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This week's photo is of Cladosporium spp. by Dennis Kunkel, and can be purchased from the Visuals Unlimited website.

Hot tips on mold? Please e- mail them to Cynthia A. Coulter Mulvihill at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

In a ruling issued Friday, the court reversed the District Court's dismissal of the lawsuit against the Blackfeet Housing Authority but agreed with the dismissal of the lawsuit against the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Click here for 9th Cir. Court of Appeals Rules Blackfeet Housing Authority can be sued in mold case, court rules (Great Falls Tribune, MT - Jul 22, 2006)

The youngsters – whose parents say they suffered from ailments such as hearing loss, ear infections and vomiting after their stays at Childtime Childcare – will get an undisclosed amount of money. The actual amounts were sealed.

Click here for Settlement reached in mold lawsuits - Kids at former Newport Beach day care suffered health problems, parents say. (OCRegister, CA - Jul 22, 2006)

In February 2000, the task force moved into a separate office on Glover Street in Woodbury. Reichert contends he began complaining about the working conditions soon after, but his superiors ignored his concerns. By April 2004, "plaintiff's speech became strained at times and difficult to understand," according to the lawsuit filed Monday in Superior Court.

Click here for After EEOC dismisses complaint, Ex-detective sues Glouco prosecutor for mold problems (Cherry Hill Courier Post, NJ - Jul 20, 2006)

Staci Disilva said four months ago, she paid more than $240,000 for an apartment at Waterford Place in Folsom. But she's not living in the unit because it's filled with toxic mold.

Photo: Stachybotrys, from www.astrogra phics.com

Click here for Toxic Mold Found In Folsom Condos (KCRA.com, CA - Jul 20, 2006)

Mayor Matthew T. Ryan said he has heard from community residents and experts that some city properties are showing signs of mold and mildew. “Residents and property owners should not take this matter lightly,” he said. The mayor’s office urges those affected by the flood to review the manual carefully and perform the necessary remediation, which could be as simple as scrubbing contaminated areas with bleach and water.

Click here for Greater Binghamton distributing FEMA mold report - Mayor: Residents should take steps if mold, mildew shows up in flooded homes (Press & Sun-Bulletin, NY - Jul 21, 2006)

Exposure to mold, toxic materials and body fluids from decomposing corpses were just some of the perils Latino immigrant workers faced while working in the Gulf Coast area, according to the report "Risk Amid Recovery: Occupational health and Safety of Latino Immigrant Workers in the Aftermath of the Gulf Coast Hurricanes," which was published by the University of California Los Angeles Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program (LOSH) and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network in June.

Click here for Latino Immigrants Working Without PPE in Gulf Coast (Occupational Hazards, OH - Jul 21, 2006)

If your home has water damage, mold could develop in as short of a time as 24 - 48 hours of water exposure. Even worse, it may continue to grow until steps are taken to thoroughly dry out the premises and eliminate the source of moisture. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that you may recognize mold by the sight-wall and ceiling discoloration, and smell-a musty, earthy odor.

Mayor James E. Doyle, echoed by several councilors, has opposed any purchase of the building without voter approval. That buying the former Registry makes financial and educational sense has been little disputed. The city’s own recent revaluation of the 62,000 square foot property put its value for taxes -- typically 20 percent or more below what it would sell for on the open market -- at $1 million more than what its owner had agreed to sell it to the schools.

Click here for School Mold: Does $500,000 Mold Remediation Mean Building Can be Purchased without Voter Approval? (Pawtucket Times, RI - Jul 21, 2006)

This is a very good question to raise since there always seems to be a lot of misinformation on the currant-to-pine "connection." Both currants and gooseberries (members of the genus Ribes) serve as alternate hosts for the fungus that causes white pine blister rust. Therefore, planting currants and gooseberries near white pines (or any five-needled pine) and in moist areas can potentially lead to losses of the trees. White pine blister rust causes significant damage in pine forests by forming cankers on the branches of white pines. These cankers ultimately kill the trees. Black currant is the most susceptible of the Ribes species.

Click here for Mold & Agriculture: Currants, gooseberries, pines and white pine blister rust fungus (Times Herald-Record, NY - Jul 20, 2006)

When we breathe, small, bristly hairs near the openings of our nostrils filter out dust, pollen and other airborne particles. Bits that slip through become attached to the mucus membrane, which has tiny, hair-like structures called cilia on its surface. But sometimes germs get through the cilia and other defence systems in the respiratory tract and can cause illness.

Click here for Mold & Medicine: Bronchitis: A worrying disease (Fortnightly Tenerife News, Spain - Jul 20, 2006)

From the date of the amendment's signing until the expiration of the contract in 2007, Accentia has the exclusive option to license any and all antifungals, including prescription and non-prescription or over- the-counter intranasal products.

Click here for Mold & Medicine: Accentia Biopharmaceuticals Receives Extension of Exclusive Option to License All Antifungals for Chronic Sinusitis (PharmaLive.com, PA - Jul 24, 2006)

"A recent study found Texas to be the most at-risk state for mold contamination in commercial and residential properties," said Tom Blakeley, CEO of American Mold Guard. "And the hurricane surge in recent years has only amplified the mold issues for new construction. We are proud to provide our industry leading approach to preventing mold to the Midwest region. The AMG service protects both builders and homeowners from the financial risks associated with mold contamination."

Click here for Mold & Investment: American Mold Guard Expands Throughout Midwest; Adds New Regional Vice President to Support Growing Operations (Business Wire, CA - Jul 20, 2006)

In 2004, Hudson introduced the Mystera product line, one of the most revolutionary products introduced in the solid surfaces industry in the past 30 years. Mystera reproduces the look of natural stone and marble so closely that even experts in the field of solid surfaces can’t tell they are actually viewing a man-made surface. “It all starts with our Research and Development Director Burt René,” said Saxby. “We have ideas regarding what the product should look like and the different colors and textures, but Burt is instrumental in taking the vision and making it happen.”

Click here for Mold & Technology: Mold-resistant Mystera solid surface product line (Greater Tulsa Reporter Newspapers, OK - Jul 24, 2006)

Ms. Mulvihill's confidential services include, depending on who she is retained by, and when:

• Analysis of property damage and personal injuries
• Conducting a property inspection
• Reviewing medical records
• Determination of the potential for a causal link between mycological issues and personal injuries
• Research of what needs to be done to prove -- or disprove -- property damage, personal injuries, and their causal links
• Determination what entity or entities might have caused property damage
• Reviewing insurance policies to determine if insurance coverage is available for the claims
• Determination what kind of expert or experts need to be retained to prove or disprove a case
• Preparation of expert witnesses for depositions
• Preparation of written discovery
• Preparation of attorneys for questioning of expert witnesses

Click here for Mold Professionals: Cynthia Coulter Mulvihill (Mold Litigation Consulting)

The attention to detail is remarkable, part studio set and part shrine. "We've matched everything just the way it was," says Cawley, who grew up near the set. "We found an original 1964 office chair that was the basis of Capt. Kirk's chair."

Click here for For Fun: New Star Trek (yes, the original series) Episodes