FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Today marks the first day of spring, and while we can enjoy milder temperatures, the TCEQ says now is the time to prepare our living and outdoor spaces for the eventual arrival of summer heat. The agencys Take Care of Texas program makes it easier for everyone to do their part to help conserve our states natural resources, and save money at the same time.

As Texans, we all take on a personal responsibility to our state, says TCEQ Commissioner Zak Covar. Preparing for the summer heat now, with these simple, cost-effective water and energy conservation measures, will help us all to do our part to Take Care of Texas.

Lawn and garden watering can make up nearly 40 percent of a Texans total household water use; but if you prepare your yard this spring, you can do your part to save water.

Fine-tune your irrigation system. Properly zone the system so turf areas are watered separately from the landscape and flowerbeds. Schedule each irrigation zone to account for the type of sprinkler, sun exposure, and soil type. Check sprinkler heads for dirt and debris that clogs the nozzle and adjust the heads to avoid watering pavement.

Capture spring showers and use them to water your landscape. Rainwater is better for plants than chemically treated water and its free.

Add mulch and compost. Mulch helps prevent erosion, suppress weeds, moderate soil temperature, and adds nutrients to your lawn and garden. Compost serves as a soil conditioner that will help improve your garden and reduce your water usage. By using mulch and compost on lawns and gardens, Texans could reduce the need for outdoor watering by 30 to 60 percent.

Use native plants. Plants native to Texas are beautiful; and they typically require less water, pesticides, fertilizers, and maintenancesaving you time and money. The deep root systems of many native plants also increase the soil's capacity to store water and reduce runoff. In addition, native plants attract a variety of birds, and butterflies, by providing diverse habitats and food sources.

In Texas, cooling and heating accounts for as much as 50 percent of annual home energy expenses. This spring, you can do your part to prepare your home for the summer heat while helping to keep our air clean.

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Take Care of Texas offers tips to save water, energy and money this spring

Etobicoke Guardian

Ontario Power Authority (OPA) officials are sounding the alarm after an Etobicoke resident reported she received a solicitation call to inspect her furnace from someone purporting to be with the authority.

The OPA co-ordinates province-wide conservation efforts, plans the electricity system long-term and contracts for clean electricity sources.

The authority does not inspect residents heating or cooling systems or solicit participation in its programs by phone or at the door, a spokesperson said Tuesday.

We want to make sure all residents are aware the OPA takes very seriously unauthorized use of its name, logos, brands and program information, OPA spokesperson John Cannella said. We do not call consumers to solicit participation in our saveONenergy for Home programs. Our programs do not require door-to-door sales or calls, or the inspection of any heating and cooling equipment.

Etobicoke Centre MPP Donna Cansfields office confirmed a constituent recently called her office to report the solicitation call. Cansfields office then contacted the OPA.

The three-term Liberal MPP said Wednesday she has received a solicitation call at her door to inspect her furnace.

I had someone actually come to my door about my furnace who claimed to represent the Ontario government, she said. I found that fascinating, obviously. When I started to grill him, he took off.

Cansfield said she repeatedly cautions her constituents to be on the lookout for fraud and misrepresentation whenever they receive a solicitation call or knock on their door.

Her advice?

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Ontario Power Authority urges residents to be wary if someone wants to inspect your furnace

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(1) Bathroom Designs 1.500 Photos Images Decoration Ideas - Video

LOWELL -- The Lowell Housing Authority board recently voted to award a combined $1.8 million to private contractors as a result of a public-bidding process for three construction projects.

The contracts will pay for kitchen and bath renovations at two different developments and roof work at a third. The LHA will fund the work with fiscal 2012 capital funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to Chief Financial Officer Adam Garvey.

The LHA turned to a public-bidding process after HUD last year banned the LHA from using $2.2 million in unobligated 2012 capital funds on "force account" projects. Force account is when housing authorities use their own employees and no-bid union labor to perform work.

The LHA board voted at a special meeting last month to award the three contracts.

Charters Brothers Construction of Danville, N.H., was awarded a $862,900 contract for kitchen and bathroom modernization work in 16 units at the George Flanagan Development.

The cost of the contract was within 1 percent of the independent cost estimate for the work, and Charters Brothers was the lowest of two bidders. The other bidder was Quality Contracting of Worcester.

Stallion Builders of Nashua, N.H., was awarded a $709,480 contract to provide kitchen and bathroom renovations in 24 units at the Francis Gatehouse development. Stallion Builders was the lowest of four bidders for the work and its proposal came more than $300,000 below the LHA's independent cost estimate for the work.

The other bidders were L&H Construction of Medford, Quality Contracting and Stutman Contracting of Oxford.

The invitation for bids the LHA issued for the two kitchen and bath projects included trade work exceeding $20,000 in four categories, so sub-bids were sought.

