To Combat Bed Bugs, Sanitation Sets New Rules for Disposing of Mattresses and Box Springs

Beginning December 3rd, 2010, the New York City Department of Sanitation will require all City residents to fully encase within a sealed plastic bag all mattresses or box springs being discarded for DSNY collection. This new rule will help prevent an increase in bed bug activity, with bed bugs being found in homes and apartments. Bed bugs are generally nocturnal and tend to live in bedding, such as mattresses and box springs, hiding in their crevices until they are ready to feed.

Under the new rule, failure to place a mattress or box spring out in a proper bag can result in a $100 fine. The Department will delay enforcing the new set-out rule for 30 days, followed by full enforcement beginning January 3rd, 2011.

"There has been a rise in bed bug-related complaints within the City, and bedding is the prime nesting place for most bed bugs," said Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty. "With this new rule, and thanks to the support of Councilmember Gale Brewer, we will safeguard our workers and help to mitigate the spread of bed bugs throughout the City. We also suggest that the plastic mattress bags be placed around the bedding before it is removed from the room out to the curb to further limit bed bugs from infesting other parts of the home or apartment."

Councilmember Gale Brewer said: "I appreciate the efforts made by the Department of Sanitation to address the bed bug epidemic that our city has been grappling with, an issue I have been working on since 2006. In 2008, I introduced a bill, Intro 0872-2008, that would require all bedding and furniture set out for collection to be both completely contained inside a sealed plastic bag, and labeled with a sticker or decal indicating that it may contain bed bugs. I believe the rules promulgated by DSNY are a step in the right direction towards curtailing mattresses and box springs as a vehicle of spreading bed bugs. In our shared concern for the health and safety of city employees, I look forward to working with the Department to ensure that these rules are as effective as possible."

Plastic bags to contain the bedding are available at department stores, home improvement centers, at other home supply businesses, and online, at a modest cost. Bedding stores also provide removal options with purchases.

For further information, go to www.nyc.gov/sanitation, or call 311.

Batten Down the Hatches here comes Winter

Today my front lawn was covered with glistening frost. I realized daylight savings was this weekend and I have a lot of chores to prepare my home for winter.

These things will help your save money and keep your home pest free during the winter months.

1) Heating
•Have your Furnace Inspected and cleaned.
•Clean & Cap your Fireplace\Chimney to keep out birds and rodents.
•Change any filters in your forced air heating system.
•Consider a programmable thermostat.
•If you have Hot-water radiator bleed the valves.

2) Foundation - Mice can slip through space as thin as a dime.
•Use weatherstripping around doors and caulk windows.

•Inspect interior sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation.

•Check that Dryer Vent is properly installed and working.
•Secure crawlspace entrances.
•Inspect exterior for cracks and exposed entry points around pipes & seal them.
•Switch out summer screens with glass replacements from storage. If you have storm windows, install them.

3) Roof, Gutters & Downspouts
•Clean gutters and check the downspouts.
•Installing leaf guards on the gutters.

•Use downspouts extenders to direct water away from the home.
4) Weather-Specific Equipment•Drain gas from lawnmowers.
•Service or tune-up snow blowers.
•Replace worn rakes and snow shovels.
•Clean, dry and store summer gardening equipment.
•Sharpen ice choppers and buy bags of ice-melt / sand.
5) Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors•Install carbon monoxide detector near the furnace & water heater.
•Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries.
•Buy a fire extinguisher.
6) Plumbing Freeze Overs•Drain all garden hoses.
•Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
•Drain air conditioner pipes and Sprinkler Systems.

7) Landscaping & Outdoor Surfaces
•Trim trees if branches hang too close to the house or electrical wires.
•Seal driveways, brick patios and wood decks.
8) Emergency Kit•Buy indoor candles and matches / lighter for use during a power shortage.
•Prepare a list of Emergency Phone Number and tape them by the phone.
•Buy a battery back-up to protect your computer and sensitive electronic equipment. •Store extra bottled water and non-perishable food supplies (including pet food), blankets and a first-aid kit in a dry and easy-to-access location.
•Prepare an evacuation plan in the event of an emergency.

