FRONT PORCH BLING: Front porches can sometimes get overlooked or become neglected because so many folks come home and enter their houses through garages or sidedoors. Take a look, if your front porch needs a little love, we've found it for you.

BUILT OF STEEL: Love this house Bob and Kim Zielinski built in Pittsburgh. But more so, I'm also impressed with people who stick to it even when the "experts" say it can't be done. "WHEN Bob Zielinski, a former marine who owns a glass manufacturing company here, and his wife, Kim, showed contractors plans for the house they wanted to build -- a 53-foot-long glass-and-steel wedge cantilevered over their factory -- the contractors said they couldn't do it. You'd have to get guys who build bridges and do highway work to create the support system for something like that, they said. So, that's exactly what the Zielinskis did. It took three years to build, but the Emerald Art Glass House (named after the Zielinskis' company, Emerald Art Glass) now hovers above the factory in the South Side neighborhood, overlooking the Monongahela River, railway line and bridges." DON'T FOCUS ON ONE THING: This is a wonderful lesson that nearly every designer teaches or has experienced with a client and everyone homeowner going through even just a small update needs to learn: You can't judge one item in isolation. INEXPENSIVE BATHROOM UPDATE: This bathroom update is full of interesting ideas and ways to improve a space without spending it all. I'm not a huge fan of the hand-held mirrors hung randomly, but the idea is one that could morph to fit your taste. The biggest thing here is the change in paint color. I'm pretty sure the cabinets were painted, not replaced. What a difference.

-- Bridget A. Otto

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Interior design news & notes: Front porches; built for Pittsburgh; and keeping the picture in mind

01-03-2012 17:43 http://www.realzionistnews.com brothernathanaelfoundation.org

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The Church VS The Synagogue - Video

By Beth Healy, Globe Staff

A group of black ministers, led by Rev. Eugene Rivers, is planning a protest Sunday evening at the Charles Street African Methodist Episcopal Church in Roxbury over OneUnited Banks effort to foreclose on the historic church and auction off its property.

Rivers and ministers from the Boston TenPoint Coalition said they would call for a national boycott of minority-owned OneUnited Bank if it does not back away from its threat to auction off Charles Street AME.

Were calling on black clergy across the United States to look into the practices of this bank and to stand in solidarity with Charles Street AME, who are in this case a victim of predatory lending by an anti-black bank, Rivers said in an interview.

The bank, which received a $12 million federal bailout from the government in 2008, has been struggling since the financial crisis and has not yet been able to repay the funds, nor has it paid interest or dividends, to taxpayers.

The bank said as part of a statement, We trust the community will not rush to judgment without full knowledge of all the facts. From its inception as an outgrowth of the civil rights movement, OneUnited always sides with the community to protect our communitys assets.

OneUnited sued Charles Street AME for repayment of a $3.7 million construction loan on a community center in 2010. Last month, the bank filed foreclosure and auction papers on the church building itself, because it wants to collect on a separate $1.1 million loan on which the church is collateral. Church officials and their lawyers say that Charles Street wanted to refinance these loans but that the bank, facing its own financial troubles, has been unwilling to negotiate.

Rev. Gregory G. Groover, the head of the church and chairman of the Boston School Committee, said the church continued to pay interest on the Charles Street loan but the bank sent it back in December. Ross Martin, a lawyer at Ropes & Gray who is representing the church pro bono, said he has been in touch with the banks lawyers but there has been no interest in sitting down to talk.

Weve been in contact with them on the pure litigation, but not on any substantive attempt to resolve it. Theyve said theyre not interested in having a discussion, Martin said.

The protest is planned for 5 p.m. on Sunday at the Roxbury church. Charles Street AME, with 1,000 members, was founded in 1818 and was an important center for abolitionists in Boston and was a stop on the Underground Railroad.

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Ministers plan protest of bank’s effort to foreclose on historic Roxbury church

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Firefighters rescued people and pets from a burning east side apartment building Friday afternoon, and five people - including one who jumped from a second floor window - were taken to area hospitals in serious condition.

All five people taken to hospitals were suffering from various degrees of smoke inhalation, and the man who jumped from the window also suffered a broken leg. Three other people were treated at the scene.

