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PF Flyers is joining forces with legendary Boston-based youth development organization, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, for the first philanthropic partnership for the brand. To kick off the partnership, PF Flyers is donating $25,000 to the organization to send more than 25 members to Celtics Camp this summer. This impactful gift will be used for camp registration, clothing, and gear, and any other supplies members may need for their camp experience. The brand is also outfitting every member attending camp with a new pair of PF Flyers.

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"I knew from the moment I purchased PF Flyers that I wanted the brand to have a bigger impact on the Boston community than it ever had. I've always been passionate about giving back to kids and families, especially in my own backyard, and our newest partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston is the perfect way to further our goal of inspiring people to dream bigger," said Executive Chairwoman and Owner Kassia Davis. In addition to the new partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, Kassia remains active with the New Balance charitable foundation and the West End House Boys and Girls Club.

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The brand is committed to continuing to partner with Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston throughout the upcoming year and beyond, working closely with leaders at the organization to continually identify areas where PF Flyers and its resources can be most impactful.

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"Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston is thrilled to partner with PF Flyers, a female-owned sports brand, and one that understands the importance of investing in our city's youth to create equal opportunity," said Robert Lewis, Jr., Nicholas President, and CEO. "I look forward to our work together, and what better way to kick off our partnership than to provide our members the opportunity to participate in Celtics Basketball Camp this summer. As we continue to emerge from the pandemic, physical activity for our young people remains more critical than ever."

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Acquired from New Balance by Kassia Davis in July 2021, PF Flyers officially relaunched in December 2021.

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DigiTrends, an application developer and digital solutions firm, has been recognized by Manifest for its stellar work in Pakistan. Manifest, a business news and how-to website, reviews, ranks, and awards B2B companies for their specialization in a particular service and client reviews.

Manifest presented DigiTrends with the following rankings in Pakistan:

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• 3rd out of 100 most reviewed e-commerce app developer for the month of July 2022.
• 6th mobile app developer for July 2022.  
• 8th best-reviewed B2B company for May 2022.

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Pakistan is the 37th largest market for e-commerce. With a revenue of $5.9 billion USD in 2021, its e-commerce market contributed to a worldwide growth rate of 15%. Thus, by being named an e-commerce leader in Pakistan by Manifest, Digitrends stands as a global leader in e-commerce.

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In the words of Samad Saleem, CEO of DigiTrends: “I am proud that DigiTrends has set a new benchmark in the digital space of e-commerce. What started off as a passion, today has grown to a purpose-driven business for us. So far, my team and I have worked on over 200+ brands on their digital marketing initiatives, and I look forward to many more. Recognition as a top e-commerce app development company will help us attain more global acknowledgment in the future.”

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For more information, go to www.digitrends.pk and www.digitrends.co.

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After twelve years of providing outpatient addiction treatment in Washington, D.C., Aquila Recovery opens the first and only JCAHO (The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) accredited transitional sober living home for men. This is a big next step for Aquila as studies have shown that the more time spent in a structured recovery house, the lower the risk of slipping back into the disease of addiction.

At the 11-room house, Aquila provides a safe and comfortable environment, full-time staff coverage, a high-level constant accountability program, recovery community support, and holistic amenities. Residents will work on transitioning to a more normal life where they work and attend Aquila’s Intensive Outpatient Program in the evenings.

“I'm so proud of this new program that has the resources to help those who are battling all types of addictions at whatever timing they need,” says Michael Schwartz, the founder of Aquila Recovery. “There’s no rush on recovery. There's no timeline. We stand by our mission statement: ‘We meet you wherever you are in life.’”

The official ribbon-cutting ceremony will be on August 4th at 2 PM. Food will be provided by BBQ smoke masters, Smokedatt BBQ and Catering. The house is located at 4907 14th Street NW, Washington D.C.

For more information, go to www.aquilarecovery.com.

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4WestLounge, Harlem’s premier LGBTQ+ bar, celebrates its first anniversary. For the past year, 4WestLounge has served as a place for people to come together and have their social and entertainment needs met in an environment that is welcoming to all regardless of skin color or orientation.



“Our team, from manager to DJ to bar back, have all contributed hugely to our growth. We are particularly gratified to have achieved so much at a time when New York City bars in general, and LGBTQ+ bars serving people of color, have suffered devastating losses and closures"” said Troy Berry and Brian Clark, the founders of 4WestLounge.


4WestLounge will host their anniversary celebration on August 6, 2022, at 9 PM at their location on 303 W 127th St. The bar will be open from 9–11PM with complimentary food. For more information, please visit: www.4westloungeny.splashthat.com.

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Grand Rapids-based cannabis company Fluresh announced a new leadership team as a part of the organization's community-focused direction.

