Burglars target Spalding fire engine

PRECIOUS seconds could have been lost in the race to save lives after a Spalding fire engine was stripped of vital equipment.

Thousands of pounds of kit used to cut road crash victims free from vehicles was stolen during a raid at Spalding Fire Station overnight on Monday.

The haul of life-saving equipment included hydraulic cutting gear, hose, a generator, spreader and telescopic arm was taken after burglars broke through the bay doors.

South Holland District Council deputy leader Paul Przyszlak said: "The break-in could have left firefighters without the equipment they need – or lose precious seconds in the race to save lives."

The raid has been blasted by police and fire bosses because a fire engine was grounded at the West Elloe Avenue base while investigations took place.

But they were quick to reassure the public that had there been someone trapped after a crash, cover would have quickly been found from nearby fire stations.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue group manager John Sharp said: "The fire engine was not available to respond to call-outs during the period when the police were conducting their investigations, but nearby stations were available to provide cover.

"Any break-in at the station is taken very seriously as it does put the public at greater risk.

"This was a highly irresponsible theft which could have endangered lives."

It is believed that lower value items, such as a torch and fittings, were found nearby after the break-in, and it is feared the expensive equipment may have been taken to be used to commit further crimes, such as cutting padlocks off doors, through security fencing or removing wheel clamps or chains from vehicles and caravans.

Pc Matt Wharton said: "We would urge anyone who may have been offered such equipment for sale or who has information about the burglary to contact us as soon as possible."

Groups warn Cuomo about gas extraction plan

About 40 groups, ranging from Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation to Trout Unlimited, wrote to Gov. Andrew Cuomo Tuesday advising him to put the brakes on allowing hydraulic fracturing that they said would pose risks as currently planned. Companies are eager to drill into the deep shale deposits below New York's surface to extract natural gas.

"We are writing to you on an issue of urgent importance to all New Yorkers – assuring that New York State does not rush to allow risky new drilling techniques in the Marcellus and Utica Shale formations unless the protection of the State's drinking water supplies and other irreplaceable resources can be demonstrated," the groups, including Common Cause and the Natural Resources Defense Council, wrote.

"Specifically, we ask that you clearly confirm that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will be allowed both adequate time and resources to fully and properly evaluate the full range of potential risks associated with new natural gas development utilizing hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," before issuing a revised draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impacts (DSGEIS) pursuant to Executive Order 41 (EO 41). Simply put, the arbitrary June 1, 2011 target date established by former Governor David Paterson in EO 41 is wholly inadequate to allow for the development of an appropriately comprehensive or legally sufficient revised DSGEIS."

The letter was copied to Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens.

Features and benefits of Case Construction King backhoes

The new Construction King backhoes are the most efficient and productive ever. Every machine offers up to 10 per cent savings in fuel consumption and improved transportability.

The incredibly comfortable cab includes fully adjustable control lever towers and a suspension seat with adjustable lumbar support as standard and internal noise levels are just 77 dB(A). All four cab windows can be fully opened for improved ventilation and the rear screen can be tilted up to provide a clear view to the working area.
Load sensing hydraulics ensure that power is available on demand, contributing to up to 10 per cent reduction in fuel consumption and lower engine noise levels.

Overlapping backhoe boom cylinders provide a transport height under 3.5 metres and a slim boom profile for improved visibility. This 22-centimetre lower transport height will cut downtime on site and result in faster movement of the machine between operating areas.

The outer dipper section of the Extendahoe is powered by a sturdy hydraulic cylinder and the curved main boom profile ensures easy truck loading and improved digging ability. Boom and swing cylinders come with standard end stroke cushioning to prolong component life and reduce fatigue for the operator.

A larger, 145-litre fuel tank and 10 per cent lower fuel consumption mean that the average loader backhoe operator will be able to reduce downtime and increase productivity.

A standard Handling Kit comprises a safe lifting hook with hose burst valves on boom and dipper cylinders and an overload warning device.

The stabiliser legs are also supplied with safety hose burst valves, while rubber pads on the legs can be used to prevent damage to the working area.

