What more beautiful setting for a swimming pool in rural Iowa than overlooking a river? Imagine sitting at the top of the slide and taking in the view before splashing down into the pool.

This 20- by 48-foot swimming pool is built on a peninsula. Pool Tech of Cedar Rapids installed the pool, with Rick Whiteaker overseeing the project.

"We first talked about how they wanted to use the pool, how it would fit into the landscape, how they wanted to enjoy the environment. It would be a good distance from the house, so building a pool house with a shaded area to entertain was important. We needed to plan for how it would be used during the day and night. There were also considerations to be made in installing a pool so close to the river," he says.

Architect Greg Sundberg of Sundberg Designs in Cedar Rapids assisted with the planning. They also consulted a geotechnical engineer when they reached the riverbed."

"That's where we stopped digging and started building the pool," Whiteaker says. "We wanted to integrate the pool beautifully with the surrounding landscape."

The slide is a focal point, in addition to a raised sitting area with a tranquil water feature.

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Pool side - Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier

Home no longer is just about personal retreat and comfort more and more, we are seeing people place a high value on how well it can serve and entertain family and friends. According to real estate agents across the mid-Atlantic, outdoor living and entertainment spaces are gaining momentum as the next big trend and must-have amenity for homes.

If youre looking to add value to your property before selling during the fall home-buying season, or you simply want to create a space for you and friends and family to enjoy, consider these features:

Outdoor kitchen

Outdoor dining used to be pretty simple a dining set and a grill was all you needed. Now, agents say as cooking and food preparation have become as much a part of entertaining as the meal itself, more and more buyers are seeking additional amenities, such as an outdoor refrigerator, sink and counter space.

In the luxury market, were seeing full-on outdoor kitchens complete with bar areas, islands, ovens, stoves and extra storage space. These features allow a homeowner and host to be present with their guests outside even as they prepare the meal.

Pool & spa

Its no secret waterfront properties are high value. For those without access to a waterfront setting, a swimming pool remains one of the most popular outdoor living features, bringing a waterfront feel right to your own backyard. Agents are seeing a shift in the way pools and the spaces around them are designed.

To set their home apart, owners are getting creative with shapes and unique pool designs weve seen everything from jets, slides and waterfalls to a hot tub in the middle of the pool and even the occasional moat. In addition to the pool itself, buyers also are seeking beautiful terraces and lounges overlooking the pool area to help create the feel of a relaxing oasis at home.

Open access

An exciting newer trend agents are seeing is the creation of a nearly seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. At the higher end of the market, homeowners are installing collapsible window walls that allow your outdoor living areas to become a true extension of your indoor space, while French and sliding glass doors accomplish this feel at more affordable price points.

Recreation & entertainment

Like pools, recreation amenities such as basketball and tennis courts remain perennial favorites for outdoor features. Weve also seen sand volleyball courts and putting greens. To health-conscious homeowners and families with active children, these types of features are especially appealing, allowing them to get in a game without having to go to the gym.

Of course, these features also are great for entertaining. For those looking for a more relaxed gathering, were also seeing increased interest in outdoor home theater amenities, including speaker systems and screening areas, complete for backyard movie nights.

Outdoor fireplaces

Fireplaces long have topped home buyers wish lists, but the up-and-coming trend is toward incorporating fireplaces into spaces other than the traditional living room, such as bedrooms, bathrooms, even in closets and of course, outside. Local agents are seeing everything from the simple fire pit to custom fire features built into the deck or landscape. To make the most of your outdoor fireplace, big or small, gas or wood-burning, youll want to make sure you have plenty of seating options for your friends and family to gather around or for buyers to imagine their own guests doing so. A combination of couches, chairs, benches even hammocks or swings can bring the cozy environment of a living room fire to the great outdoors right in your own backyard.

If youre looking to up your homes outdoor appeal, consider incorporating some of these features. Whether youre preparing to sell or want to enjoy your homes outdoor space with your friends and family, outdoor amenities could be worth the investment as we continue to see interest in them grow.

