Demolition of the more than 100-year-old Falk's Market in downtown Plainville got under way April 5, as the north side of the building came down, along with the house behind the market at 8 East Bacon St.

The rest of the beloved, but long-dilapitated market is expected to come down starting on Monday, April 8.

"Today, the north side of the building was taken down. That's the addition that had suffered the most damage," said Jeff Kinney, who with his wife, Julie, bought the property late in 2011. "The reason that side came down first was because the roof had asbestos on it. That's being taken care of by a hazmat crew."

The house at 8 East Bacon, which the couple bought last year, was taken down to make way for parking for the building.

Kinney, who is famed as the creator of the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series, said via email "the big day" will be Monday (April 8), "when the main structure from Falk's is demolished."

"Demolition will likely be finished on Tuesday," he said.

It is hoped that the foundation of the new building, which borrows elements from the original building -- including a porch all along the front -- will be ready within the next few weeks.

"Framing will start to happen in the early summer," Kinney said. "We're targeting having the building operational late this year, but of course anything can happen."

Falk's demolition is a bittersweet one, both for the Kinneys and their fellow Plainville residents. The building was the site of many warm memories for long-time townies, who recall long-time owner, the late Merrill Falk, with fondness. Many have told of trips to the market for penny candy, and also stories of Falk's generous and kind manner as he often extended credit to those who didn't have quite enough and made sure townspeople were well supplied during times of emergency.

At the same time, many have said the buiding's time has long passed, seeing it as an eyesore and acknowledging the necessity of taking it down to make way for something new.

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Falk's Market demolition gets under way

by Jerald Uy Posted on 04/07/2013 12:34 AM |Updated 04/07/2013 2:19 AM

I GOT MY COPY! Mayoral candidate Edwin Olivarez says incumbent Mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr. does not want to disclose the content of the anomalous contract with a trucking company. RAPPLER/Jerald Uy

PARANAQUE, Philippines - Last year's bloody demolition at Silverio Compound looms over Paraaque City's mayoral race.

Candidate Paraaque City Rep Edwin Olivarez of the administration's Team PNoy swore it will not happen under his watch. He is running against city councilor Benjo Bernabe, son of the man who ordered the demolition -- Mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr.

"'Yun ba ang tuwid na daan? Walang pagkalinga sa kapwa? Hindi magkakaroon ng demolisyon dito sa Paraaque! (Is that the straight and narrow path? He had no compassion for the people... There will be no demolitions here in Paraaque if I'm elected)," he vowed before a crowd of 5,000 during his proclamation rally in Baclaran Saturday night, April 6.

Olivarez has made his campaign more about discrediting Mayor Bernabe rather than his actual rival.

"When a man died and hundreds were injured at the Silverio Compound, where was our mayor? We didn't even see his shadow. He was inside the comforts of his air-conditioned office, giving interviews to Channel 2 and Channel 7," Olivarez said in Filipino.

But Benjo Bernabe of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) is not afraid that the notorious demolition will haunt his campaign. He launched his campaign at the Silverio Compound no less.

Overpriced contract?

The Silverio demolition is not the older Bernabe's only wrongdoing, Olivarez told the crowd. He accused the mayor of entering into an allegedly questionable contract for the city's garbage collection. It's too expensive, he said.

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Silverio demolition looms over Parañaque polls

With a little over a week until the demolition of the ASARCO smokestacks, the movement to stop their implosion will continue with a protest.

Thursday, opponents of the demolition announced they plan to protest the demolition this weekend. They will gather at the International Park off Paisano Drive across the street from the old smelter site.

Their opposition of the demolition ranges from health hazards to the fear of losing what they say is an important part of El Paso's history.

"I love this area -- theASARCO,the train, Mount Cristo Rey. I think it's a landmark here in El Paso, and I think it would be a shame to demolish it," said Margarita Barrio.

The protest is scheduled to take place at 4 p.m. Saturday.

KFOX14 will take you into the blast zone on air and online with live coverage of the ASARCO smokestacks' demolition from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. April 13. The next day, our coverage continues with the implosion of El Paso City Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

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Protest planned for ASARCO demolition Saturday

The demolition of the Newark Newsstand is complete.

The work began late last month after city officials condemned the building.

Newark Planning Director Maureen Feeney Roser said the property owner began renovations on the building without a permit, and during the process, crews took out load-bearing walls.

Its unsafe to inhabit, Feeney Roser said in March.

The newsstand, which occupied the 70 E. Main St. location for more than 75 years, closed Dec. 31, a decision its owners blamed partly on decreased demand for print media.

