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As groundwater contamination problems go, the stuff leaking from septic systems isnt terribly sexy. Give me a gas stations leaking underground storage tank any day, or an old electronics plant, or Kirtland Air Force Bases sloppy aviation fuel handling. That I can get excited about.

But waste leaking from an aging home septic system?

That, says University of New Mexico engineering professor Bruce Thomson, is precisely the problem.

Its groundwater contamination thats happening all around us, and were not paying any attention, said Thomson, an expert in treating human waste who delights in describing his academic specialty as turd mechanics.

Septic systems drain away household waste into settling tanks, with the water spilling out into drain fields and the natural filtration of the soil doing the cleanup work. But when they dont work because homes are packed too closely together, or the systems are old or poorly maintained, contamination can result. The key problem is nitrates, which can render water dangerous to infants.

Nitrate contamination from leaking septic systems is a problem statewide, and here in Bernalillo County, and its contamination thats entirely preventable, said Bernalillo County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins.

This evening, the Bernalillo County Commission will take a fresh stab at tightening the rules to try to reduce the risk, a combination of inspections of aging systems and rules that push some septic system owners to hook up to the regions municipal sewer system if that is an option.

As currently proposed, the ordinance would:

The ordinance, pushed by Hart Stebbins, has been bouncing around for more than a year, delayed by opponents concerns because of the way the cost of compliance falls on homeowners.

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Bernalillo County grapples again with septic question

More Room By Design LLC | Room Addition Contractor in McLean VA
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UC San Francisco is preparing a second Ebola-specific isolation room and seeking additional volunteers to treat potential patients following the designation Friday of UC medical centers as the state's priority hospitals to treat Ebola cases.

The second isolation room designed for a patient with the deadly disease is being constructed at UCSF's Mount Zion facility, where one isolation room was already set up that can handle the extra precautions needed with an Ebola patient, said Dr. Josh Adler, chief medical officer at UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital.

There have been no suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola in San Francisco, but hospitals in The City and throughout the U.S. have been preparing for that scenario.

In addition to San Francisco, the California Department of Public Health on Friday identified UC medical centers in Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles and San Diego as those positioned to accept patients with Ebola.

"Hospitals in California are much better prepared now than several weeks ago to provide the necessary screening and care for Ebola patients," Adler said. "That doesn't mean we're ultimately where we need to get to, but we're in a much better place than several weeks back."

The Mount Zion hospital has seven isolation rooms, but two will ultimately be designated and equipped to handle a patient with Ebola. They will also be attached to anterooms, where health care workers can put on and remove personal protective equipment.

More than 70 doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and laboratory scientists at UCSF have volunteered to care for a confirmed or suspected Ebola patient, though the hospital is seeking at least an additional 30 volunteers.

UCSF's entire Ebola preparation effort is expected to cost several hundred thousand dollars, though an exact figure has not been determined, said Adler.

As of Saturday, there have been more than 10,000 Ebola cases and nearly 5,000 deaths in West Africa, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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UCSF adding isolation room, staff for possible Ebola cases

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) October 28, 2014

Travelers going through Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. now have a new dining option available to them. Concessions International (CI), one of the leading food and beverage concessionaires in the U.S., opened an American Tap Room location at Reagan National Airport at Terminal C, near Gate 36 on Wed. Oct. 23. The new restaurant is a joint venture between Concessions International and MBC Concessions, an Atlanta-based ACDBE partner airport concessions disadvantaged business enterprise. CI will also open Taylor Gourmet in Terminal B/C at Reagan National this winter.

Working with the local Reston, VA Thompson Hospitality, owner of American Tap Room and Be Right Burger (brb), CI also recently opened a brb at Dulles International Airport last month. The brb location is at Concourse C, Gate 18. The two restaurant openings mark the first Washington, D.C. airport locations for CI and the first airport locations for Thompson Hospitality.

American Tap Room offers travelers a finer dining experience, for those moments when you have more time to relax waiting for a flight, says Donata Russell Major, CIs Chief Executive Officer. Be Right Burger and American Tap Room are two different concepts that are both great additions to the Washington, D.C. airports.

American Tap Room is American regional cuisine at its classic, pub-inspired best. Guests can also enjoy some twists on the classics with taste-inspired ideas like the Dirty Caesar Salad featuring red onions, cherry tomatoes, crumbled blue cheese, hot sauce, parmesan and croutons, or the Greek Turkey Burger with hummus, tzatziki and a tomato-cucumber kalamata olive salad. And of course, all of the menu items go nicely with the many cold beer options available.

We are excited to introduce travelers passing through Reagan National Airport to our American Tap Room concept, stated Warren Thompson, President and Chairman of Thompson Hospitality. Restaurant guests now expect great tasting food no matter where they are, and that includes the airport. American Tap Room offers sophisticated food and premium beverages for the more discerning traveler.

This is Concessions Internationals 5th and 6th restaurant openings this year with plans to open six more in 2014.

