ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) Construction season approaching on most Alaska highways

By Elwood Brehmer, Alaska Journal of Commerce

Alaska's second season, that of road construction, is upon us.

The Parks Highway will get a major face-lift starting this year, with a dozen projects along the entirety of the Anchorage-Fairbanks link.

Work already contracted for the northern half of the highway will total about $80 million in 2014 alone, Department of Transportation Northern Region spokeswoman Meadow Bailey said. Not coincidentally, the overall region road construction budget is about $240 million in finalized contracts for 60 projects in 20 communities, or about $80 million more than 2013, according to Bailey.

"Almost all of the (Parks Highway) projects are safety improvements or upgrades to capacity a lot of passing lanes," she said.

Heading south on the Parks, the first large project travelers will encounter is the construction of three passing lanes this year from milepost 272 to milepost 265 between Nenana and Healy. A larger second stage of that work will build seven more passing lanes between miles 296 and 197 and is anticipated to run through September 2015. Both stages of work will include upgrades to grading and embankments along the corridor and the work is expected to total $30 million.

Drivers can expect delays of up to 50 minutes and pilot cars in these work zones, according to DOT.

Installation of $13 million worth of rumble strips and permanent road striping between milepost 263 and milepost 252 completion of holdover work from last year will take up to four weeks and should be done by the end of August.

The gamut of resurfacing, bridgework, adding and replacing culverts, and road widening will start as soon as weather permits between mileposts 252 and 239. Delays of up to 20 minutes and weight restrictions during bridgework can be expected in this stretch of work, which will also continue into 2015 and cost $32 million.

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Construction season approaches

Published: Saturday, April 26, 2014 at 9:45 a.m. Last Modified: Saturday, April 26, 2014 at 9:45 a.m.

To help things along (the building is now in the dry), a special dinner and auction on May 3 is geared to satisfy at least part of what is needed to complete construction.

This is a debt-free project, says the Rev. A.D. Holloway, pastor at Bobs Creek Baptist Church. Its been paid for as we go.

The suggested donation for the chicken and steak dinner provided by Outback Steakhouse is $10, though church member Terry Gilliland says no one will be turned away.

The congregation is hoping the dinner and some choice auction items will attract people from all over the area.

We are a small church that has a desire to grow in the Lord, says Terry Maybin, who with her husband, Homer, has been a member of the church for three years.

We are on a mission to get people involved and to help people make the most important decision in their life from a spiritual perspective, she adds.

The new sanctuary is the next step that we need to achieve this mission.

A Kodiak Cutter bushhog and three different ticket packages to Charlotte Motor Speedway are among the items to be auctioned on May 3.

Two iPad Airs will be given away in a raffle, and vendors, such as Mary Kay Cosmetics, will be demonstrating products.

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Bobs Creek Baptist building faith, home on prayer, donations

Published: Saturday, 4/26/2014 - Updated: 17 hours ago

BY TK BARGER BLADE RELIGION EDITOR

A blessed event is about to take place in Perrysburg. The late popes John XXIII and John Paul II will be canonized on Sunday in Vatican City, and Perrysburg's Blessed John XXIII Catholic Community, which its founding pastor, the Rev. Herb Weber, says is the newest and fastest-growing parish in the Diocese of Toledo, will get an upgrade of sorts as it changes its name to St. John XXIII Catholic Community.

The new saintly name might formalize us and people might lose a little bit of the sense of our uniqueness because they're going to start calling us St. John, Father Weber said. I've already asked people, please, when you tell people what church you go to, say St. John XXIII. Don't just say St. John. There's nothing wrong with St. John, but we don't want to lose our patron.

I think we're very proud of the fact that John XXIII as a person and as a pope was extremely open, Father Weber said. He was understanding, he had a big heart, he cared for people. He came off as kind of a jolly old man, but the truth is he was a very wise person and a savvy leader.

Father Weber sees similarities to John XXIII in Pope Francis. I've been most impressed, he said, because he is not afraid to challenge people or to refocus where the church should be. Some people get a little impatient with him because he talks about the poor, and I would say that's probably what we need to hear most.

