For most of us, the idea of remodeling our homes can be very exhilarating. Giving your Arizona home a facelift is an uplifting experience and can completely refresh your living space. But remodeling a house can often be just as taxing as building a new one, so make sure not to rush the renovation.

Every little thing adds up when it comes to home renovation. For instance, you should consider if you plan to rebuild the house all at once or in parts. Not only will doing it all in one session be more expensive, but you will have to stay in a temporary location for an extended period, too.

So, if you want to save money and avoid staying in a rented apartment, we recommend rebuilding and redecorating it in segments. Additionally, you wouldnt be willing to sacrifice thequality by slashing corners on raw materials throughout the reconstruction.

Instead, you can save money without losing quality if you prepare ahead of time and consult with experts about the job. Before you dive head-first into your next renovation project, take a deep breath and take a look at these five tips that will make it go a lot easier.

The budget is the deciding aspect that will determine how expensive the remodeling will be. It is recommended to create a budget before developing a plan. It will allow you to analyze the remodeling process and make an informed conclusion.

Be sure to stick to your budget and get precise repair quotes before starting the remodeling work. Despite all the planning, unforeseen situations can occur, which will unexpectedly increase the budget.

Even though youve done your homework on how much your supplies, labor, and other remodeling components will cost, its safe if you keep some money aside. That way, youre prepared just in case the budget goes overboard.

Its far too easy to get carried away with unrealistic goals while planning for renovations. So, we recommend you to be realistic about what you can afford and avoid making emotional decisions.

Once youve finalized the budget, your next step is to look for contractors who will meet your requirements. The best approach to ensure that your improvements are finished to your satisfaction is to hire a competent contractor.

You should check at a contractors past work before onboarding them. Its always a good idea to start by looking at factors like years of experience, a contractors license, insurance certificates, andtestimonials before hiring.

You must do all necessary to find the best renovation team available; after all, remodeling is a substantial investment. You do not want to put the project in the hands of inexperienced people. Once you find a reliable team, develop a solid strategy that will act as a blueprint for the project.

Taking on a renovation project may lead to additional expenditures, stress, and even legal issues without proper planning. Youll be more confident in your decisions if youve done your research and prepared ahead of time.

Before you begin, make sure you understand the entire renovation process. Analyze each room in your house and decide what requires the most care based on your findings. If you cant decide on your own, you can hire professionals, as remodeling a home is a huge undertaking that should not be handled lightly.

Get a clear picture of what you need to do before you get started, and prioritize repairs instead of replacements, as it will save you some money. Start by creating a checklist of things that you need to address.

After that, use a planner or scheduler programto put the strategy into action. Make use of the tools you have at your disposal, such as a simple planner app. Itll help you stay on track with the project.

Once youve inspected the property and established a reasonable budget, youll need to know how long it will take to accomplish the repair. You and your contractor will have to figure out how long each part of the job will take. Make a plan for how long the project will take and which elements will be worked upon simultaneously.

Without a timetable in place, how can you tell if the refurbishment is progressing as planned? So, make sure to set a realistic timeline for the remodeling process; it will help keep track of things.

Planning a home makeover can certainly be difficult. At times, it may feel like there are too many moving components, but that doesnt mean that completing it is going to be impossible.

Instead, youll want to be fully prepared in the event of a budget shortfall or an unforeseen incident that delays the restoration of your property. Keeping this in mind, be sure to include extra days in your timeframe while planning to give yourself a little breathing room.

Additionally, before you start the project, be prepared to address any underlying electrical issues existing in your home. Unwired wires should not be left lying around, as they are dangerous. Rather, replace the old colored resistors with the new resistor color code labels clearly on them.

A house makeover may initially appear to be a simple operation, but it actually requires a lot of time and effort. Move forward with the project one step at a time and mark off the checklist as you go. This will serve as a motivator and help keep you on track.

Finally, be sure to consult with those in your social and professional circles who have already undergone house renovations, as their insights will be invaluable. And ultimately, we hope we were able to help you in any way with the remodeling endeavors. We hope your project goes well!

See the rest here:
5 things to keep in mind when remodeling your home in Arizona - AZ Big Media

A couple stumbled across an incredible scrapbook from the Second World War, in a home they're restoring, which detailed a tragic love story.

Kevin and Laine Berry have been carefully restoring properties for 20 years, and have six active projects, as well as their own 1909 house, in Conway, Arkansas.

One of them is in Monticello, built in 1896, which the couple bought with plans for a "full rehabilitation" over 18 months.

Despite transforming homes for two decades, Kevin told Newsweek they'd never come across anything as comprehensive as the contents of a trash bag they found in the residence.

A bulging scrapbook detailed the life of Marjorie Mae Ingram, born on February 1, 1921, according to her obituary in the local paper, Arkansasonline.com.

The Berrys found photos, newspaper clippings, telegrams and letters spanning her early years, her education and her relationship with Clifford L. Fluitt, who became her fianc.

But before they got their hands on the keys, Kevin claimed a court battle dragged on for years regarding the house, which was eventually put up for auction and its contents sold.

By the time they owned it, Kevin described what was left, saying: "After the estate sale anything that remained in the home was pushed into a large pile in the dining room which we were told was trash.

