Behind a crumbling brick facade and rusted security screens in the Shaw neighborhood of Northwest Washington, designer Darryl Carter is building his brand.

This fall, after a year-long renovation, a 19th-century commercial property will become a store and studio for Carter, one of the citys top-tier interior designers. The property includes a two-story building at 1320 Ninth St. NW, parts of which are pre-Civil War, and a carriage house in back facing cobblestone Naylor Court. The rebuilding is painstaking, using architectural remnants and salvaged timbers to restore the structures.

We are crafting something, not just building a drywall structure, says Carter, a native Washingtonian who grew up in Bethesda. Its far more expensive to preserve something than to knock it down.

Shaw is bubbling with clubs and artisanal sandwich shops. But the emerging neighborhood may still seem off-the-grid for a high-end design store.

Carter, 50, doesnt do things in a conventional way, however. A lawyer by training, he said renovating and decorating were always his passions. He opened his own design business in 1998. Hes a regular in shelter magazines, has created paint palettes for Benjamin Moore and has written a book. (His second book, The Collected Home, is slated to be published in October.)

Carter, who is equally comfortable with opera and hip-hop, plans a retail experience far different from either a chain store or an 18th-century furniture shop. He said he envisions a personal, European-style store where customers can buy a candle, organic blanket or a sofa, for example, and have a latte at the espresso bar hes installing in the shops core.

Antiques, curiosities and accessories will be sold there, as well as furniture he designed himself at what he calls accessible prices. The carriage house will serve as a studio staffed with designers who work for Carter, and they will advise clients on a single room or color selection, services Carter has never been able to offer. He plans to host art shows, too. I want it to be a neighborhood gathering place, he says. Carter says he will continue to work with private clients from his Embassy Row digs.

He is keen to be part of the renaissance of Shaw, one of the citys oldest commercial and cultural districts.

I have never been one to follow the leader, Carter says. His location is just north of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and within sight of City Market at O, a mixed-use redevelopment that includes the former Giant Food, which is being re-created in the spirit of a 19th-century marketplace.

The property had been in decay for years, with missing windows and no working plumbing. It has served as a thrift shop, hardware store and apartment building. Hes restoring it with a cache of salvaged materials, including granite blocks from Baltimores Druid Hill and arched glass doors from Georgetowns Dumbarton House. The flooring is being milled from reclaimed timbers from the former embassy of the Central African Republic. Ive been like a squirrel gathering all the parts of this building over the last four years, Carter says.

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Darryl Carter to open studio and store in Shaw

WASHINGTON -- Los Angeles County, Calif., leads the nation in total county remodeling expenditures per year at $8.4 billion, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Meanwhile, regarding remodeling dollars spent per household, Nantucket County, Mass., ranks highest with a yearly average of $8,520.

"Residential remodeling is one of the housing industry's bright spots, and in some parts of the country this is more true now than ever," said NAHB Remodelers Chairman George "Geep" Moore Jr., GMB, CAPS, GMR and owner/president of Moore-Built Construction & Restoration Inc. in Elm Grove, La. "The level of remodeling activity varies by region and town, but home owners throughout the country are increasingly choosing to renovate their homes or build additions to meet their changing lifestyles."

While the average value across all counties nationwide for total remodeling expenditures per year is $66 million, the following is a breakdown of top counties by region:

West: Los Angeles County, Calif., $8.4 billion Midwest: Cook County, Ill., $4 billion Northeast: Nassau County, N.Y., $1.9 billion South: Miami-Dade County, Fla., $1.7 billion

The average amount spent on remodeling projects per household nationwide is $1,907. The top counties by region for remodeling spending per home are as follows:

"Nationally, we're forecasting a continued increase in the demand for residential repairs and improvements," said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. "Based on our analysis of the remodeling spending numbers, we are able to identify areas of the country where our members can take advantage of this growing opportunity. The county estimates also include useful information on the local conditions that influence remodeling spending--particularly the number, age and value of owner-occupied homes."

The NAHB model uses data from the American Housing Survey--which is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau--to estimate local remodeling based on home and home owner characteristics. It is then applied to the information on every county's homes and home owners that the Census Bureau released late last year from its American Community Survey.

