by Dermot Cole/ cole@newsminer.com Fairbanks Daily News Miner

A crew from HC Contractors uncovers the water lines running into Immaculate Conception Church just past the north end of the Cushman Street bridge.

To help protect the church from excessive vibration, electronic monitoring equipment has been set up inside the building that will send an alarm to a structural engineer when the movement reaches 40 percent of the level that a building of that age is able to handle.

Structural engineer Keith Korri, of Anchorage, is keeping close tabs on the building via the equipment that is set up to give him an alert on his mobile phone when the 40 percent level is reached. So far the movement has been below that standard, which he said provides a good margin of safety.

He has also told the church workers to talk to HC Contractors if and when something seems amiss.

Inside the church the first sign that vibration preparations are an issue is the temporary removal of the crucifix from the front of the church.

In addition, the statues of Mary and Joseph have been removed from their elevated perches and placed on the main floor of the church.

Korri has monitored the vibration levels in the church on three previous occasions, going back to the early 1990s.

When the heavy equipment is operating within six feet of a building and right next to a fire hydrant and water pipes, the mechanical arm has to be handled by an operator who knows that every inch counts.

Regarding the vibration inside the church, the industry standard for movement is 0.5 inches per second for a building like ICC, Korri said. The machine he has installed in the crawl space is set to go off when the movement is 0.2 inches per second. He said he wants to solve any problem before it becomes a problem and the 40 percent threshold offers that protection.

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Road work outside historic Fairbanks church requires careful digging

(Credit: Cherri Gregg/KYW Newsradio)

By Cherri Gregg

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) A West Philadelphia nonprofit held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday to mark the completion of the $7.5 million renovation of a historic apartment building. Its one of the first major investment this area has seen in years.

Originally built in 1912, this is the second facelift for the California Mission-style Von Lour Building in the past 20 years.

Were not talking about gentrification here, were just talking about transforming a community, says Marcus Allen, President and CEO of ACHIEVEability, a group that provides affordable housing to low income families. He says the 30-year-old organization used a combination of historic and federal tax credits and banking contributions to fund the multi-million renovation.

It has 24 units. Two of the units are handicap accessible. As part of the construction, we were able to build an elevator for if we have families with disabilities.

Allen says the goal is to help restore the area near 60th Street Station to its former glory.

This community has suffered from the building of the EL; many businesses and affluent people left the community left because of that. I think now we are in a cycle where we can begin to repay the community for the sacrifices they made.

Allen says ACHIEVEability impacted the Haddington and Cobbs Creek communities by increasing property values by more $300 million over the past three decades. The group owns a number of properties in the area and provides social services to formerly homeless single-parent families. For more info on ACHIEVEability, go to http://www.achieveability.org.

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West Philadelphia Nonprofit Unveils $7.5 Million Apartment Building Renovation

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS chats with some of the residents of Vergennes Senior Housing before a ceremony Monday marking the completion of the affordable housing complex on Armory Lane. Independent photo/Trent Campbell

VERGENNES Larry Carlson was on the waiting list for an apartment in the Vergennes Senior Housing building for more than three years. Once construction began, he checked back every week to see if he would get in. Now a resident of the newly opened facility off Armory Lane, he is thrilled with his experience.

As soon as the architect first came out, I was over to the offices and signed up. I was here every single week to check and see how the progress was coming, said Carlson.

At an open house Monday morning, Addison County Community Trust (ACCT) Executive Director Terry McKnight said that Carlsons satisfaction with the project was typical.

You can look around and see the faces of the people that now live in that building. If you talk to any of them, theyre really enjoying it, McKnight said.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., joined McKnight and representatives of Housing Vermont, ACCT, and other project contributors to celebrate the opening of Vergennes Senior Housing. The $6.2 million facility will provide 25 affordable and energy-efficient apartments to seniors.

The facility was paid for through a mix of public and private funds, from Peoples United Bank, various Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs, Vermont Housing Finance Agency, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, Vermont Community Development Program and Efficiency Vermont.

Sanders secured $380,000 for the project in a HUD grant.

This is exactly the kind of housing we should be building, Sanders said. Not only does it meet the significant need for quality and affordable senior housing , but it does it in a very energy-efficient manner.

Nancy Owens, president of Housing Vermont, acknowledged the importance of creating affordable housing.

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Seniors enjoying new city housing: officials point to project as a model

Syracuse, NY -- An $8.1 million apartment building for homeless veterans is planned to replace the vacant former Jewish Community Center on East Genesee Street in Syracuse.

Housing Visions, a non-profit that builds homes for low-income residents, is teaming up with the Veterans Administration on the project, which will be called VanKeuren Square. It will be at the T-intersection with Fellows Avenue on the city's East Side.

