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With the construction of the first net-zero-energy public housing development in the nation, the Paisano neighborhood in Central El Paso is getting a little greener.

“It’s really a blueprint on how things should be done from design to construction and the quality of life it offers to residents while being environmentally friendly,” said Marty Howell, the city’s sustainability manager. “There is a trend rolling throughout the country, and this project is one to talk and boast about.”

The Paisano Green Community, which is expected to open in April 2012, is an energy-efficient, 73-unit El Paso Housing Authority complex for senior citizens. The complex will feature wind turbines, rooftop solar panels, air-source heat-pump water heaters and more. all energy consumed will be generated on site, and no fossil fuels will be burned at the complex — making it one of the most cutting-edge green projects in the nation, officials said.

“It’s an exciting project all around,” Housing Authority spokesman Shane Griffith said. “Even in the construction, we’re looking at a lot less waste and a lot more recycling of materials.”

El Paso is one of only 36 communities across the country — and the only in Texas — to have received a competitive grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to build green affordable housing. The grant is funding $8.25 million of the $10.9 million project, with the city providing a $500,000 loan. The El Paso Housing Authority is funding the rest.

The project is expected to receive the highest rating through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design system — platinum — and be certified through Enterprise Green Communities. LEED and Enterprise are the two most recognized systems that rate energy-efficient buildings across the country. The Paisano Green Community will be featured during the Re-Energize the Americas Conference in El Paso on Oct. 26-27. The conference is an event of the Paso del Norte Group, New Mexico State University and the University of Texas at El Paso intended to spur economic development of sustainable energy resources in the region. The conference coincides with the 18th Annual Border Energy Forum, which promotes sensible use of energy throughout the Southwest and northern Mexico.

“It’s a young idea that’s maturing,” Howell said about the green community’s design. “It’s a catalyst for change.”

Wind, sun, no noise

“Feel that breeze and that sun? That’s exactly what we’re taking advantage of here,” Griffith said during a recent tour of the construction site. “That’s the energy we’ll be capitalizing on.”

Architects took into consideration everything from the sun to the wind in their design, placing doors, windows, overhangs, canopies and barrier walls where they will best create shade, reflect sunlight, create cross ventilation and deflect wind.

“There won’t be any noise, either,” Griffith said.

The complex is about 70 percent complete, officials said. The wood framing was panelized and built off-site in El Paso, and the walls and roofs were insulated with a hybrid of three installations: rigid board, polyurethane foam and net, and blown fiberglass fill.

The roofs are covered with solar photovoltaic panels to capture the sun’s energy. inside, the units use air-source heat pump water heaters, which are up to three times more efficient in creating hot water.

Two 80-foot-tall wind turbines featuring blades with a radius of 12 feet will soon be installed at the site, Griffith said.

“There are no gas lines here,” Griffith said. “The renewable energy systems means some units will have annual utility bills as low as $8.”

Clean electric power generated by the sun and wind will be the only energy used on site, minimizing the project’s carbon footprint, Griffith said.

“This type of construction is the future for low-income homes in El Paso,” said Ralph Martinez, Ph.D., director of Energy Initiatives at UTEP’s Center for Environmental Resource Management.

Martinez said El Paso’s more than 300 days of sunshine is ideal for this type of project.

“It’s a great source of renewable energy to power our homes,” he said.

In an arrangement known as “net metering,” the Housing Authority will sell the excess power it generates at the Paisano complex to El Paso Electric and buy back power at an equivalent rate on a monthly basis. “Net metering” for El Paso was approved under Senate Bill 1910, sponsored by state Sen. José Rodríguez, in May.

Martinez said the bill, together with better financing options and permitting processes, will boost the use of rooftop solar systems in the future — options the university is researching. UTEP researchers are competing for grants from the U.S. Department of Energy under its Rooftop Solar Challenge to address key market barriers, emphasizing streamlined and standardized permitting, Martinez said. Winners are expected to be announced next month.

“The community in general had not been proactive enough in seeking those types of grants, but I think you’ll start seeing more and more of these projects here and across the state,” Martinez said. UTEP recently received a $1 million grant to install two rooftop solar panels expected to save the university $32,000 in utility costs a year, he said.

The neighborhood

The 4.2-acre Paisano Green Community project, being built on the site of a Housing Authority complex that had been vacant for 10 years, will add new life to the neighborhood.

Surrounded by two freeways and the Bridge of the Americas international crossing, the Paisano community is across from the El Paso Zoo and next to the County Coliseum. a large detention pond and a water treatment plant are nearby.

The community also has several bus stops, a park, a shopping center and a hospital in the vicinity. all are easily accessible to senior citizens, officials said.

“I am thrilled that the most energy-efficient public housing community in the U.S. will be situated here in El Paso,” said city Rep. Cortney Niland, who represents the area.

“This community is just another way the city of El Paso is striving to be competitive, efficient, and environmentally conscious, leading the charge in affordable, energy-efficient public housing.”

The City Council recently approved a zoning change for the project from residential to mixed-use, which not only allows for the installation of the wind turbines but encourages the construction of commercial space.

When completed, the Paisano Green Community will include a community building and a commercial building that can house businesses such as a grocery store, a pharmacy or barber shop, as well as professional office space.

Griffith said the Paisano units will be allocated using a lottery system for senior citizens already living in Housing Authority complexes. in turn, their units will be opened to others on the authority’s waiting list of about 14,000 seniors. The authority has some 1,800 units available for the elderly, Griffith said.

“You can see there’s definitely a need,” he said.

The Housing Authority of El Paso is one of the country’s largest and provides affordable housing to more than 40,000 low-income residents.

Cindy Ramirez may be reached at ; 546-6151.

