Houzz at a Glance

Tate Studio Architects, original photo on Houzz

My clients are parents and grandparents who love spending time with family and love life," says architect Mark Tate. Thus, they planned their dream retirement home in Desert Mountain, Arizona, to include three guest rooms so everyone could come stay with them.

This stunning desert home opens up to views that extend 40 miles, while careful orientation and overhangs protect the interiors from the relentless desert sun. Outdoor living was a priority as well, so there's an outdoor kitchen, a lounging patio, a pool and a hot tub.

"I wanted to bring the desert into the house for my clients to enjoy," says Tate. "We very carefully integrated the house into the landscape and treated the site as gently as possible."

Houzz at a Glance

Who lives here: A retired couple with a big family who loves to visit

Location: Scottsdale, Arizona

Size: 5,600 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths, office, exercise room

That's interesting: The home has solar panels that generate electricity the power company buys; the pool is also heated by solar energy.

The home sits on a 5-acre lot, overlooking a riparian corridor that animals move along. While some grading was required for the house, Tate was able to balance the cut and fill within the site.

Tate Studio Architects, original photo on Houzz

"I wanted to create an inviting entry that didn't show you everything at once," Tate says. A large steel beam draws you toward the front door, and a small fountain draws you in with a gurgling sound that echoes through the entry. What lies beyond is an enticing mystery.

The front entryway is all glass yet does not reveal the views; one discovers those after entering the house. The bottom two-thirds of it is flow glass, which provides light as well as privacy. "The glass creates a beautiful glow," says Tate. "It has iridescent dichroic flakes in it that make it shimmer and change color throughout the day."

Landscape design: Desert Foothills Landscape; entryway glass: Meltdown Glass

A small fountain sits between two of the cacti in the middle of this photo. "Javelinas love to come up and drink from the small fountain," he says. "That window you see here is in the dining room, so the family enjoys watching them while they eat dinner."

The stucco wall here is part of a long, curved wall that extends the length of the house; sandblasted concrete blocks make up the wall on the right. The design of the square openings repeats throughout the house.

Related: Outdoor Fountains to Decorate the Entry

Tate Studio Architects, original photo on Houzz

The plan reveals how the curved wall extends through the house. Windows frame the vast landscape, while walls mask views of the road and neighboring houses.

Related: Floor Plan Lingo 101

Tate Studio Architects, original photo on Houzz

Beyond the front door, suspended reclaimed barn beams create a rhythm down the gallery.

To the left, the open fireplace is repeated outside on the patio. To the right, the end of the gallery becomes part of the master bedroom; the reclaimed barn doors slide across to enclose it.

Beams: K.P.Holt

Looking back toward the front door, Alpaca limestone continues from indoors to out, as does the Arizona brown schist seen around the fireplace. Large windows bring in the expansive desert views; the bottom windows are operational and let in the breeze from the valley.

The open fireplace divides the living room from the hearth room. Snapped-edge limestone makes up the hearth and mantel; copper covers the uplit fireplace.

Tate Studio Architects, original photo on Houzz

"We combined some traditional and contemporary touches in the kitchen," says Tate. White oak Shaker-style cabinets and brown schist stone lend a warm, contemporary feel. Behind the range wall, you can see how the roof floats, providing clerestory windows that let in additional daylight.

Related: Why Shaker Cabinets are Still a Classic Today

"The clients love to have everyone gather in the kitchen; the wife loves to cook, and everyone can gather at the granite bar," he says. Better yet, they can walk right outside to the outdoor kitchen and the TV lounge on the patio.

Cabinets: Cabinetry Essence

Tate Studio Architects, original photo on Houzz

The master bath combines several beautiful textures. The tile in the shower stall is a mix of stone and shell, the tub surround is concrete and the sandblasted block wall continues from inside to out. Three niches next to the bathtub echo the openings out the window.

"The bathtub has the live-in view, while the framed view of the mountain leads you into the shower stall," Tate says.

All stone and tile fabrication and installation: Imperial Tile Imports

Tate Studio Architects, original photo on Houzz

The form of the house follows the terrain, stepping down the hillside. The neighborhood was built in a way that does not deter the natural movement of local deer, javalinas, mountain lions and coyotes.

The patio has a series of outdoor rooms. "My client wanted to be able to sit outside in the shade while the pool was sunny, so all of the overhangs were very carefully designed," Tate says. The overhangs also protect the house itself from direct sunlight.

The far edge of the pool has an 8-inch-deep area with two lounge chairs. Toward the back is the outdoor kitchen and TV lounge; to the right is the riparian corridor. "You can lean on the infinity edge of the pool and watch the deer and other animals in the wash below," Tate says.

A large open fireplace echoes the one indoors; there is another small fire feature at the end of the patio next to the hot tub.

