Category: Weather & Environment

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TimberTech® Composite Decking recognized by industry and design professionals for performance, innovation and sustainability

CHICAGO — (BUSINESS WIRE) — The AZEK Company Inc. (NYSE: AZEK) (“AZEK” or the “Company”), the industry-leading manufacturer of beautiful, low-maintenance and environmentally sustainable outdoor living products, including TimberTech® decking and railing, Versatex® and AZEK® Trim, and StruXure® pergolas, is proud to announce that the new TimberTech Composite Terrain+ CollectionTM has been recognized for its innovative design and performance characteristics as well as its sustainability attributes, receiving Green Builder’s 2024 Sustainable Product of the Year Award and being named to HGTV Magazine’s 2024 Green List.

 

TimberTech Composite Terrain+ decking features sophisticated aesthetics with multi-color variegation and realistic emboss patterns combined with the high performance and durability found across all of TimberTech’s Composite decking collections. With its protective 4-sided capping, the Terrain+ Collection palette includes three on-trend colors, including Weathered Oak, Natural White Oak, and Dark Oak – each delivering a sophisticated, versatile and natural wood look. It is sustainably manufactured in the USA with up to 85% recycled content and protected with Product and Fade & Stain Limited Warranties for up to 30 years.


“As we celebrate the recognition of our TimberTech Composite Terrain+ Collection by Green Builder and HGTV Magazine, it’s clear that our commitment to innovation and sustainability is resonating with industry experts and consumers alike,” said Chief Marketing Officer Sam Toole. “This award-winning collection is a testament to our dedication to creating products that are both beautiful and environmentally responsible. It also reinforces AZEK’s position as an industry leader, where our focus on innovation enables us to consistently launch new outdoor living solutions that meet and exceed homeowner expectations.”

 

The Terrain+ Collection was named a winner in Green Builder’s 2024 Sustainable Product of the Year Awards, which recognizes the best innovations in sustainable home and building product design. Receiving accolades for its nature-inspired design, realistic wood looks, and superior performance and durability, the collection’s environmental sustainability attributes also stood out to the judges who deemed TimberTech as one of the brand leaders defining the future of green building.

 

2024 marks the second year in a row that TimberTech Decking was featured on HGTV Magazine’s Annual Green List, which features the editors’ best picks for eco-friendly furniture, décor and outdoor spaces. The Terrain+ Collection was their standout pick for homeowners looking to make their outdoor spaces more environmentally friendly.

 

To learn more about TimberTech’s beautiful, low-maintenance and sustainable outdoor living solutions, visit timbertech.com.

 

About The AZEK® Company

The AZEK Company Inc. (NYSE: AZEK) is the industry-leading designer and manufacturer of beautiful, low maintenance and environmentally sustainable outdoor living products, including TimberTech® decking and railing, Versatex® and AZEK® Trim, and StruXure® pergolas. Consistently awarded and recognized as the market leader in innovation, quality, aesthetics and sustainability, our products are made from up to 85% recycled material and primarily replace wood on the outside of homes, providing a long-lasting, eco-friendly, and stylish solution to consumers. Leveraging the talents of its approximately 2,000 employees and the strength of relationships across its value chain, The AZEK Company is committed to accelerating the use of recycled material in the manufacturing of its innovative products, keeping hundreds of millions of pounds of waste and scrap out of landfills each year, and revolutionizing the industry to create a more sustainable future. The AZEK Company has recently been named one of America’s Climate Leaders by USA Today, a Top Workplace by the Chicago Tribune and U.S. News and World Report, and a winner of the 2024 Real Leaders® Impact Awards. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the company operates manufacturing and recycling facilities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, Georgia, Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan and Minnesota. For additional information, please visit azekco.com.

Contacts

Amanda Cimaglia

312-809-1093

media@azekco.com

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Business Economics Energy Environment Lifestyle Perspectives Regulations & Security Science Technology Weather & Environment

TimberTech® sets new industry standard with top-rated fire resistance for composite decking; best choice for fire zones

TimberTech Advanced PVC collections feature exceptional flame spread resistance, now with an Ignition Resistant designation from California’s State Fire Marshal

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The AZEK Company Inc. (NYSE: AZEK) (“AZEK” or the “Company”), the industry-leading manufacturer of beautiful, low-maintenance and environmentally sustainable outdoor living products, including TimberTech® decking and railing, Versatex® and AZEK® Trim, and StruXure® pergolas, is proud to announce that its TimberTech Advanced PVC Vintage Collection® and Landmark Collection® are the first in the composite decking industry to receive an Ignition Resistant designation from California’s State Fire Marshal.