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Desire for outdoor amenities grows - Northwest Herald

Murray Legge Architecture has shaped the roof of this pool-side pavilion to navigate around the twisting trunks of oak trees on a site in East Texas.

La Grange Pavilion was created as part of a landscape intervention for a hillside house with vistas over the southern US state's forest and farmland. The structure shades an outdoor lounge area and separate, lower dining and kitchen space, spanning over both as a single horizontal plane.

Rather than chopping down the site's gnarled tree trunks, Murray Legge Architecture arranged the wall-less rooms to avoid their bases, and created holes in the wooden canopy so branches could pass through.

"The wing-like roof is dark in colour, in order to appear as if it is floating in the grove blending in with the dark trunks of the trees that surround," said the firm, which has offices in New York City and Austin.

Three chunky columns with one containing a fireplace hold up the roof, along with a series of thinner poles around the perimeter. The larger supports are clad in limestone, matching the retaining wall built to slightly sink the dining area and surrounding terrace into the ground.

The project also involved the construction of an infinity pool, which sits at the edge of the slope. Its sides are designed so the water laps right up to the stone pavers in front of the pavilion, and gently cascades over the end facing the view.

"The zero-edge pool reflects the trees and sky, connecting it to the landscape," the studio said.

Pool houses vary in size from simple shading devices like this one, to guest accommodation with multiple storeys and bedrooms. More examples in the US include a small structure with blackened timber siding on New York's Long Island.

Photography is by Leonid Furmansky.

Project credits:

Architecture firm: Murray Legge ArchitectureDesign ream:Murray Legge, Travis Avery, Benjamin KaplowitzBuilder:Shroyco,Ocean QuestConsultants:TK Consulting Engineers

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Murray Legge's Texas pool house avoids and incorporates tree trunks - Dezeen

While the classic kidney-shaped pool on a quarter-acre block may no longer be the norm, Australian homeowners are still finding creative ways to splash out on the great Australian dream even when space is limited.

Andrew Farmer, of Aquatic Leisure Technologies, says shrinking block sizes have forced the industry into manufacturing smaller and smaller pool moulds.

For example, where 8m used to be the average pool size Aqua Technics now offers 11 models under 7m in length.

Bryce Steele, State manager of the Swimming Pool and Spa Association of Western Australia, agrees that the industry has evolved significantly in response to todays shrinking block sizes.

The variety of models of fibreglass pools has changed greatly in recent years as the manufacturers look to have products suitable for smaller blocks, Mr Steele says.

In relation to concrete pools, these can be built in any shape or size, ensuring that even with the smallest, a compact plunge pool or courtyard pool can be constructed.

Denise Staffa, landscape designer and director at Outside In, says prefabricated round or rectangular concrete plunge pools are a particularly sought-after option when space is limited.

Plunge pools are most certainly super popular these days for small spaces and emanate a real villa style, Ms Staffa says. The round is super sexy and a very creative solution for small blocks.

Small wonders

Matthew Gee, landscape designer at PHASE3, says each site presents a unique set of conditions and in turn, design solutions.

Though not always a simple solution, placing a pool on a boundary is a good option when space is limited, Mr Gee says.

This enables the use of the boundary wall as a feature wall and barrier, reducing the barrier fencing overall, that can be unsightly and obstructive.

When it comes to small sites Nic Crowe, managing director of eScape Landscape Architecture, says it is important to engage your landscape designer or landscape architect early in the home design phase.

Often the optimal location for the pool, particularly on smaller blocks, is for the house and/or boundary wall to sit directly on the pool shell, in this way you can maximise the size of the pool within the block and create a connection to the house and alfresco area for views and outlook, Mr Crowe says.

However, even when access for machinery is a challenge, Brad Hilbert, owner of Barrier Reef Pools, says they always manage to find a way.

We can get into properties with as little as 750mm wide access, Mr Hilbert says. Its not uncommon for us to use the inside of the house as the access for machinery to get in and out. We have taken a micro excavator through a kitchen once and wheeled borrowed sand down a hallway to dispose of it.

