LONDON It's the past home of Queen Victoria and Princess Diana, the future residence of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge and, it's hoped, a stop on tourists' London itineraries.

Kensington Palace part museum, part royal abode is reopening to the public after a two-year $19-million makeover designed to give visitors a sense of what it is like to live in a centuries-old building that has witnessed both affairs of state and affairs of the heart.

Senior curator Joanna Marschner said she hopes the renovated building will shake up preconceptions about royal palaces, offering both the "big, glorious, golden rooms" that people expect, and a trove of more personal, revealing items from Queen Victoria's baby shoes to Princess Diana's little black dress.

"I hope what we have done will engage people who have always thought 'a royal palace is not for me,'" Marschner said Tuesday. "And for them to realize that these remarkable buildings part of the DNA of the city are for them."

Tucked into Kensington Gardens, a public park in central London, Kensington Palace is a warm red-brick contrast to gray Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth II's London home.

It was home to six British monarchs, including Victoria, who spent her childhood here, and now contains several royal "apartments" actually Georgian houses, one of which William and Kate will move into next year.

It also has dozens of rooms that are open to the public. The public side of the palace reopens Monday, in time for a busy tourist season that includes the queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in June and the summer Olympics.

Project manager Jo Thwaites, who oversaw the renovation, said the changes involved "peeling back the layers of Kensington Palace in order to reveal much more for visitors to enjoy."

Formerly shielded by hedges and fences that made its public entrance hard to find, the palace is now much more welcoming.

The entrance from the park lies beside a lovely ornamental garden surrounded by manicured lawns on which visitors are encouraged to dawdle. It comes as a surprise to find the signs posted there do not say "keep off the grass," but merely warn people to take care on steep slopes.

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Princess Diana's home reopens to public

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By Mechele Cooper mcooper@centralmaine.com Staff Writer

PITTSTON -- The $200,000 historic restoration of Reuben Colburn's 1765 home, carriage house and barn is close to completion.

click image to enlarge

Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands historian Tom Desjardin hopes to have the restoration of the 1765 Reuben Colburn homestead in Pittston completed by June. The state has spent approximately $200,000 over the last three years repairing the historic home, barns and carriage house on the Kennebec River.

Staff photo by Andy Molloy

click image to enlarge

Tom Desjardin, historian for the state Bureau of Parks & Land, said the three-year project will end in June. Then the home of Colburn, who helped Colonel Benedict Arnold on his Revolutionary War expedition to Quebec City, will once again be open for tours in July and August.

Desjardin said it's been 30 years since anything has been done to the state's historic site.

He said workers have been putting the finishing touches on Colburn's home, including an old Greek Revival style door surround that includes door pillars and the door step.

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Colburn house almost ready for tourists again

Otiake Wetland in the Waitaki Valley has recently undergone some much-needed restoration work thanks to funding assistance from Environment Canterbury's Immediate Steps Programme.

The restoration work is being coordinated by the Department of Conservation, which is managing the wetland in partnership with landowner Kate White.

Lorraine Cook, DOC Flora Ranger, says the wetland is one of the best remaining habitats of its type in the Lower Waitaki. "It is also home to a number of native species including longfin eel and remnant native plants such as raupo, toi toi and Carex secta."

"It has been a very amicable partnership between us and DOC," Kate White said. "We love the wetland and get a lot of pleasure out of it. There are white swans that come and go, herons and other birds including two groups of pukekos that don't mix!"

Controlling invasive willows and other weeds has been a focus of the restoration work, as well as erecting fencing to exclude stock and planting native plants.

The wetlands not only provide important habitat for native species, they also protect downstream water quality by trapping sediment and absorbing nutrients.

The project received $32,000 in Immediate Steps funding and $16,000 from DOC.

More funding available

The Lower Waitaki - South Coastal Canterbury Water Management Committee has $100,000 in Immediate Steps funding to distribute each year towards biodiversity projects in the area.

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Otiake Wetland restoration supported

A SCULPTURE on the banks of the Maribyrnong River will be flying the coop while it gets a full restoration and new home.

Everybird (right), near The Boathouse restaurant in Moonee Ponds, will be removed and treated for wood rot by a timber conservator.

>> Does Moonee Valley need more public art and where would you like to see it? Tell us below.

The restoration will cost about $24,000, including the cost of removal, relocation and improvements to site fixtures.

The costs are on top of the original $60,000 that Moonee Valley Council paid artist Bruce Armstrong for several sculptures in the city, including Everybird.

The sculpture will be installed at a new home in June.

