A historic home in Ste. Genevieve will be restored over the next year after a local congregation succeeded in raising over $200,000 toward that goal.

The house was originally constructed by French Canadian silversmith Antoine Oneille around 1820, according to Chairman of the Oneille Task Committee for Restoration Becky Millinger.

It is an Anglo-American style home, which is different than some of the historic houses in Ste. Genevieve because it was moving away from the French style to a more American style, Millinger said.

She said Oneille is recognized as one of the top silversmiths of the early 1800s, with many of his pieces remaining today.

He was a silversmith who came down through the French corridor from Quebec to Detroit, then into Vincennes (Indiana) then here in Ste. Genevieve, she said. He died here and his buried in the Ste. Genevieve Memorial Cemetery.

After Oneilles death, the house was lived in by many others down through the years. The house weathered two floods and one fire in 1982, which resulted in the top floor being removed and replaced, giving the home the appearance of a more French Creole style.

The owner of the home sold it to Ste. Genevieve First Presbyterian Church in 2006. Millinger said the church has had plans since that time to renovate the building for church use, and were approached by an organization called the Jeffris Family Foundation about working together to restore the building.

Its an organization in Wisconsion that contacted us in 2013 and said, Can we help you restore that building? said Millinger. I dont know how they found out about us.

The foundation supports restoration projects across the Midwest, often with Capital Campaign Challenge Grants as was offered for the Oneille House.

They paid for half of the structures report, and then invited us to write a grant for the capital campaign, which we started June 30, 2014 Millinger said. It went until June 30 of this year, so we just finished. We were tasked with raising $200,000 to receive $100,000. We accomplished that, and its all been verified by the foundation. Now we are able to proceedright now were in the process of collecting bids from contractors for the restoration of the house.

Millinger said the past three years have seen many fundraising projects and initiatives, with support from local and national organizations.

We began with asking for contributions from people in the Presbyterian congregation, Millinger said. But weve also done fundraisers.

One of the sources of funds for the project is a book written by Millinger, compiling photos of all the known silverwork of Oneille. A local silversmith named Jill Kenik also designed and produced jewelry inspired by Oneilles work, which was sold for the benefit of the project.

We also had a sign a shingle campaign, where people could sign one of the cedar shake shingles that will be installed on the house during the restoration, Millinger said. So their names will be there for however long that lastsmaybe thirty or forty years.

The project has also been supported by contributions from the Foundation for Restoration of Ste. Genevieve, the French Heritage Society, as well as other organizational and private contributions.

Millinger hopes the restoration work will begin in September, with the project taking around a year if everything goes smoothly. Two major original portions of the house will remain after the restoration: the exterior chimney and some beaded beam joists.

The work on the buildings exterior will be overseen by the Heritage Commission of Ste. Genevieve. Millinger said the house is unique because it is the only historic structure in Ste. Genevieve constructed by an artist.

When the home is restored it will only be open to the public during certain event days throughout the year, though a gala will be held when the work is first completed.

For more information, or to keep up with the restoration projects progress, visit The Silversmith's House Restoration Project on Facebook.

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Effort underway to restore historic home - Daily Journal Online

PHOENIX Arizonas Verde Valley will soon enjoy a little time in the television limelight as the focus of a historic home restoration show.

The Camp Verde Bugle reported that Boomtown Builders, hosted by Jerome resident Tim McClellan, would film 13 episodes in the area pending the success of Tuesdays pilot episode on the DIY Network.

The show is about resurrecting historic homes in American boomtowns: Towns that quickly boomed in population from a flurry of mining, then busted when the resources went dry, and are now booming once more, he told the newspaper.

The pilot episode was scheduled to air Tuesday at 5p.m. In it, McClellan will help Jeromes chief of police renovate his 1912 home while keeping itshistorical bonesintact.

The pilot was filmed in the spring.

McClellan earned the hosting gig after winning Ellen DeGeneres show, Ellens Design Challenge, in 2015.

However, the judges ruled McClellans winning design was a copy of another piece of furniture. McClellan denied the accusation andDeGeneres later told him she didnt believe he intentionally copied the design.

In addition to his television appearances, McClellan owns Western Heritage Furniture and was the co-founder of Verde Biofuel, a company that specialized in creating mobile biodiesel processors.

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Arizona's Verde Valley to be focus of historic home restoration show - KTAR.com

By: Tommy Hall

The first ever successful captive holding program for Palauan Megapodes has concluded with a release of the birds to their home, Ngeanges Island. The success of the captive holding program is a major milestone for the restoration of the ecosystem on Ngeanges, and paves the way for future restoration work in Palaus stunning Rock Island Southern Lagoon.

