This is a collaborative blog by both Bruce and Carol McElmurray from each individual perspective. Both Bruce and Carol have varying viewpoints on some subjects when it comes to their home in which they have lived for 23 years. It is located in the Sangre de Cristo mountains of southern Colorado at 9,800 feet of elevation. Both have separately expressed their views as indicated below.

Carol: When we built our cabin in the Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Colorado we were both in our 40s. We chose to build a small A-frame which fit our budget and our goal of minimalism. Over the years, and now that we are in our 70s, we have discovered some choices that we made that have made life a bit more challenging as we have aged. Perhaps sharing these insights will help others who are making plans to build a retirement home.

Bathrooms. Carol: When we retired we moved from a 2 bath home to a one bath home with a commode, sink and shower. We didnt realize how often we would like to have had two bathrooms and a bathtub if only to give the dogs a bath in! Having more than one bathroom even a bath would be a good thing to consider. Bruce: I would agree that having more than one bathroom even for two people would be a good option. It isnt often that we have a conflict with the one bathroom but nature being what it is, there are occasional conflicts. A composting toilet would normally be an option but regretfully our county does not allow them.

Second floor. Carol: It did not occur to us that as we aged that going up a spiral staircase to the sleeping loft would be an issue - but it has proven to be so. Having a home that is on one level is a good choice or a sleeping loft for company or storage. Bruce: I have to agree that having a one story makes sense for when you grow older. Life in the mountains is hard on our bodies and especially our knees, ankles and hips. Going up and down stairs or a spiral staircase becomes increasingly difficult and painful.

Bedrooms. Carol: The home we moved from had 3 bedrooms. We have only the sleeping loft. In retrospect enclosing an area on the first floor would have been a wise decision given the reasons cited above or even a second sleeping space. Bruce: We had considered converting our pantry into a bedroom when we became older but that became less practical as time passed and has become less of an option. Adding an additional bedroom initially would have been a better choice.

Location of doors. Carol: Be sure to figure out where the snow that slides off the roof will go. Will it block doors to any entrances? Having to shovel your way out of your home on occasion is a bit of a problem as you grow older. Bruce: We receive from 250 to 300 inches of snow a year and sometimes get 3-5 feet in a single storm. The contractor that built the shell positioned the steps off the deck along the edge of the roof. We had to change that quickly because given a significant snow storm they were buried under 8 to 10 feet of hard-packed snow.

Basement access. Carol: Being able to get from the interior of the home to the basement makes things a lot easier, especially if snow blocks the doors to the basement during the winter time. Bruce: We do have storage under our house that is heated, separate and dry. I do not mind it as much as Carol does but in the winter we have to put boots, coats, hats and gloves on to get to it. Dealing with 23 feet of snow over a winter season can be difficult enough without having to shovel to get to the basement.

Laundry room. Carol: Having the laundry room on the first floor instead of the basement makes things a lot easier for everyone! Bruce: Since I rarely do laundry I really dont have an opinion on this other than if a washing machine overflows it causes less damage if in the basement where water can be pushed out the door to soak into the ground.

Closets and storage spaces. Carol: With the slanted roof of the A-frame, being able to build closets is difficult. We have done well by some inventive ideas. Bruce: Closet area has been a challenge for sure but we have adapted and overcome the issues and kept the house looking open inside.

Kitchen, dining room, and living room. Carol: There is a good possibility that you will not need a big kitchen if there are only two people. Having a dining room for the occasional guest and a formal living room would be a waste of precious space. Bruce: I agree totally.

Visitors. Bruce: Our small home does not accommodate visitors with only one bathroom and one sleeping loft. We dont have many visitors but when we do we put them in the sleeping loft and have a sofa/bed downstairs for us. Depending on the length of stay we will often put them up in a motel in the nearby city of Ft. Garland. A local B&B is another good idea.