 

Ignition Resistance, as defined by the California State Fire Marshal, and by the surrounding states that have adopted its standards, refers to building materials that resist catching fire or burning easily and that may slow the spread of flames. The new Ignition Resistant designation for these Advanced PVC Collections underscores TimberTech’s commitment to providing homeowners with not only beautiful and durable outdoor living solutions but also products that help enhance the safety of their outdoor spaces by adding an extra layer of protection against fire hazards.

“TimberTech is not just leading but revolutionizing the decking industry through innovation,” said Jonathan Skelly, President of Residential and Commercial for AZEK. “These fire designations underscore our relentless pursuit to not only meet but to exceed fire safety standards. Considering the staggering number of over 46 million homes across 70,000 U.S. communities at risk from the impacts of wildfire, our comprehensive portfolio can help consumers harden their homes to reduce risk and increase resistance to heat, flames, and embers typical of most wildfires.”

 

In addition to the new Ignition Resistant designation, TimberTech’s Vintage and Landmark Collections hold a Class A Flame Spread Rating. Class A is the best rating available and indicates a material is in the highest range of resistance to flames. This means that in a fire, flames will spread slower across the deck surface. Class A Flame Spread Rated decking will resist catching fire and will not readily contribute to the spread of flames. TimberTech’s Advanced PVC Decking also meets Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) compliance standards. Local building codes in WUI zones mandate fire-resistant materials for construction projects, including decks. WUI-Compliant materials resist flame spread and catching fire due to flying embers.

 

“The significance of these ratings cannot be overstated, especially for homeowners like me living in California and those living in other areas prone to wildfires or those simply seeking to enhance the safety of their homes,” said Sam Toole, Chief Marketing Officer for AZEK. “No other decking matches the beauty or performance of our Vintage and Landmark Collections and features top-rated fire resistance.”

 

TimberTech’s recently introduced Aluminum Framing product pairs perfectly with Advanced PVC decking. Because it is made of aluminum, it is particularly well-suited for areas prone to fires as compared to wood, enabling TimberTech to provide homeowners with a comprehensive wood alternative decking and framing solution.

 

To learn more about TimberTech’s innovative decking solutions and their flame spread ratings, visit https://www.timbertech.com/about/fire-resistant-decking/.

 

About The AZEK® Company

The AZEK Company Inc. (NYSE: AZEK) is the industry-leading designer and manufacturer of beautiful, low maintenance and environmentally sustainable outdoor living products, including TimberTech® decking and railing, Versatex® and AZEK® Trim, and StruXure® pergolas. Consistently awarded and recognized as the market leader in innovation, quality, aesthetics and sustainability, our products are made from up to 85% recycled material and primarily replace wood on the outside of homes, providing a long-lasting, eco-friendly, and stylish solution to consumers. Leveraging the talents of its approximately 2,000 employees and the strength of relationships across its value chain, The AZEK Company is committed to accelerating the use of recycled material in the manufacturing of its innovative products, keeping hundreds of millions of pounds of waste and scrap out of landfills each year, and revolutionizing the industry to create a more sustainable future. The AZEK Company has recently been named one of America’s Climate Leaders by USA Today, a Top Workplace by the Chicago Tribune and U.S. News and World Report, and a winner of the 2024 Real Leaders® Impact Awards. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the company operates manufacturing and recycling facilities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, Georgia, Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan and Minnesota. For additional information, please visit azekco.com.

Contacts

Amanda Cimaglia

312-809-1093

media@azekco.com

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Business Energy Environment Lifestyle Regulations & Security Science Weather & Environment

SageSure to Acquire GeoVera MGA, Including GeoVera’s Industry-Leading Underwriting Franchise in Residential Earthquake Risk

Transaction and track record of underwriting outperformance solidify SageSure as the leader in catastrophe-exposed property insurance.

 

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — SageSure, one of the largest managing general agents focused on catastrophe-exposed markets, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire GeoVera Advantage Insurance Services, Inc. (“GeoVera MGA”), an existing managing general agent within the specialty property insurance provider GeoVera Insurance Holdings, Ltd. (“GeoVera”).

 

Upon the transaction’s completion, SageSure will assume the underwriting operations of GeoVera MGA’s best-in-class residential earthquake franchise.

With the addition of the GeoVera MGA’s deep earthquake expertise, the transaction will further enhance SageSure’s robust catastrophe risk underwriting capabilities and accelerate its entrance into new markets, including Oregon and Washington.

