Irvings Heritage Park moved closer toward a dramatic overhaul Wednesday night.

The city voted unanimously to award a $5.67 million contract to North Rock Construction to redevelop the park.

The small, 32-year-old park at 217 S. Main St. features replicas of a water tower and a settlers cabin, an antique caboose at a small railroad depot, a gazebo and an old library building. Much of the space is open grass with benches.

The redevelopment plan, unveiled in August 2019 with input from residents, calls for most of the existing structures to be rearranged and for the water tower to be moved elsewhere. The open space will be reconfigured for concerts, featuring a permanent stage with a large video screen and speaker system.

The updated park will also have parking for food trucks, new public restrooms and a fountain feature with dancing water jets.

The issue notice to proceed with the project is expected sometime in April, and the updated park is projected to open in summer 2021.

Read the original:
Irving awards $5.6M contract to redevelop Heritage Park, adding space for concerts and food trucks - The Dallas Morning News

Listing of the Day

Location: Kings Point, Great Neck, New York

Price: $25 million

This seven-acre estate set in an area of Long Island, New York, made famous by F. Scott Fitzgerald in "The Great Gatsby," stands on the shores of the Long Island Sound estuary.

Chteau North is in Kings Point, a village where Fitzgerald once lived and which was reportedly the neighborhood that inspired the books West Egg.

Chteau North was built in the style of a Normandy chateau and has a fairy tale setting to match. The landscaped grounds roll down to meet the waters of the estuary and feature a rotunda garden, a beach, a swimming pool and two boat jetties.

More: Ken Griffin Adds Calvin Kleins Hamptons Compound to Collection of Luxury Homes

The white stucco house modeled on a French country house is both grand and cozy. Tucked away in wooded grounds, it has a turreted circular entrance hall, a sweeping wooden staircase, an array of timber detailing and an open fireplace. Wood-paneled reception rooms have glossy timber flooring and water-facing curved bay windows.

"Chteau North is a massive house for the area and is one of the last remaining of its size," said Jason Friedman of Daniel Gale Sothebys International Realty.

"The best feature is the all-season organic English garden with its sitting rotunda, with decorative box hedging, an irrigation system, exotic flowers and multiple varieties of fruits and vegetables," he said.

Indeed, the waterside gardens offer the homes finest viewsbest of all are those from the stone gazebo, which has 180-degree views of the Long Island Sound, the North Shore coastline and Manhattans iconic skyline.

More: For New York's Ultra-Luxury Market, 2019 Was a Roller-Coaster Year

Stats

The three-story property has a master wing with a bedroom and en-suite bathroom, seven more bedrooms, six more bathrooms, a playroom, two partial bathrooms, a formal living room, dining room, study, lounge area, kitchen, pantry and kitchen.

Amenities

The grounds include a small sandy beach, two jetties from which small boats can be launched and an outdoor swimming pool a few feet from the waters edge.

In addition to the main house, there is a two-bedroom guest house with two-and-a-half bathrooms and a two-car garage.

From Penta: Global Luxury Brands Are Hard Hit By Coronavirus Fallout

Neighborhood Notes

The property is in Kings Point, a village on the Great Neck peninsula, set on Long Islands North Shore. It has direct views of the Cow Neck Peninsula, located further west along the coast.

Manhattan is only 25 miles away.

Agent: Jason Friedman, Daniel Gale Sothebys International Realty

View the original listing.

Write toListing of the Day

See the rest here:
A Home Fit for Gatsby in an Area That Inspired the Books Author - Mansion Global

Penny Churchill looks at a wonderful home that's stupendously beautiful inside and out and has the benefits of Ashford's high-speed links to London.

Its ceaselessly curious how moments in history continue to be felt for generation after generation, in all manner of unexpected ways. The political machinations of the 17th century, for example, had an effect which even today can be felt on the property market in Kent.

The Glorious Revolution of 1688 saw Mary II and her husband, William of Orange, installed as joint monarchs of England and Scotland, and prompted waves of Dutch immigrants across the North Sea. They brought with them skills in many areas: wool, building, gardening and crucially, in the case of parts of Kent engineering of sea defences.

Many of the countys low-lying areas had long been prone to flooding until Dutch engineers came to drain the flood plains, and local farmers were among those to reap the benefits of this Dutch expertise. Among them was one John Mantell, described by genealogists as a grazier, of Tenterden, who made his fortune farming sheep on the reclaimed Romney Marsh and whose Grade II*-listed house, Stone Green Hall, is now for sale at 2.85 million.

One of east Kents finest country houses, the hall is set in 20 acres of outstanding formal gardens, woodland and pasture. Its for sale through the Canterbury office of Strutt & Parker, and is only on the market since the owners, who are based overseas, rarely have time to enjoy it.

Stone Green Hall is built in red-and-blue brick around a timber-frame core and its symmetrical garden front, added in 1712, is the epitome of Queen Anne elegance.

The hall stands at the end of a long private drive on the edge of the village and comes with an adjoining two-bedroom cottage and a period barn.

The house offers more than 8,500sq ft of living space on three floors including, in the 18th-century part, an entrance hall, drawing room, library and snug.

The master bedroom and two more bedroom suites are on the first floor, and three further bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen on the second floor.

Opposite the drawing room, in the older part of the house, is the dining room, the large ceiling timbers of which are the remaining evidence of the original farmhouse, but with wide windows that make it a wonderful room for entertaining.

From here, a door leads to the spacious farmhouse kitchen and on into the distinctively shaped conservatory, reminiscent of one of Kews famous glasshouses.