A list of the top five counties for remodeling spending and average remodeling spending per home in the Northeast, Midwest, South and West regions is available http://www.nahb.org/topremodelingcounties. To search all counties, visit http://www.nahb.org/countydata.

For more information about remodeling, visit nahb.org/remodel.

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NAHB Identifies Top Counties for Residential Remodeling

NEW ALBANY A man who had been a contract employee for the New Albany High School band has been arrested for child seduction, according to Indiana State Police Sgt. Jerry Goodin.

Scottsburg resident Jacob M. Blanton, 25, has been arrested and charged with child seduction, a class D felony, which carries with it a potential sentence of six months to three years, according to a press release from Indiana State Police.

Goodin said Blanton had sexual relations with a female under the age of 18 in Floyd County. He couldnt state whether that person was a student; however, according to state code, to commit child seduction a person must be in a position of power or trust over the victim. Goodin said Blanton received that charge for having been a contract employee for the NAHS band at the time of the incident.

Blanton, who was also the former band director at Madison Consolidated High School, has previously been charged with child seduction. He is accused of having sexual relations with two girls, with one of them being a student at Madison Consolidated. According to the probable cause affidavit in that case, the sex acts with the student took place in the school. The other girl was a student at another high school where Blanton had formerly taught and also was involved in a regional band program headed by Blanton, the document said.

Blanton had been released from jail on $10,000 cash bail in November after entering a not-guilty plea in the Madison case. He was arrested again on the New Albany case Wednesday morning.

Goodin said ISP opened up the New Albany investigation in December. He said he was unsure when the alleged incident happened. The affidavit in the New Albany case was unavailable, due to the courthouse being closed for the evening.

According to court records online, a $10,000 court-cash bond has been posted in the New Albany case.

Multiple calls to various administration members at New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp. were made, but only one person was able to be reached. Deputy Superintendent Brad Snyder returned the message, saying he was out of town and didnt know the facts on this case.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Former band director again arrested for child seduction

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. A former New Washington High School student was killed early today in an accident in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Jillian Rose Charlet, 22, of Winston-Salem, died at the scene when Vince Sherman Williams Jr., 27, lost control of the car he was driving, a 2005 Honda Civic, police told the Winston-Salem Journal. The car then struck a utility pole.

Williams and Charlets roommate, Choloe Claudette Mores, 21, were taken to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Speed and alcohol are considered to be factors in the crash, police said. No charges have been filed and the investigation is continuing, according to the Winston-Salem Journal.

Charlet and Morse were seniors at Winston-Salem State University and were scheduled to graduate in May. Charlet was an accounting major and played on the basketball team for three years.

Morse is from Sumerduck, Va., and was majoring in management information systems. Williams was not a student at WSSU, according to the Journal.

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Former New Wash student killed in N.C. auto wreck

WALLINGFORD A South Windsor roofing supplier has moved its operation into the former home of Kamco Supply Corp. at 780 N. Colony Road.

Allied Building Products Corp. recently leased 86,036 square feet from Slomkowski Family Realty LLC.

Allied, a roofing and sheet metal fabrication business founded in Jersey City, N.J., in 1950, moved into the former Kamco space last week.

Kamco merged its warehouse and milling operation out of Wallingford into its East Hartford and Orange plants when the residential and commercial building industry tanked in 2009. It kept about 10,000 square feet of office and administrative space on Route 5.

But the vacant, 125,000-square-foot industrial building served as a bleak reminder of the flailing construction industry until Allied moved in about a week ago.

Thats a substantial amount of square footage, said Doreen DeSarro, business recruiter for the town of Wallingford. Were glad theyre here.

Kamco moved its executive offices in January into a new corporate headquarters at 2 Barnes Industrial Road South in January.

Im pleased they are keeping their corporate offices here, DeSarro said.

Jay Sheehy, president of Kamco and Slomkowskis partner, said Kamco wanted to stay in town and Allied was relocating its South Windsor operation.

Wallingford is a wonderful place to do business, Sheehy said.

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Roofing supplier occupies vacant industrial space in Wallingford

High-end appliance manufacturer Jenn-Air lets consumers digitally swap out kitchen appliances with a mobile app created by Digitas. The free DesignVision iPhone application echoes a print campaign.