Leading hardware distributor Carl F Groupco has entered a major distribution agreement with leading multipoint lock manufacturer Fullex Locks ltd. The Peterborough based distributor, which offers a one stop shop for high quality hardware solutions, chose Fullex as their partner to develop a new range of Split spindle multipoint locks knowing that the company’s products have a solid reputation for security and reliability. Carl F Groupco have commissioned a bespoke 92mm centre split spindle centre lock design for their team, which is fully PAS23/24 capable. John Crittenden, Managing Director of Carl F Groupco commented “we are delighted to be working with Fullex, the new 92mm split spindle lock they are producing for us, is an adaptation of the highly successful SL16 Multibolt which Fullex began producing 15 years ago. this product was one of the first multipoint locks used in the UK PVCu market and this new adaptation will be familiar to many fabricators who happily used Fullex for many years. their products are innovative and we are confident that their locks will offer the highest levels of security to our customers.” Mike Hill of Fullex comments in response: “I was delighted when Carl F Groupco chose Fullex for this bespoke project and I’m sure the agreement will bring success to both organisations”. With over 70 years of experience within the industry, Carl F Groupco operates from 31,000 sq ft premises in Peterborough and offers a next day delivery across the UK. The Carl F Groupco range includes the Split Spindle Fullex lock, door hinges, door handles, euro profile cylinders, espagnolette handles, BS7950 casement shootbolts, friction stays and ventilation products.

30th Sep 2011, 11:25 am by Olivia D'Orazio

Ingersoll-Rand (NYSE:IR) saw its shares drop over 15% on Friday as it announced decreases to its earnings and revenues forecast for the third quarter and full year.

The diversified industrial company said it expects earnings from continuing operations for the quarter to be in the range of $0.77 to $0.80 per share, including four-cents from its Hussmann brand, and excluding the impact of impairment charges.

Analysts are expecting 92-cents per share in earnings, while the company itself had previously forecast earnings between $0.85 and $0.95 per share.

As a result, the company’s stock in New York sank 16.05% as of 9:55 am EDT, to trade at $26.83.

Revenue guidance for the period was also lowered to a range of $3.90 to $3.96 billion. Ingersoll-Rand had originally expected between $4.05 and $4.15 billion in sales.

The company said its consumer-related businesses, like residential heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and golf and residential security, were significantly affected by slow end-markets and lower volume. however, transport, and industrial and commercial HVAC revenues have remained strong, it said.

For the full year, Ingersoll-Rand said it expects earnings from continuing operations to be between $2.70 and $2.80 per share, down from its initial range of $2.90 to $3.10 per share, and below analysts’ $2.96 per share outlook.

Revenues are expected between $14.85 and $15.0 billion, below its previously reported $15.3 to $15.5 billion estimate range.

Ingersoll-Rand said it expects lower demand in key North American residential and commercial security markets. It also said the strengthening U.S. dollar against the Euro is anticipated to have a negative impact on revenues, mainly in the fourth quarter.

Based in Dublin, Ireland, Ingersoll-Rand operates several brands, including Club Car, which builds golf carts and utility vehicles, Trane, a manufacturer of HVAC equipment, Hussmann, a builder of refrigeration units, ThermoKing, which transports refrigeration units, lock manufacturer Schalge, and its namesake brand, which manufacturers air compressors, tools, and material handling devices.

The company is scheduled to report its third quarter results on October 20, and will host a conference call at 10:00 am ET that same day.

Linkedin (NASDAQ: LNKD) was downgraded by equities research analysts at Global Equities Research to an “equal weight” rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday.

Separately, analysts at Barclays Capital (NYSE: BCS) initiated coverage on shares of Linkedin in a research note to investors on Friday, September 16th. they set an “overweight” rating and a $93.00 price target on the stock. Analysts at Argus initiated coverage on shares of Linkedin in a research note to investors on Thursday, September 15th. they set a “hold” rating on the stock. Also, analysts at Evercore Partners downgraded shares of Linkedin from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating in a research note to investors on Friday, August 5th. they noted that the move was a valuation call.

LinkedIn Corporation (LinkedIn) is a professional network on the Internet with more than 90 million members in over 200 countries and territories. Through the Company’s platform, members are able to create, manage and share their professional identity online, build and engage with their professional network, access shared knowledge and insights, and find business opportunities. its members create profiles that serve as their professional profiles and are accessible by any other member, as well as anyone with an Internet connection. on July 29, 2010, LinkedIn completed the acquisition of mSpoke, inc. (mSpoke), a provider of next generation personalization solutions. on September 22, 2010, the Company completed the acquisition of ChoiceVendor, inc. (ChoiceVendor), a provider of real-world ratings and reviews of business-to-business service providers in more than 70 categories across the United States.

Shares of Linkedin traded down 3.18% during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $75.60. Linkedin has a 52 week low of $60.14 and a 52 week high of $122.70. the stock’s 50-day moving average is $81.67 and its 200-day moving average is $85.7. the company has a market cap of $7.278 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 436.20.

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In his speech at the Irvine Hilton on Tuesday, Gov. Jerry Brown listed his priorities as education, criminal justice, energy and water. then Assemblyman Jose Solorio was given the mike and, referring to Brown’s No. 4 priority, said something I didn’t quite catch about two areas in Santa Ana not having potable water.

Did I hear him right? I asked the guy next to me. A few minutes later, I went over to Solorio’s table and interrupted him in midbite of his mashed potatoes. “Yes, it’s true!” he said. “I know, it sounds like a third-world problem, but it’s right here.”

Jose Espinoza, president of the Diamond Park Water Board, opens up the gate leading to the main pump for the neighborhood’s water well on Diamond Street in Santa Ana.PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER ADVERTISEMENT

For more than two years the state has known that water in aging, shallow wells used by about 150 families in two Santa Ana neighborhoods have dangerous levels of chemicals. near Valley High School and Diamond Street, about 90 families are served by a well that tests high in nitrates. in northwest Santa Ana, on Roosevelt Avenue and Catalina Street, 54 families are on a well that tests high in uranium. Both wells are more than 70 years old, drilled when they served mostly farmland. as housing popped up, it was cheaper for the residents to stay on the wells than to hook up to the city.