We have never not been able to complete a pool for someone yet.

Three things to consider before investing in a swimming pool

1. Budget should be the first consideration, Matthew Gee says. A pool will cost a considerable amount of money and being aware of the associated cost of installing a pool is important.

2. My number one (tip) is to engage a landscape designer before signing up for a pool, Denise Staffa says. It's an absolute must to make sure all surrounding spaces flow seamlessly, be functional and balanced. A landscape designer can assist with choosing the right size, right shape and getting orientation right as this makes or breaks the outdoor space..

3. There are many other considerations such as space requirements, intended use, shape, and material such as concrete, fibreglass or liner, above ground or below ground, heating method and energy use and long-term maintenance and cost over the life cycle of the pool, Mr Gee says. A conversation with a specialist to answer these questions is paramount prior to embarking on any project.

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Buyers' guide to pools - The West Australian

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Crown Moulding & Trim | Wainscoting & Waffled Ceiling ...

AZEK Building Products Premium Decking Showcased on the 2017 Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) Prize Home in British Columbia

The 2017 PNE Prize Home is designed using innovative building materials, including AZEK Deck, to construct an aesthetically appealing home that will also stand the test of time. The home features AZEK decking in Autumn Chestnut from the Harvest Collection, and it resists mold, mildew, moisture damage, stains, scratches and fading.

AZEK Building Products

SKOKIE, Ill., Aug. 24, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AZEK Building Products, an industry leader in technologically advanced, high performance building materials, is featured on the 2017 Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) Prize Home in British Columbia. AZEK is one of the proud sponsors that provided materials for the 2017 Prize Home, a West Coast modern, ENERGY STAR certified, 3,100-square-foot home built by Freeport Industries. The PNE operates a charitable home lottery, the longest running lotto of its kind in North America. It benefits a variety of local, not-for-profit, programs spanning agriculture, community, and the arts.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f288797f-a667-4019-bd46-a8c76d8ee9e7

The 2017 PNE Prize Home is designed using innovative building materials, including AZEK Deck, to construct an aesthetically appealing home that will also stand the test of time. The home features AZEK decking in Autumn Chestnut from the Harvest Collection, and it resists mold, mildew, moisture damage, stains, scratches and fading. This low-maintenance material, protected with a proprietary capping known as Alloy Armour Technology, is scientifically engineered to withstand the harsh weather that affects the Canadian climate.

We feel that it is important to give back to local communities across North America, which is why we wanted to be a part of this great cause that benefits so many local programs across British Columbia, said Julia Fitzgerald, Chief Marketing Officer of AZEK Building Products. AZEK decking is a great addition to this home and we are confident the new owners will enjoy its beauty and durability, no matter what the weather brings.

The home was largely built with a modular design in the Okanagan Valley. It was then hauled, in six sections, 350 kilometers to the PNE grounds near downtown Vancouver, where it was reassembled prior to its public opening on August 19. Viewing will be ongoing through September 4. After its display period, the home will be relocated to an idyllic hillside destination with views overlooking the Okanagan Lake, in the heart of Okanagan wine country, at Naramata Bench.

We are always excited to work with companies like AZEK which provide premium products that elevate our Prize Homes to dream home status, said Cynthia Kwon, Gaming Manager at the Pacific National Exhibition.

About AZEK Building Products: AZEK Building Products is a leader in the development of premium, low maintenance exterior building products. Available to a worldwide audience, its product lines span AZEK Trim, Deck, Rail, Moulding, Porch and Pavers as well as capped wood composite Decking and Railing under the TimberTech brand. Both brands, synonymous with quality, style and innovation, are made in America and lead their market areas by continually reinventing product lines and redefining product categories. For more information about AZEK, visit http://www.azek.com. For more information on TimberTech, visit http://www.timbertech.comor call 1-877-ASK AZEK.