Garage. Our first project when we moved full time to our A-Frame retirement home was to build a two story garage - A-Frame - to match the house. It has proven to be a wise choice.

Early decisions count. When you build an A-Frame where the side walls are really the roof it limits your adding on options. Also in the high mountains where we get heavy snowfall the snow sometimes piles up several feet deep coming off the roof. While our home is cozy and we have adapted to its limitations, it meets our needs very well. Its small size makes it easier to clean and we dont need to clean or maintain areas we dont often use.

Bruce McElmurray homesteads at high elevation in the Southern Rockies with his wife, Carol. For more on their mountain lifestyle and their observances of animals coupled with their strange behavior, visit Bruces personal blog site at Bruce Carol Cabin. Read all of his MOTHER EARTH NEWS posts here.

All MOTHER EARTH NEWS community bloggers have agreed to follow our Blogging Guidelines, and they are responsible for the accuracy of their posts. To learn more about the author of this post, click on their byline link at the top of the page.

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Sizing Your Home to Fit Your Individual Needs - Mother Earth News

Ah ... love. Love is soft. Love feels good. Love should not be hard, crunchy or leave a bad taste in your mouth. Is your homes water full of love?

More than 85 percent of the United States has hard water, but Arizona has some of the hardest water youll find anywhere, said Mike Mattox, general manager, Kinetico Water Systems, a Rosie-Certified Partner.

So, if you dont have a home water treatment system, then you probably dont love your water. Heck, you probably dont even like it. But there is something you can do about it.

We can change the waters quality by installing a water treatment system," said Mattox.

A purification system will give you bottled-water quality at the convenience of your kitchen tap. This is perhaps the most effective form of water filtration. A water softener removes the minerals that make your water hard all over the house. Whole house filtration removes chlorine.

These systems remove up to 98 percent of metals, pathogens, chlorine, and dirt, so your water smells and tastes like nothing but water.

TIP: Youll need to change purification filters about every 12 to 18 months. If you touch the filter by accident, bacteria from your hands can contaminate your drinking water.

Love Your Drinking Water: Remember when you were a kid and youd just turn on the tap for a glass of water thats if you even bothered with a glass. Now, very few people drink from the kitchen or bathroom sink unless they have a water treatment system. Stop wasting money on bottled water. It adds up, and the bottles are not good for the environment.

Drinking water that has been treated results in better laundry, softer skin, and tastier beverages.

Love Your Shower & Bath Water: A whole home water treatment system will leave your hair and skin silky smooth. You wont need to glop on a bunch of hand and body lotion throughout the day to stave off the dryness. You will also use less conditioner to control dry, frizzy hair. Additionally, minerals wont build up on your showerhead, faucets, door, or in the tub. It will make cleaning your bathroom quicker and with less elbow grease.

Love Your Laundry Water: After a soothing warm shower or bath, the last thing you want to do is step into a crunchy robe or swaddle yourself in a stiff towel. A whole home system will keep your laundry soft, fluffy and fresh.

Untreated water can turn white fabrics gray and fade colored laundry. Fabrics wear out up to 15 percent faster, too. Washing machines can wear out nearly 30 times faster when using hard water. The Water Quality Association reports laundry costs can double in households using hard water.

Treated water will make your laundry soft enough for a babys nap.

With a whole home treatment system, your washing machine will last longer. You can even spend 80 percent less on soap and cleaning products because hard water prevents soap from lathering, so you need to use more of it.

Love Your Coffee & Tea Water: Hard water distorts the taste of coffee and tea. If you spent money on a high-end coffeemaker, you arent getting your moneys worth. You may as well boil a pot of water and dump in a handful of dirt and leaves. Treated water will bring out the rich, full flavor and color of coffee and tea. Your coffeepot will last longer. Concentrated juice and drink mixes also will taste better.

