By Kerri Westenberg, TNS Published 5:16 p.m. ET Feb. 13, 2020

MINNEAPOLIS When Somia Mourad first walked into the Kenwood home that she would buy, she saw dark-stained oak woodwork mixed with white woodwork on much of the main level. In the kitchen, three different wood finishes fragmented the space.

The house had clearly gone through a ton of renovations, Mourad said. Though the work had been done with care and had been maintained well, she wanted a more cohesive look. So even before she, her husband, Keith Bush, and their two daughters moved into the 1891 three-story, painters were summoned. The fireplace mantel, centerpiece of a gracious living room, went from a dark oak stain to white enameled paint so that it would match the shelves on either side, which were already white. Beams in the ceiling got the same treatment. Wood panels in the dining room, which is open to the living room, also got coats of white paint.

Many buyers are seeking a move-in-ready home that reflects the modern aesthetic of clean white woodwork. (Dreamstime/TNS) (Photo: Dreamstime, TNS)

Like many of todays home buyers, Mourad and Bush prefer the sleek, clean look of white enameled woodwork. But their experience also speaks to the conundrum of sellers considering whether to paint their woodwork in order to sell a house more quickly. Many buyers are seeking a move-in-ready home that reflects the modern aesthetic of clean white woodwork. But some homes, especially Craftsmans and Victorians, can dazzle with stained wood.

Mourad said she fell for her house the moment they walked in and saw the wood door that led to an entryway with delicately detailed woodwork.

The entryway was so warm just stunning with intricate carvings on the wood banister at the staircase; I didnt want anyone to touch it, Mourad recalled. She kept that nod to the history of the home, even as the painters set to work on other parts of the house.

Sometimes a home shows best when it remains true to character. The oak beams and other wood accents of Craftsman-style bungalows, for example, help make those homes distinct.

You wouldnt change the color of a classic car, even if its a little funky, and sometimes you shouldnt paint the woodwork of a house, said Ruth Whitney Bowe, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Burnets Minneapolis Lakes office.

Many buyers seek a light, modern aesthetic, but some homes, such as Craftsmans, can dazzle with dark woodwork. (Brian Peterson/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)(Photo: Brian Peterson, TNS)

In mid-century modern homes, wood paneling and other details can warm up the clean lines. In Victorians, intricate woodwork can speak to the homes original era and can also be expensive to paint.

In addition to the style of the home, competition is another factor.

If a home is in an area surrounded by other homes with wood cabinets in the kitchens, there may be no need to turn the woodwork white, Bowe said. But most often, white woodwork helps a house sell.

Millennials love white

Jayne Morrison of Morrison Interiors is a designer and stager who helps people ready their homes for the marketplace.

Millennial buyers want white woodwork, she said. If we are staging for a young family in a neighborhood of young families, it is advisable to have woodwork painted white.

Thats especially so for owners of homes built in the 1980s with the golden oak woodwork that was popular during that era.

If you are in a 1980s house and you have a lot of that golden oak woodwork, [painting it white] will help sell your house faster, she said.

Morrison is seeing a generational shift as she works with homeowners on design.

Baby boomers love woodwork, she said. Millennial clients say they want an estimate for painting everything white. It is quite pricey, but often they go ahead and do it. They want that total white woodwork look.

Whether it is sellers or new homeowners hoping to create a space they adore, the decision to paint is often based on that bad word that starts with b: budget, Morrison said. When clients decide to do the painting themselves to save money, she suggests they start in one room and see how it goes before tackling the entire house.

Painted woodwork is a fresh look, she notes, and its been going strong since 2010. In recent years, she has seen the white warming up a bit, shifting to warm gray.

When Mourad got around to remodeling her kitchen and ridding the space of three different wood finishes, in fact, a designer suggested that she paint the center island gray to contrast with the white paint elsewhere in the kitchen and the home. Mourad declined, preferring to keep the look cohesive. Plus, she said, I knew I would never tire of white.

And she hasnt. Now when I walk into the house, I feel peaceful, uplifted, happy. There is a lightness and a calm, she said. It is amazing how much woodwork impacts the feel of a home.

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Tackling a controversial question: Should you paint the woodwork white? - The Detroit News

The lack of snow this winter season has been frustrating for companies that make good money removing it.

Its been slow. Today is the slowest winter in the last six years Id say, said Joseph Mandell, owner of Better Lawns & Beyond.

Mandell says usually his crew of six jumps in their trucks when the snow starts to fall and they plow properties all over western Connecticut, from Danbury to Torrington to Canton.