The story began in May 2016 when we collaborated with the Koror State Department of Conservation and initiated the Ngeanges rodent eradication project. To safely carry out operations, we needed to house the islands sensitive native megapodes. To this end a planning committee was formed including Island Conservation, Palau Conservation Society, the Balau National Museum, and the Palau International Coral Reef Center. The group designed and built aviaries on a nearby island with careful consideration to create a habitat these birds would feel comfortable in. The Conservation Officers worked days and nights to capture megapodes from Ngeanges; they used a variety of different methods to safely trap the birds. Once they were transported across the lagoon on boat and placed in their aviaries, the birds were monitored and fed by the Koror State Rangers who worked around the clock to ensure the preservation of the Rock Islands.

During post-implementation monitoring, and on subsequent visits by our partners in Palau, the Department of Conservation and the Belau National Museum observed an apparent increase in the activity of megapodes on Ngeanges. There was no shortage of megapode sightings, and observers noted what they perceived to be more abundant signs of megapodes scratching through leaf litter and nest mound building activity. Although it is still too soon to confirm the long term success of the rat removal, these sightings could very well be due to the lack of competition from the invasive rats that abounded on the island only months before

There was no shortage of megapode sightings, and observers noted what they perceived to be more abundant signs of megapodes scratching through leaf litter and nest mound building activity.

Megapodes are fascinating birds; the subspecies we are working with is endemic to Palau and listed as Endangered. The name is descriptive of the massive size of their feet and legs in comparison to the size of their body. They use their powerful feet to build giant nest mounds on the forest floor by kicking soil and leaf litter into a pile that sometimes exceeds six feet in height!

The females lay and bury their eggs in a hole that they dig into the center of the mound. The egg is then incubated by the heat produced by the microbial decomposition of the leaf litter. When the chicks hatch, they dig their way out of the mound and are on their own to fend for themselves. They must forage for food alone and one day build nest mounds of their own.

Megapodes share their island home with a variety of wildlife; the forest is flush with songbirds, Palau Fruit-doves, terns, fruit bats, Emerald Tree Skinks, and the occasional nesting sea turtle.This project marks a huge success for Island Conservation and our work in Palau in both restoration and capacity-building.

This project marks a huge success for Island Conservation and with our partners in Palau in both restoration and capacity-building.

We are excited to keep the momentum going and we are already making progress towards planning a rat eradication on the main island of Kayangel Atoll in the North of Palau.

Featured photo:Micronesian Megapode on a branch. Credit: Island ConservationVersin en Espaol/Spanish transcript

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Restoration Allows Megapodes to Return Home - Island Conservation News

How much does it cost to pave a driveway?

One of the easiest ways to make a driveway is to simply clear the land, compress it with heavy machinery and begin using it to gain access to and from a home or building. Is this the best way to go about creating a driveway? Not really, and this is because seasonal conditions and soil erosion will quickly degrade the path and make it either boggy and muddy or bumpy and full of rocks and impediments. It might also be outside of local building codes and regulations too. This is the reason that most home and property owners will eventually pave their driveway with one of several reliable materials.Before the paving process can begin, however, the space must be suitably prepared for the work. This requires clearing the area of debris, grading the soil in order to receive the paving materials, creating a base, and then adding the pavement. Clearly this means that paving a driveway is not a DIY option.

For the purpose of this discussion we will consider thecosts of paving a driveway that is roughly 12'x50' (or 600 square feet)in size, which averages $1,500.

According to the RSMeans cost calculation software a standard paving project will include costs such as:

Engineering - whenever driveways have any sort of slopes, curves, or angles in them it usually means that costs are going to increase. Generally this is due to the need for engineering to allow runoff to properly drain away from the home and into the street, and it usually also means more labor in preparing the surface. Additionally, sloped and curved drives involve more materials which only increases the total costs too

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Cost to pave a driveway - Estimates and Prices at Fixr

Serving All of New Jersey

D & R Paving is a third generation business in Northern NJ and our family has been operating in residential and commercial paving services throughout New Jersey for 40-Plus years. Our state-of-the-art paving, asphalt, and concrete equipment ensures we are up to date with all the latest technology to make sure your paving project is done right. Included with any proposal you will find a copy of our NJ insurance. However, the best insurance of all is that the owner, Daniel Thomas, is on every job site helping to install it professionally and to ensure the customers complete satisfaction.

