Plymouth, MA, January 11, 2023 -- Solar energy curious? This is an opportunity to get objective, straight-forward answers.

Fred Paris of the Wind Sun Institute and owner of Plymouth Solar Energy is offering a free presentation and discussion of Commercial Solar Energy, with emphasis on financial models that consider tax credits and depreciation methods for 2023 projects. The free, public event is set for Thursday, January 26, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at the Jones River Landing, 51 Landing Road, Kingston MA.

The commercial solar energy market is stimulated with government tax credits, accelerated depreciation, and new methods for non-profit and municipal entities to receive cash in place of tax credits they cannot use.

As utilities upgrade the grid to accommodate commercial solar projects, the upgrades are focused on energy input to the grid rather than upgrading for additional electrical load. The customers installing solar of any significance pay the utility for these upgrades.

Topics will include:
- Key financial variables for commercial and residential solar
- Investment Tax Credits: who gets them it and how much
- 2023 Applying the 80% Bonus depreciation for Solar Investments
- Determining the IRS basis for 5-year solar
- Applying Accelerated Depreciation for 2023
- Understanding REC incentives and SMART payments
- Non-Profit strategies for financial incentives

As a technical business instructor, Paris has taught Strategic Business Planning at Northeastern University, Business Values and Renewable Energy sessions at Babson College, and private technical lessons for organizations across the United States. Paris holds BA and MBA degrees. Locally, he designed and developed the solar energy curriculum at Massasoit Community College and is the owner of Plymouth Solar Energy.

Seating is limited. Please RSVP to - https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ejlbnewkea6cdb4f&oseq=&c=&ch=

Plymouth Solar Energy is located at 18 Main Street Extension, Plymouth, MA. For more info visit www.PlymouthSolarEnergy.com . For a complimentary Solar Feasibility Study or questions, call (508) 746-5430 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

EstateOfMind’s annual pre-Valentine’s Day auction, on Saturday, February 11th, features 350 lots of fine estate jewelry, watches, coins, silver, bronzes, portrait miniatures, sports memorabilia and decorative accessories. Lovers seeking a perfect gift for that special someone will be certain to find what they’re looking for, starting at 11 am Eastern time.

The auction will be held online, via LiveAuctioneers.com/Estate-of-Mind. Telephone and absentee bids will also be accepted. Live, in-person previews will be held by appointment only at EstateOfMind, located at 195 Derby Road in Middletown. To schedule an appointment, call (845) 386-4403, or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The estate jewelry category will be highlighted by a circa 1929 3.07-carat diamond and platinum engagement ring; a circa 1940 Art Deco 2.75-carat diamond ring set in platinum with a princess cut center stone and 1.40-carat diamond side stones; and a very rare, circa 1910-1920 Art Deco Pailin natural blue sapphire and diamond evening ring set in platinum with GIA report.

Also offered will be a circa 1920-1930 Art Deco 1.05-carat emerald cut platinum and diamond ring; an exceptional circa 1940-1950 enameled 14kt diamond, emerald and ruby bumblebee cocktail ring; a rare 17th or 18th century French/Spanish 18kt filigree crucifix “Croix du Pardon” (cross of forgiveness); and a lovely 19th century Edwardian 14kt fire opal pendant (or brooch).

Wristwatches will feature a rare, circa 1940 Kingston moon phase chronograph; a circa 1960 Omega 14kt automatic watch; a circa 1940 Movado 18kt rose gold tank wristwatch; a circa 1970 Baum & Mercier 18kt Classima wristwatch; a circa 1970/1980 Corum 18kt Classic wristwatch; and large lots of assorted 19th and 20th century fobs, to include Masonic, advertising and 18kt.

Pocket watches will also come up for bid. Examples include a rare, 18th century 18kt Begay-a-Paris erotic automaton pocket watch with fusée movement; an early 19th century English 18kt fancy face pocket watch; a Waltham 14kt Riverside 19j model; and large lots of pocket watches, including some with Wheeler & Bartlett movements. Also sold will be 14kt gold pocket knife fobs.

