U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner (Lewis Geyer, Longmont Times-Call)

Republican Congressman Cory Gardner intends to drop his re-election bid to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Mark Udall, lobbing a bombshell that alters Colorado's political landscape for the November elections.

Shortly after The Denver Post first reported Gardner's plans, the GOP front-runner in the Senate race, Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck, revealed he was going to run for Gardner's seat in the 4th Congressional District.

A number of Republicans, including former state GOP chairman Dick Wadhams, hailed Gardner's move.

"This is a game changer not only for Colorado Republicans in the Senate race, but also it totally changes the entire 2014 election," Wadhams said Wednesday. "Cory is someone who all Republicans can rally around and can usher in a new generation of statewide leadership to our party and the state of Colorado."

Former Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck

Gardner, who is viewed as a rising star by the national GOP, has criticized Udall over his support for the Affordable Care Act.

Udall's campaign said the senator "looks forward to debating the important issues that impact our future."

"From flood and wildfire recovery efforts to ensuring that every family has the opportunity to get ahead to standing up to the NSA and protecting Coloradans' freedom to be left alone, Mark spends every day working to protect Colorado's special way of life," said Udall's campaign spokesman Chris Harris.

Denver political consultant Eric Sondermann said the Gardner move "single handily puts Colorado at the center of the battle for U.S. Senate that Republicans are waging."

Original post:
U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner to enter U.S. Senate race against Mark Udall

Artist's rendering of the East Sooke Fire Hall

image credit: Submitted

If youve driven along East Sooke Road recently you might have seen some land clearing and a sign reading: Site of the new East Sooke Fire Hall. A new fire hall is getting underway, and targeted operational date is in early 2015. The new re hall will be located on East Sooke Road, east of Raglan Place.

This fire hall has been long in the making. There have been ongoing efforts from successive fire commissioners to replace the existing fire hall, but the necessary conditions came together in 2013 to make the dream a reality. Some of these conditions included the sale of land, which Brian White of the East Sooke Fire Commission said came at a very satisfactory price. An anonymous $40,000 donation moved things along nicely as well. White said many in the community also stepped up, reflecting a real community effort. Former Juan de Fuca area director Brian Henson contributed land clearing and Ramsay Milne helped with the burning of the brush and shrub. The CRD has also provided significant support.

According to White, the impetus behind this fast action came last spring, when an inspector from the Fire Underwriters Survey (FUS) came to the East Sooke Fire Hall and asked why they still operate from a fire hall that was inadequate way back in1994.

A CRD document dated February 2013 (Proposed East Sooke Fire Hall) addresses the need for a new fire hall, as the existing one was significantly below standards. It was deemed antiquated and undersized, and did not meet current building code requirements. Its proximity to a community park also posed safety concerns for children playing in the area. Further, it lacked drill and training areas, it could not serve as a post-disaster facility, and expansion or reconfiguring the existing structure was not possible.

After a successful referendum last summer, at which time East Sooke residents voted 339 to 138 in favour of the new fire hall, the focus has been on the planning and design of the hall. A detailed Request for Proposals had nine firms respond.

David Nairne and Associates were the winning architects, and the decision was made to proceed with an all steel fireproof interior and exterior, because of the enhanced survivability of the building after a major earthquake or forest interface fire. Construction is slated to start in late June. The target date for a fully operational East Sooke fire hall is early 2015.

Dr. George May, the Chair of the East Sooke Fire Commission, said, the fire hall design achieves the tests of affordability, long life, and capacity to survive a major fire and earthquake. We expect this design to meet the needs of East Sooke for a long time to come.

Besides the obvious benefits of providing a go-to place in case of tsunami or forest fire, said Brian White, the new fire hall will include a built-in water tank loading station for residents of East Sooke. The existing waterline will also be extended, to just before Anderson Cove.

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East Sooke's fire hall speeding along

Small kitchen remodeling ideas
Small kitchen remodeling ideas.

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Kitchen Remodeling Design Ideas I Nashville Kitchen Showroom
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Interior Design, Talias Legacy, Steve Aoki Vegas Project.
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Interior Designer Essam EL- Dahan (Luxury Designs)
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How to Organize the Small Spaces in Your Life!
Interior designer Elaine Griffin walks you through several ways to save space and de-clutter your life!

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Mies

If youve been coveting the definitive guide to one of the worlds most celebrated architects, this epic 543-page volume is worth the splurge.

Author and scholar Detlef Mertins spent a decade researching all things van der Rohe from his beginnings in Berlin through to his triumph, Manhattans Seagram Building, considered the first glass skyscraper in the US.

Along the way, Mertins explores Mies interests and influences, including, namely, the Bauhaus movement.

And the book is packed with more than 700 illustrations sketches, architectural plans and lots of photos of his masterpieces, including the Farnsworth House and Germanys New National Gallery.Phaidon Press, $150; March

The Italian trio behind this guide to the latest design trends sure did their homework the book weighs in at 500-plus pages, with a whopping 120 international projects accompanied by 500 illustrations.

And those projects run the style gamut from modern to vintage to Surrealist to Mediterranean meaning, theres something here for everyone.

But its not a merely a pretty tome for your coffee table the authors note that their aim is to provide practical ideas and inspiration for designers, architects and those looking to renovate.24 ORE Cultura, $55; March

Though its interior designer Jay Jeffers first book, hes already established his design cred via a foreword by the illustrious Jamie Drake. So just who is this Jeffers fellow?

Based in San Francisco, the young designer has won accolades from Elle Decor for his inventive mix of antique, vintage and modern furnishings, along with smart uses of color and artwork.

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6 interior design books to lift your homes spirits

by Emily Popp Fri., Feb. 21, 2014 2:46 PM PST

These photos of interior designer Nate Berkus and his fianc Jeremiah Brent (who you may recognize from The Rachel Zoe Project when he worked for Rachel), might look like a truly adorable wedding announcementbut they're actually from Banana Republic's new ad campaign.

Nate and Jeremiah make an impossibly cute couple, and somehow they manage to look even cuter dressed in Banana Republic's collection of chic and casual pieces. The campaign is titled "True Outfitters," and features real life couples and families.

Nate and Jeremiah pose in different, couple-y settings like lounging on a bench, embracing poolside or lying on the grassall while smartly outfitted in Banana Republic.

NEWS: See the best dressed stars of the week

Catherine Sadler, global chief marketing officer at Banana Republic told The New York Times, "Showcasing true relationships can resonate more deeply." These adds will show in publications like InStyle and Rolling Stone, and currently Banana Republic is the only clothing brand to show a same-sex couple in magazines.

We've got to hand it to Banana Republic for thinking outside the advertising box and coming up with something sweet, real and relatable.

We always knew we liked Nate for his fabulous interior designs, and Jeremiah was super endearing on The Rachel Zoe Project. But now, after seeing this campaign, we love them even more!

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Nate Berkus and Fianc Star in New Banana Republic Campaign