THE collapse of a retaining wall at Olivers Hill has officially been blamed on bad design.

VicRoads regional director Peter Todd said an independent investigation had found the key contributing factor to the collapse related to design assumptions made about the weight of the retaining wall.

As a result, when constructed, the wall was not able to withstand the loads being imposed on it, Mr Todd said.

In light of this information, VicRoads has reviewed its design processes to address this matter.

The investigation also looked at design options for a new retaining wall at the site.

Mr Todd said a structure, similar in nature to the previous wall, was still considered the most appropriate for this site, given the close proximity of the road and private properties on top of the road embankment.

Detailed design is under way.

At this stage, it is expected that the construction of the new retaining wall will commence in October and be completed before the end of 2012, he said.

A retaining wall of rock-filled wire baskets being constructed at the bottom of Olivers Hill collapsed on Thursday, April 19, causing traffic chaos for motorists.

>> PICTURES: Olivers Hill wall collapse

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Poor design blamed for Olivers Hill wall fall

TOWN OF SCOTT - A class of eighth graders at a Green Bay area school is teaming up with Wisconsin Public Service to help the handicapped.

Students at Holy Cross School are building portable decks for disabled hunters.

The decks are being assembled now and will be used during the next disabled hunting season.

Twenty eighth-grade students from Holy Cross School are hard at work.

"We're building stands for handicapped hunters," said Joe Cherney, Holy Cross 8th grade student.

Three stands are under construction. For this project experience isn't necessary.

"It's definitely the first time I've done this, but it's really fun because we get to work together for a good cause," said Macey Vandenmeerendonk, Holy Cross 8th grade student.

The cause is part a partnership between the school and Wisconsin Public Service.

"The kids, to their credit, they came up with over $500 for the materials, and of course today we're working with them to give them some life skills in helping us to construct the decks," said Greg Egtvedt, WPS environmental manager.

The decks are slated to be put to use in a zone for disabled hunters by the Petenwell dam, near Necedah, in central Wisconsin.

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Student project helps disabled hunters

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 5, 2012) - Mold is a fungus that grows on food or on materials that have become damp. According to Health Canada, mold inside your home could become a health risk. Children, seniors, pregnant women and anyone who suffers from asthma or allergies are more at risk when exposed to mold.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) offers the following tips on how to find and fight mold in your home:

Be sure to take a close look for mold in areas that are damp or which suffer from frequent condensation, leaks or water damage. Some common places where mold tends to grow indoors include basements, crawl spaces and closets; around sinks and tubs; along the bottom edge of window sills; on damp carpets or furniture; on damp drywall, wood and paper products; and on walls or floors in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry areas.

Moldy areas that are less than one square metre in size can usually be cleaned up easily. Scrub the area with unscented dish detergent mixed with warm water; then sponge with a clean, wet rag and make sure to dry it quickly. For cleaning drywall, use baking soda instead of dish detergent and do not allow the area to become too wet. Painting over a moldy surface will not take care of the problem.

When cleaning up mold, always wear a suitable mask, eye protection, and rubber gloves.

If your home has more than three small individual patches of mold, a moldy area that is larger than a square meter in size, or mold that keeps growing back after repeated cleaning, contact your Band Housing Manager for guidance. If you or any family member suffers from asthma or breathing problems or other health problems that get worse inside the house contact your Environmental Health Officer (EHO). You can also contact your local CMHC office for more information.

Once you've cleaned up the mold, find and fix any water leaks that allowed mold to grow in the first place. Make sure your clothes dryer, bathroom and kitchen fans, and any oil or propane heaters all vent to the outside. Be sure your eaves troughs and downspouts are connected, are clean and that they direct water well away from your house. Ensure all the surfaces around your house slope away from the foundation.

Lastly, encourage everyone in your family to take steps that can help keep mold away. For example, always turn on an exhaust fan or open a window when showering or cooking; clean and dry any surfaces that get wet; vacuum your carpets and furniture on a regular basis; avoid hanging laundry indoors; use a dehumidifier during humid weather if possible; avoid storing firewood inside your home; and report moisture and mold problems that you can't solve to your Housing Manager.

CMHC has workshops on mold prevention and remediation available for First Nations communities. The Mold in Housing - An Information Guide for First Nations Communities: Home Occupants' Guide helps First Nations communities determine when there is a mold problem in a house and what to do about it. The guide explains what mold is and why it is a concern, provides tips on how to find out if a house has mold, and offers advice on how to prevent mold and moisture from growing indoors. It also includes a checklist for finding and removing mold throughout the house.

For more information or to order a free copy of one of CMHC's 'Mold in Housing - An Information Guide for First Nations Communities' publications, visit http://www.cmhc.ca/mold or call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642.

