diff --git a/server.js b/server.js
index b0edcc6..21b7db2 100644
--- a/server.js
+++ b/server.js
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+// Load environment variables from .env file first
+import dotenv from 'dotenv';
+dotenv.config();
+
 import express from 'express';
 import compression from 'compression';
 import { handler } from './dist/server/entry.mjs';
diff --git a/src/components/ui/Form.astro b/src/components/ui/Form.astro
index b8324d8..160c848 100644
--- a/src/components/ui/Form.astro
+++ b/src/components/ui/Form.astro
@@ -84,12 +84,12 @@ const { inputs, textarea, disclaimer, button = 'Contact us', description = '', s
   {
     disclaimer && (
       <div class="mt-3 flex items-start mb-6">
-        <div class="flex mt-0.5">
+        <div class="flex items-center h-5">
           <input
             id="disclaimer"
             name="disclaimer"
             type="checkbox"
-            class="cursor-pointer mt-1 py-3 px-4 block w-full text-md rounded-lg border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700 bg-white dark:bg-slate-900"
+            class="w-4 h-4 cursor-pointer rounded border-gray-300 dark:border-gray-600 text-blue-600 focus:ring-2 focus:ring-blue-500 dark:focus:ring-blue-400 dark:bg-slate-700 dark:checked:bg-blue-600"
             required
             aria-describedby="invalid-feedback-disclaimer"
           />
@@ -163,13 +163,10 @@ const { inputs, textarea, disclaimer, button = 'Contact us', description = '', s
   <div id="manual-review-result" class="mt-4 text-center text-green-700 dark:text-green-400 font-medium"></div>
 </div>
 
-<script>
-  // TypeScript: declare the property on window
-  declare global {
-    interface Window {
-      __originalEmail?: string;
-    }
-  }
+<script define:vars={{ spamReviewConfig: spamReview }}>
+  // Make spamReview accessible in client script
+  const spamReview = spamReviewConfig || {};
+  
   async function setCsrfToken() {
     try {
       const res = await fetch('/api/contact?csrf=true');
@@ -177,7 +174,7 @@ const { inputs, textarea, disclaimer, button = 'Contact us', description = '', s
         const data = await res.json();
         const csrfInput = document.getElementById('csrf_token');
         if (csrfInput && data.csrfToken) {
-          (csrfInput as HTMLInputElement).value = data.csrfToken;
+          csrfInput.value = data.csrfToken;
         }
       }
     } catch (e) {
@@ -187,7 +184,7 @@ const { inputs, textarea, disclaimer, button = 'Contact us', description = '', s
 
   document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', setCsrfToken);
 
-  const form = document.getElementById('contact-form') as HTMLFormElement | null;
+  const form = document.getElementById('contact-form');
 
   if (form) {
     form.addEventListener('submit', async (event) => {
@@ -198,14 +195,29 @@ const { inputs, textarea, disclaimer, button = 'Contact us', description = '', s
         response = await fetch('/api/contact', {
           method: 'POST',
           body: formData,
+          headers: {
+            'Accept': 'application/json',
+          },
         });
-        result = await response.json();
+        
+        // Check if response is JSON before parsing
+        const contentType = response.headers.get('content-type');
+        if (contentType && contentType.includes('application/json')) {
+          result = await response.json();
+        } else {
+          const text = await response.text();
+          throw new Error(`Unexpected response type: ${contentType || 'unknown'}. Response: ${text.substring(0, 100)}`);
+        }
         console.log('Contact API response:', result);
-      } catch (_err) {
+      } catch (err) {
         const errorElement = document.getElementById('form-error');
-        if (errorElement) errorElement.classList.remove('hidden');
         const successElement = document.getElementById('form-success');
         if (successElement) successElement.classList.add('hidden');
+        if (errorElement) {
+          errorElement.textContent = 'Network error. Please check your connection and try again.';
+          errorElement.classList.remove('hidden');
+        }
+        console.error('Form submission error:', err);
         return;
       }
 