About Concessions International, LLC Atlanta-based Concessions International, LLC, founded in 1978, is a dynamic food and beverage concessionaire with operations in eight airports. The company's portfolio includes franchised, licensed and proprietary concepts, including casual dining, quick service, snack, deli and bar and grill. The company is a franchisee of major national brands including Fresh To Order, Seattle's Best Coffee, and Einstein Bros. Bagels. CI operates Pemberton Caf at the World of Coca Cola, and Paschal's Restaurant in the historic Castleberry district of downtown Atlanta. Visit http://www.cintl.com for more information.

About Thompson Hospitality The American Tap Room and brb (Be Right Burger) brands are owned by Reston, Virginia-based Thompson Hospitality. Warren Thompson, a longtime foodservice industry veteran, founded Thompson Hospitality over two decades ago. The company operates a variety of contract services across a range of sites including universities, entertainment venues, hospitals and corporate offices. In addition to brb and American Tap Room, Thompson Hospitality owns and operates a variety of branded restaurant concepts including Austin Grill and Tequila Bar and Willie Ts Lobster Shack.

Media Contact: Ellen Hartman; (678) 399-3335

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Concessions International Brings American Tap Room to Washington, D.C. Airport; Restaurant Now Open at Reagan National ...

A small fire in the Stark Hall residence tower on the Denton campus of Texas Womans University caused an evacuation Sunday night, according to a news release issued by the university.

The small fire occurred in the basement laundry room and sent smoke through several floors of the building.

The sprinkler system in the laundry room extinguished the fire within minutes, according to the news release. There were no injuries reported and no damage to the structure other than the laundry room.

In addition, one resident was taken by ambulance to a local hospital for a nonrelated medical condition.

The TWU Department of Public Safety received an automated fire alarm from Stark Hall and an emergency call from a resident assistant in the building at about 10:15 p.m., the release said. The Denton Fire Department was called at that time. The first TWU officer arriving on the scene saw students leaving the building and found smoke coming from the laundry room.

Residents were allowed to return to Stark Hall at about 11:30 p.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Denton Fire Department.

2400 block of South Interstate 35E Denton police are on the hunt for a suspect who was carrying weapons during a domestic disturbance, reports state.

Officers were dispatched to the scene, but the suspect had already fled. He left before the victim was able to call 911.

Reports state that the suspect is the victims husband from whom she is currently separated.

The husband is reported to have exhibited two weapons and stated that he made them to use on the woman and her boyfriend.

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Blotter: Fire prompts evacuation of TWU residence hall

photos/Susan Joy Clark

Wilson Elementary School in Lodi second-grade teacher Jacqueline Serek with one of the many murals she created at the school. Wilson School in Lodi's multi-purpose room has a mural with tropical fish paintings.

An octopus graces the wall at the school.

Wilson Elementary School in Lodi is brightening up its walls to create a positive atmosphere for students.

Second-grade teacher Jacqueline Serek has volunteered many hours to create bright and cheerful murals in several areas in the school.

Serek has a background in art, earning a B.A. in fine art in addition to her B.A. in elementary education.

On one wall of the school, Serek created two trees. One of the tree's branches resembles the contours of the brain, making a "brain tree." Its neighboring tree is a "child tree," made up of abstract children with their arms outstretched to form twig-like projections.

The second-grade teacher also transformed an old corkboard in another hallway.

Principal Christie Vanderhook explained how the corkboard was getting old and dry and buckling in the middle.

Serek peeled off the cork layer and painted on the remaining board with bright colors, flowers and an uplifting saying, transforming the old corkboard into a permanent sign.

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Wilson School in Lodi teacher makes walls into works of art

By KEVIN PARKS Tuesday October 28, 2014 11:51 AM

Voters in Clintonville's Ward 21-F will decide on two liquor options Tuesday, Nov. 4, that would allow for alcohol sales at the proposed Rusty Bucket restaurant at 4109 N. High St.

But before the residents of that subsection of the neighborhood go to the polls, the president of the company wants them to know the permits will not be used to the full extent allowed by what will appear on the ballot.

Further, Gary Callicoat said he wants to clear up what a representative of the Rusty Bucket's public-relations firm termed "some of the misinformation circulating in the community about the restaurant and talk about how their vision for the restaurant will successfully engage with the local community."

"We're not a bar," Callicoat said last week in a telephone interview from Nashville, Tenn. "We are a restaurant. We are a very community-driven restaurant, very family-friendly.

"We give back to the community," he added. "It's very important to us that we're entrenched there. I think it's being represented that we're a bar in some of the meetings going on there."

With a Board of Zoning Adjustment hearing on two variances requested to pave the way for the newest restaurant in the Columbus-based chain scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 28, the fate of the establishment was still up in the air as of ThisWeek Booster's press time. The outcome of that meeting will be reported online and in next week's print edition.

Opposition to the Rusty Bucket has arisen in the form of a Facebook campaign and fliers suggesting "4 easy things you can do to stop this development."