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AZEK Building Products' Premium Decking Showcased on the ... - GlobeNewswire (press release)

Nick and Barbara Cuccarese loved their home near Barnegat Bay in Brick, New Jersey, sheltered from the ocean's fury by the barrier islands stretching from Bay Head to Atlantic City. It was the second house they custom built in the town and they'd lived in it for 23 years.

They spent 25 years in their previous home in Brick. In 1971, the residence was featured in the Asbury Park Press' version of Home of the Week. The article is framed and displayed in their current home.

In the early 1960s, the two New Jersey natives, met while students at Jersey City State College (now New Jersey City University). They married 52 years ago.

They were recruited for teaching jobs in the Toms River area and settled down in Brick. Barbara was a fifth and sixth grade teacher. Nick was a reading specialist and a college football referee in the Ivy League and in New York City. Since retiring, Barbara has become a referral real estate agent. Nick referees at West Point games. His favorite game was a Division III National Semi-Final Nov. 30, 1991 between Ithaca Collge Bombers and Union College. The Bombers won 35-23.

As Halloween loomed in October 2012, Nick was ready with his latest character for the neighborhood kids: a crazed Disturbo the Clown. Disturbo's motto was "He is the clown 'You Don't Hire Twice'." A strange papier mache mask was waiting to be donned to scare or entertain the kids coming to trick or treat. .

They heard a tropical storm might be heading their way, but, like many of their neighbors, they decided to stay put. By 12:30 a.m. October 30, 2012, the rain and wind stopped, so, thinking the worst was over, they went to bed.

At 1:30 a.m., they awakened to the sound of loud banging.

Boats and docks torn loose by the Hurricane Sandy were banging against their home. Downstairs, the house was already filled with two feet of water.

"All over our street, car doors were unlocking, horns were blaring, lights flashing," said Barbara. "Everyone lost their cars. When the waters finally receded, there was debris piled 10 feet high."

"At 12:30, everything was quiet," said Nick. "At 1:30, it was Armageddon. A gas pipe exploded five miles away. The sky was orange and filled with flames."

When a fireman drove his pontoon boat up their driveway after the sun rose, Barbara evacuated. The couple's son drove up from Annapolis, when roads became passable, to bring a generator to his parents' ruined home. Regular electricity was not restored for three weeks.

Goddess of the Storm

A few days later, as Nick was out collecting two years worth of firewood from the debris, he found a packing crate that had drifted into their backyard.

He opened it.

Inside the box was an undamaged statue of a young woman pouring water from a pitcher. The Cuccarese couple dubbed her the Goddess of the Storm.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the couple appreciated the teenage boys and girls from local high schools who turned out to help clear the storm's debris.

A few months after the storm, their son John Cuccarese, who is a military housing builder currently at Fort George G. Meade, met his parents at the Gordon Biersch Restaurant in Annapolis Towne Centre and, over lunch, insisted they move south to the Annapolis area.

They agreed.

In addition to relocating to be closer to their son, a very important reason for moving south was Annapolis' proximity to Washington, D.C. They are avid observers of the federal branches of government at work.

"Nick and I try to go in once a week to sit in on the Senate and House discussions, attend oral arguments at the Supreme Court, and visit museums," Barbara said.

The two are tuned into politics at the local and national levels. While celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, they were surprised to receive a congratulatory note on White House stationery from President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. The envelope and note are framed and hung in a prominent spot in their home.

Once they packed, sold the house and moved, they spent two years in the Riva Trace neighborhood while they looked around and acclimated themselves.

Wonderful neighborhood, great people

They didn't have to look very far. Figuratively speaking, Heritage Harbour is "just down the hill" from Riva Road.

The Cuccareses found a townhome on a quiet block within walking distance of all the community's amenities: golf course, billiards, tennis, swimming pool, community center and more. Nick, who enjoys doing woodwork, is thrilled the community center has a two-room woodshop replete with all sorts of tools and machinery. It's his Nirvana.

That and the other facilities were solid selling points for the Cuccareses.