All Case ST Series Loader Backhoes have daily check and fill points accessible from ground level, reducing daily maintenance and cutting downtime.

The new power braking system as standard assures less braking effort and better braking efficiency. The new brake system also uses the machine's hydraulic oil, so there is no requirement for a separate brake fluid reservoir, therefore reducing operating costs.

Common rail engines are now standard across the complete ST range. The Case Electronic Service Tool (EST) can be used with the common rail engines to rapidly diagnose any faults, reducing repair times.

Problem is 'more hydraulic than mechanical'

Q: We have a manual transmission 2000 Honda Civic with 36,000 kilometres. The car is well maintained: a complete tune-up twice a year. Recently, we drove on Highway 15 toward Montreal at 90 km/h. To give precedence to a car entering the highway, I lightly applied the brakes. To my astonishment, the brake pedal was all loose and went completely down to the floor. I changed fast into first gear to slow the car down and applied the handbrake. The mechanic at our garage replaced the brakes, but it seems nobody can explain how -without any warning -they could completely fail.

Do you have any explanation?

- Margrit Gluckman

A: Both mechanics we spoke with suggest a problem with the master cylinder could be to blame.

"The problem here seems to be more hydraulic than mechanical," said Marc Lebrun, co-owner of Total Auto Service in Pierrefonds."Afailureinthe brake pads or discs will not cause the pedal to go down completely to the floor. However, a leak in the hose or malfunction of the caliper or wheel cylinder will cause the pedal to go to the floor."

Pierre Brunet, a co-owner of Autotech Performance, also in Pierrefonds, says he has seen this happen before.

"A failure in the master cylinder would cause that type of problem," he said.

He provided the following steps to help determine what the issue could be: "Try,without the car running, applying the brake. Put your foot down and moderate the pressure between firm and loose to see if the brake pedal will not sink. If it does sink, it's time to condemn the master cylinder," Brunet said.

He added that even if the mechanic who repaired your car could not give you a reason for the brake failure, and if the pedal did sink in the test, you would be better off replacing the master cylinder for "your peace of mind."

Lebrun also had another suggestion.

"Given the age of the car,I would recommend a brake flush to clean out the hydraulic system," Lebrun said.

"Lastly, I would like to add that a complete tune-up does not necessarily mean that the brake hydraulics were verified."

Martha Stewart gets silly with Conan O'Brien, Seth Meyers

Martha Stewart’s cooking up some comedy with Conan O’Brien and Seth Meyers on “Martha

Stewart Presents: Men Who Make Us Laugh” (7 p.m. March 27, Hallmark Channel; *** out of

four).

Stewart sits down with O'Brien on the set of his TBS talk show, “Conan,” for a surprisingly

serious discussion about his career ups and especially the recent downs when NBC threw him

under the bus to bring Jay Leno back to “The Tonight Show.”

But O’Brien also cracks up, taking Stewart on a tour of the studio and explaining how his

make-up artists work.

“What you can’t see is the hose,” he jokes. “They fire a hose of flesh tone at me.” (He

also offers up the “recipe” he uses to keep his famous pompadour so tall.)

On Conan O'Brien's make-up and hair routine
CO: This is where they put 60 pounds of make-up.
MS: Wow, from that little tiny table? It doesn’t look like a lot of make-up.
CO: What you can’t see is the hose. They fire a hose of flesh tone at me.
MS: Your hair is done here too?
CO: My hair is actually done in a separate engineering room were we have a lot of hydraulic hose

machinery.

On O'Brien's famous hairstyle
CO: I had this hairstyle going back to eighth grade. And yes I was mocked, I was hit, I was

beaten.
MS: But mom went with it too.
CO: No, mom mocked and hit and beat me.

On O'Brien's dark side
CO: I kid Martha, that’s what I do. I joke, I jest.
MS: But it always has a dark side to it. You’re never dark with you’re children, are you?
CO: At night. Just before bedtime I usually tell them we’re only here for a small amount of

time. No one really knows what happens after we die. Have a good night’s sleep. So they’re

both getting a lot of therapy now.