With DesignVision, announced last week at a New York design show, consumers can select a Jenn-Air appliance, position it over the current appliance in the kitchen and snap a photo. The finished image shows the selected appliance in place of the existing one. Users can try out different finishes, share the photos, get product specifications and find showrooms from within the mobile app.

Jenn-Air's consumer research showed that its target market would have the technology available and be comfortable with it. "They are very interested in what their kitchen and whole home looks like. They are very visual and enjoy the process of decorating and remodeling," says Brian Maynard, vice president of marketing for Jenn-Air.

According to Chia Chen, SVP of Digitas' North American mobile practice, the agency likes to approach mobile as a way to insert a brand into the moment in consumers' lives where the brand can have impact and deliver value. His team worked with the client to understand the decision process for purchasing luxury appliances. "All of them had a moment of trying to visualize how an appliance would look in their kitchen," Chen says.

DesignVision ties into a four-page, print insert ad running primarily in Architectural Digest. The front page shows a silhouette of a range. Inside, a photo spread highlights a Jenn-Air range and includes a three-dimensional, die-cut piece. Readers are instructed to remove it, stand five feet back from the range in the kitchen, and then hold it at arm's length to "eclipse the competition."

Digitas, Jenn-Air's agency of record, handles digital, traditional and media for the appliance manufacturer.

Chen did not yet have any metrics relating to the number of downloads for DesignVision, but he pointed out that, unlike many apps, consumers might use it only once or twice, and yet that use could translate into thousands of dollars in sales.

The back of the die-cut includes a QR code leading to videos explaining the key benefits of the product and an invitation to visit the company website to learn more. Maynard said Architectural Digest reported four to five times more interaction with the print ad than any others running in the book - based on a reader survey, not on QR code interaction.

"QR codes are interesting but still haven't, in most cases, been utilized in overwhelming numbers. We were happy with the results, not ecstatic. But we do know that consumers are taking this die cut into the retailer and saying, 'This is what I want,'" he says.

Maynard disputes the idea that magazines are no longer important to advertisers. Some magazines went away, but those that remain are still an integral part of our brand online," he said. Consumer research has shown the brand lift among consumers who have been exposed to both digital and traditional messaging from Jenn-Air is more than the sum of the two individual channels.

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Jenn-Air Kitchen App Ties Print to Mobile

In just a few days, the town expects to open bids for the reconstruction of the retaining wall in front of the Surf Club. A portion of the wall was destroyed when Tropical Storm Irene roared through town in late August. The town had expected the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reimburse 75 percent of the estimated $250,000 replacement costs, but learned recently that will not be the case.

First Selectman Fillmore McPherson told the Board of Selectmen Monday that FEMA will reimburse the costs for replacement of only the damaged section of the retaining wall-about 130 feet of the total 260-foot replacement the town has planned.

"Since that entire section of the retaining wall protects the Surf Club building, Town Engineer Mike Ott and I agree that the town would be well served to replace the whole piece," McPherson said.

Ott explained that the present seawall is approximately 600 feet in total and that the town was interested in replacing only 260 feet. Of the 260 feet, only about half was destroyed by Irene. Under FEMA regulations, the town will be reimbursed for 75 percent of the replacement cost for only the damaged section, not the full 260 feet, as the town once assumed.

The new section of seawall will be designed "very differently" from the one it will replace, Ott said. The new 260-foot replacement will be "thicker, deeper, well reinforced," and with more stable footings.

"The present wall has footings that are too shallow and the construction is not the type that is proper." To provide adequate flood protection for the building, the new retaining wall should include the full 260 feet, he said.

"It only makes sense to do the complete job while we have a construction crew on site replacing the damaged section of the wall," McPherson said, although the costs may be more than originally anticipated.

Both the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance have approved a request for a special appropriation to cover the costs of the reconstruction. That figure may change now, McPherson said. The town will wait to see what the construction bids reveal.

"Because both boards approved the earlier request, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss this change," McPherson said. The two boards have agreed that replacement of the full 260-foot section of retaining wall "makes sense," even with the new ruling from FEMA.

