FRESHLOOK Edison High School has a fresher look these days after undergoing an estimated $2.8 million renovation project this summer. The original structure dating back to 1939 received new drywall, LED lighting, ceilings and paint, and the plan was funded by an emergency renewal levy approved by voters in 2014. Crews still are installing an HVAC unit to heat and cool most of the building and a completion date is eyed for late October. Teacher David Schultzs American government class is shown in one of the newly renovated classrooms.-- Contributed

RICHMOND There was a new look at Edison High School when students and staff returned to class on Aug. 24, but work is continuing through October.

The original structure, which dates back to 1939, underwent a makeover during the summer as part of an estimated $2.8 million renovation project. Rooms throughout the building received new lighting, drywall, drop ceilings and a coat of paint, but the planned HVAC installation is expected to wind down next month.

School started one day later due to cleanup and classroom preparations, but some crews still were onsite adding ceiling tiles.

Principal Matt Morrison said the majority of improvements have been completed and workers have been accommodating to the school schedule.

The renovation projects nearly complete. The rooms are wonderful, Morrison said. Its basically like being in a brand new school.

He said the students and staff looked forward to the projects completion, and crews from Limbach Co. LLC worked during after-school hours to finalize the HVAC installation.

The district contracted with Brewer-Garrett Co. of Cleveland as the design-and-build firm, and financing for the upgrades comes from a 2-mill, five-year emergency renewal levy voters passed in 2014. Since then, Edison has contracted with such companies as Limbach, which was overseeing the project and performs mechanical work; LM Construction of St. Clairsville, construction; and Dickey Electric of Lisbon, electrical improvements.

Officials said work is being performed by contractors outside the area but they are utilizing a work force from local unions to complete the project.

The HVAC unit will heat and cool much of the building, with the exception of the kitchen and gym, while the band room and VoAg classroom have self-contained air conditioning units. Additional improvements were made throughout the last school term, including new lockers and restrooms on the second and third floors and new windows installed.

The gym received a fresh coat of paint from contractors, while the district hired a summer paint crew and college students as part of the summer work program through the Jefferson County Community Action Council.

The original building looks almost as if its a new school, said Superintendent Bill Beattie. We painted most of that building to spruce things up, Beattie added. Were continuing to work on the HVAC portion of the project.

Further improvements across the campus included a $41,000 makeover of the press box, including paint work, an electrical upgrade and new windows on the interior and a new roof outside; a new barn/storage building for the agricultural program behind the FFA greenhouse; and repairs to the FFA greenhouse that was damaged by high winds this past spring.

Youth Rally in the Valley set FOLLANSBEE The 2017 Youth Rally in the Valley is planned Sept. 9 from 11 a.m. ...

Youth Rally in the Valley set FOLLANSBEE The 2017 Youth Rally in the Valley is planned Sept. 9 from 11 a.m. ...

K of C meeting changedWEIRTON Due to the Labor Day holiday, the Weirton Knights of Columbus will meet at 7:30 ...

WEIRTON The August meeting of Three Score senior group featured the southern gospel barbershop group Splendid ...

WINTERSVILLE The Italian American Cultural Club is planning its fall Festa Del Vino on Nov. 3. Chairman ...

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EHS renovations nearly complete - The Daily Times

We have been told that we need a new roof and I agree with those who have told us. Not all were in the business of selling us a new roof but friends and neighbors who have gone through similar experiences as us. Most of the estimators mention the option of a ridge vent installed at the top of the roof, some mention it in passing and don't really push it too hard one way or the other, and others, while not exactly insisting it be installed, say that without the installation of a ridge vent, the attic would receive inadequate ventilation, which, in the event of shingle failure, would invalidate the warranty on the shingles.

Some companies also offered to install another vent type about a foot from the edge of the roof for houses which don't have vents or proper ventilation under the eaves. My concern is that our house is old, built in 1967. From what the home inspector told us when we bought it and what the roofing companies have told us when they've done their estimates - some inspected the attic area as part of their estimate - say it is a solid, well-built house and there appears to be no indications of leaking, water damage etc.

This will be the third roof to be put on this house and the attic has gable vents at each end of the house up near the roof peak. Do we need and/or how necessary is it to have these ridge vents installed? I know almost all new houses have ridge vents but my thought is, if it ain't broke, don't fix it! Something goes against my thinking to intentionally cut holes in any roof when there doesn't appear to have been any problems regarding leakage in the past - why risk the trouble, right? On the other hand, I want this next roof to last as long as possible and if these vents are better for the roof and the shingles then I would want them installed.

Ill bet you think you asked a simple question but you didnt. You didnt mention anything about stripping off the old roofing material. If this is going to be roof number three you cant put it over two layers of old roofing. Beside being against the building codes its is a very poor practice. Not because of weight as many think but because the length of the fastener. The nails youd need to attach the shingles would be so long as to not be a good attachment and be susceptible to blowoffs in high winds.

