Lucknow, May 11 : In pursuance of the party's election manifesto, the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh today decided to give unemployment allowance to all those jobless who have passed high school and are in the age group of 30 to 40 years.

A decision to this effect was taken at the state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Nine lakh unemployed would be eligible to receive Rs 1000 per month as unemployment allowance which would incur an additional burden of approximately Rs 1113 crore on the state exchequer, an official spokesman said.

Only those unemployed would be eligible to receive the unemployment allowance whose annual income does not exceed Rs 36,000 and the annual income of their parents or in laws is less than Rs 1.50 lakh yearly.

Initially, the government had announced to distribute unemployment allowance to jobless above 18 years of age but today's cabinet meeting decided to limit it to the age group of 30-40. (UNI)

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Uttar Pradesh govt clears the decks for unemployment allowance

JARED NICOLL

A Picton boat designer's latest challenge has been to come up with heating to help stop pilots slipping overboard working on frosty decks along the Chinese coast.

Naiad Design equipped two pilot boats with pads to help them operate in one of the busiest ports in the world, Qingdao.

The company drew up the plans for China-based boat builders Aurora, under contract from Port Qingdao, which included heated plates around the outside to stop the decks from becoming dangerously slippery while pilots are ferried to and from ships.

The boats, worth $1.6 million each, are equipped with two Caterpillar C12 490 horsepower engines and can travel up to 50kmh.

They were launched at Qingdao Port, Shandong Province, eastern China, at the end of April.

Naiad Design co-director and chief designer Steve Schmidt said the port could be hit by extreme conditions and the boats needed to be quick enough to improve efficiency but safe enough to avoid people falling overboard.

Qingdao Port was one of the busiest in the world and the pilot boats were being introduced to speed up transit times between large ships and the dock, he said.

"They needed heated outside decks because the pilots have to go out to climb up the ladder to get to their ships.

"They get pretty severe conditions and a lot of water washes over the deck; sometimes it gets covered in ice."

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Decks made toasty

AP Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan. File photo

With the Supreme Court giving its nod reopening the probe into non-filing of proper accounts of election expenditure, vis-?-vis paid news against the former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, the Election Commission has fixed a fresh hearing for May 17.

Most probably the EC will decide to have a daily hearing as Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi is demitting office on June 10, informed sources said.

The issue was first exposed by The Hindu. Campaign advertisements in support of Mr. Chavan, who contested from Bhokar in the October 13, 2009 Assembly poll, were issued in Hindi and Marathi newspapers, camouflaging them as news items. An Independent and BJP representatives have complained to the EC that Mr. Chavan had not included the money spent on such advertisements in his election expenditure accounts and thus violated the EC rules. On November 3, 2011, a Bench of Justices Altamas Kabir, S.S. Nijjar and J. Chelameswar temporarily stopped the EC from going into Mr. Chavan's poll account, following his appeal against a Delhi High Court order, which had allowed the probe.

However, on May 2 this year, a Bench of Justices Altamas Kabir and J. Chelameshwar said the EC could go ahead with the probe but the findings should not be made public.

The EC had begun proceedings against Mr. Chavan on April 2, 2011 on complaints that he had shown it a poll expenditure of merely Rs. 11,000 despite his having paid money to various newspapers for favourable coverage of his campaign.

Mr. Chavan challenged the EC action in the High Court, which, however, ruled that the Commission was well within its rights to probe his account.

The complainants, who sought disqualification of Mr. Chavan, referred to Chapter III and Section 10A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. If the Election Commission is satisfied that a person has failed to lodge an account of election expenses within the time and in the manner required by or under this Act, and has no good reason or justification for the failure, the EC shall, by an order published in the Official Gazette, declare him disqualified. Any such person shall be disqualified for three years from the date of the order.

Mr. Chavan argued that there was no mention of his seeking votes in any of the advertisements. The election expenditure was submitted to the authority concerned in time and prima facie this was approved by the District Election Officer (Returning Officer). He had no role to play in the news stories, Mr. Chavan claimed.

