H. David Burton, longtime presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the genial public face for the faiths decadelong effort to build a mammoth urban community of residences, retail shops and office space in downtown Salt Lake City, was released Saturday from the ecclesiastical post he has held since 1996.

The announcement by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, that Burton and counselors Richard C. Edgley and Keith B. McMullin would step down from their duties came just nine days after the church and Taubman Centers Inc. opened the retail component of Citys City Creek Center, across the street from Temple Square and LDS Church headquarters. The five years of construction began with the demolition of the old KeyBank tower and the Crossroads and ZCMI malls. It was a project that Burton, 73, helped guide since it was announced to the public in 2003.

At 700,000 square feet, City Creek is special for several reasons. Burton and his secular counterpart William Taubman developed the megamall at a time when retail projects of that size arent often constructed anymore. Whats more, the project, estimated to cost up to $2 billion, was bankrolled by the development arm of the Utah-based faith, which did not use outside financing or draw on tithes made by its worldwide membership. Finally, the massive project provided close to 2,000 construction jobs at a time when the economy was in a deep recession.

While Burton may be best remembered for his efforts over more than a decade to shepherd City Creek in to life, he first came to wide notice in the clash over the churchs Main Street Plaza, which closed Main Street between North Temple and South Temple. Court fights ensued. Community schisms appeared. Finally, in a controversial land-for-peace compromise, Salt Lake City, led by then-Mayor Rocky Anderson, gave up an easement on the plaza allowing the LDS Church to control speech and behavior there in exchange for cash and a community center in the west-side Glendale area.

Burton differed with Anderson over the mayors opposition to a Main Street sky bridge linking City Creeks east and west retail components. Anderson disparaged it as a "gerbil tube." Approval of the elevated walkway came after Andersons second term ended and Mayor Ralph Becker took the citys reins.

As presiding bishop, Burton and his counselors were in charge of the churchs land, buildings and commercial businesses.

But though an economics degree from the University of Utah and his masters degree in business administration from the University of Michigan prepared him for a business-focused career, Burton has said that his most satisfying moments were working with humanitarian groups in Utah and around the world.

Within a day of Haitis devastating earthquake in 2010, LDS officials in Salt Lake City mobilized the churchs extensive resources to help with disaster relief. Burton led the effort.

"Whether its with The Road Home here in Salt Lake City to provide transitional housing or shelter for the homeless or with the Red Cross and the Red Crescent in Africa to provide measles vaccinations, we are anxious to collaborate in unprecedented partnerships to help people, to alleviate suffering and to give individuals and communities the wherewithal to help themselves," Burton said last year upon receiving the Salt Lake Chambers Giant in Our City award.

Bishop came to the post of presiding bishop at age 57. He had served as a counselor in the Presiding Bishopric since 1992. Before then, he worked as its executive secretary and spent a year as the assistant church budget officer. He also worked for Kennecott Copper and the Utah Tax Commission.

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LDS presiding bishop, face of City Creek Center, released

SOLDIER OF GOD: MacArthur's Attempt to Christianize Japan, by Ray A. Moore. Merwin Asia, 2011, 167 pp., $35.00 (paperback)

India, the jewel in the crown of the British Empire, the largest the world has ever known, was won mainly by attrition, though some of the later additions to it, like Burma, were taken by force. Almost no attempt was made to interfere with native religion. The enduring image of the 19th-century "scramble for Africa", however, was of rapacious Europeans with a Bible in one hand and a gun in the other.

"Soldier of God" deals, as the subtitle tells us, with Gen. Douglas MacArthur's attempt to Christianize Japan after its own imperial ambitions had been forcefully subdued in World War II. It is a story that the author, Ray A. Moore, has studied for a long time, and which begins in the 16th century, when Catholic missionaries first arrived on these shores. After the closing of Japan to the outside world in the Edo Period (1603-1868), Christianity was proscribed, eventually on penalty of death.

When Japan was forced open again to trade in 1853, the status of Christianity was less certain, though it soon became apparent that the edicts banning it would no longer be enforced, and so the missionaries gradually returned. Initially there was a spread of enthusiasm, with many conversions, though this went into retreat in the 1890s. By then, however, Christians were well established in the fields of medicine and education in which they had attempted to exert influence and win converts.