The Perrysburg church will celebrate Sunday afternoon with the unveiling of a revised sign on its grounds at 24250 Dixie Hwy. at 3:30 p.m. followed by a 4 p.m. intergenerational faith festival "about Pope John XXIII and about the Second Vatican Council because those are so connected, Father Weber said. A social time in the multipurpose building's Roncalli Hall (a tribute to John XXIII's given name, Angelo Roncalli) at 5:30 p.m. ends the afternoon. There is no charge for the festival, but attendees are requested to bring finger food.

Father Weber and the church staff have not requested that their patron saint intervene with a miracle to change the church name to Saint instantly everywhere there is a Blessed. Instead, they're working with vendors, government, utilities, and the diocese. There will be new stationery and business cards, new entries in directories, revised bank and business accounts, and a long list of other changes, including a new logo. Static clings of the new name for display on car windows will be available Sunday.

Probably the hardest [revision], though, is all the online stuff, Father Weber said. The community makes thorough use of social media, even having an app for tablets and smartphones. When Pope Francis announced in September 2013 that he would elevate two of his papal predecessors to sainthood, within 24 hours the Perrysburg church had bought the domain name stjohn23.org, Father Weber said. A new website will be launched with the name change. The previous domain name, blessedjohn.org, will forward to stjohn23.org.

The diocese has distant memory of an earlier parish name change because of sainthood. Blessed Pius X was formed in 1953, and the following year it became St. Pius X.

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Perrysburg church feeling blessed

Construction is underway on a $1.2 million expansion of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Weston.

When work finishes in November, the sanctuary will be 3,400 square feet, more than triple what it is now, allowing the church to accommodate about 100 more members.

"We went through some fits and starts, but it's finally happening," said Pastor Tim Hartner, who has been with the church since 1990. " It allows for more people to worship. We also wanted to enhance the inside of our sanctuary to make it more dramatic, beautiful and include some traditional features, like stained glass windows, a more prominent chancel, chancel cross, altar area and communion rail for people to kneel."

The project has been planned for about a decade. Leaders had to raise money, finalize plans and go through the permitting process.

"We had great collaboration and support from the city of Weston and our commissioners. The day that we received our permit was a very happy day for me," said Colleen Smith McDoom, chairwoman of the church's building committee and a 22-year parishioner. "We formed an exploratory building committee a few years ago, and it was a surreal experience the day we broke ground. I am really looking forward to the completion of the project and worshiping in the new sanctuary."

The last service in the old space was in February. Once the 11 a.m. service concluded, people began clearing out the room. A demolition crew showed up the next week.

Three of the walls were left standing and half the roof. Another wall was knocked down with the changes to the ceiling configuration and roof design. Hartner said they like the architectural plan and the fact that the pews aren't permanent, allowing for flexibility in how the space is used. Until the facility is finished, services are being staged outdoors.

"Thank God for nice weather," Hartner said. "The last six weeks, Sunday mornings have been beautiful. We are very fortunate to have a nice covered walkway and a portable chancel on wheels. We put an altar on that. Every Sunday morning, that's where I preach, lead and preside. We have a canopy to keep the sun off. It's worked out really well."

Smith McDoom is excited about the project, as well as future plans to add a kitchen, bathrooms, fellowship space and storage.

"We have received tremendous support from the congregation and have an opportunity to expand space to further the missions and ministries at St. Paul," she said. "While the specifics aren't final, we anticipate the plans will allow us to expand our ability to share the gospel's good news."

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Church serving a growing community

Groundbreaking

Bishop John Folda speaks during groundbreaking ceremonies in West Fargo for Trinity Elementary School and the Holy Cross Catholic Church parish Thursday, April 24, 2014. David Samson / The Forum

WEST FARGO About 250 people crowded into the bus barn of Holy Cross Church on Thursday to celebrate the groundbreaking for a new Holy Cross site and Trinity Elementary School.

What was a dreary, drizzly, spring noon hour for most of the F-M area was a lot brighter in the oversized-garage as the crowd joyfully sang hymns.

Its an amazing occasion, and were so happy weve come to this point, said Bishop John Folda, the leader of the Fargo Catholic Diocese.