The property owner has indicated he plans to rebuild the one-story building in its original footprint to be used for retail space, Feeney Roser said. Second-story apartments may be added later.

As a penalty for the unauthorized renovations, all permit fees will be doubled, Feeney Roser said.

Sandi Patterson, owner of the Clothes in the Past Lane boutique, said she has already signed a lease to move her store half a block up Main Street to the newsstand site.

The unplanned demolition has not changed her plans, she said, noting that she hopes to open in the new location by June.

Patterson, who has operated the clothing store for seven years at 56 E. Main St., said she decided to move because she fears her current building could soon be repurposed.

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Demolition of Newark Newsstand complete

Steve Gunns radiator hose sprays into the air on Aug. 4, 2012 at the Tooele County Fair Demolition Derby. Despite the fairs cancelation, the demolition derby will continue as originally planned.

Tooele County Search and Rescue will take over the demolition derby, said Scott Evans, TCSR commander. The derby is a tradition and if we dont hold it this year, we may lose people that we will never get back.

The derby will be held on Aug. 3.

The demolition derby usually draws a crowd of around 10,000 people, many of whom come from outside the county, said Evans.

Last week, in the wake of last months dismantling of the Tooele County Parks and Recreation Department, and temporary closure of Deseret Peak Complex, the Tooele County fair board decided to cancel the 2013 fair.

TCSRs experience with demolition derbies goes back almost 25 years when it started its own demolition derby, typically held in June, as a fundraiser.

In 2008, county officials approached TCSR members and asked them to take over the organization and operation of the county fairs demolition derby held during the first weekend of August.

In the past the county demolition derby was the countys event. They just paid us for the manpower to put it on, said Evans. The county paid for all the other expenses.

The new arrangement with the county will involve TCSR renting the arena at Deseret Peak and assuming all costs and liability for the derby, said Evans.

We have met with the county commissioners and they are looking into the cost of insurance, he said. Once they know how much the insurance will cost, they can set a rental price that will allow them to recoup any expenses they might incur.

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Demolition derby will be held

Juarez residents and some former ASARCO employees gathered to hold a rally/press conference to stop the demolition of the ASARCO smokestacks. The groups met at the International Park at Border Marker #1. (Ruben R Ramirez/El Paso Times)

Photos: Former employees protest Asarco demolition Submit photos of the Asarco smokestacks

A group of El Paso and Jurez residents came together on Thursday to call for a halt to the demolition of the Asarco smokestacks until more information related to environmental testing and monitoring is made public.

They also urged Asarco

The smokestacks are set to come down between 6:30 and 7 a.m. April 13.

"Taking down the smokestacks doesn't mean that the risk of contamination is over," said El Pasoan Carlos Rodriguez, a former Asarco employee and member of the newly created Answers Wanted on Asarco Remediation and Environmental Assessment, or A.W.A.R.E.

Rodriguez was among 10 members of A.W.A.R.E. and Save the Stacks that gathered at the International Park at Border Marker No. 1 to call for a delay in the demolition. The group also announced a protest

They were joined by a dozen representatives from Colectivo Contra la Demolicin de las Chimeneas de Asarco (People Against the Demolition of Asarco Smokestacks) and neighbors from the Ladrillera de Jurez neighborhood.

"We are the ones who live closer to Asarco, and yet nobody has taken the time to inform us what is going to happen once the stacks are down, or showed us an environmental impact test that proves there won't be any

Juarez residents and some former ASARCO employees gathered to hold a rally/press conference to stop the demolition of the ASARCO smokestacks. The groups met at the International Park at Border Marker #1. (Ruben R Ramirez/El Paso Times)

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Protest seeks Asarco demolition delay

POSTED: Tuesday, April 2, 2013 - 6:40pm

UPDATED: Tuesday, April 2, 2013 - 6:42pm

EL PASO Asarco demolition day is nearing, and although most of the plans are finalized, some residents who live near the old smelter still don't know whether they are going to stay or go come April 13.

The tight-knit Calavera neighborhood is at the bottom of a canyon near Executive Center Blvd and Paisano, right below the Asarco smokestacks. It is made up mostly of families of former Asarco employees.

Calavera is Spanish for skull, and the calavera neighborhood is appropriately named for its proximity to the old Smeltertown Cemetery.

Luis Luna has lived in the area for 30 years. His father-in-law worked at Asarco for 38 years before he passed away in March. Luna says his father-in-law often shared fond memories of his time at Asarco, and was sad to know they were coming down.

"It's a little sad because its like a monument, like a landmark in El Paso," said Luna.