This winter has been busy with work, though not when itcomes to clearing snow.

We do asphalt repair due to peoples driveways get deteriorated.So we will do asphalt patching and repair. Fire pits. Even since the weatherhas been, hasnt been snowing as much we can do cleanups, gutter cleaning. Evendone power washing this winter, said Mandell.

So far this season the NBC Connecticut First Alert meteorologistsreport weve received 25.4 inches of snow, though most of that was in December.

Thats 9 inches below normal.

And with five more weeks until winter is officially over,some are hoping for a change in the weather pattern.

That would be nice if it started snowing more wed be happy.It gives us more consistency. Its either that or if it goes away Id be evenmore happier if the sun came out and we could get into more cleanups and planting,said Mandell.

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Contractors Deal with Slowest Winter in Years - NBC Connecticut

SEVEN HILLS, Ohio -- Residents on John Glenn Drive this week will receive hand-delivered notices from Lake County Sewer Co. regarding the start of the sewer rehabilitation project.

The project involves the installation of hydraulic seals and a pipe liner, as well as a cleaning and grouting of 33 laterals in the neighborhood from the storm main in the right-away up to the clean-out, which is near the private property line, City Engineer Daniel J. Collins said.

Were putting a grouted liner on the inside to make sure no stormwater gets in. It basically rehabilitates the storm line. Were not going all the way to the house, because the residents already took care of that themselves.

Initially estimated at $143,000, the bid was awarded to Lake County Sewer Co. for $150,643. The city is paying for the project out of its sewer maintenance fund.

The Willowick-based operation will be working -- weather contingent -- for the next few months. The upcoming project involves 44 homes on the street. Residents will be notified during various stages of work.

The John Glenn Drive sewer rehabilitation project is the result of the city hiring outside consultant AECOM to study public and private sanitary sewers using flow monitors within the sanitary sewer system and performing various smoke- and dye-testing procedures.

The testing revealed that 27 homes on John Glenn Drive had gutter/downspout and/or foundation drains that were infiltrating into the public sanitary sewer main.

We found out that the sanitary sewers on John Glenn Drive were getting a lot of I/I -- inflow and infiltration -- into these sewer lines, which is rainwater, Collins said. Sanitary sewers are not designed to handle rainwater. Theyre designed to simply handle sanitary sewage.

What that does when rain gets in there is over capacitates the sewer, causing backups into houses and basements. What this project will do is basically seal up these sanitary sewers, preventing any rainwater from getting into the sewer.

While Seven Hills was previously unsuccessful in obtaining Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) funds through the Member Community Infrastructure Program (MCIP) for the John Glenn project, city officials are hopeful grant money will be available for similar work coming to East Ridgewood Drive and Bayberry Drive.

AECOM is currently wrapping up a study of the area, Collins said. Afterwards, were going to be seeking 2021 MCIP funding. What we were told from the sewer district at our interview meeting was that they actually may even assist us with some additional information theyve studied in this area. Thats good, because they know were being proactive on correcting our I/I issues in the city. So were crossing our fingers about funding.

Mayor Anthony D. Biasiotta added, Were cautiously optimistic.

The city expects the East Ridgewood Drive and Bayberry Drive sewer rehabilitation project to take place in 2021.

The city is methodically going into areas weve had reported problems, Biasiotta said. Well continue working down the list as we complete one project and move into the next.

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Seven Hills to begin John Glenn Drive sewer rehabilitation project - cleveland.com

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) Hyun-Jin Ryu is now the clear ace of a major league rotation with all the pressure and responsibility that comes with that.

We win games by having all the players put in their efforts, Ryu said through a translator Thursday. At the same time, I do realize the expectation and the weight that comes with this kind of contract and what the Blue Jays wanted, and I know exactly what the Blue Jays want from me.

What Toronto needs is some stability in its rotation. The Blue Jays used 21 different starters last year, then made several additions in the offseason. Ryu was the most prominent acquisition, signing a four-year, $80 million contract after finishing second in the National League Cy Young Award vote with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ryu was the only NL pitcher to receive a first-place vote for the Cy Young besides winner Jacob deGrom, but pitching in Los Angeles, it was easy for the left-hander to be overshadowed by the likes of Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler. Ryu went 14-5 with a 2.32 ERA last season but made only one appearance for the Dodgers in their five-game loss to Washington in the Division Series.

