Property transfers

Lula L. Hill to Carlton T. Wingfield Jr. and Phillip M. Wingfield. Lot 14, section 1, Forest Park, Elon District, $57,000

Winthrop K. and Joann B. Holmes to Priscilla McIver. Parcel, fronting Va. 677, 0.284 acres, Elon District, $125,000

J. Mark and Pamela L. Huffins to Jared H. and Danielle R. Roeber. Parcel, Wild Rose Lane, $286,500

Blake E. Isley III to Larry Glenn Sexton Jr. Va. 739, 1.652 acres, Temperance District, $10,000

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development of Washington D.C. to Four Fifty-Five LLC. 2464 Richmond Highway, $62,000

Lucille Nuckles to David G. and Angelina B. Austin. Parcel, 12.145 acres, fronting Kentmore Road, Courthouse District, $72,500

AZ Homes LLC to Annett N. Hughes. Lot 30, section 2, Foreston Manor, Elon District, $175,000

Blue Sky-Coffey Partnership to Robert A. and Penelope S. Jurick. Lot 7, Blue Sky Court, Naola Springs, Pedlar District, $31,900

Branch Banking and Trust Company to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Lot 24, section II, Pine Ridge, Elon District, $71,199

Samuel and Virginia Higuchi to Ella J. and Frank P. Deane III. Lot 1, block 1, phase V, unit 101, Royal Gardens, Elon District, $132,500

Sharon K. Bryant and Sheila M. Roper to Joshua Gunn and Kayleigh Alexis Mast. Lots 2 and 3, Babcock Farm Road, $212,000

D & D Land Holdings LLC to Wilfredo and Maureen Bobe. Lot 3, Columbus Road, $232,900

Myrna Doss to Michael Stephen and Krystal Dawn Binder. Lot 3, Town of Appomattox, Confederate Blvd., $189,000

Delbert Beasely to County Waste Southwest Virginia LLC. Lot 23, Bryant Concord Subdivision, Stonewall District, $141,900

BDI Properties LLC to County Waste Southwest Virginia LLC. U.S. 460, near Stage Road, 5.98 acres, Stonewall District, $288,100

Thomas L. Wiley II and Kimberly S. Wiley to Tammy Britt Rental Properties. Lot 4, Coveside Circle, Lakes District, $375,000

Bruce A. Owens and Patty M. Owens to Jason Brent Ream and Kimberly Ann Ream. 2 parcels, Fescue Circle, Lakes District, $279,000

Mark A. Bird and Kimberly C. Bird to David J. and Sheila C. Tindall. Unit 31, phase 3, Mariners Village Condominium, Lakes District, $219,000

Countryside Land Company LC to Robert D. and Kara L. Dickinson. Parcel, Trails End Road, 20.363 acres, Lakes District, $121,800

Naomi B. Johnson to Douglas E. Wyatt and Joyce L. Wyatt. Parcel, Spradlin Road, Blue Ridge District, $108,577

Lowell P. and Annie B. Stovall to Gregory M. Hess and Betty S. Noell. Parcel, Va. 699 on Bore Auger Creek, Blue Ridge District, $102,000

Nathan J. Meadows and Rachel M.W. Cook to Sandy K. Bolt. Parcel, Glove Creek Road, Blue Ridge District, $90,000

Helen L. Bramlett to Roberto A. Machado Lemus. Lot 16, Harvey Creek Acres, Lakes District, $40,000

Matthew E. Kimberly Townley to Thomas E. and Jacquelyn S. Newll. Parcel, Mountain View Acres, Blue Ridge District, $7,235

Thomas E. and Jacquelyn S. Newell to Matthew E. and Kimberly Townley. Lot 14, Mountain View Acres, Blue Ridge District, $7,235

Koren Delpoplol and Gail J. Rysinski to Kaleb E. Bailey. Parcel, Quarles Road, Peaks District, $127,000

Clarence James and Paula McCarthy Cyrus to Joseph Q. and Samantha C. Dwyer. Amended lot 214, section VI, Terrance View, Jefferson District, $499,900

Darlene E. Gardner to William M. Kirn. Lot 27, Dogwood Haven, Jefferson District, $435,530

Bank of the James to Robert L. and Jann M. Sloper. 3 parcels, Big Island Highway, Peaks District, $160,000

Great Oaks Partners LLC to Pragmatic Infrastructure USA LLC Lot 11, section 3, Great Oaks Subdivision, Jefferson District, $55,000

Stephen P. Nelms to James S. and Kellie C. Woyner. Parcel, Forest Oaks, lot 10A, Jefferson District, $467,000

Scott M. Hawkins and Gregory S. Hudson to Leslie and Caesar Gonzales II. Elk Valley Road, Jefferson District, $65,000

Jedi Construction LLC to William G. and Gloria A. Pulkowski. Lot 43, section II, Governors Hills, $212,000

Eleanor Overstreet to Rebecca C. Clay. Remainder of 2.5 acres and 39.39 acres, 27 Three C Place and additional parcel, $215,000

Boxwood Investments LLC to Steven M. and Annemarie G. Hovis. Lot 9, Robertson Village, $67,000

