Anaheim briefs: Organic waste trash sorting began in Anaheim on July 1 

• July 6, 2023

To meet state goals of reducing methane emissions from landfills and extending their lifespan, Anaheim residents are now required to discard food and organic waste differently.

Residents will need to separate their organic from the main trash bin and dispose of it in the yard waste bin. Organic waste includes: food scraps such as uneaten food, overripe fruit or vegetables, bones, coffee grounds and filters, tea bags; landscaping clippings such as leaves, weeds, plants, shrubs;  food-soiled paper such as greasy pizza boxes and paper plates; wood and lumber.

Residents living in apartment, condominium or townhome communities should contact property managers to understand how the new rules apply to them.

For more information visit Anaheim.net/organics

Entertainment under the star

Summer is here and that means the Pearson Park Summer Nights Under the Stars series is here.

Shows are at the Pearson Park Amphitheatre and cost $3 per person, with children 8 and young as well as military and Anaheim veterans free (plus three guests for veterans). Coming up are:

July 7: Mark Wood and The Parrothead Band, a tribute to Jimmy Buffet

July 14: Le Polynesia

There are also some free shows coming up:

July 21: Anaheim Ballet performance

July 28: Baile y Canto Under the Stars free performance

Shows continue into August! Find out more and buy or reserve tickets at anaheim.net.

Music at the Muzeo

The Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center is presenting its first summer concert series, with the intention of it becoming an annual thing.

The series features free, outdoor performances in a family friendly environment.

Performances are scheduled in the Muzeo courtyard with Deke Dickerson next on July 28 and Sean Oliu on Aug. 25.

All concerts are at 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The public is invited to bring lawn chairs and picnic dinners to the show. There will be a free arts and crafts booth offered for the children.

For more information, sponsorship opportunities and other programs visit muzeo.org.

Concerts in the parks

More free concerts for the community will be hosted at Ronald Reagan Park and Maxwell Park.

Future performances in the Concerts in the Canyon series at Ronald Reagan Park include:

Kings of 88 on July 13

Undercover on July 20

The Trip on July 27.

At Maxwell Park, the Concerts to the Max series will include:

The Smokin’ Cobras on Aug. 3 and 4

Alarm Band on Aug. 10.

Information: anaheim.net.

Getting together

The Savanna High Class of 1970 wasn’t able to have its 50th reunion because of the coronavirus pandemic. The group is now reaching out to find classmates interested in a reschedule of the reunion.

Interested Savanna 1970 alumni are asked to contact Charlie Ross at RebelReunion1970@gmail.com or at 714-457-2685 with name, phone number and email address.

Decisions must be made on size of venue, catering and such.

Opportunity to exhibit your art

The Center Gallery located in the Downtown Community Center, 250 E. Center St., provides local artists an opportunity to exhibit.

The center is open to the community from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

There is an online Fine Arts Gallery application that can be completed and submitted at anaheim.net/205/Center-Gallery for consideration for the revolving display.  All mediums are welcome and group exhibits are acceptable.

For more information contact Robert Zavala, program specialist at rzavala@anaheim.net.

Andrea Manes shares with her neighbors events and news about the Anaheim community. If you have an event to share, contact her at andreadeemanes@gmail.com or 714-815-3885.

​ Orange County Register 

Mayo Clinic Minute: Sunscreen has a shelf life and other facts to know

• July 6, 2023

Deb Balzer | (TNS) Mayo Clinic News Network

Did you know sunscreen has a shelf life and can expire? Or that too much heat or cold can ruin a new bottle?

Protecting your skin from harmful sun rays will help against inflammation, burns, premature aging and, most importantly, skin cancer.

Dr. Dawn Davis, a Mayo Clinic dermatologist, has more on sunscreen shelf life and other facts to help make decisions as you head into the sun.

You might think a dermatologist is going to ask you to ban the sun.

“There’s nothing wrong with being outside in the sun,” says Dr. Davis.

UV, or ultraviolet light, is a carcinogen. That’s where sunscreen helps.

“Sunscreen can act as a carcinogen barrier to help keep your skin safe,” says Dr. Davis.