The state has issued health warnings, and most residents drink bottled water. Jose Espinoza, who lives near Valley High, told me his family of four spends about $35 a month on it. But over on Roosevelt, Pat Stice says, “I just drink it right out of the faucet.” she and her husband have lived there since 1954. “We’ve been drinking it all these years and we have children with no deformities, grandchildren with no deformities and great-grandchildren with no deformities.”

The solution is to run city water pipes to the homes. last summer, Solorio was able to get inserted into Brown’s first budget funding that will make that happen. But the pipes are still only on blueprints. Santa Ana put the project out to bid once, rejected the bids, and has it out to bid again. Public works chief Raul Godinez says he hopes to get the bids approved next month and break ground by January.

But two-thirds of the property owners in each neighborhood first must agree to the plan. by law, the city can only bring its pipe to the property line. Each resident must pay for the rest of the hook-up, which some aren’t all that keen to do. Espinoza says he expects his to cost $400-$800. the petitions are still circulating, although organizers told me they think they’ll get enough signatures.

“I feel sorry for all of us, especially some of the poorer families,” Stice told me. Her husband, however, isn’t worried about his own situation. “I’m an engineer and I’ve got seven boys, and they’ve got shovels,” says Jim Stice, 81. “In about 30 minutes, we can have it done.”

Contact: 714-796-4994 or

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By CASSANDRA SPRATLING Detroit Free Press Published: Monday, October 10, 2011 at 9:31 a.m. last Modified: Monday, October 10, 2011 at 9:31 a.m.

There’s evidence that hearing loss is becoming more widespread. America’s population is aging and, as most people age, hearing diminishes. About 40 percent of people over 65 have some degree of hearing loss.

Facts See a doctor

You should consider seeing a doctor if you: — Have trouble hearing over the telephone. — Find it hard to follow conversations when two or more people are talking. — often ask people to repeat what they are saying. — Need to turn up the TV volume so loud that others complain. — Have a problem hearing because of background noise. — think that others seem to mumble. — Can’t understand when women and children speak to you.— 8 ways to guard your hearing — Keep the volume of personal listening devices at moderate levels. if you can’t hear someone talking in a normal conversational voice standing at a normal distance from you, it’s too loud. — Limit the amount of time you’re listening to devices or have them in your ear. take regular breaks. Don’t listen endlessly. — Wear ear protection when performing tasks or activities that expose you to loud noises, such as mowing the lawn, hunting or operating loud machinery. — As soon as you notice that you are not hearing as well as you used to or others express concern that you don’t seem to be hearing as well, make an appointment with a doctor. the sooner you get assistance, if needed, the better. the cause also may be related to a medical condition that can be corrected. — Parents should insist that pediatricians make hearing checks a part of well baby and well child visits. the fact that an infant passed a hearing screening test as a newborn does not necessarily mean that hearing loss cannot happen later in life. — As a norm, check with your physician regarding the potential of the medications you have been prescribed to contribute to hearing loss. if that is the case, your physician may be able to prescribe a different combination of medications that may have a lower potential to cause hearing loss. — while it is true that hearing loss is more common after age 65 than at younger ages, report progressive hearing loss to your physician, especially if you notice that one ear is worse than the other. — Tinnitus or ringing in the ears can be a manifestation of hearing loss, so it is more common in people with hearing loss than those without. Report new onset tinnitus to your physician, especially if it is only in one ear because it can be associated with certain medical problems that may need timely attention.

some 36 million people in the United States, about 1 in 10, have some degree of hearing loss, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

some studies show hearing loss is becoming more prevalent among the young.

One in 5 teens has slight to mild hearing loss. the prevalence of hearing loss among ages 12 to 19 increased 30 percent — from 14.9 percent in 1988-1994 to 19.5 percent in 2005-2006, according to a study, published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

” everyone assumes iPods and other personal listening devices are the cause, but there is not enough data yet, so we don’t know for certain,” says the lead author of the study, Dr. Josef Shargorodsky, a clinician researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. ” One problem is that adolescents don’t report well whether the music they’re listening to is loud.”

Circumstantial evidence is enough reason to be concerned, says Dr. Paul Kileny, director of University of Michigan’s Audiology and Electrophysiology Department.

” this last decade or so has seen a significant increase in the use of personal audio devices that are much lighter, more comfortable, and have longer battery lives, so they allow hours and hours of listening at high levels of intensity that can promote hearing loss,” Kileny says.

But some audiologists doubt that hearing is any worse now than in the past. ” most kids are listening at moderate levels and for reasonably safe amounts of time,” says Dr. Brad Stach, director of audiology with the Henry Ford Health System. ” now, those kids who are driving with stereos so loud you can feel it, they’re doomed.”

But he believes that just as older people are generally healthier than in the past, so too is their hearing.

He and others agree, however, that everyone needs to do what they can to protect their hearing because once it’s gone, it doesn’t come back. Untreated hearing loss can lead to a myriad of other problems, including depression, social isolation and academic deficiencies, and it can cost billions annually in lost productivity.

Doctors say the two best ways to protect your hearing are to reduce exposure to loud noises and, if you can not avoid exposure, wear protective devices, such as ear muffs, when doing activities such as mowing the grass or hunting.

And even though hearing aids and implants help, those with hearing loss say it’s sometimes like living outside the normal world.

They’re more likely to miss announcements of gate changes at airports and train stations.

a dinner table conversation can be totally lost because it’s more difficult to follow a conversation when several people are talking.

some people stop going to movies or the theater because it’s too difficult to follow.