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Fluresh is a leading, vertically integrated cannabis company that cultivates, processes and sells across Michigan. On Oct. 23, 2020, it became the first dispensary in Grand Rapids to sell recreational marijuana.

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New leadership appointments include:

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Brandon Kanitz - Chief Executive Officer

Scott Asiala – President

Shoran Williams - General Counsel and Chief Regulatory Officer

Jacob Fein - Chief Financial Officer

Bob Schwartz - Chief Operating Officer

Sarah LaFleur - Vice President of Marketing

Kevin Cleary - Vice President of Sales

Matthew Eastman - Director of Human Resources

Nic Hernandez - Director of Retail

Nathan VanderVen - General Manager of Grand Rapids Operations  

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The new, West Michigan-based team comes together with varied and robust backgrounds, from those promoted within Fluresh, those outside the company with extensive experience in cannabis and those new to the industry.

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Kanitz, who co-founded Fluresh in 2020, assumed the role of CEO in March 2022. Kanitz founded Thornapple River Capital LLC in October 2015 and was instrumental in raising $125 million in capital to finance Fluresh. He is also the founder and director of Desert Evolution, a vertically integrated Nevada-based cannabis company.

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Hernandez, Fluresh Director of Retail, began working in cannabis 12 years ago when the sale of recreational marijuana first became legal in the United States by way of Colorado and Washington. Hernandez oversees all Fluresh's retail operations, including hiring and training staff.

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He says that the nature of the industry calls for quick adaptation and thoughtful investment.

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"Working one year in cannabis is like working five years in any other industry," he expressed. "Things happen very fast, and we are all learning."

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The fast-paced, ever-evolving nature of the cannabis industry required startups to focus on driving revenue while community investment fell to the wayside. As Fluresh expands across the state, the company's new leadership will focus on building relationships and investing resources into the neighborhoods their facilities operate in to drive property value and intentional community development.

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"One word to sum it up is an investment," Hernandez said. "Community engagement is going to be a huge focus of ours moving forward. We are trying to dig deep and find ways to improve the lives of all the folks on our team and in our communities. It is really important that we build these relationships and find solutions that work for everyone."

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Williams came to Fluresh in March 2022. She believes the new leadership direction allows Fluresh to create standards for how cannabis companies can operate with responsibility and intention to the communities in which they operate.

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"The cannabis industry has an opportunity to be a leader in what can happen when private industry cares about the community in which people live, employ and operate, and when companies exercise their power and resources to do the right thing," Williams said.

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Hernandez echoes William's sentiments.

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"I am very excited about the new leadership and really focusing on getting out into the community and creating these relationships and making a good name for cannabis," Hernandez said. "We are trying to exemplify what could and should be done within this space."fluresh.com

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Storm Guard – an innovative and community-driven roofing and construction brand – is taking strides to expand its essential home restoration services in Lubbock and the surrounding areas. Having some of the most unpredictable and severe weather in the country, Storm Guard's services are a necessity making them the perfect market for franchise development. The newest franchise partner Cory Lemons, has worked within the private property insurance industry for the last 12 years. These jobs provided him with the expertise to handle insurance claims for roofs, siding, and all other exterior construction, as well as the benefit of using high performing products for building and restoration.

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"Being raised in the area, Lubbock will always have a special place in my heart," said Lemons. "When I came across Storm Guard, I was immediately drawn to their sense of family and the commitment that they make to businesses within their local communities. I love Lubbock and I love working with the people of West Texas. I am excited to be able to offer our services and I can't wait to get started."

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Since 2003, Storm Guard has been helping as many families as possible restore their homes after storms and solve problems that all property owners experience including roofing, siding, window improvements, painting, emergency tarping, and installing proper gutters. All repairs ranging from general home upgrades to storm restoration are completed with their customers' best interests in mind, with the brand taking measures to ensure their satisfaction such as alleviating the stress of dealing with insurance claims and providing high-quality work without the high cost.

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"Storm Guard brings trusted roofing, siding, painting, and window and gutter service to customers," stated Shane Lynch, President of Storm Guard. "The residents of Lubbock deserve to have their homes protected by honest and reputable contractors who put integrity first. We are thrilled to add Cory Lemons to the Storm Guard family as we know he will bring trusted services to the Lubbock community."

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Storm Guard is on a mission to provide exceptional restoration services to households all across the country by creating franchising opportunities. The ideal Storm Guard franchisee is driven, a good communicator, and takes immense pride in helping their community.

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For more information about Storm Guard, go to https://www.stormguardrc.com/. To learn more about franchising opportunities, visit https://www.stormguardfranchising.com/.

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Sustainable multidisciplinary artist Isabel Varela will host her second solo art exhibition, Clothes: Minded and Repurposed, from August 11 - September 23, exposing audiences to the dangers of waste in the fashion industry and how her personal experiences helped shape her position as a passionate environmental activist. Varela has partnered on the event with ChaShaMa, an organization that helps create a more diverse and inclusive world for community-centric artists.