The silver category will feature a circa 1950 London sterling four-piece tea set; a circa 1940 Gorham flatware service for twelve in the Sovereign pattern; a pair of circa 1736 London sterling berry spoons; a large, circa 1792 Edinburgh sterling stuffing spoon; a pair of circa 1940 Whiting salad servers in the Princess Ingrid pattern; and a circa 1920 pair of Stieff sterling fruit spoons.

Coins and currency, always a hit with collectors, will include a 1703 Great Britain silver 6-D Virgo Bay coin, graded XF-45; an 1854 1-dollar Gold Princess coin; assorted uncirculated Morgan silver dollars; and large lots of assorted US proof sets and silver certificates/U.S. notes.

Decorative accessories will feature a huge collection of Lladro porcelain figurines; a presentation oyster burl traveling desk (“William M. Gibson”, Dyce Free Church, 1876); a fine selection of 18th-20th century portrait miniatures; a gorgeous 19th or 20th century classical bronze nude signed “E. (Ernst) Seger” (German, 1868-1939); 19th or 20th century Herend porcelain golden pheasants; a pair of circa 1820 classical dore bronze candlesticks; and a selection of vintage fountain pens.

Sports memorabilia will include a Mickey Mantle 1956 baseball card, Ex-NM; signed baseball cards, including Tom Seaver (circa 1984); vintage circa 1930 baseball mitts; a circa 1930 vintage football helmet; large lots of vintage baseball cards; a Mets team-signed baseball, circa 1974, with COA; three ring binders filled with baseball cards, including a rookie 1984 Don Mattingly card, graded Gem-Mint; and a circa 2014 Derek Jeter autographed All-Stars jersey.

To learn more about EstateOfMind and the pre-Valentine’s Day sale planned for Saturday, February 11th, please visit www.EstateOfMind.biz.

Germany-based global technology group Freudenberg will be participating at Auto Expo Component 2023, January 12-15. The Group supplies chemical specialties, filtration products, cleaning solutions to all major automotive OEMs in India through its subsidiaries with a R&D presence and fifteen production sites.

Freudenberg Group companies participating in Auto Expo include Freudenberg Filtration Technologies (FFT), Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions (FHCS), Corteco and Klüber Lubrication along with OKS and SurTec. Freudenberg booth is located at the German Pavilion, Booth No. 5.21 Hall No. 5.

“India's automobile industry has developed over the past few years, offering a diverse selection of vehicles, including electric and premium models. We believe that as a global technology company offering cutting-edge products and services, we are a competent and reliable partner for a wide range of automotive needs. The Auto Expo Components 2023 gives us a unique opportunity to update visitors on our innovative technologies and latest product developments” said Georg Graf, Regional Representative of Freudenberg in India.

“Over the course of more than 60 years, India and Germany have successfully collaborated in each of our respective relevant fields. Working together in areas like energy, sustainable and climate-friendly urban development and transportation, the environment, the sustainable management of natural resources, and the protection of biodiversity have always been appreciated for their mutual benefits. Freudenberg, a global technology group, is contributing significantly to the long-term success of its clients. Over the past 90, the company has had business relationships with Indian companies”, he said.

Innovation is a common thread throughout Freudenberg’s successful history since 1849. Today, 50,000 employees work together on international projects and in diverse teams to make sure things remain this way. They often provide answers to the important megatrends of time, such as those in the area of mobility.

Five companies from four different Freudenberg Business Groups displayed their solutions together at the Freudenberg booth.

Klüber Lubrication & OKS Specialty Lubricants India has long pioneered the development of greases and oils for silent operation of machine elements. This has become increasingly valuable in modern electric vehicles which operate at extremely low decibel levels. Adding to this, Klüber has developed the noise kit, now in its new 4th generation. The V4 Kit includes 20 product samples that substantially reduce the noise in vehicle interiors caused by undesired friction, stick-slip, insufficient damping or material compatibility. Auto manufacturers, suppliers and dealers have successfully used the kit as an engineering development tool and for in service warranty repairs.