"This house was quite a departure from what my clients were used to, but they love the contemporary lifestyle and visiting with their children and grandchildren here," Tate says.

Excerpt from:
A Contemporary Scottsdale Home With a Front Row View of the Desert Landscape - Ravalli Republic

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., Sept. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- LOOP-LOC, pool cover company that services New Jersey, discusses how its pool fences keep your backyard pristine.

When choosing a fence to enclose the pool area, there are many options to consider. Using a removable mesh pool fence has numerous advantages for homeowners. A removable mesh fence around the pool will keep dirt and debrisas well as pestsout of the area. There is no chance of children breaching the fence and running all over the flowers and plants. The pool and surrounding landscape will remain gorgeous.

A removable mesh fence is also aesthetically pleasing to look at. Since it can be easily set up and taken down, it will not interfere with the landscaping of your backyard. Plant, prune, and water your trees, plants, and blossomsthen sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. The removable mesh fencing will not interfere with the splendor of your foliage.

The pool fence will also increase the visibility of your backyard. The fence's woven mesh allows the maximum amount of sunlight to filter through its holes. These holesvirtually unnoticeable from a small distancemake it seem as if one is looking through a translucent piece of plastic, allowing for a beautiful view of the backyard, patio, and sparkling water in the pool! Furthermore, since the mesh is resistant to sun exposure, it will look like new for a long time and further enhance your backyard.

A pristine backyard will not only make pool owners extremely proud of their swimming pool and backyard, they can also be secure in the fact that LOOP-LOC pool fences keep children and pets safe. It is one of the many layers of protection that pool owners should put in place to ensure the safety of everyoneand everythingwhile the pool is not being used.

About LOOP-LOC: There's only one company known for manufacturing safety pool covers strong and tough enough to support an elephant: the legendary LOOP-LOC. LOOP-LOC is a global leader in the pool industry with a 200,000-square-foot headquarters in Hauppauge, New York, and 300 employees. Through its network of dealers, the company has sold safety swimming pool covers on every continent on earth except Antarctica. LOOP-LOC now also manufactures a line of luxury in-ground pool linerswith more exclusive designer patterns than any other companyas well as the BABY-LOC removable fencing, a convenient, cost-effective additional layer of protection to help deter toddlers from gaining access to a swimming pool.

Media Contact:Katie Maroldi, fishbat, 855-347-4228, rel="nofollow">Katie@fishbat.com

News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com

SOURCE LOOP-LOC

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LOOP-LOC Discusses How Its Pool Fences Keep Your Backyard Pristine - Markets Insider

English styling and white blooms create an eye-catching landscape in a Delaware County outdoor living space.

On a Friday evening this summer, Ken and Lois Heater kick off the weekend with cocktails poolside on their newly finished patio, complete with an arched stone fireplace and pergola.

Their home sits on a tranquil 4-acre wooded lot in Delaware, miles away from nearby suburbia and their busy weekdays, his as the scientist-owner of a research and development company and hers as an interior decorator. Dozens of towering shagbark hickory trees shade a lush English landscape filled with white flowering perennials and shrubs. The beauty of the setting is reflected across their rectangular pool's blue water. The Heater's 14-year-old son, John, welcomes the weekend in his own waya cannonball splash into the pool. He's waiting for a handful of friends to arrive for an impromptu pool party.

This is exactly why we did this, says Lois, who relishes the moment and recalls hunting for a year and a half before finding the property.

We wanted a pool and enough land to look out and not see neighbors, she says. Originally, she looked at another house in the neighborhood, the day before this house went on the market.

We walked in the backyard and that was it, says Lois. We bought the home for its backyard and, later we learned, so did the previous owners.

The Heaters are the third owners of the 50-year-old home. The 6,000-square-foot, two-story, brick Georgian was one of builder Bob Webb's first custom homes. Lois says the interior and exterior are beautifully crafted and only a few updates were necessary to match their family's style.

The Heaters started with indoor renovations, replacing flooring and painting walls before they turned to the outdoor pool area. First, the existing 28,000-gallon pool was converted from chlorine to salt water, and the surrounding deck area was resurfaced in natural aggregate stone, which tied in the existing brick border.

Next, they added the new fireplace to extend their time outdoors into the evenings and into the fall season.

I originally wanted a pool house, but we thought that would be too big of a project, she says. The fireplace ended up being a much bigger project than they anticipated, and the construction lasted about two years.

She explains, I saw a picture on Pinterest, and that's how it all began. The picture featured a curved limestone fireplace with attached seating and a narrow over-

head pergola.

Be careful what you love on Pinterest, because there's no going back, she says.