” I tend to go to restaurants early so there are fewer people and thus fewer noises, says Penny Kennedy, 72, of Birmingham, Mich., a psychologist who counsels people with hearing loss. she lost her hearing at age 50 because of a closed head injury.

some hearing impaired people fake it and keep it to themselves for fear people will think less of them.

a gunshot at a circus blasted the hearing out of JJ Peyton’s right ear when she was 3 years old. at 17, she began losing the hearing in her left ear, she thinks from a family car accident.

But her hearing didn’t get really bad until college.

When she began working after college she was reluctant to tell people she was hard of hearing. She’d been working for almost four years before she told her employers she had hearing difficulties.

” I wasn’t comfortable telling people in the workplace about my hearing loss for fear I wouldn’t get promoted or wouldn’t get prime assignments,” says Peyton, 36, of Farmington Hills, Mich.

by the time she started working as an advertising executive in 2002, she was comfortable speaking up and found no negative responses to her hearing difficulty.

” I’ve found that if I’m confident in telling people, they’re comfortable,” she says. ” I still prefer not to be on conference calls and there are a lot of conference calls in my line of work. But I’ve learned to recap to make sure I understand or to follow up in an e-mail. One good thing is that it’s made me a really good listener.”

"BALI makes me feel young. I don't know what it is, or why. There's a freedom. And then I walk past a mirror and go, 'oh shit.'?"

That’s Paula Gillham, a 64-year-old Sydney pensioner and mother of two who came to Bali three years ago with just one acquaintance living on the island. Gillham smiles often, is dressed youthfully in a short dress and seems perfectly content in her adopted home, where she now has an established social network. On a part age pension, she rents a $10,000-a-year, two-storey home at Kerobokan with a swimming pool facing emerald rice paddies, and has a daily home help (pembantu).

At $100 a month, the pembantu makes Bali life seductive. "She cleans, cooks, washes, irons, runs messages, pays the bills… she found me this house," enthuses Gillham, a three-time divorcee and retired shop manager. then there’s the gardener and pool man, the $6 massages, the constant dining out.

Maybe it’s that permanent on-holiday sensation, the tropical sun, affordable spas, ready Balinese smiles, exotic Hindu ceremonies, but Bali has become a mecca for retirees wanting the good life – or at least, a quality of life they could never afford in Australia. many who claim they could barely make ends meet in Australia can live like lords here. One Australian visitor described it as a colonial paradise, one reeking of the last days of the Raj.

A growing colony of retirees are able to call Bali home under a retirement visa available to Australians aged 55 or older who can fully support themselves. the one-year visa, which costs $1000, can be extended every year until five years has elapsed, at which time they can apply for a permanent stay permit. However there are restrictions: visitors on the retirement visa cannot work, must employ an "Indonesian maid servant" and must be able to prove that their living expenses total $US18,000 annually, close to the full Australian pension.

Once there, nagging worries can surface about healthcare and living arrangements as old age approaches, isolation from family and lifelong friends, and a sense that in emigrating they’ve burnt their bridges, at least in an economic sense. not to mention worries about the recent spate of assaults and robberies targeting "wealthy" expats (more on this later).

But Gillham is content with the expat life and adheres to its catchcry: if you can’t work, you must do something useful in Bali; you shouldn’t just loaf in the lap of luxury. Gillham’s circle of friends include women – many Australian – dedicated to charities, particularly the Bali International Women’s Association, which keeps inmates at Kerobokan’s infamous jail clothed, fed and health-smart, at least to some degree. Today, Gillham, in her BIWA role, has made hundreds of sandwiches to deliver to the jail. the Bali nine heroin smugglers and convicted marijuana trafficker Schapelle Corby rely on BIWA’s weekly support visits, but, says Gillham, the Indonesian inmates are more in need. "most of them just want us to visit; they’re lonely."

Gillham eats out a lot, sometimes at cheap local warungs, sometimes at smart restaurants, although with the exorbitant taxes alcohol – apart from the local Bintang beer – is too expensive.

When she first arrived here, Gillham considered it only a base for travelling. "I will keep my little flat in Dover Heights [eastern Sydney] until I need to sell," she reflects. "It’s some stability." a seasoned traveller, courtesy of AirAsia’s cheap tickets, her next trip is to Southeast Asia next month with an expat pensioner friend. Next year they’re off to Mumbai and Malaysia. What’s not to like?

BALI is a great leveller, with expats from unlikely backgrounds connecting in cafes and clubs. those who would be hard-pressed to pay the weekly grocery bill in Australia can afford to eat out frequently here. And let’s face it, you’re not doing too badly as a pensioner if you can afford a pembantu, a chauffeur, a swimming pool, and the odd posh restaurant meal.

How can you live like that in Australia? "you can’t," says Melbourne expat Frank Andrews. "you live on a third here of what you need in Australia." the opportunity to slow down – and, no doubt, his 38-year-old Javanese wife of two years, Sandra – has given Andrews, 64, a new lease of life. Though not retired, he says he’s proof of the island’s health benefits, which he attributes to a stress-free lifestyle.

He’s ditched a host of medications including heart tablets and blood pressure pills after his diabetic condition abated. "I don’t need them," he boasts. "I have a different lifestyle, ethics and diet." Having sold his house, he has no ties to Australia. Divorced in 2009, his two adult daughters and four grandchildren in Australia visit annually. "I won’t go home. I’m having a great experience here."

Quitting his printing business in Melbourne, he carved out a career in Bali several years ago as a business and villa consultant, advising foreigners on investment pitfalls. Clients have become his closest friends. "That’s what wonderful about Bali – your work contacts merge with your social life. the friendships I’ve made here are much stronger than those I had in Australia."