Richard W. and Patricia S. Lewis to 4D Construction Inc. Lot 11, section L, Powhatan Cox Tract, $30,000

Joyce L. Adkins to Tyler L. Adkins. Lot 29, section 1, Sunny Meade Acres, $125,000

Airy Mont Farm LLC to Havenwoods Farm LLC. Parcels near Brookneal Highway, 198.80 acres, portion of 1429 Covered Bridge Road, and additional parcels, Havenwoods Farm, $1,285,000

Altavista Area/Campbell County Habitat for Humanity Inc. to Gloria Jean Moon. Lot 2, Riverview Dr., Altatvista, $110,000

Altavista Area/Campbell County Habitat for Humanity Inc. to Karen Irene Dalton. Lot 1, Riverview Dr., Altatvista, $110,000

Phoenix1Investment LLC to American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities Inc. Lot 1, section 1, Trents Landing, $49,900

ECP LLC to Dawn A. Arthur. Lot 6, phase 1, section 2, Lighthouse Townhouses, $107,900

RJS Holdings LLC, Central VA Flooring LLC and Premier Investments Group LLC to Mark Andrew and Cammie Lynn Atwater. 660 Bethany Road, $399,900

Catherine M. Ayers to Glenn W. and Frances M. Gilliam. Parcel, Pilot View Road, $48,000

Mark Leafty to Appalachian Management LLC. Parcel, Florida Ave., $2,650

Alicia Antoneete Atkins to Henry Garcia and Olga Beleno. 1713 Fillmore St., $19,000

WBG 1 LLC to Thomas Less Atkins and Carrie Lynn Grabowski. Part of lot 638, Daniels Hills Subdivision, $152,500

John M. and Ashley A. Scholer to Brian N. and Jessica M. Butala. 4620 Locksview Road, $302,000

Thornsbury Properties LLC to Daniel J. and Denise R. Castagna. Part of lots 23-24, block E, Fairmont Addition, $96,900

Concept Design and Development (International) LLC to Ian H. Smith. Parcel, Sedgewick Dr., $18,300

Riverviews to Cynthia Naff Walraven. Unit G5, Riverviews Artspace Condominium, $16,000

Ann A. Hatfield to Nina Davenport. Part of lots 7 and 8, Battery Park Subdivision, $38,000

Carmen R. Pino to HG Properties OI LLC. Lot 4, block 6A, Georgetown Forest Townhouses, $62,000

Siegfried Anthony Schoffer, Siegfried Schoffer and Blanca Schoffer to Thomas W. Seaman and Louise P. Gregory. Lot 40, Heritage at Wyndhurst Subdivision, $221,000

Jeremy L. and Kalee S. Gustafson to PG Investments2 LLC. Lot 44, section III, Willow Bend Subdivision, $209,000

H.T. Guthrie Jr. to Stehen S. and Theresa T. Wilson. 2597 and 2599 Fort Ave., $156,900

Michael L. Mason to Stephen A. and Jessica Joy Zarriello. Lot 2, block 3, section 5, Sandusky Hills Subdivision, $236,000

Storage Equipment Company LLC to Mayflower Oz Fund. LLC. 3301 Mayflower Dr., $1,025,000

Sharon Ruth Oglesby to WBW Investments LLC. 1196 Wards Ferry Road, $86,000

Ashkor Real Estate LLC to Cierra Fowler. 1108 Buchanan St., $70,000

MDJJ LLC to 2210 12th ST. LLC. Lots 10-13, section F, Park Avenue Addition, 2208 and 2212 12th St., $300,000

Gerard and Adeline Auguste to Malcolm L. Thomas. Lot 52, block N, phase II, Cornerstone Subdivision, $255,000

Ceasor and Rosie Johnson to Victoria E. Bartholomew. 1302 Madison St., $119,500

Bradley/Thornhill LLC to English Construction Company, Incorporated. Lot 7B, First Lynchburg Industrial Park Subdivision, $445,000

Fred Lloyd and Dolores Diggs Fauber to Vanessa E. Yuille. Lots 30-31, block A, Westhaven Subdivision, $169,000

Jeffrey Summerville and Katelyn Sandy to Natalie Moyer and Joseph Gross. Lot 2 and part of lot 1, block K, section 6, Blue Ridge Farms Subdivision, $149,000

Building Permits

Kenneth Bean Jr., 2232 Toll Gate Road, addition for bedroom, $30,000

Larry Roach, 483 Bedford Highway, additions/alterations $70,000

Henry Rowland, 297 Old Pocket Road, accessory building, $60,000

American Lebanese Syrian Associated, 25 Arbor Place, new dwelling, $425,000

Lynchburg Partners LLC, 3412 Waterlick Road, signs, $2,850

Kevin Moorman, 45 Wood Duck Court, additions/alterations, $25,000

Roanoke Valley Holdings LLC, lot 42, Traverse Dr., new dwelling, $168,429

Dale Campbell, lot 6, Holiday Lane, new dwelling, $130,000

Fralin Company of Central Virginia, Carriage Parkway, new dwelling, $169,282

City of Lynchburg, 982 Airport Road, aviation fueling tanks and dispensers, $220,911

