Gospel Mission outreach worker JoAnne McKenzie with one of her peeps. The mission's outreach program has lost its funding, meaning chronically homeless who don't use the shelter will not be getting visits and help from the mission unless more funding is found.

image credit: Kevin Parnell

Every morning at 6:30, the men and women who have taken up shelter overnight at the Gospel Mission begin another day of survival. Most of them will be back for coffee, lunch and dinner at the mission and will find themselves back in a bed overnight.

But for some homeless, the Gospel Mission isn't part of their lives. Enter outreach worker JoAnne McKenzie, who also begins her day at 6:30 and heads out to work with chronically homeless people, those that are not using the shelter and opt to stay in parks, church parking lots or gazebos.

"A lot of them don't want to come inside, whether it's addiction or other issues so we go outside with them and we work alongside them on their turf," she said. "The first thing is building trust."

While four case workers meet and work with homeless inside the Gospel Mission, trying to get their lives back on track and move them towards treatment, affordable housing and back towards mainstream society, the two outreach workers attempt to get the chronically homeless to use the shelter. Most don't have identification which means they can't get on social assistance and many times it takes as much as a year or more to get consent to work with them.

But come the end of March, the Gospel Mission will lose its federal funding for the outreach program. McKenzie will move back inside to work as a case worker while the chronically homeless will not be receiving regular visits from either of the mission's outreach workers, who often travelled with other health care providers.

"It's one of the things about being not-for-profit and raising the funds," said executive director Randy Benson. "It's tough out there. We're still working on a few options because we obviously believe in the program. We know that segment of the homeless population is going to be left without support."

While the homeless situation may seem hopeless to some, there are also many successes the Gospel Mission has had, moving people off the streets and into treatment.

McKenzie tells the story of a woman from Vancouver's downtown East Side who came to Kelowna and lived on the streets for 18 months before she agreed to get help. She entered detox, treatment and then into independent housing. Another woman was found by outreach workers addicted to heroin and pregnant, living in a tent. Over the course of a year-and-a-half, the woman was able to get into a shelter, get off heroin, have her baby and now has full custody of the child.

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Gospel Mission outreach program loses federal funding

CHARDS market traders have welcomed a U-turn over a potential relocation of the towns street market.

Members of Chard Town Council met traders last week and were handed a petition against the suggested move.

A Saturday Market Working Group was set up to look at ways to improve the market and take it forward and the council agreed to approve the groups recommendation to relocate the market, as well as proposals to canvas opinion and apply for a grant from South Somerset District Councils Area West committee at a meeting of the full council earlier this year.

Many traders threatened to pull out of the market if a proposed move to the Lace Mill car park in Holyrood Street was to go ahead. But traders are now looking forward to working with the next elected town council on ways to improve the historic feature.

Jim Morrison, of Jims Pet Food, told The News: The meeting was very amicable and Cllr Jenny Kenton explained in more detail the thoughts that the committee had and the traders were able to put their views across.

Some of the ideas were covers or gazebos of the same colour to be provided, the launch of a Facebook page, and looking for new traders to fill the side of the Guildhall and to go over to the other side of Fore Street.

There was an idea to go into Holyrood Street but this is not possible as the emergency services would not have access.

The move to the Lace Mill is now not going to happen but hopefully some of the ideas from the traders will be taken on by the committee and the council.

The traders have asked for more promotion, more communication between themselves and the council and we are looking forward to working with the council to improve the market.

We would like to thank the public and shopkeepers for their support and the petition with 260 names was handed to the Mayor during the meeting.

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Chard traders welcome u-turn on market move plan

Conyers City Councilman John Fountain

CONYERS In an effort to compromise and accommodate the needs of a good member of the community, the Conyers City Council Wednesday revisited the question of how heavy equipment can be displayed outside business buildings in the Gateway Village zoning district.

Councilman John Fountain made a motion to approve an ordinance that would amend the city code to allow outdoor display of utility trailers, which is the primary merchandise for Rockland Cargo Equipment in Gateway Village.