Though the self-confessed revhead didn’t ride a motorbike in Australia, he now owns a second-hand Harley-Davidson, joining the Bali Harley Owners Group and establishing a set of Indonesian friends. the day-trippers roar around the island on weekends with a police entourage in tow, cutting through traffic like VIPs. Andrews likes nothing better than to zip off with his wife on the back. When they see him, "my Australian friends say, ‘Here comes the old grey fart on the Harley’. I honestly believe I’ve added five to 10 years to my life. I reckon I could get to 85 and still be very active because of the way I’ve changed my life."

John Burridge, a fit-looking 69, lives frugally, but it’s not an entirely ascetic lifestyle. Savouring his evening tipple – the local brew, arak – at his favourite warung and relishing the social contact is a daily high point while the sun sets over the surf at Batu Belig, near Kuta. At $2 a shot, arak is a pleasure he can afford. "And where else can you enjoy such a stunning view from a restaurant at that price?"

Burridge, who lost his wife, Anne, in 1988, sold his house in Tasmania to live on Bali four years ago. he rents a small flat for $3500 a year in the southwest area of Canggu from his Balinese landlord upstairs. "I liked the climate, the people, the food… I thought I may as well move. I like the quiet life." he visits his three daughters in Australia about once a year but friends have drifted away. "Friends thought I was mad to come… I am isolated and insulated here."

Despite a strict budget, he says he’s much better off in Bali than in Australia. "I live entirely on the pension. It’s ample. I don’t go out socialising much, sometimes for a meal. I can get a decent meal and a drink for the price of a cup of coffee in Australia. There I’d be classed as a poor pensioner, but here I’m not."

The strong exchange rate and a part UK pension – about $2300 per year – stretches his total income to $18,000. he doesn’t have health insurance. "if I need it, I will return to Australia and use Medicare. I’m nearly 70, I feel quite healthy, I don’t have any major health problems." he relies on local dentists and GPs, paying about $5 a visit.

After years spent caring for his wife, who had multiple sclerosis, Burridge says it is his time to enjoy life. "I can see myself living here for the rest of my life unless something untoward medically pops up. your perception changes here. I don’t need a big plasma TV, a four-wheel-drive, or the trappings of life."

CHRIS Lauder is dolled up in fire-engine red leggings, trendy black dress and heels. Sipping cocktails at an expat gathering, she says her son – a corporate chef who works in Indonesia and lives near her in Uluwatu, in the island’s south – complains he can never get hold of her.

The gregarious 64-year-old divorcee from Victoria recounts one of her trips to a remote village for the breast cancer charity Pink Ribbon, which is a branch of Bali International Women’s Association. Eyes shining, she describes the pomp laid on for Bali’s visiting Governor I Made Mangku Pastika and wife Ayu.

As a BIWA member, she is enrolled in its inexpensive Bahasa Indonesia classes and uses her business acumen as a former fashion shop owner and wool promoter to assist with charity events. Voluntarily, she also manages a dress shop in the fashionable Legian area, the Bali Black Orchid Boutique plus Size Fashion Boutique, catering to Aussie tourists with fuller figures. "They’re thankful to find something that fits them here." She loves the social interaction.

On divorcing eight years ago, Lauder’s options included living with her daughter and family in Queensland or in a gated retirement village, neither of which appealed. She chose Bali three years ago for a better quality of life on the pension. She has no superannuation. but a weekly rent of $52 and a weekly grocery bill of no more than $50 provide considerable financial freedom. "if I’m out at lunch I have warung food. but I can afford to go out with friends to a nice restaurant sometimes, which I couldn’t do in Australia. you can remain in a hole, worrying about which bill you can afford to pay next, or try for a better life. I acted before I was too old to do it."

Despite budgeting assiduously, she’s always out, and employs an occasional chauffeur. She even manages to save, joining visiting Australian friends on tours. "In Australia, if you don’t own your own home, the weekly pension of $350 for rent, bills and food is not enough. Probably a lot more people would be here if they realised they’d be much better off."

Lauder is another who swears by the island’s youth-enhancing characteristics. Yet life in a society geared to tourism can be challenging for the elderly. a full-time nurse can be employed for about $300 a month but the standard of care, depending on needs, may not be up to scratch. There are no retirement homes in Bali, though Craig Beveridge, Perth part-owner and operator of the private Bali International Medical Centre Hospital, has ambitions to open one.

Lauder thinks about the future: "There may come a time when I can’t look after myself. where do I go when I get too old? There are no guidelines for pensioners." Under Centrelink regulations, pensioners must return to Australia every six months to retain the pension. Fearing the pension will cut out, she says, "I will get to the stage where I will be unable to travel."

Paula Gillham says insurance costs about $1000 a year but a lot of people don’t keep it up because they can’t afford it. a brief spell in hospital that cost several thousand dollars convinced her insurance was crucial. 

EXPAT Sydneysider Robin Dougherty, 73, who has holidayed on Bali for a couple of decades, built a $5000 granny flat three years ago beside her daughter’s rented house, a gorgeous, rambling property and tropical garden in the heart of Legian. "if Sarah [her daughter, a single mum and journalist] had not been living here, I probably would not have come."

A divorcee and mother of four, Dougherty could not fund her retirement in Sydney. Though she worked until the age of 70 she could barely afford to go out. She left her rented apartment and arrived on her daughter’s doorstep with a couple of suitcases. it was the start of a new life. "I was very excited," she recalls.

Most retirees, including Dougherty, say a lack of assets probably rules out a return to Australia. "Realistically I can’t, I don’t have a home there. I will probably die here," she says. as we chat, the pembantu pads through the open-air house delivering freshly laundered clothes to Dougherty’s apartment. another maid cleans and there’s also a gardener. Dougherty, wearing smart white pants and top, employs a tailor who whips up a wardrobe at minimal cost, saving on off-the-rack garments. "She’s making something for a wedding now." what retiree wouldn’t jump through hoops for this type of lifestyle? "It’s fantastic," admits Dougherty, a keen cook. "When you cook, she’s there cutting up things. When you walk away, she cleans up after you. if you have people over, she’s cleaned the table and washed the dishes by the time you’ve finished the meal."