A special town meeting has been set for Monday, April 2 at 7 p.m. at the Town Campus for residents to vote on this special appropriation and a second, which is a request for $450,000 for reconstruction of a damaged section of Middle Beach Road, another victim of Irene.

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Costs May Increase to Replace Surf Club Wall

Miguel Caperon, with Mr. Fix It, takes a computer desk apart at a mold infested local residence on Monday morning. (Photo by Beatrice Richardson)

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Led by a local remodeling company, a number of individuals, businesses and community service organizations are coming together to help repair a local home ravaged bymold.

The call for action was raised by Billy Goethe last week after he visited the home of a family of three on Sheila Lane. Goethe, the owner of residential repair and restoration company Mr. Fix It, said he had been called out by the family to give an estimate for repairs to theroof.

Goethe described the condition of the roof as really bad, and found the interior of the house was in a similarstate.

Thats the first thing I saw. Thats all mold, he said early Monday morning, pointing up at the ceiling near where the cooling unit was originally placed. The mold, appearing as a bluish-grey stain, was visible throughout theceiling.

It goes all the way through the house, he said. For comparison, he said a typical mold removal job consists of one room within a home, usually confined to a kitchen orbathroom.

Once Goethe learned of the scale of the problem and the familys inability to pay for what he considered crucial remodeling work, he said he went back to his office and ruminated on hisoptions.

I didnt commit to anything at first, hesaid.

After sleeping on it, Goethe said the thought of the familys youngest member living in such conditions drove him to the decision to do all that he could to help thefamily.

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Group rallies to fix moldy home

The weather is not the only thing that shocked Burlington neighborhoods last week. Saturday, in particular, was full of summer excitement as students came out to backyards, porches and even the streets in celebration of Saint Patricks Day.

Temperatures reached in the 80s in the past week. For some students, spring can be one of the best times of the year. For Burlington residents, however, it can be one of the worst, according to police records, which show increased noise violations and drinking tickets during these months.

Hundreds of students gathered in backyards, on porches, and even some in the streets to celebrate the Irish holiday, which Burlington residents have deemed one of the worst Saint Patricks Days in recent years, according to multiple Front Porch Forum posts. Front Porch Forum is a free online service whose mission is to help communities become better connected through posts that recognize community issues or just want to spread word about upcoming events. Besides talk of how rowdy students got on Saturday, members of the website use it to create awareness about other issues and even propose solutions.

Community meetings are held in multiple wards to address the on-going conflict between students and neighbors regarding noise and general neighborly responsibilities. Of course, for many students who celebrated the holiday on Saturday neighborly respect and responsibility was non apparent.

The Burlington community has always had to deal with certain holidays where students tend to get a little out of control, Saint Patricks Day being one of the worst. The warm weather and the fact that the holiday was over the weekend this year only contributed to the debauchery that took place, said Julian Golfarini, SGA President.

Debauchery downtown, you can change that culture a little bit, but trying to stop people from drinking on Saint Patricks Day, in my opinion, is a cultural thing, if you go to any college campus in America you will find people drinking on Saint Patricks Day, said Golfarini.

Drinking holidays however do not spark the concerns that many Burlington residents have regarding young people, but the ever-continuing cycle of new students moving downtown and the ways in which these new students contribute to the community. Once people start drinking; things can get out of hand quickly and there is a liability both to the leaseholds and the landlords. Overall, I think respect is key...respect your privilege to live off campus, respect the laws re: noise and fireworks, respect your neighbors, respect your home, respect yourself not to get wasted and put yourself at risk said Ann Lang, a Burlington resident.

Gail Shampnois, a member of the Department of Student and Community Relations and leader of the Community Coalition, believes that students have the power to get involved and better their communities. Shampnois, along with the SGA, set up a cleaning crew of students that went out on Sunday following Saint Patricks Day, to help clean up some of the destruction. Broken glass from car windows and beer bottles covered streets and sidewalks. Beer cans and other trash was spewed around town. The group of students that helped out was about 30-40, said Golfarini.

What Shampnois and Golfarini agree on is that students need to play a more responsible role in their communities. Its getting all the partners to the table to create social capital said Shampnois, students, residents, landlords, and the police department, all need to come together in order to make a difference.