Meyers is the focus of the hour-long special’s second half. The “Saturday Night Live” head

writer and “Weekend Update” anchor travels to Stewart’s Connecticut farm, where he

attempts to help her with her chores, with hilarious results.

A clip reel provided by Hallmark (above) makes the Meyers interview seem more silly than

revealing, but Stewart does expose more about the funnyman who went to Northwestern

University and got his comedy start at iO in Chicago. (Click this link to see another version

of Meyers' sneak peek. Go to Page 2, "Men Who make Us Laugh.")

On Seth Meyers' and Martha Stewart's jobs
MS: So I would think it would be kind of hard to wake up every morning and know that you have

to be funny. I mean, that’s my feeling.
SM: Right. I would feel like it would be hard to wake up every morning and know you had to

make something in the kitchen. So it’s good we’re doing what we’re doing.

On Meyers' favorite co-stars
MS: Who else do you like working with on Saturday Night Live.  Everybody?  Do you like

everybody on the show?
SM: I like everybody. I really do like everybody. Yeah. Oh, except for Andy Samberg, I don’t

like him. Thank you for reminding me, I do not care for Andy Samberg. He’s like my

archenemy.

On Meyers' salary
MS: Do you make a lot of money doing “Saturday Night Live”?
SM: You can’t believe how much money I make. I mean like, it’s not a contest, but we are

way closer than you think, you and I (looks around). My stables slightly bigger I guess. Yeah

I make tons of money, tons of money.

On Meyers' taking Brian William's job
MS: Would you like to host a late night talk show?
SM: I want Brian William’s job. I don’t want to lie to you. Not because I think I’d be

good at it but I just think it would really burn him if I pushed him out. That’s my goal

Jaguar Recalls 2010 XF, XK on Steering Issues

Owners of brand new Jaguar XF and XK models will be soon notified by the British manufacturer about a recall that involves their vehicles and asked sometime around April 11 to their vehicles in for repairs at the nearest dealership.

According to a letter sent by Jaguar to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and posted on the organization's website, the two models can experience a problem with the steering.

In all, 6,085 vehicles might be affected by an issue with the steering hydraulic power assist hose, piping and connections. In essence, the aforementioned elements have been delivered with zinc-nickel plating, an element which doesn't do well when faced with humidity and the passing of time.

The hose, piping and connections might get corroded in time, even if, so far, no actual report of such a problem has been filed. Jaguar says that it is recalling the cars to have the power steering pipes that meet its internal quality requirements.

In case it hadn't announced the recall, the affected parts might have caused a bigger problem, a pin-holing of the pass pipes. This in turn might have lead to steering fluid leaking into the engine bay area, leaving the drivers of the cars with a far less controllable car. In addition, the fluid itself might catch fire.

As usual in such cases, any and all repairs will be conducted at authorized services free of charge for the owners. As said, the recall is expected to begin in the early days of next month, with the customers to be notified prior to that time.

Endeavour pushing on for April 19 launch following traumatic opening pad flow

With the realigned Russian Soyuz TMA-21 schedule not impacting on STS-134′s launch date, Endeavour is pressing on with her April 19 target, after completing the first week of what will likely be her final pad flow. The week has been marked by the usual Interim Problem Reports (IPRs) and the slight drama of a dropped tool, but it'll mostly be remembered for the tragic death of one of her loyal engineers.



It is often underestimated as to the risks of working with the orbiters – as much as health and safety is a massive part of the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) culture. And while the details are vague – as they should be due to private and investigation purposes – Pad 39A witnessed the tragic death of United Space Alliance (USA) engineer James D. Vanover on March 14. RIP.

With management standing down the pad flow as a result, Mr Vanover's colleagues bravely opted to return to work the next day, picking up from the successfully conducted Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) hotfire and mating of the Rotating Service Structure (RSS), into the operations relating to the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) Flight Readiness Test (FRT).


"Launch Pad Validation (S0009) operations resumed. SSME Flight Readiness Test (FRT) and ET actuator cycling are complete," noted the NASA Test Director (NTD) reports this week (L2). "Hydraulic system closeouts were started with a minor anomaly noted. System 1 compressibility is good.

