NEWBURY Starting next week, contractors will begin extending the Clipper City Rail Trail from the Parker Street trailhead to the Route 1 rotary, the town announced.

On Thursday, J.J Phelan & Son Co. Inc. workers were spotted prepping the worksite by installing a temporary crosswalk and removing a fence that separates Parker Street from Oak Hill Cemetery.

Newbury Town Planner Martha Taylor said work is expected to begin Monday and be completed by the first week of November.

If all goes well, she said. Its exciting to be at this stage.

The project is being paid for with a $252,500 Shared Streets and Spaces grant awarded to the town over the summer.

Ever since the new trailhead opened on Parker Street, pedestrians, bicyclists and others have been forced to travel alongside the busy connecting road between Newbury and Newburyport toward the rotary. During construction, the trail will remain open but trail users will need to cross to the south side of Parker Street and then re-cross the street past the cemetery.

The towns portion will link with another section underway by the developer of an adjacent multifamily complex off Parker Street, she added.

The Clipper City Rail Trail is roughly 3.3 miles long and wends it way through several areas of the city, including the South End, Cashman Park and Marchs Hill. Visitors taking the train to the city can walk the trail from the Newburyport MBTA commuter rail to downtown and beyond. There is, however, a sizable gap at the Route 1 rotary preventing it from becoming a continuous loop.

That portion, according to Taylor, is under the purview of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

Newburyport Planning Departments Geordie Vining called the section a vital link to the rest of the rail trail and said he was pleased that another piece of the puzzle was being completed.

We did impress on the contractor they need to route people around the parking area which will be occupied (by the contractors), Vining added.

For years, Vining has been championing the Clipper City Rail Trail and is hopeful that once the state completes planned work on the Route 1 rotary and the surrounding area, the citys dream of having a looped rail trail, a public space used and enjoyed by thousands of people, will come to fruition.

On Thursday morning, Newburyport resident Andrew Morris was rollerblading on the trail when he spotted the contractors painting lines and removing the fence.

Im so glad theyre doing this, Morris said, adding it only takes one distracted driver to cause a tragedy along Parker Street.

Dave Rogers is the editor of the Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: drogers@newburyportnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @drogers41008.

We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story.

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Clipper City Rail Trail work on Parker St. to begin soon - The Daily News of Newburyport

Building Trade

Chicopee Mayor John Vieau joins, from left, Revitalize CDC Executive Director Colleen Loveless; Director of Programs Ethel Griffin; and Moyah Smith, board clerk.

On Sept. 29, Revitalize Community Development Corp. (CDC) brought its #GreenNFit Neighborhood Rebuild to Chicopee. About 100 volunteers worked on four homes on one block, all in one day. Two of the four homes are owned by U.S. Air Force military veteran families.

We are so grateful to the city of Chicopee for welcoming us with open arms and supporting our initiative to help make homes safe and healthy for those in need, said Colleen Loveless, president and CEO of Revitalize CDC, noting that the work the volunteers and building contractors tackled included replacing rotted porches and steps; repairing accessible ramps, roofs, and decks; installing a new shed, windows, storm doors, and gutters; power washing; painting; and yardwork.

Contractors and volunteers get to work.

The work was supported financially and with volunteers from American Red Cross and the Chicopee Fire Department, the city of Chicopee, Baystate Health, Berkshire Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the Center for Human Development, Country Bank, Go Graphix, the MassMutual Foundation, M&T Bank, Ondrick Natural Earth, PeoplesBank, Rockys Ace Hardware, TD Bank, and Westfield Bank.

Our #GreenNFit Neighborhood Rebuild goal is to work on hundreds of homes in targeted neighborhoods, clean up vacant lots, improve playgrounds, and create community gardens, Loveless said. Revitalize CDC focuses on making meaningful improvements on homes to help reduce energy use, save money, and create a safe, healthy, and sustainable living environment for our residents and the community.

Improvements have included installing or retrofitting HVAC systems to allow for oil-to-natural-gas heat and solar conversions; new roofs; energy-efficient windows, doors, and appliances; water-saving plumbing fixtures; electrical upgrades; mold remediation, lead abatement, and pest control; interior and exterior painting; and modifying homes for aging or disabled homeowners, such as building exterior access ramps.

Since Revitalize CDCs inception in 1992, the organization has repaired and rehabilitated more than 1,100 homes with the help of 10,000 volunteers, investing $42 million into Western Mass. In the past year, Revitalize CDC completed 72 home-repair projects on the homes of low-income families with children, elderly citizens, military veterans, and people with disabilities.

The organiations JoinedForces, in partnership with businesses, civic organizations, and other nonprofit agencies, provides veterans and their families with critical repairs and modifications on their homes.

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Improving Homes and Lives in Chicopee - Business West

June 17, 2022

The BIL is estimated to create an additional 800,000 jobs. The United States Department of Labor ("DOL") contends that such new jobs will "expand the middle class, revitalize our nation's transportation, communications and utility systems and build a more resilient, reliable, and environmentally sound future." The White House asserts that the BIL will provide protection to "critical labor standards on construction projects," as a substantial portion of the construction projects included in the BIL will be subject to requirements of the Davis-Bacon Act ("DBA" or the "Act").

While the BIL provides new revenue sources and opportunities for construction projects, federal contractors and subcontractors should ensure that their businesses comply with the DBA's prevailing wage rates and labor standards requirements.