Start at the top.

Ridge venting is a continuous vent strip that is installed at the very peak of the roof. It requires an opening to be cut between two to three inches across the very peak of the roof to expose the attic below over which the ridge vent will straddle. The ridge vent is only half of the venting if thats the vent system youre going to use. A ridge vent needs a continuous air supply from the bottom of the roof edge on both sides of the roof to work - called soffit vents.

The way this works is very simple, yet its the state of the art system. Cool air enters the attic at the lower soffit vent and using the heat of the sun as an accelerator, convects air up under the roof deck, washing the underside of the roof with fresh air, somewhat continuously. Its called a cold roof because the intent is for the temperature of the roof to be close or equal to the temperature of the outside air. It works. I first saw them as a manufactured item routinely installed on roofs starting in the mid-1970s. Gable vents need to be blocked off after the installation of ridge and soffit venting as they will work against each other creating dead air zones in the attic that you dont want.

Roofers like them because they dont have to take the time to individually cut cap shingles as they would if the roof were installed traditionally without ridge venting. The roofers who casually mentioned them were planning to install them. The roofers who told you not having them was going to void the shingle warranty really wanted to use them and employed some sales hyperbole to boost the argument.

Almost any ventilation would suffice for the shingle warranty and shingle warranty is a whole other subject and varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. There are roofs out there whose designs include no venting yet shingle warranty holds. Remember a warranty is a wager between you and the manufacturer that the manufacturers product will last at least as long as the warranty. They usually last longer as the manufacturer is not in the business of handing out new product for free.

Certain ridge vent configurations can leak under extreme conditions. I have seen little snow drifts up in attics under ridge vents after a period of high winds coupled with fine, blowing snow but that was rare. A melting tiny snow pile on top of attic insulation is unlikely to be detected as wet ceiling drywall.

You need to be sure you have adequate soffit venting to supply the air for ridge vents before you rely on them. Thats what the roofers who offered the lower roof vents were trying to do by suggesting them. There is a continuous roof edge venting now marketed to use in conjunction with ridge vents on roofs with insufficient eaves or overhangs but I worry about leakage during ice damming. Luckily we havent had any protracted periods of icing since the winter of 87/88 when the bay froze over at the bridge and they drove cars on the ice at City Dock.

Your house was built with gable vents - those square or triangular openings at each end of the attic. They work fine by themselves but what we have learned through research is that if you have a proper ridge venting system then you should block off the old gable vents. It turns out they work against one another and pockets of dead air begin to form in areas in the attic and thats not what you want.

Keep in mind the function of ventilation over the course of the entire year is more to exhaust moisture that migrates up from the house than to just dissipate summer heat. Make sure your attic insulation is up to snuff. It should be rated at R-38 of fiberglass or its equivalent. When your house was built you were lucky to have had R-19 and even if you did the R-value has drifted lower over the years due to gravitational compaction of the material.

Ensuring a long shingle life has more to do with selecting the best shingle for the job and having it applied by a crew who is careful and does it to manufacturers specifications and local code requirements. Speak to the roofers about drip edge, ice-damming protection and the type of felt underlayment paper theyll use.

If they want to install ridge vent be sure you like the way it looks and preview a sample before it goes up - they are not all created equal. And make sure your prospective roofer is licensed and insured. A quick trip to the Maryland Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) can verify that. About a third of the folks they say have this or that official qualification dont. To quote a past president: Trust but verify.

Keep the mail coming. If you've got a question, tip or comment, let me know. Write "On The Level," c/o The Capital, P.O. Box 3407, Annapolis, MD 21403 or email me at inspektor@aol.com.

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Do we need to have these ridge vents installed? - CapitalGazette.com

Popular loudspeaker manufacturer Klipsch has a rich history and loyal fan base, but has reached its customers mostly through mainstream consumer channels since its beginnings way back in 1946.The Indianapolis-based company is certainly no stranger to CEDIA, but perhaps has never entered the annual custom integrator tradeshow with as much enthusiasm and dedication to the channel as it is for CEDIA 2017 in San Diego.

Were really trying to change that message to the dealers about our commitment to the channel, says Tyler Nelson, who recently came onboard as Klipschs channel marketing manager, CI/Cinema/Pro, and brought with him channel experience most recently as training director for RTI.

One of Nelsons tasks heading into CEDIA was working with Klipschs in-house creative team on a Home Cinema Solutions product and design leave-behind collateral for dealers to use as an asset for highlighting how the companys various speaker solutions can be integrated into different rooms. Colorful graphics and product suggestions shown in theaters, family rooms, kids rooms, etc., will allow dealers to demonstrate to customers how a range of Klipsch speakers can be integrated or address specific needs.