"We were told to rent a dumpster and just throw it away, but we've been doing this too long to do that. We picked through each piece of 'trash,' and made TONS of discoveries, one of which was a trash-bag labeled 'Ingram Memories.'

"When we opened it we found the items you see in the TikTokand yes, we had NO idea that there had been a first love in Marjorie's life; we assumed it was a memory book about she and her eventual husband Elza, who we knew had also served very briefly in WW2."

A TikTok video shared to their account, @ourrestorationnation, detailed the incredible find, which included a haul of sentimental jewelry, including Fluitt's pilot's "wings," which Ingram was pictured wearing.

The first clip, posted earlier this month, was seen more than 800,000 times as Laine summarized the contents.

She said: "Inside this abandoned house, in this huge pile of trash, we found this trash bag. Inside the trash bag we found this scrapbook, which belonged to Marjorie Mae Ingram.

"What we discovered is this scrapbook is filled with her memories, of her first sweetheart, and their engagement during World War 2.

"She was engaged to Clifford LaVerne Fluitt, and he was an Avenger pilot, here we have their wedding announcement. You'll note the date is left blank, as no one was quite sure when he was going to get leave to come home and marry his best girl.

"It was later determined they would marry on September 1st." A newspaper clipping indicates they became engaged on August 6, 1944, with the wedding scheduled the following year.

Fluitt was one of five brothers fighting in the war. He was the only pilot, and part of a bombing raid that sank a Japanese ship, the Yamato, which went down in April 7 1945.

But Ingram received word her husband-to-be had gone missing during an "important tactical mission" in the North Pacific, on July 14, 1945, just weeks before their wedding, and the end of the war in the Pacific. He was 24, according to FindaGrave.com.

Laine went on to say the documents revealed Fluitt received the Naval Cross for his "bravery in action."

In a follow-up video, Laine, who also shares the couple's restoration to their YouTube account, Our Restoration Nation, added: "At this time Marjorie Mae spent hours at her piano, playing Clair de Lune over and over in her grief."

It seems Ingram kept all the correspondence relating to her first love, and as the Berrys delved deeper, they also uncovered she had kept his dog tags, his wings, his Anchor and his second lieutenant bars.

"And most surprising of all, her engagement ring, which she kept for 70-plus years," she added.

Laine speculated Ingram and Fluitt began their relationship around her high school senior year. "She waited seven years before marrying Elza Bond, and they were married 62 years," she added.

Ingram passed away in 2011, aged 90, while Bond, later becoming Judge Bond, passed away in 2014, aged 86, according to his obituary in Arkansas Online. The pair didn't have any children.

Kevin, who's been married to his wife for 25 years, told Newsweek: "We were stunned when we found the items.

"Laine spent days going through each scrap of paper and marvelling over the extent of the archive. There isn't time or space to list everything we found: we truly found a full lifetime of memories from someone who kept everything.

"But, in regard to Marjorie and Clifford we found a scrapbook that contained newspaper articles about each battle in which he was involved (most notably the sinking of the Japanese Destroyer the Yamoto), telegraphs from him during his initial training, Christmas and Valentines cards during service, their engagement announcement, their wedding invitation, letters and photos from his family, and then the letters from the war department both telling her about Clifford going missing and the determination that he was lost in action.

"His medals (Purple Heart, Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, WW2 Victory Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, etc) are all with his family.

"However, Clifford had given Marjorie sweethearts wings, his Anchor, his ensigns bars, one of his dog tags, multiple small pieces of jewelry, and her engagement ring.

"Interestingly there are no personal letters from Clifford; only a few telegrams about training or visits he plans to make home to see Marjorie."

Kevin explained the majority of items will eventually go on display in the house once it's restored. An only child, Ingram, had no living relatives when she passed away, while Bond was survived by numerous cousins.

He added: "The items actually extend through Marjorie's life beginning in 1921. However, the items in the war scrapbook begin in 1942 and continue until the 15 Aug 1945."

The trash bag also contained memorabilia from Ingram's younger years, with the accomplished and award-winning music teacher valedictorian at 16.

She was named homecoming queentwiceat high school and college, with her senior year class ring from 1937, and University of Arkansas class ring, which she graduated from in 1941, among the items left behind.

Original post:
Couple Restoring Old House Find WW2 Scrapbook in the Trash Revealing Tragic Love Story - Newsweek

Despite the support the Merediths received, Magnolia Network temporarily pulled the plug on their show, stating they were conducting an investigation into the homeowners claims. A week later Magnolia announced it would put the show back on the air, declaring, We do not believe there was ill or malicious intent. According to a Magnolia Network press release, the network didnt exactly suffer from any of this bad press: More than 3 million viewers tuned in to watch programming on Magnolias premiere night, and the network has continued to thrive, with the second episode of the Gaineses Fixer Upper: Welcome Home drawing 9% more viewers than the first.

Followers, fans, trolls, and allegations aside: Despite the Merediths seeming win with the network, its hard to say there are any real winners in this story. Regardless of the overwhelming abundance of evidence in this argument, everyone appears to have suffered some degree of pain. So what do we do with that? As humans, were wired to thrive off drama and intrigue, but this isnt a soap opera were watching play outthese are real people whose real lives and livelihoods are on the line. With the stakes so high, is schadenfreude an appropriate response? Or is all of thisthe show, the fame, the trust, the destructionconstructed on a faulty foundation?

