Between 1979 and 1981, at least 30 children and young people were murdered in a series of crimes that terrorized Atlanta. But these killings of black children, who often came from low-income families, never lodged themselves in the American psyche the way that near-contemporaneous murders by the likes of Ted Bundy and Richard Ramirez did. Now, as HBO airs the documentary series Atlantas Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children, the city is re-examining evidence in the case, and creating a permanent memorial to its children.

No one has ever been charged with the murders of the children, who were mostly black boys between the ages of 7 and 17. They included Curtis Walker, a 13-year-old who disappeared after heading to a local grocery store in hopes of earning money by helping the elderly carry their bags. The next time his mother, Catherine Leach, saw her son, his body was being pulled out of the South River on a televised news broadcast. Another victim, 10-year-old Earl Terrell, was kidnapped and later murdered while making his way home from a local swimming pool in the summer of 1980.

Wayne B. Williams, a 23-year-old from a respected middle-class black Atlanta family, was first arrested in 1981. Police officers staking out the James Jackson Parkway Bridge reported hearing a loud splash, and subsequently pulled over Williamss car after it left the bridge. Two days later, the body of 27-year-old Nathaniel Cater was pulled from the water. Investigators connected Williams, a freelance photographer and self-employed talent scout, to nine of the other slayings through fiber and hair evidence that matched a carpet in his home and his familys German Shepherd. But he was only tried for the murders of Cater and another adult victim, 21-year-old Jimmy Ray Payne.

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Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms was nine years old when the murders began, and is a member of a generation of Atlanta children who lived in fear of the snatcher.

You saw it on television, you heard your parents talking about it, you saw their pictures, Bottoms told Esquire.

But questions have lingered despite Williamss conviction. Many, including the family members of some of the victims, believe that Williams is innocent, that he killed only the adults, or that he murdered some, but not all, of the children. The original investigation took place in a city still deeply marred by racism, forcing families to push back against narratives that depicted the victims as street kids. Some believe the killings were the work of the Klan, which counted at least 10,000 members in 1981. When James Baldwin visited the city to report on the murders in 1981, he mocked the idea that Atlanta then represented a progressive New South, writing, Lord. The New South. Do not come down here looking for it. Williams, still serving his two life terms, maintains his innocence, despite being connected to the murder of one child by DNA evidence in 2010.

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Last year, Bottoms established the Atlanta Childrens Memorial Taskforce, a committee charged with creating a memorial for the murdered children. Among its members are Curtis Walkers mother and Earl Terrells brother. In January, the mayors office debuted an art exhibition featuring work from local artists in honor of the victims. Portraits of the children painted by artist Dwayne Mitchelle will be exhibited at the Hartsfield-JAckson International Airport this spring.

The feeling of seeing the victims portraits was difficult to put into words, said Bottoms. It humanizes these children. I dont know if theyve ever had the benefit of being brought to life in this way. Its an important experience for all of us, because for so many of these families, they felt as if their children had been forgotten, and it allowed us to see them again.

Bottoms also announced last year that authorities would be retesting evidence connected to the crimes. We know technology has improved and changed in so many ways, she said. We dont know if there will be any additional information or any additional evidence that will lead us in one direction or another.

Paras GriffinGetty Images

Bottoms noted that shed like to manage expectations as to the results of the inquiry, in the event that the renewed investigation doesnt reveal major developments. But having fresh eyes on the evidence may yield new information, through investigative work that can be as simple as comparing evidence sheets with photos of the victims. One evidence sheet was very descriptive, but it didnt mention that the body had a gold chain on it, said Bottoms. Things like that may have been missed 40 plus years ago.

The task force is also still at work on a permanent memorial. The planned monument will include an eternal flame and a still-to-be-determined artwork honoring the victims lives. The memorial will be installed at City Hall, and visible from the mayors office window. It will be this very physical reminder for me, and every mayor who comes in after me, said Bottoms, that our children matter.

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Atlanta's Mayor Re-Examines the Child Murders That Terrorized the City 40 Years Ago - Esquire.com

Their friends will tell you that Paul Price and Fletcher Cowan know how to throw a good party. In summer its not unusual to find at least 100 guests spilling out, brimming margaritas in hand, from the kitchen of their north London home into the garden with its bubbling hot tub. Those previral bashes are, of course, on hold for now. But even without the revellers, heres an interior to lift the spirits. The tutti-frutti carpets, lagoon-blue cocktail bar and walls bustling with modern art add up to a home thats sociable and comfortable.

Price and Cowan are quick to credit the interior designer Peter Mikic with the exuberant effect. They all met, inevitably, at a dinner party. Before founding his business 10 years ago, Mikic used to run a fashion label. Price is the CEO of a luxury fashion brand and Cowan, who presents a fashion show on US channel E!, studied fashion at Central Saint Martins. So the three share a taste for art, colour and unpredictable juxtapositions.

I dont do matchy-matchy, I prefer things to be on the more interesting side, says Mikic, an Australian who has lived in the UK for more than 20 years. Paul and Fletcher have more parties than anyone I know. This house reflects that. Its them down to a T.

In a part of London better known for slender townhouses, the 1870s property is a rarity. Wide and double-fronted, it has a host of unusual features: ornate plasterwork motifs on the walls downstairs and dashing Moorish-style arches upstairs where there are three bedrooms and a walk-in wardrobe.

I was the first person to see it when it went on the market six years ago, says Price, an American with strong opinions on how things should look. I walked in, saw the wonderful, original staircase and made an offer on the spot. It just spoke to me.

Mikics brief was to transform the three-storey interior, which is believed to have operated as a print factory during the Second World War. This may have been when the first two floors were subdivided into a warren of small rooms with disproportionately wide hallways. One of the first things Mikic did was to reorganise the space by opening up the main reception rooms. The idea was to create relaxed and comfortable spaces for entertaining and living, he says. Original details were also restored. Layers of paint were scraped off the staircase to reveal the ebonised handrail, and the parquet floors were sanded back to their golden 19th-century colour.