We are reliable, trustworthy, and every phone call is answered with a smile because we are pleased to help you and want you to think of D & R Paving for years to come. We are especially proud about our testimonials from past clients as referrals are our biggest source of new business.Contact us today to discuss your paving or asphalt project.

$100 Off

One Coupon per customer. Void with other offers. Internet Only.

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Asphalt Paving NJ, Driveway Paving NJ, Commercial Paving ...

WILLOW (KTUU)- Door-to-door asphalt scammers are targeting Alaskans in a number of communities across the state from Fairbanks to the Kenai Peninsula.

In just the past few days, the Attorney Generals office says they've received at least 10 reports from Alaskans who were taken advantage by paving schemes.

According to the Anchorage Attorney Generals office, "the individuals claim that they are knocking because they have leftover materials and are able to pave driveways or sidewalks for a discounted rate. They cite a price that is attractive to homeowners without giving the required written notice that the homeowner has a right to cancel any written or verbal contract without penalty for five days."

Back in June, a paving company that called itself 'Edwards Asphalt,' showed up at Robin Edgell's home in Willow, offering her a $10,000 load for half price, to pave her driveway. After one day of paving, the pavers came to collect their fee.

"They told me $4,750," said Edgell. "We went to the bank, I got the $4,750, and they said 'No, $47,500.' And I simply went into a shock. I walked back into the bank and got a cashier's check. And then they came back the next day to finish up and then they sent their 10 year-old son to the door with this invoice."

That invoice was for an additional $24,765. Edgell said even though she knew it wasn't right, she paid her bill, saying when all was said and done, she paid them more than $72,000.

As for the quality of the work, Edgell says her driveway looks awful.

"It's not taken out as far, it's not as thick as it should be and it's never going to dry," said Edgell. "It's always going to be sticky, what they put on here is never going to set."

Edgell showed Channel 2 an invoice and flier given to her by Edwards Asphalt. On it, an address and phone number. We searched Alaska corporation filings and found no business license by the name of Edwards Asphalt. As for the address, 3875 Giest Road in Fairbanks, it belongs to a UPS store that rents out mailboxes. We also called the number, 907-891-3501, only to receive an automated message saying 'we're sorry, the person you're trying to reach is not accepting calls at this time. Please try your call again later.'

Channel 2 spoke the owner of Peninsula Asphalt Paving on Tuesday, he says his crew spotted vehicles with 'Edwards Asphalt' logo on them in the Kenai Peninsula as recent as Monday night.

If you were the victim of this scam you are asked to contact the Consumer Protection Unit Staff at (907) 269-5200 or toll free (888) 576-252.

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Willow woman scammed out of $72k by door-to-door asphalt pavers - KTUU.com

Boulder County Sheriff's Office asks residents to be aware and report suspicious activity

Boulder County, Colo. - The Boulder County Sheriffs Office has received multiple reports of driveway paving scams occurring in our area. The scams often go something like this: There is a vehicle that pulls onto your property and honks, the person says they have leftover asphalt from another job and can give you a really good deal today. They end up only putting down a paper thin amount of asphalt or recycled asphalt they will give you an "invoice" for significantly more money than the original quote and then demand payment.

Here are things to be wary of when hiring a contractor:

If you have had recent contact with someone you believe to be involved in a paving scam, or if you are a victim of the scam, please contact Detective Dillard, with the Boulder County Sheriff's Office, at 303-441-4992.

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Reports of paving scam occurring in Boulder County - Left Hand Valley Courier

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Whether you are looking to spruce up your home or give your pad a stylish overhaul this Winkleigh based company has everything you could possibly need.

Winkleigh Timber Ltd and Winkleigh Pine Furniture can be found at Seckington Cross Industrial Estate.

The company has everything you could possibly need to make your house a home.

From paving, patios and driveways to granite worktops, reclaimed wood flooring and slate and stone products.

Deciding on a style for your home can be a daunting task, especially when there is such an abundance of choice on offer.

All of the pine and oak furniture is hand made from scratch by a team of skilled carpenters.

You won't find them on the high street therefore, the can offer affordable factory prices by cutting out the middle man.

They guarantee high quality products and a personal service from all our staff from start to finish.

If you want to make an impression then decorating your driveway is one way to do so.

The company offers a variety of paving and patios to make your driveway divine.

There are different colours and finishes to tempt you including terracotta stable brick, mint fossil tile and tumbled slate cobbles.