Barbara is active with three tennis groups, is a member of the New Annapolitans and volunteers at the Gift Shop at Anne Arundel Medical Center.

Before moving in, their renovations took about two months to complete. The wall-to-wall carpeting in the living room, kitchen and family room, was removed and replaced with dark stained hardwood flooring. The formerly snow white walls were painted a mid-caf au lait color, which made the home's dentil moulding, wainscotting and other white wood trim much more visible. The bathrooms were updated.

The two-story brick front, nearly 2,000 square foot residence has two bedrooms and 2 1/2 bathrooms. The front room features a two-story ceiling. On the second floor, a balcony railing instead of a wall in the library the couple or visitors to peer down into the room below.

"We don't feel confined. We've always had open homes," said Barbara of the two-story entryway.

"This is a wonderful neighborhood and great people," Nick said. "What a great town this is, with the nicest people."

"The extensive renovation gives us the opportunity to show off our collections of arts, beach glass and rocks," Barbara said. "We like the high ceiling, the large windows and the large bedrooms. It's very comfortable."

Their home is warm and welcoming and the art, rather than being off-limits, is welcome to touch, admire and inquire.

Upon entering the living room, one of the first things a visitor views is a large woven and embroidered tapestry from India. In the window sparkle several amber cut or molded glass pieces. The red leaves of a tree outside are framed in the tall arched window that stretches nearly to the ceiling.

In this room, and throughout the house, are unique wooden chairs, end tables, side tables and display pedestals. They were all crafted by Nick. Some of the chairs, like the side chairs in the dining room, are inspired by the architecture and interior designs of Frank Lloyd Wright. Those dining room chairs are placed at a table set with hand-painted Acapulco dishes lit by the glow from a Murano glass chandelier.

Other chairs have a very Art Deco vibe, while one in the upstairs library utilitarian, simple and dynamic is seemingly a 3-D version of a painting by Mondrian. It was inspired by works of Gerritt Rietveld, a Dutch architect, designer and painter who also created arty furniture. In another room, chairs that are Chippendale copies have been placed. A wooden wine crate was repurposed as a pedestal for an artwork. And, yet another sideboard, inspired by African woodwork, features a tabletop finished with laminated pages of designs cut from an art book.

All of them and more are Nick's handiwork.

A few pieces are not. They were crafted by Nick's father, including a cabinet in the living room that once housed the senior Cuccarese's stereo.

Displayed on the walls in the downstairs hallway is a collection of African masks, sculptures and art. One mask sports a gala, sparkly fringe of gilded peacock feathers.

Their son aided in the renovation. He refurbished and refinished all the cabinetry in the kitchen and stripped off the old countertops. The new counters are smooth, shining, mottled black granite slabs.

Two bookcases nestled near the kitchen bear some of the results of the couple's frequent walks along the beaches of New Jersey, Maryland and the world. In tall vases, sorted by color, are the sand-and-ocean-tumbled beach glass they've discovered along the shorelines. According to Nick, the distinctive blue glass of Milk of Magnesia bottles are rare finds.

And, dotted throughout the house are vintage, hand-woven Gullah baskets from the islands off the coast of South Carolina.

Nearly five years since the fury of Hurricane Sandy, the couple is still watched over by the Goddess of the Storm.

She was lovingly moved to each of their homes after the storm. Now, Goddess occupies a shaded spot in their rear yard.

What's it take to be a featured Home of theWeek?

Have you ever wondered if your residence could be a Home of the Week? We are always seeking homes to profile, whether it is a house, town home, condo, apartment, cottage or cabin cruiser. Contact Wendi Winters today for details at wwinters@capgaznews.com.

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Home of the Week: Couple discovered Annapolis' Heritage Harbour is a comfortable, safe port - CapitalGazette.com

The X-Trail always used to be a quietly popular SUV that was well-thought-of, by buyers and critics, but it never exactly set the world alight.

Its somewhat worthy boxiness meant that its admirably practical nature was overlooked by buyers who wanted something a little more appealing, a tad sexier.