Just think that there might be two sides to every story.

The premise many of us have bought into is that anyone or anything affiliated with brands and names weve sunk our faith into must, by extension, be worthy of unmitigated confidence. Most of us are guilty of this unconditional loyalty to some degreewhether its the allegiance of wearing a beloved brands logo or the well-intentioned but ultimately disastrous investment in a business model built on manipulation (see: Amazons LuLaRich docuseries). We also now exist in a world in which we all have the ability to wield devastating power through our keyboards and phone screens. What may have, a decade ago, solely served as fodder on Yelp or a niche community message board, now has the potential to level a persons career and social standing. In a culture that has historically silenced so many voices, the opportunity to amplify concerns and critiques is critical, but the flip side is the possible fallout and backfire that can occur when anything goes out into the ether. We may not be able to dismantle an infrastructure that's both elevated influencers on the same platforms we use to praise, question, and condemn them, but we can take a step back and choose how we participate in this ecosystem. And thats a sentiment all parties involved have echoed in one way or another.

I used my platform to tell the truth, Bennion says. I used a platform where so often so many things are untruthful, or are bigger or smaller than they appear. I just wanted to tell the truth after all of the times that I knew that people were trying to silence it.

Two days later Candis told Glamour, It's okay to support people online, [but] when that support means that you're tearing somebody else down, you need to take a moment and pause. Just think that there might be two sides to every story.

Michelle Konstantinovsky is a San Franciscobased freelance journalist who has written for a number of publications including Vanity Fair, Vogue, Shape, Teen Vogue, and O: The Oprah Magazine.

Continue reading here:
For Andy and Candis Meredith, a Show on the Magnolia Network Was a Dream Come TrueUntil It Wasnt - Glamour

In October, police chief Art Acevedo was fired, but not before he wrote a memo to the mayor, city manager, federal and local prosecutors accusing three city commissioners of interfering with internal police matters. He claims that they were using their office to target personal enemies, and they were interfering with his efforts to shake up the police department.

WLRN is here for you, even when life is unpredictable. Our journalists are continuing to work hard to keep you informed across South Florida. Please support this vital work. Become a WLRN member today. Thank you.

Acevedo referred this to local and federal prosecutors, including the Miami-Dade State's Attorney Office, which ended up passing on the case. According to Miami Herald investigative reporter Nicholas Nehamas, that was because of a potential conflict of interest.

Prosecutors with the office of Katherine Fernandez Rundle in Miami-Dade did launch a criminal investigation, and quickly discovered that a potential key witness to the criminal activity alleged by Acevedo is the brother of one of the top attorneys in Fernandez Rundles office, said Nehamas.

They asked Gov. Ron DeSantis if they could reassign the case, which he did. He gave the case to prosecutors in Broward who are now running their own probe. The governors December order was confidential. The Miami Herald learned about this earlier this week.

In addition to that, this week the former police chief also filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Miami and four city officials: city manager Art Noriega and city commissioners Joe Carollo, Alex Daz de la Portilla and Manolo Reyes. Acevedo claims that they violated his First Amendment rights and that he was retaliated against for being a whistleblower.

In his lawsuit, he claims he achieved whistleblower status when he filed his eight-page memo, and he was fired shortly after.

Its an interesting legal case. You dont often see an official as prominent and high up in the city as a police chief claim whistleblower status, said Nehamas.

The commissioners named in the lawsuit have denied all allegations since the beginning. According to Nehamas, they say that Acevedo is trying to cover up for his incompetence and inability to run the department by blaming them.

Interestingly, Mayor Francis Suarez, the one who played a key role in bringing Acevedo to Miami, has been the most quiet.

Hes made very few public statements, didnt appear at city hall meetings to discuss this, and didnt respond to comment for our story, Nehamas said.

The lawsuit will proceed as normal, with the defendants having to be served before filing their response. The case will be heard by a judge at some point.

Acevedo made a request for public records he believed could help his lawsuit after he was fired and was quoted a figure of $2.3 million, Nehamas said.

"It's worth noting his request was very broad and produced 10 million documents," Nehamas said. "But it is a fact of life that city officials in Miami, [and] state officials around Florida will often quote exorbitant figures for public records requests and it can make it very difficult to meet the spirit of Florida's very broad public records law."

Searching for superintendents at super-speed, and slower

The two largest public school districts in Florida, which are two of the largest in the nation, are both looking for new bosses.

Broward County Public Schools has been without a permanent superintendent all school year. Broward spent weeks weeks accepting applications and assessing candidates.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools will be without a superintendent early next month. It accepted applications for one week and has already cut down the number of qualified candidates to three.

Both school boards have public meetings scheduled for next week, as they've been operating on very different timelines.

The Miami-Dade County School Board really wants an educator to be in charge of the nation's fourth-largest district, according to Kate Payne, WLRN education reporter.

"They're looking for teaching experience in a public school, but also somebody with an advanced degree a master's or doctorate. But they also wanted somebody who's been a principal, has district-wide experience, administrative experience," Payne said. "Another key factor is really finding somebody who understands the diverse community in Miami-Dade and the needs of students."

Despite criticism that the board is rushing the process, they provided a mostly united front in selecting their new superintendent quickly, Payne said.

