STEUBENVILLE - Scott Dressel has crawled through ceilings, hauled trash, painted walls and pleaded for financial donations and volunteers.

But on Thursday, the president of the Grand Theater Restoration Project sat down for a board of directors meeting in the refurbished lobby of the 87-year-old building on Fourth Street that was once home to live stage shows and countless hours of movies.

It was the first official event in the building since Dressel and the volunteers he enlisted began their efforts to save the former theater and restore it to its past glory.

"We are starting our third year of restoration, and at this point I am looking at another nine years before the entire project is completed. But I am satisfied. We have come a long way in two years," Dressel said.

"I don't get discouraged from all of the work. Yes, there are days when I am tired. But we have accomplished a lot in the past two years and look forward to the restoration work ahead of us," Dressel added.

The completed work list includes a new roof that stopped the rain from leaking into the theater section of the building, the donation of an adjacent building that will be used for a museum and mini-theater and the removal of all of the first floor seats.

"The smell in here left after the building was sealed and the seats were taken out. That was a big thing. We have had probably 200 volunteers at different times working to clean out the loose plaster and debris left in here. Now the theater is wide open and ready for the restoration work," explained Dressel.

"And another big step for us will be significant fundraisng. We did obtain a $96,000 Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grant to be used for the removal of the small amount of asbestos in the building. And we continue to seek grants and funds from different organizations," Dressel said.

"We will also be completing the architectural drawings, and we continue to conduct engineering reviews of the building to make sure it will be ready for what we want to do in here," noted Dressel.

Dressel said he is planning to gain input from the Franciscan University of Steubenville drama department.

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Two years on theater restoration continues

MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Friday said Senators Panfilo 'Ping' Lacson and Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan are both "highly qualified" to be in the Cabinet.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Enrile said Lacson is qualified to sit at the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) or the Department of National Defense (DND).

However, Enrile said Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin is already there doing good job.

Pangilinan, on ther other hand, being a lawyer, "can move around," he said.

Lacson and Pangilinan are expected to be named to the Cabinet next year after their terms end in mid-June 2013.

Asked about his preferred replacement for deposed Chief Justice Renato Corona, Enrile said he prefers an insider from the Supreme Court, although an appointee may come from outside as a prerogative of the appointing authority, President Aquino.

De Lima said Enrile came to see her and requested for some things for prosecutors in his province, Cagayan.

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JPE: Ping, Kiko 'highly qualified' for Cabinet posts

BEIRUT: The Cabinet overcame Thursday the spending crisis that had paralyzed its work for months by approving advanced payments and treasury loans worth over LL10 trillion ($6.7 billion) to cover public administration expenses for 2012 and finance projects in Tripoli and other areas.

Addressing the Cabinet meeting he chaired at Baabda Palace, President Michel Sleiman said priority should be given to an intra-Lebanese National Dialogue, scheduled to take place on June 11, and to energizing Cabinet work, Information Minister Walid Daouk told reporters after the meeting.

The third priority, Sleiman said, was to explain the Lebanese situation to Arab Gulf states which have issued warnings to its nationals against visiting Lebanon following a series of security incidents in the north. Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have warned their nationals against travel to Lebanon following deadly clashes in Tripoli last month.

The Cabinet approved an urgent draft law to allocate LL10.394 trillion in treasury bills to cover public administration expenses for 2012, Daouk said.

He added that the Cabinet also approved a treasury loan of LL150 billion to finance the implementation of some development projects in Tripoli and another treasury loan of LL450 billion to fund implementation of development projects in other parts of the country.

The decision to fund projects in Tripoli came after deadly clashes between armed supporters and opponents of Syrian President Bashar Assad that gripped the countrys second-largest city in recent weeks in a clear sign of the spillover of the Syrian unrest into Lebanon.

Sleiman, who returned Wednesday from a one-day visit to Qatar and the UAE after visiting Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, said that his Gulf tour had been to brief officials in these countries on the situation in Lebanon and to seek their help in securing the release of the 11 Lebanese hostages held by Syrian rebels.

He added that Lebanon had been able in the past year-and-a-half not to serve as an arena for conflict or a springboard for any attack on any Arab country or interference in Arab affairs, particularly the Syrian crisis, according to Daouk.

Sleiman said that concerns voiced by Arab Gulf states over the security situation and warnings to their nationals against travel to Lebanon prompted him to move on three paths: To call for an intra-Lebanese National Dialogue which, he said, should be the first and permanent path in Lebanon; to energize Cabinets work and streamline the citizens affairs in all fields; and to explain Lebanons position to Arab states, particularly Gulf states.