"Systems 2 & 3 failed compressibility tests and re-run following hose re-mate (the operation allows this contingency without an IPR). He signature test and ball seal leak checks will now be performed next week."

With leak checks and retorque operations all deemed nominal on the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate (GUCP), preparations for pre-launch propellant servicing were put in work, as engineers mated Quick Disconnects on the Aft OMS (Orbital Manevering System) and RCS (Reaction Control System), after beginning what is known as S0024 operations on Friday morning.

"S0024 Hypergolic Propellant Servicing is in work: Call-to-Stations was completed at 2035 EDT Thursday night," added the NTD report. "RCS driver test is complete. Forward RCS and Left OMS oxidizer load is in work Friday morning. Aft RCS and Right OMS oxidizer load Friday afternoon. Forward/Aft RCS and OMS fuel load is scheduled for Friday night."

Eaton Announces Breakthrough in Hydraulic Hose Technology; The Hose That Knows

Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation today announced the launch of a new

breakthrough technology that enables reporting of imminent hose assembly failure by means of

real-time monitoring of high pressure hose assemblies used in hydraulic systems. Eaton's

LifeSense hose, a patented hydraulic hose condition monitoring system, will be introduced to

the North American market at the International Fluid Power Exposition (held in conjunction

with ConExpo 2011) in Las Vegas, March 22 - 26, and to the European market at Hannover Messe

2011 in Hannover, Germany, April 4 - 8.

    "Hose failures in the field present serious safety issues, environmental concerns and

result in unscheduled system downtime, all of which have serious economic impacts."

Eaton's LifeSense hose was developed in conjunction with Purdue University and the Purdue

Research Foundation's Office of Technology Commercialization to continuously monitor the

health of hydraulic hose assemblies and alert users when an assembly approaches the end of

its useful life. The LifeSense hose can monitor and track the health of each hose assembly in

a hydraulic system. This system does not estimate or predict through arithmetic calculations

when a hose is going to fail, like some products on the market today. The LifeSense hose

actually detects when a hose is nearing the end of its useful life. Then an alert is sent to

the user so that the assembly can be replaced to prevent downtime. A single monitoring unit

can handle input from multiple hose assemblies.

"Most hydraulic maintenance programs are designed to avoid hose failures by replacing

assemblies at regular intervals, using a schedule based on usage data or past experience,"

said Doug Jahnke, Eaton product marketing manager. "As a result, a large number of perfectly

good hydraulic hose assemblies are discarded long before the end of their useful life out of

fear that they might fail. The LifeSense hose allows the user to utilize virtually all of the

useful life of a hydraulic hose assembly, more than 50 percent longer life in a typical lab

test, thus saving on replacement costs and associated downtime while providing peace-of-mind

that productivity will not be impeded and safety not compromised by unpredicted hose failure.

"Additionally, hydraulic hose failure is one of the largest causes of unplanned maintenance

events," Jahnke said. "Hose failures in the field present serious safety issues,

environmental concerns and result in unscheduled system downtime, all of which have serious

economic impacts."

The initial LifeSense hose offering will include the widely-used -8, -12 and -16 two-wire

hose assemblies. Eaton's LifeSense hydraulic hose condition monitoring offers performance

equal to industry standard 2SN pressure-rated hose and is certified to the same industry

specifications as conventional hydraulic hose products. The technology is currently available

for trial with factory-made assemblies including straight JIC swivel fittings.

End of season in sight for plow crews in Canton, Potsdam and elsewhere in St. Lawrence County

After weeks of nearly continuous effort, a good-sized March storm, and lots of overtime, plow crews and their bosses in Canton and Potsdam are looking toward the end of a snow season more difficult than last winter.

The season has been more challenging than 2009-10, but overall it was fairly typical of most winters, according to most area highway superintendents.

And while most of them don't think they have yet seen the worst of rising fuel prices, even with contracts meant to contain costs, they have been paying more than $3 a gallon, and it's going up.

Town of Potsdam Highway Superintendent John Keleher says his department's overtime requirements have amounted to about 200 more hours through February last year, but his sand usage through February is probably about the same as last year, around 5,800 cubic yards, and it's been "a normal winter.

