RALEIGH, N.C. - Parents of Brier Creek Elementary School students, concerned about a planned new elementary school, filled the school's lunch room and served up plenty of questions for school system staff Wednesday night.

Brier Creek is overcrowded by more than 100 students, a Wake County Schools spokeswoman said. Plans call for opening up a larger elementary school in 2016, to be located about 2.5 miles away off Page Road near I-540. So far, there's no name, no ground broken and still no decision as to whether it will replace Brier Creek as the area's year-round option, or operate on a traditional calendar.

Parents largely told school staff they liked Brier Creek's year-round calendar and wanted to keep it that way, but staff has recommended the school board designate the new building as the year-round choice and move Brier Creek to a traditional calendar, since it has a smaller capacity.

"We got a lot of information, but there are no guarantees and that was basically what was said. There will be changes. You may be impacted. You may not be," Brier Creek parent Clarence Clayton said.

"I think it's pretty clear that the parents here really love being at this school. They want to keep it a year-round option," Brier Creek parent Barbara Martin said.

Some parents said they were confused, given that many decisions have yet to be made. Adding to that confusion, parents were told Brier Creek students will be grandfathered in, though not to any specific building, but rather to whichever school becomes the year-round option.

"There are no guarantees, so she's grandfathered into a school and we don't know what she's grandfathered into," Brier Creek parent Monique Harris said. "She could be grandfathered into something that I'm not even interested in."

School leaders said plans will become clearer as the process moves along.

"In the end, they will be able to see all along the process that we value their input, that we're asking for it so that we can make the best decision possible," Cathy Moore with Wake County Schools said.

Moore said staff will take Wednesday night's comments and relay them to the school board's facilities committee, which meets in February. There's still time for parents to express their opinion online.

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Brier Creek Elem. parents sound off on planned new school

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Published: Thursday, January 29, 2015 at 1:00 a.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at 8:26 p.m.

Restaurants sign with Datum for IT

The owners of Hurricane Grill & Wings and Denny's franchises have outsourced their IT services to Datum Corp., a national technology consulting company based in Lakewood Ranch.

The contract covers eight Hurricane Grill & Wings and 39 Denny's locations in 14 states.

Datum will integrate the restaurant back office system by Compeat and take over corporate store and enterprise-level support. Datum also will install business-grade firewalls, system wide.

Datum's services include network risk assessment and monitoring, menu programming, on-site and remote support and dedicated software specialists.

The company has worked with many restaurant chains, including Beef 'O' Brady's and The Brass Tap, First Watch Restaurants, Stonewood Grill & Tavern and Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurante.

Sutter Roofing gets industry award

Sarasota-based Sutter Roofing Co. has received the 2015 Master Contractor Award from Firestone Building Products Co.

To receive the award, contractors must complete a minimum of four Red Shield warranted jobs in the previous calendar year and have a Preferred Quality Incidence Rating that did not exceed three times the average QIR for Red Shield Licensed Roofing Contractors. QIR is determined by the annual number of quality incidents per million square feet of roofing under warranty.

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Business buzz: Restaurant sign with Datum; Sutter Roofing award; Foundation seeks consultants; First Watch in Louisville

Guy Revelle likely set a speed record in designing and creating the new Hablo Taco restaurant just 45 days from cocktail napkin drawing to construction and hiring. And thats just about right, he said, because the business plan is to make the gritty taco joint into a fabulous party that lasts two years, and then tear the place down.

Its an unusual plan, but so is the venue: Channelside Bay Plaza. Hablo Taco represents the first new restaurant to open in years in Channelside, and the first under the reign of the new mall operator, Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik.

The concept was really two Gringos walk into a Mexican bar, Revelle said. Thats it. Hence the slogans all over the restaurant, Holy Guacamole, Dont drink the water, (drink beer instead,) and Our food is better than our Spanish.

Revelle and his partners were some of the original restaurant operators in Channelside, and they still run the Splitsville Lanes bowling alley bar/restaurant. But over the years, Channelside faltered, and his Stumps Supper Club and Tinatapas operations there shut down.

Meanwhile, Revelle was building new Splitsville locations around the country, including Miami, Dallas, Orlando (in Downtown Disney), Foxborough, Massachusetts and Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Then the mid-life crisis came, Revelle jokes. He went with business partner Mark Gibson to Mexico and ended up wandering into a small town bar drinking Margaritas and local tequila, which gave them a semi-voluntary nap. The story/myth he likes to tell is, We woke up when the Lightning god called, Jeff Vinik. He told us You two guys need to come back to Tampa and open a taco joint.