Nissan rectified that when it launched the current model, the third generation, in 2013. Adopting the more consumer-friendly, shapely styling of a crossover, while still maintaining a winning combination of the height and practicality of an off-roader with the on-road comfort of a car, the X-Trail has become, according to Nissan, the worlds best-selling SUV. It certainly looks like the kind of modern off-roader that will appeal to a wide range of buyers in the market for something larger than a Qashqai (Nissan uses the now-commonplace marketing-speak about it being the perfect car for family adventures). It seems to be working, too: sales have increased by 97% since 2014.

Four years on from its initial launch, the requisite mid-life facelift sees a number of enhancements, both cosmetically and in tweaks to the specification.

The exterior changes include the likes of front and rear bumpers, new grille, new headlights and fog lights, new alloys and, on Tekna grade cars, a chrome side moulding. The changes have also resulted in the X-Trails length increasing by 50mm.

Inside, the upgrades continue with a thicker, flat-bottomed, multifunctional steering wheel, heated seats in the rear, plus interior trim improvements to add an element of greater refinement. OK, so its no Audi or BMW, but Nissan is slowly but surely, like its mass-market rivals, trying to get at least within some sort of touching distance of the premium carmakers.

Practicality has been improved with the addition of a handsfree tailgate, a feature that is steadily trickling down from premium models, while the boot capacity of five-seat variants increases from 550 litres to 565 litres: the 445 litres in the seven-seat version chosen by 40% of buyers remains unchanged.

Also unchanged is the range of three engines, a pair of diesels and a petrol unit. Dispensing with the 161bhp 1.6-litre petrol that returns 45.6mpg, fleet users are left with 128bhp 1.6-litre and 175bhp 2.0-litre diesels. Each is available with a six-speed manual gearbox or continuously variable transmission (CVT auto) the latter of which is surprisingly good. Front-wheel or four-wheel drive is available with both engines. The lower-powered 1.6 does feel slightly sluggish (the 0-62mph benchmark takes 10.5 seconds, at best) and the 2.0-litre doesnt perform vastly better (9.4 seconds), while both are less refined than they could be: the engine note isnt gruff most of the time indeed, the cabin is pretty quiet most of the time but if you add some urge, its definitely more audible than youll find elsewhere in the class.

There are four trim levels on offer, with most buyers opting for the N-Connecta (39%) of range-topping Tekna (47%) versions, which come with the likes of touchscreen sat nav as standard.

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First Drive: Nissan X-Trail - Fleet World

The construction in the Central District is set to be complete in the summer of 2018, but Jim Modig, University architect, anticipates that the projects will be finished months in advance.

The new Central District will stretch from just north of 19th Street to just south of Jayhawker Towers, bordering Daisy Hill to the west and Oliver Hall to the east.

Progress wise, in terms of the project, it appears to us at this point that everything right now is running ahead of schedule significantly, Modig said.

Modig said the University is ahead of schedule due to good weather and efficient scheduling by the contractor.

The first of the projects, the new Central District parking garage, was completed in January and will service students, faculty, staff and visitors who travel to the Central District, Modig said.

Likewise, Modig said the new Frank R. Burge Student Union, which will house a ballroom 50 percent larger than the ballroom in the Kansas Union and will be used for large gatherings and conferences, will be completed by spring.

I would anticipate that the Burge Union may be done and ready for occupancy as early as March of 2018, Modig said.

The new union will also house Legal Services for Students, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Center and the Emily Taylor Center for Women and Gender Equity, according to theUniversitys website.

Furthermore, Modig said the new Central Utility Plant went into service in June. In addition to meeting the Universitys power and water needs, the plant will also serve as a laboratory for students. The plant has a 45-seat classroom, Modig said.

You actually have a live, living laboratory right there at your fingertips, Modig said. You have a window from the classroom that looks into that, and then you have the capability of actually going down onto the machine-room floor.