Now Ryu is with a Toronto team that lost 95 games in 2019, but this is a chance for the South Korean standout to show he can remain among baseballs elite starters.

Ryu, who turns 33 next month, began his recent ascent in earnest during the 2018 season, when he went 7-3 with a 1.97 ERA in 15 starts. He was limited by groin problems that year, and he accepted a $17.9 million qualifying offer to stay with Los Angeles for 2019.

Last year, he made 29 starts and pitched 182 2/3 innings, his highest totals since 2013. He allowed only three runs in the entire month of May and still had an ERA under 2.00 in mid-August.

Having answered at least some questions about his durability, Ryu says hes trying to prepare for this season by repeating whats worked in the past.

Im getting ready for the season gradually and not really forcing things, he said Thursday, after the Blue Jays held their first workout for pitchers and catchers. Making sure that my bodys ready to maintain certain type of workloads. I think I was able to do that pretty well, so Im trying to do the same for this year.

Torontos staff also includes several other new additions. Right-handers Tanner Roark and Shun Yamaguchi signed for two years, and the Blue Jays acquired right-hander Chase Anderson in a trade. An improved rotation could pay major dividends for a team that has plenty of young position players to be excited about.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doesnt even turn 21 until next month, and fellow infielders Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio got good experience last season as well. Ryu gives Toronto a proven veteran on the pitching side.

I was really excited when we got him, of course, manager Charlie Montoyo said. He was one of the best pitchers last year in baseball. When we got him, I was excited. We got an ace.

So the Blue Jays are clear about their hopes for Ryu, who has pitched like an ace for much of the past two seasons. He might downplay the importance of that distinction a bit, but hes aware of the expectations.

On any given night, he said, going out on the mound and putting the team in a position where they can win.

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Now with Toronto, Ryu ready to be the ace - FOXSports.com

The Disney parks are some of the most attended theme parks in the world, and one of the reasons that they remain that way is because the company constantly updates them with changes and new additions. With the parks being open 365 days a year, there is a constant change going on every time you enter a park.

Whether it is a brand new theme park ride, a restaurant, or a new show and parade, Disney is always making tweaks to the parks to make sure they're the best in the world. Fans expect an incredibly high standard, and thankfully, Disney manages to deliver.

RELATED:10 Of The Most Rare (Or Retired) Disney Parks Characters

Right now, the company is working hard on a variety of different projects to update the parks across all of them, and within this list, we will look at 10 things coming in 2020.

EPCOT's World Showcase will be getting a brand new addition in 2020 as Remy's Ratatouille Adventure joins the ride line up. The highly anticipated trackless ride based on the Pixar movie, Ratatouille, will be debuting in summer 2020 and will see guests shrink to the size of a rat.

Guests will scurry around the floor of Chef Gusteau's kitchen, taking in all manner of sights and smells along the way. The ride does already exist at Disneyland Paris and has proven to be incredibly popular, and it is going to be a stellar addition to EPCOT.

Speaking of EPCOT's World Showcase, a new ride isn't the only thing that the France pavilion will be getting. A Beauty and the Beast sing-a-long has already debuted in the area, and an authenticcrperie will also be added to the pavilion as well.

RELATED:Disney Parks: 10 Weird Things Hollywood Studios Hides In Plain Sight

This restaurant will be both table and quick service and is set to feature the cuisine of celebrity chef,Jrme Bocuse. EPCOT is known for fully immersing its guests into the environment, and adding more authentic food based around the country that the pavilion is based around is a good idea.

EPCOT is a major focus of Disney's in 2020, with this being the park that is getting a lot of attention. It isn't just acrperie that is being added to the dining options in the theme park. Over at the other side of the park, near Mission Space, the Space 220 is set to open up in 2020.

This restaurant will be open from breakfast right through to dinner and will totally immerse guests to make them feel like they're in space themselves. The food will also be themed, with this dining location being unlike anything else in Walt Disney World.

EPCOT is getting boosted by brand new locations for dining though, but Disney's Hollywood Studios will also be gaining a new table-service restaurant in 2020. Not far from the giant Woody at the entrance to Toy Story Land will be the newToy Story Land Round-Up Rodeo BBQ.

RELATED:Disney Parks: 10 Weird Things The Magic Kingdom Hides In Plain Sight

The new area of Disney's Hollywood Studios has been very well received, with two new rides, meet and greet areas, and a quick-service dining location. However, adding a brand new sitdown dining location is a fantastic idea to take Toy Story Land to the next level.

