PEORIA, Ariz. -- Over the course of his 24 years, Dustin Ackley has played every position on a baseball field. He was a catcher when he was 11 and 12. He pitched as a kid as well, enough so that by the time he reached college at North Carolina, he needed Tommy John surgery to repair an elbow that never recovered from his high school glory days.

Ackley played first base his final year at North Carolina in deference to the recovering elbow, but he was drafted by the Mariners as an outfielder, given his athleticism and success there earlier in his college career.

As the star athlete on his youth teams, he'd been asked to play shortstop and third base over the years as well.

The one position he'd never tried? That would be second base, of course, the spot where the Mariners shifted him shortly after he entered the organization as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 Draft.

But the versatile Ackley is finally feeling at home in his new home. So much so that he says he's hitting the ball much better this spring because he's had more time to focus on that part of his game, rather than worrying about learning a new defensive position.

And, yeah, it's reached the point where if you ask Ackley where he belongs on the field, he'd list second base.

"I definitely feel more comfortable there now than I would playing any other position," he said. "Second base was the last spot I hadn't played, but I've never played any one long enough to where I felt like, 'OK, that is my position.' But I've been playing second base going on three years now, and that feels natural to me now."

That is good news for the Mariners, because a comfortable Ackley could be a more productive Ackley. And without question, the youngster from Winston-Salem, N.C., is a huge part of the club's offensive hopes as a smooth-hitting left-hander who can hit for average and be a run producer as well.

"I'm real excited for this season," Ackley said. "I feel real confident this year, just how my body and my swing and defense feel. This is the best I've felt in a long time, so I'm hoping to continue that for the start of the season and just kind of carry it through the whole year."

Last season, Ackley was called up from Triple-A Tacoma in mid-June and immediately became one of the Mariners' best hitters. Despite a final-month slump when he was battling a sore leg, he hit .273 with 16 doubles, seven triples and six home runs in 90 games.

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Safe at second: Ackley comfortable at keystone

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The lowincome Department of Energys Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) has achieved many notable successes. Claims made earlier today in a report released by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, chaired by Darrell Issa (R-CA), are a rehash of outdated and inaccurate misinformation about the program.

Timothy Warfield, Executive Director of the National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP) issued this statement in response to the report:

The House Oversight Committee was wrong in its characterization of the Weatherization Assistance Program. The program is state-of-the-art and was praised by the Government Accounting Office for influencing the direction of the private sector. While all accusations of inadequate work need to be addressed immediately by local program administrators, we agree with Secretary Chu that these examples cited in the report do not reflect the overall quality and success of the program. These instances are rare exceptions to an otherwise exceptional program.

The Weatherization Assistance Program, which has existed for more than 30 years, has been effective in reaching its goals to make homes of low-income families more energy efficient, safer, and healthier nationwide. As a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, the Weatherization Assistance Programs network of local providers weatherized approximately 700,000 homes nationwide, more than 100,000 homes than originally projected, resulting in families saving an average of $437 in heating and cooling costs per year at current prices.

Contractors engaged in the weatherization program are highly trained and have access to industry standard curriculum and resources. Weatherization crews use computerized energy audits and advanced diagnostic equipment, such as blower doors, digital combustion analyzers, and infrared cameras, to determine the most cost-effective measures appropriate for each home. To ensure cost effectiveness, crews install only those energy-efficiency measures that are determined by the energy audit to have an energy savings payback greater than the cost to install the measure.

In addition, during this extended period of high unemployment, the Weatherization Assistance Program is the second largest single job-creating program out of approximately 200 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus programs. The most recent results from the fourth quarter of 2011 found that the Weatherization Assistance Program created or retained 13,186 jobs during that period.

NASCSP urges the committee to review the Weatherization Assistance Program in its entirety, including its long history of successes, to give a more balanced depiction of this proven program.

About NASCSP

NASCSP is a professional association whose members are State administrators of the Department of Health and Human Services Community Services Block Grant and the Department of Energys Weatherization Assistance Program.

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Report Paints Inaccurate Picture of State-of-the-Art Weatherization Assistance Program

Ball State is building the nation's largest geothermal heating and cooling system. Image: Wikimedia Commons/Kcflood

MUNCIE, Ind. -- On an unusually warm day on the campus of Ball State University, Jim Lowe is giving a tour of the campus's huge, half-completed geothermal system.

Lowe, the director of engineering, construction and operations for Ball State, peppers his explanation of closed-loop systems, chilling stations and boreholes with banter on college basketball games and the history of the school, founded by the makers of Ball canning jars.

"The irony is, they came here for the natural gas," said Lowe, of the university's founders' arrival to Indiana to take advantage of the fuel for glassmaking. "And now we're using it for renewable energy."