Love Your Household Cleaning Water: What's the point of cleaning if the water you are using is not clean? Heavy minerals can leave watermarks and scratch very fine surfaces. Using untreated water requires additional cleaning time and the use of environmentally unfriendly cleaning products. With soft treated water, you can use less cleaning agent, therefore saving money.

Love Your Kitchen & Bath Fixtures: No matter how much you clean, you simply cant get that white crusty stuff caused by hard water off your fixtures. Once cleaned and with a new whole home water treatment system in place, you will regularly be able to see your reflection in them.

Love the water flowing into your home by giving it some love. Install a water softener and reduce hard water mineral deposits throughout your home for better tasting and feeling water.

For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert since 1988, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8 to 11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and from 7 to 10 a.m. on KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.

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Rosie on the House: How to fall in love with your water - Green Valley News

An attendee of last year's Garden and Home Show. Courtesy of Colorado Garden Foundation

The annual show, which takes place February 22 to March 1, will distribute over a half-million dollars in grant funding to horticulture therapy programs throughout the state.

February is a welcome time to see greenand thats what youll get as you walk into the Colorado Convention Center from February 22 to March 1 during the annual Colorado Garden and Home Show. In fact, youll see every color of the rainbow (and more) thanks to the staggering number of flowers (10,000) spread throughout the complex. But sight isnt the only sense visitors can use to enjoy the acres of plants.

Thats because horticulture therapy, and more specifically sensory gardens are taking center stage at this years event. This genre, now relatively popular in the gardening and landscaping industry, essentially refers to gardens that urge visitors to engage with all their senses. Not only is smelling, hearing, touching, and tasting plant life fun, but it can be therapeutic as well.

As part of its grant program, the Colorado Garden Foundation will award a total of $543,000 to these local nonprofits, which use horticulture as a means to promote healing, learning, and in some cases, hope.

Anchor Center for Blind Children: Horticulture Therapy ProgramAnchor Center will receive a $9,000 grant to renovate their outdoor classroom and continue their compost services, which they use to teach students about the plant life cycle and environmental sustainability.

Horticulture has become central to the curriculum at this Stapleton institution, which has been around for almost four decades. The center, which provides education and therapy to children from infancy to age five who live with visual impairments, depends on its outdoor spaces for horticulture therapy. One of those spaces they call the pizza garden, where the youngsters can improve their motor skills by helping plant the seeds of basil and tomato plants. As they grow, the students can smell and feel the plants, until finally they become toppings on handmade pizzas. The process not only engages the childrens senses, but also helps them make connections from seed to plant, to a delicious meal.

The center also has a bountiful sunflower patch, where children plant seeds and later feel the flowers stalks grow until the petals are barely reachable above their heads. It can be really impactful for them to see the flowers grow even taller than they are, says Molly Jenkins, one of Anchors managers.

Such experiences are vital for the 100-plus students who are involved with the Anchor Center per year. What we know from research is that up to 90 percent of early learning takes place through incidental visual observation, Jenkins says. So for these kids, the lessons, activities, and skills they learn at the Anchor Center can help close the gap that could otherwise appear between them and their peers.

Norwood Public Schools: Outdoor EducationNorwood Public Schools will receive a $15,000 grant to add on to their outdoor classroom area.

Three years ago, teachers within the Norwood Public Schools District installed a hoop housea greenhouse-like structureto become part of their outdoor education curriculum for high schoolers. Now, with the grant they received from the Colorado Garden Foundation, they can install irrigation and build plant beds. Students who take the schools agriculture course, now in its second year, will then be able to design and create additions to the existing hoop house, incorporating other disciplines such as woodwork and welding for a fountain or water feature.

The idea is for the program to be interdisciplinary, incorporating not only trade skills like those listed above, but also to help students who are interested in agriculture understand the value of their math, bio, or writing classes. Science teacher Catherine Kolbet used two students as examples: Both wanted to become ranchers, and thanks to the agriculture curriculum, were able to grasp how algebra would play into accounting their property and livestock and how grammar could strengthen their correspondence with stakeholders.