It isn't just the Disney parks themselves getting new additions, as Disney Springs will be getting a few updates as well. One of the biggest will be the brand new Cirque du Soleil show that will officially begin on April 17, bringing a unique experience to Disney Springs.

This all new-show will see a partnership between Cirque du Soleil and Disney Animation, which should provide a very interesting show. Because you can attend Disney Springs without a ticket, this is a popular destination, and adding a fantastic show for people to attend it a brilliant idea.

The movie area on the second floor of The Land building is one that has always been fairly empty and not overly popular. The Circle of Life educational movie has been changed as part of EPCOT's big changes, and instead, a brand new film is taking its place.

The new movie is called Awesome Planet, and of course, takes a focus at the plant we inhabit. It's the perfect sort of film to be played in EPCOT as it is educational, and entertaining which will hopefully make it more popular.

There will also be another new movie attraction being added to Walt Disney World. There will also be a new addition to Hollywood Studios that will showcase a variety of Mickey shorts. It's a smart addition that will be coming in March, allowing guests to stop in to relax.

RELATED:10 Things They Cut From The Haunted Mansion Before Opening At Disney Parks

Having indoor areas like this is a perfect way for guests to relax after walking around for a full day, and it is also a good way to escape either the heat or the rain in Florida's often unpredictable climate.

The American pavilion in EPCOT will also be getting a new dining option that will bring a little bit of BBQ to the area. It's something that a lot of people are likely excited about and is something that the American pavilion is in a desperate need for.

There will be the likes of Kansas City chicken and Texas beef brisket sandwiches alongside a variety of desserts and craft beers for people. These are some of the things that people enjoy most about EPCOT, so this is a wise addition to the park.

Walt Disney World isn't holding back when it comes to making EPCOT as impressive as it can possibly be. With new attractions and dining locations coming this year, the park is also set to gain a brand new nighttime spectacular, which will be arriving this year.

RELATED:10 Overseas Disney Parks Attraction You Can't Ride In America

It promises to be the biggest and greatest Disney nighttime spectacular in history and will be named Harmonious. It is set to honor music from around the globe and will also utilize Disney movies as well, which should end a fantastic day at the park in style.

One of the most exciting new additions that is coming to the Disney parks in 2020 is Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway. It will open on March 4 and will replace the former Great Movie Ride in the Chinese Theater at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It will be the first-ever attraction to be based around Mickey Mouse.

The ride will be based around the Mickey and Minnie cartoons, where guests will board a train and become part of the action! The ride promises to bring new technology and "2 and 12D" to a ride for the first time ever, which has left people very excited to see just what it will be.

NEXT:10 Disney Rides That Would Make Great Movies/TV Shows

Next10 '90s Sci-Fi Movies That Are Still Mind-Blowing Today

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Disney Parks: 10 Things That Are Coming In 2020 | ScreenRant - Screen Rant

The long winter months are beginning to show signs of thaw, as football season recedes into the background and pitchers and catchers report to their respective camps in Arizona and Florida. In spite of an MLB offseason highlighted more for scandal than hot stove action, the vast majority of marquee free agents are off the board as we head into spring training. We have a pretty good idea of the likely contenders in both leagues, and which clubs have a good chance of hanging out in the cellar come August.

While the Yankees, Twins, Astros, Dodgers, Nats, and Braves of the world have a good chance of being right back in the thick of the postseason chase, several clubs that have been lying low, saving on payroll and stock piling young talent are poised to make their move in 2020.

Here are my top three clubs primed to make major leaps from the doldrums to the pennant race this season:

1. Cincinnati Reds (2019 Record: 75-87, 4th in NL Central)

Following four consecutive 90+ loss, last-place finishes, the Reds began to show a little bit of life in 2019, albeit still ending 16 games out of first place. Eugenio Suarez was obviously the big story, finishing second in the majors with 49 home runs and establishing himself as a true superstar by posting his third consecutive 25+ homer season and second of 30 or more. Along with Suarez, the Reds offense saw the emergence of former first round outfielders Jesse Winker and Nick Senzel, both entering their prime years and under team control for several years to come.

Toss in the big time free agent additions of Mike Moustakas and Nick Castellanos, along with a collection of pitching additions that has gradually turned the Cincinnati pitching staff from an atrocity to a respectable group and you have the makings of a club that could be within striking distance in the highly competitive NL Central. While the Cardinals may be the early favorites in the division, the Cubs and Brewers may take steps back in 2020, leaving the door open for the Red Legs to make their move back to contention.