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Clothes: Minded and Repurposed is a follow up to Varela's debut solo art exhibit, Clothes: Minded, which ran in 2018 at the Caelum Gallery in NYC. The event featured Varela's work alongside like-minded sustainable artists, working together to captivate the reality of wasteful fashion and what we as a community can do to help improve things. Clothes: Minded and Repurposed will build on her 2018 concept, highlighting fashion industry malpractices and sharing a variety of initiatives people can take to voice their support. The exhibit will feature mixed media pieces centered on these concepts, including: three 10-foot sculptures, one 10-foot x 10-foot sculpture, three 60 x 60 inch mixed media works, and three 40 x 40 inch mixed media paintings.

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Varela's main inspiration for the exhibit is her personal experience. She takes this space and opportunity to turn her pain, shame, and guilt into a powerful learning tool for others to help them transform and heal – which, in turn, heals our planet.

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Click here to secure your tickets.

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Earth Mama Organics, a brand with a mission to Do No Harm to people or the planet, is now Certified Plastic Neutral. The company has partnered with rePurpose Global to fund the recovery of as much nature-bound plastic waste as it uses across its packaging and distribution. This bold commitment by Earth Mama Organics is enabling the removal of over 88,000 lbs. of plastic waste otherwise landfilled, burned, or flushed into the oceans every year.

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Through its partnership with rePurpose Global, a coalition of conscious consumers and companies dedicated to reducing waste, the company calculates all the plastic used in Earth Mama's products and operations. We then fund the ethical recovery and processing of an equal amount of plastic waste from our environment. Even better—rePurpose Global focuses on removing "low-value" plastic waste in its calculations, like candy bar wrappers, snack bags, etc., since these plastics are most likely to end up in the environment.

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Earth Mama's Plastic Neutral funds help to support Project Sada Shakti in Bangalore, India which recovers an equal amount of plastic waste from the local landscape, while providing waste workers with a livable wage and a dignified working environment. Combined with all the other projects, rePurpose Global community is able to remove over 11 million pounds of plastic waste from the environment annually, and empower 10,000+ marginalized waste workers across the globe.

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As a prominent player in the Consumer Packaged Goods sector, Earth Mama recognizes the grave threat that plastic pollution poses to the future of our planet. "We have seen the devastating amount of waste generated every day by our industry, so to us, the urgency of this crisis was impossible to ignore. Our planet needs us and Earth Mama is taking strong strides to do our part." said Earth Mama founder and CEO Melinda Olson. "Our mission has always been to offer our customers safe and effective products while creating a deep impact on society. We truly believe in the power of brands to affect long-lasting change," said Olson.

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"Environmental protection is at the core of Earth Mama Organics. It's so refreshing to see them push the boundaries on tackling the plastic waste problem. Forward-thinking brands like Earth Mama are the need of the hour. We hope this pioneering move pushes more brands to take responsibility for their own plastic waste," said Aditya Siroya, co-founder and Chief Impact Officer of rePurpose Global.  

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PNW-based distillery Doc Swinson's is shaking up the whiskey scene, one new release at a time.

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Doc Swinson's is located in Northwest Washington State - and this location, while unusual for the whiskey scene, contributes to their unique processes and finishes: "We're very far outside of the region most people would associate with bourbon, and I think that gives us the space to experiment without the expectation that we follow tradition," states Master Blender Jesse Parker. "The PNW is unique in that it's a pretty good approximation of Scotland's climate. We believe that continuing to age the product in this climate after it's spent some time in the more extreme Midwest (where bourbons are typically from) allows for the flavor profile to mellow out and play together during the blending process."

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This unique perspective on the art of whiskey has paid off: Doc Swinson's has recently received a number of high honors, such as Washington State Distiller of the Year by the New York International Spirits Competition; Double Gold and a nomination for Whiskey of the Year at the San Francisco International Spirits Competition; Double Platinum, Best in Category, and Best Independent Bottler by Fred Minnick's ASCOT awards; and Double Gold, Consumers Choice, and Innovation medals from the SIP awards.

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"We've been honored to receive their attention," says Jesse Parker. "Part of our goal is to do justice to a traditional industry, while also continually pushing flavor boundaries - so together we can all grow and adapt, bringing more delicious American whiskeys to the world."

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To that end, Doc's is releasing 8 new expressions into their highly accoladed Exploratory Cask line this summer. Parker states, "we keep a thumb on the pulse of each point of processing to ensure we bottle the best each batch can be, while also creating innovative flavor combinations along the way."