The house now has distinct zones; the reception rooms are for living and entertaining, the lower ground floor for cooking, eating, and working, says Mikic, who added a gym as well as a library for Cowan in the lower-ground floor.

For this sociable couple, a new dining room was a priority. The kitchen has a convivial island for cooking and chatting: Paul loves to cook and I love to eat: thats us in a nutshell, says Cowan.

To bring light to the lower-ground floor, Mikic also installed floor-to-ceiling metal-framed windows that span the back wall. Before that there was only a small door and two small windows overlooking the garden, says Price. Now you feel a real sense of connection between the outside and inside. By contrast, the upstairs bedrooms, with their layers of muted colours and understated furnishings, were designed as a peaceful retreat.

Apart from a few artworks by friends, such as LA artist Jonas Wood or the photographer Alex Prager, most of the furniture and objects were bought for the house. Parisian flea markets or Alfies antique market in northwest London are their stamping grounds for mid-century design. A mix, not too 1960s or 1970s, but a bit of every era, insists Price.

In the sitting room, the multicoloured sideboard inlaid with Murano glass is a 1980s prototype by Italian fashion designer Emanuel Ungaro. It was the catalyst for the rug as colourful as a pointillist painting which Mikic designed, picking up the icing-sugar colours in the bespoke sofas. The pair of 60s armchairs, with their original fabrics intact, were found online at 1stdibs. The pink walls are one of Mikics custom-made colours: I usually hate pink, too sugary or Barbie, says Price. But this won me over.

From here, you step into the new bar where the aquarium-blue walls are made of polished plaster and the countertop was carved from lava stone.

Nearby, the glossy grand piano is a mechanical one that plays itself. The music is the only issue in our relationship, says Price, Im fond of a show tune, which Fletcher cant stand. But they agree on the classics: Barbra Streisand, Elton John, Queen, Madonna Hey, theres a theme here.

petermikic.com

Excerpt from:
When the party starts: a home to lift the spirits - The Guardian

With Easter 2020 happening today, youre probably wondering if your local grocery store is open or closed. While sheltering in place, it can be nice to pick up a few essentials at the local grocery store. Traditionally Winn-Dixie has been open in the past for Easter, but this year it will be closed.

Unlike previous years, Winn-Dixie will not be open for Easter Sunday this year. A banner at the top of Winn-Dixies website reads: Closed on Easter Sunday for a day of rest with family.

This is unusual for Winn-Dixie, since they are normally open on Easter. But considering how busy most grocery stores have been during the coronavirus outbreak, its not surprising that their employees needed a day off.

Heres what Anthony Hucker, President & CEO, said in a letter posted online about the day off.

We are eternally grateful for the dedication and bravery proven by our associates each day, as they strive to keep our shelves stocked and our stores ready to serve you. As a gesture of our gratitude, we have announced that our BI-LO, Fresco y Ms, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores will be closed Easter Sunday, April 12 to provide our dedicated and heroic associates a day to rest with their families. Even with a day of rest planned for our associates, its important for you to know that we continue our efforts to provide you with the safest and cleanest stores in earnest.

Winn-Dixie is doing a lot to respond to the outbreak and keep things safe for employees and customers. The first hour that stores are open, Monday through Friday, will be set aside for seniors and high-risk customers. And pharmacies are also opening at 8 a.m. on weekdays to help.

Floor decals and Plexiglass partitions have been installed at registers, customer service desks, pharmacies, and liquor store counters. Touch-free payment options are available at all stores. Daily temperature checks are being rolled out for all associates and external partners, and in areas where COVID-19 cases are high, the number of shoppers allowed in the stores at one time will be limited.

In addition, associates, first responders, and health care professionals are asked to shop on Mondays and Tuesday from 8-9 p.m. so they can stock up on fresh food and other essentials.

The stores are also hiring an additional 5,000 associates to help meet the increased demand. Associates are allowed to wear face masks and gloves if they desire and they are distributing as much of this protective gear to our stores as we can. Winn-Dixie is also donating $250,000 to Feeding America and extending bonus payments to associates.

Winn-Dixie is also no longer offering refunds, exchanges, self-service food, rain checks, or Bissell Carpet Cleaner rentals in order to help with customer and associate safety.

So although Winn-Dixie isnt open today, the store will reopen tomorrow for all your shopping needs. In the meantime, if youre needing to go somewhere today, plenty of other stores will be open. Walmart, for example, is open today on Easter Sunday.

READ NEXT: Daily COVID-19 Updates

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Is Winn-Dixie Open or Closed on Easter Sunday 2020? - Heavy.com

When the novel coronavirus killed its first U.S. victim in King County,local officials knew thatthespreadingvirusposed unique risksto the more than 11,100 people inthe Seattle areawho do not have homes,and, in many cases,access to basic hygiene services.

To date, shelter outbreaks in cities like San Francisco and Boston outpace whats been seen in the Seattle area. But while thecity and the county have worked to create new resources to protect the regions homeless population, the response still falls short of what experts and homeless service providers say is needed.

City and county efforts have focused on three areas: opening new overnight shelters to decrease crowding in existing shelters, creating isolation, quarantine and recovery units,and installing additional hygiene services for people living outside.

Heresa lookat how Seattleand the surrounding regions efforts to protect homelesspeoplefrom COVID-19 compare to other municipalities,and how far the city and county have come inaccomplishingtheir plans.

Use the bottom right blue arrow to scroll through the graphic.

In a matter of days in March, many of the hygiene services relied on by people surviving outside disappeared.

On March 12, the city of Seattle announced the closure of many public facilities to limit gatherings.Within 24 hours, Seattles homeless population lost 27 public librariesthat have reliable public restrooms.Atthe same time,the city closed sixcommunity centers and pools, which normally offer shower programs.

Less than a weeklater,thefast food joints, coffee shops and restaurantsthathad restroomshomeless people could sometimes useclosedby state executive order.

Ittookthe city two weeks after closinglibraries,poolsand community centersto add six new hand-washing stations and 14 portable toilets in sixoutdoorlocationsnearexisting homelessencampments, according to the city.

Since the start of the crisis, the city has kept its park restroom facilities open in more than 100 parks,according to city data. Its also opened five communitycenterswith limited,daytimehourstooffershower services.

