It turns out that life on Menlo Park's Louise Street as the residents know it may survive the addition of one more driveway after all.

Developer Sam Sinnott and resident Kiki Kapany issued a joint press release on Friday (May 9) announcing that the two parties had settled their differences over a tangle of greenery on the cul-de-sac in a conflict that started more than a year ago.

The settlement will let Mr. Sinnott construct a 16-foot-wide paved driveway at 1825 Santa Cruz Ave. that will exit on Louise Street, while preserving a portion of the 53-foot-by-60-foot patch of greenery as open space.

Mr. Sinnott and investment partner Mircea Voskerician bought the property two years ago for redevelopment, but then ran into trouble when Louise Street residents protested the pair's plans to build a driveway and then switch the home's address from Santa Cruz Avenue to Louise Street. The residents argued that paving even a part of the green space would damage the character of their neighborhood.

Although city staff initially authorized the driveway, in August, the council voted to turn the green space over to the residents a process known as abandonment. Mr. Sinnott then filed a lawsuit in San Mateo County Superior Court in November against several of the residents as well as city officials.

When asked what made a settlement possible now, Ms. Kapany responded by referring to the press release. "That's all we have to say. Thanks so much."

Bill Garrett, the attorney representing Mr. Sinnott, said, "Cooperation. Communication. Compromise." A framework for a settlement was reached back in February, he said, and the parties have since worked out the details.

The press release offered no other information about the terms of the settlement. The revised terms of abandonment were part of the City Council's consent calendar for May 13.

Check almanacnews.com for updates.

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Menlo Park: New driveway coming to Louise Street?

BOSTON (CBS) According to AARP, folks over age 65 make up only an eighth of the U.S. population but are a third of all scam victims. There are three simple explanations for this: memory loss, loneliness and a more trusting nature.

We discussed CRS earlier in the week and it truly does happen. The brain begins to shrink, information processing also slows down and some people do begin to have a problem with their reasoning ability and decision-making skills.

Now think about the scammer who knows this. He tells your mom that his offer to pave the driveway at half price is good only for today while they are here in the neighborhood and they would like cash for they do not want the boss to know they are giving away the store!

So your normally very conservative mother hustles off to the bank to get cash to pay these guys to pave her driveway this afternoon. Or paint her house, or work on the roof. Whatever scam they are pushing, they rush seniors into making a decision. No one ever shows up to do the work.

Or she gets a phone call and is told she has just won the lottery, never mind that she never bought a ticket. But she must act now. They want her to wire money or give them her credit card number so they can process her winnings. You think she is too smart to fall for that? Not so; many elders will fall for this one.

Loneliness makes our elders vulnerable for there is no one around to discuss things with. And if someone is nice and befriends them, they, of course, want to trust them.

Talk to mom about the various scams that are going around. Offer to help manage her finances. Try to be involved in her life so if she does need a sounding board she would call you and discuss paving the driveway.

One more thing: Then there are the phone scams. A frantic call in the middle of the night wakes your mom up, there is much static on the line, and the voice begins to plead for help from Grandma and please, please dont tell mom or dad. I need bail money the kids says. And Grandma wants to help so she wires the money. They got her!

. On Saturday May 17th Dee will be the keynote speaker at The Money Conference which is a FREE one-day event presented by The Office of Massachusetts State Treasury and the Massachusetts Financial Literacy Trust Fund, in conjunction with local cities and community partners to help households build their financial knowledge and improve their financial behavior through quality financial education.

The Money Conference: Financial Empowerment for Individuals & Families

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How Scammers Target The Elderly

PERRY COUNTY A couple looking to get their driveway paved says they were swindled out of nearly $10,000. They're sharing their story in hopes of protecting of others.

A truck showed up outside the couple's rural Tamaroa home a month ago. The crew offered to pave the driveway for a good price. The job was done in a matter of hours, but it cost 10 times what they expected.

We're wiped out. Now I have nothing to fall back on, admitted Lu Ann Morris.