Ball State is building what will be in 2014 the largest district heating and cooling ground-sourced geothermal facility in the United States (ClimateWire, May 29, 2009). Completion of the first phase will allow the university to shut down two of its four coal-fired boilers, cutting carbon emissions in half.

The new system will avoid emitting approximately 75,000 tons of carbon dioxide, as well as 1,400 tons of sulfur dioxide, 240 tons of nitrogen oxide, 200 tons of particulate matter and 80 tons of carbon monoxide. The switch will save Ball State $2 million per year and shelter the university from U.S. EPA's upcoming Boiler MACT regulations for hazardous air pollutants.

Today, the university will announce the unveiling of the second phase of the project with recorded speeches from Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Indiana Sen. Dick Lugar (R) and a keynote speech by noted renewable energy advocate Amory Lovins, chief scientist at the Rocky Mountain Institute.

Other schools are interested Geothermal systems generate energy thanks to the laws of thermodynamics: Thermal energy -- or heat -- will flow from higher-temperature to lower-temperature objects. In this case, water flows through vertical pipes running underground. In summer, the earth pulls heat out of the water. The resulting chilled water is used in air conditioning systems throughout campus. In the winter, the cold ground creates the opposite effect: It warms water for renewable heat and hot water systems.

The vertical, closed-loop district system -- meaning the warm and cool water it makes does not make contact with naturally occurring groundwater -- will connect nearly 3,600 boreholes, 500-foot narrow vertical wells with loops of pipes surrounded by grout. The boreholes cover 25 to 40 acres, buried under an old soccer field, parking lots and other green fields.

The first phase began in May 2009 and became operational last November. In the second phase, the university will install 780 boreholes of the remaining 1,800 and will build a new energy station with two 2,500-ton heat pump chillers and a hot-water loop around the south portion of campus. Eventually, the system will bring heat to more than 5.5 million square feet.

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How Ball State Will Get Its Heating and Cooling from Underground

BURKE, Va., March 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sun Design Remodeling Specialists, Inc. of Burke, VA, today announced the addition of Sean Gooden as the eighth member of its design team. Gooden specializes in computer-aided design and drafting (CADD). As CADD designer, Gooden will help clients visualize more easily all details of their remodeling projects and provide company construction teams with the most accurate drawings possible.

Gooden has seven years of experience in the remodeling industry. Before joining Sun Design, he worked with a number of construction and remodeling firms including Advantage Construction, Projects Unlimited, Casadi Construction, Bielski Design Build and NVS Kitchen and Bath. Gooden also has a number of years of hands-on experience as a carpenter in residential remodeling and construction.

He is working on a Master's Degree program at the Alexandria, VA, campus of Virginia Tech in the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture and just passed his Penultimate. He also holds a Bachelor's Degree in Communications (Graphic Design) from Liberty University and an Associate's Degree in Architecture from Northern Virginia Community College.

Bob Gallagher, President of Sun Design, said, "Sun Design has developed a reputation over the past 24 years of providing highly creative design, top-quality construction and the best possible client experience. Sean's skills and experience reflect the best of those attributes and he will be a strong asset both to our clients and to our entire team. We're excited to welcome him aboard."

About Sun Design

Sun Design, celebrating its 24th year, has been the recipient of dozens of industry awards. Each year, Sun Design shows off its work during a series of home tours and other special events. For more information, visit the "Events" page at http://www.sundesigninc.com or call 703-425-5588. Sun Design is located at 5795 B Burke Centre Parkway, Burke, VA 22015.

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Sun Design Remodeling Specialists of Northern Va. Appoints Sean Gooden Designer

Sometimes its best not to think too hard and just embrace the idiocy. If youre able to bring that mind-set to Bent, a screwy comedy NBC introduces on Wednesday night, youll have a pretty good time.

Amanda Peet pours wine for David Walton, her contractor, in Bent, on Wednesday on NBC.

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It will require some effort on your part, because if you make the mistake of identifying with one of the main characters, youll become infuriated. Alex (Amanda Peet) is a single mother who wants her kitchen redone and hires a rakish contractor named Pete (David Walton) for the job. Do not put yourself in Alexs shoes, because youll drown in questions like Who keeps a contractor on the job who gets no work done? And do not picture yourself as Pete, because your knack for messing up just when youre about to get the girl will drive you insane.

Instead simply enjoy the chemistry between the two stars and admire the casting of the supporting roles. Jesse Plemons, J B Smoove and Pasha D. Lychnikoff slot in nicely as Petes hapless crew (four guys to renovate one modest kitchen?), and Margo Harshman plays Alexs younger sister, Screwsie, with droll sass.