Butadvocatesand homeless service providers saythe efforts arefar from enough.A local hepatitis Aoutbreakhas been growing over the last several months,andin March King County sawcase numbersthat totaled altogether those of thelast fivemonths of 2019.Nearly halfwere amonghomeless people.

What we are seeing unfold in our city is a truly shocking experience,Seattle/King CountyCoalition on Homelessness executive director Alison Eisinger told the Seattle City Councilthisweek.

Deputy Mayor Casey Sixkiller told the council that the city had struggled withkeeping the sites clean and preventing hand-sanitizer theft. Each new hygiene site cost $35,000 a month tomaintain, Sixkiller said.

But we are working through it and obviously acknowledge that more work is to be done, Sixkillersaid.

One ofexpertsearliest concerns for people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic wasthatcrowded conditions insidecongregateshelters, where sometimes peoplesleepon mats just 6 inches apart, would contribute to the spread of the disease.

Many people in these shelters were already vulnerable.Among homelessKing County residentssurveyed in 2019,more than a quarter said they struggled with a chronic health condition.

The city and countyhavefaceda massive undertakingover the last six weeks:One study by leading homelessness researchersestimated that the city and county would need 9,089 new units to decrease crowding in shelters and bring new people inside.

So far, the county has confirmed 27 positive COVID-19 cases among 12 shelters tested, including two clusters of six and 12 cases respectively. On Friday, San Francisco announced that 70 people, including two staffers, at a shelter had tested positive.

But while the city and county have created hundreds of largerspaces for existing shelter clients to prevent these kinds of outbreaks, they have thus far been unable to open a fraction of the new shelter units experts say are needed to bring new people, who arent already living in shelters, inside.

On March 25, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said in a press release that the county and city have worked to deploy every measure we can to help our neighbors experiencing homelessness, including expanding shelter capacity to nearly 1,900 spaces.

This is a breakdown ofwhatsome ofthose1,900spacesmean,though it does not include the countys new efforts this week to move 400 people in shelters into hotel units and pay for more. These are how many of the 1,900 spaces were available as of April9:

Source: city of Seattle and King County

*first announced on March 5

Though the city saidearlylastmonth that 95units would becomeavailable to shelteras many as 100new people within two to three weeks,the citynow projects that the units will open in mid- to late April. Five pallets, however, have been added to Chief Seattle Clubs Eagle Village site, according to county Department of Community and Human Services spokesperson Sherry Hamilton.

The citycontendsthat it has created new shelter spaces byadding more services to spaces that already had shelter clients. Setting up expanded spaces and new units while maintaining capacity,mitigatinghealth risks at all of our other shelter locations and adjusting to staffing reductions due to COVID-19 is unprecedented,mayoralspokespersonKamariaHightower saidby email.

Adding the new shelter units is complicated by staffing challengesas well as issues accessing construction and maintenance services during the statewide stayhome order, Hightower added.

For more than a month, we have been asking for additional state and federal resources for mass sheltering, Hightower said. Thecity simply doesnt have the resources to surge to the capacity we need without personnel and supports.

Even shelters where people are sleeping 6 feet apart are still at high risk of outbreaks spreading, according to Dr. Stephen Hwang, a researcher at the University of Toronto who has studied respiratory illnesses and their spread in shelters.

Theres constant mingling, in the bathroom, in the hallways, at meal time, Hwang said. You can make them safer, but you can never make them as safe as we would like them to be.

A better option, according to Hwang, is moving people into individual hotel and motel units.

On April 3, Californias Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state would useFEMAfunding tomove thousands of the states homeless population into hotels.

Washington state does not have a similar initiative, though the Department of Commerce announced in March that it would distribute at least $250,000in grant fundingto each county thatwasorganizinga homelessness response, which could include placing people in hotels.King County has applied for FEMA funding to reimburse the costs of hotels, trailers, modular units and more.

King County provided 60 vouchers for vulnerable shelter residents to stay in hotels in late February and early March, and as of this week, started moving400 vulnerable people into hotels. The Downtown Emergency Service Center also began moving 200 people into hotel units this week with county money. While the city of Seattle has used hotel units to house first responders, and council members have discussed the idea, a spokesperson for Durkan told The Seattle Times in early April that theoptionwas cost-prohibitive, among other concerns like the availability of staffing and wraparound services.

Over the last month, thecounty hasopenedthree quarantine and isolation facilities for people who are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, tested positive, or believe they have been exposed:amotelin Kent,a modular site inNorth Seattle and a hotel in Issaquah. In addition,Harborview MedicalCenter isoperatingan isolation and quarantine site at HarborviewHall.

Out of these four locations, 150 rooms were available to accept peopleas ofFriday.

The county said it is working to remove carpet at the hotels tomeet sanitation standardsbeforeanadditional51rooms canbe opened.A modular site in White Center that could house 31 people is still in progress.

Scott Greenstone contributed reporting to this story.

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Here's what the Seattle area has and hasn't done to protect its homeless population from coronavirus - Seattle Times

In the 1950s when the city of Wickliffe was pastoral and much less populated Jack Schneider knew that changes were ahead.

The late Schneider realized that much of Clevelands population was moving to the suburbs and that people would be looking for carpeting to install in their new homes.

Thus, in 1953 the insightful man established Location Carpet at 29334 Euclid Ave.

Location Carpet was founded in Wickliffe in 1953. Pictured is its second location at 171 Chestnut St. in Painesville.

Today the business continues to operate at the same site and in 2001 an additional retail store opened in Painesville.

Eventually, Jacks son John became the companys president and four of his five children along with other family members are currently part of the staff.

Ben Schneider, who is Johns son and general manager, said his on-the-job training took place early on.

In our house if you could pick up the toolbox you went to work with dad in the summer, he recalled.

Location Carpet is a longtime Lake County family business with stores in Wickliffe and Painesville. Pictured are John Schneider, center, and members of the Schneider family, most of whom work in some aspect of the business.