In its simplest form, the DBA, enacted in 1931, requires federal contractors and subcontractors to pay prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits to certain construction workers employed on certain federal contracts. The DOL's Wage and Hour Division ("WHD") administers and enforces the Act's requirements on federally funded and assisted construction projects. The DBA applies to contracts:

With respect to the DBA applying to federal contracts above $2,000, this value threshold only applies to the initial federal contract. If the threshold is met, however, then the DBA applies to any lower-tier subcontracts even if the value of the subcontract is less than $2,000.

There are various requirements for federal contractors and subcontractors under the DBA, which the United States Supreme Court has described as "a minimum wage law designed for the benefit of construction workers." The Act was designed to protect construction workers' wage standards from federal contractors who may base their contract bids on wage rates that are lower than the local wage level. Under the DBA, federal contractors and subcontractors are required, among other things, to do the following:

Federal contractors and subcontractors should ensure that covered workers are properly classified for the work such individuals perform and paid in accordance with the prevailing wage rate for their classification.

Employers will often face recordkeeping challenges when they have nonexempt employees who perform covered (manual) work and non-covered (administrative) work in the same workweek.

In such instances, the employer must determine whether the employee is salaried or paid hourly. If the employee is salaried, the employer must determine whether the employee's salary is greater than or equal to the prevailing wage rate for the employee's classification. If not, the employer contractor is required to increase the employee's pay for the week the covered work is performed.

Likewise, if the employee is paid hourly, then the employer must ensure the employee's hourly rate is greater than or equal to the prevailing wage rate for the employee's classification.

Federal contractors and subcontractors could face various consequences due to their failure to comply with the DBA, ranging from termination of the federal contract and debarment to a contracting agency withholding money due to the contractor to cover back wages due to employees as well as criminal prosecution. Accordingly, federal contractors and subcontractors should consult with legal counsel to ensure they comply with the various DBA requirements for any covered contracts.

-- 2022 Ward and Smith, P.A. For further information regarding the issues described above, please contact Xavier D. Lightfoot or Devon D. Williams.

This article is not intended to give, and should not be relied upon for, legal advice in any particular circumstance or fact situation. No action should be taken in reliance upon the information contained in this article without obtaining the advice of an attorney.

We are your established legal network with offices in Asheville, Greenville, New Bern, Raleigh, and Wilmington, NC.

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The Intersection of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Davis-Bacon Act Requirements for Federal Contractors and Subcontractors - Ward and Smith, PA

Wise Home Improvement is a top-rated painting and home improvement company. In a recent update, the agency shared the benefits of hiring professional painting contractors.

Columbia, PA Wise Home Improvement, in a website post, highlighted the importance of hiring professional painting contractors Columbia.

Finding a professional interior painter Columbia is never an easy task. At Wise Home Improvement enterprise, they will always stand behind their work wanting the client to feel at ease and be kept informed with timelines and process updates, making sure theyre satisfied with their new look. This makes them highly client-driven leading to them being the best house painters in my area Columbia.

Focusing on the quality of work, the company uses a special method of taking single coat paint and applying it twice to maximize coverage, as well as their special painting method they call, the Wise Guys Method. They are also a fully licensed, bonded, and insured company with a professional staff dedicated to providing reliable and proactive service through strong communication.

About Wise Home Improvement

As a family-owned and operated painting and home improvement company, Wise Home Improvement is confident in providing the best painting solutions in Columbia and the surrounding region. Their goal is to go above and beyond expectations and make sure that the client not only leaves as a satisfied person but as a friend.

Since experience counts, they guarantee their work, and the client can trust that theyll deliver on their promises. Through three decades of contracting experience, they have developed their own Wise methods that ensure a clients contracting job will be done to the highest quality possible.

Media ContactCompany Name: Wise Home ImprovementContact Person: Ian WiseEmail: Send EmailPhone: (717) 572-8955City: ColumbiaState: PACountry: United StatesWebsite: https://www.wisehomeimprove.com/

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Wise Home Improvement Highlights the Benefits of Hiring Professional Painting Contractors - Digital Journal

The flooring and painting of a home tend to reflect directly on the image of an individual. With ten years of experience in the Epoxy Flooring, Pressure Washing, and Painting Industries, IBEX Flooring and Painting has gained mass expertise in all its services.

Orlando, FL IBEX Flooring and Painting highlights some of the services they provide for its clients and why you should choose them for all your commercial and residential Orlando Epoxy floors needs. IBEX Flooring and Painting has the highest level of customer service and has extensive experience in epoxy flooring, pressure washing, and painting.

The flooring of a building is the most striking feature of a home and therefore drastically increases the homes value and makes the home feel newer. Hiring Orlando Epoxy flooring contractors will help you design and tailor the flooring of your dreams. In addition, our installation team will ensure that the right solution is professionally installed to meet your requirements across Central Florida and the surrounding areas.

IBEX Flooring and Painting only employ certified and licensed contractors to guarantee excellent results and do the job right the first time. Also, they ensure their employees ensure the client doesnt incur additional costs in case of mishaps during work hours. In addition, the company offers a warranty for its products and labor. Further, the company dedicates itself to maintaining being the most reliable Kissimmee Epoxy flooring company by using high-quality materials and equipment in all projects. They are also professionals in all activities, including epoxy flooring, pressure washing, residential painting, and commercial painting services.

About IBEX Flooring and Painting

IBEX Flooring and Painting provides services across Central Florida and the surrounding areas, the company relies on values such as honesty, integrity, workmanship, and genuine passion. Using the skills and experience gained, the contractors design, plan and construct projects perfectly. Contact IBEX Flooring and Painting today for all your flooring and painting needs.