Lois contracted Mike Sileargy, of MLH Design & Build, to recreate the fireplace from the Pinterest photo. He tracked down the designer in Santa Barbara, California, to gain design insights. They chose to repeat the Pinterest design's Indiana limestone for the fireplace and Connecticut bluestone for the patio and cap on the adjoining seating area. The project required meticulous and time-consuming work, hand-cutting each stone. Next, the contractor added the narrow pergola with four round columns and curved rafters painted in a color called White Swan by Benjamin Moore.

To finish the stone chimney, Lois ordered a large, hand-crafted gas lantern from Bevolo, a family-owned business in New Orleans that's known for its copper, open-flame lanterns throughout the city's French Quarter.

With the hardscapes completed, Lois moved on to the landscape. She reached out to neighborhood friend and landscape designer Nikki Fetingas, of At Home Landscape, to create an updated look with plenty of English styling and white blooms.

I like all things English, says Lois. English curtains, English Labrador dogs and English gardens.

Fetingas welcomed the challenge. To begin, she surveyed the landscape's existing strengths, like its mature Japanese maples at one side of the pool and a trio of showy bottlebrush buckeyes on the opposite side. She also assessed overgrown plants and noted several lost shrubs from the bitter winter of 201314.

Next, she recommended planting an understory of trees, including hemlocks and dogwoods, to connect the property's 40-foot overhead canopy with the poolside landscape. They chose oakleaf hydrangeas, White Feather and Curly Fries hostas, ferns, white alliums, foxgloves, coral bells, Lenten roses, Jack Frost brunnera and Japanese forest grass.

To capture the English styling, they added low hedges of Green Velvet boxwood accented with pyramidal boxwoods at the ends. For the pergola, they planted a backdrop of Forest Pansy redbuds and ordered climbing white Iceberg roses from the famous English rose hybridizer David Austen. To the side, they planted Susan Williams-Ellis white shrub rosesanother Austen variety.

These roses do take a while to get started, but after a couple years acclimating they will be so stunning and fragrant, says Fetingas.

On the far stretch of the pool, she wanted to create a grand statement that could be viewed from indoors and across the water. They rounded up the barrenwort that was sporadically growing throughout the landscape and created a border using the shade perennial. Next, they planted four hydrangea topiary trees and rounded them with burgundy-colored coral bells. In between, they added White Feather hostas. The bluestone patio's colors were picked up in another layer of blue spruce.

The layered plantings help frame the pool and provide a pretty backdrop against the woodland, says Fetingas.

Now in its second growing season, the updated poolside landscape is perfect for outdoor living, whether it's intimate family dinners, a garden gathering or John's famous glow-in-the-dark pool parties.

Some days, we go from pajamas to swimsuits to pajamas, says Lois, as she places the pair of newly filled, inflatable swans in the pool.

See the article here:
Home: A dream backyard in Delaware County - Columbus Monthly

Set to be built in the Spanish region of Matarraa, TNA is the latest architectural firm to take up the challenge of building a residence without restrictions for developer Christian Bourdais' Solo Houses project. Lead architects Makoto Takei and Chie Nabeshima have dreamed up an inverted concrete pyramid sunk into the Spanish landscape.

Following in the footsteps of designs by Didier Faustino andJohnston Marklee, the resort dwelling is part of Bourdais' plan to bring cutting-edge architecture to a rural setting. TNA has used a classic formthe pyramidand cleverly inverted it to create a sense of weightlessness. Large cutouts in the upper dwelling provide panoramic views over the landscape and the sleek interior isdivided by mezzanines of different levels, which keep the open feeling of the pyramid, but clearly define living spaces.

While exterior images of a previous design show the pool housed in a second inverted pyramid sunk below the main residence, the final version sees all design aspects combined into a singular structure. In the final version by TNA, the larger upper level of the pyramid houses three bedroomsand a lounge, which allhave direct access to the rooftop pool in the center.

TNA's concept is one of 15 residences, plus a hotel, that will be built for the Solo House project.Two have already been completed, withThe Guardiandubbing them architectural collectibles. Only time will tell how Bourdais' project will hold up and if his concept of creating a history of what is architecture at this moment in time will fully come to fruition.

Photo: Solo Houses

Photo: Solo Houses

Photo: Makoto Takei and Chie Nabeshima / TNA

Photo: Makoto Takei and Chie Nabeshima / TNA

Photo: Makoto Takei and Chie Nabeshima / TNA

Photo: Sadao Hotta for Makoto Takei and Chie Nabeshima / TNA

Photo: Sadao Hotta for Makoto Takei and Chie Nabeshima / TNA

h/t: [design boom]

Spains Exploding House Inspired by the Big Bang

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Modern Architecture: Contemporary Floating Home in Seattle

Contemporary Russian Home with Sleek Angles

Modern Prefabricated Home is a Minimalist Retreat in Spain

Continue reading here:
Cutting-Edge Architects to Build Inverted Pyramid House in Spanish Countryside - My Modern Met

Meeting with a new client is always an exciting time because it means new creative opportunities and additional revenue.