Mayor Jim Cusack said it was vital to take care of the citys cultural assets for future generations.

The nest will still be in a public area but will hopefully be more protected from the elements than its current home, he said.

Afton Street Wetlands has been considered as a possibility along with another area alongside the Maribyrnong.

Everybird will still remain in a public place in its new home.

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YOUR SAY: Bird to fly again on the banks of the Maribyrnong

WEIRTON - The Tri-State Home and Garden Show returned to the area Friday, just in time for the start of spring.

The third-annual event, sponsored this year by DeNoon Lumber, Weirton Medical Center and Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration, will continue today and Sunday at the Serbian-American Cultural Center in Weirton.

It is organized through a cooperative effort between the Weirton Area and Jefferson County chambers of commerce and coordinated by Beyond Marketing of Wheeling.

The activities kicked off Friday, with exhibits opening at 4 p.m. and a combined chamber Business After Hours. The Tri-State Home and Garden Show is free to the public and will be open today from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"With the predicted weather, we should have a terrific turnout," Lisa Conti, Weirton chamber board member, said, encouraging area residents to check things out this weekend. "It's a wonderful event for the community."

John Cucarese, a member of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce board, agreed, saying in addition to finding tips for home improvement projects and gardening and landscaping, he finds the networking opportunities during trade shows and other local events beneficial.

"I always find them helpful for my business," he said, noting he had a booth set up for his New York Life agency.

With close to 90 vendors registered, organizers and sponsors said they were excited for the public to see what they have to offer.

"This is always a great show," Rob DiCiccio, of Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration, said. "We are honored and pleased to be a major sponsor."

Clay Croskey, of DeNoon Lumber, said the Tri-State Home and Garden Show provides an opportunity for them to meet potential customers and let them see what the business has to offer.

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Tri-State Home and Garden Show begins

WEIRTON - The Tri-State Home and Garden Show returned to the area Friday, just in time for the start of spring.

The third-annual event, sponsored this year by DeNoon Lumber, Weirton Medical Center and Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration, will continue today and Sunday at the Serbian-American Cultural Center in Weirton.

It is organized through a cooperative effort between the Weirton Area and Jefferson County chambers of commerce and coordinated by Beyond Marketing of Wheeling.

The activities kicked off Friday, with exhibits opening at 4 p.m. and a combined chamber Business After Hours. The Tri-State Home and Garden Show is free to the public and will be open today from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"With the predicted weather, we should have a terrific turnout," Lisa Conti, Weirton chamber board member, said, encouraging area residents to check things out this weekend. "It's a wonderful event for the community."

John Cucarese, a member of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce board, agreed, saying in addition to finding tips for home improvement projects and gardening and landscaping, he finds the networking opportunities during trade shows and other local events beneficial.

"I always find them helpful for my business," he said, noting he had a booth set up for his New York Life agency.

With close to 90 vendors registered, organizers and sponsors said they were excited for the public to see what they have to offer.

"This is always a great show," Rob DiCiccio, of Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration, said. "We are honored and pleased to be a major sponsor."

Clay Croskey, of DeNoon Lumber, said the Tri-State Home and Garden Show provides an opportunity for them to meet potential customers and let them see what the business has to offer.

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Tri-State Home and Garden Show kicks off spring

Jennifer Preyss Originally published March 16, 2012 at midnight, updated March 16, 2012 at midnight IF YOU GO

WHAT: Restoration House Ministries 1,000 Women Strong Vendor Fair

WHEN: 1-4 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Faith Family Church, Connection Center, 2002 E. Mockingbird Lane, Victoria

COST: Free admission

MORE INFO: Faith Family Church, 361-573-2484

At Restoration House Ministries' 1,000 Women Strong Awareness Vendor Fair Saturday, ladies will have the opportunity to shop for a good cause.

More than a half-dozen vendors, including Mary Kay, Ooh La La Boutique, Silpada Jewelry, Scentsy, Gold Buying Girl and Stampin' Up!, have donated products to the event to raise money for Restoration House's faith-based Victoria home for women.

"They're all donated products. Everything that's sold at the event is donated to Restoration House for programs in the home, operational expenses and materials for the girls," said Jennifer Martinez, Restoration House public relations representative.

Restoration House is a 6-month-long self-admitted program for women struggling with teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol addictions, and abuse. Restoration House provides a safe place for the women to seek help, and recover from their struggles using biblical principles.

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Restoration House hosts vendor fair

SOURCE: SERVPRO Industries, Inc.