The largest influence was perhaps in education, but Christian schools and colleges of all stripes came under pressure from growing nationalism in the 1930s. Most of them were encouraged by the government to unite as a single entity, while many foreign missionaries went home. But some form of educational work continued, even though its religious aspect was more restricted: "What really disrupted the Christian church and school activities was the American government's decision to subject all of Japan's cities to destructive firebombing," says the author.

The remaining Christian organizations, though not banned, were under Japanese control during the war, while foreign missionaries plotted their return, with clear encouragement from President Harry Truman. "Reform in every sphere of Japanese society would be required," as part of the re-establishment of civil liberties, and democratization. Gen. MacArthur, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, had remarked enigmatically on the need for "spiritual recrudescence", and proved to be sympathetic.

Even before MacArthur issued an order allowing the missionaries to enter Japan, some had already come in with the occupation forces. Both Catholics and Protestants were urged to participate and to help "subvert Japan's native religious beliefs and replace them with Christianity." As part of this policy, the emperor was to be spared and the imperial system retained. Stability would thus be maintained, even as extensive changes were made to other areas of social and economic life.

Seeing himself as "an emancipator of an Asian people", MacArthur encouraged missionary endeavor, and presented himself at home as a "'soldier of God'" while exaggerating the numbers involved (at best 1 percent of the population was Christian). The General's notion that Japan must become Christian in order to become democratic produced unease among the Japanese, and was not unchallenged by his American colleagues. Moore is alert to all the nuances of this encounter.

Much of the second part of the book is concerned with moves to save the emperor from trial as a war criminal: "The general's personal belief in the transforming power of the cross added a peculiar dimension to his relationship with the emperor," explains the writer. This was reinforced by accounts of interest in Christianity within the imperial family itself. In part this had to do with the privileged education they had received from missionaries. Thus education had remained important.

Key to the negotiation was an American missionary of long residence and with imperial family connections, Merrill Vories (1880-1964), whose diary is quoted. But a certain amount of mendacity was also involved in the promotion of Christian sympathies, and the suggestion of belief at this high level. Nevertheless, the crown prince (now the emperor) was duly inculcated with such ideas in his private education. That Christianity might also be used as a counter to communism was not at first foreseen.

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Japan's 'spiritual recrudescence'

New Delhi, March 23:

The decks have been cleared for the dismantling of Specified Undertaking of the Unit Trust of India (SUUTI) and transfer of its equity holdings in various companies to a new special purpose vehicle (SPV).

It is likely to be named National Assets Management Company.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Friday approved dismantling of SUUTI, created in 2002 after the erstwhile Unit Trust of India (UTI) was wound up. The specified undertaking was tasked to oversee the assured-return plans of UTI.

The undertaking has significant stake in three listed blue-chip companies ITC (11.54 per cent), Axis Bank (23.6 per cent) and Larsen & Toubro (8.3 per cent) together valued at about Rs 38,000 crore at current market prices.

It also holds over one per cent stake in 16 companies. Its significant holdings in unlisted firms include the 16.96 per cent stake in Stock Holding Corporation of India.

The Economic Affairs Secretary, Mr R. Gopalan, said that the new special vehicle would help the Government's disinvestment programme, as it can buy shares of the divesting companies even when the market conditions are not conducive for public offers.

The special vehicle can take loans from banks backed by its key holdings to buy the Government stake being divested. The funds could be borrowed through negative lien under which shares cannot be sold without permission of lenders and the Government.

However, certain quarters feel that banks may not be too willing to lend money to the special vehicle against pledging of such shares.

The Cabinet committee nod is only for transfer of SUUTI's holdings to a special vehicle. No decision has been taken on pledging the shares with banks, official sources said. The decision on pledging is likely to be left to the board of the proposed vehicle.

Continued here:
Cabinet nod for winding up UTI's specified undertaking

Web produced by Jennifer Matarese, Eyewitness News

NEW YORK (WABC) -- After first saying there is no mold problem, the Department of Education later found the contamination is widespread, infecting seven classrooms at a school in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

You can imagine the concern parents have after learning that these classrooms have been shut down because of mold.

"I was shocked because I feel the school should have been closed down until everything was completed," said Tracy Grillo, parent.

This sudden move comes after school officials say test results revealed, "Seven classrooms on the fifth floor contained spores of a type of mold (stacybogtrys chartarum) that requires remediation."

"Mold is present in classrooms. There have been ongoing water infiltration issues," said Lincoln Restler, district leader.

Sharing those seriously concerns, Tracy Grillo and other parents rallied outside the school but before they learned of the latest test results and the contaminated classrooms.