@@ -214,8 +226,8 @@ const { inputs, textarea, disclaimer, button = 'Contact us', description = '', s
         console.log('Spam detected, showing manual review UI.');
         form.style.display = 'none';
         const spamWarning = document.getElementById('spam-warning');
-        const manualEmail = document.getElementById('manual-email') as HTMLInputElement | null;
-        const manualToken = document.getElementById('manual-token') as HTMLInputElement | null;
+        const manualEmail = document.getElementById('manual-email');
+        const manualToken = document.getElementById('manual-token');
         // Store the original email in a variable (not in the input)
         window.__originalEmail = String(formData.get('email'));
         if (spamWarning && manualEmail && manualToken) {
@@ -228,17 +240,64 @@ const { inputs, textarea, disclaimer, button = 'Contact us', description = '', s
 
       if (!response.ok) {
         const errorElement = document.getElementById('form-error');
-        if (errorElement) errorElement.classList.remove('hidden');
         const successElement = document.getElementById('form-success');
         if (successElement) successElement.classList.add('hidden');
+        
+        // Handle specific error cases
+        if (result.message && result.message.includes('Please use POST')) {
+          if (errorElement) {
+            errorElement.textContent = 'There was an error with the form submission. Please refresh the page and try again.';
+            errorElement.classList.remove('hidden');
+          }
+        } else if (result.errors) {
+          // Handle field-specific validation errors
+          if (errorElement) {
+            errorElement.textContent = 'Please check all fields and try again.';
+            errorElement.classList.remove('hidden');
+          }
+          
+          // Show field-specific errors
+          Object.keys(result.errors).forEach((fieldName) => {
+            const field = form.querySelector(`[name="${fieldName}"]`);
+            const feedback = document.getElementById(`invalid-feedback-${fieldName}`);
+            
+            if (field && feedback) {
+              field.classList.add('border-red-500');
+              feedback.textContent = result.errors[fieldName];
+              feedback.classList.remove('hidden');
+            }
+          });
+        } else if (result.error) {
+          if (errorElement) {
+            errorElement.textContent = result.error;
+            errorElement.classList.remove('hidden');
+          }
+        } else {
+          if (errorElement) {
+            errorElement.textContent = 'There was an error sending your message. Please try again.';
+            errorElement.classList.remove('hidden');
+          }
+        }
         return;
       }
 
       // Success
       const successElement = document.getElementById('form-success');
-      if (successElement) successElement.classList.remove('hidden');
+      if (successElement) {
+        successElement.textContent = result.message || 'Your message has been sent successfully. We will get back to you soon!';
+        successElement.classList.remove('hidden');
+      }
       const errorElement = document.getElementById('form-error');
       if (errorElement) errorElement.classList.add('hidden');
+      
+      // Clear any field error states
+      form.querySelectorAll('.border-red-500').forEach((el) => {
+        el.classList.remove('border-red-500');
+      });
+      form.querySelectorAll('.invalid-feedback').forEach((el) => {
+        el.classList.add('hidden');
+      });
+      
       form.reset();
       setCsrfToken();
     });
@@ -249,11 +308,11 @@ const { inputs, textarea, disclaimer, button = 'Contact us', description = '', s
   if (manualReviewForm) {
     manualReviewForm.onsubmit = async function (e) {
       e.preventDefault();
-      const manualEmail = document.getElementById('manual-email') as HTMLInputElement | null;
-      const manualJustification = document.getElementById('manual-justification') as HTMLTextAreaElement | null;
-      const manualToken = document.getElementById('manual-token') as HTMLInputElement | null;
+      const manualEmail = document.getElementById('manual-email');
+      const manualJustification = document.getElementById('manual-justification');
+      const manualToken = document.getElementById('manual-token');
       const resultDiv = document.getElementById('manual-review-result');
-      const form = document.getElementById('contact-form') as HTMLFormElement | null;
+      const form = document.getElementById('contact-form');
       const spamWarning = document.getElementById('spam-warning');
       if (!manualEmail || !manualJustification || !manualToken || !resultDiv) return;
       const email = manualEmail.value;
diff --git a/src/utils/email-handler.ts b/src/utils/email-handler.ts
index 43440ed..e57f309 100644
--- a/src/utils/email-handler.ts
+++ b/src/utils/email-handler.ts
@@ -18,27 +18,61 @@ const {
 // Email configuration
 const isProduction = process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production';
 
