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Expert Pool Contractors Brandon and Carmen Whitley of Concord, NC, explain the Custom Pool Construction Process for HelloNation

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CONCORD, N.C., July 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — What should homeowners expect when beginning a custom pool project from start to finish? A HelloNation article answers this question by outlining what readers can expect from the custom pool construction process and why understanding each phase helps set realistic expectations. The article, published by HelloNation, connects the planning and construction experience to long-term care considerations, including how design decisions influence cold-weather pool maintenance over time. These insights are presented in a HelloNation article that focuses on preparation, protection, and informed decision-making.

The article explains that while custom pool construction often centers on design and installation, long-term performance is equally important. It points out that pools are affected by seasonal changes year-round, including during colder months when use declines. By connecting construction quality to the ability to maintain a pool in winter, the article helps readers understand why proper planning supports durability and easier upkeep.

A recurring theme in the article is how environmental conditions influence pools long after construction is complete. The article notes that cold-weather pool maintenance is frequently underestimated, yet lower temperatures place stress on water chemistry, plumbing lines, and mechanical equipment. By addressing these realities early, the article positions custom pool construction as a process that should account for winter pool maintenance from the outset.

Water chemistry is discussed as an example of how design and maintenance intersect. The article explains that cold water slows chemical reactions, making imbalances harder to detect. Even well-built pools require attention during winter, as sanitizer efficiency can decline and pH levels may drift. The article emphasizes that understanding these factors helps owners better prepare to maintain a pool in winter once construction is complete.

Pool plumbing freeze damage is identified in the article as one of the most costly risks associated with cold climates. It explains that water expands as it freezes, and even small amounts trapped in pipes can cause cracking. The article connects this risk to construction choices, noting that proper layout and preparation make winter pool maintenance more manageable. Circulation systems and access points play a role in reducing the chance of freeze-related damage.

The article also explains how partial winterization fits into the broader pool ownership experience. It describes steps such as lowering water levels below skimmers, clearing lines, and sealing exposed openings. These actions are framed as part of an overall strategy to protect the investment made during custom pool construction. According to the article, these steps are especially important in areas where temperatures fluctuate throughout winter.

Pool equipment protection is another focus of the article. It explains that pumps, filters, heaters, and valves are designed for durability but still vulnerable to repeated freeze and thaw cycles. The article encourages routine inspections during winter to identify leaks, unusual noises, or visible cracks. This approach reinforces the connection between thoughtful construction and easier long-term maintenance.

Debris management is also addressed in the article as part of winter pool maintenance. It notes that leaves and organic material continue to enter pools during storms, even when pools are not in use. Allowing debris to collect can stain surfaces and disrupt water chemistry. The article explains that occasional skimming and brushing support both cold-weather pool maintenance and overall pool longevity.

Covers are discussed as a practical tool that supports both construction planning and winter care. The article explains that a properly fitted cover reduces debris, limits evaporation, and helps retain heat. It also stresses the importance of checking covers after storms to prevent excess weight from damaging anchors or fabric.

What to Expect From the Custom Pool Construction Process” features insights from Brandon and Carmen Whitley, Expert Pool Contractors of Concord, NC, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation
HelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative “edvertising” approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

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SOURCE HelloNation

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Zelus Automation Platform and Woodforest National Bank Sign Agreement for SNAP Platform

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Partnership brings Zelus’s SNAP automation platform to one of the nation’s largest community banks.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, July 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Zelus Automation Platform and Woodforest National Bank® today announced an agreement for Zelus’s SNAP platform. The partnership will deliver next-generation automation capabilities across Woodforest’s retail banking operations, supporting the bank’s nearly 740 branches in 17 states nationwide.

“At Woodforest, it’s always been about customers first, community always, and this venture with Zelus brings that commitment to life in new and powerful ways,” said Julie Mayrant, President and Chief Community Bank Officer Woodforest National Bank. “Our upcoming move to Jack Henry’s SilverLake System™ sets the stage for exactly this kind of decision. Zelus’ SNAP solution integrates seamlessly with SilverLake, so we’re able to automate processes without adding complexity to our tech stack. It was a natural fit — one that lets us build on our core investment rather than work around it.”

The agreement reflects both organizations’ commitment to a long-term partnership built on shared goals of operational excellence and customer service. SNAP will be deployed across Woodforest’s retail banking network, which spans Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

“We are honored to partner with Woodforest National Bank, one of the nation’s most respected community banking institutions,” said Russell Bond, Chief Executive Officer of Zelus Automation Platform. “This agreement is a testament to the power of SNAP and our shared vision of transforming the way community banks operate and serve their customers.”

The implementation of SNAP across Woodforest’s operations is expected to begin in the coming months.

About Woodforest National Bank

Woodforest National Bank has successfully stood among the strongest community banks in the nation, proudly offering outstanding customer service since 1980. Headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, Woodforest operates nearly 740 branches in 17 states and employs approximately 4,300 associates. As an employee-owned institution, Woodforest understands the importance of investing in its people and the communities it serves. Woodforest is an Outstanding CRA-rated institution. For more information, visit www.woodforest.com.