"This week 20% of our students have been taken out of school because of fear for their safety," Restler said.

Grillo has kept her daughter and son out of the school.

"With the asthma he won't be able to breathe right, and he's been coming home with a lot of headaches. So I don't want them in school because I feel the problem might get worse," Grillo said.

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Mold contamination found in 7 classrooms

30-03-2012 10:02 In this video you will see a selection of front porch designs. We hope they will give you some inspiration. Visit our website to see more -

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A Selection of Front Porch Designs - Video

By Nara Schoenberg Print Article

(MCT)In theory, containers overflowing with flowers, herbs, grasses and vegetables can transform balconies and porches into green and leafy garden retreats.

In reality, the effect is often closer to Patio dotted with random plants.

We asked Fern Richardson, author of the new book, Small-Space Container Gardens: Transform Your Balcony, Porch or Patio With Fruits, Flowers, Foliage & Herbs (Timber Press), how to bridge the gap. Her book offers suggestions ranging from upcycling and plant repetitions to spray-painting mismatched containers.

It seems like it would be hard or it would look tacky, but spray paint and a stencil kit is a really cool way to add continuity, Richardson says.

Among your other options:

Try plant patterns. Add unity to your collection by putting the same plant in a series of pots.

It doesnt even have to be one of the main plants, Richardson says. It can just be one of the small annuals that you change out every season. Putting the same little violas through the whole grouping can make them look like they belong together and you planned it even if you didnt.

Zinnias would also work for this purpose, or marigolds.

Upcycle. Ransack the recycling bin, garage and kitchen for cool containers that will add interest and novelty to your collection. Richardsons book includes a charming mini-barbecue project, but she also sees potential in red wagons, colanders, birdbaths and soda cans especially if the barbecue has been used, you probably want to clean it pretty thoroughly. There could be charcoal glued on, she says. But you know, a lot of times metal is a pretty nonreactive material as far as leaching stuff into the soil. If youre worried about it, you can always put in a plastic nursery pot and hide it down in the soil and plant all your plants directly in the nursery pot, so that way you get the fun look of upcycling something without the concern of What the heck is in this thing?

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Container Gardens Done Right: Make Your Garden Look Polished and Planned

HOUSTON - Spring is in the air (along with the pollen) and for the home decorator, thoughts are turning to how to bring the feel of spring into your home.

Houston design blogger Beth Delozier paid a visit to interior design store Kuhl-Linscomb to find out what's "in" this spring.

According to interior architect Renee Galang, you need to think "orange" this spring. Galang says many people are afraid of the color because it is so bright but if you work in splashes of orange, it is a great way to brighten up any room or piece of furniture.

Kuhl-Linscomb's Mollie Oshman told Delozier that spring is all about bringing the outdoors inside. There are many ways of doing that, from dinnerware that looks like flowers to tiny boxwood trees that adorn a tabletop.

Galang says that if orange is a bit too much for you, think about using coral instead. It's a more muted version of orange that still brightens up your interior space.

For more information on Kuhl-Linscomb, check out: http://www.kuhl-linscomb.com/

To read Beth Delozier's blog go to: http://www.treschicorganizing.blogspot.com/

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Spring Your Space

If you were wondering why you couldnt check out books at the Johnson City Public Library this week, theres a good reason.

From the outside looking in, the librarys staff resembled a team of worker bees, working to finish lengthy renovation projects in their workplace hive. Shutting down the library from Monday until Sunday was a necessity, Bob Swanay, the director of the library, said as crews installed new carpet, moved furniture and refinished hardwood floors on the first and second floors.

There were a few other things that we wanted to get done, that we knew we needed to get done, that we just kind of (have) taken advantage of this whole project, Swanay said.

After a few hits and misses concerning the carpet, the goose chase was over and the new carpet from Mohawk Industries Inc. in Calhoun, Ga., arrived ready to be installed.

Swanay said the carpet problem delayed a lot of their renovation completion plans dating back to last fall.

Our expectation was to reopen the area in early October ... but we just never were able to do it because of the carpet, he said. Until we had carpet down, we couldnt do the furniture or the computers or the shelving.

Swanay said Mohawk Group, wanting to fix the mistakes, gave the library a more expensive, better quality carpet at no additional cost, and also donated additional carpet for the library to redo the meeting room, the elevators and the front walkways.