The fellow who really gives the series an incongruous edge, though, is Jeffrey Tambor, who is hilarious as Petes live-in father, Walt, a frustrated actor. The gimmick allows the seriess creator, Tad Quill (Scrubs), to take daffy detours from the world of home renovation into the world of bad theater. Is Walt something of a stereotype? Yeah. But are his scenes sharper than anything in Smash, NBCs increasingly disappointing backstage series? Yeah.

Particularly admirable is that in a series thats all about sex Will Alex and Pete ever have it? Whom are they having it with while they flirt with each other? Mr. Quill and his fellow writers largely stay away from the juvenile penis-and-vagina jokes that flood other recent sitcoms. When your writing has a decent amount of wit, and your actors can sell it, theres no need for desperation crassness.

It might not be apparent just from the pilot how well Bent works; the romantic-comedy dynamics might seem familiar and the dialogue slick but shallow. NBC, though, is presenting the show in back-to-back episodes for the next three Wednesdays.

That might help Bent in a difficult time slot. Watch two episodes, and you begin to catch the rhythm. Watch four, and you might be hooked.

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Television Review: ‘Bent,’ on NBC, Brings Romance to Remodeling

A CAD rendition of the proposed new kitchen design.

World-Herald reporter Roger Buddenberg and his wife are embarking on a major home remodeling project. He'll blog about the ups and downs, delays and accomplishments at omaha.com/living

* * *

---------------------------------------------The Plan

March 20

A lot has happened fast. At least it seems like a lot, and yet not a hammer has swung.

We started out thinking we might keep this simple OK, I started out thinking that.

Our kitchen and family room form an "L," each room taking up one leg. Between them is a wall. Its very 1960s: Mom is supposed to cook by herself in the kitchen, unseen, while hubby and kids sit in the family room.

I thought: Just remove that 8 feet of wall and the job could be mostly done. Or maybe cut the wall down to form a peninsula. Keep all the plumbing where it is, replace the cabinets and presto. An "open" kitchen.

What a fool.

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Home remodeling blog: Planning the kitchen of the future

Daves Remodeling, serving Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, Transforms Kitchen into Modern, Open, and Stylish Space.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) March 20, 2012

Like many homeowners, Loretta and John Iacono, loved the idea of having an open kitchen for entertaining and family gatherings, but cringed every time they looked at their old fashioned, dated kitchen. When the couple couldnt stand it anymore, they called Daves Remodeling.

My kitchen was very old and all the cabinets were falling apart, Loretta says, adding that their 2800 square foot, four bedroom, three bath San Bernardino home was built in the 1940s. The entrance into the kitchen was very small. We wanted to extend the dining area into the kitchen to create a more spacious feeling.

By removing a wall, Daves Remodeling reconfigured the room so the kitchen was sandwiched between a dining room on one side and a breakfast area on the other. The remodel transformed the kitchen into an airy and open space and allowed traffic to flow easily between the three rooms. However, the work wasnt without challenges.

The job required replacing a load bearing wall with a structural beam to support the second story, explains Dave Telem, a general contractor and owner of Daves Remodeling. In addition, the floors were uneven and needed to be leveled before the remodeling began.

The renovation included custom granite countertops, a glass tile back splash, and new custom cabinetry, lighting, flooring, and appliances. In addition, a kitchen island on wheels added style, prep space, versatility, and storage. The final results were stunning.

We enjoy educating our customers, assisting them with the design, and helping them choose colors, adds Dave, who is on-site and hands-on for all their projects. We keep in constant communication so customers know exactly whats going on and can keep track of the progress of their project.

Dave gave us a lot of good ideas and his workers were really easy to work with and on time, Loretta says. The kitchen is so much roomier and its beautiful. We plan to do more remodeling in the future and will use Dave again. Id definitely recommend him to others.

To learn more about this business that is family owned and operated with an A rating from the Better Business Bureau, please visit their website http://www.daveremodeling.com.

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Top San Bernardino Kitchen Remodeling Contractor Dave's Remodeling Announces Completion of Residential Project

The Hampshire Companies, a full-service, private real estate investment firm with equity in assets valued at over $2.5 billion, has announced the sale of 8 Sylvan Way in Parsippany, N.J., a 176,062-square-foot Class A office building. The sale, which sets the pace for the largest real estate transaction in 2012, was made to Cole Real Estate Investments for $53 million. The property is fully leased on a long-term basis to The Medicines Company, a provider of medical solutions to improve health outcomes for patients in acute and intensive care hospitals worldwide.