She lives on a fixed income of $639 a month with her husband Charles. On April 8, they got a knock on the door from All Rite Paving

I thought it was a city worker. Next thing I know they talked him into doing this without an estimate or anything they just said $2.00 a square foot. Did not give us any measurements, nothing, she explained

Turns out the job cost much more than they bargained for.

I don't know how I didn't pass out when they said $9,700, added Lu Ann.

Her husband is in the beginning stages of dementia and thought the job cost $970. She maxed out her credit card to pay the bill, and then started looking for help.

I was hyperventilating. I was having anxiety attacks. I didn't know where to turn. Everybody was turning us down; I didn't know what to do, she said.

Just a month later, weeds are already growing up through the gravel. Lu Ann says the company has yet to fix it. She's filed a police report, reached out to the state's attorney, and complained to consumer protection agencies.

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Couple: We Were Scammed Out of Thousands

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May 9th, 2014 1:01 pm by Wes Bunch

GATE CITY A Scott County grand jury indicted a Kingsport man on felony contractor fraud charges for an alleged paving scam he attempted to carry out.

Frank Edward Small, 54, of Kingsport, was indicted Monday on a single count of violating Virginia business regulations for the third time in 36 months.

Small was arraigned Thursday in Scott County Circuit Court. His next appearance is scheduled for June 11.

The Scott County Sheriff's Office began investigating Small in early March 2014 after it received a report of a possible scam from a homeowner near Nickelsville.

Scott County Sheriff John Puckett said Small told the homeowner he wouldn't be able to give him a price until he was finished paving the driveway.

Once the work was complete, Small told the alleged victim the work would cost $8,000.

When the man could only produce $2,200, Small allegedly told him he would give him two or three more days to come up with the money.

At that point, Puckett said the homeowner contacted the sheriff's office.

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Scott County grand jury indicts Kingsport man on felony contractor fraud charges

A driveway is often the first thing that visitors see and the most-used outdoor area of a home, and is also key to the property's drainage. Depending on the materials used, a driveway can be utilitarian, like gravel, asphalt, or concrete, or decorative, like stamped asphalt, stamped concrete, or cobblestone.Typical costs: A gravel driveway starts at roughly $0.75-$3 or more a square foot, or $300-$1,000 for a 12'x25' single-car driveway. Costs can double for a roadway-quality driveway. Loose gravel will need replenishing periodically, but a correctly designed, installed and maintained gravel driveway can last 50-100 years or more. Also called tar and chip or oil and stone, macadam driveway can cost $1-$3 or more a square foot on an existing driveway, or $600-$1,800 for 12'x50'; and $2-$4 or more a square foot for a completely new driveway with gravel base, or $1,200-$2,400 for 12'x50'. Macadam typically lasts 6-10 years and provides the decorative and rustic appearance of a gravel driveway but with a firm base. An asphalt driveway costs about $2-$5 a square foot, or $1,200-$3,000 for 12'x50' to $31,000-$75,000 for a 12' lane a quarter mile long. A stamped asphalt pattern (typically in the shape of bricks or stones) on a new or existing asphalt driveway can cost $3-$9 a square foot, or $900-$2,700 for 12'x25' or $3,600-$11,000 for 24'x50' for just the stamping. Concrete is a popular, durable and relatively low-maintenance choice for paving a driveway. A plain concrete driveway can cost $3-$10 or more a square foot, or $900-$3,000 for 12'x25' or $2,900-$9,600 for 24'x40', while a customized concrete driveway with multiple decorative elements can cost $15-$25 or more a square foot, or $4,500-$7,500 for 12'x25' or $14,400-$24,000 for 24'x40'). There are three basic types of driveway pavers: Interlocking concrete pavers mimic the look of stone or brick and cost about $6-$20 or more a square foot, or $1,800-$4,500 for 12'x25'; a brick paver driveway with the timeless elegance of traditional brick typically costs $10-$30 or more a square foot, or $3,000-$9,000 for 12'x25'; and a cobblestone driveway offers "old world" charm" plus durability (lasting up to 100 years), and can cost $20-$70 or more a square foot, or $6,000-$21,000 for 12'x25'. Paving contractors typically do not charge by the square foot, but instead quote their price for a specific project. Related articles: Asphalt Driveway, Concrete Driveway, Brick Driveway, Driveway Apron, Driveway Repair, Heated Driveway What should be included: A typical single-car driveway is 9'-12' wide, and a two-car driveway is 20'-24' wide, according to LandscapingNetwork.com[1] ; 9'-wide can be a tight fit for delivery vans or trucks, while wider than 12' but less than 20' is too wide for a single vehicle and not wide enough for two. Driveway length is typically a minimum of 20' per car. Additional costs: Because a driveway connects to a public street, there are often regulations governing the width of the driving and the materials used to build it. Typically a permit will be required, and permit fees can vary from nominal to pricey, depending on location. Discounts: Check whether neighbors also need a driveway; there is a basic cost to bring equipment and a crew to a site, and some contractors charge less for multiple jobs in the same area. Shopping for a driveway: Driveways are typically installed by asphalt, concrete, masonry or paving contractors, although general building or landscaping contractors make take on the task as part of a larger project, and sub out the work. Ask friends, neighbors or local construction companies for recommendations. The Better Business Bureau lists tips for selecting an asphalt driveway contractor[2] ; the ConcreteNetwork.com provides a searchable database of concrete contractors[3] ; the Stone Foundation provides a directory of stonemasons and contractors by state[4] ; or search for members of the National Association of Remodeling Contractors[5] and look for "concrete services contractor," "landscapers" or "masonry contractor" in each company's list of specialties. Get several estimates; ask for and check references (if possible, visit a previous project, to see how the driveway looks after use); make sure the company is properly insured and licensed[6] ; and check for any complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau[7] . CostHelper News What People Are Paying - Recent Comments Page 2 of 2-<< Previous 12 Posted by: TJW242 in Bensalem, PA. Posted: August 22nd, 2012 07:08AM Type of Driveway: Asphalt Sq Ft of Driveway: 990 Contractor: HBI, Feasterville, PA