There have been a few health scares, however. since living here, Dougherty has suffered dengue fever, pneumonia and a broken wrist. "it made me realise the vulnerability of being here and being sick," she says. Travel insurance costs have tripled for those over 72 in the three years she’s been on the island. Retirees told the Weekend Australian Magazine they would rely on Medicare for serious conditions. "the thing that worries me is if I have a stroke and I need to be medically evacuated," frets Dougherty. the cost is up to $65,000.

Dougherty also bemoans the ban on paid work. "I haven’t come to terms with not going to work anymore," she says. She is involved with many fundraisers and is lobbying for a home hospice facility.

Men? Lauder and Dougherty would welcome a congenial dinner companion but both women are fiercely independent – and wary – and would rather read a book than compromise. Says Lauder: "the men have 18-year-old Bali girls. I’m happy with my independence and my dog. but if I did meet someone it would be nice."

THE trouble with paradise, of course, is that it can never last forever. In recent years many of Bali’s problems – water shortages, frequent electricity blackouts, dodgy phone and internet connections, poor sewage facilities, traffic congestion – have increased along with the much bigger inflow of tourists and untrammelled development (this year the island will welcome more than 2.1 million tourists, up from 1.3 million in 2001, despite the bombings by Islamic radicals in 2002 and 2005). Starry-eyed newcomers also need to learn the concept of jam karet or "rubber time", where appointments made often don’t eventuate and tomorrow never happens.

Much more troubling is the recent surge in violent crime – robberies and assaults – particularly against foreigners. In August, a British tourist was stabbed during a villa break-in in Kuta, the fourth foreigner, including an Australian woman, to be targeted that month.

Just as we were going to press with this story, Paula Gillham’s villa was broken into and $100,000 worth of jewellery stolen. She is now under no illusions about the dangers of the island, particularly after a friend of hers was raped by an intruder after stepping out of the shower (after the police asked for a fee to file a report, the friend has even questioned the value of going to them). while these incidents have deeply upset Gillham, she has no plans to leave Bali at this point.

Nor, for that matter, do any of her friends. many don’t even register with the Australian Consulate in Bali – an Australian government recommendation because of the high threat of terrorist attack – perhaps because they’ve married Indonesians or relinquished all ties to their homeland.

As with everything in life, it comes back to weighing up the risks, particularly for retirees as they get older and frailer. it would be foolhardy to believe that Bali offers the same level of medical and aged care as Australia. Reflects Lauder: "At the moment life’s good, but long-term I don’t know about my health. I don’t believe in burying my head in the sand."

In the meantime, Lauder is revelling in something she insists she doesn’t get as a retiree in youth-mad Australia: a sense of dignity and respect from the people around her, whether young or not-so-young. that, for her, is the real icing on the cake.

FREEFree 6 month old male, 1/2 pit 1/2 boxer, very energetic. needs caring home. 302-373-8441

Free to good home:  Golden Retriever mix, male.  Red Dashshund,  female 2 yrs. 972-646-5395, 469-531-7823

Free Puppies: Mixed breed, males & females. 469-383-6524

Attention. “Special Catalog Horse Sale”. Canton, Tx, Oct. 2nd & 3rd. Selling 300 head in 2 days. For consignment or info 254-744-5563, 469-595-6870

BUSINESS SERVICESHUFF’S MOWINGLots & Acreages972-875-6123972-935-2233MOWING YARDS, edging, trimming, gutters, flower beds, gardens, scrap metal, clean up & removal. 972-875-2030

CONCRETE WORKCommercial/ Industrial/ Residential. Joe Muirhead Concrete Services.214-536-8320

Video Editing: T’S Comics, 113 N Dallas #101. Photos, duplication, high concept, transfers. Tommy, 214-399-9833

House Cleaning Services. Cleaning supplies furnished, references available. 972-921-4867

SPADE WELDINGLight Welding: Farm & Residential. BBQ Pit Repair. Reasonable rates. 214-980-2786

Pond Clean out. WEATHER’S DRY! TIME TO CLEAN OUT PONDS/ INCREASE SIZE. Free estimates. 972-754-2625

Home Maintenance! Carpentry, window & door replacement, patio, decks, siding. Free Estimates. Paul Bigham, 972-268-2362

EXCAVATION SERVICES: Dozers, Loaders, Backhoes, Dump Trucks, and Trenchers. Building/ house pads, roadways ROW and fence clearing, lakes, ponds, driveways. no job to big or small.  214-803-7988

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORResidential / Commercial. 25 years experience. Joe Matous: 972-875-8005 leave a message.

Defensive Driving Class: Location Fiesta Grill, 1st Saturday every month, 8-2:30. 972-572-9051, 214-228-8819, call Lillie

AUTOS, TRUCKSPay cash for used cars. no Title, no Running, no Problem. CAll 972-754-0825O1 Lincoln Town Car, excellent condition. 972-872-9158, 214-769-24712003 Ford F250, 5.4 V8, 200K miles, $7,995. 972-921-487107 Toyota Tacoma trd double cab, 27K miles, matching bed cover. 214-549-2483 or 972-878-7748

EMPLOYMENT

Now hiring CDL Driver, local. call 972-875-8427

Needed: RN 2 nights a week on call, Sunday & Monday nights. 972-878-2273

NEW CAREER! Texas State low Cost Insurance has part-time position for self motivated agents. Apply today! Fax 512-458-2690 or

NOW HIRING – Leggett & Platt, Inc.,  a Fortune 500 Company in Ennis, is now accepting applications for  Production Workers and Operator Trainees.  Applicants must have a minimum of 6 months experience in a manufacturing environment with 2 years verifiable work history. Operator Trainee applicants must have previous experience operating production machinery and strong mechanical skills. Basic English and math skills are required for all applicants. Apply at the Texas Workforce Commission, or 4100 S. I-45 in Ennis from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday – Friday. We are an Equal Employment/ Equal Access/ Veterans Opportunity/ Affirmative Action employer.