Crews were first called to the building at 5143 E. Washington at 12:24 p.m. The first units to arrive on the scene reported seeing smoke and immediately called for more help.

A nearby construction crew Sergio Construction was working across the street when the fire started. They told 24-Hour News 8 Reporter Julian Grace that they rushed in and helped residents. The crew used its own ladder to get four residents out of the burning building through a window.

"We saw the fire come in. We saw the kids and people jumped inside and put up some ladders," said one worker.

That help was key, Indianapolis Fire Department said.

"They were very instrumental in getting people out," said IFD spokeswoman Rita Burris.

IFD reports it found "chaos amongst the thick black smoke and heavy fire." Firefighters found an unconscious woman on the second floor and carried her out.

After the fire was under control, about 45 minutes after crews arrived, firefighters turned their attention to rescuing pets. Our crews watched as two dogs were brought out of the building. IFD reports five dogs and two cats in all were rescued by firefighters, though an unknown number of animals perished.

All 10 apartment units were damaged by the fire, and IFD said the building was a total loss, with damage estimated at $650,000, according to Battalion Chief Shawn Grass.

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Five seriously hurt in apartment fire

Some couples planning to tie the knot at Hotel at the Lafayette made their decisions, in part, because of multilevel, outdoor patios that were to be built.

The patios are no longer possible, developer Rocco Termini said Thursday, because of objections by a nearby property owner.

Termini, who is renovating the once-rundown Lafayette at a price tag of $42 million, said he was unable to convince Jake Schneider, owner of the adjacent Warehouse Lofts at 210 Ellicott St., that noise from the patios would not disturb his tenants. He would have needed Schneiders approval to buy the alley space from the City of Buffalo.

The patios are not going to happen. The City Charter says adjoining property owners must agree to the sale of the property, and Jake Schneider doesnt think its in the best interest of his property to have noise outside his apartment [building], Termini said.

Im disappointed, but I know the law, and the law is the law.

That was a bitter pill to Kenneth Sciarrino and Tina Danner, who chose the site for their July 21 wedding because of its the turn-of-the-century appeal and patio atmosphere.

It is a huge disappointment, Sciarrino said. The only other option we would have is to change our location, but that would require us to change our wedding date, which cannot happen. Were too far in at this point.

Schneider was out of town and unavailable to comment.

Molly Orton was also disappointed by Schneiders decision. She and Jason Brocious relocated to Cleveland nine months ago and are returning to Buffalo this summer to get married.

I looked at [the Lafayette site] and fell in love with the whole aspect of it. We really love Buffalo, and hope to be back there some day, and wanted to center the wedding in a place that really says Buffalo, Orton said.

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Neighbor’s objections scuttle hotel patio plans

GRAND RAPIDS The board that manages the 16-year-old Van Andel Arena is starting to look at its next 16 years.

That future could include filling in arenas south end to add more seating, adding a 900-car attached parking garage, and building in new concourses, restaurants and outdoor smoking decks, according to a 35-page study presented to the Grand Rapids Kent County Convention and Arena Authority Friday.

General Manager Richard MacKeigan said the $50,000 study by the arenas original architects, Rosetti & Associates, is not a wish list but an assessment of the potential for the 12,000-seat arena.

Im think all of these should be looked at, MacKeigan said. Im not saying any of these should be done.

Our plan is to dive into it with our team as well as our financial team to see what might work.

The biggest change would be to fill in the south end of the arena to mirror the north end facing Fulton Street. The project would create a mirror of the southern face and possibly add a three-level parking garage with retail shops on the ground floor.

The survey also looked at the buildings heating, cooling and electrical systems, concluding they aer in good condition but may need some upgrading in the future.

If the authority decides to pursue any of the improvements, MacKeigan said it will be added to the facilitys long-term capital plan.

The report was created by looking at what other newer arenas have done since the Van Andel Arena was completed in 1996 and by assessing the current condition of the facility.

The arena, which hosts more than 500,000 visitors a year, recently completed a $1 million addition to the building's northwest corner that added more concession stands and a wider pathway in that area to alleviate backups during events with large crowds.