However, sometimes your new customers may know they want a new landscape, but they dont exactly know what they want that space to look like. Or they have a hodge-podge of ideas they saved on a Pinterest board.

While Pinterest isnt a bad thing, and the photos there can serve as a springboard, sometimes its up to you to hone in on your customers style in order to create the design theyll truly love.

The best way to determine the homeowners style is to talk to them and ask detailed questions. Do they entertain a lot? What do they like or dislike about their current landscape? What is their color palette?

Make notes of their desires and wishes, instead of trusting your memory. As you meet with the client, explore the space and imagine yourself in their shoes. Good observation skills can also give you hints as to the customers preferences. A persons interior design, as well as the way they dress and speak can help you understand their sense of style.

There are many different landscape styles out there, but here are some of the common ones that your client might fall under.

For those that love to entertain and are a fan of the exotic, a tropical landscape often goes well with a pool. Golden Japanese forest grass, canna lilies and hibiscus are some of the plants found in this style landscape. This space would also have a large lounge area and possibly and outdoor kitchen or fire pit.

Customers that prefer things neat and orderly will enjoy a space that has manicured hedges, straight lines and patterns. Boxwoods are often used in these landscapes.

Often clients homes are a good indicator of their preferred style so those with a house that is sleek and contemporary probably lean toward the modern style of landscaping that has a strong emphasis on structural elements. Clean lines and unusual materials are often used, and the space is generally designed to be low-maintenance with its simplicity.

People who prefer things to be more relaxed and less formal have several different design options depending on how wild they want things to look. The cottage garden style has lots of perennials, roses and flowering plants while a woodland style landscape has a very natural appearance of how plants would grow in wooded areas.

Often you wont design a landscape thats strictly one style, as you will often be blending the needs and styles of several people living at the property. This is just one way to narrow down their many ideas they have about their dream landscape

Read the rest here:
Determining your client's preferred landscape style - Total Landscape Care

Linda in Rockville writes: I have had great success with my basil plants over the last five years. This year they initially grew well but quickly developed a black growth and withered away both in a plot at a nearby garden for seniors and at our home down the street in planters.

Friends in surrounding neighborhoods have had the identical problem. Any insights from my favorite garden guru?

Two insights, Linda.

One reason could be soil thats been waterlogged by this summers excessive rain. It doesnt matter how good your drainage is if the soil doesnt ever get a chance to dry out. The other possibility is more nefarious a basil blight thats been sweeping the nation the last few years. And as with all true blights, theres no cure, just heartbreak.

Linda in Rockville said that her basil plants developed a black growth and withered away this summer. And the photos she included revealed that the problem affected the most common form of basil the large-leaf, sweet Italian variety, which has been attacked by a serious blight the last few years.

Luckily, other forms of basil there are hundreds of different varieties out there are not affected by the blight. And, basil grows quickly.

My advice is to pull out the blasted plants and toss them, along with the top inch of soil they were growing in. Then, sow fresh basil seed in different containers. If September and October are nice and warm, you should get a good late harvest.

Linda in Rockville appears to have fallen prey to basil blight, a fast-moving pathogen that wipes out plantings of Italian, large-leaf sweet basil, by far the most popular variety. But the hundreds of other varieties of basil are unaffected, and basil grows fast in the warm soils of late summer, meaning theres still time to sow a nice, late crop. Grow it in a different spot just to be safe.

And the places where the blighted basil went bust? Toss the dead plants and the top inch of soil, add some fresh potting mix to the surface and thickly sow the seeds of a leafy, salad green mix. The plants should germinate fast and be tall enough to cut with scissors as baby greens in a month. Leave an inch of growth on top when you cut and theyll regrow for another run (cut and come again style), which should be ready right around Halloween.

Bob in Wardensville, West Virginia, writes: Adrian Higgins recently wrote in The Washington Post about treated sewage being turned into compost for gardens. Id like to hear what you think about this.

The actual process of using human waste as fertilizer (dubbed night soil) goes back millennia, Bob (see the classic book about early Chinese agriculture, Farmers of Forty Centuries). And modern wastewater plants have been treating and marketing their sewage sludge as fertilizer for decades under the euphemism biosolids. Sounds so much nicer than sludge, doesnt it?

But unlike ancient night soil, the original raw material for this stuff did not just come out of people. The incoming water these big plants treat can be heavily contaminated by industrial waste and by people pouring things, such as used motor oil, down their toilets.

The heavy metals that survive the treatment process are the one, big reason biosolids are not allowed for use in certified organic agriculture. The treatment process, however, is very good at getting rid of E.coli and other pathogens.