I have sent the invitations to dialogue and I hope they will be accepted by all, Sleiman said.

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Cabinet resolves spending crisis, approves LL10 trillion loans

VESTAVIA HILLS, Alabama - On a day when a $75,000 check from the Nick's Kids Fund was presented to go toward building a 14th house in honor of Alabama's 14th national championship, talk turned Thursday toward building on the grounds of the Crimson Tide's football complex.

Ground is being moved on three practice fields. The entrance to the indoor football practice building has been torn down.

What's up?

"We had a field that we never really ever used," Alabama coach Nick Saban said before a golf fundraiser at Old Overton Club. "We're going to build a new weight room. It's going to be between the Mal Moore facility and up against the indoor facility, so we're just moving the fields down, so they'll be full fields, and taking the field out. And then we're going to remodel the downstairs in phases ... over the next couple years."

The field that is being eliminated was the one outdoor field with artificial turf.

Plans for the new weight room and remodeling of the existing downstairs weight room have yet to be approved by the University of Alabama Systems board of trustees, a school official said.

Saban said it's important to keep facilities from falling behind those of rival schools.

"When people come to Alabama, they expect to see the best," he said. "We should always strive to have the best. As long as we have the resources and we can provide the best for our student-athletes, that's what we should do in all sports."

An eight-week summer conditioning program has begun.

"Everybody's in summer school," Saban said. "We're not allowed as coaches to work with the players right now. The strength and conditioning coaches work on them on conditioning, trying to get them prepared for the season, and so far that's been going very well."

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Nick Saban eyes a new weight room at Alabama

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio, June 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Associated Materials, LLC today announced the appointment of James Kenyon as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. Mr. Kenyon, previously Vice President, Human Resources at Rexnord Corporation's Water Management Platform, brings over 20 years of management experience in manufacturing companies.

Jerry W. Burris, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are excited that Jim will be leading the AMI human resource organization. He will play an integral role in linking organizational design to our business strategies that will help us support and drive sustainable profitable growth. Jim's knowledge of organizational design, lean methodologies and talent management will provide valuable leadership to the organization as we continue to strengthen and grow our business."

Mr. Kenyon earned a masters degree in Organizational Development from Bowling Green State University and a Bachelors in Business Administration from Cleveland State University. Prior to joining Associated Materials, Mr. Kenyon served in various management positions at OM Group and Danaher Corporation.

About Associated Materials

The Company is a leading, vertically integrated manufacturer and distributor of exterior residential building products in the United States and Canada. The Company produces a comprehensive offering of exterior building products, including vinyl windows, vinyl siding, aluminum trim coil and aluminum and steel siding and accessories, which are produced at the Company's 11 manufacturing facilities. The Company also sells complementary products that are manufactured by third parties, such as roofing materials, insulation, exterior doors, vinyl siding in a shake and scallop design and installation equipment and tools that are primarily distributed through its company-operated supply centers. The Company's products are sold primarily through its extensive dual-distribution network, consisting of 121 company-operated supply centers, through which it sells directly to its contractor customers, and the Company's direct sales channel, through which it sells to approximately 250 independent distributors and dealers, who then sell to their customers. The Company maintains a website athttp://www.associatedmaterials.com.

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Associated Materials Announces Appointment of Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer

06-06-2012 15:32 http 314-966-2666 Have you seen the ads for sliding patio doors for $450.00 installed? How can they even build a door for $450.00 let alone install it? Hi, I'm Dennis McHugh, replacement window and patio door expert here in St. Louis Missouri. I have 20 years experience in sales and production for a local family owned replacement window and patio door company, and a window repair company that specializes in residential and commercial window glass repair and glass replacement. The patio door and replacement window industry is saturated with companies competing for your business. They have to come up with deceitful advertising to get you to call them for an estimate. A patio door advertised for $450.00 installed usually means the screen, handle, foot lock, Lo-E argon glass, grids, capping the exterior, trimming the interior, measure, delivery, sales tax and disposal of the old patio door are all extra. A good sliding patio door installed with all the extras that are required for the patio door to function will start at $1500.00. For more information about patio doors, sliding patio doors, french doors, or just patio door repair, glass repair, and glass replacement, visit my website at or if you're in the St. Louis area give us a call at 314-966-2666.