About Zelus Automation Platform

Zelus Automation Platform is a leading provider of intelligent automation solutions for the financial services industry. The company’s flagship SNAP platform enables banks and financial institutions to streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve the customer experience through advanced automation technology. For more information, visit www.zap-llc.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zelus-automation-platform-and-woodforest-national-bank-sign-agreement-for-snap-platform-302825450.html

SOURCE Woodforest National Bank

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High Rye Seeding Rates Prove Effective for Weed Suppression

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A new Weed Science Society of America research article shows a generously seeded cereal rye cover crop helps reduce weed pressure for organic no-till soybean production

WESTMINSTER, Colo., July 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) journal, Weed Science, recently published a research article showing that a cereal rye cover crop helps reduce weed pressure for organic no-till soybean production, particularly when seeded at higher rates. The two-year research study reviewed field experiments conducted during the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 growing seasons near Rock Springs, Pennsylvania, at the Pennsylvania State University Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center.

“The aim of this study was to compare the magnitude of weed control and soybean yield under different cereal rye densities within the soybean phase of cover-crop based organic rotational no-till production,” states Laurel Wellman, a Ph.D. student in plant sciences at Pennsylvania State University, and the study’s corresponding author. “Our results indicated that all cereal rye seeding rates reduced weed biomass compared to the unseeded cereal rye control plots, and that the higher cereal rye seeding rates reduced weed biomass significantly more than the lower seeding rates.” 

In two experiments, the researchers evaluated rye cultural management strategies for rye biomass, weed suppression, and soybean yield. They tested: 

four rye seeding rates (0.5-3 bu. acre) and two sowing arrangements (grid vs. row sowing)fall-applied poultry litter (0, 1.5, 3 tons acre) with two soybean planting dates (planting green or standard planting). 

“Increasing cereal rye seeding rate did not lead to increased rye biomass but did increase weed suppression,” points out Wellman. “Soybean yield was unaffected by rye seeding rates, and sowing arrangement did not affect any response.” 

Interestingly, “while fall poultry litter significantly increased rye biomass, weed suppression was unaffected,” she adds.

During one of the two cropping seasons studied, planting green reduced soybean establishment and yield, note the researchers. However, they also state that “these results highlight the limitations of organic no-till soybean production within grain crop rotations in the Northeastern U.S. when using cereal rye as a stand-alone weed suppression method. Increasing cereal rye seeding rates or applying fall fertility could be effective cultural practices when integrated with other weed control tactics to supplement weed suppression by rye surface mulch.” 

Overall, and perhaps most importantly, notes Wellman, the study “indicates that higher cereal rye seeding rates improved weed suppression independently of cereal rye biomass.” 

More information about the study is available online in the article: “Cultural management of cereal rye for weed suppression in cover crop-based organic rotational no-till soybean.” The research article is among others recently featured in Weed Science, a Weed Science Society of America journal, published by Cambridge University Press. Wellman can be contacted about the study at lew5444@psu.edu.

About Weed Science 
Weed Science is a journal of the Weed Science Society of America, a nonprofit scientific society focused on weeds and their impact on the environment. The publication presents peer-reviewed, original research related to all aspects of weed science, including biology, ecology, physiology, management, and control of weeds. To learn more, visit www.wssa.net

Media Contact: 
Jo Skelton 
Cambridge University Press 
Senior Brand and Partner Communications Manager 
cupacademic@cambridge.org 
01223326165 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/high-rye-seeding-rates-prove-effective-for-weed-suppression-302825303.html

SOURCE Weed Science Society of America

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ICW Holdings Provides Update on Its Flagship Strategic Equities Investment Strategy

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BROOKLYN, N.Y., July 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ICW Holdings, LLC (“ICW”), an investment management firm, today announced the formation and launch of its flagship fund, a private investment vehicle pursuing a global, long-biased equity strategy by combining bottom-up company research with macroeconomic regime analysis and portfolio risk management.

Managed by Mark Dinner, formerly with Bridgewater Associates, the strategy is designed to create a diversified, risk-balanced portfolio of high-quality businesses. With a focus on managing concentration risk and navigating a wide range of inflationary, deflationary, and policy-drive environments, the strategy’s multi-layered investment process integrates macro risk analysis, systematic portfolio construction, and selective tail-risk mitigation.

“ICW was founded on the belief that companies are the most fundamental drivers of long-term value creation and our investment approach combines rigorous bottom-up equity selection with a deep understanding of macroeconomic regimes,” said Dinner. “We believe the current environment continues to reward an active, differentiated investment approach that can adapt across cycles. The strategy is designed with that flexibility at its core and formalizes an investment approach we have been actively executing since our founding in 2021.”

ICW’s leadership team combines macro investing expertise, systematic portfolio construction experience, and institutional operational oversight. Collectively, the team brings over 100 years of cumulative experience across leading investment organizations.

About ICW Holdings, LLC

ICW is an investment management firm founded in 2020 by Mark Dinner, a former senior investor at Bridgewater Associates, to apply a disciplined understanding of macroeconomic regimes and portfolio balance to equity investing. The firm serves eligible investors seeking risk-aware equity exposure across market cycles. All statements regarding personnel background, firm history, and strategy should be reviewed for accuracy and substantiation before dissemination.

Important Notice: This press release is for general informational purposes only. It is not, and should not be construed as, an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities or other investment interests, and it is not intended to condition the market for any securities offering. ICW is not using this announcement to market any securities. Any private offering, if made, would be conducted only through confidential offering materials and only in accordance with applicable law.

Media Contact

Matthew Della Croce
Clario Group
1-646-319-7487
matthew.dellacroce@clariogroup.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/icw-holdings-provides-update-on-its-flagship-strategic-equities-investment-strategy-302825455.html

SOURCE ICW Holdings

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