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Koala wanders into family’s home, climbs Christmas tree

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It seems that everyone is trying to get into the Christmas spirit this year — even koalas. An Australian family was in for a big surprise this week when they discovered a koala had wandered into their home and climbed into their Christmas tree. 



a vase of flowers next to a window: screen-shot-2020-12-03-at-3-26-50-pm.png

© Credit: CBSNews
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“Well that’s something you don’t see every day,” wrote Amanda McCormick in a Facebook post Wednesday. “We just came home to a real life koala up our Xmas tree in our lounge room!”

McCormick posted photos on Facebook of the curious creature nestled among the tree’s ornaments and looking quite content with its new perch in the Coromandel Valley, South Australia, home. 

She explained in the comments of the post that the family had left the back door open so their dog could get in and out in the morning. “Little lady must have just wandered in and made herself

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On ‘The Office,’ Steve Carell and the Dunder Mifflin Gang Call a Panorama City Studio Home

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Click here to read the full article.

Ain’t no party like a Scranton party, ‘cause a Scranton party don’t stop! The cast and crew of “The Office” wouldn’t have direct knowledge of that fact, though, being that the hit NBC series was shot in Los Angeles, a good 2,700 miles outside of Electric City, where it was set. The beloved mockumentary-style sitcom, which is seeing a major resurgence in popularity as of late thanks to its availability on Netflix, the uptick in binging resulting from 2020’s ongoing shelter-at-home regulations, and stars Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey’s recap podcast “Office Ladies,”  is unique in that almost all filming took place on a set. The production rarely ventured offsite for on-location shoots, not even for establishing shots of Scranton Business Park, the complex that housed Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, Vance Refrigeration and, for a time, the Michael Scott Paper Company.

Two Los

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Kris Jenner to give an online Christmas decorating lesson | Arts & Entertainment

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Kris Jenner is set to give a Christmas decorating lesson for charity.

The 65-year-old reality star is known for her extravagant holiday season decorations, and has teamed up with celebrity floral designer Jeff Leatham and Airbnb to offer an exclusive decorating class as an Airbnb Experience.

Kris and Jeff will offer their tips on “more is more” holiday decorating during the one-time virtual experience, and interested participants can book their place from Wednesday (09.12.20) for $100 per person.

The event will only be taking 10 guests, but a livestream will also be available on YouTube on December 15.

In a description for the event, Kris wrote: “More is more, I always say – especially when it comes to holiday home décor. The bigger, the brighter, the bolder, the better. But you can do a lot with a little, too.

“Join me and Jeff Leatham – friend, collaborator and artistic decorator

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Don’t Let Christmas Go Up in Flames! 7 Home Fire Safety Tips

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Christmas trees popped up in homes in record time across the country this year, far ahead of the holiday season. People are turning to festive decorations to counter the doom and gloom of 2020, and spread some measure of cheer to others. But some elements of seasonal decor are potentially hazardous.

The combination of evergreen trees, wreaths, or branches with candles or lighting raises the risk of a home fire—and burning down your home is not the way you want to close out 2020.

“To make sure the holidays are the happiest time of the year, especially in these extraordinarily challenging times, you have to take fire safety precautions very seriously,” says Jami Warner, executive director of the American Christmas Tree Association. “You can deck the halls with beautiful Christmas trees and holiday decorations while keeping the safety of your loved ones top of mind.”

And Christmas tree safety

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Tips for less moving stress

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Cathy Hobbs, Tribune News Service
Published 5:52 p.m. ET Dec. 3, 2020

With a new year approaching, many may desire a transition. Moving is often high on the list, and one of the more stressful events for individuals and families. If you are looking to move during this time, there are some key tips to keep in mind.

1. Schedule your move at least one month in advance. Many movers are booked several months in advance, especially during this time.

2. Avoid peak seasons like fall and spring. Many movers charge a premium during certain periods of the year.

3. Look to move midweek or mid-month. The most in-demand periods are the beginning and end of the month, as well as weekends.

4. Ask family and friends for recommendations. Moving is a personal experience, and

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California Is Days Away From A Regional Stay-At-Home Order : NPR

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A minimum 3-week stay-at-home order is expected in California as hospitals experience an unprecedented surge in intensive care COVID-19 patients.

Jae C. Hong/AP


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Jae C. Hong/AP

A minimum 3-week stay-at-home order is expected in California as hospitals experience an unprecedented surge in intensive care COVID-19 patients.

