The nonprofit group called 3in4 Need More awarded a $50,000 Caregiver Home Makeover to Long Beach resident John Simich, the primary caregiver for his 87-year-old mother, Laila, who has dementia. The renovation involved improved safety for his mother. John Simich and his mother Laila Simich are escorted to see the renovated home by show host Dr. Marion Somers. (Sean Hiller/Staff Photographer)

John Simich drives his 87-year-old mother to run all of her errands.

He takes her to lunch to get her out of the house.

He lives in her Long Beach home so she's not alone. And he even sleeps on a couch in front of her room so he's nearby in case anything happens.

Like so many baby boomers, Simich is a caregiver.

"I eyeball her," he says. "If I didn't care, she would have been gone a long time ago."

Though willing to take on this role for his mother, Laila, who is suffering from dementia and arthritis, he wasn't exactly prepared.

He was laid off from his job about a year ago, and money has been tight ever since. There were multiple issues with their home that needed to be fixed for him

One day while browsing the Internet, he came across an ad for a contest by 3in4 Need More, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about the need for long-term care planning.

The contest's prize was a home renovation for a caregiver in order to create a safer environment for the person being cared for.

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Long Beach resident wins $50,000 home remodeling contest for his mother's long-term care

Ohio's attorney general on Thursday sued a Middleburg Heights roofing contractor, alleging his company violated consumer law by performing shoddy work, and in some cases, failing to perform work at all.

The suit filed in Cuyahoga Common Pleas Court names Matthew Schultz, dba All Season Roofing and Home Improvement.

Messages left on the company's answering machine were not returned.

The suit contends that on several occasions the company accepted payment for roofing or remodeling jobs but failed to deliver materials or do work.

One Strongsville woman complained to the attorney general that a day after her $9,500 roof was finished, it began leaking, the office said.

Ohio law requires home improvement contractors to provide detailed receipts, including the goods, cost and whether or not the money is refundable. The suit alleges Schultz failed to do so.

All Season has also run afoul of the Greater Cleveland Better Business Bureau, which said the company wrongly used the BBB's logo on its business cards and Yellow Pages ads. The BBB noted its trademarked logo is reserved for use only by accredited members. All Season is not a member, said the BBB, which has given the company an F rating.

To file a complaint against All Season or any contractor, contact the Ohio attorney general's office at 1-800-282-0515 or ohioattorneygeneral.gov

To check a company's standing with the BBB, call 216-241-7678 or visit bbb.org/us.

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Ohio sues Middleburg Heights roofing contractor, alleging shoddy work

AMY MAAS

An Auckland roofing company has been ordered to make payments totalling $53,000 after an employee was seriously injured after falling three metres from a roof.

In the Auckland District Court today, Metalcraft Industries was fined $43,000 and ordered to pay $10,000 to the victim who fractured his lower back, several ribs and damaged his shoulder tendons and ligaments in the accident on June 9, 2011.

Three employees were working on a single storey Keith Hay home in Glen Innes when one of the men slipped while trying to reach down and secure a safe hold on the edge of the damp roof.

A Department of Labour investigation found the accident was preventable, had Metalcraft Industries Ltd planned a safe approach to working at height and put in place appropriate roof edge protection.

"The precautions taken by the employer fell short of what is required," said John Howard, the department's northern general manager.

The department provides guidelines on how to manage working at height to prevent harm.

- Fairfax NZ News

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Roofing company fined $53k after employee injury

WATERLOO --- Several roofing projects and the remodeling of three West High School classrooms were approved Wednesday by the Board of Education.

A $1.36 million contract was approved with Service Roofing of Waterloo to partially reroof as many as seven schools. That was the lowest proposal of five companies that bid on reroofing all the buildings. Other bids ranged from $1.45 million to $2.1 million.

Nonetheless, the Service Roofing contract is more than the $1.2 million in physical plant and equipment levy funds Waterloo Community Schools has available for the projects.

"We would like the board to approve the basis bid and work with the contractors on which area we value-engineer out," said Dan Channer of Struxture Architects, which is providing design services.

Roofs bid on include the Elk Run Early Childhood Center; Bunger, Central and Hoover middle schools; East and West high schools and the McKinstry building (now housing Expo Alternative Learning Center). An alternate not included in the basis bid is to reroof another portion of the Elk Run building.