Media ContactCompany Name: IBEX Flooring and PaintingContact Person: Carlos DiazEmail: Send EmailPhone: (321) 244-8033Address:11954 Narcoossee Rd Ste. 2 203City: OrlandoState: FLCountry: United StatesWebsite: https://orlandoepoxyflooring.com/

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IBEX Flooring and Painting Highlights The Services They Provide - Digital Journal

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BluePrint Business Communications

Finalists:Pulley Media,McKinney,The Splinter Group

Shaw Design Associates

Finalists:Ellen Cassily Architect,ARX Design Company,Duda Paine

Cara Gibbons - Jackson Law

Finalists:Billie Guthrie;Kendall Page;Pennington Brienzi Law,PLLC

Hendrick Southpoint

Finalists:Leith Cars,Sport Durst Automotive,Anchor Auto Outlet

Massey Brothers

Finalists:Chapel Hill Tire - Woodcroft,Wasp Automotive,Payne's Service Center

Chapel Hill Tire

Finalists:AutoLogic,Elite Auto Repair,Automotion

Johnson Auto Body

Finalists:Bimmer Performance Center,64 auto,Garner German Garage,Reliable Import Service

State Employees Credit Union

Finalists:Coastal Federal Credit Union,Self Help Credit Union,Pinnacle Financial Partners

Colonial Inn

Finalists:Heights House,Arrowhead Inn,Teardrop Inn Hillsborough,The Inn at Bingham School

Mediterranean Deli, Bakery & Catering

Finalists:The Travelling Cafe,Rocky Top Catering,Indulge Catering

Ninth Street Dance

Finalists:Breathe Studio,Fred Astaire Dance Studio - Apex,Empower Dance Studio,Barriskill Dance Theatre School

Durham Dog Training Center

Finalists:Dog Training Camp USA,Red Earth Thunder,Callas Wanderlust

Haven Dog Training

Finalists:Dog Training Camp USA,Red Earth Thunder,Durham Dog Training Center

Jeff Millman Dog Training

Finalists:Haven Dog Training,Dog Training Camp USA,Red Earth ThunderBest

Montessori School of Durham

Finalists:Harvest Learning Center,Primary Colors,Children First

Emerson Waldorf School

Finalists:Learning Outside,The Lupine School,Childcare Matters

Temple Beth Or Preschool

From 1-year-olds to Kindergarten, Temple Beth Or provides classes that encourage trust, confidence, communication, and independence. Class sizes are no larger than eight students per teacher to foster a tight-knit environment where all students have the chance to get one-on-one, specialized attention from teachers. As students get older, they will play with art materials and toys, learn basic scissor skills, draw and paint, and start to build on their growing literacy. Temple Beth Ors classes arent restricted to Jewish studentstheyre for anyone who wants their child to learn in a playful, inclusive environment.HK

Finalists:Jordan Child & Family Center,Childcare Matters

Central Park School for Children

Finalists:Raleigh Charter,The Woods Charter School,Research Triangle High School,Expedition School

Emerson Waldorf School

Finalists:Carrboro Elementary,Lakewood Elementary,Thales Academy Raleigh

Emerson Waldorf School

Finalists:McDougle Middle School,Martin,The Woods Charter School

Durham School of the Arts

Finalists:Emerson Waldorf School,Chapel Hill High School,Enloe Magnet High School

Bonneville Electric

Finalists:NC Electric,NCHomeElectric.com,AlexanderServices

Museum of Life +Science

Finalists:The Cotton Room at Golden Belt,The Pavilion at Nicks Road,Durham Arts Council

Lavender Oaks Farm

Finalists:Pavilion at Nicks Road,Coco Bistro & Bar,The Rigmor House

North Carolina Museum of Art

Its everyones favorite Ben Stiller movie come true: the North Carolina Museum of Art can offer you your very own Night at the Museum. The museum is already a prime destination for a gallery walkthrough, concert, outdoor movie showing, or quaint picnicbut why not consider it for a major event or party? With its massive grassy area filled with life-sized and much larger than life-sized art installations, NCMA is a picturesque and peaceful place to share a special moment with friends, family, or significant others. The museum also has a large indoor venue for special events like weddings or bar mitzvahs, and the staff is accommodating and helpfulmaking you feel less like the host and more like a guest at your own party.HK

Finalists:Pavilions at the Angus Barn,Dix Park,The Pavilion at Nicks Road,Chatham Station

Amanda Blair by Design

Finalists:Dogwood Gatherings and Events,Tiffany Tan - Weddings by Tiffany,Folie a Deux Events

The Umstead

Finalists:21c Durham Museum Hotel,The Durham,Unscripted

Go 2 Girls

Finalists:Carpe Diem Cleaning,Ana's Cleaning Durham,Lucie's Home Services Inc.

Marias House Cleaning Services

Finalists:Go 2 girls;Amanda's Queens Cleaning Services,LLC;Shiny Clean

Go 2 Girls

Finalists:Marias House Cleaning Services,Dust and Mop,Sunny Spot Cleaning Co.