With the carpet squared away, library staff helped put together shelves and move items around to their new home.

The second floor is where the major action has happened. Thats where youll see the brand new computer center, Swanay said. Weve always had computers for the public in the library, but in the previous layout the computers were kind of scattered around the reference desk on the second floor and we had computer carrel furniture.

Saying goodbye to the carrels, the PC computers available for the public will now be in a designated location, facing a newly built wall with a SmartBoard attached.

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Library work nears final chapter

Architects responded with nearly 50 designs when a Green Tree developer asked for ideas for replacing a Downtown parking lot with an 18-story tower overlooking the Monongahela River.

Now developer Burns & Scalo hopes the top candidates among those firms will help lure a big-name tenant or two to the proposed $60 million project.

"We are ideally looking for a major corporation to have a signature headquarters location with eyebrow signage," said CEO Jim Burns, who mentioned U.S. Steel and GNC as possibilities. GNC declined comment, and U.S. Steel said it was "exploring alternatives" for when its lease in its signature tower ends in 2017.

"I believe we will see a major gas and oil company set up its headquarters Downtown," Scalo said, a well-known local developer whose current projects include converting the former Goodwill headquarters on the South Side to a $20 million apartment-retail complex, and two new office buildings in Southpointe II in Cecil Township.

His firm this week announced three finalists from its competition to design the skyscraper to fit onto a 27,000-square-foot lot on Fort Pitt Boulevard, near One Smithfield Street, which Burns & Scalo also owns. Construction would begin when one or more tenants agree to occupy at least 50 percent of its planned 300,000 square feet of space.

The firm did not make finding tenants a requirement, but bringing one in would increase its chances of being chosen to design the building.

The three finalists are Desmone & Associates of Lawrenceville, Downtown-based IKM Architects, and GBBN Architects, based in Cincinnati with an office in Moon, which is teaming with Celli-Flynn Brennan Architects and Planners, Downtown.

Joel Bernard, principal and partner at IKM, said developers normally secure both the site and a tenant before selecting an architect. But he and the other finalists said they would pass along names to Burns & Scalo.

"It's good business to help the developer obtain a tenant, although architects are not as familiar with the real estate market as are commercial real estate firms," said Luke Desmone.

"Although assisting the developer obtain a tenant was never part of the design challenge, we certainly would help the developer with that information," said Steven T. Kenat, a principal and director of community development with GBBN.

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Architects competing to design Downtown skyscraper

WEST WINDSOR A retail makeover is in store for Princeton MarketFair mall, which is adding four new restaurants and a high-end furniture store, while shuffling a few existing tenants to put them into different slots on the floor plan.

One of the biggest changes will be the relocation of the Barnes & Noble anchor store on the malls south end to a spot formerly occupied by Restoration Hardware.

Barnes & Noble, which has launched into the electronic book market and also is selling more games, toys and gift items these days, aims to open a state-of-the-art book store in the new 28,000-square-foot space. A September 2013 opening is planned. The existing store will remain open during the entire construction period.

The string of new eateries will include Seasons 52, a wine and grill restaurant; Bahama Breeze, offering Caribbean cuisine; Qdoba, a Mexican grill; and Bobby Flays Burger Palace.

The new furniture and housewares retailer is West Elm, a purveyor of uncomplicated, modern designs, which has been operating a store at Nassau Park Boulevard. West Elm and the four new restaurants have all signed leases and will be opening new stores over the next two years, mall officials said in a release.

MarketFair has close to 50 stores. It is operated by Madison Marquette, a Washington, D.C.-based company, under contract from mall owners TIAA-CREF, an investment group.

Other changes are under way.

A week ago, a Banana Republic clothing store relocated from Palmer Square in Princeton Borough to a MarketFair location. The Princeton shop will be converted into a Brooks Brothers clothing store, beginning in June or July, said David Newton of Palmer Square Management.

Seasons 52 and Bahama Breeze will join Eastern Mountain Sports in backfilling the location currently occupied by Barnes & Noble, mall officials said. Seasons 52 will occupy 9,300 square feet with a planned opening in late 2013. Adjacent to Seasons, Bahama Breeze will occupy 8,500 square feet with an anticipated opening in early 2014.

The food court inside MarketFair will close April 22 while the space is redeveloped for the 7,400-square-foot West Elm, which is owned by Williams-Sonoma Stores.

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West Windsor mall rearranges its floor plan to add four eateries, furniture and apparel stores