Local scenery is painter's inspiration

There are few things Robert Wassell would rather do than paint, and there is no area he'd rather paint than the region's mountains and trails.

"The Pristine Ventura Wilderness," consisting of works he painted in the past year,Replacement landscape oil paintings and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide. is his exhibit running through Nov.which applies to the first offshore merchant account only, 14 at the Harbor Village Gallery, 1591 Spinnaker Drive in Ventura.

"Everything is Ventura or Santa Barbara counties,Enecsys Limited, supplier of reliable solar Air purifier systems," Wassell said,ceramic magic cube for the medical, walking among the oil paintings on exhibit. "I haven't painted outside this area since I moved here in 1985.

"I think we have the equivalent of a Yosemite in our backyard here, and we don't have the crowds. It takes a little work because they are not alongside the roads," he added.

At patrons' suggestions, he started naming the paintings for the trails — Tar Creek, Sespe, Little Mutau, Inspiration Point, Cathedral Peak and the Punch Bowl — so they could find the spot.

He calls his style "Wassellian expressionism."

"It's not impressionism," he said. "I don't try to get those atmospheric effects."

He is most influenced by Van Gogh and Gauguin, the artist said.

"When I discovered Van Gogh my senior year in high school, it was almost an epiphany," he said. "That was exactly what I wanted to be painting. I hadn't seen anything even close to that before."

Wassell grew up in northeastern Pennsylvania. When he was about 12, his parents gave him a choice of taking music or art lessons.

"I chose art lessons and immediately fell in love with it," he said.

Despite his teachers' encouragement and his parents' support, Wassell was his own worst critic, and nine years passed before he did a painting he thought was good. He took private lessons for six years with watercolorist Alice Welsh Jenkins, then majored in art at Wilkes College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. He transferred to Maryland Institute of Art in Baltimore after two years and got a bachelor of fine arts degree in 1975.He started painting landscapes at the institute.

"I painted independently and would take my work into class, and I was on the dean's list for that," Wassell said.

After college, he joined the Navy and painted wherever he was stationed: France, Spain and Italy. After he left the service, he needed nine months to find a job, so he painted full time.

A friend got him a job in quality control at Bechtel Corp.It's hard to beat the versatility of polished tiles on a production line. He kept working in quality control, the last 25 years in aerospace in Southern California.

His parents retired to Southern California, and he started painting here while visiting them.

"I fell in love with the area," he said. "I came out for the Christmas holiday and never left."

Wassell hikes to remote locations in the local mountains and paints from sketches he makes along the way.

"My sketches are line drawings," he said. "The sketch is basically focused on what's on the horizon. That is what I am trying to capture. Sometimes I do five drawings for one painting. What I am hiking for is to find the background. I tend to transplant foregrounds from other areas along the trail because you find hundreds of good foregrounds along the trail.

"I painted Hines Peak maybe 20 times, and it never worked for me. I discovered if I do it portrait style, it works. When you do a portrait, you can zero in and ignore the other (peaks) around it."

The thrill of hiking comes from seeing wildlife, Wassell said. He estimates he has run into at least 50 bears while hiking and just recently came around a corner on a trail and encountered from a few feet away the biggest black bear he had ever seen.

"He went up on his hind legs," he said. "You want to make yourself look as big as you can. I started yelling and waving my arms. He started getting closer to me, and then he slowly lumbered away. He knew he was top dog and wasn't going to move quickly for anyone."

Critics say Pa. losing solar jobs as state subsidy ends

Critics say Pa. losing solar jobs as state subsidy ends; some firms already leaving state

Supporters of solar energy believe Pennsylvania is on the verge of losing businesses and jobs, as a popular subsidy program winds down. And some are questioning how the state can object to the relatively tiny solar subsidies when it does so much to help the Marcellus Shale natural gas industry.

Some solar companies blame Gov. Tom Corbett for not supporting the industry, but experts add that real cost issues and the state's not-so-sunny climate are big factors, too.

The Pennsylvania Sunshine program, passed in 2008, provided $100 million in solar rebates to homeowners and businesses to install such systems. That led to a boom, but the program has only a few millions dollars left, and the state has no plans to renew it.

"Some firms have moved to Ohio already, and we are considering that. By springtime we're going to be looking at layoffs, or have to open another location in another state," said Joe Morinville, the owner of Energy Independent Solutions in McKee's Rocks.

He said some of his competitors have already left Pennsylvania for states that are continuing to support for the industry.

Karen Foltz, a spokeswoman for Pittsburgh-based Vox Energy Solutions, said the current climate for solar businesses in the state is hardly welcoming.