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FLOR, a high-end area rug brand for homes, offices, and every space in between, today launches its Fall Collection of new carpet tile styles and colorway expansions that are cozy, durable, and customizable to any space. The collection features earthy tones, bouclé textures, and organic aesthetics, reflecting the season's trends for a modern home oasis.

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"The Fall Collection brings together this season's most essential trends from modern, minimalist themes with geometric sequences to organic patterns and earthy hues, seamlessly blending beautiful design and smart functionality," said James Pope, General Manager at FLOR. "Like all FLOR area rugs, this collection includes new products made from thoughtfully sourced materials, making them an on-trend and environmentally responsible choice for consumers."

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The FLOR Fall Collection helps cultivate a sense of calm with a timeless aesthetic that never goes out of style. It includes:

• Check It Out: Find fashion inside the home and modernize the space with mirrored geometric themes established through haute couture. This rug features the fashion-favorite checkerboard print that is anything but inside the box.
• Zera: Come home to nature with earthy tones and lush patterns. With a color range taking cues from nature in Pine, Black, Pearl, and Bone, this rug style captures the infinite elegance of marbled stone.
• Terrain: Inspired by abstract art, this rug adds show-stopping design in three new palettes – Coral, Bone and Black. Its neutral tones and graphic design is versatile and durable enough for any space.
• Splish Splash: Creating a balance of organic details, this versatile abstract patterned rug is inspired by vibrant watercolor paintings and features a new sophisticated palette in Eggnog.
• On the Dot: Featuring metallic threading and a starry pattern, this stylish rug connects the dots between radiance and refinement. Bring a modern harmony to any space with a balance of organic details and new natural hues in Bone, Flint and Eggnog.

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All area rugs from FLOR are, at a minimum, carbon neutral. FLOR also offers styles, like Terrain and Check It Out, made with the brand's CQuest™GB backing. This new and improved backing is made of post-consumer carpet tiles, bio-based elements and pre-consumer recycled materials that are net carbon negative. Consumers can shop with their carbon footprint in mind by looking for the CQuest or Carbon Negative symbol on FLOR's website or in the Fall Collection catalog. This is a continuation of the brand's commitment to lower its carbon footprint and provide rugs that are beautiful and good to the Earth.

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Ball Family Farms (BFF) today announces the release of the bespoke strain "The Phonzie," created in collaboration with P-Valley star J. Alphonse Nicholson. After being introduced to BFF products, Nicholson found they aided in calming his anxiety, allowing him to remain focused on his acting. The new strain, named for the actor and musician, was exclusively pheno-hunted to incorporate terpenes limonene and caryophyllene, which are associated with calm and relaxation, aimed at easing anxiety and stress. The Phonzie will hit California retail stores later this month.

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"I'm a huge fan of sativa-dominate hybrids that still have a slight indica feel. Chris and his team cultivated exactly what I wanted," says J. Alphonse Nicholson. "From the nose to the structure The Phonzie is truly a beautiful strain. Its smooth taste gives you an excellent high that allows you to move throughout your day calm and relaxed, feeling energized and not heavy."

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In recent years anxiety has been on the rise, as has prescription abuse, driving some to seek non-traditional forms of stress relief. Nicholson, who has dealt with anxiety his entire life, found respite from the day-to-day grind in Ball Family Farms' terpene-rich cannabis. The Phonzie, a cross between Bruce Leroy and Laura Charles, tastes like Skittles and cream and smells like a fruit basket. This strain gives off relaxed, calm vibes with a bit of energy, allowing you to move throughout your day feeling good. It's very soothing, light, and smooth like the Fonz.

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"Without terpenes, you're smoking air," says Chris Ball, CEO of Ball Family Farms. "The terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids; each element is going to give you a different experience. We try and focus on that here at BFF because the entourage effect is more essential than THC alone for a top-tier product."

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The family-owned indoor farm is focused on the wellness impact of the plant. The hand-crafted flower is cultivated with meticulous attention to detail with the best possible mix of terpenes and produced in-house to the most precise standards. Its 100% organic cultivation program, recycled natural soil, and sustainable closed-loop system never include synthetics or pesticides.

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The Phonzie was crafted with calming anxiety in mind. Still, each person's natural endocannabinoid system is different and will react to cannabis strains differently. Please consume responsibly.

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Your home's exterior can say a lot about you and your family while also making a first impression on guests (and potential buyers). Because of the impact curb appeal has on the amount prospective buyers are willing to spend on a home, it's important for homeowners to look beyond simply choosing the right siding color and consider different siding materials and profiles, adding accents like stone veneer and researching other exterior upgrades that can both increase beauty and deliver performance over time.

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In fact, exterior remodeling projects typically top the list of projects that add the most resale value to homes. According to Remodeling's 2022 Cost vs. Value Report, nine of the top 10 projects delivering the best return on cost were exterior renovations.