Although an independent analysis shows that everything is under the established Environmental Protection Agency limits, the product that Adrian wrote about, Bloom, from D.C.s Blue Plains plant, still contains what I consider to be disturbing levels of arsenic, copper, lead and zinc.

Luckily, theres plenty of good, old yard waste compost to be had in bulk that do not carry these concerns. And, theres an emerging market of using biosolids for fuel instead of food, which makes good sense to me.

As summer becomes fall, its prime time for correct lawn care.

Note: This advice is only for cool-season lawns. If you have a warm-season turf like zoysia or Bermuda, youd do these chores in the spring.

Mike McGrath was Editor-in-Chief of ORGANIC GARDENING magazine from 1990 through 1997. He has been the host of the nationally syndicated Public Radio show You Bet Your Garden since 1998 and Garden Editor for WTOP since 1999. Send him your garden or pest control questions atMikeMcG@PTD.net.

Like WTOP on Facebook and follow @WTOP on Twitter to engage in conversation about this article and others.

2017 WTOP. All Rights Reserved.

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It's a bad year for basil, but there's hope - WTOP

Car wash at Fair Lawn High School for injured Fair Lawn runner Joe Fernandez and his family. Fernandez was seriously injured in an accident last week. Michael Karas/NorthJersey.com

The Fernandez family, from left, Catherine, Wendy, Jose, Johanna, and Joe, seen at Jose's birthday party in May. Catherine and Johanna were not involved in the accident; Wendy, Jose, and Joe were, along Joe's grandmother, Ana Silvia Burgos, not pictured.(Photo: Courtesy of Amanda Ayala)

In some places, people are left to face personal tragedies alone.

And then there's Fair Lawn.

After a car accident left Jose Fernandez;his wife, Wendy;and their 16-year-old son, Joe, in intensive care, theFair Lawn community came together.

MORE:Car wash raises money for injured Fair Lawn runner

They organized a GoFundMe page, a car wash and a T-shirt drive to raise money for the family, who were onvacation in the Dominican Republic when the accident occurred.

There are efforts under way to raise money for their medical treatment and long-term care when they all returnhome.

"The whole community poured in money and good wishes," said Kevin Orfe, a history teacher and cross-country coach at Fair Lawn High School.

The Fernandez family has deep roots in Fair Lawnand is well known around town, he said.

"Joe is one of our best runners on ourcross-country team," said Orfe. "He's a nice, friendly kid who is always smiling."

Fair Lawn Mayor Joe Cosgrove said he's not surprised by the outpouring of generosity. He's seen such displays of altruism time and time again through the years, whenever accidents or illnesses strike at the heart of the community.

"In Fair Lawn, we come together to help our neighbors," he said. "That's what we do."

The accident turned a planned family celebration into a tragedy.

The family had traveled to the Dominican Republic to celebratethe 60th wedding anniversary of Jose Fernandez's parents. As the Fernandezfamily was heading to the airport on the return home, a car plowed into them on the highway.

Witnesses reported thatthe driver of the other car appeared to be on her cellphone as she made an illegal turn, said Joe's cousin, AmandaAyala.

Wendy's mother, Ana Silvia Burgos, who was sitting in the backseat, was killed on impact.

Wendy, Jose and Joe were rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. Wendy sufferedabdominal injuries that were exacerbated by her lupus. Joe sufferedspinal injuries, andremained in a coma for 10 days. Between the three of them, they underwent 10surgeries, said Ayala.

Burgos' funeral and burial took place while they were in the hospital, completely unaware of what had transpired.

"Therewere a lot of tears," said Orfe, about the students' reaction to the news. Then the kids decided to do somethingpositive."

They organized a car wash Saturday that raised $1,500 for the family. Now they are selling T-shirts, complete with Joe's Number (2) and motto, "Playoff Mentality."

Medical costs were higher than normal because the incident occurred internationally. The deductible for the insurance was $21,000, and transport to the U.S. by air ambulance will run about$60,000, said Ayala.

"We still don't know what the costs will be for their ongoing care, so we are hoping that whatever funds remain will be enough to keep them going after they are discharged," she said. As of Thursday, the GoFundMe page had raised about $81,000.

Jose was recently discharged from the hospital, and Wendy was airlifted back to the United States, where she is in an intensive care unit at an undisclosed hospital.

Joe, who has been in and out of the intensive care unit, recently caught pneumonia and will now need closer monitoring, said Ayala. She hopes he will be brought back to America soon.

"Nobody ever thought something like this could happen," said Samantha Murri, 15, a Fair Lawn High School sophomore who was on the cross-country team with Joe. "Joe isalways such a bright spirit to everyone around him, especially to kidson the basketball team and the cross-countryteam. He always keeps everyone's spirits up."

Track practice is not the same anymore,she said. "He was a big part of the team." The kids are not smiling and laughing as much. And now when the kids break, instead of shouting "Go team!" they shout, "Go for Joe."