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Let's Clear the Air: What You Should Know About Mold in Your Home

The battle lines of suburbia are demarcated by white picket fences, the battleground itself littered with landmines of leaves, grass, porches, and other ticking bombs set to square off neighbor against neighbor. Hey, asshole, why don't you try painting your shutters so our property values don't go down? And really, a bonfire on a Monday night? Some of us have to work, dickweed. And I like sleeping with the windows open, but all I smell now is your dumb fire pit.

This is how wars start, brimming with passive aggressive taunts and muffled vulgarities. All it takes is one spark to set off the fuse, and in suburbia, early-morning mowing is perfect tinder.

Let's go out to Ashtabula County via the Star Beacon and check in on two neighbors whose disagreement over some A.M. grass trimming might end up in court.

Deputies spoke to the alleged assailant, who gave a different story. The man said his neighbor began cutting grass around 6 a.m., and ignored his request to delay mowing until 7 a.m. The man admitted shutting off the neighbors mower and making remarks, but denied issuing any threats, he told deputies.

We're no history buffs, but we're pretty sure this is what started the Hatfield and McCoy feud.

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Early Morning Mowing Can Be Serious Business in the Suburbs

Q: I have a question for you about conflicting information from contractors. I have had a few contractors come out to my home to look at some remodeling.

For my bathroom, one said the whole thing needed to be gutted. The other said we could work with what was there and make improvements with paint, tile, et cetera.

Also, I had a contractor come out to check on a sunroom that looks to me to be in sad shape. I was considering tearing it down but he said it could be brought back to life with some replacement wood siding, a new roof and windows. He has great credentials with the Better Business Bureau, and he checks out with the Contractors State Licensing Board. His price blew me away - much lower than I had anticipated.

The cause for confusion is that last year, another contractor came out and gave me a figure that was 2 1/2 times the price. I end up confused, and then I do nothing because I am not sure how to proceed.

So what is your advice when the price and opinions vary and I am clueless? Is there a construction consultant that can advise homeowners on these dilemmas?

A: There are project managers, but we don't think it's necessary to hire one, and we do understand the confusion. Rehabbing an older home is as much an art as a science.

Before calling a contractor, it's critical you decide what you want in a finished product and set a budget. A journey of a thousand miles doesn't begin with the first step. It begins with the destination. Without a clearly defined end point, even a small remodel will be nothing but frustrating. Spend time with this phase. Once the work starts, change orders can be difficult and often come at great cost.

So, in the bathroom, if you're looking to move the toilet, tub and shower, a gut job is probably necessary. All of the plumbing needs to be relocated. That means tearing into the walls to move the pipes and wiring. Once the rough work is done, drywall, flooring and all the finishes are installed.

But if what you're after is a face-lift, the second contractor's right. The whole feeling of the room can be changed with paint, flooring, tile and faucets and tub trim. You might also consider replacing the toilet and vanity and adding a glass shower door or tub enclosure depending on your budget. Doing all this will give you a new bath without doing a total gut job.

Ask questions of each contractor to lessen your confusion. We'd ask the first contractor why it is necessary to totally gut the bathroom. Relay this information to the second contractor and see what he says. Questioning each bidder not only makes him justify his proposal and educates you, but it also may present another solution that you hadn't considered.

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Asking contractors questions helps avoid confusion

ONLEY -- Onley Baptist Church has a new steeple after a months-long effort that involved hours of labor by some 20 church members and also the assistance of several area businesses.

The 1907 church building's original steeple had to be replaced because it was in disrepair and was causing leaking problems, Pastor John Burr said.

The old steeple, weighing well over 5,000 pounds, was taken down several months ago and a new, fiberglass steeple, which weighs about one-fifth that, was put up the evening of May 22, with nearly three dozen onlookers viewing the three-hour process.

The church's new steeple is actually a used model and was refurbished by Nathan Thomas of Fiber Tech in Exmore. It is about 30 feet tall, Burr said.

Burr thanked Accomack-Northampton Electric Cooperative for its help during the processes of taking down the old steeple and installing the new one, which involved turning off electricity running through nearby wires. He also thanked those whose electric service was affected for their understanding.

The work to raise the new steeple was done after 5 p.m. to avoid interrupting power to nearby business T&W Block, Inc.

"They've really been gracious and generous to help," Burr said of ANEC personnel.

Daniel Pruitt of DDP Construction Inc. and George Colonna of Colonna Industries headed up the unusual construction project. Both are members of Onley Baptist Church.

"It's all been done debt-free, praise God," Burr said.

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Church gets new steeple

Cathedral Square Brewery wants to convert a 105-year-old church in St. Louis' Central West End into a brewery, bar, restaurant and event space.

Brewery owners Dr. Gurpreet Padda and Ami Grimes have applied for liquor licenses and, pending their approval, intend to buy the former Holy Corners Second Baptist Church at 500 North Kingshighway Boulevard.