"We worked straight early January through February, a couple of months of every day" moving snow and ice," Keleher said. When they weren't plowing the roads, his crews "moved snow from around mailboxes, driveways, intersections."

So far, runoff hasn't caused any major problems for Keleher. His department has used a steamer truck to clear frozen culverts to prevent overflow and damage to roads. With a steam genny mounted in the bed and an 80-foot hose, "they blow a hole right through them," Keleher said. They have cleared about 15 culverts this winter, and have helped out the village, which does not have a steamer.

Terry Billings, Town of Canton Highway Superintendent, says his department has been "well within budget" for the season, while requiring "about 50 or 60 hours of overtime a week for the whole month" of February. He has also used up about 250 tons of salt, mixed with sand. "That doesn't sound like much, but for 100 miles of road, that's considerable."

"Last winter was not as bad," said Village of Potsdam Public Works Superintendent Bruce Henderson. This winter is "comparable to 2008-09, just about an average winter," putting his winter plowing budget "right about where it's supposed to be."

Clearing snow has required "about 400 hours of overtime," through last month, he said.

There were a few 10- or 12-hour days, Henderson said, "but we cover ourselves with three shifts and that cuts down on overtime."

The public works crews in Potsdam work on three shifts from late November to early April, Henderson said, to make sure they're covered at all times. When they're not clearing snow from streets or parking lots or from around fire hydrants, they are keeping up with vehicle and other maintenance.

Village of Canton Superintendent of Public Works Brien Hallahan believes this winter was actually less taxing than normal, at least before this week's snow. He thinks other people might have the more recent storms uppermost in their minds.

"We got most of our winter in February," he says, with some memorable challenges. There were "three sessions of significant overtime" to get the work done, all well within budget.

The trucks, plows, loaders and graders in service in Canton and Potsdam have performed fairly well, with no serious unhappy surprises involving big expenditures of money and time.

Potsdam's Keleher said there have been a few "minor breakdowns – nothing big."

"Just the normal replacement of a hydraulic hose here and there, replacing cutting edges on the plows, so far – knock on wood," Potsdam Village's Henderson said.

Canton's Billings reports "no major equipment breakdowns." He credits his preventive maintenance program, where drivers are assigned trucks and they are responsible for minor maintenance like oil and plow blade changes.

"If a man is assigned a truck, he gets to know it," which will give the full-time maintenance chief the benefit of an informed operator when something major comes along.

"It's better than if they bounced between trucks. They have an interest," Billings said.

"Fuel prices have risen. That's our main concern right now," Potsdam's Henderson said.

For the Town of Canton, "fuel prices have actually been fairly stable," compared to the general market, Billings said. He was paying $3.17 a gallon for diesel at the beginning of February, and $3.35 a gallon at the beginning of March. He used 2,372 gallons in February for a total of $7,891.36.

While many departments contract with the state for fuel procurement, the Town of Canton has an independent contract with a Massena supplier. With either kind of contract, prices are more or less set in advance, but there are provisions for escalating prices in a volatile market such as the one we are in now.

If there are no more big snows and the temperatures rise, potholes are the next project.

"The state has been trying to do Main Street," said Hallahan in Canton, but he and others are concerned that the cold patch that is applied one day would just get plowed out the next.

Or it can just pop out, Potsdam's Henderson said, if the patch gets water under it and it freezes.

Henderson says some of the roads in Potsdam that have had the worst pothole problems in the past have been paved in the last couple of years, and the problems are greatly diminished.

Repair crews might try to tackle some of the bigger potholes before long, but most of that work will await the opening of local asphalt plants in April, when hot patch, a much sturdier preparation, can be obtained.

VAI Increases Productivity for Leading Industrial Distributor

VAI (Vormittag Associates, Inc.), an award-winning ERP solution provider, announced that

Washington-based Spokane House of Hose, a leading provider of hydraulic and industrial hose

and fittings in the Pacific Northwest, has integrated VAI's S2K Distribution Software. VAI's

S2K software will streamline disparate siloed systems into one integrated solution to better

manage supply chain performance against aggressive fiscal business goals. Spokane House of

Hose chose VAI for its track record of delivering powerful enterprise resource planning (ERP)

solutions for the distribution, manufacturing, retail and service industries on time and on

budget.