Fralin Company of Central Virginia, lot 25, Carriage Parkway, new dwelling, $179,004

Roanoke Valley Holdings LLC, 29 Crystal Lane, new dwelling, $167,244

Dianne Saucedo, 247 Mountain Peak Dr., solar Panels, $12,780

21934 Timberlake LLC, 43 Zags Lane, new dwelling/townhouse, $190,000

21934 Timberlake LLC, 37 Zags Lane, new dwelling/townhouse, $190,000

21934 Timberlake LLC, 33 Zags Lane, new dwelling/townhouse, $190,000

21934 Timberlake LLC, 28 Zags Lane, new dwelling/townhouse, $190,000

21934 Timberlake LLC, 25 Zags Lane, new dwelling/townhouse, $190,000

21934 Timberlake LLC, 21 Zags Lane, new dwelling/townhouse, $190,000

21934 Timberlake LLC, 17 Zags Lane, new dwelling/townhouse, $190,000

21934 Timberlake LLC, 26 Zags Lane, new dwelling/townhouse, $190,000

Charles Nausbaum Jr., 184 Arrowhead Dr., renovation, $30,000

21934 Timberlake LLC, 30 Zags Lane, new dwelling/townhouse, $190,000

21934 Timberlake LLC, 36 Zags Lane, new dwelling/townhouse, $190,000

21934 Timberlake LLC, 40 Zags Lane, new dwelling/townhouse, $190,000

21934 Timberlake LLC, 44 Zags Lane, new dwelling/townhouse, $190,000

H & S Holding Properties LLC, 1152 Wheeler Road, new dwelling, $240,000

Daniel Cunningham, 5856 Dearborn Road, pole barn $40,000

William Hall Jr., 6254 Dearborn Road, pole barn, $32,000

David Halfill, 1119 Eighth St., roof solar, $17,000

Moose Lodge #1433, 3463 Lynch Mill Road, ramp/deck, $15,000

Town of Altavista, 1311 Third St., chemical storage building, $289,000

More:
Your right to know: Latest property transfers and building permits - Lynchburg News and Advance

The Valley Regional Fire Authority Technical Rescue Team along with help from technical rescue specialists from South King Fire and Puget Sound Fire freed a man from the rubble of a collapsed retaining wall, the VRFA tweeted Monday.

Crews responded at 10:33 a.m. to a call of a 40-year-old man who was trapped when a portion of a retaining wall reportedly collapsed.

The man was buried to his waist but conscious and talking when first-responders arrived. Crews shored up the dirt and rock, using cribbing materials, and an excavation operator on site removed a 1,400-pound block that was impeding the rescue.

Following the removal of the block, the patient was placed on a backboard and gently slid out of the trench, the VRFA posted.

King County Medic One Paramedics treated the patient, warmed him to stave off hypothermia and transported him in stable condition to Harborview Medical Center.

Read the rest here:
Man rescued from the ruins of a collapsed retaining... - Auburn Reporter

On top of the levee in Bridgeton, the smell of river mud is strong. Canada geese honk over the thrum of traffic on the Interstate 5 Bridge a half-mile downstream.

Life is peaceful in Portland's least populous neighborhoodit has fewer than 1,000 residentsbut that's all about to change.

Tom Hickey is chairman of the Bridgeton Neighborhood Association and, like many of his neighbors, a resident of a floating home. He's fighting what could become the local equivalent of the Berlin Wall.

What worries Hickey: a $158 million federal plan to strengthen 27 miles of levees that keep Portland from being inundated by the Columbia River.

Part of the plan would put a 3-foot retaining wall down the middle of Bridgeton's main street. That street is built directly on top of the levee, a 30-foot earthen berm. Portions of the street and parking spaces to the north are considered unstable and would be walled off under the plan to buttress the levees.

"It's a death knell to the culture of the people who live in the community," Hickey says. "We're looking at a loss of access to the water and a major loss of property value."

Countless words have been penned about the potentially catastrophic effects of a Cascadian subduction zone earthquake on Portland. Far less attention has been devoted to the threat of Columbia River floodswhich happen far more frequently and are a danger accelerated by a warming planet.

Last month, the federal government released its latest plan to deal with that threat. It's a project that would change the face of this city. Yet Portlanders remain deeply divided over what that project should look like.

"Sure, there are a lot of questions," says Corky Collier, executive director of the Columbia Corridor Association, which represents hundreds of businesses protected by the levees. "But can we afford not to do it?"

Torrential flooding in Pendleton and surrounding areas this week took one life and changed others irreparably. It's a reminder of the destructive power of rising water.

Portland has its own memories of that force. Vanport, just southwest of Bridgeton, was completely wiped out in 1948, when the Columbia spilled over the levee Bridgeton is built on, causing 15 deaths and the displacement of 18,000 people.

That was one of Portland's five "100-year floods" in the past 125 years. After the catastrophic flooding from Hurricanes Katrina in 2005 and Sandy in 2012, the feds investigated other key levee systems around the country. Few systems are more economically important.