 

“We are excited to enter into an agreement that solidifies SageSure as one of the leading underwriters of catastrophe-exposed property risk in the US. This transaction is a rare opportunity to create significant value for employees and investors of both companies,” said Terrence McLean, President and CEO of SageSure. “The addition of Nesrin Basoz and the GeoVera MGA team will ensure continuity in GeoVera’s product offerings and a seamless experience for GeoVera distributors and policyholders.”

 

Both SageSure and GeoVera MGA teams will continue to drive their respective areas of expertise with the common goal of delivering underwriting outperformance.

 

The transaction will also establish SageSure’s partnership with GeoVera’s insurance carriers, which will provide residential earthquake capacity in California, Oregon, and Washington, and E&S homeowners, commercial habitational, and residential wind capacity in Florida. SageSure’s existing carrier partner SafePort Insurance Company will join GeoVera’s insurance carriers, enhancing an already strong, well-capitalized, and diversified AM Best-rated carrier group.

 

“We are proud to partner with SageSure on this innovative transaction,” said John Forney, President and CEO of GeoVera. “Our MGA team will provide SageSure with additional underwriting expertise and product diversity, while our new carrier partnership will ensure stability and continuity for GeoVera agents and policyholders. We look forward to the exciting opportunities this partnership will bring.”

 

To support the transaction, credit funds managed by Ares Management, SageSure’s long-standing capital provider, will provide an expansion to SageSure’s existing debt facility.

 

Howden Capital Markets & Advisory is serving as exclusive financial advisor to SageSure on the transaction, with Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP serving as SageSure’s legal counsel.

 

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to the receipt of required regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

 

About SageSure

SageSure is the managing general agent specializing in coastal residential and commercial property insurance. SageSure offers more than 50 competitively priced insurance products in 14 coastal states on behalf of its carrier partners, serves more than 550,000 policyholders, and has more than $1.6 billion of inforce premium. Since its launch in 2009, SageSure has been pioneering property insurance through its market-leading online quoting and binding platform and its sophisticated risk modeling and scoring technology. For more information, visit sagesure.com.

 

About GeoVera Insurance Holdings, Ltd.

GeoVera Insurance Holdings, Ltd. is a provider of specialty property insurance products focused on catastrophe-exposed properties in the earthquake and wind markets, operating on both an admitted and surplus lines basis. GeoVera is headquartered in Fairfield, CA with offices in Sheboygan, WI, Jacksonville, FL and Tampa, FL. GeoVera and its subsidiaries maintain a Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) from AM Best. For more information, visit GeoVera.com.

Contacts

Walker Sands

sagesure@walkersands.com

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Art & Life Culture Education Energy Environment Healthcare Lifestyle Perspectives Science Weather & Environment

‘Nocturnes’ review: A hypnotic documentary about moths unfolds to also reveal climate change concerns

Co-directors Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinivasan craft an observational Indian nature doc that makes its case poetically and powerfully.

 

 

The nature documentary is inherently preservationist, but Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinivasan’s “Nocturnes” offers environmental persuasions not through verbal arguments, or even an aesthetic appreciation.

 

Rather, its meditative, hyper-fixated approach to process — as seen through the eyes of seasoned lepidopterists — proves so hypnotic that any appeals or augments the movie makes are deeply felt before they’re intellectually understood. The pieces snap into place eventually (which is to say, the “why” of studying moths and their patterns), but the “how” is foregrounded so forcefully and poetically throughout that viewers will likely come to care about these creatures, and this field of study, well before they understand the very real and pressing reasons they should.

 

In northeastern India, bordering Bhutan, scientist Mansi and her indigenous assistant Bicki (belonging to the local Bugun tribe) partake in the nightly ritual of suspending a cloth sheet and illuminating it with bright lights in the middle of the forest. Slowly, but surely, hundreds of moths flock to this makeshift station, resting along the sheet’s checkered grid pattern so Mansi can observe, photograph, and eventually measure them.

 

Between her frequent voiceover and her instructions to Bicki, the audience learns a great deal about Mansi’s practice. We even meet an elderly man who appears to be her mentor, hinting at the depth of this scientific tradition, though there’s something intentionally stilted about her delivery. Mansi is not an actor, after all, but she’s given the role of one, both in her narrations, as well as in some of these interpersonal conversations. These appear to be staged for the camera, but contain thoughtful discussions and nuggets of truth, despite this docu-fictional appearance, and with the help of Nainita Desai’s heavy, wistful score, they become, in their own way, melodic.