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St. Louis Replacement Windows

07-06-2012 09:14 Window replacement is important if you have old windows, replacement windows can save a lot money in energy costs over the life of the window, in this video you will see how easy it can be to install them yourself. It took about an hour to install the window in this video and that includes the time to make the video, so check out the video and DO-IT-YOURSELF. watch other helpful videos at wichitafixit channel

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Window Replacement Installation - Video

TUCSON - If it's 'too good to be true', it usually is. And that is true with air conditioning services, according to the Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona.

The BBB is warning Southern Arizonans to be wary of companies or contractors offering to install A/C units, or offering to tune up their existing units.

In 2011, the BBB received over 9,500 inquires from consumers about heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors in Southern Arizona between May and the end of September.

Unfortunately, complaints against HVAC companies increase along with inquiries. As HVAC contractors ramp up their advertising, unscrupulous contractors often make misleading, or even false claims about the price of their services, and even the quality of the equipment they're selling.

Wade Hamstra, of Hamstra Heating and Cooling- a Tucson HVAC contractor doing business in Southern Arizona since 1983- says that there are a few "red flags" consumers can look for to ensure they're not being ripped off:

RED FLAG #1 - THE LOW-BALL PRICE: Ever see those ads that say '$39 Heating or A/C Tune-Up!'? Sounds great doesn't it? Don't be fooled: an average heating and cooling service technician makes at least $18 per hour. Add in the costs of fuel to get to the home, the service van, overhead expenses for a basic office- people to answer the phone, schedule calls, process paper- and the average HVAC company has, at a bare minimum, expenses of $50 per hour. When you add up all these expenses it's very unlikely you'll ever find a true $39 tune-up.

RED FLAG #2 - THE 400 SQUARE FEET PER TON OF A/C 'RULE OF THUMB': Just about any consumer who has researched buying a new A/C system has read about, or had a contractor tell them about the 'Rule of Thumb' for equipment sizing: "Mr. Johnson, your home is 2000 square feet, at 400 square feet per ton; you need a 5-ton air conditioning unit today." "This is the most bogus and lazy lie that exists in our industry," Hamstra says. "Every reputable heating and cooling company will insist on performing a Manual J Engineering Load Calculation- as required by the International Residential Code book, Tucson Electric Power and Energy Star- to determine the size of system you need. This process takes a lot of education and extra time to perform, but is essential for proper sizing. A system that is not properly sized will not keep a home comfortable, and will drive up energy bills at the same time it decreases equipment life."

RED FLAG #3 - NEW SYSTEM QUOTES OVER THE PHONE ARE NOT ACCURATE!: There is a large range of variables when performing a system replacement. For that reason it's virtually impossible for an A/C contractor to give an accurate estimate for a new system over the phone. Hamstra lists three reasons why it's not possible to give an accurate estimate over phone: 1. The home might have experienced changes since the original system was installed (new windows, added insulation, added addition, more internal heat loads like appliances, TV's, computers, people). All of these factors will affect the system size that the home needs. The only way to ensure proper sizing- which leads to better comfort, energy efficiency and longer system life- is to visit the home, take all the proper measurements and run a computerized Manual J Load Calculation. 2. There's the issue of physical unit sizes: the contractor may need to visit the home to make sure that it has the physical space needed for a new model A/C unit. 3. Any customer looking to get new air conditioning equipment should also be concerned with making sure their duct system is adequate. If the duct is overlooked, a customer may get sold a highly efficient and more expensive unit that functions like a lower quality unit, due to leaky ductwork. It would be like putting a brand new Ferrari motor on an old Yugo chassis. It is not going to deliver great results. In order to deliver a proper solution, A/C contractors need to inspect the system as a whole.

To find an HVAC contractor you can trust and to easily get free estimates scheduled through BBB's free E-Quote service, visit: http://www.tucson.bbb.org <http://www.tucson.bbb.org> or call: (520)888-5353.

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BBB warns of A/C scams this time of year

TUCSON - The BBB of Southern Arizona wants to caution you, as summer temps are well into the triple digits, to be careful when shopping for a HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air-conditioning) unit and a contractor to install the unit.

There are the three major problems to look out for listed below in this warning released by the BBB:

An A/C unit or some sort of cooling system is more or less a necessity during Southern Arizona's hot summers. Every year BBB sees a dramatic rise in consumer inquiries during the spring and into the summer as consumers look for HVAC contractors to tune-up, replace, or install units.

In 2011 BBB received over 9,500 inquires from consumers about heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors in Southern Arizona between May and the end of September.