Other early memories include working in Wickliffe homes. In an email sent to The News-Herald, Ben stated that we did a lot of workthroughoutWickliffe which was heavily populated with Italian families. When we would show up in the morning they would be out in the garden picking fresh vegetables and they would prepare the most amazing lunchtime feast.

We would have to halt our work and sit down with them to eat lunch, talk and of course some homemade vino they would send home with us! Maybe this partly shaped how we are today with our customers, minus the heavy lunches that make you sleepy!

John said his best memory from years heading up the business was getting involved with Project Hope for the Homeless based in Painesville.

The facility was in dire need of floor covering, and Location Carpet stepped up by donating all necessary materials for the job. Upon seeing the needs of many families firsthand, all labor was done without cost as well.

I believe in my heart that we made a big difference, John said.

Location Carpet staffers participated in the Barstool Open in February. The annual event which raises funds for University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Childrens took place in Willoughby. Pictured are Jessica Schneider, left, Ben Schneider, Laura Schneider and Rachel Schneider Mullis.

The business continues to contribute to the community by supporting such events and efforts as Painesville Party in the Park, Keep Wickliffe Beautiful and the Wickliffe Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

Along with its strong community spirit, the company adheres to a solid business philosophy focusing on value.

Value is not just dollars and cents. I spend the time with each customer to explore what value is to them, John said.

To help determine the best value he not only asks customers about their flooring preferences but how long they plan to stay in their home. He noted that sometimes he even walks away telling customers that their best value is not doing a new floor.

I never want to lose a sale but I don't want people to spend their money for something thats not a value either,John said.

Ben added that the company strives to be easy to work with and for customers to enjoy working with them, while at the same time trying to be extremely thorough so that important details don't slip through the cracks.

Although the companys longevity speaks to its success, Location Carpet is no different than many other businesses which face challenges at various times.

One such challenge occurred during the stock market crash of 2008.

Rachel Schneider Mullis, Johns daughter and manager of the Painesville store, explained how the business survived the economic downturn.

We tightened our belts and powered forward," she said. "We adjusted the way we did business, putting more focus back on the retail and commercial side of thebusiness and reinvented Location Carpet.

A residual effect of the crash that still presents a challenge is the lack of available installers. Many left the trade during that time and no new installers entered.

So fast forward a decade plus later and we are still challenged and often held back by the need for skilled installers, Schneider Mullis said.

The pressing trial currently faced by Location Carpet as well as hundreds of thousands of businesses is tied to the effects stemming from the novel coronavirus.

The company is keeping limited hours and stores are equipped with Ring video doorbells so customers can drop off or pick up samples which are sanitized. Staff is willing to conduct virtual showroom visits, order samples to homes and provide ballpark estimates for potential jobs.

Continue reading here:
Location Carpet's longevity speaks to its success in Wickliffe, Painesville - News-Herald.com

John Buckenroth assists in folding a section of turf as it is glued in place on Tuesday in West Liberty.

Gloves and scissors are the main tools for installing this new-fangled turf in West Liberty.

Workers from LeVans Excavating and Keepers Turf use turf glue to secure seams of turf to the dirt below during the process on Tuesday.

No matter how modern the field, theres still no place like home.

WEST LIBERTY It might not seem like it now, but the sun will eventually come out again. Even if its still a little damp outside, the ballplayers in West Liberty will be saying batter up a bit sooner than they would be on plain old grass and mud.

The West Liberty Ball Association is installing the first turf baseball infield in the tri-county area at Dodge Park, which is owned by the village. WLBA was able to secure the installation through a generous private donation. The value of the field is roughly $80,000.

Workers spent much of Tuesday laying down the new field surface before a deluge of rain stopped the action on Wednesday.

Having the turf will allow WLBA to host additional tournaments, play shortly after inclement weather and bring more people into the community. The new turf can be played on in as little as 10 minutes after a downpour. WLBA aspires to add lights to at least one field in the park. It doesnt currently have lights on any field.

The village of West Liberty has previously stated that it is committed to lighting one field this year.

The WLBA season has been delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic but says it is committed to forging on and providing the best possible facilities for youth.

The WLBA is a 501c3 non-profit organization run by nine board members who maintain Dodge Park through in-kind and monetary donations. Almost all labor for improvements is provided by the board.

LeVan Excavating of Logan County is placing turf on the field. The company is donating this upgrade.

-

On March 23, ground will be broken at Lions Park for the splashpad, scheduled to have a grand opening on May 23. This project is being accomplished through donations and grants.

John Buckenroth assists in folding a section of turf as it is glued in place on Tuesday in West Liberty.

Gloves and scissors are the main tools for installing this new-fangled turf in West Liberty.

Workers from LeVans Excavating and Keepers Turf use turf glue to secure seams of turf to the dirt below during the process on Tuesday.

No matter how modern the field, theres still no place like home.

West Liberty installs synthetic turf field

See original here:
Roll out the green carpet - Urbana Daily Citizen

Whether you're looking to put your home on the market this spring or sell further down the road, there are many home improvements you can do on your own to add value to your home. A well-informed homeowner will keep track of all remodels and updates over the years, and will also be aware of the projects that can provide the best return on investment.

Even if your plans to put your home on the market are derailed by the coronavirus pandemic, the added time you're spending at home means you can take on some updates as do-it-yourself projects.

The average return at resale for home improvement projects is 63.7% of a project's cost if the home is sold within a year, according to Remodeling Magazine's 2020 annual Cost vs. Value Report. Here are a few relatively easy do-it-yourself projects that you can check off your list for cheap and add value to your home:

-- Deep clean and declutter.

-- Paint the interior.

-- Spruce up your yard.

-- Add lighting.

-- Refresh your bathroom.

-- Overhaul your closet.

-- Refinish or paint your cabinets.

-- Replace your floors.

-- Update kitchen appliances.

-- Remove popcorn ceilings.

[See: 10 Home Renovations Under $5,000.]