The Miami-Dade County Public School Board is scheduled to meet Monday afternoon and could select a new superintendent at that meeting.

WLRN senior editor Jessica Bakeman described the three candidates as "an internal candidate, an external candidate and a Tallahassee candidate."

Jacob Oliva is the "Tallahassee candidate," currently with the Florida Department of Education where he works closely with Education Secretary Richard Corcoran.

He is originally from South Dade and served as a superintendent in Flagler County. And he's getting backing in unusually overt political terms, in a television ad airing on Spanish-language television.

Oliva would "approve and promote the law of Governor Ron DeSantis" including teaching about the dangers of communism and banning critical race theory, the ad says. It's presented by Cuban-American attorney Marcell Felipe, with the logo of the Inspire America Foundation, founded by Felipe.

"This is an acceleration and a continuation of what we've been seeing, which is a greater politicization of education policy," Bakeman said. She said there were also some parallels to the search for a president of Miami-Dade College when longtime Eduardo Padron stepped down.

The "internal" candidate is Jose Dotres. He worked his way up in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, from teacher to principal to high-level administrative positions before leaving to become deputy superintendent in Collier County.

The "external" candidate is Rafaela Espinal. She's an assistant superintendent at the New York City Department of Education and has been a teacher, librarian, principal and regional superintendent. She is also a finalist for the Broward superintendent position.

The Broward County Public School Board meets on Tuesday. Candidates there include the interim superintendent, Vickie Cartwright. Espinal is also a finalist for that job.

River of Grass receiving an infusion of spending

This week, the White House announced the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to spend almost $1.1 billion on restoration and preservation in the Everglades this fiscal year.

The White House calls this "the largest single investment to restore and revitalize the Everglades in Florida." The money is part of the $1 trillion-plus Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, approved by Congress and President Joe Biden in November.

The money will go toward five projects that "need to be knitted together to make the overall system work," said Jenny Staletovich, WLRN's environmental reporter.

The projects include: two small reservoirs to deal with pollution in the Indian River Lagoon basin, restoration and cleaning of sheet flow in the western Everglades where polluted water is now entering Miccosukee and Seminole tribal lands as well as the Big Cypress National Preserve; a plan to clean water in western Broward; and a pump along the Tamiami Trail that would allow water to get up and over the dam formed by the roadbed; and planning to provide clean water for South Miami-Dade and Biscayne Bay.

Staletovich said the projects are part of the original Everglades restoration plan from 2000 and the money fully funds these projects, a requirement of the legislation.

A different reservoir, more than 11,500 acres of storage and 6,500 acres of treatment, will cost about $2 billion and is being done incrementally, Staletovich said.

The five fully funded projects will help with flood control and clean up pollution, Staletovich said.

"The pollution in the past did not get addressed. Now we're racing to catch up with that and that's why you see these problems in areas like the Indian River Lagoon and Biscayne Bay," she said.

Read more:
A police chief's federal lawsuit, continued search for superintendents and restoring The Everglades - WLRN

This winter, Greenville's focus on sustainability is in full flow, literally.

The City of Greenville is embarking on a new initiative to sustainably restorethestreambanks of the Reedy River. Five sites, totaling more than 600ft across the top of the banks,are scheduled for restoration two inFalls Park, two in ClevelandPark and one along Swamp Rabbit Trailnear Andover Apartments, according to interim city engineer Paul Dow.Another site will also undergo restorationas part ofthe construction of Parallel Parkway.

The project will cost $650,000.

Restoring these bankshelps protectinfrastructure near the sites, such as roads and trails, Dow said.

"We dont have infinite resources, so we have to prioritize where damaged streambanks get work," Dow said. "If you have a damaged streambank that threatens the integrity of a trail orroad or a bridge or something that the public uses, then that rises upthe priority list of where we do work."

The project is already underway, beginning with the site near Andover Apartments. While the banks are being worked on, the nearby trails will be closed to the public, Dow said, but he's highly motivated to move the work along quickly so as not to prolong the disturbance.

Another concern is weather conditions, and great care has to be taken to watch the forecast and plan ahead while the streams are being worked on. The winter storm that left nearly 5 inches of snow in some parts of the Upstate delayed the project by a week, he said.

Streambanks naturally erode over time as rivers flood and the soil underneath gives way to the water, but streams in urban areas face a unique challenge, Dow said. Flash storms cause the water to rise faster than it would in a more natural setting, harming the integrity of the banks. Many of the sitesbeing worked on were damaged during heavy rain in February 2020, Dow said.

Read more:Trump approves FEMA disaster funds for South Carolina's February storms

"These sorts of things, they dont get better on their own," Dow said."Nature will want to lay the streambanks backso that itworks for the river, but sometimes that gets in the way of our infrastructure. We have to actually repair what weve lost."

In some cases, streams are stabilized by pouring concrete or placing large rocks along the banks, Dow said, but the city council's focus on sustainability brought them to another solution. The city plans to repair the banks using materials that are native to the stream itself. By using strong matting and strategically installingplants and other materials to combat erosion, the restoration will become integrated with the stream and and be as good or better than a natural streambank, Dow said.

"The natural systems approach tries touse what the streambank itself would be composed of," Dow said. "Essentiallyyoure putting back soil and youre putting back plants, and ultimately what that does is provides a real stable stream bank."