Spokane House of Hose stocks the largest hydraulic and industrial hose inventory west of the

Mississippi in an 80,000 square foot facility. The company has remained committed to its

roots as a locally owned business, founded in 1973. With expected continued opportunity and

new customer growth, Spokane House of Hose needed to tie together the various parts of its

organization into one centrally managed and scalable ERP system. VAI's S2K Distribution

Software gives Spokane House of Hose and its product partner, Air Electric Equipment and

Tools, the ability to analyze trends in inventory and shipment orders to streamline warehouse

management operations and eliminate unnecessary and time-consuming manual processes.

According to Rob Jones, project manager, VAI, "We implemented a robust and customized

software solution for Spokane in record time, and the system has delivered value from day

one. Our goal was to fully integrate both Spokane House of Hose and Air Electric Equipment

and Tools, with complete visibility into all business operations, to better manage and

analyze the Company's inventory and financial performance. Both sides of the business are now

working harmoniously for greater efficiencies in overall operations performance."

Mark Swenson, general manager, Spokane House of Hose, added, "It was not just VAI's in-depth

understanding of the intricacies of our distribution business, but their spirit of

partnership and committed staff that convinced us this project was not only achievable but

critical for the growth and development of our company. With VAI's S2K Distribution Software,

we can focus on what we do best -- offer fair pricing, quality products, expert advice and

excellent customer service -- only now we're doing this so much easier, faster and with

better business intelligence."

VAI's S2K Distribution Software offers customers numerous solutions to help manage supply

chains, enterprise resources and customer relationships efficiently and effectively.

About VAI (Vormittag Associates, Inc.)

VAI is an award-winning software developer and an IBM Premier Business Partner. Designed for

the mid-range market, S2K Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software Suite is used by a wide

variety of mid-sized companies worldwide, with a number of clients in the manufacturing,

distribution, retail, food and related service industries.

FD3 recieves $57,069 grant

St. Tammany Fire District 3 recently purchased six new hydraulic hose reels and five

new extrication tools with $57,069 provided by the Assistance to Firefighter Grant

and the Department of Homeland Security.

The money allowed FD3 to outfit each of its rescue units with 300 feet of hydraulic

hose line. 

Extrication tools (cutters, spreaders "jaws of life" and ram) are each supplied by

100 feet of hose line. Hose reels will make for a quick deployment of extrication

tools to the person or persons trapped. 

FD3 Firefighter Eljay Schmalz using an extrication tool purchased with a grant from

Assistance to Firefighter Grant and the Department of Homeland Security. (Photo

courtesy of Fire District 3)

Funding for professional installation of these hose reels is included in the grant. A

new set of extrication tools replaced the outdated and smaller equipment previously

housed on the department's Rescue 31. 

Two battery operated hydraulic cutters/spreaders were also purchased to be placed on

a second and third ambulance.

These tools allow EMS to quickly extricate trapped patients if a rescue unit is not

available on scene.  FD3 personnel tested this new equipment during our monthly

training evolution in February.

Local boy becomes 'Firefighter for the Day'

In conjunction with the special-needs community, the City of Brigantine Fire

Department continued with the Firefighter for the Day program, providing some of the

local special-needs children with an opportunity to see what their communities

firefighters' do on a daily basis.

On Friday, Feb. 25, third-grader Oscar Sarmiento, 8, came to work at the fire station

for a few hours as a Firefighter for the Day.



Members of the Brigantine Fire Department greeted Oscar, his 2-year-old brother, along

with his parents, and provided them with a look inside the Fire Department's daily

operations.

Oscar started by checking equipment on the engine, then donning firefighting gear to

squirt water from a fire hose. He also got to learn about the Jaws of Life hydraulic

tools, and got to see them in action.

To finish his visit, he got to have lunch with the members of 'D' platoon, the shift

on duty. They had Cameron's favorite, pizza, donated by Goochie Brothers Restaurant.