We appreciate that the foundation was willing to take the risk, Kolbet says. Now were just waiting for the ground to thaw to get started.

Denver Art Museum: Sensory Garden and CourtyardThe DAM will receive a $50,000 grant to complete its sensory garden and courtyard, including adding an additional terrace.

Prescribing art as medicine is being seriously considered in the United Kingdom, Canada, and elsewhere. Though the trend has yet to gain traction here in the U.S., its the premise behind the Denver Art Museums next big project: a sensory garden and courtyard. The idea is to create a space that fosters community creativity by bringing together people, plants, and art, says Heather Nielsen, the museums director of learning and community engagement.

Designed by Didier Design Studiothe firm responsible for the steppe garden, sensory garden, and all-American selections garden at Denver Botanic Gardensthe courtyard will ultimately serve as both an aesthetic outdoor setting and an education space. For example, an Art and About tour for visitors with dementia or Alzheimers could be one likely program.

Though the museums new digs are set to open June 6, the installation of the sensory courtyard will be ongoing into the fall. The plan is to incorporate community input and then host planting days, so that visitors can play a role in the creative process.

Craig Hospital: Garden Repairs and ImprovementsCraig Hospital will receive a $3,750 grant to replace a flagstone pathway and update its existing garden spaces.

When Craig Hospitals horticulture therapy program was just a seedling back in 1982, the program largely focused on rehabilitating and providing adaptive equipment to recovering farmers, gardeners, and ranchers. Since then, under the leadership of coordinator Susie Hall, who joined the team in 1994, the program has expanded to offer a mix of physical and mental therapy to patients who are recovering from spinal cord and brain injuries.

By partnering with the hospitals physical and speech therapists, the horticulture team works toward goals through gardening. Take, for example, a recent patient recovering from a traumatic brain injury who is able to stand longer working in the greenhouse than in the treatment center. Or patients who can practice memory skills and problem-solving in a more bucolic setting than a hospital room. Hall says some patients have sent her thank you notes, claiming they dont know what they would have done without the horticulture program at Craig.

Its a way to connect people with plants, Hall says. For some, that may mean diving back into their previous activities involving gardening or being in nature. For others, its an introduction to a new leisure activity. The form of therapy has taken off globally; Hall says shes seen representatives from Japan, Hong Kong, Norway, Australia, and elsewhere at horticulture therapy conferences.

It doesnt end thereBeyond the grant recipients, the Colorado Garden and Home Show has, for the past quarter century, selected a community group to box up a majority of the flowers and take them to local nursing homes (this year itll be a local junior football team). It costs us about $1,500 to give our flowers away, says Jim Fricke, Colorado Garden Foundation executive director. But we think its money well spent. Because when they walk into the nursing homes, they say the look on residents faces is amazing.

If you go: The Colorado Garden and Home Show takes place February 22 to March 1 at the Colorado Convention Center. Tickets are available online.

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The 2020 Colorado Garden and Home Show Focuses on Healing and Hope - 5280 | The Denver Magazine

Additions for Your Redmond WA Home

When it comes to home additions in Redmond, property owners rely on Sound Renovation, Inc. Whether you want to add a single room or a second floor, we can scale to fit any need. Our company has worked extensively throughout Redmond, WA, providing additions and remodeling services for businesses and homeowners. Both of these have to meet unique guidelines depending on use, and our work is always technically excellent and meets building codes.

Depending on your needs, home additions can be made to accommodate leisure activities, expand the size of a room, create additional sleeping areas, or more. Theyre a great and cost effective option when you want to keep the property you have but expand the building on top of it. Just some of the benefits include:

We only use experienced employees and sub-contractors for a smoothly run job site and efficiently executed construction. We keep a safe environment, and emphasise proper sequencing, this allows for a timely build without sacrificing the quality were known for. No matter what youre looking for in home additions in Redmond, WA, we can provide it. Call (425) 444-3450 or Contact Us today.