Keep these sunscreen facts in mind when you’re reaching for your favorite bottle:

— Sunscreen can expire, affecting the active ingredient and the preservative.

— Sunscreen is sensitive to extreme temperatures. Keep it out of direct sun, and don’t let it freeze during winter storage.

— People of color need to wear sunscreen.

Bottom line, everyone over age 6 months needs sunscreen — babies included.

“It is a layman’s myth that children do not get skin cancer. And it’s a layman’s myth that a person of color cannot have skin cancer,” Dr. Davis says.

And lastly, Dr. Davis says, “There literally is no such thing as a waterproof sunscreen.”

Apply sunscreen, and after you get wet, reapply.

Sunscreen application tips

To be effective, sunscreen needs to be used liberally so be generous with your portions.

It’s recommended to use 1 ounce (30 milliliters) of sunscreen — the amount in a shot glass — to cover exposed parts of the body. You might need to apply more, depending on your body size. If you have a 4-ounce (118-milliliter) bottle, you’ll use about a quarter of it during one application.

___

©2023 Mayo Clinic News Network. Visit newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

​ Orange County Register 

Disneyland resets Oogie Boogie Bash ticket launch after epic tech failure

• July 6, 2023

Disneyland die-hards frustrated by a massive technical meltdown during the Oogie Boogie Bash launch last week finally know when they will be able to buy tickets to the annual Halloween event that often sells out quickly.

Oogie Boogie Bash ticket sales for 25 select nights in September and October at Disney California Adventure will resume on Tuesday, July 11 no earlier than 9 a.m., according to the Disneyland website.

“We sincerely apologize for the technical issues we experienced last week that may have impacted your ability to purchase tickets,” according to the Disneyland website.

SEE ALSO: Disneyland crews install ‘Big Hero 6’ towers on San Fransokyo bridge — See photos

The massive technical failure that sent Disneyland’s IT team scrambling to find a solution last week forced the Anaheim theme park to press pause on Oogie Boogie Bash ticket sales for a week until the problems could be fixed.

Tickets for the after-hours, separate admission event went on sale to Magic Keyholders on June 27 and to the general public on June 29. The technical troubles with the Oogie Boogie Bash website started shortly after the general public tickets went on sale.

Disney’s Oogie Boogie Bash website says ticket purchases completed during the initial problem-plagued launch will be honored.

SEE ALSO: What’s next for Disney’s Hyperion Theater after limited run of Marvel musical?

Disneyland has experienced server meltdowns during past special event launches that overwhelmed ticket sale websites.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Josh D’Amaro should be embarrassed to have a “ticketing platform that’s less reliable than a McDonald’s ice cream machine,” according to MousePlanet.

“Customers should not need to give up a part of their day, or multiple days, to make a simple ticket purchase,” according to MousePlanet. “The company needs to make the investment to build or buy the infrastructure required to support ticketing, and spend the money on the staff to keep it running.”

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Oogie Boogie Bash will run on select nights in September and October at Disney California Adventure. The 2023 dates include Sept. 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28 and Oct. 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26, 29 and 31.

This year’s edition of Oogie Boogie Bash will include familiar nighttime entertainment like the Frightfully Fun Parade, Villains Grove and “Mickey’s Trick and Treat” show along with trick-or-treat trails. Character costumes, food and merchandise typically have a seasonal flair.

Prices for the 2023 event range from $134 to $189. The 5-hour after-party starts at 6 p.m. with mix-in beginning three hours earlier.

​ Orange County Register 

Tour de France: Pogacar rallies to win stage, Vingegaard takes lead

• July 6, 2023

CAUTERETS-CAMBASQUE, France — Two-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar claimed a 10th career stage win at cycling’s biggest race on Thursday after launching a stunning counterattack and dropping defending champion Jonas Vingegaard in the finale.

A day after losing more than a minute to Vingegaard in the first Pyrenean stage, Pogacar showed he was not ready to give up and revived the suspense.

Vingegaard crossed the finish line 24 seconds behind Pogacar following their pulsating duel and seized the race leader’s yellow jersey, 25 seconds ahead of his Slovenian rival, according to provisional results.

Overnight leader Jai Hindley dropped to third place overall, one minute, 34 seconds off the pace.