Portland's levees, which stretch from the BNSF railroad bridge across the Columbia to the mouth of the Sandy River, date from 1917. They protect an enormous range of assets, including the homes of 7,500 people, the region's largest concentration of industrial and warehouse jobs, sections of three interstate highways, and Portland International Airport.

In January, after three years of investigation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which maintains federally regulated levees, produced a range of five options for Portland's levees, from doing nothing to spending $158 million to shore up earthen walls, raise the height of existing barriers, and replace decrepit pumps to bring the entire system into compliance with Federal Emergency Management Agency standards.

The benefits would be twofold: protecting assets from what even the Corps of Engineers says is likely to be more frequent and destructive flooding because of climate change, and allowing property owners protected by the levees to continue to qualify for federally subsidized flood insurance.

Collier is excited about the plan.

"The way it's set up, the feds pay two-thirdsthat's a great deal," he says. Collier acknowledges the plan would require local cleanup of polluted lands before the Corps does its part. But he says that's long overdue.

"The CCA's been working on brownfield cleanup for 15 years and it's really frustrating," Collier says. "Let's get on with it."

Bob Sallinger, conservation director of the Audubon Society of Portland, takes a different view. Sallinger says the Corps' plan, which he calls "a train wreck," would result in the loss of trees and other habitat and doesn't give sufficient consideration to natural solutions like returning large swaths of floodplain to wetlands.

"This looks like a document written 25 years ago," Sallinger says. "They just want to build larger, taller walls without regard to the health of the environment."

Valerie Ringold, chief planner for the Corps, insists that's not the case. She says the Corps evaluated letting a major portion of the land protected by the levees return to natural floodplain and determined it wouldn't lessen flood risks. The Corps, she adds, would replace any vegetation it destroys and mitigate any damage to wetlands.

Michael Jordan, director of the city of Portland's Bureau of Environmental Services, has monitored the Corps' investigation closely. He says the city wants to ensure the levee fix accomplishes as many goals as possiblesafety, environmental and recreationaland adds he's confident that can happen.

"The risks people have identified are manageable," Jordan says. "There are greater risks of not doing the project."

Hickey is hopeful as well. He met with Corps project manager Laura Hicks last week to discuss a retaining wall design that has been used elsewhere: one with removable sections that could be stored until water approaching Portland rises, then snapped into place.

His suggestion will be among many public comments the Corps receives in a process that is open through Feb. 14.

"Climate change is real and we agree the levees need to be improved," Hickey says. "The battle is whether they suffocate our neighborhood, or enhance it.

Follow this link:
Federal Officials Fear Devastating Floods Along the Columbia River. Residents Fear a Wall Through Their Neighborhood. - Willamette Week

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The on-ramp from Ming Avenue to northbound Highway 99 will be closed next week.

The closure will take place from Tuesday through Thursday between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. each night. Northbound motorists can enter the 99 from the on-ramp at Wible Road. The closure is needed for retaining wall construction in the vicinity of the Ming Avenue on-ramp.

Storm drain improvements are also under construction in the vicinity of the northbound Highway 99-to-eastbound Highway 58 connector ramp. This work requires reverse traffic control on Wible Road between Stockdale Highway and Belle Terrace through the end of the month.

Flagging personnel may need to stop traffic for up to five minutes between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. each day. Motorists are advised to use alternate routes or allow sufficient time to reach their destination if they must use Wible Road during this time period.

See the original post:
Ming Avenue on-ramp to northbound Hwy. 99 to be closed next week - KGET 17

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The federal government believes it can save long term money by spending more than $80 million to build or acquire a building to house the Federal Bureau of Investigations Cleveland office, according to documents released by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), which handles many of the federal governments real estate transactions.

In addition to paying for a new FBI building in Cleveland, budget documents say GSA also wants to spend more than $28 million to complete, repair and expand the plaza system at Clevelands Carl. B. Stokes U.S. Courthouse on West Superior Avenue.

The projects were part of a $4.8 trillion budget proposal that President Donald Trump unveiled on Monday. Congress must sign off on the projects before they can be built.

The FBI currently employs around 250 people at its current office at 1501 Lakeside Avenue. GSA says that original 10-year lease was signed in 2002 at a $4.4 million yearly rent with approximately $10 million in tenant improvements factored into its terms. Those amortized costs are now paid off, leaving the FBIs current rent at a level far in excess of the local commercial market,", GSA says. The government would save roughly $6 million a year in rental costs if it owned a building to house the Cleveland field office, GSA says.

It estimates the project would cost $80,186,363. Roughly $2 million of that would pay for a site, around $6.5 million would go toward design, around $67 million would pay for construction and around $4 million would be for management and inspection.

GSA says the government entered into several FBI field office leases with high rental rates and high federal upfront costs in the early 2000s that are nearing their expiration dates, now resulting high costs to taxpayers.

Federal ownership of this proposed long term solution ensures that the FBIs law enforcement and national security needs are met in the most secure and cost effective manner possible, the GSA budget document says.

The budget also proposes spending $28,686,000 on repairing the plaza at the Stokes Courthouse to eliminate water leaks and infiltration into the buildings lower levels.