2. Chicago White Sox (2019 Record: 72-89, 3rd in AL Central)

The very same factors that allowed the South Siders to somehow finish in third place in 2019 in spite of a near 90-loss season will be the same factors that allow them to make their move in 2020. The AL Central will still be Minnesota's to lose, but the Indians' window appears to have closed, and the Royals and Tigers will likely still be dumpster fires this season as they follow the tanking protocol.

The same protocol, coincidentally, that the White Sox have been following for quite some time, coming off their seventh straight losing campaign. It appears the club is now ready to win games again, setting themselves apart as one of the busiest teams this offseason. They already had a major stock pile of former high draft pick starting pitchers in Lucas Giolito, Carlos Rodon, Carson Fulmer, and Michael Kopech.

Toss in the additions of veteran left-handers Dallas Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez, along with the offensive acquisitions of Yasmani Grandal, Edwin Encarnacion, and Nomar Mazara to go along with proven stars like Jose Abreu and Yoan Moncada, and the White Sox certainly look to have some star power in the upcoming season.

3. San Diego Padres (2019 Record: 70-92, 5th in NL West)

Of the three teams listed here, the Padres will certainly have the toughest time within their division. It's been 13 seasons since the Friars have captured an NL West crown, and their prospects look dim once again this season with the likelihood of yet another 100-win campaign from the Dodgers as an all but foregone conclusion. That said, the Giants are unlikely to make any push for the playoffs, the Rockies are the Rockies and the Padres look to have a puncher's chance at beating out the Diamondbacks for second place and a potential wild card bid.

The Pads are another team that's lost 90 or more games in four straight years, but they've been building one of baseball's most elite farm systems all along and appear ready to strike in 2020. They've added Drew Pomerantz and Emilio Pagan to an elite bullpen that already boasts Kirby Yates and Craig Stammen, and Eric Hosmer, Fernando Tatis, Jr., and Manny Machado give them a formidable infield. Long time stalwart Will Myers will be joined by spark plug Tommy Pham in the outfield, giving San Diego multiple big name position players across the diamond.

Starting pitching is the one potential area of weakness for this club, with the starting rotation currently led by returning youngsters Joey Lucchesi and Chris Paddock, along with former Milwaukee Brewer Zach Davies, a proven starter who is still just 27-years-old. If they're in contention at the break, look for San Diego to swap one of their blue chip pieces for a front line arm midseason.

Could each of these punchy underdog up and comers fall flat on their faces in 2020, as their respective histories suggest? They sure could. But I for one am always a fan of seeing some fresh pennant contenders, and reinvigorated fan bases come September.

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Three MLB Clubs Poised to Break Out in 2020 - Sports Central

Ed Woodward has hinted there may be several new additions at Manchester United this summer.

While the Europa League and FA Cup still provide a shot at silverware, this is shaping up to be another disappointing season for the 20-time league champions and the clubs executive vice-chairman acknowledges the next transfer window is an important opportunity for the club.

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United languish eighth in the Premier League, with fewer than half the points of table-topping Liverpool, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaers side face a battle to seal Champions League qualification.

The January acquisition of Bruno Fernandes has been a welcome injection of quality at Old Trafford, but Woodward accepts there is plenty of work to do.

The signing of Bruno Fernandes and return of key players from injury will be a boost to Ole and the squad as we head into the second half of the season, Woodward said in introductory remarks made at a recent fans forum.

We remain in contention in the Europa League and the FA Cup, as well as for Champions League qualification, so there is still lots to play for.

However, as a club and a board, we do recognise that we are not yet where we want to be.

It is the overwhelming priority of everyone at the club to get us back to regularly challenging for Premier League and Champions League titles.

Although progress may not always be smooth, everyone across the club is focused and committed on playing their part in helping achieve those aims.

Woodward highlighted the significant work and investment made in the academy, while the United chief said he was pleased with progress being made in ensuring they have the right players, infrastructure and culture to sustain long-term success.

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Similarly, there has been extensive work on our recruitment process, with considerable investment in scouting, data and analytics, Woodward, whose house was attacked by some fans just days before the comments, continued.

The recruitment department is working to a clear plan and philosophy, along with Ole and his coaching staff.

Our focus is on bringing in a combination of experience and the best young players with potential to develop further, fusing graduates from our academy with high-quality acquisitions.

Our recruitment process focuses on analysis and selection of players over the course of a season, with a view to the following summer transfer window.As part of the rebuild we see this coming summer as an important opportunity.