Deep Clean and Declutter

First impressions count when selling your home. Make the interior of your home shine from floor to ceiling by taking the time to spruce up your space. Pick up personal items and store them away. Wipe down counters, baseboards and all areas inside and outside of the house. Remove smudge marks on all windows, doors and mirrors. Deep cleaning and decluttering your home is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to keep your home looking its best while getting ready to sell. More importantly, it helps make life easier. Dan DiClerico, smart home strategist and home expert for HomeAdvisor, based in Brooklyn, New York, explains that decluttering and getting your home in order room by room will help decrease your stress level, especially if you're battling anxiety as you spend more time at home.

Paint the Interior

A fresh coat of paint can go a long way when it come to buyer impressions. Painting your home's interior is one of the most cost-effective improvements you can do, as newly painted rooms will add value by providing a clean and updated look. "It is more time-consuming if you really want to do the job right," DiClerico says. Make sure to properly clean and prep surfaces, tape edges and doorways and apply a couple coats to make the new paint look consistent. Stick to neutral colors when choosing your paint so it will appeal to a large number of people.

Spruce Up Your Yard

Any yardwork that improves the curb appeal of your home will benefit you in the long term, and you'll be more inclined to spend time in the space if you give it more love. Now is a great time to plant a vegetable garden or replace old, dead plants with new plants that will thrive, says Abeer Sweis, an architect and design partner for architecture firm SweisKloss in Santa Monica, California. If you're looking to make landscaping changes that appeal to more homebuyers, choose low-maintenance landscaping, such as beds of mulch or drought-tolerant plants.

Add Lighting

Brighten up your home without breaking the bank by simply opening windows, cleaning skylights and removing outdated curtains that may be blocking natural light. Have old lighting fixtures hanging from your ceiling? Get rid of any eyesores by updating your lighting with an eye-catching chandelier or a modern ceiling fan.

Refresh Your Bathroom

Outdated and boring bathroom fixtures can really take away from the room's style and feel. Giving your bathroom a quick refresh is a great DIY project to prep for selling your home. Upgrade fixtures, such as knobs and pulls, and check for leaky faucets or poor drainage. "You just need a screwdriver to be able to replace (knobs or pulls) with a similar type of hardware," Sweis says.

Overhaul Your Closet

If your version of decluttering quickly turned into piling items inside your closet, you might want to consider a new closet organizer system. Brands like EasyClosets and ELFA allow you to custom design your new closet based on the measurements and what you want to store there. All the materials and instructions can be shipped directly to your home for a DIY project. "It's a project that will take you more than a day but helps you do some of those things you've wanted to do (in your house) but never touched," Sweis says.

Story continues

[See: The Best Time of Year for Every Home Improvement Project]

Refinish or Paint Your Cabinets

If you're looking to employ more skill than painting interior walls requires, consider taking on the project of sanding and either staining or painting your kitchen cabinets. "This is a fantastic way to completely transform the look and feel of a kitchen, but it's very time-consuming," DiClerico says. The project is best done by removing your cabinets from the wall, then patiently sanding away the existing finish before going through the process of applying a new stain or paint.

Replace Your Floors

Homebuyers prefer hard flooring options over wall-to-wall carpeting. While the idea of removing carpeting and refinishing wood floors on your own can seem like a daunting task, this DIY project can be done on a budget with the proper tools. Be ready to take the time to remove the existing carpet or other floor material, as well as prepare the space and install new flooring. But new wood floors, or even high-quality vinyl or tile floors, can deliver a significant return on investment and help your home sell faster. "I might say think twice about (a project this size) in normal circumstances, but longer-term projects like this can be done while you're home now," DiClerico says.

Update Kitchen Appliances

The kitchen is the part of the home that gets the greatest return when updated. While this is a more expensive option, upgrading your kitchen appliances like the dishwasher, microwave and stove can increase the value of your home. Consider choosing stainless steel when updating your kitchen, as this style is popular among buyers.

[Read: 5 Tips for Tackling Home Renovations With YouTube]

Remove Popcorn Ceilings

Popcorn ceilings may not make or break a deal, but they tend to date and devalue a house, causing potential buyers to look the other way. You can remove your popcorn ceiling yourself with the proper equipment, but if you have an older home, check if it contains asbestos. If your popcorn ceiling does have asbestos, you'll want to wait until it's easier to be away from the house while a professional carefully removes it.

More From US News & World Report

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10 DIY Projects That Add Value to Your Home - Yahoo Finance

From the outside, Justin and Charlie Salisburys Fifties terrace home in west London doesnt stand out.

But as soon as you step inside their front door, into a tiny but brightly painted kitchen, along a wood-clad hallway and into a light-filled lounge packed with art and colourful prints, it is obvious that this is a home stuffed withpersonality.

The Salisburys have experience of doing up places. They are the hoteliers behind the hip boutique hotel chain, Artist Residence, which is known for its stand-out style and as an antidote to bland hotel rooms.

The couple started their chain, which will soon number five hotels, in 2008, by accident rather than design. When they were both students at Leeds University, Justins mother, who ran a guesthouse in Brighton, was badly injured in an accident.

Justin left his accountancy degree to look after the business and, realising that the rooms needed refurbishing, put out an advert asking local artists to decorate the rooms in return for board. It was the start of a brilliant hotel proposition, and one that set the tone for future properties, as well as their own home.

They bought their current house five years ago and called in builders for a four-month renovation. They soon realised Charlie was pregnant; when she came back from hospital with baby Blake, now four, the builders were still there for a couple more weeks. I was pretty desperate for them to leave, says Charlie.

The inside hasnt been knocked around too much. The largest job was moving the kitchen from the back of the property, in the conservatory, to the front of the house in what was an office-cum-spare bedroom. It really bothered me where it was, Charlie says. It was very cold in winter and it made the living room quite dark. Moving it to the front of the house has enabled us to open up the space.

They painted the cabinets which Justin designed and got built at a fraction of the cost of a designer kitchen a dark bluey-green, and the walls were cream. But I decided we needed more colour, Justin says. So I came home one day and painted the walls pink.

In an ideal world they would have upgraded the PVC conservatory installed by the previous owners with glass, but budget and time constraints forced them to be resourceful. We had loads of wood cladding in storage, so I just decided to use that, Justin says. (Charlie notes archly that her husband is a hoarder.) The effect is warm and rustic, with houseplants hung at different levels. Its much more characterful than a modern renovation.

