Residents Erin McFazden and Erik Clancy believe fence was erected on their porch because they live in a rent-stabilizedunit The fence was not there when the young couple signed a lease on the Queens, New York apartment building in March Building owners say the fence was installed to keep unit's outdoor spaceseparatefrom astaging area for window washers

By MailOnline Reporter

Published: 19:36 EST, 8 December 2014 | Updated: 13:27 EST, 9 December 2014

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Young couple Erin McFadzen and Erik Clancy thought they were signing a lease to the perfect apartment: a rent-stabilizedunit in a newly-constructed high-rise with a porch overlooking the Manhattan skyline.

Instead, they ended up with a cage.

These are the bleak wire fences the couple found when they moved into the Q41 apartment in July, which theybelievewere erected to keep residents in the building paying market value from becoming jealous of their extra space.

Roped off: Erik Clancy 29 years old and Erin McFadzen 30, behind the so-called 'poor fence' on their Queens apartment

See more here:
6-foot high 'poor fences' keep Queens tenants penned in from luxury porch

Zoning code review By CHRIS BOURNEA Tuesday December 9, 2014 8:38 AM

As the year draws to a close, Bexley's zoning code modernization committee is finishing up work on a set of recommendations to simplify and update the zoning code and design guidelines.

The committee held its final public meetings Nov. 24 and Dec. 1 at City Hall.

The committee includes Mayor Ben Kessler, who also serves as the city's development director; Kathy Rose, building and zoning director; planning consultant Jason Sudy; legal consultant Catherine Cunningham; and representatives from the city's Board of Zoning Appeals and the Planning and Tree commissions.

For more than a year, the committee has been studying issues such as Main Street building design guidelines, parking requirements for businesses and whether to combine the BZA and Planning Commission into one body.

A combined BZA and Planning Commission makes sense in a built-out, inner-ring suburb such as Bexley, Kessler said.

"There are other communities like Upper Arlington that have combined the BZA and the planning commission," he said. "We're trying to keep the process as streamlined as possible and make it more cohesive and coherent."

At the Dec. 1 meeting, the committee also discussed recommendations for residential fences and walls.

"This was one of the most-talked-about sections (of the zoning code)," Sudy said.

The committee recommends increasing the current fence height limit of 42 inches to 48 inches. The change is designed to prevent homeowners from seeking variances to build fences as high as 72 inches, Rose said.

Go here to read the rest:
Higher fences, BZA-planning combo sought

After years of public feuding, Kim Zolciak and NeNe Leakes have decided to put the past behind them.

The two reality stars revealed that they've mended their friendship during appearances on an episode of Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live" Sunday night.

Leakes, 46, and Zolciak, 36, sat down with host Andy Cohen and spilled the details on how they rekindled their bond.

"I would say time, time heals wounds," Leakes said. "I think over time we just healed and, you know, Kim ended up leaving the show and all those things."

"I agree, I definitely think time [closed the rift]," Zolciak said.

Leakes currently stars in the seventh season of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta." Zolciak, who left "RHOA" in 2012, wrapped up season three of her Bravo spinoff, "Don't Be Tardy," this September.

See the original post here:
Kim Zolciak and NeNe Leakes Mend Fences

Cheltenham. Click here to bet.

What was due to have been be no more than a confidence boosting exercise ended up being a lucrative victory as versatile performer Waltz Darling struck gold in the feature William Hill - In The App Store Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh.

A winner on the Flat at Catterick before overcoming one or two sticky leaps to make a successful debut over fences at the Edinburgh circuit a month ago, Waltz Darling was a 14/1 shot switched back to the smaller obstacles by trainer Keith Reveley.

With the Saltburn handler's son James riding a typically patient race in the 10,000 contest, Waltz Darling began to make his move early in the straight and gradually wore down Ballyvoque after the final flight to strike by a neck.

Reveley is looking forward to seeing his charge back over fences over the Festive period.

The winning trainer said: "He's a grand horse and he's now won on the Flat, over fences and over hurdles in the space of three months. There won't be many horses do that, I don't think.

"Today was just meant to be a confidence booster for him more than anything. He jumped the first six fences absolutely brilliantly here last time - he jumped like a (Michael) Dickinson horse - but then he went to pieces when he hit the front.

"I just thought a run over hurdles might help and he's ended up winning a nice prize as well, so it's great.

"He's versatile and a smashing looking horse and the plan now is to go for a good novice handicap chase at Catterick on December 28. It's a nice prize and I like to support these good northern races when they put them on.