The beautifully maintained gardens are a major feature of Stone Green Hall. Matured and developed over many years, their structure is provided by a series of tall clipped yew hedges, creating a series of rooms linked by formal lawns.

Each room has its own special character, being either form-ally planted with shrubs within box hedging or designed to create enchanting secret corners one concealing the heated swimming pool, another an ornamental pond overlooked by a temple-style gazebo.

Britain's new high-speed rail network linking the north and the south has been approved, in all its hugely-controversial, 100 billion-glory.

Not only is Solton Manor one of Kent's most beautiful country houses, but it also boasts an interesting and chequered

Penny Churchill looks over a beautiful old house, full of history, which has come up for sale in Kent

See the original post:
A superb Kent home thats the epitome of Queen Anne elegance, complete with temple-style gazebo and reflecting pool - Country Life

In the time when the television industry has received a boom after its Golden Age, all the shows seem focused on telling complicated stories with convoluted plots and twisted timelines. Feel-good shows have turned into a rarity, which is what makes series like Gilmore Girls even more important. There is an undeniable nostalgia in it, even if you are watching it for the first time. The palette of it invokes warmth and the relationship of Lorelai Gilmore with her daughter, Rory, makes us melt. Whatever happens, they stick with each other and make memories all over the town.

Speaking of which, what a great place Stars Hollow is. It comes across as a dreamy place where nothing bad ever happens, and there is an endless supply of coffee and books. No wonder the Gilmore girls chose this place as their home. But where exactly is it? Here are all the locations where Gilmore Girls was filmed.

Gilmore Girls is set in a small town in Connecticut but in reality, it was filmed in California. Burbank serves as the primary filming location for the series. The backlot of WB studios served as home to the cast of the show. Only a handful of exterior locations were employed while filming the series.

The lives of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore are rooted in the town of Stars Hollow. The town exudes a warm charm and a cordial vibe that makes you want to move to the place and live there for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, it is a fictional town, so you should probably think about moving to another place. Luckily, the entire set of the series is available for you to tour anytime.

The pilot for the series was filmed in Unionville, Ontario. However, once it got picked up for a full series, the production moved to the WB Studios in Burbank. The backlot, known as the Midwest Street, served as the location where they recreated the locations from the pilot. The scenes taking place at the Gilmore House were filmed at various soundstages custom-made to reflect the personalities of the Gilmore girls.

Similarly, Sookies house received a do-over of its own, but there is a very important factor connecting them. The location for both their houses is the same. If youve been wondering why you never saw the backyard of Lorelais house, then it is because her best friend had been living there all along! Also, if seeing the front side of the Gilmore House rings any bells for you, it is probably because you have seen it in another popular series, Pretty Little Liars. The same house is where Spencer lives.

In the same vein, places like Lukes Diner, the Independence Inn, the gazebo, Stars Hollow High School, and Dooses Market have all been filmed on sets. The house of Richard and Emily Gilmore, too, was recreated in the WB studios. The Greystone Park and Mansion in Beverly Hills serves as the location for Chilton Academy. The place also appeared in The Big Lebowski, Arrow, Revenge and X-Men, to name a few.

When Rory visits Harvard and Yale as a choice for her further education. The scenes pertaining to Harvard were actually filmed at UCLA and the first visit to Yale was shot at Pomona College. The rest of the scenes set in Yale were filmed at a soundstage in the studio.

With everything created out of thin air, if you are disappointed that Stars Hollow is not a real place, here is the consolation for you. The creator of Gilmore Girls, Amy Sherman-Palladino was inspired by the town of Washington, Connecticut to create the story of our favourite mother-daughter duo. The B&B in the show is inspired by a real place called Washingtons Mayflower Grace Inn.

Sherman-Palladino had visited the place with her husband, and the tight-knit sense of community and the friendly ambience of the town made her think about a similar place which materialised on the screen as Stars Hollow. Perhaps, this is where you should try to find your own Lukes Diner and your own Gilmore house. Also, the town that is featured in the opening credits of the show is actually South Royalton, Vermont.

Read More:Best Feel-Good Shows You Must Watch

View post:
Where Was Gilmore Girls Filmed? Is Stars Hollow the Real Filming Location? - The Cinemaholic

Still Standing is a series about the small businesses in the Lower Mainland that have managed to stay open despite the challenges. Listen every second Tuesday on CBC Radio'sThe Early Edition.

When Alison Schamberger first joined Metro Theatre in the 1960s, Marpole was a busy neighbourhood with a lively entertainment district. Now, the show still goes on, but the audiences are quieter.

"I used to say to people, when I was directing them in to Metro'It's between the Fraser Arms and the Wild Coyote," she says. "But none of these business are around any more."

Schamberger says that with 80 theatres in the Lower Mainland spanning an area between White Rock, Langley and West Vancouver, audiences are likely to pick a play closer to home, if they go to live shows at all.

Attractingnew audiences is the theatre's biggest challenge. The not-for-profit theatre company largely relies on ticket sales. But outside of popular shows like the annual Christmas pantomime, or a recent production of Faulty Towers, audiences are down.

"It's hard on the actors. Especially if you're doing a comedy,"Schamberger says "We always run on the premiseof 'The show must go on!' But there's a thing as magical as the interaction between actor and audience, particularly in comedy."

All of the actorsand most of the production staff arevolunteers.

Les Erskin, technical director and general manager of Metro Theatre,donates his timebecause he finds ita rewarding creative outlet.