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If you're looking to sell or just want to increase the overall value of your home, consider these high-ROI exterior upgrades from the experts at Westlake Royal Building Products that can improve aesthetics and increase resale value.

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Front Door

If replacing the front door isn't necessary, adding a fresh coat of paint is a simple way to refresh your home's exterior. You can take your "dated" door and make it modern again with a bold, on-trend color. Take it one step further by adding artistic house numbers, a new light fixture, or a door knocker in an unexpected shape for inexpensive pops of style.

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Vinyl Siding

Updating your home's exterior with vinyl siding yields a 67.2% return upon sale, according to the report. When considering new siding, look for high-quality, low-maintenance materials. Depending on where you live, insulated vinyl siding can add additional protection against the elements, as well as increased energy efficiency. While function is important, don't be afraid to make bold choices with color, texture, different profiles, and contrasting trim to make a true statement with your home's exterior.

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For example, Westlake Royal Building Products offers a wide range of vinyl siding options in the latest shades, including adding five on-trend colors to its Royal Siding and Exterior Portfolio lines. Inspired by colors found in nature, the gray, blue-gray, brown and green tones reflect the latest trends in modern exterior home design. Both lines feature patented color protection technology to resist fading, which is especially important for darker shades.

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Shutters

Adding or replacing shutters is another easy way to add a bit of flair and can be a key finishing touch in creating the perfect exterior. With the potential to play beautifully alongside windows and siding as well architectural style and surrounding landscaping, it's important to make thoughtful choices and install them properly to ensure they look and function as designed.

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Composite Decking

Another exterior remodeling project with a high ROI (62.1%), according to the report, is replacing your home's existing wood deck with composite decking. An option like Zuri Premium Decking combines the natural beauty and warmth of exotic hardwood with the durability and low-maintenance requirements of PVC (cellular polyvinyl chloride), which resists stains, scratches, fading, and moisture, for a deck that will last for years with minimal upkeep.

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Column Wraps

Give your front porch an instant facelift by wrapping your existing columns with PVC wraps. This is an easy way to achieve a cleaner and more modern, updated look. Resistant to moisture, PVC column wraps prevent issues found in traditional wood columns, such as warping, rotting, and insect damage. Available in a variety of ready-to-install styles, they can also be painted to complement your home's exterior color palette.

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Find more ideas to increase your home's beauty and resale values at westlakeroyalbuildingproducts.com.

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YourBio Health, Inc., developers of the world's first painless push-button blood collection device, was identified as a key contributor in the recent preprint published report in medRxiv.  The report describes a trial conducted by Moderna, Inc. and Evidation Health in which YourBio Health enabled the measurement of "Antibody Response Following COVID-19 Boosters During the Omicron Wave in the US: A Decentralized, Digital Health, Real World Study".  In the report, the Moderna authors noted that the combination of digital technology with remote blood collection methodologies may be a "first of its kind to utilize decentralization procedures to assess real world immunogenicity" where "participants collected blood using the YourBio TAP II device."

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This novel approach to measuring antibody response to COVID-19 boosters during the Omicron wave in the United States (U.S.) "sets a precedent for greater research access using a digital platform and consumer-directed technology", specifically, Evidation Health's digital health community and The YourBio Health Tap II blood collection device.

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"We are thrilled to have been a part of this breakthrough approach of completely decentralized clinical trials.  The on-demand requirements of the trial population showed that we can enroll individuals from any location across the U.S.  Our technology eliminates barriers to blood collection by removing the need to schedule a blood draw and commute to a collection center, and by avoiding the pain and fear from finger sticks and phlebotomy.  In addition to being an alternative to mobile phlebotomy, we can deliver more data across more patients at lower cost." said Harry Wilcox, Executive Chairman and CEO of YourBio Health. "Like Moderna and Evidation Health, we believe a new precedent has been set paving the way to enable more equitable participant enrollment while delivering data in a timely fashion."

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Twistid Ink, a Central Florida Tattoo Studio, wanted to bring unique art forms to the youth of their community. Introducing, Walk of Arts: an inclusive music and arts festival taking place on September 3rd at Liberty Park in Inverness, Florida.

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This all-day festival includes a FREE sidewalk chalk competition for children aged 5-18 with celebrity & local artist judges and $4,200 in total prizes, various food trucks, an entire day of entertainment, and raffles going on throughout the day sponsored by local businesses.

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The sidewalk chalk competition will host 150 competitors of various age ranges. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis but is required prior to the festival at twistidink.com/woa . The competition is free to register. Chalk is provided for each contestant, so junior artists need only bring their imaginations to the competition!