Twister hits Queens by Noel Thoman

On September 17th 2010 for the first time since 1985 a tornado touched down and hit Queens. Those of us working until close that night got to experience this first hand and I am sure it is something we will never forget.

While others were aware of the tornado warnings, everyone in the office had no idea of what was going on other than the fact that it was raining. I was trying to get my work done because it was starting to rain and I did not want to get soaked walking home.

Right before I started packing my things a the end of the of the day a co-worker walked into the management office to discuss a customer with me. About one minute into our conversation I heard a lot of noise coming from outside, it sounded like a bunch of bowling pins falling and the rain drops sounded as if they were golf balls falling from the sky.

It was at this point that most of us decided to get up and walk over to entrance to see what was going on because all the gates were down already and we could not see out the other windows. As we walked over to the window someone walked in from outside to get away from the rain. The gates started knocking against the windows and the doors were swinging open and then the power went out.

All of us were standing in a circle when another co-worker came running into the front door soaked. It was so bad outside that she left her car in the middle of 59th ave and later on found out that her car had an electric pole going through the roof.

Power lines started to fall and spark, there was a flash of light and then it went pitch black. It looked like a huge cloud went down 59th ave and then light started to break. When we all stepped outside we could not believe what we were seeing, trees and power lines were down everywhere.

The Facilities Manager pulled up to our rescue, asked if everyone was ok and like always took charge of the situation. It was not until about a half hour later until everyone decided to leave, One of the Managers and Technician drove everyone home and I started on my way home. As I was walking home there were trees down everywhere and traffic

was almost stopped, it was like a scene out of a movie.

Magic went without power through Friday night. Fortunately for the great staff we have, we were able to pull through even without power. I am personally thankful that everyone here at Magic made it safely through the storm.

On a lighter note I would like to thank Mother Nature for the beautiful new window by my desk.

Magic receives New York State Employer Recognition Award

As Marketing Director for Magic I am out at seminars and events promoting my company and seeking out strategic alliances that would move forward our business. The last two years we have had to tighten our buckle while maintaining a high level of service to our customers and employees. We were out sourcing our cleaning services, their performance was poor and cost high.

I ran into Iris Allen of VESID at an event and the idea struck me that we could do the right thing by hiring a disabled person, maintain the office work space at a higher standard and have the opportunity to grow as individuals… in sourcing... what a concept.

I ran the idea by our Facilities Manager Jimmy Tallman who got on the band wagon and then we presented the idea to ownership. The idea got their attention and within a few months Evie Torres our Office Manager started interviewing candidates for the position.

Evie’s told me about her experience, Working with VESID has been such a rewarding experience. When we agreed to work with the program I was not sure what to expect. The interview process was interesting and I could not believe some of the responses from the members of VESID interviewing for the position. When I asked several of the interviewees why they had arrived thirty to forty minutes prior to their scheduled interview, the general response was that they did not want to arrive late by missing the bus or getting lost on the way here. I knew then that the candidates interviewing meant business.

After a few interviews I met with David, I asked him about his previous work experience and his reasons for leaving. One of the things he expressed was that sometimes he’d be close to a job site and they would call him to let him know there was no more work for him and that he should go home. I felt terrible that anyone would take advantage of an employee and their time by not giving them sufficient notice. David interviewed really well, he has performed well on every task given to him and continues to learn the industry. At this time my only hope is that in the future we can hire someone else through VESID since our experience with David has been such a positive one.

The experience I believe is all about David. He is intelligent, highly motivated, a fast learner and takes constructive criticism well. He mastered his job duties so well that I sought to expand his duties states Jimmy the Facilities Manager. In addition to his maintenance duties I put David in charge of the paper room (office storage) and our chemical storage facility. He maintains the stock and process chemical requests from our thirty technicians. I was able to rewarded David with a raise and expand his hours. I wish I could clone David, we really hit one out of the park by hiring him says a smiling Jimmy.