+// Debug: Log environment variables on load (only in development or if SMTP_HOST is set)
+if (!isProduction || SMTP_HOST) {
+  console.log('[EMAIL CONFIG] SMTP_HOST:', SMTP_HOST || '(not set)');
+  console.log('[EMAIL CONFIG] SMTP_PORT:', SMTP_PORT || '(using default: 587)');
+  console.log('[EMAIL CONFIG] SMTP_USER:', SMTP_USER ? '***' : '(not set - no auth)');
+  console.log('[EMAIL CONFIG] ADMIN_EMAIL:', ADMIN_EMAIL || '(not set)');
+}
+
 // Create a transporter for sending emails
 let transporter: nodemailer.Transporter;
 
 // Initialize the transporter based on environment
 function initializeTransporter() {
   if (isProduction && SMTP_HOST) {
-    // Use local Postfix mail relay (no authentication)
-    transporter = nodemailer.createTransport({
+    const port = parseInt(SMTP_PORT, 10) || 587;
+    // Determine if secure connection (port 465 typically uses SSL)
+    const secure = port === 465;
+    
+    // Build transporter config
+    const transporterConfig: {
+      host: string;
+      port: number;
+      secure: boolean;
+      tls: { rejectUnauthorized: boolean };
+      auth?: { user: string; pass: string };
+    } = {
       host: SMTP_HOST,
-      port: parseInt(SMTP_PORT, 10) || 25, // default to port 25 if not set
-      secure: false, // No SSL for local relay
+      port: port,
+      secure: secure,
       tls: {
-        rejectUnauthorized: false, // Accept self-signed certificates if present
+        rejectUnauthorized: false, // Accept self-signed certificates (useful for Mailcow)
       },
-    });
+    };
 
-    transporter.verify((error, success) => {
+    // Add authentication if credentials are provided
+    if (SMTP_USER && SMTP_PASS) {
+      transporterConfig.auth = {
+        user: SMTP_USER,
+        pass: SMTP_PASS,
+      };
+    }
+
+    transporter = nodemailer.createTransport(transporterConfig);
+
+    transporter.verify((error, _success) => {
       if (error) {
-        console.error('❌ SMTP connection error:', error);
+        console.error('❌ SMTP connection error:', error.message);
+        console.error('   Host:', SMTP_HOST);
+        console.error('   Port:', port);
+        console.error('   Auth:', SMTP_USER ? 'Yes' : 'No');
       } else {
         console.log('✅ SMTP server is ready to take messages.');
+        console.log('   Host:', SMTP_HOST);
+        console.log('   Port:', port);
+        console.log('   Auth:', SMTP_USER ? 'Yes' : 'No');
       }
     });
   } else {
@@ -140,7 +174,7 @@ export function logEmailAttempt(success: boolean, recipient: string, subject: st
 }
 
 // Send an email
-export async function sendEmail(to: string, subject: string, html: string, text: string, domain?: string): Promise<boolean> {
+export async function sendEmail(to: string, subject: string, html: string, text: string, _domain?: string): Promise<boolean> {
   // Initialize transporter if not already done
   if (!transporter) {
     initializeTransporter();
diff --git a/src/utils/gemini-spam-check.ts b/src/utils/gemini-spam-check.ts
index 250c4b6..7a860dc 100644
--- a/src/utils/gemini-spam-check.ts
+++ b/src/utils/gemini-spam-check.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ export async function isSpamWithGemini(message: string): Promise<boolean> {
       console.warn('[Gemini] API key not set; skipping spam check.');
       return false;
     }
-    const model = genAI.getGenerativeModel({ model: "gemini-1.5-flash" });
+    const model = genAI.getGenerativeModel({ model: "gemini-2.5-flash" });
     const prompt = `Is the following message spam? Reply with only 'yes' or 'no'.\n\nMessage:\n${message}`;
     const result = await model.generateContent(prompt);
     const response = result.response.text().trim().toLowerCase();