The scope includes refinishing and reinforcing the structural steel that supports the plaza, along with repairs to fireproofing and upgrading the surface parking lots and the retaining wall between them, GSA budget documents say. The project also includes the completion of the plaza toward Superior Avenue, which has remained unfinished since construction of the courthouse.

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Continued here:
Trump budget proposes spending more than $100 million on federal buildings in Cleveland - cleveland.com

On Dec. 17, 2019 the City Council approved the final budget for 2020. The process that goes into creating a city budget is a long, complicated and challenging process that starts in May each year. Staff starts by estimating all the expenses each department will have in the coming year. Once the expenses are figured we need to look at all revenue sources to determine if we will have enough to cover the expenses.

Revenue sources include local government aid, charges for services, licenses and permits, state and federal funding, and, of course, property taxes. Taxes provided nearly one third of the Citys revenue. In 2020 the City will collect $7,896,725 in property taxes. So how will those tax dollars be spent?

For each tax dollar received 25 cents will be used to make principle and interest payments on the bonds the City has issued. Public Safety, which includes the police and fire departments, will receive 19 cents. Public works will get 18 cents to maintain, repair, and replace streets, engineer projects and provide plowing and other services. The Park and Recreation departments will get 13 cents for parks, buildings, programs, and services. The library will get 10 cents. The remainder of each dollar will be split with 10 cents going to the general administration of the City, 4 cents to capital improvement projects and 1 cent to the city cemetery.

At the end of each fiscal year any difference between the total expenses and revenues is added to or subtracted from the Citys fund balance. Fund balance is basically the Citys savings account. As a local government we are required to hold enough funds in our savings to cover 35-50% of our annual budgeted expenses. Over the years the City has been able to build this balance to a healthy level and has budgeted the use of some of these funds in 2020. These funds make it possible to complete capital projects without additional increases in the property tax levy. In 2020 the City will use a small portion of these funds to help pay for the replacement of the Hermann Heights retaining wall, ADA compliant pedestrian ramps, and an additional pump to help during highwater events. In addition to the Citys General Fund balances there are other funds available that have been set aside and restricted for specific purposes. Some restricted funds will be used in 2020 to complete projects in German Park, Riverside Park, and in the main fire station.

Throughout the budget process there are opportunities for citizens to provide input and feedback. In September of each year the preliminary budget is presented at a council meeting and a public hearing date is set in December. At the public hearing possible changes are discussed to give the staff direction in setting the final budget. At the last council meeting of the year the final budget is approved, and the property tax levy is set.

All City and Public Utilities budgets and financial reports are available for inspection in the City Hall Finance office and on the Citys website.

Editors Note: The City of New Ulm presents a weekly column highlighting activities in different departments in the city government. Once a month the city will answer questions from readers. Questions on New Ulm city issues can be sent to comments@ci.new-ulm.mn.us.

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Town Talk: Explaining the city's budget process | News, Sports, Jobs - NUjournal

HALIFAX, N.S.

The site of the Halifax Memorial Library and a centuries-old burial ground in downtown Halifax will be preserved as a heritage property.

The focus on this registration is on the broader property of which the building is one part, city planner Aaron Murnaghan said in introducing the third-party application at a regional council heritage hearing this week. Typically, we focus just on a building and owners can do whatever they want with the surrounding yard and outbuildings. In this case, we are really looking at the whole.

The whole contains the memorial library, which opened in 1951 and has fallen into some disrepair since being closed in 2014, and the surrounding municipally owned property at the corner of Spring Garden Road and Brunswick Street.

Murnaghan provided a history of the site, a significant factor in a property's heritage application, before regional council voted to include the site in its heritage registry.

The property, just outside the old town walls, was cleared of trees around the time Halifax was settled, in 1749. Sites beyond the walls were often chosen for burial sites.

The consensus, Murnaghan said, is that many residents of a poor asylum or poor house constructed in 1760 were interred in the poor house burying grounds on the library site in unmarked graves.

Murnaghan said there are upward of 4,500 burials on the site.

It was used as a burial grounds from 1760 until 1869 and then as Grafton Park from 1870 to 1949 before the library was constructed on the site in memory of those who had died in the Second World War.

A small building on the site originally housed the asylum for the severely speech and hearing impaired, and later an engine house for the Halifax Fire Department was constructed there.

During each of these periods, the site played an important role in the civic life of Halifax and later the Halifax Regional Municipality, states the staff report in support of designating the grounds a heritage property.

The purpose of HRM's Heritage Property Program is to help protect and conserve significant heritage resources, including buildings, streetscapes, sites and conservation districts that reflect the rich heritage found throughout HRM, the staff report says.

One of the principal aims of the program is to recognize significant heritage resources through the inclusion of properties into the Registry of Heritage Property.

Questioned by Deputy Mayor Lisa Blackburn, Murnaghan said it is his understanding that the memorandum of agreement with the province, the original owner of the property, stipulates that any future uses of the property must be limited to either a library or public open space.

If either of those uses cease, the property is to be returned to the province, he said.