"He actually won his first two races as a two-year-old for Richard Fahey and then just lost his way for whatever reason, but the jumping looks to have perked him up.

See the original post here:
Reveley's Darling in victory Waltz

Erik Clancy and Erin McFadzen fenced in by their landlord. Source: New York Post

FIRST there was the Poor Door. Now theres the Poor Porch.

A luxury tower in the New York City borough of Queens that was bailed out by the city is blocking the large terraces of a few affordable units so tenants above with tiny balconies dont get jealous, one resident claims.

Erin McFadzen chose her middle-income and rent-stabilised corner apartment at Long Island Citys new Q41 building because of its wraparound terrace.

But when she moved in, half of it was fenced off by what she calls a Jurassic Park-style barricade.

The ugly 6-foot-high wire barrier also interferes with views from every window of her sixth-floor, $2,186-a-month pad.

Were caged in, McFadzen told The Post.

Every time someone comes over, I have to explain why the fence is there ... and tell them were rent stabilised, like its a badge I have to wear, she said.

McFadzens boyfriend, Erik Clancy, who also lives in the two-bedroom pad, is outraged, too.

I cant imagine them saying [to market-rate tenants], You get this beautiful view of Manhattan behind a giant metal fence, he said.

More:
Rich building literally fences off poorer residents

By Al Warr

Not so long ago, we talked with our neighbors across the picket fence. And business owners were on a first name basis when customers arrived.

Times change. Today, we tweet on Twitter, we like on Facebook, and we send selfies on the phone. The picket fence has gone electronic.

Tweets and likes and selfies might be quick and easy, but they have a significant limitation. They just dont provide the up close and personal contact of a face-to-face conversation. The give and take of a direct conversation can put the icing on a cake baked with words only.

And thats where business networking meetings put the body language back into contacts.

* * *

I started this networking group to provide a warm and inviting environment for networking, said Julie Parker.

Its been almost three years since she convened the first meeting of the group. Membership has grown to about 150 members, with 25 to 30 business people showing up for each monthly meeting, she said.

We get together the third Tuesday of each month, unless it interferes with a holiday, said Parker.

The third Tuesday this month is next week, Dec. 16. Her Small Biz Networking group will convene in the banquet room of the Flemington-Raritan Diner, 324 Rt. 31located between HealthQuest and StopNShop. People begin arriving at 11 a.m. and the meeting runs to 1:30 p.m.

Go here to read the rest:
Al Warr: Picket fences make a comeback with networking sessions

Chance Du Roy can continue his love affair with the big Aintree fences by winning the Betfred Becher Chase (1.30pm) for a second time.

Philip Hobbs' 10-year-old has thrived over the Crabbie's Grand National obstacles and there is good reason to think he will do so again this afternoon.

It will be Chance Du Roy's sixth time over the National fences with last year's Becher success the pinnacle.

He has finished second and ninth in the Topham Chase and although he fell when going well in the Grand Sefton on this day two years ago his two most recent trips to Merseyside have been his best.

Last year was the first time he stepped up to the extended 3m2f trip of the Becher and got the better of the only dual winner of the race, popular veteran Hello Bud.

He built on that and ran a superb race in the Grand National in April, when sixth 19 lengths behind impressive winner Pineau De Re.

That was a step up again on his Becher win and he still looks to be improving over these fences and staying trips.

He may be 6lb higher in the handicap compared to last year, but he has probably improved by more than that.

He will be making his first start of the season - as he did 12 months ago - and with the Hobbs' team in such good form, he looks set to go very close to emulating Hello Bud and winning a second Becher.

It will be record field of 25 runners so there are plenty in with good chances of denying Chance Du Roy the double.

Original post:
Horse Power: Take Chance Du Roy to repeat last year's Betfred Becher Chase win at Aintree

Poole Master brought down the curtain on the successful Betfred Becher Chase day at Aintree to become the second 25-1 winner over the Grand National fences of the afternoon in the Betfred Grand Sefton Chase.

Thanks to a fine front-running ride by jockey Tom Scudamore, the David Pipe-trained nine-year-old dug deep to deny Sam Waley-Cohen, on Charlie Manns Cedre Bleu (20-1), a second success over the big Aintree obstacles.

Poole Master scored by a length and three-quarters from Cedre Bleu with Bennys Mist (8-1) a further three and three-quarter lengths back in third, with Paul Nicholls Rolling Aces (8-1) in fourth.