 

However, more than via any of Mansi’s words, the movie’s arguments are made through images, silences and the sounds of nature. Fluttering wings and the echoes of trilling insects make up much of the serene soundscape, whether during close-ups of the moths — their texture, their patterns, their vibrating movements when they sit still are all intriguing to observe — or during wide shots of the scientists’ setup glowing in the darkened forest, drawing us toward it, not unlike the moths themselves.

 

These nighttime scenes are provided with ingenious contrast during intervening mornings, made up largely of establishing shots of green mountainsides and nearby communities, captured from afar. Cinematographer Satya Rai Nagpaul films these clarifying scenes through morning fog, giving them an ethereal quality as morning prayers ring out like harmonized insect hums, but the camera rarely approaches human beings or settlements.

 

Instead, it observes from a distance, as though it were performing an anthropological study too, and in the process, it creates intrinsic aesthetic connections between the lives of people and the lives of moths, hidden away from us, in ways we need to lean forward to observe and understand. Long before Mansi delivers a lecture on the specifics of her studies and their overlap with global climate change, the moths feel monumentally important, and deeply connected to us.

 

Dutta and Srinivasan have effectively reverse-engineered an aesthetic approach from the basic concept at the heart of these entomologic studies, with sheets painted in light as the central object of allure for the moths, and for the audience. Humans have been around a mere fraction of the time that moths have — despite their individual life spans of less than a week — and for an even smaller portion of our existence, light projected onto fabric at 24 frames per second has monopolized our collective attention. “Nocturnes” takes full advantage of this for an altruistic cause, resulting in a documentary that is immediately, powerfully, and above all cinematically convincing.

 

Read More

 

 

— Variety

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DaleBoot partners with Aetrex to offer custom ski boots based on 3D foot scans

Partnership marks the first use of 3D foot scanning technology in custom ski gear

 

TEANECK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Aetrex, Inc., a global market leader in foot scanning technology and data-driven orthotics and comfort footwear, on Tuesday announced its partnership with custom ski boot manufacturer DaleBoot.

 

Leveraging Aetrex’s Albert 2 Pro foot scanning technology, DaleBoot will transition from manually measuring customer’s feet to using automated 3D foot scan data to design custom ski boots, improving fit accuracy and customer satisfaction and reducing refitting rates during a compact winter retail season.


After years of testing several foot scanning technologies, DaleBoot selected Aetrex technology for its accuracy and ease of use. Aetrex’s scanners use a pure computer vision model to create the most accurate 3D reconstruction of the foot available on the market. DaleBoot customers will complete a 20 second foot scan on the Albert 2 Pro and answer questions on ski experience, previous discomfort with ski boots and preferred snow conditions. DaleBoot will then use the 3D foot scan data and customer-reported information to develop a pair of custom ski boots with a personalized-fit shell, a fully custom liner and in-boot and on-ski stance balance and alignment, in under a week.

 

“Most skiiers consider wearing uncomfortable ski boots an unavoidable experience when hitting the slopes. But any footwear, including ski boots, designed to fit your feet should never be painful. Our partnership with DaleBoot aims to make that a reality by bringing detailed, accurate 3D measurements and data-driven insights to the ski boot development process,” said Larry Schwartz, CEO of Aetrex.

 

As of August 2023, Aetrex scanners are currently in use at 8 DaleBoot stores, including Salt Lake City, UT, and Kitzbuehel, Austria locations. The company plans to bring Aetrex foot scanners to all 60 points of distribution in ski shops around the world.

 

“Our commitment to continuous innovation has made DaleBoot the custom boot manufacturer of choice for the industry since 1969. Our customers know they can always count on us for the latest and greatest in ski boot technology,” said Rob Graham, CEO of DaleBoot. “Partnering with Aetrex during this next phase of our evolution makes our boots more personalized and data-driven than ever before.”

 

To learn more, visit www.aetrex.com/technology or contact Aetrex National Accounts Manager Justin Dyszelski at jdyszelski@aetrex.com to discuss leveraging Aetrex technology for developing snow sports gear.

 

About Aetrex

Aetrex, Inc. is widely recognized as a global leader in foot scanning technology and data-driven orthotics and comfort footwear. Aetrex has developed state-of-the-art foot scanning devices, including Albert, Albert 2 Pro and Albert 3DFit (2022 and 2023 CES Innovation Award Honorees), Albert Pressure and iStep, designed to accurately measure feet and determine foot type and pressure points. Since 2002, Aetrex has placed over 12,000 scanners worldwide that have performed more than 50 million unique customer foot scans, currently averaging more than 2.5 million scans a year.