The 40,000-square-foot building is listed for sale at $1.65 million; Cathedral Square's buildout would cost about $3.5 million to $4 million, according to a letter Padda submitted to 28th Ward Alderwoman Lyda Krewson.

Since opening three years ago, Cathedral Square's official home has been 3914 Lindell Boulevard, the old site of the Playboy Club and, more recently, City Grille & Brewhaus. But long-discussed plans to open a brewpub there have yet to materialize, and most Cathedral Square beer is contract-brewed across the state, in Weston.

"We have received significant accolades for the quality of our product and anticipate significant additional growth," Padda wrote in his letter. "We ... are looking for a permanent location for our brew haus and restaurant complex."

Cathedral Square tripled its production in 2011, according to the Brewers Association, brewing about 750 barrels of beer, up from 250 barrels the previous year.

The former sanctuary of the 1907 church would be the brewpub's main seating area, with outdoor dining available in a center courtyard. Cathedral Square's proposed hours would be 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Friday-Saturday.

Padda, who, along with Grimes, also owns Sanctuaria, Diablitos, Cafe Ventana and other local ventures, noted in his letter that Cathedral Square would keep noise, light and other disturbances to a minimum.

"We are not a dancehall. We are not a nightclub. We do not have stadium speakers. We are not predominantly a bar; less than 50 percent of our total sales are bar sales."

Padda last year had considered moving Sanctuaria to a historic church across the street from the old Second Baptist.

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Brewery seeks to open in old Central West End church

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York Hospital's new Meeting Place will be in the former York United Methodist Church in York Village.Courtesy image

YORK, Maine York Hospital is moving forward with plans to convert the former United Methodist Church in the center of York Village to a new center called the Meeting Place.

The new health education center for staff, physicians and the community may open by late this year, according to Steve Pelletier, chief operating officer for York Hospital.

"Since we have Planning Board approval and Historic District Commission support, we're in the process of designing the interior and exterior renovations and put it out to bid," Pelletier said Monday. "We hope get bids back by late summer and begin construction in the fall."

Fiorentino Group Architects designed the renovations to the historic 1834 church, which was most recently used as a retail center.

The building will retain its exterior look, according to Pelletier. He added that the building will retain some of its interior church features, such as old cornices.

The basement will be used for storage while the first floor will hold meeting rooms. There will be a larger meeting room on the second floor. The Meeting Place will be used for staff training and for health education for the community, according to Pelletier.

"We were trying to create the right use for the building, and converting the church into a meeting place is really appropriate," he said.

The main entrance will be at the back of the building, where there is parking, he said.

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Former church to house health education center

Muni replaces rails for the N-Judah and J-Church lines. (CBS)

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) A 10-day shutdown that affected two key San Francisco Municipal Railway light-rail lines ended Monday morning.

The shutdown allowed the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to complete track and street improvements in the areas of Church and Duboce streets and Carl Street.

The project began the evening of May 25, and stopped train service on the N-Judah line, the citys busiest light-rail route. J-Church trains were limited to above-ground service only and switched back at Church and Market streets. In addition, the 22-Fillmore bus was rerouted.

Muni officials provided shuttle buses and longer trains to accommodate affected riders.

SFMTA Director of Transportation Ed Reiskin said the project would provide new track for more reliable Muni service and improved access for all modes of transportation so that cars, pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders can coexist safety.

(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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N-Judah And J-Church Muni Lines Fully Reopened After Construction

Courtesy of the Board of Standards and Appeals

An architectural plan of the chapel that the Mormon church is proposing to build on 133rd Ave. in Flushing, Queens.

A controversial plan to build a large Mormon church in Flushing will get a second hearing before a key city panel on Tuesday.

But a look at the churchs construction plans from around the nation shows that Queens isnt the only place it is seeking permission to build up to the heavens.

Representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints say it needs spacious buildings to accommodate its unique way worshipping, which include separate rooms for bible study groups divided by age and sex. Building them often requires permission from local zoning boards.

The Queens plan needs two variances from the city Board of Standards and Appeals.

Everywhere they go, they refuse to abide by the rules that are set, said Paul Graziano, an outspoken Flushing resident and an urban planner.

Church officials say theres nothing untoward about asking for a variance in Flushing or elsewhere. The church endeavors to obey the law, said church spokesman Ahmad Corbitt. Asking for variances is part of the law.

Last year, the zoning board in Brookline, Mass., approved a variance to build a 33-foot high building with a 72-foot steeple, though some community members and lawmakers said that church was too big for the one-acre lot. A band of residents there even hired an attorney to fight the variance.

In one of the more well-known cases, in the late 1990s in Harrison, N.Y., the church sought to build an 89,000-square-foot building with a 159-foot spire. That plan, which faced years of resident opposition, was later abandoned when the church built its temple on Columbus Avenue in Manhattan, near Lincoln Center.

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Mormon church wants to build big