The brutal 145-kilometer (90-mile) Stage 6 with a mountaintop finish from the southwestern city of Tarbes to the Plateau of Cambasque featured three tough climbs including the legendary Col du Tourmalet.

It was on the steepest part of the famed mountain pass, in thin air, that Vingegaard, riding behind a small group of breakaway riders, started the battle.

After his teammates asphyxiated competition with a frenetic pace that made most of other contenders crack, Vingegaard launched a sharp attack about 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) from the summit. Pogacar was the only one able to follow.

Vingegaard’s teammate Wout Van Aert, who was part of the early breakaway and rode furiously throughout the day, waited for his leader in the downhill as a group of eight riders gathered at the front before the final grind with some steep sections with an 11% gradient.

The tireless Van Aert accelerated again with five kilometers (3.1 miles) left to set up Vingegaard’s second attack of the day, with Pogacar and Michal Kwiatkowski taking his wheel.

The Polish rider was quickly dropped and the duelists were on their own for the last three kilometers (1.8 miles) of the stage, spurred on by the vociferous cries of buoyant fans lining up the road and lighting flares.

Pogacar then placed his explosive counterattack with 2.6 kilometers (1.6 miles) left and never looked back.

​ Orange County Register 

California to audit its regulation of addiction treatment facilities 

• July 6, 2023

California’s low-level regulation of addiction treatment and rehabilitation facilities that make it almost impossible to properly track them is under scrutiny as the state auditor’s office embarks on an audit of the Department of Health Care Services.

The audit, requested by Assemblymember Diane Dixon, R-Newport Beach, will “determine if DHCS is properly licensing, regulating and enforcing state laws” regarding residential facilities that provide nonmedical recovery, treatment and detoxification service.

“It is regrettable how much these facilities are taking advantage of vulnerable people — people who actually need help,” Dixon said. “Unfortunately, these facilities advertise treatment for alcohol or drug abuse recovery or treatment services and more often than not provide limited care. We need more accountability on who is licensed and if the treatment programs provided are effective.”

The audit requests information on how DHCS is licensing and enforcing laws on facilities that provide “24-hour nonmedical, residential, alcoholism or drug abuse recovery or treatment services to adults,” according to Dixon’s office.

In 2021, a man from Gratitude Lodge, a detox house in Newport Beach, forced his way into a house in the corner of Santa Ana Heights where he was shot and killed by an occupant of the home. The man, 23-year-old Henry Richard Lehr, had been exhibiting signs of paranoid delirium — screaming about wanting to leave, being chased and wanting to go home.

The Southern California News Group has spent years probing deaths, sexual assaults, drug use and illegal paying-for-patients in California’s loosely regulated problem-prone addiction treatment industry, dubbed the Rehab Riviera. More than half of California’s state-licensed and/or certified addiction treatment facilities are in just four counties — Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino — and these are expressly non-medical facilities that are often poorly equipped to address serious medical issues, such as the one that led to Lehr’s death.

They are also most often located in tract homes in residential neighborhoods, where neighbors have long complained they are too densely concentrated and institutionalize neighborhoods.

Beyond licensed facilities, the Rehab Riviera is home to many more sober living homes, which is where recovering users go after formal treatment. Sober homes are unlicensed and unregulated groups of people just trying to live substance-free lives together but have led to major legal battles in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa.

After wrestling with conflict from sober homes and addiction recovery facilities in residential neighborhoods for more than a decade, Orange County cities have failed to work together and adopt local laws setting standards for these facilities, a new grand jury report says. The county is host to the highest concentration of rehabs per capita in the entire state.

The grand jury also found that most sober living homes are not required by law to be licensed by the state and there are no widely adopted methods to track or monitor any aspect of these facilities, including their location, number of residents, on-site management and ownership.

“Many of the homes in question are privately owned, unlicensed, unsupervised and a challenge to monitor and regulate,” the report states.

Several cities, including Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Anaheim, have in place ordinances that regulate sober living homes. In Costa Mesa, no convicted sex offenders, violent felons or drug dealers can run sober homes. Supervision of clients 24/7 is required, sober homes must be at least 650 feet apart, residents must be actively participating in “legitimate” recovery programs and transportation must be provided when residents leave.