The plans are to demolish the 132,293 square foot brick building and replace it with a two-story structure with 50 apartments, said Ben Lockwood, the non-profit's director of development. The building will have 44 one-bedroom and six two-bedroom apartments and total 45,000 square feet.

Housing Visions is funding the project with a mixture of low-income tax credits, state homeless housing assistance and a city loan, Lockwood said. The majority of tenants will be referred by the VA, which will provide 25 housing vouchers lasting 15 years.

Housing Visions is paying more than $100,000 in back taxes and will pay about $25,000 a year in taxes, more than the current tax levy on the property. The taxes will go up slightly each year as rents increase, Lockwood said.

The project is part of the VA's goal to eliminate homelessness among veterans, Lockwood said. The VA will provide services to the veterans to get back on their feet.

Housing Visions has previously built veterans housing on East Fayette Street and at the former Cherry Hill public housing site.

"Absolutely, there's a pretty acute need in the community," Lockwood said.

Housing Visions hopes to close on the property in July from its last owner, an arm of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. It will take about 30 days to clean up asbestos and lead before demolition.

The new project has final planning and zoning approval from the city. Lockwood says he sees no obstacles in getting final approval for the demolition and construction.

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New 50-unit apartment building for homeless veterans planned for East Genesee Street in Syracuse

Nine urban moms may be Illinois most unlikely soybean farmers this year. These Illinois Farm Families Field Moms, Chicago-area moms who have been touring Illinois farms to get their food questions answered, are planting soybeans in their backyards or on their patios today, May 14. Part of the Field Moms Acre project, the backyard beans are a hands-on way for the city moms and their families to learn what it takes to grow one of the states most important agricultural crops. Guiding the Field Moms from planting through harvest are veteran soybean farmers Ron and Deb Moore, Roseville, Ill., who are growing more than 600 acres of soybeans on their family farm this year. One acre of their farmland also will serve as the Field Moms Acre throughout the growing season. The Field Moms are planting their soybeans on the same day as the Moores plant the Field Moms Acre. The city soybeans will be watered only when the Moores farm receives rain. The Moores and the moms will check in with each other through online video chats to compare crop progress on the farm and in the city. Throughout the experiment, the Field Moms also will learn about soil conditions, weather impact, pest control and the cost of raising and marketing the crop including seed, fuel and transportation costs to sell the soybeans. The moms will tour the Field Moms Acre in Roseville on June 9. Moms particularly want to be connected with the food they feed their families. They want to know how its grown and whats in it, Deb Moore says. Most moms and consumers dont realize soybeans are used in thousands of food products and are an important feed for the animals we and other farmers raise on our farms. Once the Field Moms Acre is harvested, the Moores and Field Moms will donate the acres profits to charity. The Moores have been farming for more than three decades. They raise soybeans and corn on 1,000 acres in Warren County, and also have 250 acres of pasture for their feeder cattle. Meanwhile, the Field Moms live in and around Chicagoland. They have been touring Illinois farms during the last year, blogging about their experiences and sharing their new knowledge with their children, family and friends. To learn more about the Moores, their farm and the Field Moms, visit the Illinois Farm Families website, WatchUsGrow.org. Illinois Farm Families are Illinois farmers who support Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Soybean Program Operating Board, and Illinois Beef Association through farmer-funded checkoff or membership programs. We are committed to having conversations with consumers, answering their questions about food, farmers and farming, and sharing what really happens on todays Illinois family farms. More than 94 percent of Illinois farms are family owned and operated. We are passionate about showing consumers how we grow safe, healthy food for their families, and ours. We invite you to visit us at http://www.watchusgrow.org.

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Chicago-Area Moms to Moonlight as Soybean Farmers in New Illinois Farm Families® Initiative

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - Demonstrators protesting electricity outages in Myanmar clashed with police Thursday, and several were arrested. The spreading protests are a test of the tolerance of a reformist civilian government after decades of military rule.

Parliament member Win Myint said demonstrators in his constituency resisted when they thought police were going to arrest their leaders and the six people detained were released later. He represents Pyay, 260 kilometers (160 miles) northwest of Yangon.

"The police tried to take some leaders and people tried to stop them," said one witness in Pyay. "The police beat the protesters with rubber and bamboo sticks to disperse them. They beat them on their heads, backs and legs. But no one was seriously injured."

The witness asked not to be named so as not to attract the attention of the authorities.

Protests over chronic power outages began Sunday in the central city Mandalay and have spread to at least four other locations, challenging the new government of President Thein Sein, who has promised political reform.

The previous military regime, in which Thein Sein also served, sought to tightly restrict street protests, fearing they could evolve into a broader challenge to authority. In 2007, small-scale protests snowballed into a general revolt led by Buddhist monks that was quashed only through the use of armed force.

Myanmar has suffered from power shortages for more than a decade. It has plentiful natural gas supplies, but a poor power distribution infrastructure, which has lagged even more as the economy has grown.