I just had a 45' x 22' (990 sq ft) asphalt driveway paved. Most of it was over an existing older gravel drive, but I extended about 12' into my yard and widened it buy about 3' down one side. Where I added I dug down and added two inches of modified stone ($25/ton). Paving guys came in used 1.5" base course and 1.5" top course. Cost for that was $2,300 or about $2.32/sq ft. I'm just outside of Philadelphia.

had low spots and a few cracks from a 26 year old driveway but the base was OK and it hadn't sunk any more in about 5 years. Had it shimmed to level it with larger stone asphalt, they spread that and rolled it and then 1.5 inches of asphalt applied on top of that whcih was spread and rolled. Driveway is 270 feet by ten feet so this works out to be 2700 feet and the cost for the overlay came out to about 1.40 per square foot.

Gypsy came by saying "We have some asphalt left over from our job down the road..." I'll admit, I'm a sucker for these guys - they did my driveway years ago (a different gypsy), but I've neglected to seal it for about 7 - 8 years. It started to crumble in many places, so I had these guys resurface just the bad areas - about 2500 sq. ft. of a 4000 sq. ft. driveway. They did a pretty good job, not perfect, but good. He started at $2 a sq. ft...then $1.75...and it ended up $1.20. I figure it all depends on the area you're in.

I am looking to lay some asphalt in a 60'x30' area in my backyard. I'm looking to turn this into a hockey rink/basketball court. Is asphalt the best way to go? Would 2" thick suffice? And what would I pay for this, would it cost under $3000?

i've heard the 'we are in the area and have some left over' story 2x now. we got various parts of our driveway done both times including grading to 3.5" thick for 0.75/sq ft (the price was about double before i walked away). reading this and other stuff. anything in the $1-2/sq ft is a great assuming the job is done right.

This contractor (Paul Jones) stopped by in December and offered to do this as his work load had been light during the off-season, but said that prices would probably go up soon. This was done on an existing gravel driveway. He provided good references. It's a family business (4 generations now) and they seem to put a lot of effort into their jobs. After pondering it for a while and getting a few other estimates, I just had the pavement put down yesterday for the original estimate that Paul provided in December. 300 sq ft of it was for a turn-around over what used to be a grassy area that they dug out, filled with a good base of gravel and 5 to 6" of asphalt. 3" was put down over the existing gravel driveway after grading and weedkiller were done. Cost was about $1.26/sq foot. It looks good so far, but we'll see how it holds up. He suggests putting a sealant down immediately. Is that normally recommended?