Its to give to clients so they can get a visualization of what could be done, what the potential is for any situation from a playroom to a home theater room, and how that dealer can help them, says Nelson.

Rob Standley, Klipsch

Klipsch dealers ought to benefit greatly from such a guide with all of the new offerings that will be available to them the company has in its booth (#4812) at the San Diego Convention Center 50+ new products aimed at the custom market, all price protected. They include residential, commercial, architectural, outdoor, wireless and more.

CE Pro got a preview of some of whats on tap for dealers during a recent visit to Klipsch headquarters. In particular, the company demonstrated two types of tool-free installation methods incorporated into its new Professional Reference Premiere Architectural and Professional Referencespeakers, and Design and Custom Architectural series, respectively.

Michael Buratto, product manager, component audio, walked through the quick installation technique called SecureFit that the company is using for its Pro Reference Premiere or Pro Reference models.

The two-part modular system leaves the dog legs exposed after the installation frame hole is cut, and once the frame is in place the installer flips the dog leg in the direction of the arrow. It snaps, keeping the frame in place and machine screws are ejected from the frame; after you wire the speaker and put it in the installation frame, use your screw gun to secure the machine screws and its all set.

Because of the machine screws you get higher clamping force on that speaker module, and it also decouples it from drywall better or the installation surface better than traditional installation methods, Buratto explains. Because of that higher clamping force and decoupling, you get a lot less baffle vibration or baffle vibration transmission into the drywall, so you get better mid-bass and overall a clearer speaker.

Baffle vibration is reduced as much as 40 percent, according to the company.

While everyones jumping on the bandwagon of a faster installation method we were jumping on an installation method that is not necessarily faster, certainly not any slower, but more reliable, adds Buratto (pictured below), which leads to less issues in the field and most importantly creates a better acoustic experience.

The Pro Reference Premiere and Pro Reference loudspeakers take the place of Klipschs 5000 series for the custom channel and deliver 60- to 90-degree dispersion (they sounded very good even listening way off-axis during the demonstration).

The Reference Premiere models feature a new silicone-coated horn, which Buratto says also reduces resonances to lessen mid-range coloration and produce sound a bit more universally appealing to someone whos used to a direct radiator, but still deliver the dynamics, power and controlled directivity of a tried-and-true Klipsch horn.

Meanwhile, for the builder/contractor communities in particular Klipsch is addressing volume and speed of install with its Custom Series (CS) and Designer Series (DS) models that employ a new Sky Hook by Swarm tool-free technology.

Rob Standley, Klipsch

These models will replace the 1000 and 2000 series products, and while we did not hear a demo of prototypes (they will be shown at CEDIA and launch in October) we did see the install technology in action.

Basically you press the top of the speaker into place, the four dog legs clamp into position and youre done and Sky Hook automatically adjusts to whatever the thickness of the surface material is, with teeth that lock into place.

Its an alternative on traditional in-ceiling installation, which can take up to a minute for a speaker; with this, after its wired up its literally a few seconds and youre onto the next speaker, says Buratto.

The Custom Series will be more of an entry-level, contractor-grade product, while the Designer Series is a step-up featuring Tractrix horns and silk-dome tweeters and some with pivoting tweeters and woofers. New architectural products will also give installers round or square grille options, a paint shield that magnetically attaches, and small aperture models that resemble recessed lighting.

One of the big deals at CEDIA for us is all the new Pro Reference and DS/CS lines are designed for integrators specifically and will not be sold to retail online kind of businesses, theyre really aimed at the CI guys, and thats different than where were at today, says Rob Standley, vice president general manager, professional & component audio solutions.

Weve got some products in the market that are those other channels, and these are for this channel specifically," adds Standley. "The other cool thing is the grilles and look of the products. Wether you go from the CS line at the bottom all way to the top Pro Series line, will have same kind of appearance; so if you have a home where youve got these in the theater room, then something in the bathroom thats a mono speaker thats lower priced, its going to maintain the same clean look throughout the project.

In addition to the architectural speakers, Klipsch previewed its Professional Series Landscape speakers and entry-level RSB-3 soundbar during the headquarters/factory visit.

The all-weather Landscape models, good for residential or commercial use, featured easy installation too by which 10- or 18-inch stakes can be hammered in separately and the satellite speakers attached thereafter, with one quarter turn all it takes to be securely mounted to the stake. The sub-sat system has 5- and 6-5-inch two-way horn-loaded satellites that can accompany a full-burial subwoofer.

At CEDIA the company will also have on hand a sub-sat outdoor system from sister brand Jamo, which can be run in 70-volt as well for resi or commercial use and simple scalability.