We had consistently taken the view that because January is not an optimal time in terms of availability of players we would only buy in January if players we had already targeted for the summer became available and we were pleased that this strategy played out with the signing of Bruno Fernandes.

Bruno Fernandes and the players we brought (in) last summer are evidence that our process is the right one.

There has been no shortage of investment in players over the past few years, with over 200million spent since Ole became manager.

Our aim is to ensure that we continue to achieve consistency in quality of recruitment.

Off the pitch, it is important to note that the commercial elements of the club are geared to ensuring we have a self-sustaining model which supports investment in the playing side.

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Bruno Fernandes transfer just the start as Manchester United chief Ed Woodward hints at several summer - talkSPORT.com

Paul Mainieri takes the field as The LSU Tigers take on Southern Miss in the 2019 NCAA Regional Tournament in Baton Rouge, LA. Sunday, June 2, 2019.(Photo: SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network)

BATON ROUGE Maybe, it accidentally slipped out. Or maybe, he meant it.

During LSU's baseball media day last month, coach Paul Mainieri was discussing how open his lineup could be from day one, which is Friday at 7 p.m. when the No. 12 Tigers beginthe 2020 season against Indiana at Alex Box Stadium, throughout the season.

The opening weekend series continues at 3 p.m.Saturdayand noon Sunday.

"Even after the season begins, there is going to be some fluidity to our lineup," he said. "I don't think the lineup we start with on opening day is going to be the same for 56 games and the national championship."

So, make your plans now. LSU will not only reach the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, that begins on June 13, but it will advance to the best-of-three championship series beginning on June 22, according to Mainieri.

The Tigers have not been to Omaha since 2017 when they reached that championship series before losing back-to-back games to Florida. The two-season stretch out of Nebraska is LSU'slongest since not going in three straight seasons from 2010 through 2012.

"'Omaha or bust' is our motto around here," sophomore first baseman Cade Beloso said.

LSU trips to Omaha the last two years were busted in the NCAA Regional in Corvallis, Oregon, in 2018, and at home at the Super Regional against Florida State last year, largely due to a lack of healthy pitching. Mainieri hopes to have that issue solved this season, as 11pitchers who threw last season return along with three additionswho are left-handed a precious commodity LSU did not have in 2019.

"Our pitching staff is going to be at a level that allows us to win games even while we are learning about our team (offensively)," Mainieri said. "Our pitching staff is a veteran pitching staff."

The weekend starting rotation at the moment features all sophomores in Cole Henry (4-2, 3.39 ERA, 58.1 innings last season), who will start Friday, Landon Marceaux(5-2, 4.66 ERA, 58 innings last season) and A.J. Labas (6-2, 3.48 ERA, 54.1 innings in 2018). Henry's 2019 season was plagued by elbow soreness, and Marceaux missed time with arm soreness. Labas missed all of 2019 with a shoulder injury.

That leaves out junior Eric Walker (5-4, 5.47 ERA, 72 innings), who was a weekend starter last season and an All-American in 2017 (8-2, 3.48 ERA, 95.2 innings) before an elbow injury and surgery scratched his entire 2018 campaign. Walker could be one of LSU's best mid-week starters in years if the sophomore trio pans out. Junior Ma'Khail Hilliard (0-4, 5.32 ERA, 44 innings) could also be a formidable mid-week starter if he is healthier this season. He was plagued by shoulder issues in 2019 after going 9-5 with a 3.79 ERA through 76 innings as a weekend rotation member in 2018.

Also back are junior reliever Devin Fontenot (5-4, 3.71 ERA, 7 saves, 51 innings), senior reliever Matthew Beck (3-0, 2.05 ERA, 44 innings), and sophomore Jaden Hill (1-0, 1.80 ERA, 10 innings), who is yet another pitcher who struggled with arm issues last season.

"One of the keys for us, as last year proved, is our ability to keep the guys healthy," Mainieri said.

And he has a plan for that. New sleeve devices will track LSU pitchers' arm stress this season to better avoid injuries through rest, which is not a new thought process by any means.

"We're learning more and more about the importance of recovery for kids," Mainieri said. "Just pure rest. We're giving them more days off than we ever have before. All I can tell you is this fall, the velocities were up, and there were no injuries."

The new left-handers expected to assist the bullpen are junior college transfer Brandon Kaminer,freshman Jacob Hasty of Liberty Christian High in Keller, Texas, and sophomore walk-on Michael Lagarrigue of Fontainebleau High in Mandeville.