Come rain or shine your garden should be a tranquil space you are proud of.

Winkleigh Timber has a host of horticultural items to transform your outdoor space.

There original granite troughs, granite mill stone, slate tables and a cartwheel table. When the sun shines you will have no problems hosting a stylish barbecue for your friends.

The inside of your home should be comforting and inviting. The range of flooring and wall fixtures are just some of the ways you can add a bit of elegance.

Why not have a look at the reclaimed pine boards for a traditional look and feel. Or perhaps the reclaimed railway oak would suit your interior better.

Feature pieces inside the home can really add a sparkle to any room. Winkleigh Timber has items such as marble bath tubs and pine island unit with pearl granite worktops. Key pieces such as these are sure to make you the envy of all your neighbours.

Whether you are looking to deck a whole room out or you just want to add to your existing collection, you will find that Winkleigh Timber also has gorgeous items of furniture on offer.

From dressers to cupboards and butchers' blocks to tables. The quality handmade furniture will last you for years to come.

Once you have chosen all your materials for your home you might want to think about the tools which are best suited for the job.

Winkleigh Timber has everything in place to make the job as easy as possible as well as helping to keep your chosen products in tip-top condition.

There are a variety of products on the website to help make the job stress-free. There are slate finishing kits, builders' cleaning solution, hard wax oil and terracotta wax.

For timber and stone items contact 01837 83573yardsales@winkleightimber.co.uk

For furniture contact 01837 83832Email:furniture@winkleightimber.co.uk

You can also browse the site to see the range of items in stock where the helpful team are on hand ready for your questions.

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Sponsored: Five ways you can improve your home with Winkleigh Timber - Devon Live

Times Telegram

UTICA The New York State Department of Transportation has issued travel advisories for area counties for the week of July 31.

HERKIMER COUNTY

Town of Frankfort: Route 171 between Gulf Road and East Main Street. Motorists will encounter a full road closure with a detour in place due to rock wall repair. The detour will be East Main Street to Cemetery Street/Higby Road to Albany Road to Gulf Road.

Village of Middleville: Route 28 over Maltanner Creek between Route 29 and Park Avenue. Motorists will encounter north and southbound one way alternating traffic with a temporary signal for bridge reconstruction.

Town of Stark: Route 168 bridge over Otsquago Creek between Route 80 and Hoke Road. Motorists will encounter a road closure with a detour in place for bridge work. The detour will be Route 168 to Route 167 to Route 20 to Route 80.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Town of Fonda and town of Amsterdam: Route 5 at Stoner Trail Road in the area of Tribes Hill. Motorists may encounter shoulder closures due to the installation of conduit and signal equipment.

City of Amsterdam: Route 30 southbound ramp at Route 5. Motorists will encounter the closure of the left lane on the ramp with a lane shift due to installation of overhead sign structure foundations.

FULTON COUNTY

Town of Mayfield: Route 30 at Ferguson Road. Motorists will encounter one way alternating traffic with flaggers in place and the speed limit reduced to 30 mph.

Town of Salisbury and town of Caroga: Route 29A between Cemetery Road and Route 10. Motorists will encounter one way alternating traffic with flaggers in place due to guiderail work.

Town of Rockwood: Route 10 between Route 29 and Route 10A. Motorists will encounter one way alternating traffic with flaggers in place due to guiderail and culvert work.

Village of Dolgeville and town of Epratah: Route 29 Between Route 167 and County Route 119. Motorists will encounter one way alternating traffic with flaggers in place due to culvert work.

ONEIDA COUNTY

Utica North-South Arterial Project: Motorists can expect to see various lane closures throughout the project as work starts on diamond grinding concrete pavement. The contractor will also continue asphalt paving operations and prepping and pouring stamp concrete.

Temporary lane closures on the Route 5/8/12 north and southbound passing lanes between Noyes Street and Court Street. Closures will be in for the next two weeks while the contractor reconstructs the center island on the south end of the project.

City of Utica: Route 5/8/12 Arterial at Burrstone Road. Motorists will encounter a shortened deceleration lane for the southbound Burrstone Road exit ramp due to bridge rehabilitation. The speed limit is reduced to 40 mph from Oswego Street to Burrstone Road.

City of Utica: Route 5/8/12 northbound ramp from Burrstone Road. Motorists will encounter a right shoulder closure of the acceleration lane to the Route 5/8/12 Arterial.