Disaster Recovery and Damage Restoration Franchisor Says Knowledge and Preparation Can Help Property Owners Weather Violent Storms

GALLATIN, TN--(Marketwire - Mar 16, 2012) - The announcement comes over your TV or radio: there's a storm headed your way. What can you do to help protect yourself, your family and your home?

According to SERVPRO, the answers to those questions lie in understanding the difference between a storm watch and a storm warning; in knowing where to seek shelter if you're caught by a storm; in taking precautions as storm season approaches to minimize the potential for storm-related property damage; and finally in knowing where to turn for prompt, professional help if your home or property does sustain damage.

"While violent storms can strike anytime, the return of warmer weather typically marks an increase in the threat of sudden, severe storms with their accompanying wind, rain, lightning and even hail," said Rick Isaacson, Executive Vice President of Servpro Industries, Inc. "Authorities issue a storm 'watch' when there is the potential for severe weather. A storm 'warning' means that the danger is imminent. We hope that the following tips* will give homeowners the information they need to help keep themselves, their family and their property safe when the first storm warning hits the airwaves."

The Basics

Before the Storm Hits

During the Storm -- In Your Home

During the Storm -- If You're Caught Outdoors

After the Storm

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Severe Storm Readiness Tips for Homeowners From SERVPRO(R)

Bronson Pinchot, in 1986 (left) and more recently

Bob D'Amico/ABC; Ryan Miller/Getty

"I was in New York City and I was doing a Broadway show, and I was on a computer and I happened to see country houses with land around them that were the cost of half a New York City studio apartment," the former Perfect Strangers actor, 52, tells ABC's Good Morning America.

"I just got it into my head that I had to have one, and then I got another one and another one."

Pinchot now owns five houses in Harford and restored them all using only only salvaged objects a process documented in The Bronson Pinchot Project, a new series on the DIY Network.

Does he miss the hustle and bustle of the acting life? Hardly.

"I never did love Hollywood, I just loved the work," he says. "In California you say to somebody, 'Could you help me carry this heavy thing?' 'No, 'cause it's bicep day at the gym and I don't want to pre-exhaust the muscle.' "

Having first proved himself a scene-stealer opposite Eddie Murphy in 1984's Beverly Hills Cop, Pinchot says playing Balki on ABC's Perfect Strangers from 1986 to 1993 was a wonderful opportunity, but not without its downsides.

"There is a potentially awkward disconnect when someone expects you to be a character and you're not," he says. "You can see the disappointment and even offense that they take."

His new passion is giving him new fans, though. "What happens now is people will sit next to me on the plane [and] they'll go, 'So, Bronson, I've got this crud, like, in between my tiles,' and I'm like, 'Muriatic acid, but make sure you wear a mask,' " he says.

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Bronson Pinchot: Where Is He Now?