Parsippany, NJ (PRWEB) March 20, 2012

Hampshire acquired the property in 2005 when it consisted of a 100,000-square-foot, B- building partially occupied by the Chubb Institute, a job training school. In July 2007, Hampshire commenced construction to expand and completely transform the building into a Class A, headquarters quality facility. The company enlisted the renowned HLW Architects, and together, they designed a plan to take the building down to its steel and create their vision for this prestigious office space within one of Northern New Jerseys most sought after corporate addresses. In addition, Hampshire was able to preserve the propertys open space park-like setting and added as many LEED initiatives as possible.

Buzz began to circulate in the commercial real estate industry as Hampshire launched its marketing program to lease the project, which specifically targeted headquarter requirements in the region. This effort resulted in Hampshire securing The Medicines Company to a 15 year, full building lease. By December 2008, 8 Sylvan Way was the global headquarters of The Medicines Company.

Hampshires creative and decisive program was well-recognized in the commercial real estate world. It was awarded the highly coveted Economic Impact Deal of the Year Award from the New Jersey Chapter of National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NJ-NAIOP) in 2008.

This is the perfect example of how our proven system and strategy of acquiring properties, adding value and selling buildings at a market value can be successful in any market, even with strained economic climates and shrinking job markets, said James E. Hanson, II, President & CEO of The Hampshire Companies. We started this project in 2005, and despite some challenges, we stuck with our tried and true strategy, resulting in an amazing success story.

8 Sylvan Way is conveniently located just off of Interstate 287, two miles south of I-80, and bordered by US Route 202 and NJ Route 10 in Morris County. Jeffrey Dunne, Steven Bardsley, and Kevin Welsh of CB Richard Ellis represented Hampshire in the transaction.

About The Hampshire Companies

The Hampshire Companies is a full-service, private real estate firm based in Morristown, New Jersey. The Hampshire Companies is a vibrant, dynamic organization that combines creative vision and superior execution, thereby enabling it to create and enhance value in real estate investments. Additional information on The Hampshire Companies is available online at http://www.hampshireco.com.

Tiffany Miller R&J Public Relations 908-722-5757 Email Information

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The Hampshire Companies Sells 176,000-Square-Foot Class A Parsippany Building Office to Cole Real Estate Investments

One view of Domino's Farms Office Park, which is visible from US-23 in Ann Arbor Charter Township.

AnnArbor.com files

The discussions, said Township Supervisor Mike Moran, center on constructing a 42,000-square-foot office building on the 270-acre at Dominos Farms Office Park, which already serves as the headquarters for IHA.

IHA, formed in 1994, has 32 offices with 156 physicians and 727 staff members serving more than 260,000 patients. Novi-based Catholic health care group Trinity Healths St. Joseph Mercy Health System acquired IHA in 2010.

Moran called the Township discussions with IHA a pre-application meeting, and the item also appeared on the Ann Arbor Township Planning Commissions agenda on March 5.

Moran said the pre-application meeting involved discussing the concept and trying to tease out if there are any issues like utilities or stormwater construction.

IHA spokeswoman Amy Middleton, asked whether IHA is targeting a new headquarters at Domino's Farms, said in an email: IHA is presently in the conceptual stages of evaluating how best to expand services to the communities we serve. We are still evaluating options to create new medical centers and reviewing the feasibility of such initiatives.

She added: We are still early in the internal discussion process, but we have started to actively review such possibilities with local municipalities.

Domino's Farms director John Petz declined to comment.

Developed by Dominos Pizza founder Tom Monaghan, Dominos Farms Office Park is located between Plymouth Road and M-14 on the east side of US-23. It has nearly 1 million square feet of office space with enough land to continue development on the property.

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IHA considers construction of 42,000-square-foot office building at Domino's Farms

March 19, 2012 Updated Mar 19, 2012 at 10:40 PM EDT

Binghamton, NY (WBNG Binghamton) The Binghamton-Joint City Joint Sewage Treatment Plant prepares for demolition of a retaining wall that collapsed nearly a year ago.

The wall collapsed last may leaking partially treated sewage into the Susquehanna River.

The plant is getting ready to tear apart what's left of the wall.

It has received $300,000 in insurance money and is waiting for more money through additional insurance payments and possible settlements.

"I don't know exactly how much money. I think the last time I talked with our claims adjuster, we should be receiving about $1.8 million, and after that, the fight will be with the lawsuits," said George Kolba from the Joint Sewage Treatment Board.

At Monday night's Binghamton City Council work session, plans were also made to officially shut down the compost process at the plant.

Since the 2006 floods, this process has been halted,

Leaders say there are more important projects that need to be completed before starting the compost service back up.

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Moving Forward on Wall Demolition