"This was supposed to be semi-retirement for me," he says. "I thought I'd give back a little bit, and here I am."

Erskin worked for years in television production including The Beachcombers in the 1970s.

"You'll never find me on stage.I'm not an actor at all, but I'll happily work backstage," he says, while he puts the final touches in the set of the theatre's current production:The Gazebo,a 1950smurder-comedy.

Jon Morris, who's producing the show, says live theatre offers something you can't find on a screen.

"Some think of it as a digital detox, 'I've had enough of my phone, I've had enough of the TV,' " he says. "It's just a matter of sometimes reminding them that [theatre] is fun."

With files from The Early Edition

Visit link:
After 58 years in Vancouver, the show must go on at Metro Theatre - CBC.ca

The Gathering Place is planning a $1 million outdoor venue known as The Gathering Green.

Located on 2 acres behind The Gathering Place at 715 Campus St. will be a new pavilion, concession stand, restrooms and paved walking trail.

Were looking at this as a mini Rotary Gardens but not with as many floral plantings, said Diane Pillard, chairwoman of the resource development committee at The Gathering Place.

Dave Fisher, executive director of The Gathering Place, said Milton has no place for an outdoor wedding that could accommodate 250 people at least not yet.

Weddings are the mainstay of such venues, said Joe Stadelman, president of Angus-Young Associates.

He unveiled a four-phase plan Feb. 19 to a gathering of donors and potential donors.

Its really flexible for many different types of events, he said. Its unique to the city of Milton and what it will offer.

Concerts on the Lawn, outdoor art and exercise classes and theater are just some of the activities that could take place.

When designing the space, Stadelman said, One of the first discussions we had was., How formal do you want this to be? What does it look like? What does it feel like?

The consensus of the project committee was that it should equal the building Marion Allen designed.

This turned out to be more formal, more like this building, traditional in its detailing and styling but also traditional in more of park green atmosphere, he said.

Paths within the oak grove will be paved.

Stadelman described the pavilion as a rather simple building with masonry construction, a single-sloped roof and small storage room in the back. In front of the pavilion, a small paved area will allow for dancing.

Pillard said the pavilion is tiered because a group has expressed interest in doing outdoor theater.

We tried not to put too much into this, said Stadelman of the pavilion. This is meant to be flexible, open, and because of that we arent building a lot in. Most productions bring their own equipment (sound and lighting).

The concession stand location will allow volunteers to watch events while they are working. Behind the concession stand will be restrooms.

The gazebo will be included but moved to a new location.

At the center of The Gathering Green will be a sculptural element, maybe a wind element, maybe a butterfly, Stadelman said.

Entrance and gateway elements will give the sense of arrival, which he described as, Ive left my car, Ive left the street and now Im in the park and at an event.

Other elements may include a memorial garden, screen wall with donor plaques and benches for reflection.

A 24-stall parking lot will be installed at the corner of St. Mary and Rogers streets. Currently, The Gathering Place has about 65 parking stalls.

Development of The Gathering Green started about five years ago, said Pillard. The original plan was more than $2 million and included a conference center. After deciding Milton couldnt afford that and would need a hotel, she said the plan was shelved for about three years.

Our board said, We cant leave that land vacant. Its got so much potential, she said.

The wooded area was cleaned up with the help of Rock County Jail inmates in the Rock County Education and Criminal Addictions Program.

About a half dozen meetings were held with Angus-Young to discuss development possibilities.

Before project team members from The Gathering Place announced the project, they sought financial support. About $175,000 has been pledged by businesses and individuals, Pillard said.

Much of that has already been collected, she said. We wanted to get to that point before we announced so that we were pretty confident we could make this happen.

In a year, shes hoping they raise $500,000, enough to complete the first two phases of the project.

Because The Gathering Place also has set aside funds and heard theres interest in in-kind donations, Pillard said they are at least one-quarter of the way there.

Read more:
The Gathering Green will be 'a mini Rotary Gardens' - HNGnews.com

When eImprovement LLC launched eFaucets.com in 2003, the internet was a promising avenue for commerce and home remodeling television shows were taking off.

Decades later, just selling online isn't enough to sustain a business.

The team from Pleasant Prairie-based eFaucets launched its new site, Hausera, on Tuesday.The site,hausera.com,focuses on products for kitchen and bath remodels.

The way people think about and plan home renovations has shifted with online platforms like Instagram, Pinterest and Houzz servingas places for inspiration and ideation.

The plan for Hausera is to provide anupdated andcuratedfull-service home remodeling site.

The new Hausera isn't just a click-and-buy site.

"We're trying to bridge that gap between seeing that inspiration and making a buying decision," Vice President of Marketing and Merchandising Wesley Ward said.

The team has built out editorial content that will explain materials, finish types and other product information.A new "Room Inspiration" feature shows products curated by design professionals who createproduct lists for kitchens and bathrooms.

The idea is to bring together a fragmented home remodel market.

"The customers are so overwhelmed," Ward said. "They have a hard time making decisions. They don't know how to choose between one option or another."

eFaucets would have around half a million products available. Hausera will have about half the number of products as eFaucets. It is launching with around 30,000 units and plans to grow to around 100,000 by the end of the year.Hausera features brands like Kohler, Kallista, Delta, Moen, Brizo, Hansgrohe, Grohe, Newport Bass and Rohl.

eFaucets was really just focused on faucets, though it did expand into other product categories over time.

"Because of the generic nature of the name, it really wasn't serving any group particularly well," Ward said.