Our driveway is gravel now but we are looking at getting it paved. It's 67ft x 20ft that needs to be done. Any ideas how much that would cost?

Wow, while everyone else is charging 4 and above per square foot, I found a great guy charging only 3.70 something a square foot, that includes ripping out the old concrete and installing a complete driveway with a round about addition. I recommend him all the way 813 368 5546

Henry, Jr stopped by, said he had extra black asphalt for $17.00 sq. yd($1.88 sq. ft. Another worker stopped by & started & gave ne a contract for 5200 sq. ft. for $5200.00. I said that was not what Henry ,jr told me, called Henry ,JR.ended up getting 2500 sq.ft of drveway & 432 sq. ft of barn floor for $3700.00?($1.26sqft)was this a good deal or not

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Cost of a Driveway - Estimates and Prices Paid ...

Springfield will spend $2.8 million on road construction projects this summer, including the $1.4 million Bechtle Avenue bridge replacement and the repaving of several streets around Springfield.

Approximately $625,000 of the money is local funds, while the rest is being paid for through federal or state dollars, according to city engineer Leo Shanayda.

The $1.4 million Bechtle Avenue Bridge replacement begin earlier this year, while the rest of the projects will begin after July 1, Shanayda said.

Other projects include the approximately $650,000 Grand Avenue paving project, the citys $500,000 permanent improvement paving program and $300,000 in repairs to Limestone Street. The National Trail Parks and Recreation District is also planning to complete a $140,000 paving project at Davey Moore Park this summer.

The replacement of the Bechtle Ave. bridge overlooking Buck Creek is currently 25 percent complete and is expected to be finished by Labor Day, Shanayda said.

Theyre on schedule, but theyre pushing to get done sooner, Shanayda said.

The bridge is open to through traffic and the city hasnt heard many complaints, Shanayda said.

People are getting used to where the construction is locating and theyre learning how to maneuver through it, Shanayda said.

The project will be paid for mostly through grant money, including approximately $760,000 from Federal Highway Administration/Ohio Department of Transportation and $409,000 from the Ohio Public Works Commission. It also received $196,000 from other sources, including FHWA and ODOT, to help offset design costs. The bridge has a lower than normal sufficiency rating than normal and is in need of replacement, Shanayda said.

The portion of Grand Avenue from Yellow Springs Street to South Limestone Street will also be repaved using money from both OPWC and ODOT at a cost of about $650,000.

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Springfield to spend $2.8 million on road construction

With the weather extremes that we know all too well, many Minnesota homeowners have experienced the challenges of maintaining a healthy landscape around their humble abodes. Add in the impact of water runoff and soil erosion from continuous development, and it can be difficult to keep your gardening and outdoor recreation spaces looking vibrant and natural.

Make sure to visit us on May 10 at the Green Expo where we can show you more about what we can do for you. Check out the details.

A paving and landscape contractor that considers environmental factors in both the design and implementation of a project, Earth Wizards transforms driveways, parking lots and landscapes with a sensible, earth-friendly approach that is mindful of your budget, property and the environment.

Whether a driveway can simply be overlaid rather than replaced or a portion redone, Earth Wizards offers creative suggestions and provides options suitable for your situation. With a knowledgeable estimating staff and experienced installation crews, the process is seamless from beginning to end since the work isnt subcontracted.

An approach is provided that minimizes the impact on the environment by working with homeowners, property owners and public agencies to develop and construct projects that capture, or minimally, filter stormwater runoff, control erosion and/or improve property features in a way that uses recycled materials, locally-sourced supplies and efficiencies in construction phasing while managing costs.

With services in Paving, Landscaping and Stormwater Management, Earth Wizards has earned its awards and great Angies List reviews.

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The season for Runoff and Erosion is here. What can you do for your home or business?

