time we are more aware of how we can harm it,' Stager said. Advertisement Construction at Walden Pond. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff Walden Pond is a The pond won't be completely inaccessible this summer: visitors can still enjoy Red Cross Beach an unguarded swimming area. Advertisement For the renovation, the two-story bathhouse from 1947 will be replaced by a one-story 'net-zero' structure, with three added family restrooms. There will also be native plantings added to the pond's east bank to improve erosion, according to Nathaniel Tipton, DCR project manager. Walden Pond has struggled with changing water levels and heavy foot traffic from nearby hiking trails for years. During the renovations, 190 trees and 7,000 shrubs, plants and herbaceous plugs will be planted for runoff control. DCR also plans to use some of the cut-down pine and red oak wood to construct the site. At Walden Pond, a couple makes ripples in the water. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff Along with mitigating erosion, Tipton said that the replanting will protect the slope between the bathhouse and the nearby boat ramp. These efforts will help preserve the pond, since storm waters carrying pollutants will be absorbed by the ground before reaching the water. 'The purpose of this project is to create an accessible and sustainable facility that people of all abilities will be able to use for years to come,' a DCR spokesperson said. Frank Formica, 64, from Woburn, laid on top of a thin towel on the rocky shore of Red Cross Beach on Wednesday after a long sunny swim in Walden Pond. Wearing a Neoprene shirt, he overlooked the water with a bright blue cane and a shiny red mobility bike by his side. Formica, who is handicapped and has been going to Walden since the '70s, knows the struggles of walking down the sloped path to the beach area all too well. He has been diagnosed with cancer four times, and has a severe spinal injury. He is happy with the renovations, which should improve disability and emergency service access. Advertisement 'This pond has healing qualities,' Formica said. Lorena Lorenzo, from Hanscom Air Force Base, said that she is happy with the modernization of the beach access. 'I'm always inside a building,' said Lorenzo, who is a registered nurse and was looking for a mommy-daughter date with her young daughter. 'I just like to be connecting to nature.' David Backer, who visits the pond with his wife and granddaughter, said he is looking forward to the renovations, and that the pond should stay as open and accessible as possible. Backer ran the summer Environmental Science Program in Newton for 18 years, and would encourage teenagers to visit Walden. At Walden Pond, people line the shore at the water's edge. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff 'A lot of the kids were indoor kids. A lot of screen time. And so they had to be kind of coerced to get into the program. But by the end of the program, they were already talking about coming back, because they understood and they appreciated the outdoors,' Backer said. Despite the loud excavators and fencing, visitors from all over New England will continue to search for their own version of tranquility at Walden, even if this summer is a little noisier than usual. Maria Probert can be reached at
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Thousands in CT seeking a REAL ID. You'll have to wait to get one and it might be for a long time
Connecticut residents are scrambling to obtain a REAL ID several weeks after the May 7 deadline, with the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles inundated with customers and no appointment times available until June 17. 'Our staff is working tirelessly to keep up with the demand,' said Shaun Formica, director of communications for the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles. 'If you look at the numbers in the past couple of months we processed nearly 70,000 REAL ID transactions. We are more than doubling what we normally do.' Federal and local airport officials say the implementation of the REAL ID has gone smoothly. Even so, the demand to obtain a REAL ID may require longer wait times at the DMV, according to DMV officials. Formica said the DMV has opened on select Mondays, extended its hours and offered walk-in appointments to accommodate the increased demand during the months of April, May and June in which the DMV served more than 10,000 people. She added that residents who do not have a REAL ID but have plans to travel by air within the next 30 days can visit a DMV location for same day service. Residents who have an immediate need to register a vehicle may visit any DMV office Tuesday through Friday until 2 p.m., according to the DMV. Gary Pipkin, a Chester resident, said he bought a second vehicle several weeks ago and when there was an issue with the title, the seller was told that it could be fixed on the spot at the DMV. But there were no appointments available, he said. 'The sale has been delayed for weeks,' Pipkin said. 