Zarazua Painting

Finalists:Gonzalez Painters & Contractors,Anderson Painting,Fresh Coat Painters - Cary,Hansell Painting -Durham

Boer Brothers

Finalists:Alternative Aire,Andrew's Heating and Air,Alexander Services

Amanda Hagood - State Farm

Finalists:Christine Walorz- Walorz Insurance,Burt Lawson,Ola Stinnett - State Farm

TROSA Lawn Care

Finalists:Landscape Logic,Hensleys Lawn and Landscaping,Thomas Babb Lawncare

Little Corner Construction

Finalists:Hollow Rock Construction;Pope Builders, Inc.;Actual Size Builders

Little Corner Construction

Finalists:BuildSense,G. Crabtree Spaces,Gateway Building Company

Little Corner Construction

Finalists:Big Monkey Renovation & Repair,BuildSense,One Team Restoration,Artisan Quality Roofing

Rise, Southern Biscuits & Righteous Chicken

Finalists:Duck Donuts,Neighborhood Barre

TROSA Moving and Storage

Finalists:Two Men and a Truck,Miracle Movers of Raleigh,Movin On Movers

Django Haskins

Finalists:High Strung School of Music,Triangle Music School,Chapel Hill School of Musical Arts,Wall of Sound Music Center

TROSA

Finalists:Book Harvest,The Community Empowerment Fund,Kidznotes

Haw River Assembly

Finalists:Beautiful Together Animal Sanctuary,Learning Outside,Our Wild Neighbors

SAFE Haven for Cats - Raleigh

Here at the INDY, we love our cats (and dogs, too, of course). So, it warms our hearts that readers chose this Raleigh institution as the best nonprofit in Wake County. The no-kill shelter is a beloved refuge for stray and abandoned cats, who receive full medical attention and all the tender loving care they deserve while the organization seeks to place the kitties in permanent homes. Aside from helping strays find new families, SAFE Haven also provides low-cost spay/neuter services through their specialty clinic, which has been benefiting our feline friends for over 25 years and counting.GW

Finalists:Meals on Wheels of Wake County,Note in the Pocket,DEGA Mobile Veterinary Care

Camp Bow Wow - North Durham

Finalists:Sunny Acres,Eno Animal Hospital,The Pet Wagon

Green Beagle Lodge

Finalists:Doggie Spa,Love Overboard,Cole Park Veterinary

The K9 Kabana

Finalists:Happy Puppers,Dog Diggity

Pampered Pooch

Finalists:Green Beagle Lodge,Eno Animal Hospital,Elliotte's Pet Spa

Green Beagle Lodge

Finalists:Hair of the Dog,Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming - Chapel Hill,Love Overboard

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Best of the Triangle 2022: Services - INDY Week

Marc and Marie Whirledge ate lunch this week in camping chairs under a parkway tree outside their home on Nutmeg Lane, nearly a year after an EF-3 tornado tore through their neighborhood June 20, 2021.

Their two-story house is a skeleton of studs and flooring protected from the weather by a new roof and thin layer of home wrap.

While the rain cant get in, birds and carpenter bees can, and they are the only occupants of the Whirledge home.

A sticker prohibiting occupancy still hangs on the front door of the Naperville home of Marc and Marie Whirledge, background, a year after a tornado ripped through their neighborhood. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Marie said shes able to visit everyday to check on the progress, or lack thereof, because theyre living with her parents five minutes away.

She watches her neighbors return home, though their houses experienced similar damage and also were tagged as uninhabitable. Im really happy for them. I just wish it was time for us to move in, she said.

We were very fortunate

Marie Whirledge said she and younger daughter Maddy, 20, were home June 20, 2021, but didnt think anything of the severe weather alert when they went into their separate bathrooms to get ready for bed about 11 p.m.

Minutes later, Marie said Maddy ran down the hall after hearing a strange sound and the two met in the sitting area of the primary bedroom.

I grabbed her and went to the floor. Immediately debris was flying around.

We were very fortunate. That was the one place that didnt have broken windows, Marie said. Thank God we were OK.

The tornado blew out 17 of the houses 23 windows, ripping apart Maddys bedroom and propelling her door on its frame down the hall.

Marie said somehow they walked barefoot, unscathed through the broken glass, insulation and rubble to the basement where they had shoes free of glass. The only cut Marie said she received was when she reached into a side pocket of her purse where a piece of glass was lodged.

Marc, a pilot for Southwest Airlines who was on a layover in Raleigh-Durham, said when Marie called about the tornado, she described the house as messy. Catching the first flight out in the morning, he would arrive in the neighborhood by 8 a.m. to see exactly what Marie meant.

Princeton Circle home

The only Naperville home completely destroyed by the June 20 tornado was a two-story house at 1809 Princeton Circle a few blocks away from the Whirledges.

Its residents, Arvind and Savita Patel, miraculously survived, though they had to be pulled from the rubble by firefighters.

Dilip Patel, left, joins family members, friends and volunteers in searching for valuables in the debris of the 1809 Princeton Circle house in Naperville destroyed by the June 20, 2021, tornado. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Savita Patel initially was listed in critical condition and in the intensive care unit at Edward Hospital in Naperville because of broken bones in her chest.

Arvind Patel on Wednesday said he and his wife, who are living a few miles away in Naperville, are doing well and are thankful for all the help from the community.

He said he plans to replace the house; the work is being done by Naperville builder DJK Custom Homes.

Contractor change

Now that its a year later, the Whirledges say they wonder how long their insurance company will be willing to shell out money for temporary living expenses.

Its been challenging to live with my parents because they are immunocompromised so we have to be super careful, Marie said. Last month Marc contracted COVID at work so that meant a 10-day, out-of-pocket hotel stay.

They originally were told the house would be repaired by Christmas, she said. But when the contractor they hired from the insurance companys preferred vendor list didnt show up after seven weeks, they had to hire a different company to do the work.