Jacques Dube, the chief administrative officer for HRM, said there is a subsequent letter of understanding with the province in relation to the library site and that the municipality is talking with the province to determine under what conditions the province would see fit to transfer the property permanently to the city, understanding it wouldn't be used as a library.

Dube said the municipality publicly presented a redevelopment idea that the Dalhousie University faculties of planning and architecture suggested to repurpose the existing library building.

In that context, the province indicated in writing that they were prepared to support such a project on condition that we engage the public, engage with First Nations and come up with a plan that's acceptable to regional council, Dube said.

Dube said work on that front is ongoing and municipal staff intends to come back to council this spring with an update and next steps for what might be done with the library building.

We have had recent conversations with Dalhousie and there is an interest that remains, he said.

An archeological survey will also be done to prove without a doubt what is there, on that property, under the ground.

The staff report identifies the character-defining elements of the property as mature trees with a diagonal walkway and public accessible open space, a modern-classical building with a limestone facade, two circular bays and a decorative central entrance, a stone-retaining wall circling the site, the statue of Winston Churchill erected in 1979, the mass gravesite and commemorative association with the Second World War.

See more here:
Old Halifax library to be preserved as heritage property - TheChronicleHerald.ca

Valentines Day has been celebrated with roses since the late 1600s. It started with King Charles II of Sweden while he was on a trip to Persia. There the king discovered the language of flowers. This is the art of using flowers to convey messages. And the rose, well, it sent the message of deep love.

So it was a natural step to give roses, red roses in particular, to the one you loved on Valentines Day. Approximately 250 million roses are sold and delivered in the three-day period around Valentine's Day, with over 40 per cent of those being red roses.

Did you know that roses go back as far as 40 million years in America? There are 35 species of roses native to the United States. The thousands of rose varieties we have today were developed, either in nature or by man, from the 150 to 200 rose species (those found growing in the wild). After the species, these varieties can be divided into four major classifications: bush, climbing, shrub and ground cover, and tree roses, according to Dr. Jerry Parsons, Texas A&M horticulturist (retired).

Valentines Day is the kick-off for several garden projects concerning roses. In our Zone 8b, we are lucky to be able to start planting rose bushes (bare-root and potted) during mid-to-late February. Some roses can be trimmed at this time, if they arent in bud or blooming. More about that in a minute. And cleaning up rose beds, amending the soil, and fertilizing are all on the list. So lets take the important points about planting roses first.

Roses are heavy feeders regardless of type. So soil nutrition is a key element. Roses require soil that is compost rich, well-drained and slightly acidic. Remember, we talked about soil tests earlier? This is where the pH of your soil needs to be identified. Roses take in nutrients the best with a pH of 6.5 to 6.8, but can tolerate our acidic soils to the 5.5 pH mark. Alkaline soils may cause manganese or iron deficiencies in your roses.

Regardless of the type of rose you select, sun exposure is another key element. Roses are sunheads. They require at least 8 to 10 hours of sun a day! Morning sun is preferred, but if your roses are facing West into the hot afternoon sun of our July and August days, you may need to give them a little protection from the glaring rays.

The other important factor with roses is air movement. Planting them too close, in an area where the breezes are blocked, or in a damp, humid area, is certain death for roses regardless of how great the soil is! Good air flow dries up dew and rain quickly, helping to prevent disease. Too much wind, however, can damage foliage in the summer and canes in the winter, so if the area you want to plant is a wind tunnel, put in a fence, windbreak or wall to protect them. Be sure they are still receiving at least 8 hours of sunlight.

Once you have your roses established, keeping them healthy can be accomplished by two tasks, pruning and fertilizing. Roses need haircuts. Pruning and trimming helps flush new growth and it also helps in removing of dead or diseased canes and leaves. Always remove dead canes and leaves! Never leave debris at the foot of a rose. This is an invitation to disease. In general, pruning begins in our area during the third week of February and continues through the first week of March.

Pruning roses can be a bit tricky. Those thorns protect those fragrant blossoms, so dealing with them can be hurtful if not prepared. Invest in a good or great pair of rose gloves. These are typically leather and have long forearm protection. Wear a long-sleeved shirt of heavy denim as well. Ive been caught by thorns reaching into a bush to cut out a dead cane and been stabbed on the upper arm. If I had been smarter, I might have used some long-handled loppers.

Fertilizing roses can be a matter of timing. You dont want a flush of young leaves or buds before a late frost hits in the spring, but you also dont want to wait too late and burn your roses. So the general consensus is to feed the modern, repeat-bloom rose varieties first in the spring right after pruning. Next, feed when they have developed flower buds, and then again about two months before the first frost in your area. Gardens with fast-draining, sandy soil or those in southern climates are usually fed more frequently, suggests Dr. Parsons.

You can also up your chances of having fewer problems if you plant the Earth-Kind rose cultivars. These roses have been given this special designation by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service through the Earth-Kind landscaping program. It is based on the results of extensive research and field trials, and is awarded only to those roses demonstrating superior pest tolerance, combined with outstanding landscape performance. Check out the cultivars at:

https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkindroses/cultivars/

For more information on roses and their care and treatment, contact the Walker County AgriLife Extension office at 936-435-2426. You may also visit with a Master Gardener when we are in on Thursday mornings, or email us at walkercomg@gmail.com.