'She is sitting with a vehicle that she can't sell to me because she can't make an appointment.' He said he did not see online that there was a walk-in option. He added that he is concerned about anyone who might be living paycheck to paycheck and can't get an appointment to register a vehicle needed to drive to work and as a result the vehicle becomes impounded. Formica said she has received phone calls about appointments for REAL ID and has been able to get people in for walk-in appointments. 'If you are not traveling by air this month, it is not that pressing,' she said. She said the REAL ID has been in place in the state since 2011. 'We are doing our best to serve everyone,' she said. On May 7, travelers were required to present a REAL ID or a U.S. passport to board a domestic flight or access certain federal facilities, according to information from the DMV. The DMV states that without a REAL ID, residents may face delays or may be denied entry. In 2005, Congress passed the REAL ID Act 'to combat identity fraud and create a more secure verification standard for citizens,' according to the DMV. It is the federal standard for verifying one's ID. Formica said that AAA and Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union are also available to help residents with REAL ID upgrades and license renewals. Tracy Noble, manager of public and government affairs for AAA Club Alliance said in an email that 'AAA retail stores saw a dramatic increase in appointments for REAL ID in April and May as the May 7th deadline loomed and we are currently booking appointments in July,' Noble said. 'While we try to accommodate walk-in clients, volume remains high and we highly recommend an appointment as wait times may be significant if staffing allows.' Noble said appointments vary by location, with June appointments available dependent on the location. Daniel Velez, the New England spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration, said REAL ID compliance has gone smoothly at Bradley International Airport with a 96.6% acceptable form of ID. 'Passengers who present a state-issued identification that is not REAL ID compliant at TSA checkpoints and who do not have another acceptable alternative form of ID will be notified of their non-compliance and may be directed to a separate area to receive additional screening,' Velez said. Velez said the maximum wait time at the airport security checkpoint was 14 minutes on May 28 and May 29 at Bradley International Airport.
The Spinoff
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
The dawn of 1989 and the night that saved me
In this excerpt from her new book This Compulsion In Us, Tina Makereti writes about the night she refused to go in her dad's car. It is the summer of my 15th birthday when Dad has the party. It's still the start of summer, the end of the school year, and even though it's mostly old people at this party, I'm glad to have free access to the booze. Usually I have a friend with me, but this night I don't, which is a relief really, considering what comes next. I don't know if I have any friends left at this point anyway, given the way the year has gone. There have been a number of poorly judged friendships and relationships from which I emerged as lonely and lost as ever. Too many cigarettes smoked and too many awkward experiments with bogan teenage rebellion. As usual, I don't think I've fooled anyone into thinking I have anything together or am cool in any way, which, embarrassingly, is probably all I want in life. I haven't learnt to embrace my inner weirdo yet. Or her outward manifestations. I'm in the kitchen leaning against the long Formica bench where all the drinks are lined up. Dad used to take me to the pub and give me 'ladies' drinks' like Pimm's and shandy, but I don't think he bothers policing what I'm drinking anymore. I'm in a conversation with Dad's best mate, who is ten or so years younger than him and not as gross as all the other middle-agers in the room. He always has an attractive girlfriend too. This memory is 30-something years old, so I don't know how we get to this exact moment. It's just suspended there, this one conversation and what comes after. We're talking about the nature of women's orgasms, and he has it wrong. 'That's not how it works,' I hear myself saying. I'm searching his face for some sign that he's taking the piss, that he has some ulterior motive. I might not be any good at dealing with kids my own age, but I have impeccable instincts when it comes to adults. 'But I thought when the guy shoots his load, you know, the woman is done too.' He seems genuinely puzzled, if slightly amused. 'Nah—it's different for her.' I've never actually had an orgasm, but I've read the collected works of Jean M. Auel and Alice Walker. Those books are educational. 'Really? I always thought that when it happens for him, it happens at the same time for her.' He pauses. It's impossible to have this conversation without imagining him banging away at his current girlfriend, and her efforts to look completely satisfied when he finishes. How could it be that none of them have told him? 