"My recommendation is we would forego McKinstry and do Elk Run," Marty Metcalf, the district's director of operational services, told the board.

"We are a little behind in our maintenance of our roofs the last three or four years," he added. "These are the worst of the worst."

Each roof will have a 30-year warranty except Central, which will have a 20-year warranty. The shorter warranty relates to the roof's original construction, which the manufacturer won't cover for 30 years. The projects must be done by the end of the calendar year.

The board also approved a $201,100 contract with Prairie Construction Services of Waterloo to remodel three West High classrooms for science courses. Prairie Construction Services --- a new company employing many of the same staff from the similarly named Prairie Construction, which recently went out of business --- was the lowest of three bids. The other two bids were $211,100 and $212,300. The low bid is about $150,000 lower than was estimated.

The remodeling will allow the school to have a science classroom including one demonstration table in each of its career interest academies. The table would include water and gas capabilities allowing for science demonstrations.

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Board OKs roofing projects for as many as 7 schools

Beacon Roofing Supply (Nasdaq: BECN) reported earnings on May 10. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeawayFor the quarter ended March 31 (Q2), Beacon Roofing Supply beat expectations on both revenue and earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, both revenue and GAAP earnings per share grew. The profit was a surprise, as analysts had predicted a loss.

Margins improved across the board.

Revenue detailsBeacon Roofing Supply reported revenue of $395.2 million. The 10 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected revenue of $344.8 million on the same basis. GAAP-reported sales were 33% higher than the prior-year quarter's $296.3 million.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS detailsEPS came in at $0.07. The eight earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted -$0.07 per share. GAAP EPS were $0.07 for Q2, compared to -$0.13 per share for the prior-year quarter.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin detailsFor the quarter, gross margin was 23.7%, 170 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 2.5%, 480 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 0.8%, 290 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking aheadNext quarter's average estimate for revenue is $579 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.59.

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Beacon Roofing Supply Beats on Both Top and Bottom Lines

May 24, 2012 - News Release

The University of Guelph today unveiled seven additions to its dramatic "donor wall" in Rozanski Hall. The donor wall in the lobby of the classroom complex honours supporters and tells the story of the Universitys BetterPlanet Project.

Its intended to be an evolving symbol of the issues and needs being addressed as we look to create change and make the world a better place, said president Alastair Summerlee.

Today we are adding to this work of art. The seven new pieces represent extraordinary giving to the University and the potential for growth via the new opportunities these gifts provide.

Donors highlighted today are:

Philip Gosling and Susan Gosling, Gosling Foundation: a second leadership gift to the BetterPlanet Project of $1.5 million to establish the Gosling Research Institute for Plant Preservation;

Tony and Anne Arrell, U of G graduates: $1 million to support excellence in teaching and 20 annual scholarships for students across disciplines;

Wolf Haessler, U of G graduate and founder of Skyjack Inc.: $1 million to enhance the Universitys engineering facilities and to fund 20 new scholarships;

Donald Pestell, Ontario Agricultural College graduate: $600,000 for the D.J. Pestell Student Service and Alumni Centre at the Ridgetown Campus;

The late J.E. Blake Graham, Ontario Veterinary College graduate: $500,000 for the Blake Graham Fellowship Endowment Fund, supporting graduate studies in public health and zoonotic diseases;

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BetterPlanet ‘Donor Wall’ Grows

23-05-2012 14:47 Here's what to expect when you choose Milgard windows to replace your old windows. Learn about the different types of installations and how your Milgard Certified Dealer can help you choose the perfect window for your home.

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Milgard-What to Expect When Replacing Windows - Video

23-05-2012 14:59 The Z-bar installation on Milgard replacement windows make replacing your windows on your stucco home easy. This video shows you how it works and how your Milgard Certified Dealer can do more than just installation.

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Milgard-Z-bar Window Replacement - Video

23-05-2012 15:08 When you want to change the placement or size of a window, a full frame installation is needed. A Milgard Certified Dealer will help you through all the steps, from choosing your window to installation and clean-up.

Link:
Milgard-Full Frame Window Replacement - Video

23-05-2012 15:13 Here's what to expect when you are replacing your old windows with Milgard replacement windows. A Milgard Certified Dealer will help you through all the steps, from choosing your window to installation and clean-up.

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Milgard-Block Frame Window Replacement - Video