We also provide addition services to the following locations:

Bellevue | Kirkland | Issaquah | Sammamish | Woodinville

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Additions Redmond WA | Sound Renovation, Inc

Tim Lamson, vice president at Clark Construction Group, has been named as a member of Engineering News-Record (ENR) Southeasts 2020 class of Top Young Professionals.

ENR Southeasts Top Young Professionals award recognizes young professionals who represent the best of the regions construction and design industries. The 2020 Top Young Professionals were judged by their leadership qualities, career progression, philanthropic efforts, and involvement in creating landmark projects.

In his role as vice president, Lamson oversees Clarks operations in Nashville, which has grown by more than 30 people over the past year. Clark Construction, which has been building in Nashville for a decade, is currently constructing multiple phases of Nashville Yards in a joint venture with Bell & Associates. The first phase includes a 24-story, 784,000-square-foot Grand Hyatt hotel. The second phase includes a 24-story office tower and associated parking garage. The Clark/Bell team is also providing preconstruction services for the remaining phases of the Nashville Yards project. The multi-phase, 17-acre mixed-use development project will ultimately feature office, retail, residential, and entertainment space. Once complete, this $1 billion project will be the largest private development in Nashvilles history.

In 2018, Lamson relocated to Tennessee to further solidify Clarks long-term building presence in Nashville. During his 15 years at Clark, he has worked on complex, high-profile projects throughout the eastern half of the United States, including Virginia, Washington, DC, Connecticut, and Illinois.

Lamsons career has been punctuated by mega projects that ultimately become iconic additions to the local landscape. Previously, Lamson led construction of the 1,205-room McCormick Place Marriott Marquis, a $350 million design-build hotel project in Chicago that the project team delivered in just 25 months. In addition, Lamson also served as project executive for the construction of the University of Connecticut Ambulatory Care Center. Despite an aggressive schedule, the facilitys parking garage was delivered a year ahead of schedule and the overall project was delivered on-time.

Outside of Clark, Lamson has helped to foster a growing relationship between the Clark/Bell team at Nashville Yards and Luke 14:12, a non-profit soup kitchen in Nashville. Currently, the team serves lunch at the kitchen twice per month. Lamson has also served as a Big Brother mentor for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the National Capital Area.

Learn more about ENR Southeasts 2020 class of Top Young Professionals program and winners at https://www.enr.com/articles/48434-enr-southeasts-2020-top-young-professionals.

About Clark Construction Group

Clark Construction Group, LLC is one of the nations most experienced and respected providers of construction services. American-owned and operated since 1906, Clark is consistently ranked by leading industry organizations as one of the largest general building and civil construction companies with annual revenues of approximately $5 billion. Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, the company has offices strategically located to serve clients throughout the country. Over the last decade, Clark has built some of Nashvilles largest landmarks including Music City Center, Vanderbilt Universitys Engineering and Science Building, and is currently delivering multiple phases at Nashville Yards. With a growing team and experienced leadership, Clarks presence in Nashville continues to grow steadily.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200219005863/en/

Contacts

Erin Classenp: 202-756-7246e: Erin.Classen@allisonpr.com

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Clark Construction Groups Tim Lamson Named a Top Young Professional by ENR Southeast - Yahoo Finance

Just over a year ago, a raging fire and related smoke and heat damage destroyed the southern Vigo County home and most possessions of Sherri and Lee Armstrong, forever changing their lives.

Standing in their front yard on Jan. 31, 2019, they helplessly watched their home go up in flames, although volunteer fire departments valiantly working in extreme cold that night, saving part of the structure and salvaging what items they could.

I think I was in shock for several months, Sherri said Monday. They had lived in the home for 40 years, raised two children there, renovated and built additions. The home was near Paint Mill Lake.

They had to decide whether to rebuild on site, which they did.