Dogs and Bed Bug Detection

Magic Pest Management started using dogs in 1990 (the first in New York) to locate termites within structures. Magic continues this long history by now offering Bed Bug Sniffing Dogs.

Magic services homes, condominiums, apartments, cooperative living and business units, office buildings, colleges, hotels and motels, local, state and federal buildings, nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living centers, furniture and mattress companies, cruise liners, bus companies, etc.

Human Inspections
 Trained pest professional are only able to detect visible signs of bed bugs with an accuracy rate of about 30%.
 Bed Bugs like to hide inside walls, baseboards and under carpets. These areas are beyond the scope of a visual inspection

The Nose Knows! Bed Bug Canines are 96% accurate in the detection of bed bugs.

According to the Institute for Biological Detection Systems (IBDS) dogs have the following capabilities:

 Sensitivity: Can detect odors diluted to 500 parts per trillion.
 Discrimination: Dogs can differentiate a target vapor from non-target vapors even at relatively high concentrations of non-target odors.
 Odor Signatures: Dogs are trained to detect only one or two of the target odors most abundant vapor compounds.
 Multiple Odor Discriminations: Dogs easily learn to differentiate between ten distinct odors.

Why Use a Bed Bug Dog?
 Less Expensive
 Quicker and more accurate results
 Proven and Trusted. "Man's best friend" is used by the military and law enforcement
 Dogs are Honest
 Greater Peace of Mind. If the dog doesn't find bedbugs your probable safe from bedbugs.

The Truth about Bug Bites

Today because of the media publicity around Bed Bugs many people jump to the conclusion that the bites they discover are caused by bed bugs. Bug bites do not always form into a bump immediately after the bite and can go unnoticed until the next day. The truth may have a much simpler explanation.

Were you outside early morning or evenings?
Do you sleep with your windows open?
Do you have a pet that partially lives outside?
Were you sitting out on a lawn or at a park?
Have you been hiking through the woods?
Were you gardening?
Did you discover a bird’s nest by a window?
Do you have a lot of dust and lint in your home?

We are exposed to the insects listed below during these activities.

Bed bugs are wingless biting insects that feed at night. Often associated with bedrooms and motel/hotel rooms. Infested rooms often have a distinctive odor.

Bed Bugs Facts:
Bed bugs bite every 3-5 days
One bite is not indicative of a bed beg infestation
As the infestation grows biting will increase to daily
Bed Bugs cause no known health risk
They are not caused by dirt but clutter helps them hide

Mosquitoes are small, delicate flies. Female mosquitoes need a blood meal in order to successfully lay eggs. A number of important diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes.

Fleas are small, wingless insects that bite people and pets in order to draw a blood meal. New medications make flea control relatively easy.

Ticks are eight legged, wingless arthropods. Ticks are a type of mite that bite to get a blood meal. Ticks can transmit diseases like Lyme disease .

Bird mites (rodent/nest mites) are tiny mites that live in the nests of their animal hosts. These mites occasionally invade homes and bite people as well.

Head lice or Pubic lice are small, wingless insects that bite in order to draw a blood meal. Bites result in itchy lesions. Seek medical attention.

Dust mites are tiny mites that inhabit the dust in our homes and may cause allergies.

Spiders are related to ticks and mites. While most spiders are harmless and even beneficial. Spiders only bite humans in defense.

Outdoor & Garden Pests

Yellowjacket wasps are medium-large stinging wasps. Most Yellowjackets are yellow with black markings; some are all black with white markings. Wasps are not clothed in fine hairs as are honey bees.

Africanized "killer" bees are a highly aggressive strain of honey bee that has moved into the southern states (US). Great care should be taken when these dangerous insects are encountered.

European paper wasp (Polistes dominulus) has become a pest in many parts of the US in recent years. Close in appearance to yellowjacket.

Chigger mites are tiny, extremely annoying biting mites. They produce an intensely itchy bite that can drive gardeners from their gardens. Found only in the southern states.