As a way to expand its RSB (Reference Soundbar) lineup, the company addressed smaller-room installers with the new $299 RSB-3, which launches in September. Its a two-way design with separate tweeter and mid-range drivers and integrated subwoofer, with analog and optical inputs, Dolby decoding, Bluetooth support and universal remote code support.

The main goal is to attach to smaller television sets without the need to have a separate active subwoofer. Some people just dont have the space for it, says Andre Larouche, director of product development systems. Its not intended for large living rooms, but it does a very nice job of reproducing sound, and has ports on the side for low frequency, to keep turbulence low so its not sending low frequencies though the metal grille.

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Klipsch Debuts 50 New Loudspeaker Solutions for Custom Channel at CEDIA - CEPro

Ceilings have a way of really showing defects when the drywall is not installed properly. While the visibility of ceiling defects can be reduced (e.g., through recessed lighting, flat paint, and other methods), the goal of every ceiling drywall installation should be to reduce or eliminate errors during construction. Everyone likes a clean-look drywall ceiling!

The first step in preparing the ceiling is to ensure there are no major issues with the sub-structure of the joists above, no plumbing or electrical issues to be addressed, and that, in general, you can live with a sealed ceiling. After thats complete, the ceiling should be strapped to ease installation.

Strapping a ceiling is the process of installing wood (or, in advanced installations, another material) perpendicular to the joists. The strapping serves as the nailing surface for the drywall. You should never install ceiling drywall fastened directly to the joists above. Why? There are several good reasons:

Strapping the ceiling also has the added benefit of reducing noise transfer from the floor above if you use an advanced material like resilient channel instead of 13 wood.

Ceilings are most often strapped with 1 x 3 uniform spruce lumber. Most home improvement stores will sell strapping in bundles, with sizes ranging from 8 feet to 16 feet. In general, you want to buy the longest strapping you can transport / install in the space.

Calculating the amount of strapping you need is simple. Measure the ceiling across parallel to the joists. Take the number of inches and divide by 16, then add 1. That gives you the number of straps to be installed. Measure the ceiling perpendicular to the joists. If this number is less than 16 feet, you can buy one strap for each length. If this number is greater, youll need to be additional straps to be installed on each length. Pick the best combination of strap lengths to achieve the ceiling.

Ceiling strapping should be installed every 16 inches on center, perpendicular to the joists above. Remember, a sheet of drywall is 4 feet, or 48 inches wide. 16 inch on-center spacing allows the drywall to be fastened four times across its width (one on each end, and two in the middle). On-center installation is important, because every 48 the strapping will be shared by two pieces of drywall. In other words, the center of thethird piece of strapping from the wall should be 48 away from the edge. This pattern should be followed all the way across the ceiling.

To keep the strappingperpendicularto the wall and in a straight line, you may want to snap a chalk line across the joists after making measurements, and before installing the strapping.

10d nails are appropriate for ceiling strapping. You can use two nails at every intersection between a joist and the strapping.We highly recommend using a framing nailer to speed installation! (Otherwise, youd be swinging a hammer upside down a few hundred times!)

Do not use finishing nails! Finishing nails will not provide sufficient hold in the ceiling above. Eventually, the strapping will pull away from the joists, and youll have a collapsed ceiling.

We recommend against screws only because of the unnecessary added installation time.

Installing ceiling strapping greatly eases drywall installation on the ceiling and ensures a smoother, even drywalling job. Special thanks to Todd over at Home Construction Improvement for helping us out with this article and for providing the two photos above.

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How to Strap a Ceiling Before Installing Drywall - One ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. Ribbons of gray, coral and pink swirl overhead in the second-floor gallery at Washington's Renwick Gallery before forming an intricate vaulted ceiling. Illusions of domes and boxes appear and then fall away as viewers move through the room. Realism turns abstract.

The overhead magic is created by Parallax Gap, a new installation that plays with perspective and illusion as it transforms the museum's stately Grand Salon.

Commissioned by the museum for the large room where Janet Echelman's woven sculpture, 1.8 Renwick, was displayed, the work depicts nine ceilings from 19th- and 20th-century buildings, including designs from Philadelphia City Hall, the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco and the Indian Treaty Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building across Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington.

Layers of fabric stretched on frames are hung in layers from above. The work spans 67 by 38 feet and takes up 10,000 square feet, but it still allows parts of the gallery's own ornate ceiling and skylights to peek through. The individual ceilings overlap and collide with one another, depending on a visitor's point of view. Its name plays on its jumpy perspective, as a kind of optical interaction.

Brennan Buck and David Freedland, partners at the architecture practice FreelandBuck, created the piece, which was selected by the museum in its ABOVE the Renwick competition in 2015.

It will remain on view through Feb. 11.