The ordinance would substitute for one that the council voted down in its Feb. 21 meeting. That ordinance, requested by Ronald Ayers, owner of Rockland Cargo, sought to allow the business to display an array of heavy equipment on its lot such as utility trailers, cargo trailers, tow dollies, playground equipment, storage sheds, gazebos, garages and carports.

The city code section that currently regulates Gateway Village district does not allow outdoor display of those items, and in 2004 the city ruled Rockland to be a legal nonconforming business, but has allowed the business to continue displaying its entire range of heavy equipment.

The council, Mayor Randall Mills, City Manager Tony Lucas, Planning and Zoning director Marvin Flanigan and others discussed Ayers Jan. 21 request at length, including addressing it on three different days at the councils annual retreat.

The councils dilemma was summarized by Fountain at the Jan. 21 meeting when he said, On the one hand, youve got this business thats been a good member of the community On the other hand, we have all the challenges that Ayers request would present as a precedent.

No satisfactory resolution could be found and in its Feb. 4 meeting, the council unanimously rejected the Jan. 21 ordinance request.

This ordinance is very different from that one, Fountain said after Wednesdays meeting, because it allows only utility trailers and not all those other items to be displayed outdoors. Were seeking to accommodate their main line of business, utility trailers.

Fountain told the Citizen he came up with the compromise in an a-ha moment.

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Conyers City Council takes another look at outdoor utility trailer displays

Kenneris filled with subdivisions that developers gradually installed as the metropolitan population expanded west roughly half a century ago. With each new neighborhood came some way of signifying their entrances. In addition to basic signage, there were gazebos, guard stations and landscaping.

The structures and other assorted features were as much for aesthetic enhancements as for marking territory. As such, neighborhood associations were keen to keep them looking nice -- and to do so with city money. Until the early part of last decade, the way to do that was to go chat with the district council member, who would typically have no problem getting approval from the full council.

There was no rhyme or reason to getting the money, nothing to define eligible expenditures or limit the amount spent. Requests could range from three to six digits. Then, a little more than ten years ago, the state auditor blew the whistle, calling the city out for failing to establish a public purpose or otherwise setting a criteria for handing out the money. The funding spigot dried, the entryways suffered.

Now the spigot is turning back on, but it'll run at a measured rate. The council on Thursday (March 19) passed an ordinance setting forth the circumstances under which the city will fund neighborhood entryway maintenance projects.

There's a $15,000 limit. Associations must request the funding via standard application in which they demonstrate the public purpose. The money must come from capital improvement money allocated to each councilman, ensuring no additional hit to the general fund. Funding for new structures will be available only if they are on city property; existing entryways in need of maintenance will have grandfather status.

"They've got to articulate the public case," said 5th District Councilman Dominick Impastato, who sponsored the ordinance. "This isn't just for building a swimming pool for exclusive use."

Impastato acknowledges that some might argue the associations ought to raise the funds amongst themselves. In his view, however, the community suffers when outward-looking facades fall into disrepair. He's also hoping the measure will help rejuvenate associations that are lagging or dormant.

"I envision a situation where we are rebuilding, say, a sign in a particular neighborhood that has a civic organization that hasn't been very active," Impastato said. "Maybe we can rally the neighborhood and say 'hey guys, that new sign is going in next week. Let's all get our hands out there in the mud. We're going to put some sweat equity into it.'"

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Kenner's neighborhood entryways to get a little help

Following public hearings, the Union Board of Aldermen Monday night unanimously approved two conditional use permits for local developer Ed Schmelz.

The board will take action on a separate rezoning request by Schmelz at the April 13 board meeting.

An ordinance was approved allowing construction of a country club in the R-3 multifamily district of Stoneridge Estates, which is located east of North Washington Avenue and north of CC Camp Road.

The club, or community center, will be for subdivision tenants only, and will include a gym, laundry facility and meeting room.

The permit has several conditions, including that the meeting room will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with card access; the gym and laundromat will be open 24 hours each day; there will be a minimum of 15 and maximum of 20 parking spaces and the occupancy is limited to 41 people at one time.