About 100 people marched and held a candlelight vigil Wednesday and Thursday nights in downtown Yangon, about double the number of the first day, Tuesday. The number of onlookers increased as well, as dozens of police stood watch.

Protests in Pyay began on Monday with a small group of people and have grown to more than 1,000.

Win Myint, a member of the ruling pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), said nervous police sought to negotiate with the leaders on the fourth day of protests, but people misunderstood that they sought to arrest them. He said the situation turned chaotic and police ended up arresting six people.

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Myanmar power-cut protesters clash with police

CAMDEN, N.J. (CBSNewYork) A New Jersey mans game with his little boy nearly turned tragic at a Camden Laundromat.

Surveillance video shows the father putting his 1-year-old son in a washing machine while reportedly playing a game of Peek-A-Boo.

Somehow, the door locked and the machine started running and filling with water.

Witnesses were shocked that a father would do such a thing.

Who does that? Who puts a child in a washing machine, like not even for a joke, witness Tiffany Stallmacher said.

The child was tossed around for about a minute until quick-thinking Laundromat worker, Kong Enh,cut the power, allowing the door to the machine to open.

Enh started moving tables to get to a circuit breaker, quickly flipping all the switches until the machine finally stopped, CBS 2 reported.

They very scared. Somebody start the machine already they didnt know that, Enh said. I wait for machine to unlock and I pull baby out.

Enh said the father had been playing with his son in the dryer earlier, and that he was very apologetic but grateful he saved his babys life. I feel good because I saw the baby still alive when he called me. I [was] very scared. When I saw [the] baby alive, I [was] very happy, Enh said.

Im very proud of my worker, saidLaurie Chou, owner of Federal Laundromat. Hes been with me eight years. I couldnt find anyone better.

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Video Shows Father Putting Toddler In Washing Machine At Camden Laundromat

MILPITAS, CA--(Marketwire -05/23/12)- The Coyote Creek community by William Lyon Homes will offer buyers two brand new neighborhoods and a prime address in Milpitas, adjacent to one of the bustling Cisco Campuses. The Rows and The Courts have been designed with an impressive display of included features that will underscore the homes' contemporary appeal and value. Architectural style, modern amenities and a great South Bay location will put Coyote Creek on the map in the coming months and now is the time to get on the inside track by registering at Lyoncoyotecreek.com for a multi-media overview; prospective homebuyers can also Like the community on Facebook for the latest updates.

Buyers who appreciate the enduring value of included features will find Coyote Creek's interiors just the right balance of smart planning and contemporary style. The kitchens will be equipped with stainless steel appliances, creating the tone for a more modern environment, while granite countertops will be available in three distinctive shades from warm earthy tones to darker contemporary colors; European shaker styling in natural maple has been selected for the homes' cabinetry. The bathrooms at The Rows and The Courts will exude a bright, clean appearance and will have square edge white matte cultured marble countertops that are easy to maintain, as well as contemporary plumbing fixtures.

"When planning the 14 different floorplan choices at The Rows and The Courts, we took into consideration the lifestyles and expectations of prospective buyers. We determined that a very important factor is the presence of standard amenities that add beauty and value to each home, along with interiors that offer an overall look that is clean and clutter-free with a contemporary flair," said Lesley Pennington, Vice President of Sales for William Lyon Homes. "Today's buyers want new home opportunities that fit their lives and the architectural innovation that has been integrated into each floorplan will reflect those priorities. The availability of one, two and three-level attached designs will accommodate a variety of expectations and value-added features in each design will enhance the consumer experience of Coyote Creek."

The Rows at Coyote Creek will showcase seven townhome designs that will range from approximately 1,198 to 1,788 square feet, with up to three bedrooms plus a den and up to 3.5 bathrooms.

The Courts at Coyote Creek will introduce seven townhome and flat designs that will range from approximately 1,218 to 1,972 square feet of space, with up to four bedrooms plus a den and up to 3.5 bathrooms.

Coyote Creek's resort clubhouse will offer residents a private, convenient facility to exercise, socialize and relax. Homeowners can lounge by the swimming pool or work out in the fitness room, where high-tech cardio machines will each have their own monitors with cable TV, iPod hookups and internet access; the clubhouse will also have public restrooms with a shower. Other amenities will include an outdoor barbecue and stylish outdoor covered living room, plus a fire-pit lounge area, while the club room will have a plasma screen television. The fully equipped kitchen, which will offer residents a great setting for special events, can also be transformed into a studio for yoga classes and other fun activities. Animal lovers will even have access to the pet spa, where the family dog can get washed and pampered. The community will be walking distance to Cerano Park's half basketball court and tennis court, the ideal backdrop for a friendly pick-up game or doubles match with the neighbors.