The team thinks all of these changes will result in aggressive growth. At peak, eFaucets annual revenue was around $80 million, according to the company. Hausera is targeting to grow that by three times. By the end of the year, Hausera plans to add another 20 employees to have around 100.

Sarah Hauer can be reached at shauer@journalsentinel.comor onInstagram @HauerSarahand Twitter @SarahHauer.Subscribe to her weekly newsletterBe MKEat jsonline.com/bemke.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

Read or Share this story: https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/2020/02/25/efaucets-team-launching-kitchen-and-bathroom-remodeling-site-hausera/4761975002/

See the article here:
This Pleasant Prairie home remodel retailer is launching a new site to connect inspiration and purchasing - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Editors note:The following is an edited excerpt from the new book, House Lessons: Renovating a Life, 2020 by Erica Bauermeister. All rights reserved. Excerptedby permission of Sasquatch Books.

THE HOUSE STOOD at the top of a hill, ensnarled in vegetation, looking out over the Victorian roofs of Port Townsend and beyond, to water and islands and clouds. It seemed to lean toward the view as if enchanted, although we later learned that had a lot more to do with neglect than magic. The once-elegant slopes of its hipped roof rolled and curled, green with moss. The tall, straight walls of its Foursquare design were camouflaged in salmon-pink asbestos shingles, the windows covered in grimy curtains or cardboard. Three discarded furnaces, four neon-yellow oil drums, an ancient camper shell and a pair of rusted wheelbarrows lay scattered at odd angles across the overgrown grass, as if caught in a game of large-appliance freeze tag.

Hugo House:Erica Bauermeister will read from her book at 7 p.m., March 24.

Third Place Books, Ravenna:A Literary Luncheon is scheduled for 1 p.m., March 25.

More information:Additional purchasing options can be found atericabauermeister.com, along with more information about the author, coming events and her other books.

The yard was Darwinian in its landscaping an agglomeration of plants and trees, stuck in the ground and left to survive. Below the house, I could just see the tips of a possible orchard poking up through a roiling sea of ivy. In front, two weather-stunted palm trees flanked the walkway like a pair of tropical lawn jockeys gone lost, while a feral camellia bush had covered the porch and was heading for the second story. Someone had hacked away a rough opening for the front stairs, down which an assortment of rusted rakes and car mufflers and bags of fertilizer sprawled in lazy abandon. In their midst, seemingly oblivious to its setting, sat a rotting fruit basket, gift card still attached.

The Backstory: When where you live becomes how you live and, even more foundationally, who you are

That one, my husband, Ben, said, as he pointed to the house.

Its not for sale, I noted.

I know. But it should be, dont you think?

Our son and daughter, 10 and 13, stared out the car windows, slack-jawed.

Youre kidding, right? they asked. But I think they already knew the question was rhetorical.

WHEN I WAS young, my mother used to take all five of her kids on an annual quest for the family Christmas tree. We would travel around Los Angeles in our wood-paneled station wagon, from one lot of precut evergreens to another, searching for the perfect tree. As the trip dragged on, there were times I questioned my mothers sanity, and yet when my mother found her tree, it created a satisfaction within her that I could see even if I didnt always understand. Maybe a particular height reminded her of being a child herself; perhaps a certain shade of green reached into her soul. I never really knew, and perhaps knowing was never the point. When I would ask what she was looking for, my mother would just smile and say: It has to talk to me.

Any honest real estate agent will tell you that most homebuyers decisions are no more rational than my mothers with her tree. There was a time in my life, years after I first encountered that ramshackle house in Port Townsend, when I was an agent myself, walking buyers through the process and dutifully helping them draw up their lists of requirements. I would listen to a couple emphatically assert that they needed four bedrooms, two baths and a no-maintenance yard and then watch as they fell in love with a tiny garden-becalmed cottage that they spotted on the way to the house that met every one of their specifications. It happened over and over and over. While we might like to believe that our house needs are pragmatic line items, our true needs, the ones that drive our decisions, come far more often from some deep and unacknowledged wellspring of memories and desires.

Because heres the thing we arent looking for a house; were looking for a home. A house can supply you with a place to sleep, to cook, to store your car. A home fits your soul. In ancient Rome, the term domus, from which we get the word domicile, meant both people and place, an unspoken relationship that we feel like a heartbeat. A home fulfills needs you didnt know you had, so it is no wonder that when pressed for an explanation for our choices, we give reasons that make no sense, pointing to a bunch of dried lavender hanging in the kitchen, a porch swing, the blue of a front door almost always things that could be re-created in a house that fit the list. But sense is not the point. These small details are simply visual indicators of an architectural personality that fits our own, that reminds us of a childhood home, or a house, filled with color and the laughter of children, that we visited on a vacation in Mexico.

And yet a choice of a home is not just about where weve been or what we remember; its also about who we want to be. As Winston Churchill famously said: We shape our buildings, and afterwards they shape us. When we choose a house, we are making a decision about how we will live. I dont mean in the obvious way of how long your commute to work will be, or whether there are schools or stores or friends nearby although all of those things are important and will impact your life. What I am talking about is something far more subliminal. The designs of our homes quite literally change us. An eating nook for two invites a busy couple to slow down every morning for coffee. A courtyard in an apartment building helps create community. A south-facing window encourages optimism, while alcoves foster book lovers. Perhaps one of the strongest blows for feminism came from the first sledgehammer that opened a kitchen to a family room and changed the view of the cook, from both sides of the wall.