Parallax Gap, which is the first architecturally focused work commissioned by the Renwick, pushes the definition of craft in the same way the nine site-specific works in Wonder did, says Abraham Thomas, curator-in-charge of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's satellite space for contemporary craft and decorative arts. Wonder was the blockbuster exhibition that celebrated the Renwick's reopening in 2015 after a two-year, $30 million renovation.

Thomas said he wants to build on the experimental nature of that show, which pushed the boundaries of American craft to include large-scale works of contemporary art. This installation's focus on architectural is the next step in defining craft as a process, he said.

Craft is a verb, not just an object. It is an attitude, he said.

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Grand illusions: Renwick Gallery's ceiling installation celebrates the art in architecture - NewsOK.com

When looking ahead to what the Dennos would be showing in our galleries this summer, I knew there was a likelihood the exhibitions would not open when planned given the gallery renovations taking place.

I had invited three noted artists with connections to the region to show as part of our summer schedule.

Sally Rogers, an Northwestern Michigan College art department alum who had gone on to a very successful international career as an artist. Sally and I had been talking about an exhibition for some time. She was considering moving her studio from North Carolina to Traverse City and I told her that would be a great time to do the exhibition. It turns out she elected to make the move to New Mexico instead, where she is now building that new studio. Sally was one of a number of artists I wanted to be sure to exhibit while I was still at the Dennos, hence I invited her to show this summer. She has a major outdoor sculpture, Nexus, installed on our campus as well.

The Grand Traverse region abounds with many fine artists who focus on the landscape of our region. In my time here I have always been drawn to the work of David Grath. His palette and interpretation of that landscape was one that I found refreshing with images I could return to again and again and enjoy the result. David was another one of the artists whose work I wanted to show in a larger presentation at the Dennos. It turns out my invitation came on his 80th birthday!

The sculpture court walls of the Dennos have always been a place to showcase large scale works and they present an opportunity to look at the court itself as an installation space. It is also the visitors first look when they enter the Dennos, so what is shown there sets the stage for what is to come for that visitor. The court has also become a social space and we often end up hosting events that make it difficult to install from the floor up in the court because of that. Some of our recent exhibitions have been installed from the ceiling down to make the floor area accessible for such events.

Diana Carr creates dimensional work, but does so starting from the wall. We have a wonderful work by her in our collections. After exploring her website and seeing her past wall installations, I invited her to create an installation for the court walls.

The first caution I presented to each artist when inviting them to exhibit was to advise them that the planned opening date, which was for June of this year, could very well be pushed back due to construction issues. So they had to be flexible regarding the actual dates of installation and opening.

Thanks to challenges related to gallery flooring which I have written about in earlier columns, that flexibility was indeed put to the test. In the end we installed the Sally Rogers and David Grath exhibitions before the flooring in the galleries was complete. We finally had a formal reception for these exhibitions on Aug. 2 and the flooring in the galleries was only completed the Monday before.

These exhibitions will have shorter runs than usual. Rogers and Grath close Sept. 9 and Carr on Oct. 1. The remarks from those at the opening reception for each exhibition on its own was very positive. As a whole the three installations play off each other very well. I strongly encourage you to see them before they close. They are a testament to the talented artists Traverse City has produced and that have been attracted to this culturally vibrant region.

Gene Jenneman is the executive director of the Dennos Museum Center. He can be reached at ejenneman@nmc.edu.

Excerpt from:
Museum Matters: Three great Dennos Museum exhibitions not to be missed - Traverse City Record Eagle

New Hope Presbyterian Church (EPC) wanted enhance its visual presentation during services. The Fort Myers, Fla., house of worship turned to Cape Coral, Fla.-based Creative Sound and Lighting Solutions to design and install a solution that includes projectors by Eiki International, Inc.

The integration firm installed two Eiki EK-511W LCD projectors for the front and an EK-301W as a rear confidence monitor. However, the setup for the two front EK-511W projectors was no small challenge. They ended up being suspended from the lighting bars over the stage area to visually blend in and not attract attention, according to an Eiki International, Inc. press release.

The Eiki EK-511W projector offers 7,500 ANSI lumens brightness with 80 percent uniformity and a 2500:1 contrast ratio, which was crucial to this installation because of ambient light conditions, adds the manufacturer.

For the rear confidence projector, the Eiki EK-301W proved an outstanding choice, thanks to its horizontal and vertical corner Keystone correction.

The brightness of these EK-511W front projectors was crucial to the success of the installation, says Creative Sound owner Rob Robinson in the press release.

With all the ambient light throughout the sanctuary, we needed serious lumens (brightness) to blast through to those 10-foot wide screens with a 22-foot throw. Equally notable, we had to mount the EK-301W rear projector very high. This projector was positioned a good 15 feet above the rear screen, but with the amazing corner correction in the unit, the imagery fits on the screen perfectly.