They want to remake this whole area for all the right reasons, Revelle said, sitting in the new Hablo Taco site amid the last few touches of construction. Its familiar space for Revelle, since its the exact space where his Tinatapas restaurant operated.

Part of the reason Revelle can move so quickly now with Hablo Taco is that Viniks company is supporting much of the cost to renovate and build out the space, while Revelle and Gibson will be operators once it opens.

The menu will be a combination of two parts: One part ultra authentic Mexican items like Street Corn rolled in sauces, and one part Gringo bar food, with items like Ahi Tuna tacos and cheeseburgers.

Local residents of the Channel District get the first peek Wednesday night, and theres a ribbon cutting with politicians on Thursday and then a full opening to the public Wednesday, Feb. 4.

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Channelside restaurant set to talk taco

Orlando, FL (PRWEB) January 27, 2015

Orlando waste management company, Sunshine Recycling, is working with contractor Commercial Construction Specialists (CSS) on the development of a new Dunkin Donuts restaurant on Highway 27 in Minneola, Florida. Sunshine will be providing 20-yard roll-off dumpsters for bulky construction materials, as well as frequent hauling services throughout the duration of the establishments construction.

Commercial Construction Specialists is a full-service construction firm with a unique business model. They were founded by commercial property owners and developers, giving them a greater understanding of the industry from the clients perspective. This helps them always adhere to their commitment to provide safety, excellence and quality in all their construction ventures. The construction of the new Dunkin Donuts in Minneola, Florida will be added to a long list of restaurants, retail establishments, medical facilities, schools and more that CCS has constructed.

The construction of a Dunkin Donuts will be a welcome addition to the expanding Minneola retail district. Dunkin Donuts has been beloved by Americans for over fifty years, serving over three million customers daily. This fast-food breakfast franchise has one of the highest brand loyalty levels compared to similar establishments. The restaurant boasts a warm and welcoming environment, helping customers get delicious, affordable food quickly and conveniently.

About 20 miles west of Orlando, Minneola is a small town with a close-knit community. An accessible breakfast establishment will allow residents in the area access to a meal thats convenient, affordable, and most importantly, hot and delicious. Sunshine Recycling will be fulfilling all the dumpster and hauling needs during the buildings construction, helping to ensure project reaches completion quickly and smoothly.

Were happy to be a part of this project, says Chuck Herb, owner of Sunshine Recycling. Every construction project will have debris that needs hauling, and were happy to assist by providing prompt and efficient hauling services for our customers.

About Sunshine Recycling Inc.: Sunshine Recycling Inc. of Orlando is a dumpster rental company servicing central Florida. Offering various sizes of dumpsters including front-load, roll-off and full-size construction dumpsters, Sunshine Recycling also provides recyclable, waste and construction debris collection and hauling services and trash compactors. The company is a proud member of the U.S. Green Building Council and is LEED AP certified. For more information about construction dumpsters from Sunshine Recycling, please visit http://www.orlando-dumpsters.com/construction-dumpsters/.

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Orlando Waste Management Company Provides Services for New Dunkin Donuts Construction

Jamie Oliver

Following years of speculation, it's been confirmed today that Oliver wants the Public Trust building on Lambton Quay and Stout St for his new restaurant.

McKee Fehl construction company is renovating the 107 year-old building.

Building owner and McKee Fehl managing director Maurice Clark said the restaurant would help create a "new hub" of activity in the area, which was home to many private and public sector offices but few restaurants.

Strengthening and repair work was due to finish late this year, after which tenants would take over the building, the Wellingtonian newspaper reported.

In late 2013, Oliver rejected SkyCity casino's dining precinct in Auckland as his restaurant location because he did not want to be associated with gambling.

According to Te Ara, the Public Trust Building was the only surviving building made of a true New Zealand granite. Forty years ago wreckers threatened to tear down the building but a 1975 campaign saved it from demolition.

Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown said she was delighted the popular chef chose the capital and she expected the restaurant to open early next year.

"I'm very excited and I'm very hungry," Ms Wade-Brown said today.

The mayor said she believed Mr Oliver chose Wellington because the city had a strong culinary culture and the hospitality industry was known for using quality local ingredients in restaurant dishes.

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Jamie Oliver to open restaurant in capital

PUTNAM COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Construction is underway on a new restaurant in Putnam County.

A fence was installed on Tuesday for the new Panera Bread location at Liberty Square in Teays Valley. The sandwich and bakery shop will be built in the north west corner of the shopping center's parking lot. That's between Magic Mart and Bob Evans.

