We were so impressed and pleased with the manner in which Tim and his crew worked with us that I asked for an estimate for installation of a complex irrigation system for the plants on and around the water garden. The crew of PondMagic were a delight to work with. They were careful not to damage anything on our property while moving large boulders into place and they kept dust and dirt to a minimum and they left my backyard immaculately clean.

~ Chris Mackie, San Jose, CA

There are mechanics that can give you a one size fits all solution. Then there are professionals who can help you expand your horizon as to what is possible. Then there are artists such as PondMagic, that provide you something you wished you had wanted but had no ability to imagine. We are ecstatic.

~ Jill & Dennis Hunter, Saratoga, CA

We, the entire family, want to thank you for your Magic with PondMagic. You and your team have created a real heaven on earth for us. For 24 years and 10 months, we used to go out for a car ride in the late evening, listening to music as the day was winding down. Exactly three months ago, after water started flowing down the stream in our pond our evenings, early mornings and week end afternoons are all around the pond, not only for us but many friends as well.

~ Anand & Louisa Shah, Sunnyvale, CA

My pond is beautiful, excellent workmanship just quality work. I could not be happier.

~ Annette Cone, Boulder Creek, CA

It has changed an unused area of our yard into an area in which we delight in spending time. In summer we now eat one or two meals a day beside the pond. The sound of the waterfall, the flashing colors of the fish, the changing tapestry of the plants create a relaxing environment. It has exceeded our expectation.

~ Connie & Steve Zilles, Los Gatos, CA

In this day it is rare that someone surprises me by exceeding my expectations and you did! I would be happy to recommend PondMagic to anyone.

~ Mark Calkins, Santa Cruz, CA

As we enter our retirement years well be spending lots of time at home enjoying our new pond as the focal point in our back yard. It is our little piece of heaven on earth Once again we sincerely appreciate you and your team and we LOVE OUR POND !

~ Mary Olivas & Joe Miller, Pleasanton, CA

I called one of Tims satisfied customers and couldnt understand why she was so ecstatic about her pond. Then we had ours put in and now I totally understand her excitement. We absolutely love it! Even my husband who was very hesitant in the beginning loves it! The birds love it too!

~ Terri & Ralph Silveira, Sunnyvale, CA

Thank you and your team for the very exciting pond and stream you designed and built. The pond, waterfalls, and streams look good, sound great and most of all you did a great job of blending it into the rest of the landscape and format of the yard. The artistic flare and your design components truly have made this pond something we will enjoy for a long time to come.

~ Jill and Bob Ticknor, Santa Cruz, CA

You captured our vision for the pond and surrounding landscape beautifully! Thank you for the extra effort you and your team put in to ensure we had the best possible pond and landscape for our yard. We will be sure to recommend you to everyone who wants such a project done in their yard.

~ David & Sue Michalicek, San Jose, CA

Thank you so much for creating such a beautiful water feature. The pond and stream have transformed our back yard into a beautiful, tranquil retreat. It was built so it looks like a natural part of the landscape. It has been such a positive experience to work with all of you. We will definitely recommend PondMagic to others.

~ Frank and Carol Rossi, San Jose, CA

On a score of 1 to 10, I rate PondMagic as a 15 on inspiration, design, quality and efficiency. Whole-heartedly I recommend PondMagic to fulfill not only your personal ideas but to create a vision in which you will delight daily.

~ Gloria Lorenzo, Santa Cruz, CA

Just wanted to let you know how much we are enjoying our fabulous pond and waterfalls. Its a joy to sit in this beautiful area, like a vacation in our back yard! Our granddaughter just loves playing along the stream and feeding the fish. It is a wonderful experience with nature for a child and we look forward to when our infant granddaughter can also enjoy it.

~ Nancy McVay, Campbell, CA

I enjoy the noise when I first get home, walking down the staircase. I enjoy the rock view while sitting in the lounge chairs on the deck. I enjoy watching the birds stop and drink from the pond. A most rewarding addition to the house.

~ John Ames, Aptos, CA

One of the best things we have ever done is to have PondMagic design and build us an excellent water garden.

~ Rick & Tawni Santee, Watsonville, CA

We would like to thank you again for creating our new pond in the Life Lab Garden Classroom. We are thrilled at how quickly and cleanly you were able to install this beautiful feature in the garden. Already it is the focal point we couldnt be happier!

~ Gail Thompson, Project Director, Life Lab Science Program, UCSC

I am thoroughly pleased with the manner in which Pondmagic handled the job communication was excellent in all areas of the job, from the original bid to the conclusion. I am very happy with how my pond looks and sounds Tim and his crew did an awesome job with my pond and I would thoroughly recommend them to anyone looking for this service.