 

The company is renowned for its over-the-counter orthotics – the worlds #1 premium foot orthotic. With fashion, function and quality at the forefront, Aetrex also designs and manufactures stylish, performance footwear. Based in New Jersey, Aetrex is consistently named one of New Jersey’s Top 100 Privately Held Companies and was also included in NJBIZ’s Top 30 Manufacturing Companies. It has remained privately owned by the Schwartz family for three generations. For additional information, visit www.aetrex.com.

 

About DaleBoot

Since its inception in 1969, DaleBoot has been highly focused on designing and manufacturing fully custom, high performance ski boots. With its factory and North American Headquarters based in Salt Lake City, and their European HQ located in the heart of the Alps in Kitzbuehel, Austria, DaleBoot provides worldwide coverage through its exclusive retail partner network. With 14 patents issued in its name, the company has chartered a course to address real customer issues, facing 85% of the skiing population, who experience problems, from large to small, with their ski boots. The DaleBoot process includes a complete athletic and bio-mechanic assessment, a series of 3D measurements, shell and liner customization, in-boot stance balance and alignment, and true on-ski cant correction. The result is a high performance ski boot that fits comfortably and is exciting to ski.

 

Founded by Mel Dalebout, an alternate for the 1952 U.S. Olympic Ski Team, and Intermountain Ski Hall of Fame inductee, the company was purchased by Rob Graham, a former U.S. freestyler, in 2007. Graham’s passion for the sport and deep business and orthopaedic acumen has propelled the company forward in terms of ski boot design and development, while establishing a new line of business dedicated to the design and manufacturing of devices used for orthopaedic surgeries. The company remains independently owned and operated. For more information on DaleBoot, please visit www.daleboot.com.

Contacts

Simone Migliori

Matter Communications

aetrex@matternow.com

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Best’s Review looks ahead to 2024 key issues

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — In a new article, Best’s Review speaks to experts about what they see as the insurance industry’s top issues in the coming year.

 

Hot topics include natural catastrophes and climate risk, generative artificial intelligence, cyber risk, litigation and nuclear verdicts, as well as the U.S. presidential election.

 

The insurance workforce is also in the spotlight as layoff announcements have accelerated. Read the full story in “Insurers Look Ahead to 2024 and Key Issues: Catastrophes, Inflation, Layoffs, AI and More.”

 

Best’s Review is AM Best’s monthly insurance magazine, covering emerging issues and trends and evaluating their impact on the marketplace. The complete content of Best’s Review is available here.

 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

 

Copyright © 2023 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Patricia Vowinkel
Executive Editor, Best’s Review®
+1 908 882 1771
patricia.vowinkel@ambest.com

Categories
Business Energy Environment Lifestyle Local News Science Weather & Environment

Altus Power and Brightcore Energy announce completion of multiple solar projects across New Jersey

Clean electric power to benefit local residents through New Jersey’s Community Solar program

 

STAMFORD, Conn. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Altus Power, Inc., (NYSE: AMPS), the leading commercial-scale provider of clean electric power, and Brightcore Energy, a leader in developing and implementing renewable energy solutions for the commercial and institutional market, on Thursday announced the completion of 19 solar arrays across New Jersey utilizing rooftops from Brennan Investment Group’s portfolio of logistics buildings. In total, the assets will represent 7.4 megawatts (MWs) of solar arrays which will be owned and operated by Altus Power and will offer the benefits of clean, electric power to the local community.

 

“New Jersey has one of the fastest growing community solar programs in the country and Altus Power and Brightcore Energy have been working together to make this program a reality,” said Gregg Felton, co-CEO and co-founder, Altus Power. “Brennan has proven to be an important partner for Altus in developing and constructing solar projects that will benefit the entire community.”

 

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with Altus Power and Brennan to develop this project to bring green, sustainable energy to the surrounding communities. This project was rather unique in that it encompassed so many locations within one project. There was quite a bit of coordination to align all the logistics,” said Mike Richter, President of Brightcore Energy.

 

The 7.4 MWs add to Altus Power’s total of 120 MWs across New Jersey as of June 30th of this year and is part of the expected 40 MWs to be completed in the state by the end of 2023. The Brennan assets are expected to produce clean electricity avoiding the equivalent of 5,200 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.