The idea was to use projection technology to help engage and inspire the congregation and that required displaying a wide range of content, Robinson continues. They use ProPresenter, a church presentation software package designed to make high-quality worship experiences easyand with this they can easily project lyrics, images, and video in a very compelling manner. They also have a full-time livestream person in the projection booth who can place any camera shot up on the screens. As a result, there is a lot of compelling imagery throughout services.

With video projection technology, questions inevitably arise during most installations; so responsive, capable support services are crucial. When queried about Eikis support services, Robinson was very complimentary. Steve Rubery, Eikis National Sales Manager, was my guiding hand on this project, says Robinson. Steve was always there on the other end of the phone when I had questionseven with the East Coast / West Coast time difference. He always makes certain that were covered.

With the successful opening of services at New Hope Presbyterian Churchs new sanctuary, Robinson reports his client is very pleased with the Eiki projectors, Ive received numerous compliments from church management. Going from a single 2000 ANSI lumens projector to the new, dual projector setup was a significant upgrade. The images, videos, and other content on the screens is bright, vivid, and really grabs ones attentionall of which makes their services that much more interesting. This new projector setup really positions them well for many years to come.

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Eiki International Projectors Descend from New Hope Presbyterian Church Ceiling - Commercial Integrator

LUMBERTON An oven fire at the REMPAC Foam plant on Starlite Drive late Thursday afternoon forced the evacuation of about 35 employees, according to the companys senior vice president, and will delay production for a while.

The fire was quickly contained and suppressed in the 60-foot-long box oven by employees using fire extinguishers, Mike Van Etten said. No one was injured.

However, the Lumberton Fire Department had to be called when flames became localized above the oven and spread under ceiling installation, he said.

There was nothing we could do when the roof caught on fire, Van Etten said. We had to call the fire department.

The fire started about 4:45 p.m, he said. The Lumberton Fire Department was on site within minutes.

According to Van Etten, the major damage to the plant will be the roof. He will not have a good estimate of repair costs until he can get up on the roof and survey the damage.

That roof was put on about three years ago and cost a quarter of a million dollars, he said. I dont think it will cost that much to repair because there probably isnt damage to the entire roof.

This was the first time in the 20 years his company has been in the building at 2005 Starlite Drive that there has been the need to call the fire department to extinguish a fire, Van Etten said.

Our employees have extensive fire training. Some are even members of volunteer fire departments, he said. They knew what to do in this situation. If the fire had not been contained in the oven this situation could have been worse. It could have been real ugly.

He expects the the Starlite Drive plant will be shut down for about a week. Work will continue at the companys two other Robeson County sites.

Employees who work at the Starlite Drive plant should call their supervisor before they come to work, he said.

According to the companys website, it produces he highest quality, cost-effective converted flexible foam plastic products and services which meet or exceed the needs of our customers. We offer our customers a broad range of open and closed cell foamed plastic and sponge rubber materials, unique conversion processes and a corporate commitment to excellent customer service and thorough quality assurance.

A handful of firefighters still were on the scene at about 6:30 p.m. Attempts by The Robesonian to contact Lumberton Fire Department Chief Paul Ivey and Assistant Fire Chief Chris West to get more details were unsuccessful.

Lumberton firefighters responded Thursday afternoon to a fire at REMPAC Foam on Starlite Drive. The fire began in an oven used in the manufacturing of sanding sponges and then got into ceiling installation and burned through the roof.

An oven fire at REMPAC Foam on Starlite Drive caused the evacuation of about 35 employees late Thursday afternoon. No one was hurt in the fire that damaged the roof of the facility that manufactures sanding sponges and other foam products.

Bob Shiles can be reached at 910-416-5165.

Excerpt from:
Robesonian | Fire damages REMPAC plant, no one injured - The Robesonian

By: HomeTheaterReview.com, August 23, 2017

Monitor Audio has added a new in-ceiling speaker to its Platinum II line. The three-way PLIC II speaker features an eight-inch long throw bass driver, dual two-inchC-CAM midrange drivers, and aMicro Pleated Diaphragm (MPD) air motion high-frequency ribbon transducer. The speaker uses Monitor Audio's Tri-Grip fixing system, and an optionalpre-construction MDF back box is available to control sound leakage. More details are available in the press release below.

From Monitor AudioMonitor Audio has expanded its Platinum II range of speakers to include a design- and installation-friendly in-ceiling speaker that offers unsurpassed levels of performance and sublime audio accuracy.

"When developing a new speaker, manufacturers have to consider four audiences--home technology installers, architects, interior designers and end users," comments Monitor Audio's Technical Director, Dean Hartley. "This means that the final product has to meet many demands. We are delighted that we have met all these expectations with the new PLIC II in-ceiling speaker--it's a winning combination of high quality sound, ease of installation and discreet design."