But for months, Sherri struggled and insisted that things would never be the same; they had lost videos of their children growing up and sentimental pictures, items that took precious memories with them.

Tribune-Star file/Austen LeakePicking up the pieces: Sherri Armstrong surveys the damage in her living room after a fire claimed her home in January 2019.

Lee convinced her they had to move on. You cant change the past, he said. They had to focus on the present, rebuild, and hopefully the future will work out. And so far, it has.

Exactly one year after that Jan. 31, 2019 inferno, which started in the garage, they moved back into its replacement, rebuilt from the ground up on the same footprint, with some modification.

Our biggest concern was whether it would feel like home, Sherri said. It does. Thats the happy part. We still would go back to the old days and have our old house if we could. ... Wed do it in a heartbeat. But this is a nice replacement.

They learned they were under-insured, and while insurance ultimately covered the structure, they had to use savings for contents and furniture. People need to make sure they are covered for what they think they are covered, she said.

They also suggest people have a plan in case a fire does happen. When their children were young, they practiced fire drills, but after the kids left, that stopped and they found they werent prepared when fire broke out.

In addition, Lee now has four smoke detectors in the attached garage as well as a fire extinguisher. Before the fire, I wasnt fond of smoke detectors in the garage because of false triggers, he said. Also, whereas the prior garage wasnt finished inside, the new one has drywall that would help contain a fire.

The couple worked with Aaron Mackey on the homes design and Mark Clinkenbeard Construction.

A year after that devastating night, the Armstrongs are thanking the volunteer fire departments, especially the Pierson Township Fire Department, for their efforts. I cant say enough good about the firefighters, Sherri said. They got the fire out about halfway through the house, but the rest of the structure had severe heat and smoke damage.

The volunteers spent about 5 1/2 hours fighting the fire, which at times had flames shooting 30 feet in the air. The weather was especially cold, with temperatures falling below zero.

Firefighters worked to salvage what they could of items that included photos and jewelry.

Tribune-Star/Austen LeakeKeepsakes: Several photo albums that Sherri and Lee Armstrong saved from a house fire last year do show some damage.

That night and the next day, friends and strangers, churches and the Pierson Lions Club, reached out to help the Armstrongs, whether with gloves, hats and blankets the night of the fire or gift cards to help them get back on their feet. The American Red Cross also went to the scene.

Thats the neat thing about being in a small community ... they all came together for us, Sherri said.

In a letter to the editor, the Armstrongs are giving special thanks to the Pierson firefighters.

One year from the date of the fire, we moved back into our new home. Our lives have forever been changed. Because of their valiant efforts to protect us, we will forever be grateful. We thank them for being there for us throughout this journey.

Sue Loughlin can be reached at 812-231-4235 or at sue.loughlin@tribstar.com Follow Sue on Twitter @TribStarSue.

Tribune-Star file/Austen LeakeTotal loss: Sherri and Lee Armstrong southern Vigo County home was completely destroyed by a fire on January 31, 2019.

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Home again: A year after loss to fire, couple rebuilds and returns - Terre Haute Tribune Star

After slaying the Super Bowl halftime show with Shakira, Jennifer Lopez is doing something thats a little surprising opening a fitness club in Pittsburgh.

Lopez and baseball legend Alex Rodriguez are behind TruFusion, which will be opening at The Cork Factorys garage and retail complex in the Strip District.

The famously fit founders booming fitness franchise offers yoga, kettlebell, Pilates, barre, boot camp, boxing and cycling classes all under one roof. Its expected to open in early 2021.

While J. Lo and Alex Rodriguez are investors on a national level, this is very much a locally owned franchise, says Shannon Striner, the local franchisee. My husband and I have partnered with another couple (Adam and Chrissy Timko) in opening this business. We strongly believe in the power of fitness. Both of our families include children with disabilities. We have partnered up together for their futures. We plan on having classes for folks with disabilities.

The Striners live in Highland Park; the Timkos are from Shaler.