~ DebRenee H. Cooley, Los Gatos, CA

Joann and I gladly take this opportunity to thank you for the wonderful water creation you built for us. Your sensitivity and artistry have made our pond a unique and beautiful experience the care and thought you took in designing the flow of water and placement of rock did not go unnoticed. Your team was a pleasure to work with, very thorough, and timely in getting the job done.

~ Tom and Joann Tucker, Pleasanton, CAM

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Review Best Pond, Waterfall and Landscaping Design ...

It should be blatantly obvious to you The Pond Digger Waterscape Design & Construction company is much more than just waterscaping or the enjoyment of ponds, backyard waterfalls and pondless waterfalls. We are about the information, education and inspiration of pond design, pond care, pond construction and training of how to build a pond properly!

Some say rules are made to be broken, however breaking the rules in the management of pond water quality, the husbandry of Koi, and the basics of pond construction and pond design could spell disaster, wasted time and wasted money!

Cutting edge photographers regularly challenge the conventional wisdom of placing objects into their photographs by a third and yet they occasionally capture something amazing and spontaneous that can hold your attention for a long period of time. However challenging the basic principles of pond design and pond construction like the improper placement of your skimmer, biological waterfall filter or incorrect pump sizing could make the difference between an absolute wonderful pond experience or a spine tingling waterscapes nightmare!

HELPFUL HINT While we are the subject of photography let me pause and point something out When you are presented with a pond design portfolio of beautiful photographs including backyard waterfalls and ponds, there is a strong possibility you will be looking at pictures of somebody elses work! NO KIDDING! Manufacturers provide professional photos for beginner contractors to use on their websites, in their design portfolios and marketing materials!

We see these photo scams ALL the time on pond construction websites and pond design portfolios, at home shows and market nights, on vehicle wraps and business cards, on brochures, flyers and more! Ask your pond designer if ALL the photos in their portfolio are pictures of their actual work and absolutely do not be afraid to ask if you can see some of the work in person.

Our team hosts several pond design construction seminars each year here in Southern California, that are geared to inform, educate and inspire our community. For example, Pond for Schools does more than just beautify our childrens schools; it teaches the next generation of the pond hobbyist and pond construction specialists, not only team work, but How To Build A Pond and properly care for a backyard waterfall and an ecosystem waterscape.

We host Pond Construction Seminars regularly each year to teach both home owners and contractors how to build a pond, but more importantly pond design and pond care. Along with our Spring Pond Care, Fall Pond Care and Koi health and Disease seminars, we cover the full circle of educational seminars.

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Pond Design Gone Wrong The Pond Digger

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Garden Ponds Unlimited - Garden Ponds & Aquariums

For literally thousands of years, ponds have been one of the signature features of the most elegant gardens in the world. While a pond is one of the defining elements of a garden that has been created with every attention given toward aesthetics, there are some significant engineering concerns involved where the installation and maintenance of a garden pond is concerned. This website provides extensive information on both the aesthetic and practical elements involved in the creation and maintenance of garden ponds and contains material which will prove useful to those who are just beginning their journey as a gardener as well as to those who are very experienced in the endeavor.

A garden pond, when created correctly, can provide a touch of elegance that can last for literally generations. As is the case with any artistic endeavor, the means of creation dictates the success of the result.

How to Build a PondIt takes more than a shovel to build a water pond! One must engage in some sophisticated planning, be certain that they have the right supplies on hand and that the area chosen is up to the task. One must have a good grasp of the various tasks involved to ensure that their creation is exactly what they had in mind.

Fish PondThese are one of the most elegant and, frankly, one of the most enjoyable additions that anyone can make to their yard. Installing an outdoor pond allows one to keep fish in an environment which is as close as possible to their natural home and which allows for one to get truly creative with the design.

Koi PondThese are one of the most impressive examples of the fish pond. They benefit from the presence of these large, beautiful animals. The fish themselves need special considerations paid to their care and the water must be properly filtered and circulated so that they can enjoy a healthy environment.

Pond LinerOutdoor ponds would eventually be a dry hole without a liner! From concrete to rubber to more advanced plastics, there are an incredible amount of liner materials available on the market. Learn about the various liners available and how they can help one create the garden of one's dreams!

Pond PlantsOutdoor ponds are an ecosystem in and of them self. Installing plants helps balance out this ecosystem. Even where fish are the principal feature, plants provide a place for them to hide, nourishment and a way to keep the environment clean of toxic wastes that build up.

Pond AlgaeAll water ponds are susceptible to becoming infiltrated by this pesky plant but there are many ways in which a skillful owner can get rid of it for good and enjoy crystal clear water. From introducing competing plants to installing sophisticated UV filters, algae can be beaten but, if it's let go too long, one may be facing a long battle.