This audit, however, seeks DHCS records, which are only for licensed addiction treatment facilities. Dixon said the Joint Legislative Audit Committee expects data from the state auditor’s office in about six months.

The bipartisan request was signed by Orange County legislators, including Assemblymembers Laurie Davies, R-Laguna Niguel; Cottie Petrie-Norris, D-Irvine; Kate Sanchez, R-Rancho Santa Margarita; and Tri Ta, R-Westminster, as well as Sens. Dave Min, D-Irvine; Josh Newman, D-Fullerton; and Janet Nguyen, R-Huntington Beach.

“The requested audit, when completed, will ensure that California’s Department of Health Care Services is properly regulating facilities and fully complying with all relevant laws and regulations in order to fully and effectively protect not only the residents of these facilities but the community at large,” said Newman.

The request was unanimously approved by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, which includes Sen. Kelly Seyarto, R-Murrieta; Assemblymember Avelino Valencia, D-Anaheim; and Sen. Catherine Blakespear, D-Encinitas, who serves as the committee’s vice chair.

“These licensed recovery and treatment facilities, while necessary, change the fabric of our neighborhoods. My district is saturated with them,” said Valencia, who represents Anaheim, Orange and Santa Ana in north Orange County. “The audit will bring much-needed transparency on the Department of Health Care Services’ licensing and regulatory processes of these facilities.”

Dixon said: “The report from the audit will help provide direction for the legislature on how to address these problems and close any loopholes in regulation and enforcement. People need to be rehabilitated.”

Separately, in Orange County, the grand jury has recommended cities and the County of Orange “collaborate in their efforts to create ordinances for the regulation of group homes, including the development of model ordinances.”

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​ Orange County Register 

Take a look inside The Bellwether, a new music venue opening in L.A. next week

• July 6, 2023

In the weeks leading up to the official opening of a new Downtown Los Angeles concert venue, things are starting to take shape inside.

The plush green couches have been delivered, the individually made crystal chandeliers are lit and the eye-catching wallpaper is neatly hung. There are just a few final touches to be done before The Bellwether hosts its debut performance with synth-pop duo Phantogram on Tuesday, July 11.

“I still can’t believe we finally have the couches and decor, it’s been a long process, but it finally feels real,” co-founder Michael Swier said while plopping into a corner booth upstairs of what will soon be a VIP room for guests. “Still can’t believe we’re almost at the finish line.”

Located just off the 110 Freeway at 4th and South Boylston streets, The Bellwether will serve as a 1,600-capacity concert hall with a massive roundabout bar in the foyer, a custom-built sound system and a restaurant lounge. There’s also a private event space that Swier hopes will be an addition to future music festivals at the venue, which also features a stunning view of Downtown Los Angeles in the open-air seated lounge.

Co-founded by Swier, the man behind independent Los Angeles music spots The Teragram Ballroom and Moroccan Lounge, and Gregg Perloff, who operates Another Planet Entertainment and the Outside Lands Festival in the Bay Area, the partnership happened organically and “clicked right from the start,” Swier shared.

“It was important for me, when looking at spaces, that we could grow an event space from The Moroccan or The Teragram, we wanted to have the foundations of independent music promotion still and when Another Planet came into the picture, everything came together so naturally,” Swier added. “Knowing their history of independent promotions up in the Bay Area and what they are still doing up there, it just made sense.”

In the mid-’90s, Swier opened what would become iconic independent venues, beginning with the Mercury Lounge and Bowery Ballroom in New York, both similar in size and stature to their sister venues in Los Angeles. With The Bellwether, the space is capable of supporting acts of multiple genres as they transition from playing the 275-capacity Moroccan and the 600-capacity Teragram. The new addition is a crucial part to the booming ecosystem of local venues, he insists.

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“Right now, for me in this market, there’s a preconceived notion of growing bands through The Bellwether,” Swier said. “Because if you start at The Moroccan, you know there’s this place to look forward to. So there’s this pathway for people and the industry knows that. We will see what happens beyond us, but we know it’s all a stepping stone for not just rising artists but well-known artists as well.”