Continued here:
Looking at the future of Van Andel Arena after 16 years

(PRWEB) March 02, 2012

Contract Carpet One, the premier retailer for carpet and flooring in Maryland and the DC metro area, announce a new look to their online presence. The Beltsville retailer gave their website a redesign with a focus on reaching their customers better, and turning more online visitors into customers.

The Beltsville carpet provider has spent over 30 years in the region, and has three generations of experience in providing carpet installation, commercial flooring, hardwood flooring and more to home & business owners.

Contract Carpets redesign of their website was not solely for aesthetic purposes, but is part of a commitment to reach the DC area and beyond, to provide all of their flooring needs. The newly-pressed site, developed on the WordPress platform, is built to increase the organic reach of Contract Carpet Beltsville.

Owner & President Kurt Zanelotti, the third generation of Zanelottis in this industry, and his company also offer expert tips and resources on their Beltsville Carpet Blog. This in hope of better educating incoming visitors on the best practices and latest trends in carpet and flooring.

About Contract Carpet One: Contract Carpet Systems/Contract Carpet One is one of the Washington areas leading floor covering providers licensed and operating in four states plus the District of Columbia.

Contract Carpet Systems was opened in 1976 by Tony Zanelotti, the son of an Italian immigrant and tile setter, Louis. Tony learned the craft of ceramic installation, before he was called into action in World War II. Upon returning to the States, Tony worked as a DC police officer while moonlighting for a local rug company before eventually opening Contract Carpet Systems.

In 1985, his son Kurt came on as the third generation of Zanelottis in the floor covering trade. Today, Kurt operates both Contract Carpet Systems, and Contract Carpet One Floor and Home as its President and Owner.

# # #

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Contract Carpet One Redesigns Website for Leads

Extending your living space downstairs to the basement doesn't mean having to lower your design expectations. Proper lighting, well-designed feature details, potentially vibrant colours, and comforts typically associated with above-grade rooms can help transform the sometimes forgotten space below into a place where you and your family will want to spend time. True, there are many challenges inherent in remodeling lower levels low ceilings, dampness, and poor lighting, coupled with the need to preserve storage areas and utility access. But all of these can be overcome with good design, appropriate materials, and a bit of ingenuity.

Function

Most primary living areas kitchen, living room, dining room have a predetermined function. Reclaiming a basement is like discovering real estate you didn't know you owned. It's easy for your plans to overwhelm both you and the space. Start by assessing your needs. An extra bedroom? A home entertainment area? An exercise space? An office? Then ask yourself what that use will require. Insulation to muffle the sound of teenagers or music? A refrigerator or sink for serving food and drinks? Establishing different zones within a large open room is one approach that makes the most of light and sound movement.

Lighten Up

Most likely the single most important factor, lighting is key in creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere.

If ceilings are dropped, you wont want to extend them anymore by hanging fixtures below ceiling tiles, so opt for recessed pots instead. Layering is also important; have plenty of task lighting, but be sure to include ambient light in the form of table and floor lamps. Make the most of natural light if you can try and keep pathways to basement windows unobstructed to let as much natural sunlight stream in as possible.

Build in a bathroom

Almost all new construction includes a bathroom below ground level; if youre renovating, youll have to call in a contractor, plumber, and electrician for this job. Keep fixtures and colours light and bright for a feeling of maximum airiness, especially if your bathroom doesn't have a window. If youre sitting on the fence about whether or not its worth all the work, consider this: not only will it make living in the house easier, but it will absolutely increase your resale value by thousands of dollars.

Storage Space

Open concepts are great, but youll need to reserve some square footage for storage. For basements with walk-out entries, consider converting some space into a mudroom, with floor-to-ceiling cupboards and shelves for outerwear and shoes, sports equipment and tools. Craft and sewing rooms are quite popular, and can provide not only functional work space, but clever storage as well. Dont forget the so-called wasted space under the stairs: there are manufacturers now that build functional drawers and cupboard units specifically for this area.