The sub-bidders who will be performing work are Richard T. Losordo Electrical of Brockton, King Painting of North Andover, Richman Corp. of Quincy, Capital Carpet & Flooring of Woburn, and Kneeland Plumbing & Heating of Rowley.

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LHA OKs $1.8M in bids for remodeling

By Marcus Rauhut

mrauhut@publicopinionnews.com @MarcusRauhutPO on Twitter

Work continues Thursday on the new medical office building adjacent to Waynesboro Hospital. The Franklin County Industrial Develpoment Authority approved a bond issue to finance the project. (Marcus Rauhut Public Opinion)

WAYNESBORO >> The Franklin County Industrial Development Authority approved a bond issue to finance Waynesboro Hospital's new medical office building.

The authority on Thursday authorized the sale of as much as $15 million in bonds to pay for the new building, which is currently under construction next to Waynesboro Hospital.

Summit Health CFO Kim Rzomp said interest rates are extraordinarily competitive and Summit is very happy with bids it has received for the bonds from regional banks.

The authority on Thursday also authorized issuing up to $28 million in bonds to refinance a previous bond issue.

The 2009 bond issue was used to either finance or refinance Chambersburg Hospital's emergency room expansion, construction and equipment at the Cancer Treatment Center, Mercersburg Health Center and Summit Health Center, as well as the architecture, engineering and preliminary construction costs related to the bed tower expansion at Chambersburg Hospital.

Waynesboro Hospital broke ground earlier this month for the $15 million medical office building, which is scheduled to be completed by summer 2015.

The three-story, 50,000-square-foot building includes office space for multiple Summit Health specialty practices, a family practice and a walk-in care center.

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Bond issue approved for Waynesboro medical office building

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ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) An expensive office building for lawmakers at the Capitol is facing new scrutiny

The four-story glass, steel and stone complex would sit across the street from the Capitol, and include offices for 45 of Minnesotas 67 state senators.

But the cost and design are raising eyebrows, even from supporters like Gov. Mark Dayton, who called the project overly lavish.

If you ask me does there need to be a building, I would say Yes, Dayton said. I think the one thats portrayed now with the glass facing and some of the other design features is un-Minnesotan.

The plans call for a quick build schedule during a three-year State Capitol renovation. It will add more offices and hearing rooms near the Capitol, where open spaces are crowded and public lines often stretch down the hallways.

But critics, including GOP gubernatorial candidate Marty Seifert, say it was all hidden inside a major tax bill last year, and its now a major campaign issue in the 2014 governors race.

So now were going to put a $90-million building together for 40 some senators? It makes absolutely no sense, Seifert said.

The original design of the building included a fitness center and reflecting pool, but they were eliminated after a public outcry.

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New Senate Office Building Sparks Controversy

Richardson, TX (PRWEB) March 20, 2014

On Wednesday morning, March 19, a Topping Out Ceremony was held at the site of the new Forest Park Medical Center Southlake Medical Office Building, signifying that the final height of the new building has been reached.

The project, developed by LandPlan Development and Neal Richards Group, is situated on a 2.645 acre site, adjoining the existing Forest Park Medical Center in Southlake.

The medical office building is a 4-story, 88,159 square foot building, including a grand entrance atrium, elevator core, and shell space for future clinic tenants. The new medical office building was designed by GSR Andrade to maximize the aesthetic balance of the campus by utilizing a stone veneer which matches the existing hospitals exterior finish (see attached rendering).

A two-story enclosed connector joins the new MOB with the existing Forest Park Medical Center Southlake hospital, completed by Adolfson & Peterson (A&P) in April 2013.

LandPlan Developments Director Reed Williams helped to provide the context for this event: Everything that we build here today is a lasting monument to healing that is going to touch and impact the lives of patients for generations to come. This isnt a 10 year or 20 year building; this is a 50 or 100 year building thats made to last.

With the construction of the Southlake MOB facility, A&P proudly continues its strong partnership with Forest Park Medical Center, LandPlan Development Corporation, and Neal Richards Group. Over the past six years, A&P has partnered with Forest Park Medical Center on multiple projects including Forest Park Medical Center Dallas, Forest Park Medical Center Southlake and Forest Park Medical Center Austin. In all, A&P has partnered with FPMC to build nearly one million square feet of hospitals and medical office space throughout Texas.

The FPMC Southlake MOB project is scheduled to be completed in August of 2014.