The Monitor Audio PLIC II in-ceiling speaker features an 8" long throw bass driver with Rigid Diaphragm Technology (RDT II) to provide immensely powerful bass lines. This is achieved by the RDT cone reacting to an audio signal with lightning fast precision and without deformation. A rigid aluminum baffle houses dual C-CAM midrange drivers and a Micro Pleated Diaphragm (MPD) air motion high frequency ribbon transducer, directed toward the listening area to deliver the best possible sound balance to the listener.

All PLIC II drivers employ a heavy duty motor system integrating an under-hung motor assembly to ensure the coil always remains in the gap, even when driven hard. The addition of copper 'shorting' rings greatly improves magnetic linearity and lowers intermodulation distortion, resulting in crisp and clear audio delivery. A world first for an in-ceiling speaker!

Designed for installation in both new build and retrofit projects, the PLIC II in-ceiling speaker features Monitor Audio's unique Tri-Grip fixing system. This three-position 'dog leg' style fixing provides a greater contact surface area than other types. This system, combined with the magnetic grille, saves the installer both time and money by speeding up the speaker fitting process.

To ensure controlled audio performance, Monitor Audio has designed an optional pre-construction MDF back box with pre-determined air volume of 24L. The rigid box is available with pre-loaded internal damping material to provide the best possible sound absorption and reduce standing waves.

To satisfy the interior designer and end user, the circular grille can appear almost invisible, by being painted to match the room dcor. Monitor Audio also offers a square option to match lighting fixtures and ventilation.

PLIC II FEATURES AND BENEFITS

High-performance 'no compromise' flagship speaker product. Compact dimensions. Four drivers--full three-way design. 8" Long throw Bass driver featuring RDT II cone technology. Dual 2" C-CAM midrange drivers for wider dispersion. MPD high frequency transducer. Angled midrange and high frequency drivers--directed toward listening area to provide uniform mid- and high-frequency dispersion. Rigid aluminium baffle construction. Highest quality 'push' style termination. Midrange and H.F level adjustment switches (+1/0/-1) dB. Paintable, trimless/low profile circular magnetic grille design--square options available. Highest quality crossover design--including metallised polypropylene capacitor and low loss inductors. Patented Tri-grip dog leg fixing. PLIC-BOX II--specially designed pre-construction enclosure provides ideal controlled performance. Pre-construction bracket for retro fit purposes: CB10 (light brown).

MSRP: $1,500 each

Additional Resources Visit the Monitor Audio website for more product information. Monitor Audio Launches Updated Silver Series Lineup at HomeTheaterReview.com.

Originally posted here:
Monitor Audio Introduces PLIC II In-ceiling Speaker - Home Theater Review

In Joseph Youngs parlor, there are words on the ceiling: They came. They went, they read.

There are words on the computer, the windows, the kitchen cupboard, the bedspread upstairs.

Young is a writer, but his most recent work isnt found on paper. For the foreseeable future, his Hampden rowhouse will tell a story.

The MicroFiction RowHouse is an immersive installation of Youngs microfictions, or stories around 10 to 50 words, by his definition. Using photocopy transfer and a number of other methods, hes printed his stories on virtually every type of surface in every type of room in the house.

The rowhouse, in stories as short as two words, imagines the life of a fictional family that might have lived there over the years, Young said, using the rooms and the items that now tell their stories. The family isnt inspired by anyone Young knows, but rather a conglomeration of different people and things that people tend to do, he said.

The MicroFiction RowHouse is meant to be community-oriented, Young said, open to the public through events, readings and by appointment. Hes raised $1,150 through a GoFundMe campaign he launched in early July to support the project, but will go forward with the installation regardless of how much money that brings in.

Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun

A microfiction story has been printed on the bed sheets of writer Joseph Young's rowhome, dubbed the MicroFiction Rowhouse.

A microfiction story has been printed on the bed sheets of writer Joseph Young's rowhome, dubbed the MicroFiction Rowhouse. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)

The RowHouse kicked off events Aug. 12 with a performance by psychedelic band Duchess and the DeadBirds and will host a number of public workshops, musical performances and literary readings throughout August and September, including an opening reception Sept. 9.

Though Young has been writing microfiction since 2006, the genre has grown in popularity in the last five years. While the exact length and definition of microfiction is subject to diverse views in the literary community, Twitter users like @veryshortstory and @terriblytiny use the social media platforms 140-character limit as a storytelling parameter. In 2012, the British newspaper The Guardian challenged prominent writers to tell tales in tweets. That same year, Twitter began its Twitter Fiction Festival, which ran through 2015. The nanofiction literary magazine Nanoism and its accompanying Twitter account have run since 2009.