Similar methodshave been used to repair streambanks in McPherson Park, Dow said, and have so far held up against erosion.

"I've put in miles and miles of these types of projects, and they're still good years and years later."

Gisela Hausmann, a 59-year-old author who lives on Paris Mountain, said she is thrilled with the city's approach to the restoration. Originally from Vienna, Hausmann said Greenville's parks and commitment to sustainability remind her of home.

We Austrians have a long history of loving revitalizationprojects,because we figured out that it works. It makes money, she said.

Having lived in different parts of the United States for the last 30 years, Hausmann said she's in awe of Greenville's approach.

Ive lived in other parts ofthe United States, in the Florida Keys and in Bloomington, North Carolina,and I have never seen such impressive efforts like here in Greenville, which is one of the reasons Imgonnastay.

View post:
City begins $650,000 project to restore Reedy River streambanks - Greenville News

Theres a lot riding on approval of the $21.6 million bond referendum being presented to voters in Cresskill Public School District this week, Superintendent Michael Burke told NJ Advance Media ahead of Tuesdays special election.

The future of Cresskill schools is in the hands of voters now, he said. It really is a chance for us to start to recover from this disaster.

The Cresskill Middle/High School in Bergen County, which houses about a thousand 6th-12th graders, has been hobbled by the disastrous impact of Hurricane Ida since the storm ravaged it that fateful day in September 2021, causing damage equal to half the districts yearly operating budget. As a consequence, middle and high school students have been on a largely remote learning schedule for nearly five months students have one day of in-person learning a week at a shuttered Catholic school in town. In order to move past cleanup, into restoration and finally reopening, Burke said the district needs voter approval to obtain the upfront funding it needs to do the work.

With a successful referendum, Burke said students could be back in the building by September. If its unsuccessful, theyre not likely to return until January 2023 or beyond.

The goal here is for people to realize that for $83 dollars a yearwe can get our students back inside the building in the fall of 2022. Thats whats at stake here on Tuesday night, Burke said.

The stakes are especially high in Cresskill, but nine other school districts across the state also have big decisions to make on significant school construction proposals in special elections this Tuesday. All told, these 10 districts are requesting a total of $394.9 million, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association.

Under the Educational Facilities and Construction and Financing Act of 2000, the state will fund at least 40% of eligible school construction costs through annual debt service aid. If voters reject any of the projects put to a vote this week, school districts will have to wait until the next special election in March before presenting a revised proposal to voters.

Purpose of referendum: The bond would fund renovation of the existing playground at Clinton Public School and related improvements, including making the playground ADA accessible, according to the district website.

Total: $985,000

Tax impact: The Hunterdon County based school district has said there will be no new net tax impact. The estimated new debt service associated with the project will actually result in a slight reduction when compared to the amount of the existing debt service that is being paid-off on current bonds.

Referendum amount: $21,663,200

Purpose of referendum: The district is seeking voter approval to undertake various improvements, alterations, renovations, repairs, and upgrades at Cresskill Middle/High School, including acquisition and installation of fixtures, furniture, equipment and any site work.

Tax impact: The owner of the average assessed house in Cresskill, at $708,860, can anticipate an additional cost of $83 per year.

Referendum amount: $20,916,025

Purpose of referendum: The district is requesting funds to address deferred maintenance items at its four schools. A prioritized list of urgent projects include HVAC system upgrades, boiler replacements, window replacements and roof replacements, according to a presentation on the district website.

Impact: No impact on taxes. The Franklin Lakes Board of Education is able to offset anticipated debt service due to existing debt that will be fully paid off in 2022 and the use of capital reserves.

Purpose of referendum: The Hudson County-based school district will use funds for the construction of a new high school in order to keep pace with a rapidly growing population an 81% increase since 1990 and the resulting student enrollment growth, according to its website.

Total: $241,050,000

Tax impact: Using the average home assessed value of $526,000, the calculated tax increase to the average household for Hoboken is $490.89 or $93.33 per $100,000 of assessed value. If this referendum does pass, it means that property taxes are likely to go up approximately 6%.

Purpose of referendum: The project scope includes a new early childhood center for grades preschool through first grade, as well as the redesign of Lindenwolds high school sports fields.

Total: $33,247,000

Tax impact: The district has said that if the state continues to increase state aid funds to the Lindenwold Public Schools, it will be able to build the new building with no impact to the taxpayer.

Purpose of referendum: The district will finance repairs and improvements at both its middle and high schools, among them: installation of air conditioning in all school buildings, upgrades to existing HVAC systems, and to replacement of the roof at the middle school

Total: $13,900,000

Tax impact: District officials have said there will be no increase in taxes to residents as a result of this project because the district will be strategically using this bond referendum to replace existing debt service set to expire this year.

Purpose of referendum: Officials have said the bond will fund critical capital improvements projects to upgrade its facilities, including boiler replacement, HVAC installations, and more.

Total: $3,950,000

Tax impact: Manville homeowners will have no increase in their property taxes due to the referendum, according to the Somerset County school districts website.

Purpose of referendum: The bond would fund building repairs and renovations, tech-centered instructional spaces, safety and security upgrades, and more in the pre-K through eighth grade district.

Total: $19,903,197

Tax impact: With state aid coming in and old debt rolling off, taxes would actually decrease for the average Mendham Township homeowner by $97 annually, according to the district superintendent.