Jae C. Hong/AP

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday announced most of the state will come under a stricter set of limitations as intensive care units reach near-capacity levels with the latest pandemic surge in coronavirus cases.

Regional stay-at-home orders will likely go into effect “in the next day or two” in places with less than 15% ICU availability, Newsom said in a daily briefing with reporters.

Once it is triggered, the order will remain effect for at least three weeks. It will be lifted when ICU capacity becomes more available.

The plan prohibits private gatherings of any size, closes

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Newsom issues regional stay-at-home order based on ICU capacity to battle record Covid surge in California

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Millions of Californians may soon find themselves under a regional stay-at-home order once again under new restrictions announced Thursday by California Gov. Gavin Newsom.



a group of people in a room: FILE - In this Nov. 19, 2020, file photo, medical personnel prone a COVID-19 patient at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in the Mission Hills section of Los Angeles. The raging coronavirus pandemic has prompted Los Angeles County to impose a lockdown to prevent the caseload from spiraling into a hospital crisis but the order stops short of a full business shutdown that could cripple the holiday sale season. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

© Jae C. Hong/AP
FILE – In this Nov. 19, 2020, file photo, medical personnel prone a COVID-19 patient at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in the Mission Hills section of Los Angeles. The raging coronavirus pandemic has prompted Los Angeles County to impose a lockdown to prevent the caseload from spiraling into a hospital crisis but the order stops short of a full business shutdown that could cripple the holiday sale season. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

The new stay-at-home order will take hold in regions where hospitals are feeling the squeeze on capacity to treat the incoming surge of Covid-19 patients. A strict stay-at home order will go into effect 48 hours after hospital intensive care unit capacity drops below 15% in one of

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Gallagher Remodeling wins remodeling awards for Belmont projects

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Community Content
 |  Wicked Local

Belmont-based Gallagher Remodeling was awarded two awards from the Building & Remodelers Association of Greater Boston. 

The prestigious awards were announced at the PRISM Award Gala, held virtually this year in November. Held annually, the PRISM Awards recognize the finest projects and outstanding achievements of professionals in the home building industry. 

Gold Award: Best Residential Restoration/Remodel

The first award received was for Best Residential Restoration/Remodel (under $250,000) for a project that re-envisioned the kitchen, dining and entryway/mudroom of a 1930s Belmont home.

Originally defined by its small rooms, the home today has an open floor plan that unites the spaces into one large, inviting area that accommodates meal preparation, both casual and formal dining and a hang-out space so the whole family can be close while doing different activities.

Today, the home’s open floor plan includes a combined dining and kitchen area with coffee bar,

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California to impose regional stay-at-home orders amid virus surge

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California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday said he would issue a regional stay-at-home order in areas facing ICU bed shortages as COVID-19 cases surge across the state. “We are pulling that emergency brake,” Newsom said in a news conference Thursday. 



a man wearing a suit and tie talking on a cell phone: Gov. Gavin Newsom, Dodger Stadium, Secretary of State (CA) Alex Padilla, Dodger owner Peter Guber, Dodger President/CEO Stan Kasten, and Fernando Valenzuela

© Carolyn Cole
Gov. Gavin Newsom, Dodger Stadium, Secretary of State (CA) Alex Padilla, Dodger owner Peter Guber, Dodger President/CEO Stan Kasten, and Fernando Valenzuela

The measure forces a three-week closure of all bars, wineries, hair salons and barbershops in regions where ICU beds have reached 15% capacity. Retail stores will be allowed to operate at 20% capacity, while restaurants will be limited to takeout and delivery service only. Non-essential travel will be restricted.

“This is the final surge in this pandemic,” Newsom said. “There is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

There are less than 2,000 available ICU beds left in the state, with over 1,800

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World Architecture Festival announces winner of Grohe Water Research Prize

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Researchers from the University of Patras in Greece have been named the winners of the Grohe Water Research Prize – part of the World Architecture Festival annual awards programme. They have won a £10,000 research prize to investigate how rainwater can be used to help cool facades of buildings in super-hot cities.

All images courtesy of WAF


This is the third time the prize has been awarded; other winners have included water filtration and generation programmes in Peru and Brazil. This year’s winner was announced during the WAFVirtual event taking place online between 30 November – 4 December where the winning team presented their ideas.

The project is a suspended modular lightweight facade system for evaporative cooling with harvested rainwater. A light-weight structure, which can be retrofitted to existing building facades, will now be developed with façade consultants.

Rainwater will be collected in a roof-tank and used within the system

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