The Walker County Extension Office is also on Facebook. WalkerCoTxAgrilife has been established to provide updates and information to Walker County residents and landowners on a timely basis. The Walker County Master Gardeners are also on Facebook! Check out both of these Facebook pages and hit "like" to join.

Originally posted here:
In love with roses - Huntsville Item

What better way to spend Valentines Day weekend than perusing incredible yachts under the South Florida sun? Scheduled for February 13 to 17, 2020, the annual Miami Yacht Shownow in its second year of revampand the Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show, presented by West Marine, have joined forces for the second year in a row.

The Miami Yacht Show is now situated north of downtown near the Adrienne ArshtCenter for the Performing Arts, Art Wynwood and the Sea Isle Marina. For those strictly interested in superyachts, MYSs VIP SuperYacht Miami is held at Island Gardens Deep Harbour on Watson Island, which can accommodate yachts up to 400 feet. Here is where youll find such biggies as the 279-foot Bold from Australias Silver Yachts; Lrssens 248-foot Bella Vita, Overmarines 163-foot Miss Moneypenny, Westports 164-foot Hospitality, Trinity Yachts 161-foot Hunter and 154-foot Usher by Delta Marine.

Miami Yacht Shows 60-acre setup includes 500 or so in-water yachts plus a 67,000-square-foot space that houses more than 200 exhibitors, such as luxury-retail popups, bars, helicopters and luxury automobiles.

Head over to Miami Marine Stadium Park and Basin for the Miami International Boat Show, where you will find hundreds of yacht and boat world debuts, as well as every possible new boating product under the hot Floridian sun. A VIP Experience ticket will provide you with unlimited access to the air-conditioned (!), private, luxury VIP lounge; complimentary food, drink and entertainment; an outdoor deck with crazy-good views of Miami and the show; a live art demo by Coastal Kristen; show admission and free Wi-Fi.

With roughly 2,000 boats and yachts on display, the two-show combo offers a joint admission ticket as well as shuttles between both events.

Silver Yachts Bold.Courtesy of Silver Yachts

The 85-meter explorer-yacht Bold (ex-Silver Loft) from Australias Silver Yachtswith naval architecture and exterior styling by superstar architect/designer Espen inois the newest and most noteworthy yacht to be displayed this year. The most fuel-efficient hull form to date from Silver Yachts hits a top speed of 24 knots and boasts a whopping 5,000 nm range at 18 knots. Bold can sleep up to 18 guests in eight staterooms, taken care of by a crew of 24. Vain Interiors contemporary decor incorporates teak and oak paneling set off by metallic-painted detailing and oak and marble floors. A helipad sits on the main-deck aft.

Sea Rays SLX-R 400e Outboard.Courtesy of Sea Ray

Tennessee-based Sea Ray will debut its new SLX-R 400e Outboard to the boat-show world in Miami this week, but not before it was unveiled at this years annual CES in January. Why would a boat debut at an electronics show? This new model features three Mercury Racing 450R outboard enginesand the all-new Fathom e-Power system. Developed by Sea Ray parent-company Brunswick, the Fathom system includes a high-capacity lithium-ion battery pack with a power-management system for powering the boats accessory systems. Besides its up-to-date power system, the SLX-R 400e Outboard features some up-to-date design elements such as a special-edition Shadow metallic gel paint, upholstery with contrast stitching, red underwater lighting and red accent lighting throughout. The boat provides seating for 22 , tons of storage, a huge sunpad and a fold-down swim terrace. Accommodations for four are down below.

Azimut Yachts Verve 47.Courtesy of Azimut

New from Italian builder Azimut Yachts is the Verve 47, a veritable pocket rocket Italian Weekender built for the American market. This open yacht sports four 450 hp outboard engines that launch it up to 50 knots. Designed inside and out by Francesco Struglia, the Verve 47 offers up topside comfort by way of seating, sunning and dining spaces, both full sun and shaded. Down below the yacht provides a sophisticated dining and galley area, two cabins and a single bathroomall with windows for natural lightto accommodate four guests.

Wallys 48 Wallytender X.Courtesy of Wally

Watch for the latest from Italian brand Wallythe 48 Wallytender X, differentiated from Wallys 48 Wallytender day cruiser by its four cranking 450 hp (each) outboard engines, which propel this open yacht to a top speed of more than 55 knots. The engines are divided along the stern into two per side, allowing space for the retractable hydraulic boarding passerelle/swim ladder for easy access on and off the boat. Joystick controls make for easy docking. Featuring on-deck sunning and lounging pads, as well as a dining table, a galley, bathroom and daybed can be found down below amid an elegant space with carbon-fiber decking and teak furniture and panels. Dont forget the folding bulwarks that create the beach club the brand is known for. Exterior styling and interior design are both by Wally founder Luca Bassani.