"Everyone in Fair Lawn has been praying for him and keeping him in our thoughts," she said.

Jon Marcus, a senior who went running with Joe over the summer, said that everyone who knew Joe liked him. "It made us all want to help his family," he added. "We heard what happened and we immediately wanted to help."

"When we go running now, it's a lot more quiet. We feel the void without him."

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Fair Lawn community unites to support injured teen, family - NorthJersey.com

The University Police Department is facing allegations of discrimination after a Latinx student gathering on the Lawn was broken up by officers the evening of Aug. 25.

Eddie Castillo, a fourth-year College student and LSA vice president for advocacy, was present at the event, which was for new and returning students. He said the actions of one of the officers was aggressive towards their group and that white Lawn residents who were also having gatherings were treated in a much gentler manner.

Though not technically an LSA-sponsored event, two LSA Lawn residents who were hosting the gathering notified the surrounding Lawn rooms and family pavilion of their plans prior to the event, and promised to end by 11 p.m. per the request of the pavilion residents.

Castillo noted the the event had technically ended when the officers arrived.

We had a Latinx beverage, Horchata, we had Spanish music playing and we had a lot of new first-years there, Castillo said. There were no problems. Around 10 oclock we shut down one of the rooms because it ran out of the Horchata, and moved to just one room.

Castillo said they called last song around 10:45 p.m., and then at 10:52 p.m. made an announcement that everyone needed to leave the Lawn room since they had to be done by 11 p.m.

There were maybe around 30 people, and once we made that announcement, then about half left, Castillo said. Then around 10:59 people are starting to leave, but thats when the police officer comes over and starts shining his light at people and telling them to get off the Lawn.

Castillo said the area in front of the Lawn room and a little past the pillars is considered to be the Lawn residents property. He said people were being asked to get off of that area.

The officer was coming over and screaming at people to get off the Lawn, not really saying more gently to get off the Lawn, it was more assertive and sudden, Castillo said. The Lawn resident walks up to the officers and begins to tell the officers that the event is ending and people are dispersing, but the police officer doesn't actually acknowledge the resident. The officer looks at resident but doesn't actually say anything.

Castillo said the Lawn resident followed the officers down the Lawn and stood next to the officer as they knocked on the residents door.

The police officer asks if this is her room, which she says yes, it is, and the police officer cuts the resident off and says that she needs to disperse everyone in 20 minutes, or everything out here will be considered litter and youll be charged with distribution to minors when he comes back, Castillo said. Then the police officer walks away without giving us much of a chance to acknowledge what he says.

The Lawn resident involved in the situation was fourth-year Curry student Paola Snchez Valdez, who declined to comment for this article.

Castillo said there were approximately 15 students remaining from the gathering when the officers arrived, and many in attendance were first-years who were trying to meet new people.

It was just really unfortunate that as soon as the police officers show up, all these first-years are terrified, Castillo said. What we also know is that there were some undocumented students there who came out to make friends, which can be rough for undocumented students to do, and it really just hurt us.

According to Castillo, there had been alcohol present in both of the two Lawn rooms, but that it had run out by 10:30, leaving only the Latinx drink Horchata left, and the members shut down one of the rooms to consolidate the gathering to one space by the time the officers arrived.

There was alcohol, but all of the alcohol was out by 10:30, Castillo said. When the officers arrived, I believe there were really only cups around, not even cans, [and] in reality, we were cleaning up, not actually littering.

Castillo said he followed the officer as he walked down the Lawn towards the other parties in order to ask for his name, and heard the officer notify a white Lawn resident hosting a party that there had been a complaint and that only those under 21 needed to disperse, unlike the LSA gathering, who were told all needed to leave.

When the officer talked to the white resident, he said there was a complaint, but didnt call for immediate shut down of their party, but did call for immediate shut down of our party and didnt inform us there was a complaint, Castillo said. He told [the] resident that he would be charged with littering if the trash remained, but with us he told us everyone needed to go in twenty minutes or we would be charged with litter and distribution to minors, [and] he didnt say this other resident would be charged with distribution to minors like he blatantly said to us.

Castillo said he found this alleged discrepancy in treatment saddening, particularly when the event with LSA members was respectful the wishes of the pavilion residents, and felt that, based off his behavior, the officer came into the situation predisposed to think the group was misbehaving.

The University Police Department did not return a request for comment.

In an interview with The Cavalier Daily on Tuesday, University President Teresa Sullivan said the incident is under investigation and was brought to her attention on Aug. 27.

The Latinx Student Alliance denounced the alleged mistreatment in a statement on its Facebook page on Aug. 27 and connected it to recent white nationalist events. The University has faced criticism over its response to an Aug. 11 white nationalist torchlit march through Grounds that turned violent.