The second contractor was able to repair the roof in the living room that was dripping into the basement despite being tarped and replace the support beam blown out by the tornado that holds up the bedroom over the garage.

The work overall has been a series of starts and stops.

The property at 1809 Princeton Circle in Naperville remains vacant on June 15, nearly a year after a tornado destroyed the two-story home on June 20, 2021. Homeowners Arvind and Savita Patel survived, and they plan to rebuild on the site. (Suzanne Baker / Naperville Sun)

Marie said she was hopeful the siding would arrive soon after the windows were installed in March.

Shes still waiting. The house wrap placed on the exterior at the same time the windows were installed is coming off and will need to be replaced.

Whats also frustrating, Marie said, is examining 60 pages of claims adjustments each time a change is made to figure out if insurance is going to cover the costs.

The deck needs painting and a structural engineer told them the 10 posts supporting the deck need to be made plumb; the insurance adjuster quoted $2,000, she said. Thats not even enough for the paint, Marie said.

The couple also were told insurance would not cover any drywall bombarded with glass and debris. Marc said those walls were supposed to be patched and painted.

The slow progress often is blamed on difficulties getting supplies, they said.

Neighbor Al Steffeter said he suspects its more about finding people to perform the work.

A retiree who worked in project management for 40 years in the commercial industry, Steffeter said subcontractors are taking jobs in new home construction because thats where the work is steady.

Its a challenge for contractors to find tradespeople to come in for what amounts to a one- or two-day job, he said.

A Naperville firefighter marks the Nutmeg Lane home of Marc and Marie Whirledge as uninhabitable on June 22, 2021, two days after a tornado ripped through the Naperville neighborhood. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

A silver lining is that when the Whirledges finally move home, most of their belongings will be new.

Marc said 80% of the furniture and contents of their home was ruined, and insurance is paying for that. The remaining 20% was cleaned and placed in storage.

They also said their computers, photo albums and other treasured heirlooms were not damaged.

We didnt lose our memories. That is a huge blessing, Marie said.

Advice for others

Marie said some neighbors have opted to move away rather than deal with the hassles of rebuilding.

She wont leave because of the close bonds she developed with neighbors and the neighborhood post-tornado.

Shes grateful to all the volunteers from groups like Naperville-based Bike Bald who helped clean up the mess, Little Pops that brought pizza or the community members who donated gift cards, Marie said.

It was just overwhelming, she said.

Marc and Marie Whirledge stand outside their tornado-damaged home in Naperville Thursday. A year after a tornado decimated the house, the Whirledges are still waiting for the contractor to complete the work so they can move back home. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Marc said looking back, hed like to see a 48- to 72-hour moratorium on contractors coming into a devastated neighborhood with business cards and pressuring people.

An older couple down the street paid $6,000 to remove downed trees, he said. If they would have just waited a few days, volunteers with chainsaws could have done it for free, Marc said.

In addition, he advises people not to sign anything without fully investigating whether the contractor has the ability to work with insurance and to provide a firm time when the work will be completed.

The only urgent need after a tornado, Marc said, is to board up the house, tarp the roof and get fans to mitigate the water damage. People can hire those services and bill their insurance companies later, he said.

subaker@tribpub.com

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One year after a tornado decimated their house, a Naperville couple is still working with contractors and insurance: 'I just wish it was time for us...

Welcome to NerdWallets Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions.

This weeks episode starts with a discussion about eggs why theyre so expensive right now and how you can adjust your shopping habits.

Then we pivot to a discussion about the 2022 home improvement season.

Check out this episode on either of these platforms:

The disparate issues driving up egg prices are converging to scramble food budgets across the country. To start, the avian flu thats spreading across the country has led to more than 20 million chickens being killed this year. That means there are fewer chickens laying eggs right now.

Gas prices have made getting eggs to market more expensive, too. But you can try to cut your grocery costs in other ways.

Those hoping to take on home improvement projects this year are also facing supply chain and inflation challenges. There is a long-standing shortage of contractors that could make finding someone to do your work take a while.

The Fed rate hikes may tamper demand later in the year, but this summer is likely to be expensive and competitive for folks who want to take on projects around the house.

To still get some home improvement projects done this year without busting your budget you might need to get creative. Instead of doing a complete bathroom overhaul, for example, think about throwing a coat of paint on the walls and swapping out hardware on drawers and cabinets.

Small changes can help you feel like youre in a new space and can be much more affordable and easier to accomplish than a big project.

Dont count on remodeling getting cheaper:Demand may ease as interest rates rise, but supply chain disruptions and labor issues are likely to persist.

Interview the experts: A contractor, designer or architect may have ideas on how to get the results you want for less.

Consider smaller improvements:If you cant swing a major remodel right now, smaller fixes, such as new paint or a new countertop, could make a big difference at a fraction of the cost.

Have a money question? Text or call us at 901-730-6373. Or you can email us at podcast@nerdwallet.com. To hear previous episodes, go to the podcast homepage.

Sean Pyles: Ive got a question for all of the homeowners listening. How are your home improvement projects going this year?

If youre finding them more expensive and slower going than you expected, youve definitely got company. And in this episode, we are digging into whats going on.

Welcome to the NerdWallet Smart Money podcast, where we answer your personal finance questions and help you feel a little smarter about what you do with your money. Im Sean Pyles.

Liz Weston: And Im Liz Weston. To send the Nerds your money questions, leave us a voicemail, or text us on the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373. Thats 901-730-NERD. You can also send your voice memos to podcast@nerdwallet.com.