As for demolition, design and construction on The Bellwether began in December 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were eased. Nick Barrie, talent buyer of the venue, pointed excitedly to the new light fixtures that were recently installed.

“Every time I was coming in, which was about once a month or now once a week, there was always something to look forward to,” Barrie said with a grin.

Having announced the venue’s initial lineup of talent, Barrie’s been pleased with the feedback. There’s already more than 30 acts booked, including Tyhcho (July 13), Mild High Club (July 26), Porter Robinson’s three-day takeover (July 27-29), Lany (Aug. 1), Isaiah Rashad (Aug. 17-18) and Silversun Pickups (Sept. 27). Tickets for acts like Haim (July 17-18), Drama (July 22), The Midnight (July 30), Carly Rae Jepsen (Aug. 11-13), Wilco (Oct. 11), Slowdive (Oct. 14-15) and others have already sold out.

The Bellwether feels like a homecoming of sorts for Phantogram, as Los Angeles has been a prominent hub for the New York-based duo’s ever-growing audience.

“We’ve been coming to Los Angeles since day one on our first tour and have been able to create such an important fanbase out here that are just absolute music heads,” Sarah Barthel of Phantogram shared during a phone interview. “For us, playing in the city here is so much fun — we’ve played here so many times we can’t even count — but this time is extra special.”

Opening night will be the band’s first show back in the area in more than three years. They’re excited, too, since they recently reissued their 2010 debut album “Eyelid Movies” and a previously unreleased outtake from the album, “Suzie,” which will undoubtedly end up in the setlist. Though they’re used to headlining shows worldwide, Phantogram’s Josh Carter acknowledges that it’s a big deal to part of The Bellwether’s history.

“Over the years, it’s pretty easy to become a little jaded after playing so many shows, but thinking of the actual importance of opening a venue like this and what it means to fans is so cool,” he said. “It’s an honor.”

For Barrie, getting such a positive response from not only the fans buying tickets, but the artists themselves ahead of the venue opening has been encouraging.

“It lets me know that people want to see a new venue and they want to experience something new,” he said. “The fans are elated to be somewhere different, especially hardcore fans of the acts we book, they also understand the history of The Teragram and what (Another Planet Entertainment) does up north. I’ve noticed people online saying, ‘If the Teragram dudes are behind this, the sound and atmosphere is going to be great.’ Being able to reach those fans is important to not only me but the whole team.”

Swier and Barrie agreed that they haven’t had the proper time to digest all that’s happening in the moment, but expect to fully savor it on opening night when lights dim, fans scream and music plays. For Swier and everyone on the team, The Bellwether symbolizes a new beginning for music lovers in Los Angeles to feel a part of something that’s made specifically for them.

“This is special to me, I don’t just identify with the need for a larger capacity (venue), it all comes down to how you fulfill the needs of fans and everyone that walks through the door,” Swier said. “It’s doing the best with what you can and every time we grow or build something, we learn something new. This is our pinnacle right now, and I think we’ve touched all bases here.”

The Bellwether

Where: 333 S. Boylston Street, Los Angeles

More infromation: thebellweatherla.com

​ Orange County Register 

How to test the air quality in your home; what to know about getting professional help

• July 6, 2023

With climate change and pollution continuing to impact weather and atmospheric conditions around the globe and the pandemic highlighting just how vulnerable humans are to invisible pathogens, many people are thinking harder about the air they breathe and how it could affect their health. Unfortunately, almost 36% of Americans – or 119.6 million people – are living in areas with unhealthy air, according to the American Lung Association’s State of the Air report for 2023.

While you can’t do much about the environment around you, one way to breathe easier is by measuring your home’s air quality — and improving it if needed. Here’s how you can test on your own, and what to know about getting professional help.

How is air quality measured?

You may be familiar with air quality warnings if you follow the local news or weather reports. The standard measurement for air quality is known as Air Quality Index, or AQI. On a large scale, ground and satellite instruments measure particles in the air, which are then scored from 0 (safest) to 500 (most dangerous). AQI primarily measures:

Airborne particles
Carbon monoxide
Ground level ozone
Nitrogen dioxide
Sulfur dioxide

Ozone and airborne particles are the most common culprits, found as smoke from wildfires or smog. Air quality is color-coded depending on how concentrated the particles are. Air quality reports are often issued for a metropolitan area or region.