Freudenberg Filtration Technologies India (FFTI), established in 2008, committed towards providing clean filtration solution to improve quality of Life stands firm. All the  products for various industries like Industrial, Pharma, and Consumer have been upgraded with latest technologies & Our Automotive Segment Products also keeps pace with growing demands from users and Industry. The latest offerings Like PM 2.5 filters, Anti allergen Filters, PM 2.5 + Antiallergen Filters, Activated Carbon Filters, Activated Carbon + PM 2.5 filters, Activated Carbon+ PM 2.5+Antiallergen filters and Fuel Cell Filters which is more towards future are being showcased in this event .Sole purpose is to create awareness among users considering the serious Pollution issues within India & Globally.

Corteco is the sales organization of the Freudenberg Group focused specifically on the Independent Automotive Aftermarket (IAM). They offer over 26,000 spare parts in OEM quality, supported by the research and manufacturing capabilities of the Freudenberg Group. Corteco has manufacturing plants / distribution centres in over 16 different countries, but through the Freudenberg Group, they reach customers in 60 countries around the world. Corteco adds flexible, aftermarket-oriented service and logistics to the excellent quality of the Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies and continues to deliver innovative solutions at the highest level of Freudenberg Group.

At the Auto Expo Components 2023 – Corteco will display a wide variety of product portfolio under Sealing Technologies, Vibration Control, Cabin Air Filters, and Air Filtration. These products cater to 2 Wheelers Passenger Vehicles, European Cars, Heavy Duty applications – Commercial Vehicles, Construction and Agriculture market segments.

Recently, Corteco had globally launched a wide range of sustainability projects involving “green electricity,” reduced paper use, and new methods of transport and packaging, and won a GROWTTH award. CO2 emissions have been reduced by many tons. For more details, please visit https://ecatcorteco.com/

SurTec, a leader in the development of chromium (VI) replacements. SurTec will present the latest technologies for the automotive industry reaching from high performance industrial cleaning systems over best-in-class bare metal corrosion protection to high quality decorative layers on chromium (III) basis at the expo. With 25 years of expertise, recognised as a leader in this field, their novel high-quality technologies continue to evolve with the market. SurTec 883 XT is the original proprietary formulation achieving identical colour values to standard chromium (VI) and hence perfectly suited for automotive applications, where exact colour matches are required. In addition, the SurTec 88X-family covers a comprehensive palette of aesthetically appealing chrome colours ranging from blue bright to deep dark. SurTec 650 in combination with a gasket optimally prevents corrosive seal creep age of moisture into a battery compartment and ensures low electrical contact resistance. The technology also provides electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and is hence the perfect solution for surface treatment of e.g. battery pack housings and Electronic Control Unit (ECU) housings. Due to its best-in-class bare metal corrosion protection, additional e-coating applications of the battery housing could be considered redundant.

Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions (FHCS) The company manufactures innovative professional cleaning tools for various application. Cleaning daily means of transportation is one of the toughest tasks and to add to the difficulty, these mostly smaller surfaces are made up of different materials, each of which requires an individual treatment. And finally, there are varying weather conditions that must be considered in the cleaning efforts: Summer and sun might require less cleaning than winter snow and slush, which makes the job especially tough. Based on these conditions, only the most efficient and ergonomic tools are suitable for the task. Vileda Professional provides the products, concepts and training to tackle the specific needs of transport cleaning.

About Freudenberg India

Freudenberg has held business ties with companies in India for more than 90 years. The Group has 15 production sites around India, across several different industries, and employs around 3,000 people at 50 locations. www.freudenberg.com  

About the Freudenberg Group

Freudenberg is a global technology group that strengthens its customers and society long-term through forward-looking innovations. Together with its partners, customers and research institutions, the Freudenberg Group develops leading-edge technologies and excellent products and services for about 40 markets and for thousands of applications: seals, vibration control components, technical textiles, filters, cleaning technologies and products, specialty chemicals and medical products.