Theres a lot of work yet to be done, but were moving. Its exciting, Folda told the crowd.

When events moved outdoors, the crowd was spared from rain during the ceremonial turning of the earth with shovels. They then applauded and cheered when Folda climbed into the cab of a Komatsu excavator to use its bucket to take a more emphatic bite out of the sopped soil at 2820 Bluestem Drive.

The 76,000 square feet of the combined Holy Cross Church and Trinity Elementary will be built on 12 acres about a quarter-mile south of Costco and a couple of blocks west of Veterans Boulevard.

It is an area of West Fargo quickly filling with homes, condominiums, businesses and apartment complexes.

Folda told those assembled that Trinity will be the first new school in the Blessed John Paul II Catholic Schools Network in decades. He added that construction of a newer, larger Holy Cross Church will be a new step in the life of that congregation.

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Ground broken for WF Catholic church, elementary school

BOSSIER PARISH, LA (KSLA) -

Two years after its groundbreaking, a brand new Catholic church in North Bossier Parish has opened and is just days away from its dedication.

The new church is just one example of growth in the area. A 2013 Sterling Properties study found that within the next four years, one of the primary areas of growth will happen in North Bossier.

Some of the construction is already happening, including the newly completed St. Jude Catholic Church. The church is the largest construction project in the history of the Shreveport Catholic Diocese.

"I never thought that at 71-years-old, I'd be opening a brand new church!" said Father Pike Thomas, who has spent eight years working to turn this church from an idea to reality.

They broke ground on the church on August 25, 2012.

"It's been very time consuming, but wonderfully rewarding," said Thomas.

The total cost of the church was $10 million, some of which the church didn't have to pay because a member of their congregation donated the 20 acres of land the church is built on.

Thomas explained the St. Jude church community is now the only Catholic presence in the area and he believes the church will make North Bossier a more attractive place for Catholics to move.

"While other areas are growing a little, this area is growing a lot," he said.

Continued here:
$10 million Catholic church opens in North Bossier Parish

BOSSIER PARISH, LA (KSLA) -

Two years after its groundbreaking, a brand new Catholic church in North Bossier Parish has opened and is just days away from its dedication.

The new church is just one example of growth in the area. A 2013 Sterling Properties study found that within the next four years, one of the primary areas of growth will happen in North Bossier.

Some of the construction is already happening, including the newly completed St. Jude Catholic Church. The church is the largest construction project in the history of the Shreveport Catholic Diocese.

"I never thought that at 71-years-old, I'd be opening a brand new church!" said Father Pike Thomas, who has spent eight years working to turn this church from an idea to reality.

They broke ground on the church on August 25, 2012.

"It's been very time consuming, but wonderfully rewarding," said Thomas.

The total cost of the church was $10 million, some of which the church didn't have to pay because a member of their congregation donated the 20 acres of land the church is built on.

Thomas explained the St. Jude church community is now the only Catholic presence in the area and he believes the church will make North Bossier a more attractive place for Catholics to move.

"While other areas are growing a little, this area is growing a lot," he said.

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$10 million catholic church opens in North Bossier

The Toledo Museum of Art is considering buying Glenwood Lutheran Church, 1716 Glenwood Ave. The original structure was erected in 1901, though there have been updates to the building since then. THE BLADE/KATIE RAUSCH Enlarge | Buy This Photo Published: Tuesday, 4/22/2014 - Updated: 8 minutes ago

BY TOM TROY BLADE STAFF WRITER

The Toledo Museum of Art is in discussions to acquire Glenwood Evangelical Lutheran Church next door on Monroe Street, possibly for an expansion of the Toledo School for the Arts, officials of all three institutions confirmed Tuesday.

Though described as in the early phases, talks focus on financial problems facing the congregation of the 113-year-old church, the goal of Toledo School for the Arts to open an elementary school, and the art museums desire to consolidate its campus.

Mira Samson, president of the Glenwood Church Council, said the church has been in discussions about selling its property to the museum for about a year. Recently, the church invited the museum to make an offer.