Unearthing the character in their hotels is usually easy in the period properties they find and do up their latest, which is due to open this year in Bristol, is a converted boot factory and Georgian townhouse.

We strip things back and let the features shine, Charlie says. But in our home, it was different. There werent many features here to start with, apart from a rather modern brick wall in the dining room that we did expose and paint.

To add personality to the house, they had to layer it up with accessories, textiles, and most importantly for the couple, art. There is a Connor Brothers print in the living room, fox and rabbit prints above the sofa by Dave White, a piece by Pure Evil in their bedroom, and work by Stephen Anthony Davids that Charlie says looks like our cat, as well as a neon sign by Andy Doig which is a feature in every one of their hotels. We couldnt have a neon sign and it not be by Andy, Charlie adds.

Buying art, they say, is about finding a personal connection. But even more simply than that, start with what you like. It doesnt need to be expensive along with the prints and original pieces that they have built up in their personal collection are also eBay finds that fill the walls, such as a large American flag that Justin says he just fancied.

The layered approach extends to the floors, too. While the downstairs has hardwood flooring that they inherited with the house, they have added colourful, textured rugs, layering them in places. Rugs are so important for making your home feel comfortable because youre often barefoot a lot of the time, Charlie says.

On the stairs, landing and bedrooms they have opted for carpets for warmth and sound prevention, choosing bold patterns from spots to check.

Their home is full of decoration, such as in the living room, where jazzy cushions sit on a zig-zag white couch from Anthropologie. It doesnt matter if the patterns clash, Charlie says, but I think you have to be careful with the colours. So, the sofa and the cushions both have white undertones, and thats why it works. Otherwise, it might be too overpowering.

Another way theyve added texture to their modern house is by changing the internal doors to reclaimed ones. The living room didnt actually have a door to begin with, and as much as I like the open-plan look, I do think its nice to have zones, Charlie says. They added a door and frame from the reclamation company English Salvage. Meanwhile, their en suite has a sliding door, which as well as being a design staple in some of their hotels, helps to maximise the small available space.

Their son Blake has added his own touch. Weve accumulated so many toys, Justin says, despairingly. Its not something we had to consider before. Compromises to personal style have had to be made as hes grown. We had a beautiful mini bar cabinet in the conservatory before, which we loved, but now weve had to turn it into a toy cupboard, Charlie says. Meanwhile Justin added a fabric skirt to an open-fronted sideboard in the dining room to hide yet more playthings.

Nothing is ever permanent for them: pieces of art are moved, and furniture might end up in a hotel or vice versa. We were trying to find a table for our Cornwall hotel, looked at our own dining room table and realised that it would make a good fit, Charlie says. The luxe red mohair sofa in their conservatory used to be in their London hotel lounge until they decided it was too big.

They find it hard to pin down their style, because, they say, nothing is too over-thought. If we like it, we just get it or do it, Charlie says. A lot of that comes from having learned about design as we went along we tried things out and if they didnt work, wetried again. We dont tend to overthink things.

artistresidence.co.uk

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How to turn a very normal home into an arty hangout with bags of personality - Telegraph.co.uk

A street so dark its an accident waiting to happen may soon be lit up thanks to Tiverton Town Council.

The Council has agreed to support resident Audrey Joyners campaign to install two new streetlights where she lives on Hillcrest. The Town Council will ask Devon County Council Highways whose responsibility it is to look after the roads to install the lights.

Concerns over the nearby Tiverton Ambulance Station were also raised, due to emergency vehicles using the road.

A motion put forward by Councillor Irene Hill, which was subsequently passed, means the Council has agreed to contribute 2,500 towards the costs of installing additional lighting.

Speaking at a Tiverton Town Council meeting on Monday, March 9, Ms Joyner, who has lived on the street for seven years, said: The entry road has no lights at all, and there are up to 15 parked cars there most days. Cars are swinging around from Belmont Road, and ambulances are coming in the opposite direction.

With no streetlights, the road is completely dark. People have to get out of their cars and across the road to the pavement as there is none on the car parking side. If youre coming from town, walking or cycling, you have to cross the road in darkness to get into Hillcrest.

Ms Joyner added that she became aware of the hazards in the road soon after moving due to falling on the uneven pavement. She said her son also tripped on the curb and banged his head badly.

For five years, I moaned to myself every time I walked along the road, she said. I thought that perhaps the new Perriman Square development might give some light, but it doesnt at all.

Of all the roads in Tiverton which need the lights, this one does, and I tried to do something about it.

Ms Joyner added that two years ago, a petition was signed, and Devon County Council (DCC) had agreed to install lights via councillors locality budget. However, DCC, Colin Slade, explained that there was never an application put forward to and therefore money could not have been paid.

Ms Joyner said that at the time, Wester Power Distribution had quoted that the total cost would be 6,000 to bring the road up to an acceptable standard.

Cllr Hill, who put forward the motion added: Im aware that lighting is a responsibility of DCC, but there are two good reasons why we should consider a contribution towards this.

First of all, its quite clear that there is a need to improve the lighting in Hillcrest. I have been told there was a project set up to put in two extra lights as the lighting was not up to standard and they were going to bring it up to the same level that it should be.

Also, if you look at Perriman Square next door, there are eight lights in the space of about 400m, which is amazing. Hillcrest has virtually none.

There is an accident waiting to happen there, the ambulance station is at the end, and there is one light at the end of the road, but it doesnt highlight anything and give a lot of aurae. Ambulances, however careful they are, can, and do, go down that road quickly. I think its a real danger for children and for elderly people who live there.

The other reason is that Audrey Joyner got in contact with me last year, and I found out that this had come through and come to the Town Council in May 2018, when we asked if DCC was intending to install street lighting at Hillcrest following a petition with 2100 emails calling for it.

We were told funding would be provided, but that there would be a shortfall which would need to come from another source, possibly Tiverton Town Council.

Councillor Wally Burke explained that previously Belmont Hospital had a big light on the end of the building illuminating the road.