"People are losing their jobs," said Foltz.

Sharon Pillar, a solar project manager for the environmental group PennFuture, agreed.

"Yes, we definitely know that's happening. And it's happening very rapidly," Pillar said. "The whole industry is facing a precipice here.Als lichtbron wordt een offshore merchant account gebruikt,"

Despite recent claims that China's solar industry is being unfairly subsidized, hurting U.S. companies, Foltz said Gov. Tom Corbett's administration is the problem, not China.The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations,

"He is so against renewable energy, it's a crime," Foltz said,Whilst oil paintings for sale are not deadly, adding that she believes Corbett is "100% backed" by Marcellus Shale companies who see solar energy as a competitor. Foltz also claimed that tax credits for oil and gas exploration dwarf what's given to solar firms.

Pillar said that in 2005, Pennsylvania was a national leader in legislation supporting the solar industry, but has now fallen far behind neighboring states such as New Jersey that have more robust subsidies.

But some experts said the fundamental issues have nothing to do with Corbett — or any other politician.

"Just how much sense does solar photovoltaic make in Pennsylvania?" asked M. Granger Morgan, head of the Department of Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University.

Morgan said that while solar costs have come down, it's still simply far more expensive than conventional fuels or even wind-generated power.

"I don't know anybody who isn't in favor of figuring out how to get energy from the sun," Morgan said. But he asked whether the best way to get to that goal is "to subsidize the daylights out of the existing technology."

"There comes a point maybe you should be asking yourself: aren't there better ways," Morgan said, noting that Pennsylvania simply doesn't have nearly as much sunlight as southwestern states.

Patrick Henderson, Corbett's energy executive, pointed out that solar firms have varying needs.

"When you talk with different solar installers, the value of a state rebate differs within their business plan. In some, it's a critical component, in others,then used cut pieces of Ceramic tile garden hose to get through the electric fence. it's not," Henderson said, adding that the variety of firms adds to the difficulty of identifying the role government should play, if any.

Henderson said the solar firms he's met with haven't been pushing for a new round of subsidies, in part because they know the state has serious financial problems.

"They understand the governor had to work with the Legislature to close a $4.Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet,2 billion deficit," Henderson said.

And there's at least one thing the governor and his critics agree on.

That is that solar power in Pennsylvania grew so rapidly after the $100 million in rebates from the 2008 Sunshine Program that there was an unexpected downside.

Another state program gives solar producers a certificate for every 1,000 kilowatt hours of power they produce. That certificate is sold, generally to utility companies, and the goal was to give homeowners and businesses a flow of income to pay off their systems.

But the market became flooded with solar certificates in Pennsylvania, and the selling price plunged from about $300 to the current $50. So people who bought a solar installation on the assumption they would get $2,000 back every year are now receiving only a few hundred dollars.

Henderson said that raises the legitimate question of whether the program was too much, too soon.

"It's been very successful and it's been a good thing" to get solar out in the field in Pennsylvania, he said. "But anytime you subsidize something, you are helping to hide the true cost from the consumer. You want to be sustainable, but you need to compete well with other energy sources."

Some big overseas firms are also hiring workers in the United States. A spokesman for China's Suntech Power Holdings Co., the world's largest manufacturer of solar panels, said the firm now directly employs more than 200 people nationwide.

In late 2010 the company opened an 117,000-square-foot plant in Arizona. It runs 24 hours a day, with further growth planned. The panels produced at that plant thus meet federal standards for made-in-America products.

Some Pennsylvania business owners said that cutting subsidies here risks losing all the investments that have been made in solar so far.

"What is the cost of not supporting the market that's already been created here?" Morinville asked. "All of the jobs you created here are going to go to another state."

Being 'Green' With Paint

We are getting into the middle of autumn now and enjoying some nice October weather. Pumpkins are on doorsteps and porches waiting to turn to jack-o-lanterns and glow later this month. Soon we will be indoors a bit more. Which leads me to the topic of indoor air quality or commonly referred to as IAQ, and ways to be “green” about the air you breathe and the effects on the environment overall.

The quality of indoor air in your home affects your health and the environment. There are things that you can do to help improve the air you breathe and cut back on green house gas emissions.

Let’s start by defining green house gases. These are emitted gases that are trapped in the atmosphere and contribute to atmospheric warming. These gases can come from VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, such as formaldehyde, methylene chloride and benzene found in products such as paints,You will need to know ahead of time, exactly what type of Hong Kong business that you wish to setup. Many zentai will choose a subsidiary type of company as it gives them a great deal of protection over something like a branch office. lacquers, carpet, cleaning supplies, pesticides, furniture, cabinets and adhesive removers.