We are in conversation, thats all. There have been no bids made, Mrs. Samson said. I think their aim is to build an arts school. The property would be for expanding the museum in some way. They would have that whole section.

The church was founded at Glenwood Avenue and Monroe Street in 1901. The present two buildings, an educational facility and the sanctuary, were constructed in the 1950s and 60s. The church was built on the foundation of the previous sanctuary.

According to an article in The Blade, the new sanctuary was dedicated 50 years ago, on April 12, 1964. The church eschewed a popular architectural trend of functionalism and simplicity and went with a traditional Gothic design with a stone facade. Inside are carved walnut paneling and furnishings, and completing the outside is a stone tower. The stained-glass windows were made in Europe and depict symbols of the church year.

Museum Director Brian Kennedy confirmed the church has invited the museum to make an offer for the property. He said speculation about what the museum would do with it is inappropriate until the church makes a decision.

The future plans for the area dont arise if theyre not interested in selling the church, Mr. Kennedy said. We want to respect the right of the congregation to make a decision.

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TMA in talks to buy church

Reg Cox, the senior minister for Lakewood Church of Christ, talks with Tony Sandoval, 7, about his clay project at Foothills Elementary School on April 15. Cox helps organize the Whiz Kids after-school project at the school and brings volunteers to tutor disadvantaged students. (Anya Semenoff, YourHub)

LAKEWOOD Sitting in his office at Lakewood Church of Christ, senior minister Reg Cox said he is more of a community catalyst than a traditional pastor.

And he not only has a business card with a job title listed as "Community Catalyst" but a track record to prove it.

Since he came to Lakewood from Abilene, Texas, 12 years ago to take on his first job as a church minister, Cox has made it his mission to look outside church walls and bring community leaders faith-based, secular and civic together to tackle community challenges.

Reg Cox talks with Sherry Konkel, a member of his church who also volunteers as a tutor for the Whiz Kids program. (Anya Semenoff, YourHub)

The 57-year-old pastor said the opportunities and challenges in modern society are simply too large and complex for any single organization to solve alone.

"If you were to look for a handle for me, I'm really kind of the connector," Cox said. "I'm not necessarily making it all happen. I'm just connecting people who have opportunities, resources, influence and knowledge."

Cox is an active member of a group of about 25 church leaders from across Lakewood, meets regularly with civic and other community leaders and has been instrumental in helping turn around a struggling elementary school blocks away from his congregation in the Green Mountain neighborhood.

Enrollment had been dropping for years at Foothills Elementary School; the playground and athletic fields were unusable, and academic achievement scores were dropping.

After hearing in 2011 about the school's struggles, Cox and the pastor group began working to raise funds for an athletic field and slowly gathered a wide coalition of Lakewood citizens to help.

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Lakewood minister Reg Cox steps outside church walls to help community

Ladner United Church has been a busy place since the renovated and restored building re-opened a couple of weeks ago.

The church has already seen its first memorial service, wedding, evening service, Easter and Sunday services, and community supper.

On April 13, the church held its first Sunday service, which included a special ceremony naming the new fireside room in the building in honour of builder Steve Knoblauch, owner of RAM Construction, who headed the project.

Rev. Jim Short said the church wanted to do something to thank Knoblauch for his contributions.

This weekend, Ladner United is inviting the community to celebrate the reopening with two events. On Saturday, an open house will give residents a chance to see the newly restored and renovated church. Starting at 1 p.m. with a recognition of community donors, the church will open its doors to the public with self-guided tours and displays, music, children's activities and refreshments. The open house runs until 4 p.m. On Sunday, the church will host an evening worship and dedication of the new labyrinth. Dr. Peter Leckie donated the labyrinth in memory of his late wife, who was a United church minister.

The labyrinth dedication will begin at 7 p.m. Ladner United Church, constructed in the Gothic Revival style of architecture, has served the community for 120 years. It opened in 1893 as St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church and served that congregation until 1925 when it merged with the Ladner Methodist Church to become Ladner United.

The building has undergone many changes over the years. It was raised in the 1930s to allow for the construction of a basement and a hall was added in 1938. In the 1970s, a large, single-storey addition was undertaken.

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Restoration now complete