About Adolfson & Peterson Construction

Adolfson & Peterson Construction is a U.S.-based, privately held firm that is consistently ranked among the top 50 construction management companies in the nation. Founded in 1946, the company has built longstanding commitments to the regions in which it operates and is known nationally for its innovative and collaborative approaches within the building industry. A&P serves the education, multifamily, healthcare, energy, commercial, municipal, and senior living market segments from its offices in the Atlantic, Gulf States, Midwest, Mountain States, Pacific Northwest, Southwest, and West Coast regions. For more information, visit http://www.a-p.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

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A&P Celebrates Topping Out of Forest Park Medical Center Southlake Medical Office Building

by Sharon Kong, sharonkong@theborneopost.com. Posted on March 21, 2014, Friday

KUCHING: The occupancy rate for the office sector in Kuching remains stable and high, says CH William Talhar Wong & Yeo Sdn Bhd (WTWY), thanks to government monitoring.

WTWY in its Sarawak Property Bulletin said the supply of offices in Kuching has always been well monitored by the state government, leading occupancy rate for this sector to remain generally stable and high at above 90 per cent.

Most vacant spaces are being occupied by the government and its subsidiaries, it highlighted. In fact, it is mostly government-linked entities who have been more active in Kuchings private commercial office buildings sector.

WTWY pointed out two buildings known as Gateway Towers were simultaneously launched in August 2013 to house the headquarters for the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) and the Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA), both government-linked entities.

Another government-linked building, called Baitul Makmur 2, is now being planned as a second building to be annexed to the existing Baitul Makmur at Bukit Siol area in Petra Jaya and is expected to be constructed in the near future.

Apart from these, WTWY believed there was no other known private commercial office building coming up in Kuching for the next year or so.

Office sector development is not a popular foray for local developers who prefer to stick to the mainstream sector of residential and commercial sale of large commercial space is doubtful since most large corporations are based in the peninsula and rentals are low and stagnant, it explained.

Speaking of rental yields, WTWY noted that it remains low at five to six per cent per annum with rental rates stagnated at about RM2.80 to RM3.00 per square foot (psf) or so.

As in the previous year, there was no purpose-built office building being transacted for 2013, it added.

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Occupancy rate for Kuchings office sector remains stable WTWY

LIMESTONE COUNTY, AL (WAFF) -

For years, Limestone County Sheriff's officials said they need more room to isolate inmates who could pose a danger to others. It looks like that extra jail space will come soon.

According to the jail administrator, they knew when they first moved into the jail in 2005 that they would need more maximum security, single-bed cells.

The Limestone County Commission awarded the project bid on Monday. There is no set date to start construction yet, but once the bid is accepted it usually takes about three or four weeks to get through the contact process and get started.

The jail currently has twelve single-bed cells in the jail right now. Single-bed cells are for inmates who need to be separated from the general population that could have a violent history. Some may need protection from other inmates. Some are put in punitive isolation cells for inmates who have broken the rules. Other single-person cells are also used for inmates who have medical issues.

The administrator says there may be violent offenders in general population who would be in one if there was room. The pods will also be useful for inmates who need medical care.

"I may never go to jail, but someone I love may. And I would expect them to be protected from violent inmates. If I have a family member with medical problems that they would be in a situation where they would be safe," said Limestone County Jail Administrator Captain Vanessa Rich.

Rich said inmates with more violent tendencies tend to get in more fights, so the single-bed cells would make the environment safer for deputies.

Premier Structures Incorporated won the bid to build the 24-single bed jail pod. The estimated cost is $3.2 million. The plans allow for a future expansion for another 24 pods.

The Athens City Planning Board will vote Tuesday night on whether to approve the architect's plans.

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New addition planned for Limestone Co. Jail

LIBERTY TWP.

Developers of the mega retail project Liberty Center announced Tuesday they signed the AC Hotels by Marriott brand for the sites planned hotel.

The 130-room hotel will be built, owned and operated by Middleton, Wis.-based Raymond Management Co., a hotel developer partnering with Steiner + Associates on the project.

Plans for a hotel were previously announced by Steiner for Liberty Center. Tuesdays news revealed which hotel brand was franchised.

Our tagline for AC Hotels is feel the city. Its very design-oriented and targeted very much towards the millennial traveler, said Nina Herrera-Davila, a spokeswoman for Marriott.

Liberty Center, in the early stages of construction in Liberty Twp., is the name of the approximately 1.4 million-square-foot mixed-use shopping, office and residential complex planned for the intersection of Ohio 129, Interstate 75 and Liberty Way. Its scheduled to open in September 2015, according to Columbus-based Steiner + Associates.

Steiner is the same developer of Easton Town Center in the Columbus-area and The Greene in Beavercreek. The Butler County projects first phase is expected to be a more than $300 million investment encompassing 64 acres.

AC Hotels by Marriott is a new brand in the U.S., Herrera-Davila said.

Marriott International announced in 2013 it would introduce the AC Hotels brand to the U.S. in a joint venture with Spains AC Hotels. About 30 AC Hotels are in the development pipeline across the country, with the first opening later this year in New Orleans, La., Herrera-Davila said.

Currently there are about 79 AC Hotels open in Europe, she said.

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130-room hotel announced for mega retail project Liberty Center