LABEL PRESS OPERATORS AND MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN. Staples Print Solutions, a division of Staples, is one of the leading business to business print providers in the industry. our Dallas label division has openings for continuous web, label press operators, e.g. Taiyo, Mark Andy, Aqua Flex. Rotary flexo or offset experience is a MUST. Prefer process color experience. the Maintenance Tech must have experience with printing or related equipment and have mechanical and/ or electrical certifications. Excellent comp and benefits. Apply online at Staples.com in the Jobs section. Req 835221 for operators and 833557 for maintenance.  STAPLES PRINT SOLUTIONS   (Southwest Dallas) EOE/ M/ F/ D/ V

Help WantedPart-time mail room person needed with computer skills. Approximately 2 hours, afternoons, some Saturdays. Please stop by 213 N. Dallas St for an application

Subway Manager needed in Palmer! Position offers competitive salary with quarterly bonus plan plus a great benefits package. Fax resume & salary history to 281-681-7692 or email

Now hiring Cashier for Los Aztecas Market. Apply in person at 2503 Park St.

CHILD CARE

Are you seeking childcare for your infant or toddler? I am now accepting applications for my home childcare service. Cost is $150/ week; hours of operation are M-F 7:30-5:30. I have openings for children ages newborn – 3 years. Experience caregiver; references provided. Please call to set up a meeting/ interview. 214-399-3701

MISC FOR SALE2.5 Ton, Carrier A/C unit with heat pump. $800 or best offer. Must sell 214-980-2786

12 Pc Berkey formal antique dining set. 21 cuft Kenmore refrigerator, ice maker. Twin bed with mattress & frame. 972-875-2056

For Sale: 5 pc Bedroom Suite with box springs & mattress. call 972-342-4002 or 469-383-9759

200’ of 5’ high chainlink fence with post, top rails, & 3 gates, $450. 972-935-8329

WANTED TO BUY/RENT

WE BUY JUNK CARS & TRUCKS. 214-535-5441, 214-635-8308

APARTMENTS FOR RENT

Courtyard & Lancelot Apartments1 & 2 bedroom, 1 bath. 2 bedroom, 2 bath. 972-878-2505.

 EXTRA NICE APTClose to Ennis Hospital & Lowes. Resident has small 1/1, furnished, private entry, 1 car carport. no smokers or pets. $550  972-875-9208.

Historic District”. 2/1, $450 month, $350 deposit. 800 N Sherman. 972-878-7300

New Construction. 3 and 4 Bedroom Homes from $679 per month. no down required. 903-331-6911

2/1 Apartment, 801 Knox St. Apt B. $575 month, $500 deposit. no pets. 972-923-0189

HOUSES FOR RENTFresh 2/1, CH/A, nice yard. 504 W Lampasas. $650 month, $600 deposit. 972-878-7300

Newly re-done 3/1, fenced yard, garage CH/A. 700 N Clay. $750 month, $600 deposit. 972-878-7300

Clean 2 Bedroom frame with fenced back yard. CH/A, carpet.  615 W Travis.  by appointment. $650 plus deposit.  972-878-7478

4/2, 2 Acres, CH/A, nice shade trees, county living. $900 month, $500 deposit. 214-417-3034

Fenced yard, 3/1.5. 1602 Nichols St. $850 plus deposit. 972-875-4969

3/2/2 Brick, CHA, by Austin School. $1,100 month, $1,000 deposit. 972-878-2505

RENTALS AVAILABLEResidential, Commercial &StoragesCall 972-878-RENTleased by: FBMfbmproperty.com

607 W Linden.  Smaller, clean, 2 bedroom frame, CH/A. $600 plus deposit. 972-878-7478

1503 Larue. Clean, 2 bedroom, den, lr, brick. Fenced, mature quiet neighborhood. New paint & flooring. no pets. $900 plus deposit.  972-878-7478

For Rent: 3/2 bedroom with 10 stall barn, barn apartment, mare pens, machine storage, covered arena and approximately 10 acres. $1700 month with one month deposit. Credit and background check. call Jennifer 214-923-1030

Large House in Historic District. 4/1.5 with den, formal dining. $975 monthly, $500 deposit. 214-534-1209

4/3/2/, Brick, Section 8 approved, $1300 month plus deposit. no pets. 214-284-0230

MOBILE HOMES FOR RENT3/2 Manufactured Home, 1 acre. New paint inside/ out, new flooring. no dogs. $750, 214-801-9997

3/2 big yard. 1158 Ebenezer rd, Palmer. $450 month, $200 month. 903-493-0243, 254-229-1061

Country, 4/3 For Lease, with option to buy on 2 acres, Alma. $850 month, $850 deposit. call after 6pm, 972-878-2364

LOTS, ACREAGE FOR RENTFor Lease to Tree Farmers, 50 acres. Sandy loam with space for mobile home, $400 month. call 903-326-4851

HOUSES FOR SALEGORGEOUS COUNTRY home on 3.52 acres less than 1 mile from I-35. 3BR/ 2BA, formal dining room, beautiful tile floors in kitchen, baths and dining room. OWNER FINANCING. 469-525-8444 or 817-983-5332

MOBILE HOMES FOR SALERED OAK AREA: 3 bedroom, 2 bath, Doublewide on 1 acre. Owner Finance. Agent, 214-317-3164

HUD Mobile Home, Ferris: 144 Chaparal. 3/2, 1 acre, $20,500. EOH Gatlin Real Estate. 972-351-2043 any ole time

COMMERCIAL PROPERTYFor Rent: Office Space, 903 W Ennis Ave or 972-875-0200

Office Warehouse for lease $695 month. 3000 sq. ft. 972-878-5050

LOTS, ACREAGE FOR SALE5 Acres, new fence, trees, pond & utilities available. Good home site, $32,000, $2,000 down, $330.33 month. call 903-326-4851

ELLIS/ KAUFMAN County Area: 1-20 Acres, Owner Finance, no Credit Check. Agent 214-317-3164

$303 per Month buys 6 Acres, Owner Finance, Richland lake. Jerry Davis- Broker, 903-874-8512

28 Acres, Owner Finance. Trees, fenced, pond. Cross Country Land Co. 214-803-5152

50 Acres, Owner Finance, Minutes South of Ennis, Jerry Davis, Broker 903-874-8512

Boston, MA (PRWEB) August 31, 2011

Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company adds a new spin to denim and nursing scrubs with their “New Blue” scrub line for healthcare professionals.