Innovation strength, strong customer orientation, diversity, and team spirit are the cornerstones of the Group. The more than 174-year-old company lives by its core values: a commitment to excellence, reliability and pro-active, responsible action. In 2021, the Freudenberg Group employed some 50,000 people in around 60 countries worldwide and generated sales of more than 10 million Euros. For more information, please visit www.freudenberg.com.

USAA funds new tech training expansion for young adults and military veterans from underserved communities.

NPower Texas has announced it is expanding its free tech training program into San Antonio, bringing new career opportunities to veterans and young adults looking to launch tech careers.

USAA, is funding the tech training expansion to help build a stronger and more diverse tech talent pool in the local San Antonio community. Boeing, Kelly Discover, Bravotech, HCL, and Bank of America already have expressed interest in hiring NPower graduates in the future for their San Antonio locations. 

“Improving and strengthening our military and local communities is at the heart of USAA’s mission,” said Lindsey O’Neill, Chief Communications and Corporate Responsibility Officer at USAA. “USAA is proud to team up with NPower Texas to expand access to technology careers by providing free upskill and reskill programs so that veterans, military spouses, and young adults from underrepresented communities are able to earn industry-recognized certificates and thrive in their careers.” 

NPower Texas has a strong history of training veterans and young adults with innovative technology skills and curriculum across the state. 

Jonathan Pride, Executive Director of NPower Texas and former Captain in the U.S. Army, said San Antonio is ripe for developing tech talent, especially with its large population of military veterans and fifth-largest tech labor force.

“We are bringing our entire infrastructure and tech training program from Dallas-Fort Worth to San Antonio,” said Pride. “NPower Texas is already one of the fastest growing digital training hubs in the country. We have continually transformed and trained the veteran community in Dallas, helping more than 1,000 veterans, reservists, and their spouses land tech jobs with prominent employers. We’re excited to expand this program reach into Military City USA, which has one of the nation's largest active and retired military populations.”

The veteran community in San Antonio makes up nearly 13 percent of the state’s population with the tech industry ranking near the top among the fastest-growing industries. Despite the strong demand for diverse tech workers, labor statistics show San Antonio has a shortage of qualified tech talent. 

Pride said even more alarming, only 25 percent of young adults in San Antonio earn a living wage, and it’s even lower for Black and Latino residents. Pride said this training expansion will bring more diversity, equity, and inclusion to San Antonio.

Currently, Black, Latinx, and Native American people make up only 21 percent of IT workers in San Antonio, even though they are 44 percent of the workforce. The veteran population in San Antonio is projected to grow more diverse over the next two decades.

Graduates from the NPower Texas program earned an average 477 percent increase in salary during 2021, according to data from the Dallas/Fort Worth training program. 

“This NPower Texas expansion will help veterans and their spouses acquire the skills needed to launch tech careers. Local businesses and organizations throughout San Antonio will also benefit with a larger diverse tech talent pipeline,” said Pride.

NPower Texas is now accepting applications from young adults ages 18 to 26, military veterans and their spouses living in the San Antonio region. Classes are scheduled to begin in March 2023.

About NPower Inc.

NPower is a national nonprofit, rooted in the community, that is committed to advancing race and gender equity in the tech industry through skills training, real-world experience, support, and mentorships. The organization has helped young adults from underserved communities and veterans move from poverty to the middle class by training them with a range of tech skills and placing them in quality jobs. Students who enter the free, six-month training program, earn industry-recognized certifications and graduate with the competencies of an IT professional with one to two years of experience. NPower also places students in paid internships and apprenticeships with corporate and nonprofit organizations. Eighty percent of NPower graduates get a full-time job or continue their education. NPower is a vital solution towards bridging the national talent gap that exists in the high-growth technology industry. Over the past decade, NPower has expanded its program reach and developed a robust network of Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized enterprises, government agencies, staffing firms, and a network of nonprofit partners that host its interns and hire its graduates full-time. To learn more about NPower, visit www.npower.org.

Media Contact: 

Mark Macias

646-770-0541