TJ Summers, owner of the Liberty Square Shopping Center, says Panera is expected to be 4,800 square feet and have a patio and drive-thru.

This will be the first Panera in Putnam County.

Summers tells WSAZ construction on the new restaurant is expected to be completed by June 15.

"Panera Bread will add a much needed restaurant choice to the market and we are very excited to have Panera Bread join Liberty Square's roster of tenants," Summers said.

Last year a lawsuit was dropped between the owners of Liberty Square and Neighborhood Hospitality, owner of the Applebee's.

The lawsuit claimed Applebee's was trying to keep other restaurants, like Panera Bread from moving into the shopping center.

The owner of Applebee's claimed its contract prevented similar restaurants from opening in the center, but again an agreement between the two parties was reached.

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Construction Begins on Panera Bread Location in Teays Valley

Its important to keep an eye on what construction trends will crop up over the coming year. What measures and policies will become more prominent? What new projects and practices will appear?

As we dig deep into the new year and begin making changes in our work environments, it's essential that we take a moment to look ahead and see how the industry is evolving.

1. Safety will be the biggest concern Safety already is a concern for most companies and project managers, but new technology that emphasizes worker protection will earn time in the limelight this year. As it has been in the past, expect this to be a monumental theme. After all, without your labor force, you won't be able to accomplish anything, so you need to be sure they're protected properly each time they come on the job.

Some new devices we'll see entering the market this year include carbon monoxide-detecting hats, which use noninvasive blood oxygen monitors to alert workers when they are working in areas with high carbon monixide emissions, CO2 bricks and increased safety features for modern rigs and machinery. This may even be a great opportunity for you, as a safety or project manager, to analyze your equipment and workforce in regard to safety.

2. Ground-up construction will be big There has been a large influx of ground-up commercial construction projects over recent months, and that looks to continue into this year as well.

We shouldn't have to point out all the ideal opportunities and locations for retrofit and renovation projects that exist out there. However, even with the abundance of retrofit space, it looks like most retailers and restaurant owners are looking to instead break new ground.

It goes without saying that general commercial construction contractors will benefit from this new trend. They'll have much more work on their plates, and they'll be able to create different structures from scratch using traditional ground-up measures. It means more revenue and more work for everyone involved.

3. Passive home construction Net zero energy homes, which rely on solar and renewable energy solutions, gained in popularity in 2014 but I think well see an increase in passive home construction in 2015. Passive homes rely on home design and materials for auxiliary heating and cooling.

4. Lower construction equipment emissions Going green continues with construction equipment companies creating environmental solutions to lower their footprint. While this trend may not be as hot as the others, it is one worth mentioning. Caterpillar created new power systems and the Tier 4 Final engines that increase fuel efficiency and adheresto government emission standards.

5. Premium talent and skilled workers are growing rare It's difficult to pinpoint the exact reason for this, whether it's because younger crowds are choosing alternative careers or because the older, more skilled workers like the baby boomers are retiring. That said, premium talent and more skilled workers are becoming rare, and this is certainly going to get worse over the coming year.

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Construction Trends for 2015

Walmart plans to open a new 24-hour store in Los Fresnos, but one small business owner says the big box retailer may hurt her local restaurant.

Construction workers have already started work on the new Walmart on West Ocean Boulevard in Los Fresnos. Its a big project for the relatively small town. "Our number one priority is our customers and that's what we're here for and get jobs for our neighborhood, said Walmart Manager Cynthia Garcia, who spoke to dozens of people Tuesday afternoon at a Los Fresnos AreaChamber of Commerce meeting. "Its bringing more jobs to the community, lots of employees that lost their jobs are actually applying right now," Garcia said. Not everyone agreed its a good idea. "It already affected us, a little," said local restaurant manager Elva Gutierrez. Elva Gutierrezs restaurant is a few blocks away from where the new Walmart is being built. A local supermarket already closed. Now Gutierrez fears that could impact the business she's been running for the last eight years. "It's rumored they closed because Walmart came and they couldn't compete," Gutierrez said. Without that clientele next door, Gutierrez is worried she may be forced to shut down. "It's my source of job. Of my kids. It means a lot," Gutierrez said. The Chamber said local business owners shouldn't be concerned. Chamber officials say they believe the Walmart will attract more people to the area and will benefit everyone. "I don't see why anybody would be wanting to travel to Brownsville or San Benito or Harlingen, said Chamber of Commerce Director Joe Aguilar. They can do their business here in Los Fresnos," The Walmart is scheduled to open in mid-March.

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Local businesswoman wary of new Walmart