JEFFERSON CITYMissouris elk herd is growing on two fronts, and conservation officials express optimism that the second year of restoration work will benefit from experience gained in 2011. Efforts to bring elk back to Missouri after a 150-year absence began in October 2010, when the Missouri Conservation Commission approved a restoration plan. The plan called for obtaining up to 150 wild elk from other states with established wild populations. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) quickly got the go-ahead from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to trap elk from its herd of more than 10,000. The Bluegrass State restored its elk herd between 1997 and 2002, bringing elk from Utah and other western states to populate a 16-county restoration zone. MDC construction crews began building traps and holding pens in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Kentucky in December 2010. Although hampered by heavy snowfall, they completed their work in time to start trapping elk in January 2011. This year, warm weather with little snow helped MDC make extensive modifications to holding pens. However, those same conditions hampered actual trapping, since elk had easier access to natural food and were less inclined to visit baited trap sites. In spite of this, 54 elk were captured through a combination of baited pen traps and sedative darting. We learned a lot the first year, said MDC Elk Project Manager Ron Dent. That enabled us to make better use of the opportunities we had to catch elk, and we have significantly improved handling procedures and veterinary care to keep the animals we captured healthy. Changes to this years elk-restoration work in Kentucky included enlarging the holding pens and extending them into brushy areas to provide better shelter from the elements. Other changes have substantially reduced disturbance from human activities and provided more natural, hygienic access to food and water. Provisions for moving and handling elk also have been changed to reduce stress and potential for injury. The elk are a lot more relaxed and in much better physical condition this year, thanks to all the changes we have made, said Dent. In short, we are getting better at this, and that translates into more and healthier elk. One particularly valuable innovation this year is the addition of two caretakers to watch over the Kentucky elk. Living in a camper on-site, the two not only guard against human disturbance, they provide early warnings of developing problems. One of our caretakers has an agriculture background and is very quick to pick up on it when the elks behavior is off, said Dent. That has given us the jump on several situations. Without their help, we wouldnt be where we are today with this years work. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has shared the cost and staff needs for trapping efforts and plans to begin its own restoration this year. Substantial financial support also came from private conservation groups, including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation. MDC once again is working closely with the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the U.S., Kentucky and Virginia departments of agriculture to ensure the health of all the captured elk. This years catch of 54 elk includes 39 cows and 15 bulls. They will be divided between Missouri and Virginia, with the majority earmarked for Missouri. Missouris share of this years captured elk will join the 36 elk already living here. The current elk herd consists of five calves born in Missouri last year and 31 of the 34 elk brought from Kentucky in 2011. One of Missouris elk that died last year was a cow that was brought to Kentucky from Utah in 1997, the first year of Kentuckys elk-restoration program. As the dominant cow, she played a key role in establishing Missouris elk herd before succumbing to old age. The other two casualties among last years transplants resulted from internal parasites and an accidental fall. Naturally, we hate to lose any of these animals, said Dent. But losses are inevitable, and we have every reason to believe that such losses will be smaller in the future as we gain experience. One of the elk now in holding pens in Kentucky is a cow that also was part of Kentuckys restoration herd. She came to Kentucky from Utah as a calf in 1999. Most of the 13 mature cows already in Missouri, along with those that will arrive this spring, are expected to be pregnant and will give birth to calves in early summer. With normal calf survival, Missouris resident elk herd could top 70 by the end of the summer. MDC personnel will attempt to find calves born in Missouri this year and fit them with radio collars. GPS collars on most of the resident herd enable MDC to track their movements. Dent said they are behaving as expected, exploring their new home but mostly staying in the vicinity of green browse fields and open woodland habitat available within the 346-square-mile elk-restoration zone in Shannon, Carter and Reynolds counties. They are using the wildlife plots we established along the elk-tour routes, said Dent. They also are using open woodlands and forested areas, where they find acorns during the fall. Hunters who took part in managed deer hunts at Peck Ranch Conservation Area (CA) in October, November and December were asked to carry GPS units so biologists could observe how elk reacted to human activity. Most of the elk movements were short-term, and they returned to the same places after hunters left, said Dent. We were surprised to find that they didnt move much at all. Mainly they just moved and stayed out of sight. We only had a few hunters who saw elk. According to Dent, the elk were more dispersed during the summer, as would be expected when cows are rearing their calves. As autumn wore on, they came together in three loosely organized groups. This is consistent with elk mating behavior, in which dominant bulls gather and guard harems of cows. These groups have tended to hold together until the present, and likely will break up again as calving season approaches. To encourage Missouris growing elk herd to remain in and around the restoration zone, MDC is working to enlarge and improve existing habitat that meets the grazing animals needs. This work includes planting patches of mixed legumes and warm- and cool-season grasses and liming and fertilizing existing green-browse plots. One large project involves several hundred acres on Current River CA. Some of these areas are old fields that formerly were pasture, hay or cropland but have grown up in brushy vegetation and invasive trees such as locust, cedar and Osage orange. Restoring these areas to a more open condition enhances habitat diversity in a way that benefits a wide range of wildlife, including elk. Dent said elk have turned into a popular attraction at Peck Ranch CA, with individuals frequenting the established elk driving tour and local businesses making plans to develop elk-viewing opportunities. Dent said hunters at Peck Ranch CA last fall reported that the possibility of seeing elk was one of the areas primary attractions. MDC plans to close the refuge area at Peck Ranch CA this spring, as it did last year. Dent said the inconvenience to turkey hunters is considered necessary to avoid disturbance of elk from Kentucky and resident elk that are calving during the spring and early summer. The portion of Peck Ranch CA outside the marked refuge fence remains open to hunting and other activities. Dent said the 12,000-acre refuge area will remain closed until mid-summer. Exact closure and reopening dates will be announced later this year. He said he expects health tests of elk trapped this year to be complete in May, after which they can be brought to Missouri. They will be released after a short holding period to allow them to acclimate to their new surroundings. MDC is exploring the possibility of using elk brought from Kentucky this year to establish a second sub-herd on property owned by The Nature Conservancy. Dent said this area is nearer the middle of the elk-restoration zone, and releasing elk there would encourage additional use of suitable habitat the area offers. He said The Nature Conservancy has put significant effort into habitat improvements on its land, making that area even more suitable for elk. It also has the advantage of not putting all Missouris elk in one basket, so to speak, said Dent.

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ELK restoration enters second year