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"To expose the local youths to professional artists of varied forms, we decided to have the competition judged by both award-winning local judges and two celebrity artists," Elisha Belden, owner of Twistid Ink, states. "Aaron Is and Robbie Ripoll from Paramount Network's popular show, Ink Master, will join us as judges and be available to meet with the junior contestants throughout the day."

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Not competing? No worries - there's still plenty to do at the Walk of Arts Festival! Seven bands in various musical styles will provide entertainment throughout the day. Featuring local, regional, and national artists, the Walk of Arts will showcase talent from across the country with a little something for everyone. Closing the festival is the one and only Tiffany, who is most well known for her 80s cult classic, "I Think We're Alone Now."

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Surrounding the event space will be a variety of food trucks, various art-based vendors, performance artists, and cosplayers. In addition, a children's corner providing kids' activities and games will be available for those not participating in the sidewalk chalk competition.

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The Walk of Arts is a free event to attend and is suitable for all ages. Kicking off at 10 am for general attendees, this event is open to the public. So join us for this incredible, one-of-a-kind event celebrating arts of all forms right here in Citrus County!

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To check out the lineup or register a child, click on over to www.twistidink.com/woa.

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Modern benefits brokerage Nava Benefits today announced Kristen Malone as Vice President of Finance. With more than a decade of leadership experience managing financial operations for large companies, Kristen will help Nava build and scale its financial management, planning, and growth functions to bring benefit innovation to employers of all sizes.

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Nava recently completed a $40 million Series B funding round to make benefit innovation accessible to smaller employers. In 2021, small to midsize employers saw healthcare renewal costs increase 9.6%, compared to an average 5% increase among large employers. By leveraging modern technology and the best of benefits consulting, Nava is able to close the cost gap and achieve its mission of making healthcare benefits more affordable and accessible for all Americans. The raise follows the launch of the Nava Benefits Search Engine and a series of strategic new hires.

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"Managing our financial health – and the financial health of our customers – has never been more important than it is right now," said Brandon Weber, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. "In order to fix healthcare and ensure we're delivering the most value to our clients, we have to build a world class finance function. Kristen's expertise in doing just that, coupled with her passion for reducing healthcare costs, will be a major asset to our team."

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Kristen Malone brings strong operational and financial leadership expertise leading financial planning & analysis (FP&A) at larger-scale enterprise SaaS companies to Nava, where she will establish a scalable and durable operation. She joins Nava from HyperScience, an enterprise data automation platform, where she designed, built, and managed organizational and departmental budgeting as Director of FP&A. During her tenure at HyperScience, Kristen helped lead three of the company's financing rounds, including a $60M Series C, $80M series D and $100M Series E, and its acquisition of Berlin-based data management company Boxplot.io. Prior to HyperScience, Kristen worked at financial news media network Cheddar as the Senior Director of Finance. As one of the network's first employees, Kristen helped grow the company 5x, ran financial due diligence through the sale to Altice USA and directed the FP&A for the acquisitions of MTV Networks and ratemyprofessors.com. A Certified Public Accountant, Kristen has held a range of finance positions at Propeller Industries, SoulCycle, and Reboot.

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"In my various financial leadership positions, I've seen employers grapple with expensive healthcare benefits and the impact it has on their employees." said Kristen. "Nava's ability to provide better benefits at more affordable costs during a time of record-high inflation and increased costs of living is a game changer for employers of all sizes. I'm looking forward to joining the cause and helping the company and our customers navigate this tricky financial landscape."

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Viome Life Sciences, a mission-driven biotechnology company, announces the arrival of its CancerDetect™ test for oral & throat cancer, the first to launch in a series of diagnostic tests in development. This test is the first to detect biomarkers for early-stage oral and throat cancers based on technology that has received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation. CancerDetect™ is available to individuals at higher risk of developing these cancers, fulfilling an unmet need for advanced, earlier detection when it is most easy to treat. Viome's launch of the CancerDetect™ signifies a promising future for saliva-based, early cancer detection testing with Viome's advanced mRNA technology and AI-powered platform.

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CancerDetect™ brings unprecedented accuracy to early cancer detection and prevention as the only oral and throat cancer test to offer detection with 95% specificity and 90% sensitivity. Oral and throat cancer is notoriously difficult to detect. Until now, it can often go undiagnosed until it has reached an advanced stage due to a lack of effective diagnostics tools, leading to low survival rates. Only 28% of patients receive an early diagnosis, and those receiving a late diagnosis face a prolonged battle with oral cancer. (National Library of Medicine). Early detection directly increases the 5-year survival rate for oral cancer patients, from 50% to 84%.  With CancerDetect™, Viome has developed a much-needed aid to detect early-stage cancer, leading to more successful treatment outcomes when confirmed with a biopsy.