These steps include voting against the local liquor options -- Issues 9A and 9B -- in Ward 21-F, which is bounded on the east by North High Street, the west by the Olentangy River, the south by Hollenback Road and on the north primarily by West Schreyer Place, save for a small portion that runs south along Olentangy Boulevard and then west along Henderson Road to the river.

The fliers also suggested emailing the Board of Zoning Adjustment and Columbus City Council members.

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Rusty Bucket responds to local backlash

Gibsons is going to Disney World. Sort of.

Gibsons Restaurant Group (Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse, Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House, Luxbar, Quartino) will partner with Schussler Creative to open The Boathouse, an expansive waterfront restaurant opening in Disney Springs, an under-construction expansion of Downtown Disney in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

"We were very fortunate to find a terrific partner," says Bob Kanzler, a managing partner with GRG. "We couldn't be more excited."

The creative aspect of The Boathouse, which will feature three bars (one built over water), live entertainment and watercraft rides, will be handled by Schussler, creators of such concepts as Rain Forest Cafe, T-Rex Cafe, Jukebox Saturday Night and more. Gibsons group will manage the restaurant and its steaks, seafood and raw bar menu.

"We're still in the process of recipe creation and menu design," Kanzler says. "But we've obviously been successful in Chicago with steaks and fresh seafood, and I'm sure some of that will carry over."

The Boathouse is aiming for a spring 2015 opening.

pvettel@tribune.com

Twitter @philvettel

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Gibsons Group to open restaurant in Disney World

Freddys headquartered in Kansas; will be second Iowa location

By George C. Ford, The Gazette

October 28, 2014 | 5:19 pm

Demolition began this week in preparation for construction of a new restaurant in northeast Cedar Rapids.

Freddys Frozen Custard and Steakburgers will open in the spring of 2015 at 2745 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE. The Wichita, Kan.-based restaurant chain offers a variety of menu items including lean-beef steakburgers, Vienna Beef hot dogs and shoestring fries as well as freshly churned, chocolate or vanilla frozen custard.

Crews are demolishing a building that formerly housed Metro Grill and reconstruction will begin early next month. The newly constructed, free-standing building will feature indoor seating, patio dining and drive-thru service.

Freddys Frozen Custard and Steakburgers plans to hire a crew of approximately 80 people. The Cedar Rapids location will be Freddys second in Iowa, joining a location in Council Bluffs.

Freddys franchisee Mike Young said the Blairs Ferry Road NE location offers a number of prime features, including interstate proximity and a strong mix of retail and family friendly establishments.

We believe Freddys will be a great fit for the area, Young said. Our expansion plans include future locations in Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Des Moines, Iowa City, Dubuque and the Quad Cities.

Freddys opened its first location in Wichita, Kan. in 2002. Freddys founders operate 13 locations, with six in the Wichita metro area, six in the Kansas City market, and one in the Dallas market.

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New custard, burger restaurant coming to northeast Cedar Rapids

Baby boomers have been flocking to Palm Springs for its racket- and club-swinging recreations, its warm, dry weather, its trademark mid-century modern architecture and design. The slow and easy lifestyle prompted many to buy second homes and retire here.

But that community is witnessing a significant change in their desert oasis bubble. New restaurants are serving craft beer and flaunting edgy design. Golden Era hotels are going under the knife with dramatically modern face-lifts. And canyon hiking trails are trodden by bearded urbanites in designer sunglasses and neckerchiefs.

A new Palm Springs is taking shape, one where a feverish, youthful energy is almost palpable in the desert heat as millennials swarm to festivals like Coachella, Joshua Tree Music Festival and the more recent Splash House, and to frequent the spate of cool new boutique hotels and bars.

Heres a look at the future Palm Springs.

A DJ holds court at Splash House Music Festival.Photo: Oliver Walker, Splash House Music Festival

Five years ago, the Ace Hotel was the only option I considered when meeting with friends, says 30-year-old Donovan Funkey, who grew up in Palm Springs. But now friends come to him. In February 2013, Donovan opened Bar, a cocktail lounge with an indoor/outdoor performance space for DJs and live bands. It filled a void between staid hotel bars and not-so-glam watering holes for the swelling hipster scene.

Brunch at Hacienda Cantina.Photo: Dre Naylor

The resurgence of the town has attracted Splash House Music Festival, an annual weekend pool party that happens in August and spans multiple locations, including the new Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs and The Saguaro hotel, as well as Hacienda Cantina & Beach Club, an 8,000-square-foot outdoor venue with pool, cabanas, three bars and a sprawling lawn.

Thanks to its partnership with Goldenvoice a division of AEG that has produced the worlds most famous music festival, Coachella Splash House features top acts like Moby, Cut Copy and Chromeo. All Splash House venues are still party houses throughout the year, joining the ranks of notoriously trendy, DJ-fronted weekend-resort pool scenes like Ace Hotel, Riviera Palm Springs and Skylark.

Lena Headey.Photo: KYLE ROVER/startraksphoto.com

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Palm Springs transitions from desert retreat to hipster haven