The form is attractive because its accessible, but a little bit mysterious, said local writer Justin Sanders. Sanders used to edit a Baltimore-based literary series called Artichoke Haircut and will host a reading at the Microfiction RowHouse in September. How you whittle down these narratives ... thats such a fascinating artistic process.

Sanders sees the form proliferating in the internet age due to increased consumption habits, shortened attention spans and expanded access.

But Young has never tweeted his stories (though he did used to text them, he said). His microfictions read more like poetry than novels, and they take more than a quick scan to absorb.

For a long time, I had this idea that flash fiction or microfiction shouldnt try to replicate what longer fiction is better at, Young said. Trying to create an entire world, an entire story with the same texture that a short story or a novel could achieve in a much shorter form is kind of not using the form in the best way.

But that doesnt mean microfiction cant have depth. In the MicroFiction Rowhouse, Young imagines a familys celebrations, defeats, tense moments and serene ones on the surfaces of commonplace items. The desktop computer reads happy birthday, lending the otherwise inanimate object a personal history. A window nearby speaks of an escaped cat. In the kitchen, there is talk of food stamps and a blood-boiling search for car keys. Upstairs, a story on the bedspread tells of the couple who might lie beneath it.

Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun

Microfiction written on chalkboard on the kitchen cabinets of writer Joseph Young's "MicroFiction Rowhouse" in Hampden.

Microfiction written on chalkboard on the kitchen cabinets of writer Joseph Young's "MicroFiction Rowhouse" in Hampden. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)

Youngs project is eight to 10 years in the making, he said. Hes been actively creating microfiction since 2006, and has published numerous chapbooks, as well as Easter Rabbit, his book of microfiction.

His stories started out as more traditional 500-word stories, he said. Then, they started getting smaller and smaller, partly due to his work with visual artists. But putting his stories on walls and in visual spaces was part of a desire to do something bigger and more physical, he said.

I think Joe was a little jealous of painters because their work had weight, said Hampden artist and Youngs frequent collaborator Christine Sajecki. Sajecki originally taught Young how to transfer words from paper to almost much any surface, she said, and will teach a transfer workshop Sept. 19 at the rowhouse.

To put his stories on most household surfaces, Young made paper printouts of each word and for bigger transfers, each letter at a local FedEx. To complete the transfers, the paper is placed on the desired surface, doused with wintergreen oil and rubbed vigorously with a smooth, flat surface. The magic of the wintergreen oil is a bit of a mystery, but it likely works because copy toner is heat sensitive, Sajecki said, and the oil warms when rubbed.

And the transfer tool of choice? A wooden spoon. Young uses the same one he started with when Sajecki taught him the method in 2008, he said.

It has the right feel and I can vary the amount of pressure I need to apply given the surface being transferred to, Young said. My arm is fairly sore, though it's something I've gotten used to.

Young originally tried to find another space where he could create the MicroFiction RowHouse, approaching both nonprofit and private entities to locate a rowhome for the project, but eventually landed on his own home. His roommate was moving out, and the timing felt right.

I was still putting my microfictions on the walls of galleries and on the walls of some private homes, but Id never gotten to that point where I could fill an entire rowhouse with them, he said, So, I decided that I would fill my own house.

Youngs project is a natural fit for his Hampden neighborhood, where there is a vibrant art scene, said Hampden Community Council President Matt Stegman.

I think thats one of the things we really value in the neighborhood and what makes us different from other places to Baltimore, said Stegman.

This isnt the first time Youngs home has been transformed into an art space. The house itself has a history of creative occupants (he rents it from Donna Sellinger, a member of the Wham City arts collective), evidenced by an upstairs hallway bearing a chaotic collage of wallpaper left by artists past. Young also held a house-wide showing of his works in 2015, he said.

When the public arrives to read his stories, Young hopes theyll find a different way of looking at a story. As for Young, hell be sharing his space with the fictional family for the foreseeable future. Asked how long he planned to keep the microfictions around, he laughed and said, thats a really good question. Im not really sure.

The house is a good fit for Youngs microfiction, said Sajecki, which often assigns great importance to the space between words.

And the home, though a physical expansion of the genre rather than a digital one, is a natural progression in bringing microfiction to those who might be unfamiliar with the literary scene.

I think microfiction as a genre works well to bring in outsiders, Sanders said. Joes work really speaks to that. Hes turning private media into public media.

MicroFiction RowHouse is located at 3322 Chestnut Ave. in Hampden. It is open to the public during its opening reception on Sept. 9, during other scheduled events and by appointment. Find more information at microfictionrowhouse.wordpress.com. Contact Joseph Young to schedule a viewing at youngjoseph21@gmail.com.

dohl@baltsun.com

twitter.com/dtohl

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Hampden writer uses every surface of his rowhome to tell a story - Baltimore Sun