Modig also anticipated that the new Integrated Science Building will be completed three months early, with the last third of the building being completed in May 2018.

The ISB will significantly expand the teaching and research space for chemistry, physics and biosciences as well as reduce reliance on the aging Malott Hall, Modig said.

Moreover, the Cora Downs Residence Hall and the South Commons Dining Center were completed in May andopened in August.

Sarah Waters, director of student housing, said both facilities have been well received by students and parents.

We felt that it offered that next level of housing type that would be pretty appealing to many of our students, Waters said.

Waters said Downs Hall is 99 percent full and that about 60 percent of its residents are upperclassmen, while 40 percent are freshmen.

Moreover, Waters said that housing, system-wide, is 96 to 97 percent full, though Corbin Hall is currently closed for renovations.

In addition to a new residence hall, Central District will be the site of the Stouffer Place Apartments, which are set to open in summer 2018.

The only other student apartments on campus are Jayhawker Towers and McCarthy Hall. Waters said, historically, the University hasnt had enough apartment space but that the Stouffer Apartments will allow more upperclassmen to live on campus.

I think [Central District] will have its own niche, ultimately, Waters said. What Im hopeful about with central district, especially with the apartments there including Jayhawker, we will really be able to bring a lot of those students off of Daisy Hill down to the central area to go into Jayhawker and into Stouffer, so well really evolve a second and third-year experience there.

Modig said Central District will become its own community, similar to how Daisy Hill, GSP and Corbin, and the scholarship halls have their three separate communities.

Weve actually created little nodes in these four locations for housing, and so this creates a lot more livelihood in terms of that community experience, Modig said. Instead of having [Oliver] Residence Hall sitting there all by itself, there are other students in the area.

Modig also said a new recreational field, which will be made out of AstroTurf, will help to foster community in the Central District. The field will be completed next month and managed by recreation services.

You add that rec field in there, that to me is probably a kind of crowning jewel piece we havent got that anywhere else on campus, Modig said.

As for future additions to the Central District, Waters said that there are plans to turn the old Oliver Hall dining center into an academic resource center. Waters said the center will serve the Central District similar to how the Daisy Hill Commons serves Daisy Hill residents.

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Central District construction months ahead of schedule - The University Daily Kansan

Subsidiary program of Vocational Rehabilitation has a mission to train and find employment for school students who are considered disabled. The program is now being implemented in Marion County.

Most people, without proper training, find it hard to find gainful employment, and that can be even more challenging for students with disabilities.

Project SEARCH, a subsidiary of Vocational Rehabilitation, has a mission to train and find employment for school students who are considered disabled. The program is now being implemented in Marion County.

Ashley Harper is the supervisor for the Vocational Rehabilitation office at 1601 NE 25th Ave., Ocala. She also works out of a satellite office in Inverness one day a week.

Currently, VRs focus has been on assisting youth with disabilities, ages 15-24, prepare for the workforce after high school, Harper said. Here in Ocala, we are starting our first Project SEARCH program this school year.

Any type of disability qualifies someone for Project SEARCH, such as developmental, physical, mental, missing limbs, or anything that would impair them in seeking employment. Students who have one year left of high school are able to participate in the program, sponsored locally by Hilton Ocala.

Instead of attending classes on a high school campus, the students report to the job site at the Hilton. They will work with a job coach from Goodwill Suncoast, an ESE teacher from the Marion County Public Schools District office and employees from the Hilton to perform on-the-job training tasks throughout the day, Harper said. Once the school year is over, they will have learned work skills that will prepare them for entering the workforce.

The students are chosen by a group of staffers with Vocational Rehabilitation, Goodwill Suncoast, the school district staff and the Hilton. They must meet eligibility requirements for VRs Supported Employment services.

Several other agencies also have been working together to help the expansion of Project SEARCH, including the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Florida Department of Education-Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services and others.

Before the students are placed for training, they go through an interview and evaluation process with Project SEARCH. They are evaluated through their work history, training and education.