Coyote Creek's convenient location will offer buyers the opportunity to enjoy a brand new home and live near work, leisure and recreation. Situated in the heart of the South Bay, the community will present residents with easy accessibility to the places they want to go. The 1-880/Milpitas Light Rail Station is less than a mile away, a convenient option for environmentally minded commuters to get to their office at Google's Main Campus in Mountain View or Yahoo headquarters in Sunnyvale. Close proximity to I-680, I-880 and Highway 237 is another benefit for homeowners who travel for business to Black Mountain, the Bay Area and downtown San Jose. Close to home, weekends can be spent unwinding with hikes or mountain bike rides along the adjacent Coyote Creek Trail or shopping and dining at the Great Mall or Milpitas Square.

William Lyon Homes means it when they say that they put themselves into their homes. They build each and every home as if it were their own and have earned a solid track record for constructing homes throughout the West since 1954.

Founded in 1995, Resmark is a leading national private equity firm focused on real estate and powered by core foundational discipline and focus. A fully integrated real estate investment group, The Resmark Companies' divisions -- Resmark Land and Housing, Resmark Apartment Living and Resmark Shopping Centers -- finance, acquire, develop and manage real estate in California and the Western United States and other select major metropolitan markets nationwide.

To learn more about brand new homes in this dynamic location, visit Lyoncoyotecreek.com.

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Standard Elegance Will Highlight Coyote Creek's Sleek Modern Interiors

A partnership involving Quad-City Realtors, home builders, skilled trades contractors and high school students has produced the 13th student-built home in northwest Davenport, replete with hardwood and ceramic flooring, granite countertops and a 10 1/2-foot-long kitchen pantry.

The 2,800-square-foot home at 6214 Fillmore St. was built over the past year by 13 students from the three Davenport public high schools and North Scott High School under the direction of Kirk Hakanson, an employee of Scott Community College.

Two classes of students worked on the house for a total of about six hours a day. Students were involved in every aspect of construction, and did the framing, roofing, siding, trim work and laying of the wood floor essentially by themselves, said Jon Yocum, the Quad-City Area Realtor Association representative.

The students worked alongside skilled tradespeople for the plumbing, electrical, insulation, ceramic, carpet-laying, drywall, masonry, painting and concrete work. That is either because the work must be performed by someone with a license or because it is extremely tricky for beginners to get right working entirely on their own, Yocum said.

For North Scott students Alex Grunder and Garth Larson, framing was the most memorable part of the build.

You could see the whole house just stand up within just a couple of weeks, Larson said.

He took the class because, beginning with his freshman year, he heard what an incredible experience it would be and how the knowledge he gained would help him in the future. So far, that has proven to be true, he said.

He hopes to build his own house someday and will begin classes in June at Scott/Western Illinois University in pursuit of a degree in mechanical engineering.

Everybody should sign up, he said of the class. Its a blast.

Grunder will put his knowledge into practice immediately by working this summer for a home builder. He took the class because he wanted to learn more about how the business works and how contractors get everything organized, he said.

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Quad-City students help build house with 'wow' factors

What do a countertop company and a surfboard company have in common? Both are run by Ken Trinder, whose novel anti-microbial countertop may soon be seen in hospitals.

A love of surfaces and materials motivates Ken Trinder, who runs both a countertop business, EOS, and a custom-made surfboard company, Shire. As Trinders countertops stand poised to enter new markets--a green product just hit Home Depot shelves, and he has hopes that an anti-microbial line will become a hospital fixture--he still finds time to let off steam by surfing and crafting custom boards (which can fetch up to thousands of dollars at auction).

FAST COMPANY: What is it about surfaces that gets you excited? Isnt that superficial of you?

KEN TRINDER: No, theres a creative element to both these concepts, making new proprietary types of countertops, and developing and handcrafting surfboards. They start as a hands-on process. There are things I do on the countertop side that tie back directly to things Ive learned making surfboards. Surfboards are made of resins, and the countertops have resins in them as well, so theres a tie-in there as far as understanding how those things work and react with each other. I know it sounds like those two things would be the most unrelated things in the world, but it all goes back to the same thing, the chemistry.

EOS has three countertop types, each of which is innovative in its own way.

We had the idea of making a new type of countertop that was polyester acrylic, and we took it upon ourselves to see if we could make it an inch-and-an-eighth thick all the way through. The typical thickness out there is a half-inch. But in the traditional half-inch thickness, you might have four or five hours of labor taking that half-inch sheet, cutting strips off it, and gluing up underneath it to have the illusion of it being an inch-and-a-half thick.

So you offer something thats thicker and more durable, but you save on labor costs.

In our industry, people always thought something with more product would make it more expensive. But it works out that we can do it in a way thats price competitive, when you factor in the labor savings.

Your second countertop is GEOS, a green product.

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Surf And Destroy (Old Business Models)