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"Despite all the innovations across the health landscape, oral and throat cancer has remained life-threatening diseases with few options for early detection," said Naveen Jain, Founder and CEO of Viome Life Sciences. "As an industry leader on a mission to identify and address the roots of chronic disease, we have been working for years to bring to market clinically-backed diagnostics solutions for cancer detection and other life-threatening and debilitating diseases. With the launch of CancerDetect™ for Oral and Throat Cancer, we have achieved this goal and plan to follow this in rapid succession with detection tools for additional life-threatening chronic diseases and cancers."

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CancerDetect™ marks the latest addition to Viome's suite of clinically-backed Intelligence™ wellness  tests, including the recently-launched Full Body Intelligence™ Test, the most advanced at-home microbiome test available. Following the success of CancerDetect™ for oral and throat cancer, Viome is focused on enhancing its tests for the spectrum of GI disorders, including cancers.

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Sneaker Impact is proud to announce a new partnership with Westland Mall in Hialeah, FL as we continue our mission to grow the sustainability movement in the Hispanic community and educate about environmental and social health around the world.

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Westland Mall, owned by Centennial Real Estate, is located just 20 minutes North from Miami International Airport in Hialeah, FL (the 5th largest city in Florida and the largest Cuban American population in the US). Westland is a regional mall that features nearly 100 stores and restaurants and has been the hub of this community for several decades. Partnering with Sneaker Impact aligns with Centennial's corporate social responsibility program, See Centennial, built on three cornerstones of Sustainability, Efficiency and the Environment. See Centennial strives to maintain environmental operations that foster a sustainable future for its properties and leads to improvements in the communities where they do business.

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In addition to our past Sustainability initiatives to make buildings more energy-efficient and green, reduce waste by increasing recycling and composting, adding EV (electric vehicle) charging stations and other green certifications and upgrades, Sneaker Impact will now collect and upcycle used sneakers at their educationally-branded collection boxes throughout Westland Mall and its stores throughout the year. The shoes are rehabilitated when needed and shipped to developing countries around the globe where jobs are created through micro-businesses in marketplaces.

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This is significant because 87% of all sneakers (estimates are 300 million pairs or more per year in the US alone) are thrown away into the landfill after their first life vs. the small minority that are upcycled. And it can take over 1,000 years for a modern sneaker to break down due to plastics and other materials. Upcycling means reusing discarded objects or materials, giving something a second life in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original. In the case of used sneakers, that means providing essential footwear to those in need, supporting micro-businesses who sell them and protecting the environment. Through sustainability efforts we help by maintaining a balance between nature, healthy communities, and economic vitality.

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Impacting the world one sneaker at a time!

An impactful amount of the world depends on "second hand" sneakers. Sneaker Impact fulfills the urgent demand for gently used sneakers in these developing countries by supplying merchants with footwear to improve the quality of life within their community.

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Without access to proper footwear, 1.5 billion people have been infected by diseases that are transmitted through contaminated soils, children are not permitted to attend school, and many people are unable to work. By partnering with Westland Mall, local businesses and people like you in our community, we give your sneakers a second life while transforming lives.

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"We partner with Hispanic communities throughout South Florida and the United States to support many disadvantaged communities in the Caribbean, Central and South America, bringing awareness and spreading the message about the sneaker upcycling movement" says Moe Hachem, CEO of Sneaker Impact. "Recycling comes in many forms, but the only competition we have is the landfills. Global awareness and sustainability begins with us because if we don't do our part, then there will be no us."

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These efforts are starting to gain traction. Through fundraising programs in Miami Dade County Public Schools, Sneaker Impact has been able to collect over 1,500 pairs in as little as one semester. And at the 2022 Miami Marathon, over 20,000 runners received a compostable collection bag from Sneaker Impact to give their sneakers a second life and help in places of need. Regional malls like Westland Mall in Hialeah are leading the movement in sustainability, educating locally while benefiting globally.

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To learn more please visit sneakerimpact.com or if you would like to partner as a drop off location or wish to speak to their team to start recycling your sneakers, please send an email to info@sneakerimpact.com.

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The Uncommon Grit Foundation (UGF), a nonprofit serving military veterans, first responders, and their families is preparing for its upcoming fundraiser, The Bone Frog Open, which takes place Monday, October 17th at the Hermitage County Club in Manakin Sabot, VA. CDW and Dell are the presenting sponsors of the Bone Frog Open, which is expected to raise over $500,000 to support the mission of the Uncommon Grit Foundation.

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"The success of the Bone Frog Open is a testament to our community's commitment to honoring fallen SEALs and supporting military, first responders, and their families," said Darren McBurnett, co-founder and vice president of UGF. "While the entire weekend is guaranteed to be entertaining, we do not lose sight of the event's purpose. We are humbled to bring awareness and appreciation to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice."