'How does it happen for the woman then?' he asks. This is the big question. I'm not sure how to explain. It's one thing to point out how it doesn't happen, quite another to get into the intricacies of how it does. Anatomical words will need to be used. If I'm wrong, and if there is some other motive at play in this conversation, it could all get very uncomfortable very quickly. I'm not entirely sure why it has been comfortable to this point. People seem to be treating me like an adult. I've been told I look like one. But suddenly I don't have to explain. Suddenly Dad is there, yelling. 'What are you talking to my daughter about? I invite you into my home and you talk to my daughter like this?' 'It's OK. She's not worried about it.'' 'I'm worried about it.' 'It's not a big deal.' At this point, Dad becomes enraged. Of course it's a big deal. I don't understand the fuss. Nobody else understands the fuss. I've spent much of the last year being dragged to pubs and house parties by my father (better than leaving me home alone), surrounded by middle-aged men and their women. I've seen more than a few drunken liaisons that I wish I hadn't been privy to. But this is my dad. Some line, known only to him, has been crossed. 'Mate, I didn't mean anything by it.' 'How dare you talk to my daughter like that! How dare you!' People try to get Dad to calm down. But this makes things worse. Everybody get out. A punch or two is thrown and dodged. There is pushing. People are shaking their heads. 'Mate, you're crazy.' 'Out,' he yells. 'Get out, the lot of you!' People head towards the door. Some of them are still trying to calm him down. Maybe someone asks if I'm OK. I give them a noncommittal affirmative; what are they going to do if I'm not? Dad goes to see the stragglers off. The party's over. Friendship too. I retreat to the lounge. On Saturday mornings I come into this lounge and watch reruns of The Addams Family and the original Star Trek. There's a massive 1970s rock-wall fireplace in here, two old lounge chairs beside it. Other than this, the house is mainly empty of furniture. I sleep on a mattress on the floor. It's our third or fourth place this year, since my big sister left home. Soon it will be my birthday, the day before New Year's Eve 1988, and the following night, while getting a ride to a party, Dad will be so drunk he'll try to exit the car while it's speeding along the motorway. When we get to the party and discover how dire it is, we will both want to go home and he will insist on taking someone's car to get there. Afraid his drunk driving will kill me, I will refuse to get into the car with him, the first time I've ever done such a thing. It's not the first or the last time I will fear his drunkenness or his driving, but after a screaming row that raises the neighbourhood, we'll walk the two or more hours home just before the first dawn of 1989, exhausted but alive. In a couple of months we'll leave this house. Dad will leave town and I will stay to finish high school, boarding privately. That bleak New Year's will also be the night that saves me, since it will be the moment we both realise that it can't go on, and Dad will eventually give me the gift of his departure and my independence. But right now I am by the fireplace and the world is spinning. I close my eyes to enjoy the sensation. Things have gone quiet. Dad comes and sits across from me, by the fireplace. 'You OK?' he asks. 'Everything's spinning,' I say. 'Yeah, that happens sometimes,' he says. I can tell from his voice that I'm not in trouble. The fight has gone out of him, and now he sounds gentle. He leans back, mirroring my pose. 'You gonna puke?' 'No—I don't think so.' And we sit in companionable silence for a long time, the world spinning in bliss or madness, I don't know what.
The Irish Sun
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
The contemporary converted schoolhouse on Irish market for €250k – it's in a tranquil location minutes from beach
A CONVERTED schoolhouse has hit the market in Donegal - and it comes with some huge perks. Selling for €250,000, Driftwood Cottage in Ballyara is located in Killybegs, Co Advertisement 7 Driftwood Cottage in Ballyara, Killybegs, Co. Donegal is selling for €250K Credit: 7 The home has preserved its old charm Credit: 7 The home has large windows to allow a large amount of natural light in Credit: Spanning 134 square metres, it comes complete with four bedrooms and two bathrooms - making it perfect for a The converted On the listing, the It has been constructed using natural local stone, and enhanced with a sleek timber frame extension at the back. Advertisement READ MORE IN PROPERTY The current owners preserved the historical character while making it more modern with essential conveniences. And the original stonework exemplifies craftsmanship and tradition. Upon entering the property, guests are met with a storm porch measuring 3m x 1.7m. It features two hardwood front doors with clear glass panelling, an exposed stone wall, vaulted tongue and grove paneling to the ceiling, a frosted glass centre light and a ceramic tiled floor. Advertisement Most read in Money The kitchen and dining room spans 4.5m x 3.3m, and features 5m high vaulted