 

Altus Power serves more than 20,000 Community Solar subscribers nationwide. Community Solar provides homeowners and renters of diverse income brackets access to the benefits of clean energy and power bill savings without the requirement of roof space or home-installation of solar panels. Customers interested in the benefits of clean energy can learn more by visiting www.altuspower.com.

 

About Altus Power

Altus Power, based in Stamford, Connecticut, is the leading commercial-scale provider of clean electric power serving commercial, industrial, public sector and Community Solar customers with end-to-end solutions. Altus Power originates, develops, owns and operates locally-sited solar generation, energy storage and charging infrastructure across the nation. Visit www.altuspower.com to learn more.

 

About Brightcore Energy

Brightcore Energy, based in Armonk NY, is a leading provider of end-to-end clean energy solutions to the commercial and institutional market. Solutions include high-efficiency heating and cooling systems (geothermal) for both new construction and existing building retrofits, commercial-grade solar, LED lighting and controls, energy storage, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, smart building solutions, and other emerging technologies. Brightcore’s turnkey, end-to-end solutions encompass; preliminary modeling & feasibility, design & engineering, financing & incentive management, construction & implementation, and system performance monitoring. Visit www.BrightcoreEnergy.com to learn more.

Contacts

For More Information:
Chris Shelton

Head of Investor Relations

mediarelations@altuspower.com

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‘The End We Start From’ review: Jodie Comer makes it through the rain in a gripping survival drama

BAFTA-winning TV director Mahalia Belo crosses auspiciously to the big screen with a lean, effective adaptation of Megan Hunter’s climate-change-themed bestseller.

 

It begins as a spatter of heavy rainfall — nothing out of the ordinary for acclimatized Brits, for whom an actual storm can even be cozily welcome after days of noncommittal drear and drizzle. But then it doesn’t stop, deep-set wet turns to invasive flooding, and what seemed a mere bout of inclement weather has swept you — and countless others like you — out of house and home. Megan Hunter’s speculative novel “The End We Start From” was a neat metaphor for the larger threat in seemingly minor signifiers of climate crisis; briskly adapted by screenwriter Alice Birch, Mahalia Belo‘s fine film version matches its pragmatic, coolly urgent vision of a world coming apart slowly, gradually, and then all at once.

 

Tight in budget and focus, this isn’t disaster cinema of the lurid Hollywood school, revelling in the grand spectacle of destruction. For much of the film’s running time, Belo turns our attention away from the sprawling geographical impact of the great flood and toward its devastating effect on the domestic sphere — as chiefly represented by two young parents (Jodie Comer and Joel Fry) raising a newborn baby with no permanent roof over their heads. That pivot may be a necessity for a modest British indie that’s more in the business of implication than illustration, but Comer’s dauntless, film-powering performance makes an outright virtue of it: The toughness and terror doing battle across her face are more than a substitute for a CGI waterworld.

 

Pretty much everyone in “The End We Start From” is anonymous: The credits identify Comer’s protagonist only as “Woman,” while other characters are granted a single initial each. This could be any of us, the film appears to suggest. Personal idiosyncrasies and backstories are kept to a minimum, while humanizing detail comes via in-the-moment actions. Only the newborn gets a name — Zeb — as a gesture of the film’s guarded faith in future generations. He arrives as the flood begins, his mother initially stranded in her sodden East London basement apartment in as she goes into labor. Once she’s eventually taken to hospital, it’s clear there will be no homecoming.

 

The hospital, filling with water and patients, is no steady sanctuary: London cannot hold. So mother, father and baby bundle into their car and head northwards, through blaring traffic jams and officious roadblocks, to the well-stocked rural home of his doting parents (Mark Strong and Nina Sosanya). There, they live the tranquilly isolated survivalist dream for a time. But supplies run out, and tragedy strikes. Hitting the road again, this time with no destination, the young couple must resort to mass shelters, and in time, to unavoidable separation. Alone with her son, the woman encounters humanity’s most anarchic selfishness in times of crisis; in another young mother (a wonderful Katherine Waterston), an American with a dry line in gallows humor, she rediscovers such quaint notions as allyship and empathy.

 

With previous writing credits including “Lady Macbeth” and “The Wonder,” Birch has form in stories of resilient women in dire circumstances, told with terse rigor. But that’s countered with a hint of stoic sentimentality in “The End We Start From,” an acknowledgement that people sometimes need to spill their feelings (or start an off-key “Dirty Dancing” singalong) to endure another hopeless day. Fleetingly, the film takes the comforting forms of road movie — sometimes without a vehicle — and buddy comedy, but these phases are mere diversions from the protagonist’s increasingly solitary quest to build back life as she knew it. The film invites viewers to consider what they would do in such peril, without supplying any moral guidance as to the right course of action: Comer’s riveting performance, physically tense with desperation, makes us believe, at least while watching, that we’d do whatever she’s doing.