The location in the Strip has long been marked by vacancy since the former Martys Market grocery shut down several years ago.

GMH Capital Partners of suburban Philadelphia says that the entire 43,000-square-foot space will soon be fully-leased with the addition of TruFusion and Coop de Ville, a new concept from the Richard DeShantz Restaurant Group.

DeShantz is behind some of Pittsburghs most popular restaurants: Meat & Potatoes, Butcher and the Rye, tk, Pork & Beans, Poulet Bleu and Fish nor Fowl.

Coop de Ville will focus on Southern cooking, and chicken in particular. It will also feature a sports bar atmosphere, with billiards tables and duckpin bowling. Its expected to open this spring.

Photo courtesy of Coop de Ville.

Coop de Ville and TruFusion are welcome additions to the current upscale retail offerings at The Cork Factory, an exclusive living community with exceptional features and amenities in the highly-desirable Strip District, says Rand Ginsburg, senior vice president of asset services for GMH Capital Partners.

Other tenants include the seafood and chophouse Cioppino Restaurant & Cigar Bar, the informal Italian eatery Osteria 2350the boutique fitness studio Meraki,and Sola Salon.

The Cork Factory which actually was once a cork factory called the Armstrong Cork Company was the first major housing redevelopment in the Strip District, an area now booming with living options. Its located at 2350 Railroad Street, and faces the Allegheny River.

It was built in 1901 and designed by renowned architect Frederick J. Osterling designer of the 1892 remodeling of Henry Clay Fricks house, Clayton, and the Union Trust Building in Downtown Pittsburgh.

Alex RodriguezCoop de VilleCork FactoryJennifer LopezRichard DeShantzStrip DistrictTruFusion

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TruFusion fitness studio backed by Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez opening franchise in the Strip - NEXTpittsburgh

A San Francisco startup is utilizing design and technology to make better use of the space in small apartments and condos.

While housing costs may be going up, Bumblebee Spaces is focused on what's coming down, literally. The company specializes in transforming one's ceiling into a place to store beds, books, clothes and other household items.

"How can we make the most out of space?" CEO Sankarshan Murthy said.

Efficiency is the name of the game at Bumblebee Spaces, which, in true Silicon Valley fashion, started in Murthy's garage.

"It started off as this home project for me to convince my wife we don't need more rooms," he said. "Let's make more out of the rooms."

People using Bumblebee's technology simply talk into their smartphone and then watch their items descend.

The company said it's working on designing both rentals and condos people can own. They're all small but feature hidden benefits.

"We liberate these walls and floors so you can live comfortably, yet all your stuff is there," Murthy said.

The company said its additions shouldn't add much to the cost of a residence because people will be able to live in a smaller space.

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SF Companys Technology Stores Beds, Closets in the Ceiling to Maximize Space - NBC Bay Area

What a difference a decade makes. After years of advances and setbacks, Lehigh Valley International Airport is emerging from a holding pattern on growth.

Part of that malaise can be traced to the airports mismanaged land-grab in the 1990s for an ill-fated runway expansion, forcing the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority to pay a $26 million court award to landowners.

Throw in the 9/11 attacks, the recession of 2008-09, and the retrenching of the major airlines, and you have a one-step-forward, two-steps-back approach to delivering the level of airport service justified by the growth of the Lehigh Valley.

The latest numbers are telling. LVIA has had 27 straight months of increased passenger traffic. Its poised to hit the 1 million annual passenger mark in 2020. The last time that many people flew in and out of LVIA was 2004.

The airports future was buoyed last week with the opening of a two-plane base by Allegiant Air, which will bring 66 new jobs and a $50 million local investment. Keeping two passenger jets stationed at LVIA means pilots and flight attendants can fly out of and return to the Lehigh Valley for the first time. Mechanics and ground staff will be added.