ceilings with two velux windows and a stone affect tiled floor. The kitchen is fitted with a range of modern amenities including wall-to-wall base units with marble affect Formica worktops and a large glass display cabinet. The 'charming' Irish castle on market with a host of perks There is also a Belfast sink with a chrome swan-neck centre tap, a wooden drainer, a built-in electric oven and four ring ceramic hotplate over a slot-in fridge and freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, large pendant centre light, tiled splashback. From here, an open-arch leads to the living room which measures 4.5m x 2.3m. Advertisement The room is complete with stone affect tiled flooring, a featured natural stone fireplace with solid pine mantle, a vaulted tongue and grove paneling to the ceiling with a decorative frosted glass centre light. It also features dual aspect windows for lots of natural light, with a built in bookcase. The inner hall measures 7.8m x 1m, and has a high gloss marble affect tiled floor, two skylights, digital heating controls and a thermostat, along with two centre lights. The sitting room measures 6.4m x 4.4m and has dual aspect windows and a feature exposed natural stone fireplace with a slate hearth and a solid pine mantle. Advertisement FOUR BEDROOMS The floors are semi-solid hardwood, with herringbone timber flooring to the upper level, and wooden panelling to the ceiling with an exposed beam. There are two frosted glass centre lights, an eFibre PSTN and coaxial wall sockets. The second storm porch measures 3m x 1.7m, and has a hardwood door, concrete flooring and a centre light. The first bedroom measures 4.4m x 3.9m, and has a floor-to-ceiling corner window, high gloss marble affect tiled flooring and a centre light. Advertisement It also has an ensuite measuring 2.3m x 2m, which is fitted with all essential features. It has modern sanitary ware in white, comprising of a low flush w.c, pedestal wash hand basin with wooden vanity mirror over, fully tiled rectangular shower cubicle with a fitted 'Reding' electric shower, tiled floor, heated chrome towel rail and a centre light. The second bedroom measures 3.8m x 2.4m, while the third is 3.8m x 2.6m, and both have high gloss marble affect tiled flooring with centre lights. ORIGINAL FEATURES The fourth bedroom measures 5.3m x 2.9m, and has a floor-to-ceiling window, carpet floors and a centre light. Advertisement The second bathroom measures 3.8m x 2.1m, and is fitted with modern sanitary ware in white. This also comprises of a low flush w.c, pedestal wash hand basin with wooden vanity mirror over, fully tiled rectangular shower cubicle with fitted electric shower, oval bath with chrome mixed taps and shower cradle, heated chrome towels rail, centre light, and a built-in hotpress with factory insulated cylinder tank. The property also has oil fired central heating with an energy efficient boiler, uPVC double glazed windows in the extension and is connected to main water and a septic tank. On the original schoolhouse part, it still has the original slate roof along with the original laying-pane style hardwood windows with shutters. Advertisement The home has a BER rating of D2. PRIME LOCATION The home is located in a picturesque setting, just 10 minutes from Fintra Beach. In a tranquil secluded setting, it is the perfect place for a relaxing life, while it's also close to all required amenities. It is located just off the main access road leading from Killybegs to Glencolmcille. Advertisement Killybegs and Kilcar is situated nearby, with pubs, cafes, shops and recreational facilities all on offer. The listing added: "If you are looking for a change of lifestyle and a change of pace, this beautifully presented and unique property could fulfil your dreams." 7 The home has four bedrooms Credit: 7 There are two bathrooms Credit: Advertisement 7 The home has an extension added Credit: 7 The home is situated in a tranquil setting Credit:
Buzz Feed
14-05-2025
- Business
- Buzz Feed
This Multi-Rack Air Fryer Is Now Under $90
If you've always wanted an air fryer but don't have the room to spare, this large-capacity wonder-oven might do the trick. Chefman's multifunctional digital air fryer+ has a touch screen with a whopping 17 preset options, with the ability to bake, dehydrate, and roast. In a review titled 'the only kitchen appliance you need,' one reviewer even says they used it to replace their broken oven: 'We relied on this for cooking all our meals, and even baking cookies, for about 1 year. It does a fantastic job, and we didn't even miss our oven.' It's also so big, it can fit an entire rotisserie type of functionality with a countertop appliance is unbeatable, and right now, its price is too, since it's recently dropped to under $90!With its 10-liter capacity, three rack positions, and a drip tray large enough to hold a whole chicken (though your mileage may vary), this air fryer could be your new kitchen workhorse. It can bake, roast, and dehydrate, plus it has several one-touch buttons that automatically cook foods based on what they are, from fish to meats to veggies. The machine has dishwasher-safe components for easy cleaning and cooks between 95- to 400-degrees seem to really love it, calling it quiet, easy to clean, and fast, as it doesn't need to preheat before cooking. 