The Charlottesville community is going through a long process of healing from the uninvited and unwanted members of the so-called alt-right, LSA wrote. The last thing that needs to be happen, especially from an institution that was unresponsive and absent on Friday, August 11th, is to target a group of minorities in such an aggressive and inappropriate manner.

Castillo said he and other LSA members spoke with two of their Lawn resident friends of color on Bachelor Row the smaller Lawn Rooms south of Pavilion VII who also hosted parties that evening also experienced similarly inconsistent treatment from white fellow residents by the officer.

Two of our friends on Bachelor Row who are people of color also got similar treatment to us, in the sense that they were asked to immediately shut down their party and they were questioned and given a hard time about a table serving food, which is allowed on the Lawn, Castillo said. I dont want our organization to be seen as sensitive or quick to jump the gun, [but in] reality it was really a racial difference its a matter of protocols being different and not being the same for all residents across the board.

Castillo said that while the LSA greatly appreciates all that University Police Department does to protect students, they felt the need to speak up about this incident involving their community members and remind UPD that the Lawn residents are students, and student leaders at that.

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Latinx Student Alliance alleges discrimination by U.Va. Police in dispersing social gathering on Lawn - University of Virginia The Cavalier Daily

The target of a recall effort in Algonac recently submitted his resignation from the city council.

Council member Joe Nugent was set to face 19-year-old Jake Skarbek in a November recall election, but will instead resign his seat if approved by the city council. Officials are expected to vote on his resignation at their Sept. 5 meeting.

Skarbek told The Voice he intends to submit his application for the seat.

Nugent, a lifelong Algonac resident, has served the city both as a council member and as mayor. He has also worked at the wastewater treatment plant and served as clerk at the citys department of public works. Nugents parents also previously served in the city.

To me, Algonac is my home, he previously told The Voice. I have lived in the same house my entire life. I love the area and its uniqueness the fact that your neighbors are also your friends.

Council will have 30 days to appoint a new member to serve the remainder of Nugents term, which ends in 2018.

He dedicated his life to make the city of Algonac, Mayor Eileen Tesch said of Nugent. He deserves our utmost respect and admiration. He will be missed.

While Nugents recall election will be canceled if his resignation is OKd by council members, a recall election is still scheduled for council member Irene Bird. In late June, Algonac resident and recall petitioner Amanda Gougeon submitted nearly 400 signatures targeting Nugent. The recall petitions filed against both members cite collusion, dishonesty and lack of integrity as grounds for recall, as well as secret meetings and the removal of the communitys former city manager.

Algonac resident Cindy Kloeffler asked Nugent and Bird for their resignations to spare citizens having to vote in November during the councils Aug. 15 meeting. Teschs resignation was also sought.

Joe has been a friend of mine for many years and a wonderful colleague on council always putting his life on hold to assist in any way he could, said Bird. He is a giving person who is loved and appreciated by those who know him. Because of Joes fantastic knowledge of the city of Algonac, he truly will be missed by council.

His resignation marks the fourth in the city this year. Former City Manager Doug Alexander resigned in February. Council member Helen Meldrum resigned in May, citing medical reasons. Clerk Cindi Greenia resigned in late August.

Nugent could not be immediately reached.

I wish Joe well on his next adventure, Bird said. He deserves it.

Skarbek graduated from Algonac Jr./Sr. High School in 2016 and is currently majoring in political science. He owns a lawn care business and is actively involved in the community.

My experience is low, but I am confident that I can make a difference, he said. I am an active listener for the people in the community. I will be bringing honesty and integrity to the city council. I will also be bringing a new generation of thoughts and ideas to the city.

Council members earn $40 per regular meeting and $10 per special meeting.

Those interested in applying for the vacant city council seat can submit resumes or letters of interest to Algonac City Hall, 805 St. Clair River Drive, P.O. Box 454, Algonac, MI 48001.

Pamela Binsfeld is a staff writer for The Voice. She can be contacted at 586-273-6197 or pbinsfeld@digitalfirstmedia.com.

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Target of Algonac recall effort submits resignation | News ... - New Baltimore Voice Newspapers

Submitted by Lucitt & Co. Published 5:45 a.m. ET Sept. 2, 2017

McGarvey Custom Homes' Astaire Supermodel in Talis Park has sold.(Photo: Submitted)

Two of McGarvey Custom Homes SuperModelClass luxury homes closed in the same week, both selling for well over $4 million.

The Astaire in Talis Park and the Brigitte in Quail West present their luxurious appointments like stars, chief among them being their powerful, big statement architecture inside and out a McGarvey trademark matching generous scale to high worth building materials. Both are 6,000 plus square feet under air, with almost half again as much in actual living area. Both have four bedrooms, dens and en suite baths, four-car garages and outdoor living areas with all of the upgrades.

