World

Dennis Bonnen Discusses The Importance of Voting In Midterm Elections

Published

3 years ago

December 8, 2022

It’s no secret that midterm elections are crucial. With so much at stake, Dennis Bonnen says it’s more important than ever to get out and vote. But what exactly is the importance of voting in midterm elections? Here are a few things to consider:

The Midterm Elections Are Just As Important As The Presidential Election

When exercising your right to vote, two elections garner the most attention—the presidential and the midterm elections. While everyone talks about the importance of the presidential election, far too often, the midterms get overlooked. But in reality, the midterm elections are just as important, if not more so, in some situations.

Midterm elections allow voters to express their opinions on government initiatives and policies at a local level and make a difference close to home. Many important decisions that affect our everyday lives— such as tax rates and zoning bylaws—are decided by officials elected during midterm elections. During these midterms, vital decisions may be made about whether or not current laws should be amended, maintained, or entirely thrown out.

Dennis Bonnen says casting a ballot during a midterm election is just as important as voting in a presidential election because these results can have far-reaching impacts on your community. Taking part in both is essential for making your voice heard both statewide and nationally. Therefore, if you’re committed to equal representation and change, you must exercise your right at every opportunity.

Voting Is Your Civic Duty And Helps To Shape The Future Of Our Country

Whether your interests are in the environment, healthcare, education, or any other issue that affects your life, voting is essential to making sure that your voice is heard. Your vote is a powerful tool that you can use to shape our country’s future and ensure the needs of all citizens are represented. When you cast a vote, you are exercising your democratic right to join millions of other Americans who understand the importance of their civic duty.

By voting, you are participating in our democracy and helping to create public policies that contribute to a better society. What’s more, it’s been proven time and time again that countries with active voters tend to have lower crime rates and environments that cultivate innovation. Voting is also one of the most cost-effective actions we can take — residents don’t have to pay taxes if they do not vote.

Regardless of which candidate or party you choose to align yourself with on election day, casting your vote will help ensure a better future for generations to come. That’s why voting should be celebrated and encouraged — it’s one of the simplest yet most effective ways we have as citizens to participate in government decisions and ensure every single person has their say on where our nation goes from here.

Every Vote Counts, So Make Sure You Are Registered To Vote

Voting is one of the most fundamental rights that we have as citizens. It’s a way to make your voice heard and participate in the democratic process. There are many ways to engage with politics, but voting is the most powerful and direct way to express your opinion. After all, when you cast your ballot, you are deciding who will represent your community’s interests in the office.

That’s why it’s so important that everyone exercises their right to vote. Unfortunately, Voter Registration can be a complex process – especially if you have recently moved or changed your name. Dennis Bonnen says everyone must know how to confirm their eligibility and ensure they are registered on time.

Research The Candidates And Issues Before Heading To The Polls

There’s no denying that voting is one of the most important actions we can take as citizens. Heading to the polls on election day can feel exciting, but it’s equally important to make sure you’re taking action with informed decisions. Researching the candidates and issues is a key part of being an informed voter. This often means reading through position statements from individual candidates and reading media articles related to the topic. Ensuring we understand what each candidate stands for can help ensure that our vote will be an informed decision reflecting our opinions.

Reading up on contentious debates and delving into different causes’ positions can also clarify where each candidate lies on the topics we care about. From local elections to national races, researching those vying for office before heading out to the polls has never been more critical. Ultimately, ensuring we are armed with facts is not just intelligent voting; it’s essential to helping create an educated electorate that clearly understands where each candidate stands on issues before casting their ballot.

With research being so available and accessible these days, there’s no excuse not to engage in it when it comes time to head out and do your civic duty! Doing your due diligence now will only benefit us in the long run by making the election process better and our democracy stronger. After all, democracy cannot thrive without informed voters.

Conclusion

The midterm elections are just as important as the presidential election. This is your chance to shape the future of our country by voting for the candidates and issues you believe in. Every vote counts, so make sure you are registered to vote and research the candidates and issues before heading to the polls.

World

More Named Storms — Is Your Luxury Pergola Ready?

Published

3 days ago

December 11, 2025

Jenny Jackson

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted a 60% chance that the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season would be above normal. The administration said to watch for between 13 and 19 total named storms — those with winds of 39 mph or higher.

For homeowners in hurricane-prone regions, this raises an urgent question: are your outdoor spaces ready to weather the storm?