The higher the pollutant level, the less safe it is for people to be outside. If the results fall into the hazardous range, it is best to stay indoors, especially if you suffer from allergies or have respiratory or other health issues that make you sensitive to what you breathe. All the more reason to make sure your home’s interiors are safe to breathe in.

Why is it important to test the air quality in my home?

Breathing in polluted air can lead to many serious health problems, including respiratory issues, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Evaluating your home’s interior air and air flow is often the only way to know if there are pollutants present that could harm your health. While you may be able to spot mold and mildew in your home, some potentially deadly hazards (like radon and carbon monoxide) are colorless and odorless, so you likely wouldn’t even know that they’re even present — unless you test for them.

“Testing the air quality in our homes is an important step toward sleeping better, feeling better, and being healthier,” says Travis Blackburn, director, control systems marketing at AprilAire, a manufacturer of HVAC products. “From invisible allergens and VOC gasses to humidity levels that are out of balance and a lack of fresh air, our homes have the potential to negatively impact our health and how we feel.”

What are the symptoms of poor air quality in a house?

There are a number of symptoms associated with poor air quality in your home, including:

Visible mold or mildew
Leaks or water-damaged ceilings
Warped or buckled floors
Dampness and humidity levels above 50%
Strange or unexplainable odors

“If you find yourself dealing with things like sneezing, runny noses, headaches, static shock, an itchy throat, or dry skin and eyes – all of these can be symptoms of poor indoor air quality,” says Blackburn. “Poor air quality can also exacerbate allergy and asthma symptoms.”

How can you test air quality in your home?

There are several different kinds of air quality testing kits, typically designed to look for common toxins like radon, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde and carbon monoxide.

Knowing what to check for and how to test air quality in your home could save you time and money.

Digital air monitors

An air quality monitor can identify and alert you to an issue in its early stages. These devices use sensors to track the levels of specific pollutants and hazards, like radon, VOCs and formaldehyde.

There are many indoor air monitors available on the market, including the Airthings Wave Plus and the uHoo Smart Air Monitor. Alternatively, you can buy another type of smart device that has air quality monitoring functionality, such as a tech-enabled air purifier, smart thermostat or indoor home security camera.

“When it comes to knowing what to buy, make sure that your air quality monitor has precision, resolution, and calibration features,” suggests Sarah Jameson of Green Building Elements, an online information hub for construction projects. “Research the technology you are eyeing and check for its overall performance, including the range. Apart from your sensor being able to measure carbon monoxide, particulate matter, VOCs, humidity, formaldehyde, and radon, check reviews for how fast the response time for readings to come in, how well the sensor can be connected with smart technologies, and whether there is minimal noise.”

Mold tests

There are multiple kinds of mold tests, but only certain ones – including air pumps and petri dish tests – are designed to detect mold in the air. They work by taking samples of the air in your home, either through a collection cassette or a petri dish. After the collection period ends, you’ll need to send the samples to a lab to be analyzed.

Radon tests

Radon tests also come in different forms, from battery-powered test kits to single-use charcoal canisters to app-enabled plug-in devices. Some are designed for short-term use (between two days and three months), so you can identify issues quickly. Long-term tests are used for at least three months and can help you understand your home’s year-round radon levels.

Electronic radon tests continuously monitor radon levels in your home and notify you through an app or on-screen display, while one-time collection kits need to be sent into a lab.

Carbon monoxide detectors

Like smoke alarms, these devices track the amount of carbon monoxide in your home and make a loud noise if the levels get dangerously high. They’re available in hardwired, battery and plug-in models, either as standalone devices or with the ability to detect smoke or natural gas.

When should you hire a professional air quality service?

Although there are plenty of DIY options for air testing, they can be limited, particularly when it comes to one of the largest threats to a home’s air quality — mold.

“Homeowners who are not mold assessors cannot accurately test air quality,” Mike Powell, a Tampa, Fla.-based professional mold assessor at Red Flag Home Inspections explains. “DIY kits sold at big box stores confirm what any mold professional already knows: There’s mold everywhere.”