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With SC clearing decks, EC to resume paid news probe against Chavan

COURTHOUSE A Phoenixville home-improvement contractor has admitted to deceiving his Upper Merion customers by falsely claiming to have the proper permits to build decks to their homes.

Joseph L. Brown, 49, of the 200 block of Carolina Avenue, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to a misdemeanor charge of deceptive business practices in connection with his contact with two Upper Merion residents who hired him to build outdoor decks in 2010.

Judge Garrett D. Page deferred sentencing until a restitution hearing can be held. Brown, who remains free on bail pending sentencing, faces a possible maximum sentence of 2 to five years in prison on the charge.

This case involves a contractor who entered into an agreement with two different homeowners to build decks on their homes and the decks were not completed and construction was stopped because the proper permits were not in place, alleged Assistant District Attorney Bradford Richman.

Richman characterized the incidents as quality-of-life crimes because the victims spent their hard-earned money to invest in their homes and were duped.

Other charges of theft by deception and receiving stolen property are set to be dismissed against Brown, whom defense lawyer Daniel McCartney is representing, when he is sentenced.

An investigation began on May 24, 2010, when an Upper Merion building official got an anonymous complaint that decks were being built on homes in the Copper Mill Station development on Lawndale Avenue.

When building officials investigated the complaint, they saw a deck under construction at one home in the 200 block of Lawndale Avenue while a new deck ledger board was installed at a second nearby home, according to the criminal complaint that Upper Merion Det. Steven E. Geckle filed.

Inspection of the records indicated that no permits were applied for or issued for any construction at the properties, Geckle alleged in the arrest affidavit.

Township officials saw Brown working on one of the decks. When they asked him about the decks, he told them he was building them some friends, according to arrest documents. Township officials then stopped the jobs and instructed Brown to apply for permits and to provide the township with his contractor licensing information, according to the criminal complaint. Continued...

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Contractor admits to deceptive business practices in Upper Merion

Event kicks off outdoor eating season

Despite the steady rain, patrons enjoy lunch at The River House in Portsmouth on Friday as part of the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce's Hit the Decks day.Rich Beauchesne/rbeauchesne@seacoastonline.com

PORTSMOUTH A lack of sunshine did little to deter Seacoast residents from flocking to local dining establishments and merchants Friday on the second annual Hit the Decks day.

Despite the rainy weather, diners hit some of the indoor decks downtown, as well as several other restaurants taking part in the day.

Organized by the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, Hit the Decks is considered to be the official opening of the decks and patios for eateries throughout the downtown.

Restaurants and business offered special deals to attract customers.

Although no one was on the outside deck of the Old Ferry Landing on Friday afternoon, owner Jack Blalock said the day was not a bust. Diners wandered in to take advantage of food and drink specials, he said.

"That's the nature of my business anyway," Blalock said.

Over at The River House, owner Peter Labrie was still able to offer outdoor seating thanks to a retractable roof on his upstairs and downstairs decks.

Labrie said the weather made little difference in the attitudes of his customers on Friday.

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Rain doesn't deter deck diners

Click photo to enlarge

The dining platform in front of Bistro 412 was fully operational for the Savor the Summit on Saturday, June 19, 2010. (Park Record File Photo)

Main Street restaurant owners and Park City Council members found common ground on charging for outdoor dining decks last week during a council meeting. City fees for restaurants to lease outdoor deck space during the summer months increased to $550 this year, up from last year's price of $310 to lease the space.

The 3-year-long pilot program started in 2010 with fewer than five decks, and now it is entering its third and final year, after which a more long-term proposal for the program will come forward. Nine businesses have applied for leases to build the decks, which are built out into the parking spaces on Main Street. Owners lease the space from the city each year, running through the summer.

This year the city is allowing outdoor dining from the beginning of May to the end of October, a longer window to match the increase in lease price.