The Astaires classic British Colonial styling standsat attention the moment you enter its elegantly proportioned foyer and carries on with warm wood tones and subtle, neutral furnishings into the living room, formal dining room and massive great room with wet bar and adjoining island kitchen with casual dining area.The first-floor master suite defines the Astaires warmth inside and out with rich transitional furnishings and fine appointments. The master bath includes his and her vanities and water closets, and an outdoor shower plus private lounging garden. Its SuperModel status is confirmed with the second-story VIP suite including game room, wet bar and covered terrace. The grand outdoor living area has a summer kitchen, island bar, fireplace and pool with separate spa. Twin two-car garages complete the Astaire.

The Astaire SuperModel closed on July 27for $4.25 million.

McGarvey Custom Homes' Brigitte SuperModel in Quail West has been sold.(Photo: lori_hamilton)

The Brigitte is as fresh and sensuously inviting as its namesake with coastal stylingto enhance every angle and surface of this SuperModels form. Arlynn McDaniel of Freestyle Interiors designed the interior space to enhance the senses, merging the simple luxury of wide open spaces with the McGarvey standards for excellence in execution at every turn from the reception foyer to the living and dining areas and beyond to the open kitchen and great room. Interior glass walls are used to great effect to perpetuate the ambiance, bringing the centrally located, glass-walled and temperature-controlled wine room into any conversation.

The Brigittes clean coastal style uses bold, premium building materials throughout to heighten its structural beauty. French oak flooring and slabs of granite, smart technology wiring and high-end appliances inside and in the outdoor living areas make the Brigitte the standard by which other models can be measured. The main living room is enhanced by a linear fireplace and music area, complete with grand piano. The master bedroom wing with a glass-walled den brings the outside indoors and is a light filledretreat positioned to view the pool, fountain, spa and fireplace. The familyroom has all the tech savvy appointments and opens seamlessly onto the outdoor dining, grill and fire pit area.

The Brigitte is a boldly executedresidence that defines true craftsmanship and high design standards. McGarvey Custom Homes' SuperModelBrigitte closed on Aug.1for $4.5 million.

The Astaire SuperModelin Talis Park and The Brigitte SuperModel in Quail West define luxury, vision and fine craftsmanship throughout in the atmosphere of high worth homes. Quality elevates any project. Supermodel quality is the definition of exceptional, and McGarvey Custom Homes has delivered it once again. Both homes express the McGarvey commitment to rigorous standards in design, materials and finishes.

Style sets the SuperModel apart from the rest, where form and function meet in an elegant expression of purpose. That certain something star quality sets the SuperModel apart, and the McGarvey Celebrity Series is all about its stars.

The Astaire in Talis Park has it all. Located in the Prato neighborhood where privacy is paramount, it is sited to have uninterrupted golf course, lake, preserves and citrus orchard views at every turn. To meet such restrictive privacy standards, Prato can only accommodate 24 homes.

As designed and executed by Arlynn McDaniel of Freestyle Interiors, the Astaires rich wood detailing and muted palette enhance the luxurious McGarvey design features. High ceilings, chunky baseboards and solid 10-foot doors. The flooring alternates from rich dark oak to shell stone. The great room, hallways, kitchen and dining room showcase a stone and wood design. The staircase to the second story features oak treads and shell stone risers. TheVIP suite is wood finished.

The Astairess two-story plan encompasses 6,820 square feet under air with aliving area of 10,692 square feet. The four-bedroom, 5.5-bathhomehas a ground-floor master suite, twin two-car garages and a second-story VIP suite.

The Brigitte SuperModel in Quail West has6,187 square feet under air with a total living area of 9202 square feet. Its bold exterior features including a broad, travertine-pavered approach and twin bubbler fountain.Upon entry through massive solid mahogany double-doors, you are greeted by the Brigittess elemental charms spaces defined by wood and stone, a fireplace poised as if to re-orientate you to this zen-tranquil retreat, and crowning it all is a floating ceiling. Leaving the grand reception, living and dining spaces and gleaming wine room behind, the custom-designed gourmet island kitchen, casual dining area and family leisure space complete the main living areas in coastal style, each area overlooking outdoor living areas that include a fully appointed summer kitchen, pool, spa, garden and lounging areas.

McGarvey Custom Homes Astaire and Brigitte SuperModel Class estate homes achieve the quality and stature of luxury residences by alwaysusing the best design, best materials, best craftsmanship available.

McGarvey Custom Homes was founded in 1995 by John McGarvey and is acknowledged as one of Southwest Floridas leading luxury home builders. Their estate, executive and single-family villa homes reflecting the companys state-of-the-art construction methods are found in the areas most prestigious communities. Online atmcgarveycustomhomes.com.

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Two McGarvey SuperModels close in same week - Naples Daily News