"We are excited about adding some left-handed pitching to the staff," Mainieri said.

LSU's offense returns five position starters in junior outfielder Daniel Cabrera (.284, 12 home runs, 50 RBIs), sophomore first baseman Cade Beloso (.279, 10 home runs, 52 RBIs), sophomore catcher Saul Garza (.303, 5 home runs, 27 RBIs), junior shortstop Hal Hughes (.174), and sophomore outfielder Giovanni DiGiacoma (.275, 15 RBIs).

Incoming junior college transfer Zack Mathis could start at third base, and fourother newcomers could play a lot and possibly start as the season goes onin freshman outfielder MauriceHampton, who is a safety on the football team, freshman infielder Zach Arnold,freshman infielder/designated hitter Cade Doughty and freshman catcher/designated hitter Hayden Travinski of Airline High in Bossier City who hit .429 with 12 home runs last season.

"I am waiting to see which players are going to rise above others and make a statement that they should be starting players," Mainieri said.

Meanwhile, LSU fans have been waiting since 2009 for Mainieri's second national championship and the program's seventh. No longer is the baseball team the last LSU program to win the national championship with the football team winning that with a perfect 15-0 season in 2019-20.

"I was getting just as much enjoyment out of that as everyone else was," Mainieri said. "Now, it's time for the baseball program to uphold its end of it as well."

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LSU has not been to Omaha since 2017, and, well, that's too long - Daily Advertiser

Its the house that inspired hundreds of love stories. So it's fitting thatthe Mayfair mansion once home to Dame Barbara Cartland, the most prolific romance novelist of all time, has been put up for sale on Valentines Day.

The 8,000 sq ft, five-storey townhouse on South Street is available for a cool 40million a price tag reflective of modern-day Mayfair that might have made even the racy writer blush.

Dame Barbara was the rom-trash worlds Queen of Hearts so often pictured dressed head-to-toe in her signature pink and trailing chiffon. In her Telegraph obituary in 2000 she was described as a formidable fairy queen, with extravagant, almost clown-like, make-up her cheeks pulled back with sadly visible bits of sticking plaster.

A dedicated socialite, she was known to frequent glamorous venues such asThe Cavendish Hotel owned by RosaLewis, the original celebrity chef who was romantically linked to EdwardVII. Tina Brown recalls how posses of small, yapping poodles in rhinestone collars followed her everywhere she went.

But behind this eccentric vision of fuchsia and tulle was a razor sharp mind. She published 723 novels and is thought to have sold more than a billion copies in her illustrious 77-year long career. She wrote about feigning damsels and dashing heroes in the post-Victorian era with many a yarn set in her milieu, central London.

She wrote 17 novels in the Forties, most likely in the mansion in South Street; in her later years in the Seventies and Eighties, the speed of her output increased dramatically.

Dame Barbaras former five-bedroom arts and crafts townhouse sits between Park Lane and Grosvenor Square, in the heart of her old stamping ground. The family moved in before the Second World War started, her son Ian McCorquodale told The Telegraph although he was vague on dates. Dame Barbara bought the house with her second husband Hugh McCorquodale. He was the cousin of herfirst spouse Captain Alexander Sachie McCorquodale, who she divorced in 1933.

The couple lived there with her daughter from her first marriage, Raine (1929-2016), and their two sons Ian (born 1937) and Glenn (1939).

It was a lovely home to grow up in and we were very happy there as a family. It was right in the middle of Mayfair and we took long walks in Hyde Park, says McCorquodale. We were there for the duration of the war, and it was a long war.

An 18-year-old Raine was introduced to London high society as a debutante from the South Street house in 1947 and was named deb of the year. She was quickly engaged to the Hon Gerald Humphrey Legge, who became the 9th Earl of Dartmoor.

In the Seventies she married John Spencer, the 8th Earl Spencer, becoming a countess and stepmother to Diana, Princess of Wales. According to Tina Browns book on the Princess, Dame Barbara once remarked: The only books Diana ever read were mine, and they werent awfully good for her.

In a case of life imitating art, Countess Spencers coming out into society from the grand townhouse nods to her mothers novel A Virgin in Mayfair, published in 1932. In the story Maxine, the young heroine, is raised in a convent before her sophisticated aunt takes her under her wing to introduce her as a London debutante. Maxine takes up residence in Grosvenor Square before falling for an aristocrat.