Welcome to “The softer side of Denim,” these scrubs are incredibly comfortable. The scrubs are garment-washed 100 cotton denim and even lighter, softer and more comfortable than a favorite pair of jeans. The Dickies “New Blue” scrub collection combines this effortless comfort with the details from favorite denim classics.

With two styles of pants, two solid tops and 7 prints for women to choose from these scrubs will make all the nurses comfortable and stylish. All of the solid Dickies denim scrubs are available in either Indigo Blue (INBZ) or Light Indigo Blue (LIBZ) and the denim scrub line also has a unisex top and bottom so male nurses can be comfortable and look good in scrubs as well!

Visit Scrub Couture today for the latest line up of the Dickies “New Blue” denim scrub line as well as the rest of the Dickies Medical Scrub and Footwear line.

Read the full story at prweb.com/releases/dickies_scrubs/scrub_couture/prweb8759749.htm

Wild rides and ultimate fishing kayaks highlight part 3 of Kayak Angler’s bodacious Outdoor Retailer recap.

Time for Ocean Kayak. The Trident Ultra 4.3 is bursting with unique fishing features. It *seems* to have more rocker than it’s bigger sibling. The ride should be more nimble, and there’s no question it is lighter and easier to handle shore-side than the 4.7. The Ultra 4.3 offers the new QuickSeal hatch. The one piece rubber gasket grabs onto the coaming. Easy to operate and efficient. The QuickSeal hatch mechanism. The 4.3 wouldn’t be an Ultra without the Multifunctional Reversible Hatch Cover, as cool and useful as ever. OK moved this best in class feature forward in the cockpit a few inches for more paddler room. Win. The Ultra 4.3 also gets the new Comfort Zone Seat with a higher back and more mesh. And looky there – a pair of vertical molded in rod holders perch behind the seat, along with a little day hatch. What’s this sexy number? The Necky Vector 14, a 25-inch wide rocket with low-to-the-water seating for more of a sit-in’s feel and performance. It isn’t marketed for fishing, but those wishing for Scupper Pro slinkiness might give it a look. There’s room for a couple rod holders on the aft deck. Interested? Check it out on Rapid Media TV! Wildy staffer Chad Hoover with the incredibly well thought out Ride 115. Chad regaled Rapid Media TV with all the details of the boat – grab a cup of coffee, sit back and enjoy.  Attention to detail! The new Wilderness Ride 115 is incredibly well thought out. see that angled cockpit hatch? It fits 7 foot rods. there’s room for rod holders everywhere you’d want them. Designer Bob McDonough says volume is carried throughout the hull, meaning stand-up stability throughout the cockpit. More Ride 115. The seat pulls out in seconds for more standing room. As an extra benefit, the adjustability allows a boat trim change on the fly. want more maneuverability? Slide to the center. Popping through surf? Slide it back. More radical fishing Ride. this is the 135. this is more of a distance boat so the rod holder is angled outboard. On the 115 it’s angled straight back, appropriate for tighter quarters. From Wildy. SlideTrax hardware is now offers tool-free adjustability. yes! A spacious study in blue, Perception’s Prodigy 13.5 is a boat built for two…as long as the buddy boater is a youngster or canine. used single-handed, the cockpit is about as spacious as they come in a recreational sit-inside. There’s room on the deck for a rod holder or few. The Carlisle Expedition Angler doubles up on fiberglass: blade and shaft. The colors are muted to blend into the background – the fish will never see you coming! (That’s said tongue in cheek.) $160. below, a brief video look with Kayak Kevin. Kokatat quality for under $100, the low profile Aires PFD features a tough Cordura outer, PVC free Gaia foam, a raised back and reflective piping. Padded shoulders too. Freedom of movement: excellent. Prevent that nasty, swampy feeling. Lightweight Kokatat BaseCore wicks moisture away from the skin when worn below paddling jackets or dry suits. US made polyester / polypropylene – feels good.  One more from California-based Kokatat on the company’s 40th anniversary: The Limited Edition Meridian Dry Suit is the top gear, durable, 330 Cordura Goretex sewn in Arcata. It’s tough gear for tough anglers who play in cold water. Kokatat will customize them too via a Special Options Program. Learn more – put Rapid Media TV in your eyeholes!  Epic headgear. this uber-cool Bug Slinger UV Buff is $23 worth of sun protection.  Buff’s gloves also benefit from the Bug Slinger treatment. Shimmery dorado skin. Quebec-based Riot is launching the Escape 12 fishing SOT. only $700 including rudder, 5 rod holders, anchor trolley and integrated cockpit console.   The Eco Extreme from Grace Digital Audio takes tunes onto the water. If you need your own soundtrack, snap most any digital audio device into the hard shell, IPX-7 dry box and crank up the waterproof speaker.   Simple stuff still needs to be done right. Sea to Summit’s new paddle leash is low profile with a stretchy outer and hook and loop paddle cuff.  That’s a wrap for part 3. But wait, there’s more. Come on back for the wrap-up, the part 4 OR recap finale.