It is the rare buyer who sees these things for what they are. We are understandably distracted by the stress of what is for many of us the biggest financial decision of our lives. Our minds are busy. But we feel those subtle calls. We see that bunch of lavender. And, as often as not, we leap.

THEY ARE GLORIOUS things, these leaps into love. We catch the wind of our own enthusiasm, and off we go, into the sky of a new future. But are they really as untethered as they seem? In his book Blink, Malcolm Gladwell talks about our instantaneous decisions flashes of insight he says are messages from the adaptive unconscious, the part of the brain that sifts through the bits and pieces of what is before us, focusing in on what is truly important. The process, Gladwell assures us, is a rational one; it simply moves a little faster and operates a little more mysteriously than the kind of deliberate, conscious decision making that we usually associate with thinking. We meet a stranger and experience an instant aversion or affection. We walk in a front door for the first time and feel at home.

Its not just our minds that make these decisions, however. We live in bodies with five senses, and the stimuli they receive from our external environments have a far greater effect upon our thinking than we know. It doesnt take much to tip our decision-making scales, either. In one study, something as simple as the weight of a clipboard affected subjects opinions of the professionalism and intellect of the otherwise-equally qualified candidates they were interviewing. The heavier the board in the subjects hands, the more likely they would be to hire the candidate. Our physical senses are busy little puppeteers, playing with the strings of our emotions. So watch out for the pleasurable feel beneath your fingers of that smooth door handle, the satisfying click of the latch as it closes tight and secure. From such seemingly innocuous interactions are big decisions made.

It can be hard to accept that our choices are being swayed by our senses, or that there is a hidden part of our brain that knows our needs better than we do ourselves. And yet what would be wrong with a moment of unconscious communication between house and human the kind that allows for that back-of-the-mind sorting of memories and desires, along with the equally unspoken delight our senses take in a curving front path or a kitchen that smells like home? It is the totality of each of us that will live in the house, after all.

And thus, if we leap, perhaps it is with a greater safety net than we thought flying toward a house that calls us by a name we have long forgotten, or simply need to grow into.

BUT WHY THAT HOUSE? my mother asked me a question I found amusing, coming from Our Lady of the Christmas Tree. But my mother had good reason to be skeptical. Among the five kids in our family, my role had always been the cautious one. In addition, while wed lived in four houses while I was growing up, none of them had been more than 25 years old, and there hadnt been much need for remodeling. So while Ben and I had made some changes to our Seattle home, there wasnt much reason to think that I would want to take on, let alone be successful at, the complete renovation of a 92-year-old house crammed with trash.

What I find to be the loveliest bit of irony, though, is that the seeds of the desire to save the house in Port Townsend were actually planted by my mother, long before I even knew what a mortgage was. My mother loved books and always made sure we had plenty of them. As a young child, perhaps my favorite was Virginia Lee Burtons The Little House. It tells the story of a small pastoral cottage that is slowly but surely surrounded by the city, growing more and more decrepit and forgotten until finally someone finds it, picks it up and moves it out to the country again. Each time my mother read the book to me, I could feel the houses happiness, then sadness, then joy. I wanted to live in its glowing early iteration. When the city came in and the house despaired, all I wanted to do was save it.

I think anyone who saves an old house has to be a caretaker at heart, a believer in underdogs, someone whose imagination is inspired by limitations, not endless options. When I was a real estate agent, I used to ask my clients how they cooked. They usually thought I was trying to find out what kind of kitchen they wanted and that was true, in part. But the question was really a way to find out how they approached life. Those who had little interest in cooking generally had even less in home maintenance and remodeling. Chefs who loved the planning of a meal from researching recipes to finding the right ingredients often had the temperament to design their own homes, and they could envision stunning remodels. But a fixer-upper requires a different kind of creativity, the kind that you often find in a cook whose mind is awakened by opening a refrigerator to an odd assortment of ingredients, knowing that dinner must come out of it. A cook sees leftovers as a chance to make something new and beautiful, and when someone with this kind of personality sees an old house, she is likely to want to save it. Save being the operative word, because for this group, the relationship with the house will be extremely personal and interactive.

I am a cook, a champion of underdogs not just leftover ingredients, but long-forgotten novelists; stray pets; and, especially, houses. My children learned early on to divert my attention any time we passed a falling-down barn, or a house with good bones and paint that was peeling like a third-degree sunburn.

Moms going to want that one, my son would say, shaking his head.

It needs us, Id answer. But in the past, Id never done anything about it. Wed driven on, and Id held those enchanting wrecks in my mind, and at night when I couldnt sleep, I would mull over the possibilities of how I could save them, the same way other people count sheep.

But why was it that house, out of all the ones Id seen over the years? Did I see symmetry and balance in its shape? Did I see a project, an outlet for a frustrated mind? Was it the big, wide porch underneath that rampant camellia, a vision of a time when people used to sit in rocking chairs and call out to their neighbors as they passed? Or was the house just the equivalent of picking up a lost puppy, on a very large scale?

I couldnt have told you then. At the time, the back of my mind was doing the thinking, efficiently spinning through all the intricacies of the decision and finding the real reasons underneath. Maybe it knew better than I that I wasnt ready to acknowledge the lessons I needed to learn, the ones the house could teach me. So among all the details, it grasped on to the delicate, undulating curves of a corbel, an unnecessary architectural flourish tucked in the corner where the front porch pillar met the roof, far above the trash, and handed that image to my conscious self. Said: Here you go. This is what you want.