Sean Pyles: And follow us wherever you get your podcast to get new episodes delivered to your devices every Monday. And if you like what you hear, please leave us a review and tell a friend.

So, as I mentioned at the top, this episode, Liz and I are talking about how to approach home improvement projects this year, and why they might be a little bit more expensive than you expected.

Liz Weston: I was really looking forward to this conversation, because I have a huge list of projects that need to get done.

So, to help us understand the challenges of taking on home improvement projects right now, and how to get your projects done, on this episode of the podcast, were talking with Annie Millerbernd, whos been writing about this subject.

But before we get into that, Sean and I want to talk about eggs. Theyre still incredible and edible, but a dozen today will cost you a ton more than it did a year ago.

Sean Pyles: Yeah. I love eggs as much as the next guy, but why are we talking about them on Smart Money? Its because the issues that are driving up egg prices show how many seemingly disparate problems can converge to drive up prices on everyday items.

Plus, we want to offer you some tips to help you manage your grocery bill. And also I just love eggs, so were going to talk about it.

So lets start by giving a little bit of context. As a lot of folks know and are experiencing painfully on a day-to-day basis, grocery prices have increased nearly 12% over the last year. Its the highest jump since 1979.

But inflation is hitting certain food items harder than others. For example, right now the price for eggs is 32% higher than it was a year ago, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And in April, the price for a dozen commercial eggs hit $3 on average, and thats not including the cost for specialty, pasture-raised or organic eggs.

Liz Weston: Yeah. If youve been to the farmers market lately, youve seen those prices go up as well. Its basically gotten more expensive.

Sean Pyles: Yeah.

Liz Weston: Why? Why is this happening, Sean?

Sean Pyles: Well, a number of different reasons. As folks can imagine, eggs have been hit by a lot of the same global supply chain issues that other goods have.

But theres also a very unique issue thats impacting egg prices right now, and that is an avian flu that folks might have heard about in the news. In December 2021, a new avian flu hit North America, and it is really devastating chickens across the country.

One thing that is kind of good about this is that the risk to humans remains low, according to the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]. But chickens, turkeys and other birds are really susceptible.

One thing to note is that avian flus happen pretty regularly, and theyre usually contained quickly. But this one has really not been contained at all.

So, a bunch of chickens have been culled, basically killed, so that they can contain the spread of this avian flu or at least try to. So far this year, over 20 million chickens have been killed to try to contain this outbreak.

Liz Weston: Oh my goodness, thats a lot.

Sean Pyles: Its pretty astonishing. Beyond the avian flu, as I mentioned before, there are supply chain issues happening around eggs. The packaging supplies for eggs have gotten more expensive.

Theres also a truck driver shortage. And, as everyone knows, fuel prices have skyrocketed. So, that means that moving eggs from the farms to the grocery store is getting more expensive, and were paying for that.

Liz Weston: Yeah, and the eggs tend to have a pretty short life cycle to begin with. So, when the eggs get laid, they need to get moved to the market. Its not something that you can just set aside or wait on. They go bad.

Sean Pyles: Right. So, this is all to say that there are a number of different things coming together, making egg prices more expensive.

And Liz, how do you think folks can maybe reshuffle their spending habits to make sure that this doesnt scramble their budget?

Liz Weston: Well, as always with spending, we recommend that you first track what you are spending, so you have some idea of what the outflow is.

And you might even want to figure out what your personal rate of inflation is, because everybodys rate is a little bit different. If you have a budget tracking device or an app like NerdWallets, you can check last year and see how much you were spending on food, for example versus this year. Then you have sort of a baseline of what your personal rate of inflation is.

I think the heart of saving money on food is doing some meal planning. And some of us are not in the habit of doing that regularly; other people are. It just depends on how tight money is.

But meal planning is great for a couple of reasons. One is that it lets you take advantage of the specials and the sales that are going on at your local supermarkets. If youre planning menus around that, youre going to save money.

Another big benefit of meal planning is that you go to your refrigerator, and you look around your house, and you see what you already have. And that helps you reduce food waste. An awful lot of the food in this country gets thrown away unused.

So, by regularly going through your refrigerator and seeing whats there and making plans to use it, you can really help cut down on your food costs and food waste in general.

Sean Pyles: Yeah. It also just makes planning your life a lot easier. We have a cookbook that we use that is based around weekly meal planning. So youll have four or so recipes per week, and they tend to use similar ingredients. So, if you need parsley for one dish, youll use it again in another, a few days later.

And itll also have some recipes where its based on pantry staples. So, youll probably have a box of pasta somewhere in your pantry. You can just pull that out and use it for this dish. So that way, you can make sure that you are using everything that youre buying at the grocery store.

And you dont have to scramble each day asking your partner or yourself, What am I doing for dinner tonight? You have it set up.

Liz Weston: Yeah. And if you need a little help in getting going with meal planning and food plans, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has monthly food plans that you can use as guidance for grocery spending.

This is interesting, but its broken down by four different spending levels. So, thrifty, low-cost, moderate-cost and liberal. I dont know why they called the most expensive one liberal, but they did. So, for example, the thrifty food plan for a family of four would be about $211 per week.

Sean Pyles: OK.

Liz Weston: So that gives you some idea. The costs go up from there.

Sean Pyles: Interesting. Im spending about that much with just my partner and I. But I do have a penchant to spend a lot on smoked salmon, because I love my lox bagels in the morning. So maybe thats one area where I can personally cut my budget.