Purpose of referendum: School officials have said the bond will fund the cost-effective replacement/repair of roofs and equipment, over the next four years, at all six district schools as well as other structural repairs.

Total: $17,451,501

Tax impact: Administration and board members have said this referendum will not result in a tax increase. According to a presentation given last month, net school facility taxes would actually decrease next year, even with new bonds, due to retiring debt from past facilities investments.

Purpose of referendum: School officials are presenting two proposals to voters in this district. The first proposal asks voters to authorize a capital improvement program consisting of improvements in three major areas: improved air quality, improved school security, and improved instructional space. The second proposal, which can only be approved if the first passes, would authorize the district to make renovations to the middle school gymnasium, along with various other improvements.

Total: $21,923,607

Tax impact: For the average home assessed at $241,161, the tax impact would average $11.40 per month for 20 years.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com.

Continued here:
10 N.J. districts asking voters to OK $394.9M on Tuesday, including project to fund repairs from Ida - NJ.com

A glorious, inclusive past

Cobbs Creek was considered the best public golf course in America when it was built in 1916, said Chris Maguire, chairman of the Cobbs Creek Foundation.

The course was also unique for its inclusivity. It welcomed people of all races, ethnicities, and genders at a time when most golf clubs only allowed white men.

The course was home to Charlie Sifford, the first African American to win a PGA Tour event.

Sen. Hughes met Sifford, who died in 2015, through a scholarship fund he helped set up in honor of his father, who was also a golfer and president of a golf course in New Jersey.

Mr. Sifford, on his face, he was gruff and kind of ornery. But once you dug a little bit deeper, he was just a big teddy bear with that cigar that he constantly smoked. He just was a wonderful guy, Hughes said. And he talked about, quite often, about the hell that he had to go through to golf professionally.

World heavyweight champion boxer Joe Louis, who became the first Black golfer to play in a PGA Tour event, also reportedly played at Cobbs Creek.

The course hosted the 1928 United States Public Links championship, two Daily News Opens on the PGA tour, as well as the United Golfers Association (UGA) Championship, which operated tournaments for Black golfers similar to those of the PGA during segregation, said Parks Department spokesperson Maita Soukup in a news release. The course was inducted into the National Black Golf Hall of Fame last year.

All the Black golfers in this region in Philadelphia, in Jersey, in Delaware, Maryland, New York they would all come down to Cobbs Creek, Hughes said. This was the place that welcomed them and made it easy for them. They didnt have to look over their shoulders, and we need to recognize this place of great historic value.

The historic golf course sits close to another one of Philadelphias recreational landmarks Laura Sims Skate House in Cobbs Creek Park, the first U.S. ice skating rink designed by an African American architect for a predominantly Black community.

A lack of city funding for maintenance, paired with chronic flooding and erosion, made the course virtually unplayable, said Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell.The city has just signed a lease agreement to revamp the Cobbs Creek golf course, which has fallen into disrepair. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

Weve seen the golf course as really, essentially a stranded asset, she said. Its been an asset that we havent been able to put the capital investment into that it is desperately needed for decades.

The concessionaire which ran the course for about a decade was unable to raise the revenue necessary to keep the course up, Ott Lovell said, a problem compounded by the fact that much of the course is underwater much of the time.

Plumbing issues, hydrology issues, environmental issues like invasive weeds and plants, capital issues the building, she said, referring to the historic clubhouse that burned.

Hughes last golfed at Cobbs Creek about 10 years ago.

The course was in serious decline, he said.

The course even became a nuisance to surrounding communities, Jones said.

As the golf course deteriorated, people began to complain more about fairways that allowed golf balls to go into peoples back windows, car windows, and damaged property, Jones said. The landscape deteriorated due to erosion. It was plagued with people who slept in the park.

When the course closed in 2020, Jones said, nearby residents felt mixed emotions for some, nostalgia, for others, relief.The city has just signed a lease agreement to revamp the Cobbs Creek golf course, which has fallen into disrepair. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

Originally posted here:
Cobbs Creek Golf Course to be restored, reopened - WHY - WHYY

New Jersey Congressman Andy Kim said that money from a government funding anddisaster relief bill in Septemberand theBipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Actis coming back to New Jersey and will be used by USACE to protect and replenish shore communities across the state.

The Jersey Shore is not just a place for tourists to visit and admire our beautiful beaches, it is an economic engine for New Jersey and home to hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents.Thats why Im doing everything I can to protect these communities,said Congressman Kim.

Im proud to have voted for legislation that is now funding the protection and replenishment of our beaches, which will help our shore towns, businesses, and families across New Jersey.

Until now, a planned beach replenishment project from the Manasquan Inlet to the Barnegat Inlet was in jeopardy due to a lack of funding.

Below is the breakdown and amount of funding coming to support New Jerseys 3rd Congressional District as a result of the disaster relief bill in September and the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act:

Disaster Relief Supplemental:

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

See the original post:
Boost for NJ beach replenishment and restoration projects - Dredging Today

"It used to be a garage," Adrin Socorro told me as he opened the large doors of El Garabato, his art studio on Calle Narvez beside the San Juan River. "Then, around the time that Matanzas was preparing for its 325th anniversary in 2018, the city historian finally approved my project and I moved in."