Once it was altered that light went and there was no light left there whatsoever, he said.

Councillor Tom Lindus said the Town Council needed to be hounding DCC to get this sorted.

He said: They should be doing this, its something that they should have done years ago. If anything, I think we should be writing, or communicating with DCC and find out exactly where they stand on this and what theyre going to do. This might have been something they have forgotten about and pushed under the carpet.

Although its been going on for a while, were still talking about 2,300, and we dont know where its going.

If it is just the fact they need that little extra in their budget, then maybe that can be discussed again. Its not our responsibility, and lots of other people could now say the same. If we give 2,300 for this one, can we not spend 5k to go up Bakers Hill where I live, so I dont fall over when Im drunk in the middle of the dark? It is a different scenario, but I do feel that DCC should take on their responsibilities.

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Street so dark it's "an accident waiting to happen" may soon see the light - Devon Live

DALTON, GA / ACCESSWIRE / March 5, 2020 / The Dixie Group, Inc. (DXYN) today reported financial results for the year ended December 28, 2019. For 2019, the Company had net sales of $374,582,000 as compared to $405,033,000 in 2018. The profit from continuing operations for 2019 was $15,619,000 or $0.95 per diluted share, as compared to a loss from continuing operations of $21,479,000 in 2018. Net income for the year of 2019 was $15,271,000. For the quarter, the profit from continuing operations was $26,019,000 or $1.60 per diluted share. On a non-GAAP basis, as shown on the attached schedule, the results from continuing operations for the fourth quarter was a profit of $1,182,000 or $0.07 per diluted share.

In the fourth quarter of 2019, we sold our Susan Street facility and signed a lease with options for a period of up to twenty years. The gain on the sale was approximately $25 million, or over $1.50 per share. Our senior credit facility was paid down by $36 million as a result of the sale. Our total debt reduction from the third quarter of 2018 through the end of 2019 has been over $50 million. Our total stockholders' equity increased 50% over the third quarter of 2019.

Commenting on the results, Daniel K. Frierson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "2019 was a year of change for both Dixie and the industry. The residential soft surface business was impacted by the weakness in soft floorcovering for the industry. The residential soft surface market was down high-single digits in 2019 relative to 2018. We also saw substantial changes in the mass merchant channel as these retailers shifted more floor space to hard surface products.

This emphasis by our mass merchant customer impacted our sales in the second half of the year. Despite the decline in our mass merchant sales, we outpaced the market in the specialty retail segment, where our soft surface sales declined low to mid single digits and our hard surface sales grew by approximately 50%. At Surfaces, our national industry trade show, we featured around 50 new styles in soft surface, including STAINMASTER, EnVision 6,6, and Strongwool. We continue to be a leading manufacturer in STAINMASTER carpet and are proud to launch some of the most unique and beautiful STAINMMASTER products on the market. We are also taking steps to diversify our offering with our new EnVision 6,6 program, which we initially launched in late 2018 and saw significant traction and growth in 2019. In 2020 we have 17 new styles in EnVision 6,6, across all our divisions. In our Masland Energy line, we are adding new products in broadloom and tile addressing some key opportunities in that program. We are featuring a patent pending yarn innovation, Colorplay, in a new PetProtect product named Grace, in our Masland product line. This Colorplay innovation gives us a unique color story for solution dyed nylon, with natural striations across 16 different colors. We are very excited about a new tufting technology, "TECHnique", which is being showcased in our Masland and Fabrica lines. TECHnique delivers a woven visual with a crisp clean finish and products that are more work of art than floor covering.

We have continued to focus on growing our luxury vinyl flooring business. With the successful launch of TRUCOR and TRUCOR Prime we are poised to continue the substantial growth we achieved in 2019. We are growing the number of items in our TRUCOR family of products by over 40%. We are building out our TRUCOR SPC program with updated visuals and new sizes in our 5", 7" and 9" wide plank and tile programs. We are featuring a new innovation in tile, "Integrated Grout Technology" where the locking system is engineered to simulate a real grout line. We are launching this integrated grout program with 12 beautiful visuals in multiple sizes including exquisite 24"x 24" Carrara marble designs. We are launching our new TRUCOR Prime WPC program, including 18 oversized planks in contemporary, clean visuals. The feature product in this offering is our XXL plank, 10 inches wide and 84 inches long, inspired by high end French Oak visuals. This is the longest and widest rigid core plank product on the market. We

are expanding our Fabrica wood program with nine new products including European White Oak and American Hickory. This enhancement will give us colors, finishes, and price points to continue growing this new offering in our Fabrica

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division. To accelerate this growth, we are adding dedicated sales representatives to our residential sales team to focus exclusively on our hard surface products under our Fabrica, Masland and Dixie Home brands.

In 2019, we completed the realignment of our commercial business. Our commercial soft surface sales for the year were down over 12% while the commercial soft floorcovering market, we believe, was down marginally. Despite the drop in business, we feel that we have positioned Atlas | Masland Contract for growth with one of the most extensive product lines in the commercial business. As we have merged the two commercial businesses into Atlas | Masland Contract, we are positioned with our complete line of broadloom carpet, modular carpet tile, luxury vinyl flooring and commercial rugs to service our customers with excellent service and cutting edge design from our focused operational facilities dedicated to the commercial marketplace. As part of this broad product line, we have introduced one of the most unique innovations: Crafted Collection with Sustaina backing. This environmentally conscious and installer friendly product line comes in a beautiful set of patterns. The Sustaina modular tile backing system is a PVC and polyurethane free cushion modular carpet tile backing with very high recycled content. The product is breathable and able to be installed in environments up to 99% relative humidity and up to a pH of 12 when utilizing our custom formulated Sustaina 99 adhesive. Crafted collection along with our Sustaina backing has an 81.5% total recycled content, the highest available on the market today. This product innovation differentiates us in the market to our environmentally conscious designers and commercial customers.