A moment of beauty. A glimpse of a slower life in the midst of chaos.

It has been many years now since that day. During that time, the house has been just what the corbel promised. It has also been the exact opposite. But in the end, the back of my mind was right this was the house I needed. I just didnt understand why yet.

Erica Bauermeister is a bestselling author of four novels. She is a founding member of Seattle7Writers and lives in Port Townsend, in the house she renovated with her family. Mike Siegel is a Seattle Times staff photographer.

Read more from the original source:
A Washington author renovates a Port Townsend house, and her life - Seattle Times

LPG honors its Showroom of the Year | 2020-02-29 | Supply House Times This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more. This Website Uses CookiesBy closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn MoreThis website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.

Read the original post:
LPG honors its Showroom of the Year | 2020-02-29 - Supply House Times

FINANCIAL SERVICES

West-AirComm Federal Credit Union

West-AirComm Federal Credit Union has been a proud part of Beaver County for more than 70 years. Founded in 1949 by the employees of Westinghouse Electric, the credit union has its roots deep within the industry of the region.

West-AirComm serves more than 20,000 members with both technology and personal service. The financial services include investments and loans at some of the best rates in the region, free checking, first mortgages and home equity loans.

West-AirComm puts the credit union mission of People Helping People into motion on a daily basis. The staff offers personal service if you have questions about your finances.

The staff also volunteers their personal time to charitable organizations in the community. In 2019, they volunteered more than 1,200 hours and raised $11,000 for the spotlight charity, Operation Troop Appreciation.

West-AirComms 2020 charity initiative Cruisin for a Cause, will benefit the Beaver County Association for the Blind. The nonprofit organizations mission is to provide services to blind and visually impaired persons that promote their independence, prevent blindness and give those who are blind or disabled employment opportunities. The money raised help to fund the associations goal to provide a better means of transportation to the visually impaired.

From being deeply rooted in industry to providing financial services and supporting the communities it serves, West-AirComm cares about its members.

For more information, visit http://www.westaircomm.com or visit any one of the branches in Beaver, Aliquippa or Moon Township.

Farmers Building and Savings Bank

ROCHESTER Farmers Building and Savings Bank, 290 West Park in Rochester, specializes in mortgage loans, home equity loans and home improvement loans. The bank also offers do-it-yourself construction loans to enable those who have construction knowledge to assist in the building of their home.

The bank has drive-through facilities and off-street parking. It is handicapped accessible.

Farmers provides premium-rate passbook savings that earn interest from day of deposit to the day of withdrawal.

What is unique about our passbook savings accounts is that they are not internet accessible. This helps alleviate identity theft issues, said Dennis L. Goehring, president and managing officer. You, the account holder, bring in your passbook for transactions. Its simple and safe.

Farmers also offers Christmas club accounts and direct deposit of payroll, Social Security and pension checks. Funds are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Farmers Building and Savings Bank is one of Beaver Countys few remaining independent financial associations. All employees and managers are from the Beaver County area and boast more than 150 years of combined banking experience. They include Martin Samchuck, Rita L. Hinton, Sarah Brogley, Pamela Locke and Dennis L. Goehring. Since the bank was founded in 1894, theyve employed only 17 individuals.

More information is available by calling the bank at 724-774-4970. Youll speak with a real person, not an automated answering system.

Friendly Federal Credit Union

ALIQUIPPA Friendly Federal Credit Union, 2000 Main St. in Aliquippa, is a full-service institution that continues to expand its offerings and membership.

Friendly Federal offers auto loans, home equity loans, holiday and vacation clubs, mortgages, IRAs, certificates of deposit, money markets, free checking, direct deposit, a youth club, debit and credit cards, home banking, bill pay and an onsite ATM machine.

For the past 18 years, the institution has received the Bauer Financial five-star rating for exceptional performance. This year, it celebrates 65 years of service.

The credit union was founded in 1955 as the J&L Service Department Employees Federal Credit Union. The J&L Byproducts, Seamless and Steelworkers Credit Union joined the institution. In 1986, the financial facilitys name was changed to Friendly Federal Credit Union. Today, the credit union has assets of more than $53 million, with a membership of about 5,000.

Cynthia Hladio is the chief executive officer/manager. Phyllis Heckman is the branch manager. Carl E. Hennen is the chairman; Ed Murphy is the treasurer; and Lynn Nero, Helen Pane, Sue Ronosky, Amy Walker and Deanna Ross are directors.

The branch office is located at 384 State St. in Baden.

Information: 724-375-0488; 724-869-3500; http://www.friendlyfcu.org.

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE

Myers Service Center & Quality Quick Lube

BEAVER In January 1990, Rick Myers and his sons, Rick and Ron, opened an auto repair business at 475 Buffalo St. in Beaver. They wanted Myers Service Center & Quality Quick Lube to do three things: be honest and upfront with customers, provide quality, affordable work each and every time, and earn the continued loyalty and trust of each customer.

Thirty years later, the Myers family has been blessed to have so many returning customers, many of whom they consider extended family, and blessed to have dedicated auto technicians and employees.

To Mark, Matt, John, Paige, Gray, Alaina and Paul, thank you for your dedication and for giving customers excellent service day-in and day-out. That commitment to excellence is what makes the business successful.

The Myers family business couldnt have succeeded without these great employees and loyal customers. Thank you. Myers Service Center and Quick Lube looks forward to continuing such service for many years to come.

Information: 724-774-7655.