Inside was a warehouse-like room littered with the paraphernalia of an active workshop: plastic bottles and clusters of brushes, a multi-coloured palette, a half-finished sculpture of a cow-like animal hanging upside-down from the ceiling. Paintings were everywhere: hung on walls; propped on easels; stacked on tables. I spied dogs, chickens, flowers and nudes, all of them creatively drawn in a style that seemed to mix impressionism with the avant-garde.

"I paint from my own life and experience," Socorro explained. "I don't paint those pictures of old ladies smoking cigars that the tourists want to see."

Socorro is from Matanzas, a port city wrapped around a deep, sheltered bay 90km east of Havana, Cuba. When I revisited in December 2021 after a three-year gap, small but innovative restaurants offered homemade pasta and snack-sized tacos. The riverside walkway of Calle Narvez was a glorious artistic esplanade embellished with astonishing sculptures: an emaciated pig standing atop a red balloon; a depiction of Cuban national hero, Jos Mart, with a sword in his mouth; pink stepladders and life-sized giraffes. Within the space of 300m, I wandered from Socorro's studio-gallery past a music school, an art college and half a dozen imaginative bars and cafes.

It felt like a completely different city than the one I first travelled to in the late 1990s then a scarred, dilapidated and semi-abandoned place, left to rot during the country's economically challenging "Special Period", a decade of austerity after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, whose subsidies had made up around 30% of the Cuban GNP. Back then, foreign visitors were whisked from the airport to swanky new resorts in the nearby town of Varadero, where Cuban guests were barred from entering resorts. Calle Narvez was a neglected warehouse district. The Parque Libertad, beautifully Botoxed by 2021, was dingy and unloved. Restaurants were practically non-existent. To me, the city resembled a sunken ship, a stricken Titanic whose damaged riches were hidden by decades of neglect.

View post:
Matanzas: The rebirth of Cuba's abandoned cultural hub - BBC News

NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Utility Communication Market to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis and Forecasts by Technology (Wired and Wireless); Utility Type (Private Utility and Public Utility)", published by The Insight Partners, the global utility communication market was valued at US$ 10,730.4 million in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ 35,138.1 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.3% during 20202027.

Get Exclusive Sample Pages of Utility Communication Market Size - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis with Strategic Insights at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00009082/

Report Coverage

Details

Market Size Value in

US$ 10,730.4 Million in 2019

Market Size Value by

US$ 35,138.1 Million by 2027

Growth rate

CAGR of 16.3% from 2020-2027

Forecast Period

2020-2027

Base Year

2020

No. of Pages

191

No. Tables

79

No. of Charts & Figures

89

Historical data available

Yes

Segments covered

Technology; Utility Type

Regional scope

North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; MEA

Country scope

US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Argentina

Report coverage

Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends

Utility Communication Market: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments

ABB Ltd.; Ericsson; Fujitsu Ltd.; General Electric Company; Honeywell International Inc.; Omicron Electronics GMBH; Rockwell Automation, Inc.; Schneider Electric SE; Siemens AG; and Tejas Networks Ltd. are among the key players in the global utility communication market. The leading companies focus on the expansion and diversification of their market presence, and acquisition of new customer base, thereby tapping prevailing business opportunities.

In 2020, Verizon collaborated with Honeywell to help utilities speed up and simplify the deployment of new communication-enabled, intelligent sensors and controls for the smart electric grid. Honeywell would be integrating Verizon's Managed Connectivity LTE solutions into smart meters and other edge devices.

Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPRE00009082/

In 2019, Tejas Networks signed an MoU with Bharat Electronics Limited for using Tejas' optical transmission, access, and data-switching products for domestic and export markets.

Utility communication is a communication network that can ensure continuous transmission of voice, data, and video through LANs and WANs. Digital transformation can be described as the use of technology to enhance company efficiency or scope. Digital technologies and social networks are increasingly being used nowadays to improve interaction between government, corporations, civil society, friends, and family. Some of the most commonly used systems are Ethernet network control and data collection, SCADA and smart grid control. The smart grid infrastructure plays a critical role in the communications business of energy & power utilities. A smart grid influences ICT to converge and enable the flow of real-time information within the power utilities; between the power utilities, suppliers, and partners; and between the power utilities, business, and domestic customers. Smart grids and their implementations rely on a robust, secure, highly ascendable and always available communication networks. Owing to the willingness to improve service efficiency, service providers will also ensure regulatory enforcement and mitigate the detrimental effect of cost-cutting problems. Thus, the utility communications network is the basis for two-way communication through the system to all the data points. It assists in tracking and managing grid equipment, measuring network output, and providing real-time information.

In terms of industrialization, there is a correlation between the energy demands of modern society, the economic realities of the utility sector, and the environmental protection standards. This combination forces a new form of a power system to be developed and introduced. The growing usage of smart grid systems in the utility communications industry is driving the global utility communication market's overall growth rate due to its widespread application in various industries, especially the energy & power industry. The contact network forms the foundation of all logical, smart factories. Hence, ensuring its safe and efficient operation is the prerequisite for the successful realization of the Industry 4.0.