 

Making the leap from small-screen work on such projects as the BBC’s “The Long Song” and Netflix’s “Requiem,” Belo directs with assured restraint, consistently stressing the human factor. There’s no flashy formal flexing here, though Suzie Lavelle’s damp earth-toned lensing, Arttu Salmi’s clipped, on-edge editing and Laura Ellis Cricks’s subtly decayed production design all play their part in connoting a jittery state of emergency, even when we can’t see the cause. (The effects budget largely goes on eerie late-film images of a ruined Big Smoke, where roads have turned to rivers.) The light electronic intrusions in Anna Meredith’s excellent score are in line with the scarce sci-fi detailing elsewhere: At every turn, “The End We Start From” pushes for immediacy, the sense that this awful near future could be tomorrow.

 

 

— Variety

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Heat advisory issued; cooling sites open

TRENTON, N.J. — The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for Mercer County and the surrounding area for today, Sept. 6, until 8 p.m. County Executive Brian M. Hughes reminds residents that many cooling sites will be open.

Temperatures today are expected to reach the mid 90s with a heat index (a measure of the combination of heat and humidity) of up to 103 degrees, and Thursday’s forecast is calling for mid-90s temperatures with a heat index of up to 101 degrees. Children, older adults, people with disabilities and pets are most at risk during excessive temperatures.

The New Jersey Department of Health and the Federal Emergency Management Agency offer the following recommendations for staying safe during hot weather:

  • Never leave people or pets in a closed car on a warm day.
  • People without air conditioning should reach out to NJ 2-1-1 for information regarding Cooling Centers: nj211.org/nj-cooling-centers
  • Take cool showers or baths.
  • Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
  • Use your oven less to help reduce the temperature in your home.
  • If you’re outside, find shade. Wear a hat wide enough to protect your face.
  • Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
  • Avoid high-energy activities or working outdoors if possible.
  • Check on family members, older adults and neighbors.
  • Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
  • Consider pet safety. If pets are outdoors, make sure they have plenty of cool water and access to comfortable shade. Asphalt and dark pavement can be very hot to your pet’s feet.
  • If using a mask, use one that is made of breathable fabric, such as cotton instead of polyester. Don’t wear a mask if you feel yourself overheating or have trouble breathing.

Mercer County Library System branches and municipal senior centers serve as cooling sites, although daily hours of operation vary. These locations are open to all residents. The Ewing, Hickory Corner, Hightstown, Hopewell, Lawrence, Robbinsville, Twin Rivers, and West Windsor library branches are open Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Hollowbrook Branch is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. The Ewing, Hickory Corner, Lawrence and West Windsor branches are open from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Sundays during the school year.

Call individual senior centers for hours of operation, restrictions and accommodations. Call your local senior center if you don’t see it on the list of confirmed cooling sites below.

Mercer County library branch locations

  • Ewing, 61 Scotch Road
  • Hickory Corner, 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor
  • Hightstown Memorial, 114 Franklin St.
  • Hollowbrook, 320 Hollowbrook Drive, Ewing
  • Hopewell, 245 Pennington-Titusville Road, Pennington
  • Lawrence Headquarters Branch, 2751 Brunswick Pike
  • Robbinsville, 42 Allentown-Robbinsville Road
  • Twin Rivers, 276 Abbington Drive, East Windsor
  • West Windsor, 333 North Post Road

Municipal senior center locations

  • Ewing – Hollowbrook Community Center, 320 Hollowbrook Drive; 609-883-1199
  • Hamilton Senior Center, 409 Cypress Lane; 609-890-3686;
  • Hopewell Valley Senior Center, 395 Reading St., Pennington; 609-537-0236;
  • John O. Wilson Center, 169 Wilfred Avenue, Hamilton; 609-393-6480;
  • Princeton Senior Resource Center, 101 Poor Farm Road, Building B; Suzanne Patterson Building, 45 Stockton St.; 609-751-9699
  • Robbinsville Township Senior Center, 1117 Route 130; 609-259-1567
  • Samuel Naples Senior Center (covering all of Trenton), 611 Chestnut Ave.; 609-989-3462
  • West Windsor Senior Center, 271 Clarksville Road; 609-799-9068

For assistance in coping with the heat or to contact your local cooling site, please call the Mercer County Office on Aging at (609) 989-6661 or toll-free at (877) 222-3737. During non-business hours, residents are encouraged to call 911 if they experience heat-related problems.