Bertrams 50 Express.Courtesy of Bertram

Whether you choose an open or a convertible design, Bertrams new 50 Express sportfisher was made for boaters of all kinds, hitting the water pretty much anywhere. Its 4-foot 2-inch draft makes sure of it. The 50 Express offers up a lower helm, a couple of staterooms and two bathrooms, as well as a 178-square-foot cockpit. A Seakeeper 9 stabilizer keeps the boat steady while you reel em in. Bertram Yachts dealer Denison Yachting will be displaying the boat.

Princess Yachts V55.Courtesy of Princess Yachts

The UKs Princess Yachts will give its new V55 yacht a Stateside debut in Miami. As a member of the brands V Class range, the V55 features a sleek exterior profile and strategic use of space, just like its siblings. Designed for lovers of open boating, the cockpit features a large L-shaped seating area around a folding teak table, wet bar and electric barbecue. A drop-down sliding door and opening window connect inside with out. Sunpads aft of the cockpit and at the foredeck provide all kinds of sunning space. Down below are three cabins for six guests, plus an optional crew cabin. The V55 hits a top speed of 37 knots.

The Sirena Yachts 58 CoupSirena Yachts

Sirena Yachts Sirena 58 Coup makes its world debut in Miami. The Coup version of the companys successful 58 features a lower air draft for fitting under tight bridges, a unified interior space on the main deck, and a light and airy interior. Sirena created the 58 Coup for US boaters who prefer express-style yachts. Legendary naval architect Germn Frers gave the yacht a plumb-bow design and a fast-displacement hull for a more-than-850-mile range at 10 knots and a top speed of 26 knots.

Hylas Yachts H60.Courtesy of Hylas Yachts

Over at the Miami International Boat Show, a world debut of the H60 performance-cruiser sailing yacht by Hylas Yachts will reveal the builders latest vessel, with styling and construction design by Germn Frers and a light-filled interior by Milan-based Hot Lab. A plumb bow, broad transom, flush deck and two keel options provide the platform for both speed and on-deck living spacea performance cruiser. Belowdecks, large hull-side windows, a cabin trunk surrounded with windows, skylights and overhead hatches all make for a light-and-bright interior, all within either a three- or four-stateroom layout.

Hatteras GT65.Courtesy of Hatteras

The Hatteras GT65 Carolina is the first GT to sport the brands new styling, which includes a sleek profile, while retaining the GT series resin-infusion construction to tackle rough offshore conditions. This yachts flybridge arrangement allows for a large cockpit, a mezzanine with optional integrated seatback air conditioning (!) and large stainless-steel built-in storage boxes. This is a true sportfisher, yall. Belowdecks offers up four staterooms, including an en-suite master, a VIP and two bunk rooms for bringing all your fishing friends and crew.

Hatteras is particularly proud of the GT65 Carolinas new hull and tunnel design, created using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis. The Hatteras engineering team optimized the hull form to ensure stellar performance, handling and seaworthiness.

Monte Carlo Yachts MCY70.Courtesy of Monte Carlo Yachts

Designed by Venice-based Nuvolari Lenard, Monte Carlo Yachts new MCY70 aims to be the perfect home away from home, as can be seen by its inviting interior. Reflective materials and lacquered woods create a bright ambience that is tempered by natural wood flooring and rich fabrics. Four lower-deck staterooms play home and host to eight guests. A carbon-fiber T-top provides 360-degree views up top, and an extended flybridge with lounge seating and tables are served by an on-deck galley.

The MCY 70 is part of the new MCY Collection, which ranges from 66 to 105 feet, and combines sophisticated Italian design with cutting-edge technological know-how.

Sunreef Yachts Sunreef 80.Courtesy of Sunreef yachts

Cool-cat Polish catamaran builder Sunreef Yachts will debut a new Sunreef 80 multihull at the Miami International Boat Show. The Sunreef 80 is a versatile sailing yacht ideal for leisurely getaways, charter and global-cruising adventures.

This model features an open-plan layout, with the main-deck galley traveling one full side of the saloon. A couple of kitchen islands stow restaurant-quality gear, a wine cooler and a retractable TV. The contemporary decor uses beige tones and dark veneers with ambient lighting to create a welcoming space. Four cabins include a master suite with bathroom, sofa and dressing room.

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11 Must-See Boats at the 2020 Miami Yacht Show - Robb Report

Hey all!

I just ordered a new Model S, midnight silver metallic with black and white interior. Although this is my dream combo, I was hesitant to get the white interior because I thought it would be too hard to maintain and keep clean. I thought I had 5-7 weeks for delivery and some time to think about the white interior. But as luck would have it, my Tesla rep found a new car that matches exactly what I ordered, and it's available for pick any time. So now I really have to decide!

What's your experience with the white interior? Is it worth having, even if you have to be careful not to get it dirty every time you get in the car, especially when you have other people riding with you? Do you have to constantly have handy-wipes available for easy clean up? My friends are saying it'll get dirty too fast and I will always be on edge about getting it dirty.

I love the combination of the silver metallic and the white interior. Should I just suck it up and pick up my new dream car? Or re-order with the cream interior, which I could live with but am not too excited about.

Original post:
Model S: Is the white interior too hard to keep clean? - Tesla Motors Club