'This is the most quiet kitchen appliance I have ever purchased; it makes less noise than my microwave,' says one reviewer. 'No preheating, no heating the entire apartment, just perfect crisp.'Find a helping hand with this all-in-one kitchen appliance while it's on sale, and check out what other reviewers had to say about it below if you need the extra push. Promising reviews: 'I purchased this air fryer in November of 2021 after our oven broke. We relied on this for cooking all our meals and even baking cookies for about one year. It does a fantastic job, and we didn't even miss our oven. Now the oven is repaired, but we still use this air fryer daily for cooking various things. I had read some reviews that said it heats up the counter underneath, and it ruined some people's countertops. We have Formica counters and have never had any issues with them being too hot. I did, however, purchase an inexpensive wooden cutting board for it to sit on, which protects the counters and makes it easier to slide the air fryer out for use. The only negative I can think of is that the alarm for when finished cooking is very loud, but that hasn't been too big of an issue.' —Valerie Horjus'Couldn't live without it !!! So easy to clean. I no longer need the ball and chain oven around the home. The rotisserie feature is a plus for Cornish hens and other red meats.' —Jro'Excellent! I've been using this for about one month. It replaced a similar (Aria) air fryer I used regularly for three years. This one cooks at a higher temperature than my old one. The metal wire racks are the perfect alternative to the nonstick surfaces of most air fryers. Easier to clean outside than the old air fryer. The rotisserie feature seems kind of silly since the oven is not big enough for a standard chicken! We make excellent roast lamb, roast beef, and roast chicken in this oven. We regularly make roasted veg and french fries (cut spuds, soak, towel dry, toss in bowl with olive oil, corn starch, salt, and spices). Perfect for making and warming pizza. Very practical appliance, and this one is highly recommended.' —Ace Sophia'Didn't think that I would like using one, but it is a blessing. Don't like using the oven because it's too much work. This is so easy to clean and use. The best for reheating fried chicken, fish, and french fries.' —Maggie Kelly'Everyone kept telling me they love their air fryer, so I wanted one. I became obsessed with finding the perfect one for me, so after a month, I settled on this one. The first thing I made was berry crisp. I threw the stuff together in a couple of single-serve bake dishes, set it to 350 for 40 minutes, and it was perfect. No preheating, no heating the entire apartment, just perfect crisp. There were several complaints from other buyers who said there were missing pieces or their units didn't work, or initially worked and then stopped working. Mine came very well packaged, no damage, all parts included, so I have no complaints there, but I understand if maybe some sellers are less thorough or trustworthy regarding the products they provide. Some complained that it was loud. This is the most quiet kitchen appliance I have ever purchased, it makes less noise than my microwave. Also, I'm not quite sure why people complain that the drip tray isn't large enough. It's literally the same dimensions as the bottom of the unit, so any spill-over should land on the tray unless you're filling this unit over capacity somehow, not sure how that is possible. I also want to mention that although heat did radiate from the unit immediately around it, it did not heat up my kitchen, and it stayed warm to the touch, but it wasn't hot, so despite baking for 40 minutes, I was able to open the oven door with my bare hands. Anyway, I'm very happy, so far. This is only day one, so I will come back and update.' —CB (This review has been edited for length. Read the full review.)'I purchased this after my 1st air fryer stopped working. It's wonderful, it's like a countertop oven. It's easy to use and has multiple shelves, so its cooking capacity is larger. Absolutely love it' —Lin'We upgraded from the 'egg-shaped' air fryer that came out years ago. Noticed we were using it more than we thought we would, and figured more cooking space would be beneficial. This one is great. Cooks everything perfectly, and options for placement of food are a huge bonus. It also has options for baking and dehydrating, which I haven't tried yet, but will get there and be able to ditch the dehydrator. It is compact enough to take up less space on the counter, looks nice, and works well (we have been using it regularly for 4 months). The cleaning is easy too! I keep the smooth pan on the bottom in case something drips (or crumbs), and cleanup is super easy as all the shelves come out and go into the dishwasher.' —Michelle Pong Get the 10 quart size from Amazon for $82.99 (originally $139.99; also available in four styles).