For more information regarding heat-related emergencies, please visit www.ready.nj.gov, the National Weather Service Heat Safety Tips and Resourcespage or the National Institute on Aging Hot Weather Safety page.

Categories
Healthcare Lifestyle Local News Science Weather & Environment

Heat advisory issued; cooling sites open in Mercer County

TRENTON, N.J. — The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for Mercer County and the surrounding area from 11 a.m. Thursday, July 27, to 6 a.m. Friday, July 28, and an Excessive Heat Watch from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, July 28.

County Exec. Brian M. Hughes reminds residents that many cooling sites will be open.

Temperatures on Thursday were expected to reach the middle to upper 90s with a heat index (a measure of the combination of heat and humidity) of up to 104 degrees.

For the Excessive Heat Watch on Friday, dangerously hot conditions with heat index values of up to 106 degrees are possible. Children, older adults, people with disabilities and pets are most at risk during excessive temperatures.

The New Jersey Department of Health and the Federal Emergency Management Agency offer the following recommendations for staying safe during hot weather:

  • Never leave people or pets in a closed car on a warm day.
  • People without air conditioning should reach out to NJ 2-1-1 for information regarding Cooling Centers: nj211.org/nj-cooling-centers
  • Take cool showers or baths.
  • Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
  • Use your oven less to help reduce the temperature in your home.
  • If you’re outside, find shade. Wear a hat wide enough to protect your face.
  • Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
  • Avoid high-energy activities or working outdoors if possible.
  • Check on family members, older adults and neighbors.
  • Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
  • Consider pet safety. If pets are outdoors, make sure they have plenty of cool water and access to comfortable shade. Asphalt and dark pavement can be very hot to your pet’s feet.
  • If using a mask, use one that is made of breathable fabric, such as cotton instead of polyester. Don’t wear a mask if you feel yourself overheating or have trouble breathing.

Mercer County Library System branches and municipal senior centers serve as cooling sites, although daily hours of operation vary. These locations are open to all residents. The Ewing, Hickory Corner, Hightstown, Hopewell, Lawrence, Robbinsville, Twin Rivers, and West Windsor library branches are open Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Hollowbrook Branch is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. Call individual senior centers for hours of operation, restrictions and accommodations. Call your local senior center if you don’t see it on the list of confirmed cooling sites below.

Mercer County library branch locations

  • Ewing, 61 Scotch Road
  • Hickory Corner, 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor
  • Hightstown Memorial, 114 Franklin St.
  • Hollowbrook, 320 Hollowbrook Drive, Ewing
  • Hopewell, 245 Pennington-Titusville Road, Pennington
  • Lawrence Headquarters Branch, 2751 Brunswick Pike
  • Robbinsville, 42 Allentown-Robbinsville Road
  • Twin Rivers, 276 Abbington Drive, East Windsor
  • West Windsor, 333 North Post Road

Municipal senior center locations

  • Ewing – Hollowbrook Community Center, 320 Hollowbrook Drive; 609-883-1199
  • Hamilton Senior Center, 409 Cypress Lane; 609-890-3686;
  • Hopewell Valley Senior Center, 395 Reading St., Pennington; 609-537-0236;
  • John O. Wilson Center, 169 Wilfred Avenue, Hamilton; 609-393-6480;
  • Lawrence Senior Center (not a cooling center but will be available from 2 to 7 p.m. July 27 and noon to 7 p.m. July 28 for cooling purposes), 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence; 609-882-9246
  • Princeton Senior Resource Center, 101 Poor Farm Road, Building B; Suzanne Patterson Building, 45 Stockton St.; 609-751-9699
  • Robbinsville Township Senior Center, 1117 Route 130; 609-259-1567
  • Samuel Naples Senior Center (covering all of Trenton), 611 Chestnut Ave.; 609-989-3462
  • West Windsor Senior Center, 271 Clarksville Road; 609-799-9068

For assistance in coping with the heat or to contact your local cooling site, please call the Mercer County Office on Aging at (609) 989-6661 or toll-free at (877) 222-3737. During non-business hours, residents are encouraged to call 911 if they experience heat-related problems.

For more information regarding heat-related emergencies, please visit www.ready.nj.gov, the National Weather Service Heat Safety Tips and Resourcespage or the National Institute on Aging Hot Weather Safety page.