But, speaking of meat, I know that youre a big advocate for plant-based diets. And that is a great way to save some money as well, right?

Liz Weston: Yeah. We are not anywhere near totally vegan. We still eat meat; we still eat eggs. But we try to have a couple of plant-based dinners a week, and we will slowly be expanding that.

So, moving away from meat products, animal products, is another way to really help you save money. And it doesnt just have to be beans and rice.

Sean Pyles: Yeah.

Liz Weston: Theres actually quite a bit of opportunity for really creative meal planning. I just got the book Cool Beans, which is a fabulous cookbook of bean recipes.

Sean Pyles: Interesting.

Liz Weston: But again, theres a lot more products out there now than there used to be.

Sean Pyles: Yeah.

Liz Weston: So, you can experiment a little bit with that.

Theres one other aspect of saving money on eggs that we probably should talk about, and thats the idea of raising your own chickens, because I know this is something thats been discussed in your household, right?

Sean Pyles: Yes, Garrett and I have been debating this for a little while. He would love to have some chickens running around the backyard. All I can see is my cat and my dog terrorizing them, and the mess that theyre going to make.

So Im not so keen on this. And you raised chickens growing up, so I think that youre kind of in my camp, too. Is that right?

Liz Weston: Exactly. When you said the dog and cat terrorizing the chickens, look for it to go the other way around. We had a terrifying rooster that would fly at your face with those spurs on his legs, just trying to kill you.

So yeah, that and the smell of the manure. Oh my gosh. Thats still in my nostrils all these years later.

So I mean, I know people do this for a lot of reasons. Theres exotic chickens that are kind of fun

Sean Pyles: Yeah.

Liz Weston: and all that. But yeah, definitely research it. I think you probably will spend a lot more money on your chicken coops and your chickens.

Sean Pyles: Im trying to take advantage of the whole backyard chicken thing without putting in any of the work, which is: I will occasionally buy eggs from my neighbors who have chickens, and they are beautiful and delicious.

They come in so many different colors that youve never seen before. And I like to get them every so often. But they are about five bucks a dozen, because of all the labor and the materials that have to go into making a dozen eggs from chickens that are in your backyard.

But its a nice way to kind of break things up and also connect with your neighbors, at least in my neighborhood.

Liz Weston: Yeah, and if you havent had truly fresh eggs, they are a revelation. All this being said, weve been talking about how much more expensive eggs are, but theyre still a pretty cheap source of protein.

Theres lots of different ways to save on groceries, and we have a lot of articles on NerdWallets site that can help you figure out ways to cut your food budget.

One callout: A lot of folks are struggling with food insecurity right now. So if you are in a position to do so, setting up regular donations to your local food bank is a great way to help people in your community.

Sean Pyles: Thats true. Before we get into our conversation around home improvement season, I have a quick favor to ask our listeners.

Were always working to improve Smart Money for all of you, so we put together a super short survey. Please take a few seconds to fill that out. You can find a link in the episode description. Thanks in advance.

Liz Weston: OK, now lets get into our conversation with Annie Millerbernd about home improvement projects this year. Welcome to Smart Money, Annie.

Annie Millerbernd: Happy to be here.

Sean Pyles: Annie, a lot of homeowners myself included, and Liz, and Im imagining you have a pretty long list of things they want to do to their house, but its not so easy to accomplish in todays landscape.

Can you describe the current challenges facing those who want to take on home improvement projects this year?

Annie Millerbernd: The challenges for home-improvers right now come down to supply and demand. And those are two concepts that homeowners and other consumers are very, very familiar with in 2022.

If you want to do a home improvement project this year, resources are limited, and lots of people want them.

Liz Weston: So on the supply side, whats the situation?

Annie Millerbernd: The supply side actually is two situations. The first is a shortage of labor. So, theres been a longstanding shortage of construction labor folks to actually do the home improvement projects and that issue was exacerbated by the pandemic.

For decades now, there havent been enough people to do the home improvement projects. And during the pandemic, you had people being laid off, as they were across many industries. You also had people getting sick and not being able to come to the job sites.

So, thats made it a lot harder to get a hold of contractors. Youre seeing that show up when you call six, seven, eight contractors, and maybe you only hear back from two or three and maybe one actually shows up at your door to gives you a quote.

Sean Pyles: Right. Weve had that experience with my partners place in Portland. Weve had a number of projects that weve wanted to get done. And when we have found a contractor who fit the bill for us, we often have had to wait upward of six to eight weeks to schedule a time for them to come out.

And then, even the day of, weve had folks cancel, because someone maybe got sick. Or they had another project that was actually more lucrative, and they just wanted to prioritize that instead of ours. So, its been quite a time-consuming, and at times, frustrating process to even find laborers.

Annie Millerbernd: Then when you do find a contractor, that person works with subcontractors, and those are also in short supply.

So you get your project started, and then you need someone to come in and do the plumbing. But you need to have that scheduled; that isnt something thats just going to happen seamlessly within the process. Its the same for electrical work and all of the work that you need subcontractors for.

So that makes your timeline, which already took a long time to get started, even longer.

Sean Pyles: Yeah, and you better hope that the subcontractors have all the materials that they need. We put in some new windows in our place in Portland, and that project was delayed a couple times, because the contractors didnt have the windows. They were just back-ordered for quite a long time.

Annie Millerbernd: Absolutely, and materials are the other side of the supply problem. This is a problem that was brand new during the pandemic. It happened across many different types of goods, where you would order something and you wont get it for, say, nine months.