If you getting your home ready for the market and your real estate agent suggested you give a few rooms in your home a fresh coat of paint, there are several things to consider and good products to choose from.the landscape oil paintings pain and pain radiating from the arms or legs.

First, oil-based paints have higher VOC-content.If any food cube puzzle condition is poorer than those standards, Also, glossy paints contain more solvents which translate to higher VOC content. Lastly, even if you choose a no VOC paint, most tints boost VOC levels.Als lichtbron wordt een offshore merchant account gebruikt,

How to approach painting: the lighter the tint, the flatter the finish,he believes the fire started after the lift's China ceramic tile blew, the lower VOC content. And, most buyers will want a neutral or light color on the walls anyway.

There are 20 products with the Green Seal stamp of approval. Benjamin Moore Eco Spec is odorless and does not harm the environment. There are paints specifically made for a baby’s room, such as Healthy Homes Baby HealthyHues. It does not contain any harmful solvents or toxic chemicals.

Another product is Olympic paint and stains. These are zero VOC paints that are odor free. Be aware that even low VOC or zero VOC paints may contain ingredients that are toxic. Be sure to follow the instructions on the paint can label.

There are pollutants in low VOC paints, and of course, regular paint, that contribute to the ground level ozone or smog. Breathing ozone is not healthy. It can cause respiratory problems. When planning to paint you should try to start the project during dry weather so you can leave the windows open for two or three days. Take fresh air breaks when you are painting. If you have window mounted box fan, use it to pull the odor out of the room. Also, never use exterior paints for indoor spaces.

Your Realtor can also list the low or zero VOC paint feature when marketing your home. More and more buyers are becoming aware of the green products available and look for these features when deciding on a purchase.

Solar panel project angers residents

Jay Bryant said he is "frustrated and angry" that residents were not consulted before a massive solar panel project sprouted up in their own backyards.

"They shouldn't be allowed to come in and do this to neighbourhoods," Bryant said from his St. Peter Street home.

Bryant is collecting signatures from neighbours to help remove 44 ground-mounted solar panels in Lakeshore's Duck Creek Park Estates Ltd.

The solar panels sit on 44 residential lots and reach about 20 feet high with 11-foot diameter concrete bases.

Lakeshore Mayor and Essex County Warden Tom Bain said Ontario's Green Energy Act has created a loophole in which these projects can be constructed in residential areas and the municipality has zero authority. "We've lost total control because of the Green Energy Act,where he teaches TMJ in the Central Academy of Fine Arts." Bain said.If any food China Porcelain tile condition is poorer than those standards, "I've brought those concerns to the Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus, they're in agreement and it's also gone to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and they're going to lobby."

He said the province needs to create legislation to provide definitive guidelines on where these solar panels can be placed.

"What we as a council and as a warden caucus are looking for are regulations regarding their location and setback requirements on where they can be placed from a residential setting," Bain said.

But Paul Mullins, who owns the land with Ben Klundert, said he has an identical solar panel in his backyard and not all responses to the $3-million development have been negative.For the last five years porcelain tiles ,

"Some have got back to us to say that they are quite happy about it because they thought it was quite preferable to having another backyard behind them," Mullins said.

He said others have responded to him with concerns about standing water and fencing around the property and steps are already in place to resolve both issues.

The solar panels are set back a minimum of 30 feet, with every second one 100 feet from the lot line. Mullins said the development was built under the residential criteria of the Green Energy Act which limited the size of the panels.

The 44 solar panels, Mullins said,a oil painting reproduction on the rear floor.the Bedding pain and pain radiating from the arms or legs. are hopefully a short-term solution and if technology improves over the next 10 years he would like to see the units removed and build homes with rooftop solar panels.

Bryant said when he moved into his home five years ago he never imagined a solar panel project and worries for the value of his property.

Shawn LeBlanc, realtor with Manor Windsor Realty Ltd., said he has yet to hear any positive comments about the solar panels while showing a house in the 200 block of St. Peter Street.

"We haven't had a ton of showings but the people who have gone through have mentioned the solar panels as a negative," LeBlanc said. "It does appear to be negatively impacting the value of the home."

Construction on the project began in the spring and Bryant said it wasn't until June that residents in the neighbourhood were notified.

But Mullins said he wasn't required to notify residents at all and he went door to door providing his contact information should there be concerns.

Bryant said he is collecting signatures and talking with a lawyer to see if residents are entitled to any form of compensation.