Mold often hides behind walls and under floors, making it more time-consuming (and expensive) to diagnose. It often starts in hard-to-spot places like basements — it loves the damp and the dark — and spreads through the home’s HVAC system. Not all molds are harmful, making it hard to pinpoint the presence of those causing real air-quality and health problems like lethargy, headaches or respiratory issues. A pro can make a more precise evaluation, identifying the types of mold in your home and your air — and to assess the degree of danger it represents.

“When collecting air samples, or testing that gets mold spores from the air in some way other than vacuum collection, an exterior/baseline sample should be collected,” notes Powell. “The mold spores you see in these results are not global and are not ‘known’ values. The way to assess an environment is to compare the indoor levels versus the outdoor levels in your area, which will vary wildly based on location. To take one without the other will leave them, and anyone thereafter, unable to make much use of the data.”

According to Angi, the average cost of a professional, whole-home air quality test is $436. The cost can vary based on home size. Such a test can diagnose allergens, asbestos, radon, carbon monoxide, harmful mold and VOCs. More detailed testing can be performed once the air-quality test results are in. Detailed testing is more expensive, costing an average of $500 for asbestos or radon and $300 to $1,000 for mold.

FAQs about testing air quality of your home

How frequently should I test the air quality in my home? AprilAire’s Blackburn recommends that homeowners check their air quality at least once per year. For extra peace of mind, you can invest in an air quality monitor or smart device that continually tracks your air quality and alerts you if something isn’t right.
How much does a professional air quality test typically cost? According to Angi, a professional air quality test usually costs between $291 and $585, depending on the size of your home. The average cost is $436.
Does having an air purifier in your home actually help? It can. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), certain air purifiers can filter harmful gasses and particles from the air and possibly have a positive impact on health.

The bottom line on testing your home’s air quality

Your home should be your sanctuary — especially in these climate-challenged times — and maintaining pristine air quality can reduce your risk of health problems. Fortunately, there are plenty of tools to help. Start with an air-quality monitor which can continuously check your home’s air quality and alert you if carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, radon and VOCs are present. If something in particular is concerning you, you can test further using a DIY kit for the indoor pollutant or call in a professional to help identify the issue — and fix it, before it gets worse.

©2023 Bankrate online. Visit Bankrate online at bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

​ Orange County Register 

Over the July 4th holiday, dozens of stray dogs were brought to OC Animal Care

• July 6, 2023

So far, nearly five dozen stray dogs were brought to OC Animal Care over the Fourth of July holiday, the animal shelter has reported.

Fifty-seven dogs have been brought to the shelter since July 1, OC Animal Care reported on Wednesday, noting that more are still arriving. The loud noises that come with Independence Day celebrations cause dogs to escape, the shelter said.

Those who have recently lost a pet can visit several different websites to hopefully find their loved one. Petadoption.ocpetinfo.com can be used to check if the lost pet has wound up at the OC Animal Care Shelter or if it has been found by community members and is not at the shelter.

Pet owners are also encouraged to explore other avenues, such as thoroughly searching their neighborhood — including neighborhood Facebook groups and Nextdoor — reaching out to local veterinarian offices and posting photos with a detailed description of the pet in prominent locations.

When Independence Day rolls around, lost pets are common: OC Animal Care said one in three pets will go missing during their lifetime so a pet license is a good way for pet owners to stay connected with their furry friends.

More pets go missing on the Fourth of July than any other day of the year. Across California, calls reporting missing pets spiked more than 300% on July 5, according to 24Pet, a microchip registry and lost pet database.

Pet owners’ first instinct is to go out and search for their pet, however, this could confuse animal because it spreads their smell. It’s recommended that owners get help from friends and family who can go out to look in bushes and small areas the dogs could find refuge in.

Pets licensed with OC Animal Care also qualify for its Take Me Home Program. This pet redemption program is offered to pet owners who have had their licensed pets impounded for the first time and requires pet owners to redeem their pet within the first 24 hours. More information on how to license one’s pet can be found at ocpetinfo.com/license.

Staff writer Laylan Connelly contributed to this report.

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​ Orange County Register