The students must also be in their last year of high school, and their family must be supportive of this program, Harper said. Only after they meet all of the above criteria, will they be invited to complete a skills assessment.

Once the potential candidates were chosen, they had to pass a skills assessment and interview process here at Hilton Ocala, said Leilani Rasmussen, human resource manager for the hotel. The Hilton brand currently supports Project SEARCH in other Florida counties as well.

According to Harper, the skills assessment not only measures potential skills, but also measures their ability to follow instructions.

At the end of the school year, the students can receive up to 10 credits toward graduation. If they have enough high school credits previously, they can receive their high school diploma with other students.

"Without this kind of opportunity, it is very difficult for these individuals to find employment on their own after high school, so we are very excited to begin the program here in Ocala, Harper said.

Project SEARCH started in 1996 as a national program in Cincinnati, Ohio. It now is in 45 states and eight countries.

Our expansion efforts are focusing on small and rural areas of the state where resources and opportunities for post-secondary training are limited, said Carly Detlefsen, statewide liaison for Project SEARCH. There is no doubt that Project SEARCH is and will continue to positively impact and change the trajectory of the lives of our students, families and businesses.

Derek Arnold, Life Skills Development Regional Manager for Goodwill, said, Goodwill structured what is called a skills assessment day to meet all applicants and garner a better understanding of the students.

There are seven work stations in the Hilton, including the kitchen, housekeeping, office/clerical, laundry, catering and more. Day-to-day tasks can include folding linens, setting and clearing tables, mopping and rolling silverware. Other areas may be assigned, depending on how well the students do.

According to Arnold, the day begins with a morning session with a Marion County Public Schools teacher, who talks to the students about resumes, interviewing, workplace etiquette and more. The remainder of the day is spent with a Goodwill job coach. The students work side-by-side with hotel staff and managers.

We hope to create some true passions for the young people in these rotations like admin or culinary arts, or at least help them decide where they want to work post Project SEARCH, Arnold said.

On Friday Karen Mackey, an instructor with Marion County Public Schools, talked about how the program is going.

"Our school is here. Two hours of instructional time, and four hours of work. They receive more job skills, preparing them for jobs, versus classroom academics. They work rotation shifts, in 10-week increments. They do have an option to stay at one internship two times, but they have to go for a third one, sometime before they graduate," Mackey said.

"With Project SEARCH, I teach the practical job skills," said Efy Blasingame, a Community Employment Coach with Goodwill. "We're building this program as we go along."

Cody LeJeune, a student at Forest High School, said Friday that he was "training in engineering."

"I change switches, help the men with the light bulbs, service phones. A couple of days ago, I was pressure washing in the front, and in the back of the hotel, with a pressure washer that I assembled," Cody said.

"I might try kitchen or banquets after maintenance. I'm not sure yet. The instructors are good. They're nice. After the program, I want to do maintenance or engineering," he said.

Kayla Howell, a student at the Hillcrest School, was training in housekeeping.

"I feel very comfortable going trough this training here," she said. "I want to get a job somewhere at a hotel. My goal is cleaning. I like to clean. I love making beds."

Of the students who have completed the Project SEARCH training program, 74 percent are competitively employed, working on average 25 hours per week at minimum wage or higher. Nationally, the employment rate for students with cognitive disabilities averages 20 percent.

Project SEARCH helped me get the career that I have now. Without Project SEARCH, I wouldnt be where I am today, said Regina Blanton, a program graduate and employee at the Hilton Hotel in Altamonte Springs.

"I'm excited to watch the students learn. And they come in excited," Mackey said.

"Finally, someone is noticing our kids, getting them their job skills, for them to be successful. More independent living for them, and giving them a chance to be successful. We also help them with resumes and job applications. They receive a certificate from Project SEARCH upon completion of their internship and we're hoping to have a type of ceremony here at the Hilton. I'm probably more excited, as it's a job well done," she added.

"I'm so in love with this program, you have no idea," Blasingame said. "The Hilton staff has been so amazing."

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