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Design Life: Taking your basement to a whole new level

Phihong USA 48607 Warm Springs Blvd. Fremont, CA, 94539, USA

PHIHONG ANNOUNCES NEW 50W, 4-CHANNEL AC-DC LED DRIVER WITH STANDARD DIMMING

Fremont, CA - Phihong USA, a global leader in power technology including power supplies, adapters, Power-over-Ethernet and LED lighting, has developed a new series of multi-channel drivers for indoor and outdoor lighting applications. Designated the PDA050W-450G, the driver is equipped with four outputs of 450mA and offers a standard 0-10V dimming capability.

"The lighting industry is making a decided move from fluorescent and compact fluorescent bulbs to much more cost-effective and environmentally friendly LED diodes and drivers for longer lasting energy savings," said Keith Hopwood, vice president of marketing for Phihong USA. "Phihong is committed to staying ahead of the curve by introducing a line-up of cost-competitive external AC-DC drivers to retrofit existing lighting installations as well as for OEMs and their rapidly growing demand for high quality lighting power."

The power supply is equipped with four constant current outputs of 450mA at a nominal output voltage of 24.5V DC. With an AC input range of 90VAC to 304VAC the driver can be operated at the standard North American mains voltages of 120VAC or 277VAC for residential, commercial and industrial applications. The driver bears safety approval from UL, meeting UL8750, and has outputs that are class 2 per UL1310 that are appropriate for linear fluorescent replacement installations.

The PDA050W is water-resistant and fully potted with ingress protection ratings of 65 and may operate in a temperature range of 0C to 50C. The highly efficient and reliable driver has minimum average efficiency ratings from 82% at 120VAC input to over 84% at 277VAC input and has a calculated lifetime of 50K hours at maximum load and ambient 50C.

The LED driver comes fully equipped with input over-current protection, short-circuit protection, output over-voltage protection and open-circuit protection and has a minimum power factor correction greater than 0.9. Phihong also offers a 5-year warranty on select LED drivers including the PDA050W.

Designed in a typical ballast shape and size for ease of retrofit implementation in office lighting fixtures, the series measures 242mm x 43.5mm x 30.5mm and weighs 675grams. For more information including product datasheets please visit http://www.phihong.com/LED.

About Phihong

Phihong is one of the leading suppliers of power solutions, including power supplies, adapters, LED drivers and Power-over-Ethernet products to networking OEMs. With global sales for 2010 exceeding $550 million, Phihong has engineering and manufacturing facilities in North America, Taiwan and mainland China. For more information contact Glenn Morton, Phihong USA Corporation, 47800 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA 94538, or call (510) 445-0100, fax (510) 445-1678, email usasales@phihongusa.com, or visit http://www.phihong.com/LED.

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AC-DC LED Driver offers 0-10 V dimming capability.

by Edward Gately - Mar. 2, 2012 10:30 AM The Republic | azcentral.com

Many Fountain Hills residents have been waiting a long time to see commercial development on the south side of downtown's Avenue of the Fountains off Saguaro Boulevard.

Will residents finally see something materialize this year?

In 2007, the land was rezoned to encourage mixed-use development. The next year, the Town Council entered a development agreement for the Fountain Hills Town Square, which called for 490,000 square feet of theater, retail, restaurant, office and residential on 15 acres. But financing fell through with the onset of the recession.

Now, a new plan has surfaced to build a smaller, $28 million entertainment complex. The Avenue would include a 2,226-seat, 12-screen movie theater -- the town's first theater -- and new retail, restaurant and office space. The 6.5-acre site is at the southwestern corner of the Avenue of the Fountains and Verde River Drive, near the Fountain Hills Community Center and Centennial Circle.

The project totals more than 155,200 square feet.

The partners in the latest development are GMK Building and Development, the Fackler Trust,Haffar Entertainment Group and Sivers Cos. California-basedHaffar Entertainment would operate the theater.

George Kasnoff of GMK Building and Development and Dave Fackler of Nielsen-Fackler Planning & Development are heading up the project.

On Feb. 2, the council approved a concept plan and development agreement. The approvals came with several stipulations, such as the completion of a traffic impact study, a landscaping plan and a reduction in parking on the south side to increase the setback from the Village at Towne Center, a nearby condominium community.

Wendy Kelleher, a member of the Village's HOA board, said she and other residents had concerns about the complex and parking being too close to their complex.

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Fountain Hills could be strolling The Avenue