In 1950, the McCorquodale family sold up and moved to a country estate called Camfield Place in Hertfordshire. Once the home of Beatrix Potter, the 10-bedroom mansion is nestled in 400 acres of farmland and woods near Hatfield. Dame Barbara died in her sleep at Camfield in 2000 and it remains the family home to this day. Unlike South Street, and despite the upkeep its not for sale, says McCorquodale.

His was not the first family of standing and fame to live in the prestigious Mayfair mansion. The house was built in 1902 from the shell of a crumbling mid-18th century property. It was designed by Detmar Blow, a starchitect of his day whose clients were chiefly aristocracy. He went on to become estates manager to the Duke of Westminster. It was his first project in Mayfair, commissioned by the stockbroker, art collector and politician Sir Cuthbert Quilter, who lived on South Audley Street.

As soon as it was completed, Sir Cuthbert let it to the Douglas-Home family. Sir Alec Douglas-Home, a future prime minister, moved into the new South Street mansion in 1903 as a baby. His premiership was the second-shortest in the 20th century (from 1963 to 1964). However, the highlight of his political career was as foreign secretary (1960 to 1963), when he supported the US in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

This property spans many distinct eras. The original red-brick, stone-dressed facade from 1902 is intact, with quoins and modillion cornices, a nod to the style of the late 17th century. The heavy front door is set in a striking stone architrave, behind elaborate French-inspired iron railings.

After Dame Barbara moved out, the property was converted into offices before becoming a home once again decades later. Although the interiors have changed, Blows main timber staircase has been preserved, as have the ceilings in the ground floor dining room and first floor drawing room.

There is a Robert Adam marble fireplace in the drawing room that was added to the property in a renovation in the mid-Nineties. The courtyard in the centre of the L-shaped building was glassed over, allowing light to flood all the way down into the lower ground floor.

The current vendors, who wish to remain anonymous, have added the usual luxury mod cons, carving out a wellness suite in the basement. Theres a swimming pool, sauna, a bar and even a double bed suspended over the end of the pool. French doors in the second-floor master bedroom open on to a curved terrace. Theres a larger planted terrace on the first floor and a roof terrace (which McCorquodale recalls fondly) with skyline views.

The original property and newer additions work well together. From the outside its a piece of London heritage, while the interiors and layout offer a fantastic 21st-century lifestyle, says Becky Fatemi of Rokstone, the agent marketing the property.

This mansion on South Street is one of a collection of illustrious properties put up for sale recently. This is a sign, Fatemi says, of growing confidence in the prime central London property market after half a decade of price falls. She launched Sir Michael Heseltines six-storey mansion in Belgravia in the autumn for 28million.

Peter Wetherell, an estate agent in Mayfair, predicts a sales spike of 50 per cent this year as a result of the Boris bounce, boosted by young international buyers.

Renewed optimism after an extended period of uncertainty has also resulted in a significant number of premium properties being placed on the open market, adds Mark Pollack of agent Aston Chase. Some [are being put on the market] for the first time in many years as vendors who were waiting to downsize now make their move.

Wetherell is selling a 3,541 sq ft four-bedroom apartment in 18 Grosvenor Square for 18.75million. It was once the Mayfair pied--terre of aviation tycoon Sir Frederick Handley Page whose factory made the Halifax bomber used in the Second World War. The Blue Plaque-adorned block was built to the designs of the Grosvenor estates manager, none other than South Streets Detmar Blow.

It seems new chapters are about to begin for both prime central London and South Street.

See the rest here:
Inside Dame Barbara Cartland's 40m Mayfair mansion the house that inspired hundreds of love stories - Telegraph.co.uk

Its time to take at whats coming to Netflix in the United States throughout February 2020. Weve got the big and only ongoing list on the internet of whats coming to Netflix throughout the month.

February is usually a much quieter month for new Netflix releases than others which usually comes down to just the general time of year and the fact it traditionally has fewer days of the month.

In terms of what you can expect from Netflix, as its approaching valentines day youll be able to see a few new romantic movies the service is making headlined by the likes of To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You. You can see an extended list of the Netflix Originals coming in February 2020 here.

Note: weve now received a bigger list of whats coming to Netflix in February as always more will be announced. (full list for January). Well keep this post updated throughout January and February reflecting any newly announced titles for the two months.

Update: 48 titles were added in total to Netflix on February 1st. Full list here.

What are you looking forward to watching in February? Let us know in the comments down below.

Go here to see the original:
Whats Coming to Netflix in February 2020 - What's on Netflix