We have a coworker who ordered a faucet for her sink. And it is May, and she will not see that faucet until July. And thats a long time to wait for a faucet.

Sean Pyles: I hope that they like it.

Annie Millerbernd: The materials shortage is kind of an unprecedented thing for the home improvement industry. One economist told me he had never seen all materials in short supply, all at the same time, which was the case during the pandemic. Thats made things a lot more expensive.

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Smart Money Podcast: What's Up With Eggs, and Home Projects - Miami County Republic

Gordon Freireich Published 8:44 a.m. ET June 14, 2021

Jody Harlacher works on the porch railing of a home in Gettysburg.(Photo: Submitted)

Jody Harlacher has more artist in him than he admits, says Zach Ausherman of Mike Ausherman Painting.

A resident of Dover, Jody has been named the Craftsman of the Year by the Painting Contractors Association, a national organization based in St. Louis. The award is officially named the L.E. Travis Jr. Craftsman of the Year, honoring a painter who excels at his work.

Jody, 61, (he proudly points out he was born at the former West Side Hospital in York) has been a professional contract painter since 1988 when he joined the Ausherman team. A 1977 graduate of the York County Vo-Tech School in carpentry and cabinetmaking, he worked for Boring Furniture, Boring Manufacturing and Yorktowne Kitchens before working with his father in his painting businesses prior to joining Ausherman.

Over the years, he has become an expert with matching paint and stain colors. His high quality work can been seen across the area, most recently in his intricate work on a large 1837 home in Gettysburg with a series of unique porches. Over the years, he has used his expertise in repainting the original Glatfelter Mansion in Spring Grove and helping to restore the former Hahn Home (now Kuhner Associates Funeral Directors) after a fire damaged the interior of the building.

Jody Harlacher, right, holds the L.E. Travis Jr. Craftsman of the Year award presented by the national Painting Contractors Association. At left is Zach Ausherman, of Mike Ausherman Painting, who nominated Jody for the award.(Photo: Submitted)

Jody, who decided to go part-time as a painter on May 1, says his knowledge comes from experience and training classes he has taken over the years.

In nominating Jody for the award, Zach Ausherman, who refers to himself as the companys Chief Vision Officer, wrote: A notable interior project was a large three story stairwell in a one hundred-year-old home.

He went on to praise Jodys technique with stains. With stain, the talent is in blending stains to match the existing. A few times a year, well have stain projects where the substrate causes lighter or darker spots. Jody has the ability to modify the stain to darken or lighten those spots.

When it comes to paints, Jody has the ability to manipulate paint to match colors by adding pigments. A few times a year, hell add white, amber or others needed to make the paint color needed for that project. Indeed, that is what he did on the Gettysburg house project.

Jody Harlacher also shares his knowledge with other members of the Ausherman painting crews. Each spring he runs our ladder safety program for the company, Zach Ausherman writes. He is adamant about cleanliness and keeping things in order as well as making sure he and his crew are wearing proper PPE for dust and paint particles; from dust masks to properly fitting respirators.

Now that he has reduced his schedule to part-time, Jody says he will have time to work on family projects for his son, two daughters, and his wife, Brenda.

And, oh yes, time for fishing, a favorite activity

Ausherman Painting has 18 employees with a market area including York and Adams Counties, as well as Mechanicsburg and Camp Hill.

Jody Harlacher is proud of his York County roots and York County can be proud of Jody Harlacher and his brush with fame as the painting craftsman of the year.

Gordon Freireich is a former editor of the York Sunday News.Email:gordonaf2805@gmail.com.

Read or Share this story: https://www.ydr.com/story/opinion/2021/06/14/portrait-top-painting-craftsman/7682567002/

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Portrait of the top painting craftsman - York Daily Record

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) Most of us are familiar with painting a home. But when a home is over 200 years old, you have to call in the professionals like Elijah Southern.

No job is tough if you love what you are doing. Its therapeutic, Southern said. I like painting. I like taking it from ugly to pretty.

Southern owns Southern Renovation and Paint.

His mission is to paint all the wooden surfaces of Blandwood Mansion. The historic downtown Greensboro landmark is the former home of North Carolina governor John Morehead.

Before Southern can paint, he has to remove layers of old paint and smooth out the rough spots. When hes done, Blandwood will be back to its 1795 charm.

When I paint it, I will use a brush and roller like they did when they first painted and try to keep the same look, Southern said.

Benjamin Briggs is the executive director of Preservation Greensboro: the nonprofit that operates Blandwood. Along with a new coat of paint, Preservation Greensboro also thought it was time to make another change.

We thought it was important for the organization to reach out to minority owned businesses, woman owned businesses, to see if we have a better representation of contractors here at Blandwood Mansion, Briggs said.

To have the opportunity to be contracted to do it as a minority, thats awesome, Southern said. That shows how time has changed.

Southern has worked on historic houses before but nothing quite as large as Blandwood. So when this job is complete, it could set him on a stage to something even bigger.

We are working with him to build our heritage trades here in Greensboro, Briggs said. His skill level can be applied to many different houses, and we look forward to him becoming a part of our team.

Joining the team is important because finding someone to take care of a 200-year-old home is becoming harder and harder.

That would be a great opportunity to do more. I am sure it will come in time if you stay patient and vigilant, Southern said.

He should be finished painting Blandwood Mansion in a few weeks.

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I like taking it from ugly to pretty: Contractor gets new opportunity painting the historic Blandwood Mansion in Greensboro - WGHP FOX 8 Greensboro