Unfortunately, complaints against HVAC companies increase along with inquiries. As HVAC contractors ramp up their advertising, unscrupulous contractors often make misleading, or even false claims about the price of their services, and even the quality of the equipment they're selling. Wade Hamster, of Hamster Heating and Cooling- a Tucson HVAC contractor doing business in Southern Arizona since 1983- says that there are a few "red flags" consumers can look for to ensure they're not being ripped off:

RED FLAG #1 - THE LOW-BALL PRICE Ever see those ads that say "$39 Heating or A/C Tune-Up!"? Sounds great doesn't it? Don't be fooled: an average heating and cooling service technician makes at least $18 per hour. Add in the costs of fuel to get to the home, the service van, overhead expenses for a basic office- people to answer the phone, schedule calls, process paper- and the average HVAC company has, at a bare minimum, expenses of $50 per hour. When you add up all these expenses it's very unlikely you'll ever find a true $39 tune-up.

RED FLAG #2 - THE 400 SQUARE FEET PER TON OF A/C "RULE OF THUMB" Just about any consumer who has researched buying a new A/C system has read about, or had a contractor tell them about the "Rule of Thumb" for equipment sizing: "Mr. Johnson, your home is 2000 square feet, at 400 square feet per ton; you need a 5-ton air conditioning unit today." "This is the most bogus and lazy lie that exists in our industry," Hamster says. "Every reputable heating and cooling company will insist on performing a Manual J Engineering Load Calculation- as required by the International Residential Code book, Tucson Electric Power and Energy Star- to determine the size of system you need. This process takes a lot of education and extra time to perform, but is essential for proper sizing. A system that is not properly sized will not keep a home comfortable, and will drive up energy bills at the same time it decreases equipment life."

RED FLAG #3 - NEW SYSTEM QUOTES OVER THE PHONE ARE NOT ACCURATE! There is a large range of variables when performing a system replacement. For that reason it's virtually impossible for an A/C contractor to give an accurate estimate for a new system over the phone. Hamster lists three reasons why it's not possible to give an accurate estimate over phone:

1. The home might have experienced changes since the original system was installed (new windows, added insulation, added addition, more internal heat loads like appliances, TV's, computers, people). All of these factors will affect the system size that the home needs. The only way to ensure proper sizing- which leads to better comfort, energy efficiency and longer system life- is to visit the home, take all the proper measurements and run a computerized Manual J Load Calculation.

2. There's the issue of physical unit sizes: the contractor may need to visit the home to make sure that it has the physical space needed for a new model A/C unit.

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BBB issues caution when shopping for A/C this summer

STAMFORD -- A man walked into a Shippan office building Friday afternoon and pulled out a handgun during an argument with a former co-worker, police said. Almost the entire patrol shift was sent to the scene, some officers armed with riot shields and assault rifles.

Joel D'Ort, 27, of 2808 Lehigh Ave., Allentown, Pa., was arrested, and police were still working Friday evening on the extent of his criminal charges.

D'Ort was arrested at his former Mohegan Avenue home after police secured the seven-floor office building at 70 Seaview Ave. with search teams. While clearing the building, officers got information about D'Ort and ran his name through their records, then went to his nearby former home, where he was arrested, police Lt. James Matheny said.

D'Ort used to work for XL Capital, a company located in the Seaview House building at 70 Seaview Ave., police said; they did not know the exact nature of his employment there. The company takes up most office space at the building.

At 1:13 p.m., a Seaview House employee called police and said a man threatened a woman with a gun on the fifth floor of the offices.

During the confrontation, the woman had a phone pulled from her hand as she tried to call 911, police said; she was later treated at Stamford Hospital for a hand injury.

Believing there may be an armed gunman in the Seaview House offices, the police department "emptied the building and sent everyone we could," police Lt. Sean Cooney said. At least 20 officers responded, he said.

Officers formed teams and searched the building floor by floor, starting at the seventh story and working their way down. A second team searched the parking garage, and a third secured a perimeter around the building, stopping traffic at the office complex.

Police found a handgun stashed in a ceiling tile in the fifth floor after an employee told officers the suspect had gone in that room for a few minutes after the confrontation, Cooney said. It was not the same room in which the alleged dispute occurred.

During the search, police developed information that led them to a home on Mohegan Avenue a few blocks away in Shippan, they said. Officers spotted a man peering at them through windows inside the home, police said. The man, later identified as D'Ort, opened the door and came outside, where police said an officer told him to lie facedown on the ground; he was taken into custody without incident.

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Police: Man threatens former colleague with gun at Stamford office building