Senior Housing Unit

The second permit approved was for a planned unit development for the Independence Valley subdivision north of Eve Estates Drive south of Independence Drive, and between North Union Avenue and Church Street.

Plans call for 74 units in the 55 and older community.

The development will include gazebos, a lake and sidewalks throughout the subdivision, Schmelz said.

Alderman Karen Erwin asked estimated prices for the units.

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Board Approves Club, Senior Housing Requests

Police are searching for the suspect who allegedly shot a 67-year-old businessman while he sat in the driveway of his Hempfield home on Thursday morning.

Harold James Marietta was shot in the neck with a handgun as he sat outside his house along Penn Valley Road near Hunker, state police spokesman Stephen Limani said.

Marietta was conscious when he was transported to a Pittsburgh hospital, where he was listed in serious condition, Limani said.

While police searched for the suspect, nearby Stanwood Elementary School and the Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center were put on lockdown after the 7:30 a.m. incident.

The lockdowns were lifted later in the morning, state police said.

Police used dogs and helicopters in an attempt to find the suspect, who reportedly was wearing a light-colored hooded sweatshirt and gloves. He fled south on foot after the shooting, police said.

Hempfield Area School District Superintendent Barbara Marin said parents were told about the lockdown about 9 a.m. through the district's emergency notification system.

We felt it was in everyone's best interests to lock down the school, Marin said.

Earlier this month, someone entered Marietta's home through a garage door and took two handguns and $1,500, according to a police report.

Marietta, his wife and others founded Laurel Highlands Fence Co. in 1992, according to the company's website.

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Man shot outside Hempfield home, Stanwood Elementary put on lockdown

1. Solar panels are relatively inexpensive and straightforward to install compared to many other types of renewable-energy technology. Panels are usually fitted to a pitched roof, but they can be mounted on a wall, or a frame on the ground or a flat roof. Although they work on cloudy days, the panels need a sunny position to be most effective, so a south-facing position, which gets sun most of the day, is ideal.

2. There are two types of solar panel - ones that generate electricity, called solar photovoltaics or PV, and ones that heat water, called solar thermal. With both, you'll cut your energy bills and CO2 emissions, but the benefits don't end there.

3. Solar PV panels (the most popular type) can also earn you money through the Government's Feed-In Tariffs scheme. Providing your PV system qualifies, the scheme pays you for the electricity you generate and use and also for any surplus electricity you supply to the National Grid. According to the Energy Saving Trust (www.energysavingtrust.org.uk), an average 4kWp domestic PV system costs between 5,000 and 8,000 and in the south of England, should generate approximately enough electricity for a typical household.

4. The Energy Saving Trust says that a typical solar water-heating system costs around 3,000-5,000, but the savings you make will be moderate. As well as the solar panels, you'll need a boiler or immersion heater to give you additional hot water and sometimes to make the water heated by the panels hotter, especially in winter. You may also have to change your boiler and hot-water cylinder to ones compatible with the panels.

5. If your home's leasehold, you may need permission from the freeholder to install solar panels - the roof usually belongs to the freeholder. Restrictions may also apply if you live on 'designated land', such as conservation areas, and if the building's listed - ask your local council what you can and can't do. Where planning restrictions apply and solar panels aren't allowed, solar roof tiles or slates may be acceptable to the council's planning department.

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK

The Easter break is the perfect time to start whipping your garden into shape. Sheds, fences, gazebos and wooden furniture have probably taken a pounding over winter and if they're looking forlorn, there's no better way to protect and brighten them up than with Cuprinol Garden Shades (22 for one 2.5ltr tin, or 30 for two, B&Q).

This nice-to-use matt paint can be applied to all garden wood and provides four years of protection, but the best thing about it is the huge range of colours, from sophisticated neutrals to bright pinks, blues, greens and more, perfect for a pop of colour. I love Urban Slate, a gorgeous dark grey that looks fantastic on fences against flowers and greenery and works in all styles of garden.