City of Utica: Route 5S between Broad Street and Broadway. Motorists will encounter east and westbound passing lane closures due to work in the median.

City of Utica: Route 5A between Schuyler Street and Whitesboro Street. Motorists will encounter lane closures due to road work.

Town of Marcy: Route 49 eastbound at the ramp to Edic Road. Motorists will encounter a full ramp closure on Monday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. due to tree work.

City of Rome: Route 69 between Gore Road and Pinebrook Lane. Motorists will encounter lane shifts due to water line installation.

City of Rome: Route 825 (Griffiss Parkway) between Ellsworth Road and the Mohawk River. Motorists will encounter one way alternating traffic with flaggers in place between Ellsworth Road and the bridge over the Mohawk River due to miscellaneous construction and utility work. Market Street will be closed between Route 825 and March Street until November.

Village of Clinton: Route 233 between Route 12B and Route 412. Motorists will encounter one way alternating traffic with a temporary signal.

Town of Marshall: Route 315 bridge over Big Creek between Bogan Road and Berrill Avenue. Motorists will encounter a full road closure with a signed detour in place due to bridge replacement. The detour will be using Route 12B to Route 20 to Route 12.

Town of Trenton: Route 12 between Route 28 in Mapledale to the Route 12 /28 interchange in Alder Creek. Motorists will encounter shoulder closures and possible lane closures due to topsoil work, median work, driveway paving and sign installations throughout the project area.

Village of Oneida Castle and town of Vernon: Route 5 between Seneca Avenue in Oneida and Sconondoa Street in Vernon. Motorists will encounter one way alternating traffic with flaggers in place due to miscellaneous construction operations.

MADISON COUNTY

City of Oneida and town of Vernon: Route 365A between Route 5 and Route 365. Motorists will encounter east and westbound one-way alternating traffic with flaggers due to miscellaneous road construction. Minor delays are expected.

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This week's area roadwork projects - Times Telegram - The Times Telegram

HAZLETON Some Hazleton City Authority officials are questioning why Mayor Jeff Cusat backed out of a proposal to have city streets department workers restore streets in Hazleton that were disturbed by distribution system upgrades.

The project, which has been discussed since last February, wouldve given the authority the ability to contract with the city and have its streets department crews make nearly $100,000 worth of street repairs, authority officials said Thursday.

HCA Deputy Director Richard Ammon, who has been in talks with Director of Public Works Frank Vito about paving upgrades, said he was in a state of disbelief after learning that Cusat turned down the authoritys offer to contract with the city for street repairs.

The arrangement would ensure work is available for city streets workers who faced the threat of layoffs earlier in the year, Ammon said.

This started in February, board member John Nilles said. Now, were at the end of July and were being told, Sorry, we dont want to take your money and do it.

Ammon and board member Robert Stefanovich said the timing puts the authority in a bind because it will have to scramble to develop bids for repairing a number of streets in Hazleton and surrounding communities.

Authority board member Dave Sosar,who also serves on council, said the authority is not to blame for the paving arrangement failing to materialize and publicly called on the mayor to present his decision in writing

I dont want someone pointing fingers at this body, Sosar said.

Board Chairman Phil Andras, however, said the authority cannot compel the mayor to present any decision in writing and said that the authority has no choice but to solicit bids.

We tried to help the city, Andras said. Customers are out there hitting (potholes). I dont think they say, This is an authority hole or This is a city hole. Dick is telling us the city is not interested. Lets go out and get a bid.

Cusat said later Thursday that his decision boils down to limited manpower and a fairness issue to taxpayers.

The amount of work they want us to do is substantial, Cusat said. Its more than we can handle.

If the city workforce was tied up on authority paving projects, it would have no time to complete work that city taxpayers have paid for, the mayor said.

If we had more manpower and more equipment, then it would be something that may benefit both parties, Cusat said. ... it would be unfair to the taxpayers not to get our streets repaired while patching holes and road cuts for the authority.

Cusat said hes not about to give the authority any written notice of his decision and said city crews were willing to pave HCAs driveway last year had the authority not backed out of that project.

Streets crews can devote a few days this year to pave the driveway leading to HCAs office and filtration plant, but Cusat said it simply lacks the manpower and equipment for addressing road cuts.

It would bring in a significant amount of money, but it comes at a cost to the taxpayers who deserve to have their streets paved as soon as possible, Cusat said.

Contact the writer: sgalski@standardspeaker.com;

570-501-3586

Excerpt from:
Why did the mayor back out of HCA paving deal? - Standard Speaker