PERGOLUX, a leader in durable outdoor structures, designs powder-coated aluminum pergolas with adjustable louvers to withstand the harshest environments.

“Today’s outdoor living spaces face the wrath of nature’s extremes,” says Tim Heneveld, Country Director of PERGOLUX North America. “Hurricanes, tropical storms, and flash floods bring powerful winds exceeding 100 mph. Their relentless rain and rising floodwaters can quickly devastate unprepared structures. If you want to protect your investments, resilient design is essential.”

Is your aluminum pergola and louvered roof ready to take on intense storms?

The open-air elegance of patio pergolas with slat roofs is perfect for a gentle breeze, but can make them vulnerable to the violent forces of hurricane winds. These storm winds pack powerful uplift and lateral forces.

Wind uplift occurs when gusts of wind flow beneath the roof, generating upward pressure that can lift the entire structure off its base. Lateral forces push a pergola horizontally, causing it to lean or even collapse.

The key defense against these powerful forces? A reinforced frame.

“Strong, well-engineered frames act as the backbone of your pergola,” notes Heneveld. “Aluminum is the ideal material for a pergola’s frame. It combines the strength needed to resist bending or breaking with a lighter weight that reduces strain on the foundation.”

PERGOLUX’s pergolas feature reinforced frames engineered to withstand intense storms with confidence. In fact, their latest model, the Skydance Series 3 Pergola, is specially crafted to endure winds up to 165 mph, which means that even when fierce hurricanes like Milton sweep through, these pergolas remain intact.

Reinforced aluminum frames designed with thickened beams and precision connections stand up to wind uplift and lateral pressure. Hurricane-rated bolts, brackets, and screws hold everything tightly together to prevent ‌weak points that storms so often exploit. When each joint is reinforced and well-anchored, your pergola can remain a steadfast retreat despite the wildest weather. Thicker beams and columns combined with robust engineering techniques give these pergolas superior strength. Extra support brackets, hidden fasteners, and precise assembly methods ensure the frame endures.

Elevated bases can protect your luxury pergola from floods

Along with high winds, storms bring torrential rain. Rising water can undermine structural footings and rot wooden materials, which can destabilize the entire installation.

An elevated base is a strategic line of defense. “By constructing your pergola on raised concrete footings or piers, you create a gap between the ground and the structure,” notes Heneveld. “During a flood, it keeps the water at bay. The elevation also prevents erosion caused by pooling rainwater.”

The best-quality outdoor pergolas offer high-grade materials and cutting-edge engineering

The key element of any storm-ready outdoor structure is its materials. PERGOLUX chooses 6063-T5 aluminum, a marine-grade alloy renowned for its incredible strength and exceptional resistance to corrosion, even when exposed to salty sea air and humid conditions.

“A wooden or vinyl pergola may look great at first,” says Heneveld, “but they often require costly upkeep or replacement after just a few seasons of storm damage. Our reinforced aluminum pergolas will give you years of worry-free durability. It will remain strong and look fantastic, no matter the weather.”

PERGOLUX’s advanced engineering solutions also protect what is inside the structure. Their patented RainLUX™ integrated gutter system channels rainwater away, preventing leaks that can damage furniture and floors.

“We offer a 10-year warranty to back up all of our claims,” Heneveld says. “It’s our commitment that these structures will protect your home’s exterior environment for years to come. We want you to focus on enjoying the moments that matter in your pergola, not on the coming storms.”

Practical outdoor living tips to prepare your louvered pergola kit before storm season

Even the strongest pergola will fare better when prepped for a coming storm. “Make sure to secure your loose items,” Heneveld warns. “Before a storm, remove furniture, planters, and décor. All of these can become hazardous projectiles.”

When homeowners hear that a storm is on the way, they will want to fully secure any screens or panels. Removing detachable panels before severe weather will help protect the pergola by reducing wind resistance.

Homeowners will want to take the time to routinely inspect and maintain their pergolas. A quick check for loose fasteners or other small signs of wear goes a long way in preserving the pergola’s strength.

“Combine simple preparation with a reinforced, elevated, and expertly engineered structure, and you’ll have an outdoor space built to last,” Heneveld concludes. “Investing in a storm-ready pergola is about so much more than just avoiding damage. You’re preserving a lifestyle. A long-lasting pergola will bring you years of shaded summer barbecues and fresh-air morning coffees.”