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The Bone Frog Open is the largest fundraiser for Uncommon Grit Foundation. Past proceeds have elevated the work of vetted nonprofits with excellent programs to support military and first responders. They include Leashes of Valor, One More Wave, Heart of a Lion Foundation, New York Hero's Fund, Throw Away Dogs Project, and C4 Foundation.

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While the event culminates in the golf tournament on October 17th, the Bone Frog Open is a three-day weekend that also includes a VIP sponsor party with live music on Saturday, October 15th, and a casual golf and football-watching experience on Sunday, October 16th.

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The sponsor party will feature live music, food stations, an open bar, beer donated by Armed Forces Brewing Company, one-of-a-kind auction items, and the chance to mingle with Navy SEALs and other VIPs. The golf day will include breakfast, a Bloody Mary Bar, swag, memorable opening ceremonies, gourmet food on-course, and a post-golf award ceremony that is not to be missed. "Last year's Bone Frog Open was one of the most moving experiences in my entire life." Said Armed Forces Brewing Company's CEO Alan Beal. "We are honored to support the Uncommon Grit Foundation and their annual Bone Frog Open event."  

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Registration and sponsorship opportunities are available at bonefrogopen.com.

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In record speed, Leap Partners, a Nashville-based home services company, has completed four acquisitions in just four months. Most recently, the company acquired Drain Werks, a leading plumbing company serving central and northern Alabama. Through their acquisitions, John Cerasuolo, CEO, and Patrick Ritter, CFO of Leap Partners have built a reputation for being friendly and fair buyers of companies in the Southeast. This is exactly what attracted Marcus and Duston Williams, of Drain Werks.

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Marcus Williams, Owner of Drain Werks said, "I am proud of what we have built in Drain Werks. However, I knew we needed some help to take the company into our next phase of expansion. John and Patrick's approach fit perfectly with what I was looking for. I am excited about the new growth opportunities for all of our employees and customers now that we have Leap Partners' support."

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Duston Williams, CEO of Drain Werks said, "With the Leap Partners team, we are going to be able to better serve our employees and our customers. I am excited about the opportunity to continue to lead Drain Werks, but now with a broader support team of business owners that can help us navigate our growth."

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"We are excited to have Marcus, Duston, and all of the Drain Werks family join our growing team," said John Cerasuolo, Leap Partners CEO. "They will be great additions to our all-star team of business owners who are helping each other run and grow their businesses. We feel fortunate at Leap Partners to continue to meet and work with caring, driven, and inspiring people like Marcus and Duston."

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Marcus and Duston will continue to lead the Drain Werks team, as leading plumbing and drain specialists in the Alabama area.

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Mobile Aspects, a Pittsburgh-based health care logistics platform provider, has recently obtained a new patent approval on its iRIScope system — an endoscope storage cabinet that utilizes both RFID technology and automated channel-drying. With this latest patent (the second for iRIScope), Mobile Aspects is now the only company that can offer channel-drying with the use of RFID technology.

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iRIScope provides a simple and safe way to dry the outer surfaces and interior channels of endoscopes, while offering the advanced features of an automated endoscope tracking system. iRIScope, which includes robust software to measure information on scope usage and lifecycle management, is the world's only endoscope cabinet with RFID technology, air drying and channel-drying in one unit.

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This news comes shortly after the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation® (AAMI) issued guidance (ST91:2021) recommending all scope lumens (channel) be dried for at least 10 minutes with pressure-regulated forced instrument air (or, at minimum, HEPA-filtered air).

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Thorough drying has been shown to reduce the risk of microbial contamination following high-level disinfection from the recontamination of the endoscope by waterborne microorganisms during rinsing. The presence of these microorganisms in conjunction with retained moisture can lead to the development of biofilm and increase patient infection risks.

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"Innovation, safety and throughput are the wheels that drive our industry forward," said Dr. Adam Slivka, associate chief of clinical affairs for the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "Identifying the right tools that help us meet the societal guidelines for infection prevention ensures a better standard of patient care and gives us the ability to improve hospital productivity."

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Nearly all infection control and endoscopy societies agree that channel-drying is an essential step when safely reprocessing endoscopes. In fact, incomplete scope channel-drying is perennially listed on the ECRI list of top patient safety concerns, and recent research links poor drying cycles to multiple outbreaks of waterborne organisms.

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In meeting the new recommendation, iRIScope cabinets allow scopes to hang vertically with forced air running through the channels, providing efficient and effective drying and reducing the number of human touches by up to 75%.

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"We are the only product on the market that can meet this 10-minute drying time safely and simultaneously reduce touches," said Suneil Mandava, CEO and founder of Mobile Aspects. "Many current options available in the market take as long as 60 minutes to perform the same task."

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For more information about Mobile Aspects iRIScope solution, please visit, https://www.mobileaspects.com/solutions/iriscope/.

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