Speak to Analyst: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/speak-to-analyst/TIPRE00009082/

The lockdown of various plants and factories in China affected the global supply chains and negatively impacted the manufacturing, delivery schedules, and sales of various electronic goods. The most striking effect of COVID-19 in the ICT sector was the cancelation of the Mobile World Congress scheduled to take place in Barcelona in February 2020. Companies such as Apple and Microsoft have already announced possible delays in product deliveries and slump in future sales of their products. In addition, the global travel bans imposed by countries in Europe, Asia, and North America are affecting the business collaborations and partnerships opportunities. All these factors are anticipated to affect the information and communication technology industry in a negative manner and thus act as restraining factor for the growth of various markets related to this industry in the coming months.

Smart grids facilitate quicker restoration of electricity after power disturbances, and help reduce management and operational costs of utilities; this ultimately lowers power costs for consumers. Moreover, various initiatives advancing the technological landscape pertaining to the energy sector are likely to drive market growth during the forecast period. The US electrical system announced its "Grid 2030" vision in collaboration with the electric utility industry, equipment suppliers, IT operators, federal and state governments, advocacy organizations, colleges, and national laboratories. This vision encompasses the following aspects related to the power sector: generation, transmission, delivery, storage, and final use. It describes the fundamental problems and obstacles in grid modernization, followed by making recommendations for policymakers and industries to assist them in the development of the electric distribution infrastructure of future, such as utility communications. Mobile network connectivity facilitates the management and tracking of the overall power distribution system operations. It enables contact between smart meters and utilities through nodes. The mobile network connectivity also supports the introduction of smart metering systems across a vast area network. Mobile networking or cellular network technologies include communication technologies such as 3G, WiMAX, and LTE. Thus, with the increased use and demand for smart grids and mobile devices, the need for utility communication channels is also increasing.

Buy Premium Copy of Utility Communication Market Size, Share, Revenue, Strategic Insights and Forecasts 2020-2027 Research Report at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00009082/

Utility Communication Market: Technology

The global utility communication market, based on technology, is segmented into wired and wireless. The wired segment held the largest market share in 2019. Wired network is used to relay different types of electrical signals from one end to the other. Using T1 thread, cable modem, or by some other means, often in wired networks, an internet connection is established. Using a wired network definition, the connection is shared between multiple devices. Power Line Carrier (PLC) communication has gained confidence due to its robustness in access, efficiency, and security with the advancement in its technologies led by PRIME PLC over the past decade, and the latest development of PRIME 1.4 technology.

Browse Adjoining Reports:

Smart Utilities Software Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Deployment Type (Cloud-Based, Web-Based); Product Type (Advance Metering Infrastructure (AMI), Smart Grid Distribution Management, Smart Grid Network Management, Grid Asset Management, Substation Automation, Billing and Customer Information System) and Geography

Metering ICs Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Function (Apparent Energy (kVA), Active Energy (kWh), RMS Energy, Reactive Energy (kVAR)); Type (Single-Channel, Multi-Channel); Application (Industrial, Smart Appliances, Smart Homes, Others) and Geography

Energy and Utility Analytics Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Type (Software and Service), By Deployment Model (On-Premise, Cloud and Hybrid), By Application (Load Forecasting, Customer Analytics, Grid Analytics, Asset Management, Smart Meter Analytics, Others), and By Verticals (Oil & Gas, Renewable Energy, Nuclear Power, Electricity, and Water, Others)

Advanced Metering Infrastructure Market Forecast to 2028 - Covid-19 Impact and Global Analysis - by Device (Smart Meters, Communication Infrastructure, Home Area Networks (HANS), In-home Display Units); Solution (MDM, Meter Data Analytics, AMI Security Meter, Communication Infrastructure); Service (System Integration, Meter Deployment, Program Management and Consulting) and Geography

Smart Grid Sensors Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Sensor Type (Voltage and Current Sensor, Temperature Sensor, and Others), Voltage Range (Low to Medium Voltage and High Voltage), and Application (Substation Automation, Advanced Metering Infrastructure, Smart Grid Distribution Network, and Others)

Metering Pumps Market Forecast to 2028 - Covid-19 Impact and Global Analysis - By Type (Diaphragm, Piston/Plunger, Others ); End-Use Industry (Water and Wastewater Treatment , Petrochemicals, Oil and Gas , Chemical Processing , Pharmaceuticals , Food and Beverage , Pulp and Paper , Others) and Geography

Smart Gas Meter Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Technology (Automated Meter Reading (AMR), Advanced Metering Infrastructure); Type (Smart Ultrasonic Gas Meter, Smart Diaphragm Gas Meter); Component (Hardware, Software); End User (Residential, Commercial, Industrial) and Geography

Digital Water Solutions Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Solution (Hardware, Software, Services); Technology (Metering and Customer Management, Network Management, Work and Asset Management, Others) and Geography

About Us:

The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in industries such as Semiconductor and Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Manufacturing and Construction, Medical Device, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Chemicals and Materials.

Contact Us:

If you have any queries about this report or if you would like further information, please contact us:

Contact Person:Sameer JoshiE-mail: [emailprotected]Phone:+1-646-491-9876Press Release: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/pr/utility-communication-marketMore Research:https://www.openpr.com/news/archive/139407/The-Insight-Partners.html

SOURCE The Insight Partners

See the article here:
Utility Communication Market Size Worth $35,138.1 Million, Globally, by 2027 at 16.3% CAGR - Exclusive Report by The Insight Partners - PRNewswire