Restaurant owners at last week's council meeting said that was where they took issue.

"We're being charged for a month that's not being used," said Kevin Valaika, owner of Shabu.

Many restaurants may not open the decks until the summer tourism season picks up toward the middle of the month, but they would still be required to pay the full amount of the lease for time they were not using. And once the decks are open, restaurants under the city program are required to serve lunch and dinner seven days of the week, a fact owners at the meeting said was a burden on their budgets.

Rather than pay the full amount, the city council worked out an agreement that owners could take off up to a month's worth of the rate if they choose to open outdoor dining later in the season or end 'deck season' early.

"We could charge for the time being used, with up to one month of forgiveness," said councilmember Liza Simpson, offering a solution to complaints.

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Outdoor dining on the way

RICHMOND, Va., May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --As homeowners rev into full spring and summer entertaining season, the local deck and outdoor living experts at Archadeck Outdoor Living (www.archadeck.com) are reminding homeowners to check their decks for safety concerns that could lead to accidents and injuries.

"Many of us have delayed home repairs and improvement until they are absolutely essential," said Rob Haislip, vice president of Archadeck. "Even then, sometimes homeowners don't have enough information to decide when something is optional or truly a safety hazard that could result in an injury."

To help ensure safety, especially for decks that are more than 10 years old, Archadeck is sharing seven deck safety inspection guidelines with the acronym of "BE SAFER":

Boards: Look at the condition of your deck boards. While most wood will show some minor cracks and splits over time, boards should be good and not rotting or damaged.

Every Connection: Decks should be built using a variety of fasteners and metal hardware connectors. Check every connection on the deck to make certain that they are not corroded or compromised. Look for nails backing out, red rust and other signs of corrosion that can weaken the integrity of the deck.

Structure: If visible, look at the posts, beams and joists that provide the structural framework of the deck. Is there any noticeable sagging between supports?

Attachment: The attachment of the deck to the house is where most deck failures occur. Ensure that the deck is properly attached to the house with bolts and is properly flashed for water protection. Nails should never be used.

Foundation / Footings: The foundation / footings support the weight, also known as the load, on a deck and the columns that bear on them. A footing that is sinking may cause a noticeable sag in an area or a column to separate from a beam.

Exits: Check the areas where people exit from the deck, usually stairs. Check the condition of the material used on the stair stringers, stair treads and risers. Do the stairs require a handrail? Is there adequate lighting to safely use the exits at night?

Rails: Look at the condition of the rail posts and sections of railing to make sure that they aren't loose or wobbly. Verify that the pickets/balusters are fastened securely and spaced no more than four inches apart.

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May Is National Deck Safety Month: Archadeck's "Be Safer" Campaign Urges Homeowners To Check Their Decks To Ensure A ...

Posted: Apr. 28, 2012 | 2:05 a.m.

From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, Ryland Homes plans to celebrate the grand opening of its new Maravilla Courtyards in Mountain's Edge, a master-planned community in the southwest.

The new-home community features two-story homes with rooftop decks.

"This is a completely unique concept and one we know new-home shoppers will like," said Mara Glaser, sales agent at Maravilla Courtyards. "Each of the three floor plans offered include an option for a rooftop deck. They are incredibly flexible, giving homeowners the option to use them for cooking, entertaining, sunbathing and peaceful relaxation."

During today's event, home shoppers are invited to stop by for a free lunch from noon to 3 p.m. and tours of the model homes. There also will be special activities, including a children's planting station with Star Nursery and entertainment. Event sponsors include Star Nursery, Xyience, Furniture Market, Pizza Hut, Evergreen Recycling and Sweet Glory Cupcakes. Prize drawings will be held for items including a flat-screen television.

Maravilla Courtyards offers three floor plans ranging from 1,852 to 2,157 square feet with prices starting at $154,990. The floor plans include such appointments as rooftop decks, two master suites and three-car parking.