It also means Allegiant will be able to experiment with and add new destinations, both to vacation sites and to major hubs, where passengers can make connections. That lack of flexibility, coupled with noncompetitive fares, has diverted Valley residents to airports in Philadelphia, Newark and New York.

The demand is there. Market studies show people inside and outside the Lehigh Valley want to fly out of LVIA to Washington, D.C., Boston, Pittsburgh, Dallas and Austin, among other cities. Thomas Stoudt, executive director of the airport authority, says negotiations to expand the airports reach are continuing.

Allegiant, which has catered primarily to Florida vacation travelers, recently announced the startup of Allentown-Chicago flights. It also is expanding its network of bases around the country and has nine new destinations, including San Diego, Las Vegas and Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

These are welcome additions. Yet LVIA is still playing catch-up on infrastructure and other improvements that need attention.

Parking is still a sore spot, long after the elimination of an economy lot and shuttle service to the terminal. The security checkpoint between the terminal and boarding area is a bottleneck at peak times. Traffic on Airport Road and Route 22 is worsening with the addition of a FedEx distribution center nearby and funding delays to widen Route 22.

The airport authority is planning changes expanding parking, which will probably mean a parking garage, and a $22 million terminal connector to get people through security more efficiently. It's also looking to move the entrance/exit on Airport Road and convert the former control tower site to a hotel and retail space, according to Stoudt.

Its taken a long time for the airport to shake off its economic baggage. The challenge now for the LVIA staff and county officials is to keep up with the demands of growth. The collaboration with Allegiant and proposed infrastructure changes look like a good start.

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Things are looking up at LVIA, but theres more work to do | Editorial - lehighvalleylive.com

All for the Animals, for All Animals: Pet Rock Fest Announces 22nd Annual Event

Pet Rock Fest is thrilled to announce that the 22nd annual festival will return for the fourth year in a row to the field at Wyman-Gordon in North Grafton, which we are happy to now call home.

This annual event will be held on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, from noon to 5 p.m. on the grounds of the Wyman-Gordon plant, 244 Worcester St., North Grafton. With a return to this centrally-located and expansive venue, the event continues to grow in numerous ways, drawing more attendees and participants, both in variety and in numbers.

The event features all of the popular attractions, but includes additions to our offerings: from food to vendors to events to nonprofit participation. Pet Rock Fest continues to put the spotlight on the animal welfare organizations of New England that work hard to promote kindness to animals.

The Westborough State Hospital Memorial needs volunteers on Sunday, Feb. 16, from 10 AM to 4 PM on the old Westborough State Hospital grounds to help clear away overgrown brush from the location of an old State Reform School cemetery.

Our first clean up saw about 30 people come out to help, said the announcement, and hopefully well see both new and returning faces!

Before the grounds became Westborough State Hospital, from 1848 to 1884 it was the home of the State Reform School for Boys. Once the hospital took over it was abandoned, and its memory and very existence forgotten, said the announcement.

Our research has confirmed the existence of a State Reform School cemetery on the property, and we also have photos of the receiving tomb and headstones, it continued. In order to officially confirm the location with the appropriate equipment though we need to clear out decades of overgrown brush.

Bring shears and shovels if you have them!

Meet volunteers by Lake Chauncy on Hospital Road in Westborough behind the red storage building and an old garage.

Hey artists and baseball fans. Heres another fun way to enhance the community and contribute to the progression that is the Canal District. Join the WooSox and ArtReach on Tuesday, Feb. 18, to create two community murals that will enhance the construction fences surrounding Polar Park during construction.

From 6:30 PM -8:30 PM at Art Reach, 322 West Boylston St., Worcester, enjoy some popcorn, Polar seltzer and Table Talk apple pie, as we paint two murals and create WooSox history. Free drawings for opening day tickets, WooSox merchandise, and some other fun stuff celebrating Worcesters favorite pastime.

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5 Things You Need to Know Today in Worcester Friday, Feb. 14 - This Week In Worcester