We completed our Profit Improvement Plan in 2019. Since the beginning of 2017, this plan cost over $18 million to implement and generated over $18 million in annual savings relative to our 2017 cost structure. As part of this plan we have shut down or realigned five plants.Throughout the implementation of this plan our cost of quality has been reduced by over 25%. Our headcount has been reduced by 20% since the beginning of 2018. The combination of the sale of our Susan Street facility and reduction in our working capital has reduced our debt by over $50 million. The reduction in working capital has come about from a focused just in time planning and scheduling system. In addition to the Profit Improvement Plan, in 2020 we anticipate cost reductions, including changes in our medical plans, raw material reductions and savings in processing of over $5 million per year as we continue to work to restore our margins to acceptable levels.

We are excited to celebrate 100 years in business in 2020. Over our 100-year history, the company has transformed itself again and again. From cotton yarns to textile synthetic yarns, then to carpet yarns. Then from a yarn supplier to carpet manufacturer, and today we continue the transformation to a full service floor covering provider with a growing hard surface program. We are proud of our history and heritage, and we are excited about starting the next 100 years as a company," Frierson concluded.

Our gross profit margin for the year was 23.0% for 2019, up from our 21.5% gross profit margin in 2018. Our selling and administrative expenses for the year were 22.4% of net sales, a decrease of 0.4 percentage points from our level of 22.8% in 2018. Our gross profit was negatively impacted by $5.6 million in restructuring and inventory write downs taken during the year as part of our Profit Improvement Plan (the Plan"). Despite this difficult year from a profitability perspective, we have put in place the foundation of operational capabilities that should benefit us in the future.

Our receivables decreased $5.4 million as compared to the end of the year in 2018, primarily due to our reduction in sales for the period. Net inventories declined $9.7 million during the year. Net of adjustments related to the new lease standard implemented in 2019, our accounts payable and accrued expenses declined by $6.6 million year over year. Our capital expenditures for the full year of 2019 were $4.5 million and are planned for 2020 at a maintenance level of approximately $5.0 million. Interest expense was $6.4 million for the year of 2019 and our debt decreased by $39.7 million during the year. Our availability at the end of the year was $18.8 million under our bank lines of credit.

As the year 2020 began, business activity was slow and behind the levels of last year. Fortunately, as the quarter progressed, order activity and sales have improved. Sales and orders in February have improved significantly and are above the level of last year. We have experienced improvement in both the residential retail and commercial business, however, our mass merchant sales continue to underperform. For the quarter to date, excluding our mass merchant sales, our sales are slightly behind this same period in 2019.

A listen-only Internet simulcast and replay of Dixie's conference call may be accessed with appropriate software at the Company's website at http://www.thedixiegroup.com. The simulcast will begin at approximately 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on March 5, 2020. A replay will be available approximately two hours later and will continue for approximately 30 days. If Internet access is unavailable, a listen-only telephonic conference will be available by dialing (877) 407-0989 and entering 13698022 at least 10 minutes before the appointed time.

The Dixie Group (www.thedixiegroup.com) is a leading marketer and manufacturer of carpet and rugs to higher-end residential and commercial customers through the Fabrica International, Masland Carpets, Dixie Home, Atlas | Masland Contract and Dixie International brands.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions of management and the Company at the time of such statements and are not guarantees of performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to risk factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements. Such factors include the levels of demand for the products produced by the Company. Other factors that could affect the Company's results include, but are not limited to, availability of raw material and transportation costs related to petroleum prices, the cost and availability of capital, integration of acquisitions, ability to attract, develop and retain qualified personnel and general economic and competitive conditions related to the Company's business. Issues related to the availability and price of energy may adversely affect the Company's operations. Additional information regarding these and other risk factors and uncertainties may be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements based on the occurrence of future events, the receipt of new information, or otherwise.

THE DIXIE GROUP, INC.Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations(unaudited; in thousands, except earnings per share)

NET SALES

Cost of sales

GROSS PROFIT

Selling and administrative expenses

Other operating (income) expense, net

Facility consolidation and severance expenses, net

Impairment of assets

OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)

Interest expense

Other (income) expense, net

Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes

Income tax provision (benefit)

Income (loss) from continuing operations

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

NET INCOME (LOSS)

BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE:

Continuing operations

Discontinued operations

Net income (loss)

DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE:

Continuing operations

Discontinued operations

Net income (loss)

Weighted-average shares outstanding:

Basic

Diluted

THE DIXIE GROUP, INC.Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets(in thousands)

ASSETS

Current Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Receivables, net

Inventories, net

Prepaid expenses

Total Current Assets

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net

Operating Lease Right-Of-Use Assets

Other Assets

TOTAL ASSETS

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current Liabilities

Accounts payable

Accrued expenses

Current portion of long-term debt

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

Total Current Liabilities

Long-Term Debt

Operating Lease Liabilities

Other Long-Term Liabilities

Stockholders' Equity

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information:

(in thousands)

The Company believes that non-GAAP performance measures, which management uses in evaluating the Company's business, may provide users of the Company's financial information with additional meaningful bases for comparing the Company's current results and prior period results, as these measures reflect factors that are unique to one period relative to the comparable period. However, the non-GAAP performance measures should be viewed in addition to, not as an alternative for, the Company's reported results under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In considering our supplemental financial measures, investors should bear in mind that other companies that report or describe similarly titled financial measures may calculate them differently. Accordingly, investors should exercise appropriate caution in comparing our supplemental financial measures to similarly titled financial measures reported by other companies.

Non-GAAP Summary

Net income as reported

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

Income from continuing operations

Inventory write-downs related to Profit Improvement Plan

Facility consolidation and severance expenses, net

Gain on Sale of Building

Tax effect

Profit Improvement Plan related expenses

Income/Loss

Diluted shares

Adjusted loss per diluted share

Further non-GAAP reconciliation data are available at http://www.thedixiegroup.com under the Investor Relations section.

CONTACT

Allen DanzeyChief Financial Officer706-876-5865allen.danzey@dixiegroup.com

SOURCE: The Dixie Group, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/579153/The-Dixie-Group-Reports-an-Operating-Profit-for-the-Fourth-Quarter-of-2019

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The Dixie Group Reports an Operating Profit for the Fourth Quarter of 2019 - Yahoo Finance