Among the highlights of Maravilla Courtyards' location is its proximity to the newest park opened at Mountain's Edge. The 20-acre Nathaniel Jones Park includes a lighted basketball court, tot lot with shade structure, children's water play area with splash pad, turf areas, walking trails and shade structures. The park incorporates the natural terrain to complement design and to conserve water.

"This beautiful park is so close to Maravilla that some of our guests think the neighborhood has its own 20-acre park." Glaser said. "It is certainly lovely to see from the rooftop decks at our model homes and all of the neighborhoods' rooftop decks will look over either the parks, lights of the city or other natural areas surrounding Mountain's Edge."

Maravilla Courtyards showcases two of its three floor plans as model homes. Plan 2144 includes three bedrooms, 2 baths and a two-car garage with 2,144 square feet of living space.

"This home is extremely flexible," Glaser said. "It can be built with up to five bedrooms or with a dual master bedroom option. The front door also opens midway between the first and second floors, with the great room, dining room and kitchen all located on the second floor."

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Ryland To Host Grand Opening Today

Echoes of cinematic mutiny on decks of HMS Bounty in St. Augustine

The tall ship that sailed through St. Augustine's Bridge of Lions at noon Wednesday looks quite historic.

But the 50-year-old HMS Bounty has more cinematic history as the three-masted square rigger from the classic movie "Mutiny on the Bounty."

The ship will open for Friday through Sunday tours in America's oldest city to commemorate its 450th anniversary as well as the 223rd anniversary of the real ship's mutiny on April 28, 1789.

Teaming up with St. Augustine's Pirate Museum for the "Mutiny with the Bounty" event, visitors can trod the decks where Marlon Brando, as 1st Lt. Fletcher Christian, mutinied against a cinematic Capt. William Bligh, played by Trevor Howard, in the 1962 MGM film.

"There are other ports we could have gone to, but I liked the charm of the city and knew that the pirate museum was there, a perfect fit," said Tracie Simonin, director of the nonprofit HMS Bounty Organization.

Tall ships abound this week. The Coast Guard's Eagle is at Mayport Friday through Thursday. The French Navy's Etoile and Belle Poule moor near The Jacksonville Landing Monday through Wednesday to celebrate the 450th anniversary of French Capt. Jean Ribault's arrival at the St. Johns River.

As St. Augustine begins its Commemorative Celebration to honor Ponce de Leon's discovery of Florida, the arrival of the Bounty is a great addition, said Dana Ste. Claire, director of the city's Department of Heritage Tourism and Historic Preservation.

"To have that piece of cinematic history is significant in its own right, and for it to be here during the anniversary celebration is fortuitous," Ste. Clair said. "... The Bounty at one level is a prelude to the celebration of our rich maritime history, which will be a principal component of our commemorative celebration through 2015."

The original Bounty sailed to Tahiti in 1787 with Bligh pushing his crew hard to get there quickly. Resenting the living hell on the ship, Christian and the crew led the mutiny that forced Bligh off.

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Echoes of cinematic mutiny on decks of HMS Bounty in St. Augustine

About 11 months ago, we all started posting photographs of the upper decks of FedEx Field, which had started looking different.

That led to the months of on-again off-again party deck reportage; earlier this month, Mike Jones reported that the Redskins were removing 4,000 more seats, and that the Redskins party decks are to feature tables for fans to sit or stand around while watching the game.

And the teams Web site reported earlier this month that the Redskins plan to completethe project that was started last year by installing standing decks on the upper level of the stadium and a video wall on lower level concourse in the west end zone.

Anyhow, the blog Son of Washington posted a bunch of photos this week that shows seat removal has already begun. Quoting the site:

Ill be at FedEx Field for Thursdays draft night party, so I suppose there will be many more pictures to come. For now, see Son of Washington for more.

Note: The original headline of this item said the team is working on party decks; I suppose I dont know that for sure, so I changed it.

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Redskins working on FedEx Field