EDUCATION

Geneva College

BEAVER FALLS Geneva College prepares undergraduate students to serve faithfully and fruitfully in their lifes work. With a vocational focus and liberal arts core, a Geneva education is grounded in Gods word, enabling students to think, write and communicate well in todays world.

For traditional students, Geneva offers more than 145 majors and programs, including biology business, communication, computer science, education, engineering, nursing, psychology and student ministry. The faculty cares about the success of each student, and the 13-to-1 student-faculty ratio makes that possible. Geneva professors have real-world work experience, academic achievements, and are actively engaging the culture through research and writing while professing an active Christian faith.

In addition, Geneva fields 18 varsity sports teams in NCAA Division III athletics for men and women, hosts intramural sports leagues and coordinates more than 200 student activities each year.

Adult undergraduates can earn a degree at Geneva in as few as 16 months and complement their professional and family commitments with full online programs.

The masters degree programs MBA, counseling, cybersecurity, higher education and leadership studies can help students excel toward a more promising future. These high-demand professional degrees equip students for principled Christian service to their organizations and the world.

In 2019, U.S. News & World Report ranked Geneva as the No. 3 Best Value Regional University for combining high academic quality with affordability. Kiplingers Personal Finance also lists Geneva on its prestigious list of national Private Universities of Value.

Genevas main campus is located in Beaver Falls. The college is governed by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America.

Geneva College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, disability, and national or ethnic origin.

Information: 800-847-8255; http://www.geneva.edu.

Penn State-Beaver

CENTER TWP. Penn State Beaver offers the personal experience of a small campus with the resources of a Big Ten research university. Students come from western Pennsylvania as well as 28 states and seven foreign countries to live in our newly remodeled residence hall, participate in our championship-winning intercollegiate sports and learn from award-winning faculty.

Students and the community now have an opportunity to participate in the Beaver Valley LaunchBox, a signature program of Invent Penn State, a commonwealth-wide initiative to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in the region and help spur economic development, job creation and campus-community collaboration.

The LaunchBox is powered by community business leaders, professors and ambitious students to provide subject matter expertise and training to help local entrepreneurs and innovators to build and grow their businesses and convert their ideas into a reality successfully. We have partnered with the Beaver County Library System to establish Creative Corners in each of the countys public libraries. We also offer community workshops in the libraries and on the Penn State Beaver campus.

To learn more about the Beaver Valley LaunchBox and our community programs visit on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and at beavervalley.launchbox.psu.edu.

Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School

MIDLAND Educating children in kindergarten through 12th grade, the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, better known as PA Cyber, is one of the largest and most experienced online public schools in the nation.

Students will find creative online learning environments, personalized instruction and top-notch curriculum at PA Cyber. Qualified, state-certified teachers use rich academic content that is aligned to state standards and meets the approval of the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

PA Cybers instructional model focuses on its students. It recognizes their changing developmental stages while respecting their differences and unique abilities. Using a flexible but focused learning model, PA Cybers teachers create a personalized education program for each student.

Headquartered in Midland, PA Cyber has offices throughout Pennsylvania. They serve as a hub for enrollment, orientation and enrichment. The nearly 10,000 students enrolled in PA Cyber belong to a real community, where they grow academically, emotionally, socially and physically.

PA Cyber offers choices for live and self-paced instruction, along with a variety of opportunities for interaction with teachers and peers. The extensive course list and program offerings include the creative and performing arts, STEM and gifted programs, advanced placement classes, and a variety of clubs and other activities. Certified faculty and staff are available to engage with students and families at their convenience.

PA Cyber provides a tuition-free, accredited curriculum with access to all technology and the personal guidance students need for success. The technology platforms are leading edge, user-friendly and enhance the educational experiences of the students. Each student receives a laptop, printer, textbooks and online connectivity, as well as an expert technological support team that is responsive, skilled and dependable.

PA Cyber graduates can be found attending highly regarded universities, colleges, professional academies and vocational schools. Any school-aged child living in Pennsylvania may enroll.

Information: 888-722-9237; http://www.pacyber.org.

Community College of Beaver County

CENTER TWP. Community College of Beaver County, the second smallest community college in Pennsylvania, accomplished big things in 2019 on its Center Township campus.

In March, Roger W. Davis was named the colleges ninth president after serving as interim president since May 2018. Davis, who holds a doctorate in urban educational leadership from Morgan State University in Baltimore, is the colleges youngest president. He joined CCBC in July 2016 as executive vice president and provost.

Academically, CCBC launched the School of Industrial Technology and Continuing Education. The School of Aviation Science founded by James M. Johnson was renamed in his honor. The program, which celebrated 50 years of flight, offers the No. 1 aviation training program in the nation. It includes four two-year degree programs professional pilot, air traffic control, aerospace management and unmanned aerial vehicle (drones).

Additionally, Nursingprocess.org ranked CCBCs nursing school fifth in the nation, and G.I. Jobs magazine named the community college a military-friendly school. CCBC also received the Carnegie Science Award for Leadership in STEM education of its high school academies, and is the first non-profit higher education program in the state to provide digital textbooks for a single low-cost fee.

For more than 50 years, CCBC has been a gateway to success for area students and continues to provide a path to prosperity and family-sustaining careers.

Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Clarion Universitys more than 4,700 determined students are building a bright future through challenging academics and diverse interests, all while living in a charming, civic-minded town that embraces them.

Clarion offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business, education, health science and the arts with a 19-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, and nationally and internationally accredited programs. The university leads Pennsylvanias State System of Higher Education with 28 national accreditations and offers a multitude of internship and study abroad opportunities that give students hands-on experience in their chosen field and in research before they earn their degree.