Luna still is not sure if he will be home to watch the demolition because he said he hasn't been told where he can stay, or for how long. Other residents in the neighborhood said they heard they would be put up in a hotel, but were waiting to hear more.

Asarco Site Trustee Roberto Puga said no one will be forced to leave their home, but it will be an option.

Puga scheduled a meeting with residents Wednesday afternoon to discuss the details.

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Residents of calavera neighborhood near Asarco uncertain of demolition plans

MUSKEGON, MI Work is progressing on the removal of the historic Brunswick Bowling Products equipment manufacturing plant with crews hoping to complete the demolition by the end of May.

Crews from Clifford Buck Construction Co. of Muskegon and subcontractor Melching Inc. of Nunica will continue to recycle the remaining concrete, asphalt and steel from the site, Buck Construction Vice President Bob Herman said. The plants wooden beams already were sold to an out-of-state company for reuse, he said.

Some of the remaining work includes removing underground utilities, foundations and basements that were part of the huge industrial complex where bowling balls, pins and scoring equipment were made over the decades.

Brunswick brought its billiard and bowling operations to Muskegon in 1906 and was a titan of West Michigan manufacturing, especially through the World War II production years. Over the years, the plant produced everything from audio records to soda fountains and toilet seats.

Peak employment was 2,700 workers in 1929.

RELATED: Harold Phinney, 44-year Brunswick employee, tells of working in Muskegon plant

The Brunswick plant had sat vacant since 2006 and had been unsuccessfully offered for sale. Bowling ball manufacturing ended in Muskegon in 2006, when it moved to a plant in Mexico.

Brunswick Bowling Products remains headquartered in Muskegon at the 525 W. Laketon with managers, engineers and marketing staff continuing the companys history here. Some 175 Brunswick employees remain in Muskegon today, overseeing the companys worldwide bowling operations.

Without a buyer, the old bowling manufacturing plant facilities were becoming a liability for the company and a blight in the community.

Now is the time to take it down, Brunswick Vice President of Operations Brad Gandy said when the demolition project began. We dont want it just sitting and deteriorating. We want to remain a viable player in this community.

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Demolition of historic Brunswick bowling plant in Muskegon nears late May completion (video)

Asarco demolition road closures. (Illustrated by Nacho Garcia / El Paso Times)

As the demolition of the Asarco smokestacks approaches, residents of a nearby neighborhood said they are concerned about how the explosions that will bring the stacks down will affect their homes.

Explosives will bring down the 825- and 612-foot stacks simultaneously on the morning of April 13.

Residents of La Calavera, a small, isolated neighborhood near the Asarco site, said officials in charge of the demolition have not approached them to address their concerns.

"They don't care about us," a man said while cleaning his yard Tuesday.

A meeting with the residents was canceled last week after media cameras showed up. Some residents seem to be reluctant to speak to the media or to any stranger.

Another

One of the main concerns is the possible damage to the houses in the neighborhood by the explosions, said Ruben Escandon Sr. The houses are mostly adobe.

"They could cave in or crack more. Some of them are old," Escandon said.

Escandon, 74, has lived on San Marcos Drive since he was born, and his house already shows some signs of deterioration.

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Asarco smokestacks: Residents fear impact of stacks' demolition

By KEVIN CANFIELD World Staff Writer on Apr 2, 2013, at 12:00 AMUpdated on 4/02 at 3:30 PM

City crews began work Tuesday morning at the park at 3003 E. 56th St.

As part of Tulsa Parks plan to get rid of dilapidated community centers and replace them with other park amenities, the Manion Park community center will be replaced with an interactive water feature. The water feature will be built after the demolition is completed.

City officials have previously said the nine community centers targeted for demolition have become too expensive to upgrade and maintain, leaving the city with no other option but to provide self-directed activities that can be maintained at a lower cost.

The first community center demolition took place in August, when the Turner Park community center was torn down and replaced with a pavilion, walking trails and security lights.

As recently as last week, north Tulsa residents speaking at a town hall meeting on a proposed renewal of funding for the Fix Our Street package voiced objections to the citys plan to demolish the B.C. Franklin recreation center, 1818 E. Virgin St., as well as rec centers at Springdale Park, 2223 E. Pine St., and Ben Hill Park, 210 E. Latimer Place.

Other community centers scheduled for demolition include Clark, 11440 E. Admiral Place; Heller, 5328 S. Wheeling Ave.; Maxwell, 5251 E. Newton St.; and Zeigler, 3903 W. Fourth St.

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Demolition starts at Manion Park rec center