Everton FC fan Scudamore was delighted with his first success over the National fences. He said: He was electric, he love it round here. I've had a couple of goes here but never really been in contention and that's my first win over these fences. Its a tremendous thrill, the thrill of a lifetime.

Winning any race is a thrill, but to win here is fantastic and it was a great effort by David to get him back. Its a long time since a Scudamore won over these fences!

Waley-Cohen, who had landed the Betfred Becher Chase on Oscar Time earlier in the day, added to his fine record over the big fences. He was happy with Cedre Bleus effort, saying: Hes run a cracker and he likes it here, but hes not an easy horse to win with.

Nicholls Sam Winner (3-1) lived up to his name again when landing the Betfred Racings Biggest Supporter Chase under Nick Scholfield.

But the race wasnt quite as expected as only nine of the 19 fences were able to be jumped due to low sun. All the obstacles in the home straight were dolled off.

Sam Winner, who had won at Cheltenham, was out in front and he just kept on galloping as Cheltenham Gold Cup hopeful and previous Aintree winner Holywell unshipped Richie McLernon down the back straight.

Scholfield said: Hes tough and genuine and keeps galloping, Paul said to keep it simple and thats what I did.

Here is the original post:
Poole Master lands Betfred Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree

It must be something about the Merseyside air and the challenge of the big Aintree obstacles, but the Waley-Cohens were once again in the winners enclosure thanks to Oscar Time.

Owner-trainer Robert Waley-Cohen and jockey and son Sam teamed up as veteran Oscar Time turned back the clock to land the Betfred Becher Chase at a packed Aintree.

The Waley-Cohens have an superb record around the National course and at the age of 13 Oscar Time who had finished second in 2011 and fourth earlier this year in Crabbies Grand National finally grabbed his own Aintree victory when he held on for glory to score by three-quarters-of-a-length from Harry Frys Mendip Express (12-1). Saint Are (12-1) finished three lengths further back in third with a length to Alfie Spinner (25-1), who was just a neck ahead of last years winner Chance Du Roy in fourth.

Amateur Sam Waley-Cohen was grabbing a fifth success over the National fences but a first in the Grade Three Becher Chase.

Oscar Time took over at the head of affairs from the well-backed 8-1 favourite Our Father after the last fence and he held off the challenge of Mendip Express ridden by another amateur jockey Will Biddick - to triumph.

After two cracks at the National itself Oscar Time wont be returning to Aintree for the worlds greatest steeplechase at the grand old age of 14 on April 11 next year.

Instead connections were just revelling in another big success on Merseyside in front of an estimated 30,000-plus crowd.

Winning owner-trainer Robert Waley-Cohen said: We bought him to run in the National and the first year he was second for us when brilliantly trained by Martin Lynch and then he was fourth but picked up an injury, so we took him home and nursed him back to health.

He won a point-to-point and a couple of hunter chases and even though he was 13 he showed that he still had it.

This was the target, hes better here than anywhere. He doesnt get the National trip and he will be 14 in a few weeks so he won't run.

See original here:
Veteran Oscar Time turns back the clock to land the Betfred Becher Chase at Aintree

High security fences around the recreation areas of the two wards at Robina Hospital. Source: News Limited

NURSES say mental health patients are being treated like monkeys in a zoo contained by fences at Robina Hospital.

Staff say the move to fence courtyards in two acute wards at the facility is absolutely disgusting and people have already taken to giving them derogatory names.

THREE CHARGED AFTER ATTACKING GRANDPARENTS A nursing source said the fences gave the impression patients were animals in a zoo, when many were people who lived in the community and were not a risk to the public.

Thats what they look like, a monkey enclosure, the nurses said.

These are people that might just be suffering a clinical depression for something, it could be post traumatic stress disorder, but theyre still called acute patients.

They look like they could be in a zoo. Its disgusting.

Gold Coast Health general manager mental health Karlyn Chettleburgh said there had been closed fences around the two units but they did not suit the purpose and needed to be replaced.

At first staff and patients were disappointed with the aesthetics but shade cloth and greenery are being added to soften the exterior while retaining natural light, she said.

The more recent design and construction of Gold Coast University Hospital has enabled the use of a very high retaining wall to act as a fence for several courtyards. Changes to Robina Hospital courtyards make it more consistent with the standards at GCUH.

Read the original here:
Mental health patients caged