Hell strips are what they call narrow planting spaces adjacent to a driveway, street or sidewalk. This is the plant graveyard, where less than resilient species give up the ghost by midsummer. Why are these sun-drenched planters so tough to cultivate? It's because adjacent paving becomes a thermal mass that collects and reflects that heat back on plants both night and day.

Any planter immediately adjacent to a large field of paving will feel the heat, particularly when it's black asphalt. This happens on the surface and also underground when the absorbed heat moves into soil to cook roots. If you doubt just how much heat a driveway radiates, go out on a hot July day to stand barefoot on that slab. Then step over to the soil of the hell strip and compare.

Beneath that soil, plant roots are nearly as hot as the surface temperature. During a heat wave, roots of sensitive plants may never recover. The key is choosing species of plants for your hell strip that stand up to both absorbed and reflected heat, so they'll take these conditions in stride.

The best place to prove hell strip plants is in the desert, where temperatures soar well over 110 for weeks at a time. Plants that are widely grown there can take hot ground, reflected heat and poor fertility, day after day. They're also surprisingly cold hardy too. I've watched them for years in the Palm Springs, Calif., desert, and can attest to their resilient nature. Make this your starting point for a flowering palette that turns your hell strip into a perennial border, knowing it will take summer heat waves in stride.

Long flowering autumn sage is a native of Texas and northern Mexico that proves itself time and again to be a favorite of desert gardeners and hummingbirds. The species, Salvia greggii, is cold hardy to USDA Zone 5, so it should take winter cold to well below zero. Note that the red flowered types will be more heat and cold tolerant than other bloom colors.

Known as gopher plant, the lovely blue foliage and lemon yellow flowers of Euphorbia rigida appear far too delicate for the desert or a hell strip. Yet they thrive all over desert landscapes and with Zone 5 hardiness they're quite popular in northern climates, too. The common name tells you they won't be bothered by gophers due to the potent latex sap they contain. Theres no better problem solver for rodent-infested ground, hell strips and super lean sandy soils.

Another native of Texas and Mexico is Gaura lindheimeri, a relative newcomer to desert gardens. The white flowered variety is far more frequently seen in the desert, but pink forms may do equally well. The airy animated appearance of Gaura's long slender flower stems blends very nicely with gopher plant and is equally cold hardy.

To solve hot-spot planting challenges, consider these three star performers. Use them as the structure for a perennial border augmented with other heat resistant species such as agave or yucca. All three of them are the best flowering companions for your favorite upscale succulents.

In colder climates, deer grass, Muhlenbergia rigens, proves an equally heat- and cold-tolerant companion. For seasonal features, purple fountain grass is a beautiful choice because its nodding flower wands add height and texture to your border. However, fountain grass is not cold hardy so it must be replanted each spring, but well worth the effort.

The only caveat is to ensure there's free drainage if your soils are clay or hardpan. A good solution is to bring in rocks and arrange them to raise each planting spot just a few inches above grade. This keeps the sensitive crown of each plant above the wet while roots can still access moisture freely deeper down.

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Yardsmart: 3 hell strip perennials

Driveway Paving in Action
Most older pavers have warped screeds from the repeated overheating. Warped screeds cannot lay down a smooth mat. Our paver is a brand new 2013 Leeboy Asphal...

By: Battaglini Sealcoating Paving LLC

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Driveway Paving in Action - Video

Created: 04/30/2014 9:52 AM WNYT.com By: Jessica Riley

New York State Police say warmer weather brings spring-time scammers.

Theyre warning people in the Capital Region that driveway paving scams are more prevalent this time of year.

A traveling asphalt paving crew may offer you a low-priced opportunity to repair your driveway.

Usually the scammers show up unexpectedly at homes and claim they have leftover material from another job and offers to repair your driveway. The job is usually poorly done or the price is raised to a much higher amount than the original estimate.

Another common scam is when they convince the homeowner to pay cash for the job and then work never gets completed.

Police advice homeowners to always ask for a written contract to protect themselves. They also say to ask for references before getting the work done and to do your research on the company.

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Paving scams increase as temperatures rise