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Burlington recovers from Saint Patricks Day

St. Andrew Catholic Church Crosswalk The St. Andrew Guadalupanas Society of Pleasanton will hold their annual Crosswalk on Good Friday, April 6. The Stations of the Cross will start at 11 a.m. at the church grounds, due to the construction at the Atascosa River Park. The covered dish luncheon will be afterward in the stage part of the church hall. Everyone is welcome.

All Saints Episcopal Church Here is the schedule at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pleasanton: April 1 - Palm Sunday: 10:30 am. Procession of the Palms; Reading of the Passion Story in parts by the congregation; service of Holy Eucharist. April 3 - Tuesday: Seder Meal, Long Hall, 6:30 p.m. Come, bring a friend. April 5 - Maunday Thursday Service of Holy Eucharist, 1:00 p.m. with the Rev. Craig Pooser. April 8 - Easter Sunday - 10 a.m. Coffee Social, favors for the children. 10:30 a.m. Flowering of the Cross with wildflowers followed by service of Festive Holy Eucharist, with the Rev. Craig Pooser. The Episcopal Church welcomes everyone. Casual attire is fine. The church is located on Hwy. 97W in Pleasanton across from Virginia Twins Garden Market.

For more information please call Pastor Joe Berkley, Poteet UMC, 210-833-0192. First Baptist Church of Pleasanton Sunday morning, April 1 at 10:50 a.m., First Baptist Church, Pleasanton, cordially invites the community to celebrate the Easter season by joining us for the musical O What a Savior presented by the Adult Choir followed by the observance of the Lords Supper. Thursday-Saturday, April 5-7, is Pre-Easter Youth Retreat at Alto Frio Camp. There will be a ropes course and climbing wall, basketball, volleyball, dodge ball, and softball. Registration deadline is Sunday, April 1. Youth must submit a medical release form at the church office or website at http://www.fbcpleasanton.org. Click on Solid Rock Youth tab. Cost is $60 per person, it includes dorm housing, meals, and a t-shirt. On Resurrection Sunday, April 8, there will be two worship services, one at 8 a.m. and the second at 10:50 a.m. Coffee and doughnuts will be served at 9:00 a.m. in the fellowship hall with Sunday School for all ages at 9:30 a.m. We pray you have a blessed Easter and share the good news of Jesus Christ with your loved ones. Tuesdays and Thursdays is Zumba Fitness Ministry led by Cheryl Price-at 5:45 p.m. The cost is $2 per session. On Wednesdays, Family Night meals begin at 5:15 p.m., AWANA Clubs from 6:00-7:30 p.m., and Youth Solid Rock at 6:30-8:00 p.m. AWANA clubs are for children first through sixth grade. First Baptist Church is located at 400 N. Reed St. in Pleasanton. The church office can be reached at 830- 569-2582.

Good Shepherd Lutheran

Church Here are the upcoming holiday services at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, located at 2507 Hwy 97 East in Pleasanton:

Palm Sunday, April 1- Worship service - 10:30 a.m.

Good Friday, April 6 -Worship Service - 7 p.m.

Easter Sunday, April 8 - Breakfast and Easter Egg Hunt - 9:30 a.m.

Worship Service - 10:30 a.m.

Easter, ways to fellowship at First Baptist Church- Poteet Easter Sunday at First Baptist Church Poteet will be a wonderful day to fellowship. Come hear the Word of God as we celebrate all that Jesus Christ has done and the hope of eternity He promises for those who believe and place their faith in Him. Breakfast will be cooked and served Easter Sunday morning by the Deacons of the church. Serving will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the fellowship hall. Sunday School classes start at 9:45 a.m. and Worship Service begins at 11:00 a.m. Please come join with us as we grow in the Lord. All men in Atascosa County are invited to attend a Wild Game Breakfast on April 21 here in the fellowship hall beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eggs, biscuits, gravy and wild game sausage will be served. There is also a guest speaker who will speak on leaving a legacy. Come and join other men as we eat, fellowship and grow closer with Jesus. For more information or to RSVP to make sure that we have enough food, please call the church office at 830-742- 3856. We look forward to seeing you here!

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Easter season services, church events