Fire ants (Solenopsis spp.) inflict extremely painful stings with any encounter. Currently, there is a highly invasive species (Solenopsis invicta) making inroads in the southern US and Australia.

Horse & deer flies are large, biting flies. These flies breed in moist areas around ponds, ditches, etc. and can be very persistent and annoying. Their large, dark or multi-color eyes make these flies easy to identify.

Biting midges are tiny, biting flies sometimes called "no-see-ums" or "punkies". These midges breed in salt marshes, mud flats, and shallow freshwater. Bites can be extremely irritating.

Black flies are biting flies whose larvae are aquatic, found in shallow, fast-flowing streams. These flies bite during daylight hours. Found mostly in Northern NY and New England.

Centipedes are medium to large arthropods with many pairs of legs, one pair per body segment. Like their spider relatives, centipedes are predators, whereas millipedes, with two legs per segment, are mainly scavengers. Centipedes may bite producing a painful but localized reaction. Centipedes are rarely a problem, however.

Mange is a condition in dogs, cats and other mammals caused by tiny mites. Sarcoptic mange is closely related to human scabies. Seek the help of a veterinarian.

Scabies mites are tiny mites that burrow into the skin causing a condition called scabies. Seek medical attention.

Unknown or mysterious bug bites can sometimes be traced to real insects or mites but often have another explanation.

Individual description credited to Jack DeAngelis, PhD OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.) edited by Ralph H. Maestre BCE

In letter grades, McDonald's trumps Jean Georges

August 09, 2010 3:25 PM By Lisa Fickenscher

Popeye's Chicken in Flushing, Queens, receives an A grade, as does a White Castle in Manhattan, while some high-profile restaurants are threatened with B's and C's.

Image by Buck Ennis

If New Yorkers assumed that fast-food eateries, chains or lesser known delis and cafés would rate poorly, they will be surprised to learn that many of the As given out so far went to such places as a Popeye's Chicken in Flushing, Queens, a McDonald's at 405 Sixth Ave. and a White Castle on East 103rd Street in Manhattan.

Since July 27, when the city's health department began issuing letter grades evaluating restaurants' cleanliness, 443 eateries have been visited by an inspector and just 16% of them received an A, the highest mark.

The rest are waiting for a second inspection before their final grade is posted, probably within the next few weeks. If they don't improve, 209 of them could get a B and 164 could be slapped with a C grade. A health department spokeswoman said that by early September the first Bs and Cs will start to be posted prominently in restaurant windows.

If New Yorkers assumed that fast-food eateries, chains or lesser known delis and cafés would rate poorly, they will be surprised to learn that many of the As given out so far went to such places as a Popeye's Chicken in Flushing, Queens, a McDonald's at 405 Sixth Ave. and a White Castle on East 103rd Street in Manhattan.

The T.G.I. Friday's at 1 Penn Plaza, which was inspected last Wednesday, was found to be spotless. It had zero violations.

More surprising are some of the celebrated restaurants and hotels that were inspected last week and received enough violations to earn a B or C, though they have an opportunity to improve their score when they are re-inspected.

Restaurants that receive 0 to 13 points qualify for an A; while 14 to 27 points equal a B; and 28 or more points equal a C.

Jean Georges restaurant received 15 violations and was faulted for holding cold food above 41 degrees and smoked fish above 38 degrees Fahrenheit, while The Palm at 837 Second Ave. received 20 violations. The Four Seasons Hotel earned 17 violations, and SoHo Grand Hotel racked up 25. Balthazar restaurant in SoHo received 18 points, Amy's Bread bakery on Ninth Avenue was hit with 29, and Tony's Di Napoli on Second Avenue and East 83rd Street received a whopping 39 points.

At least one celebrity chef who will likely come out of the new grading system looking like a hero is Thomas Keller, whose Per Se in the Time Warner Center has been inspected four times since 2008 with inspectors continually finding zero infractions. The restaurant was last inspected on April 13 this year.

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20100809/SMALLBIZ/100809841