The university is comprised of its scenic campus in Clarion, which has evolved since its seminary beginnings in 1867, its Clarion University-Venango campus in Oil City and Clarion Online, which offers excellence in education from anywhere in the world.

The 2020 US News and World Report ranks Clarion Online in its Top 100: best online bachelors programs and business programs, best online nursing graduate programs and best online master of education programs.

With a focus on professional development, the university has launched inventive programming and certificates. The Respiratory Care three-year bachelors program prepares students to be registered respiratory therapists and work in diverse roles through the health care delivery system.

The Department of Special Education and Disability Policy Studies and the Competent Learner Model Center of Excellence announced new, online certificate programs. Undergraduate and graduate level certificates in assistant applied behavior analyst and competent learner model are available as well as an advanced competency certificate program for special education students.

The university also offers an online opioid treatment certificate, the first of its kind in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

More than 160 student organizations complement 175-plus academic programs, including academic, Greek, political, multi-cultural and service groups. Students from 42 states and 15 countries attend Clarion which boasts 58,236 alumni worldwide.

ENTERTAINMENT

Sheffield Lanes, Lounge

ALIQUIPPA Once again this summer, Sheffield Lanes and Lounge in Aliquippa will expand.

Owners Rick and Jeannie DAgostino and their son, Zach, plan to enlarge Rickey Dees Pizza kitchen. Since it reopened in 2009, the former Crescent Township-based business has become an integral part of Sheffield Lanes.

During these winter months, live entertainment continues. With the vinyl sides down, the veranda, warmed by a gas fireplace and heaters, is the perfect place to enjoy local musicians, wonderful food and a beverage. The veranda, which opened last May and provides customers with a non-smoking area, is a great place for private parties.

Sheffield Lanes offers a comfortable smoking lounge and wide selection of bourbon and Scotch, as well as many domestic and craft beers. The lounge also features a humidor stocked with premium cigars. Local musicians play several evenings during the week.

The state-of-the-art Pro Shop, managed by Matt Mowad, recently completed its third second year of business and is quickly becoming a premier spot for bowlers to upgrade their equipment or buy their first bowling ball. The Pro Shop opens at 1 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Friday, and at 11 a.m. on Wednesday and Saturday.

The lower-level Fallout Shelter, which will celebrate its 12th anniversary in March, is an intimate venue for live music, special events and private parties. The Shelter is a host to the Beaver County Cigar Club which meets the Thurd Thursday of each month. The cigar club plans to hold its fourth Knob Creek Single Barrel Bourbon release party this summer.

Sheffield Lanes has been a local landmark since it opened in 1950 as a 12-lane duckpin center. Now, the landmark is a 20-lane, 10-pin center that hosts mens, womens, mixed and youth bowling leagues. During the week, Sheffield Lanes offers open bowling specials including Family Funday on Sunday and Electric Bowl on Friday and Saturday. The facility also hosts birthday parties, corporate events, and family and class reunions.

Sheffield Lanes is a go-to spot for league and recreational bowlers who enjoy music, good food, and a well-stocked bar. The friendly staff knows many of their patrons on a first-name basis and strives to keep things running smoothly.

Sheffield Lanes is looking forward to summer with the veranda, open-air deck and bocce courts. Stop by.

Information: 724-375-5080; http://www.sheffieldlanes.com.

FOOD

Oram's Donut Shop

BEAVER FALLS For more than 80 years, Orams Donut Shop, 1406 Seventh Ave. in Beaver Falls, has delighted customers with its famous cinnamon rolls and donuts. Orams takes pride in making fried pastries the old-fashioned way from scratch with quality ingredients and original family recipes.

Customers in Beaver County show appreciation to Orams year after year by voting it the Best Doughnut Shop in The Times Best of the Valley contest. Orams appreciates the community support and will continue to produce the best sweet treats for Beaver County.

Each week, the creative staff at Orams comes up with exciting new flavors. Past specials have included the original cinnamon roll with maple-cream cheese icing and a pumpkin cream cheese-filled doughnut rolled in cinnamon-powdered sugar. To learn about the weekly specials at Orams, follow the shops Facebook, Twitter, Google and Instagram accounts.

Customers can now order their favorite doughnuts online by visiting the shops website, http://www.Orams.com. Online orders require a minimum of a dozen doughnuts and orders must be submitted before 8 p.m. for next day pickup. Orams continues to take orders by phone.

Hours: 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

To order: 724-846-1504; http://www.orams.com, http://www.facebook.com/oramsdonuts

Rosalind Candy Castle

NEW BRIGHTON Rosalind Candy Castle, 1301 Fifth Ave. in New Brighton, is a full-line chocolate candy manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer. Specialties include custom favors for weddings, showers and anniversaries, fund-raising candy and gifts for all occasions.

Rosalind Candy Castle has been in business for 106 years and employs 30 people. The century-old business offers an extensive line of chocolate confections made from scratch.

Jim Crudden is the president of Rosalind Candy Castle. His children Michael, vice president of operations and Jennifer, vice president of sales and marketing are carrying on the family tradition of manufacturing chocolates using the original recipes. Crudden believes the business is successful because of the passion and dedication of its employees, who treat each other like family.

The business continues to expand through new retail outlets and popular fundraising programs, used by many schools and organizations throughout western Pennsylvania. The redesigned company website also has led to growth throughout the United States.

Read more from the original source:
PROGRESS 2020: Business briefs - The Times