Another big advantage of Cuprinol Garden Shades is that, unlike a lot of similar products, they can be sprayed on, which is a big time-saver. Use the Cuprinol Fence Sprayer (26.59, http://www.cuprinol.co.uk) and you'll get the job done in no time. Even without the sprayer, many of the colours cover in one coat, so there'll be time to enjoy your smart new garden this Easter.

HOW-TO TIP

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5 tips for: choosing solar panels

Council, president discuss rec. fees town hall

Posted: Friday, March 13, 2015 11:55 pm

$2.5M St. John playground facelift approved By Richard Meek LObservateur L'Observateur |

LAPLACE Youngsters in St. John the Baptist Parish might soon be playing on shiny new equipment while adults watch from a sparkling gazebo as part of a $2.5 million project scheduled to bring major improvements to all parish playgrounds.

Parish Council members approved the administrations request this week to go out for bids on the project, which will include such amenities as gazebos, sidewalks, learning walls, picnic tables and fitness stations, depending on the facility. According to project plans, low spots will also be filled in, some soccer fields refurbished, basketball courts rebuilt and restrooms constructed.

It is a comprehensive plan that includes improvements at all facilities, Parish President Natalie Robottom said, adding the original plan was amended based on input from residents and stakeholders.

Unresolved, however, is what youngsters will be paying to participate in sports at some of the refurbished facilities. Councilman Larry Snyder had requested Robottom meet with some Council members to discuss lowering of the fees, which some believe are too high and discourage participation.

Robottom said fees are $45 per child per sport and include the cost of insurance, jerseys and caps.

She added in 2014 the total amount collected in basketball fees was $5,800 and $5,700 for baseball.

Our focus should be on the affordability of kids being able to participate, Snyder said.

Continued here:
$2.5M St. John playground facelift approved

A company in the Tidewood East Industrial Park in Hometown has won an innovation award from Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Highwood USA LLC has won the award for entrepreneurial achievement as the company that best exemplifies the quintessential entrepreneurial spirit a combination of ingenuity, hard work and innovation that has resulted in the creation of a successful and growing business venture.

The company is a manufacturer of extruded-plastic synthetic-wood products that are used for outdoor furniture and hot tubs/spas, as well as in exterior lumber applications such as decks, fencing, gazebos and garden sheds.

Highwood proactively and continuously innovates its processes, introduces new products, and identifies and develops untapped niches in the marketplace, Ben Franklin officials said.

The company also uses unique combinations of materials and manufacturing processes to produce state-of-the-art synthetic wood products, according to Ben Franklin.

Highwood has expanded its facility twice to keep pace with growth and John Quarmley, its president, said the 23,000 square feet being added to the plant now will mean more jobs.

We are adding an accountant, and six process and manufacturing engineers, Quarmley said. We are also looking for woodworkers and a human resources manager. We will be adding about 12 employees to the 70 we have now.

Highwood started in 2003 with seven employees in 27,000 square feet. Additions in 2008 and 2012 brought the building to its present 73,000 square feet.

With the latest addition, we have maxed out the property we are on, Quarmley said. We bought seven acres next to us for future expansions.

Ben Franklin Technology Partners also said the company actively invests in its employees through training and development, in support of its high-performance work team management philosophy.

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Hometown firm earns awardfrom technology partnership

QUINCY, Ill. (WGEM) - The Quincy Park District Board of Commissioners have decided to move forward with the possibility of awarding naming rights to district properties.

Director of Program Services Mike Bruns says park names would stay the same, but things like tennis courts, gazebos and ball fields would be used for advertising by local businesses.

Bruns says businesses would most likely sign a three to five year agreement.

"We're going to put together some requests for proposals to put out there to see if we get any response from different businesses," Bruns said. "And then once we get that back, then we would take them to the board of commissioners. They would look at it and there would be a back and forth negotiations to try and work out the details."

Bruns says the park district has been looking for anyway they can increase its revenue source for additional funding.

The plan isn't final yet and there's no word on when it will happen.

For more information you can contact Mike Bruns at 217-223-7703.

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Park district may possibly award naming rights to district properties