Pond PumpA water pump is the heart of any backyard pond. These are the devices that power the filters, the waterfalls and fountains and which provide for the proper circulation of the water. Installing these devices properly is necessary to ensure that they function to their highest level of performance and to ensure that the water is kept healthy and safe.

Pond FountainA fountain may seem like a complex addition but, between the many different variations available on the market and the surprisingly easy installation, it's a wonder that all garden ponds aren't supplied with one. They help add air to the water and add a touch of class. Fountains make a fantastic feature for all garden!

Pond FilterProper filtration is an important requirement. These needs vary depending on what type of garden pond one has constructed. There are several different types of water filters on the market. Understanding the basic workings of these devices is an absolute necessity.

Pond UV FilterOutdoor ponds may be an ancient and enduring symbol of an elegant home but new technology has been enlisted in the fight to keep the waters clean. UV filters destroy algae by attacking it right at the DNA, rendering it unable to multiply and gradually turning turbid waters into crystal clear habitats for plants and fish.

Pond LightsJust because the sun has gone down doesn't mean that one can't enjoy their outdoor pond. In fact, with the right lighting setups can be even more beautiful in the night than they are in the day. From colored lights to floodlights to floating lights, backyard ponds can become a 24-hour destination.

Pond SuppliesBackyard ponds require maintenance and that maintenance requires that one has the right materials on hand. Choosing the correct products is necessary and can be very enjoyable. Done correctly, one can spoil one's koi and one's plants with a clean and healthy environment and cut down on maintenance time.

Pond WaterfallNo garden pond is complete without a waterfall. These easy to build features add a dimension of elegance and relaxation to your garden. The sound of the running water adds to the aesthetic value and the aeration these features provide is excellent for fish.

Pond KitWant to install a water pond but don't know where to start? Kits provide an easy way to get going. These kits are the best way for beginner to get started. No matter what size or shape one has in mind, there is most certainly an appropriate kit available.

Pond CalculatorsVarious calculators to make one's life easier. Calculators to calculate the volume of a pond, the size of liner required, a pump flow calculator and an electrical running cost calculator.

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Pond.com - Complete Guide & Shop for Garden Ponds

Let us create a little niche of nature in your home's landscape with a waterfall, stream, pond, or wall fountain. With today's technology and a clever design crafted just for your property, the soothing sounds of water and nature can literally be at your doorstep.

Almost any size of home exterior can have a water feature incorporated into the landscape design. A well-designed pondless waterfall or wall fountain is a great choice for a property with limited land available. An awkward space is often the best place for a small water feature, turning an unused area into a beautiful focal point. Larger properties can include waterfalls, streams, and even ponds stocked with fish as part of their outdoor living area.

Water features do not have to be high maintenance. With little effort, a pondless water feature can supply you with texture, natural sounds, and visual interest. Simple wall fountains, huge cascading waterfalls, and other pondless water features are other great low maintenance options. The water in these features essentially re-circulates.

If you would like to hear the soothing sounds of nature, enhance your outdoor entertaining, and fill your space with a low-maintenance, one-of-a-kind landscaping element, talk to our pond design professional about adding a water feature to your landscape or garden design. Then, let the experienced landscapers at Upstream Waters Landscape build that design for you.

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Ponds and Waterfalls Design and Install

Serving:Walla Walla WA,Richland WA,Pasco WA,Kennewick WA,Tri Cities,Dayton WA,and College Place Washington.

We are professional water feature contractors with 20 years of pond/stream and garden water feature design experience. We do construction in Walla Walla, WA and Tri Cities, Washington.

Here at Ace Landscaping we take a great deal of pride, creating a peaceful haven for your back yard, with every custom water feature we design, build, and maintain. From large scale 1 to 2 acre pond, stream & waterfall projects, to smaller and more intimate water garden retreats.

You may chose to install a core drilled basalt or rock fountain, with water cascading down the sides into a tranquil river rock filled pond; or maybe you prefer a low maintenance pondless water feature, with a natural informal stream trickling out of sight.

We only use the most commercial grade quality components, that are available on the market today. Our landscape water feature specialist set the standard when it comes to high end custom work. There will be absolutely no corners cut.

I personally design all of our custom water features, with your personal goals & ideas, combined with my over 20 years of experience to create for you the perfect backyard oasis of your dreams. I try hard to replicated what mother nature does so easily, using as much as possible, only the most natural products: native plantings, and boulders, that you would find by a trickling stream hidden deep in the mountains.

Please call for your FREE estimate today; (509) 522-2081. I look forward to earning your business for years to come.

Dean & Shari's pond and water features

More of the 4-acre landscaped garden

Ace Landscaping designed and built an approximately 4 acre garden for us several years ago. The garden has a water feature with waterfall, hills with rock features and trees/shrubs with an underground irrigation system.

He understood what we were looking for, completed the job timely and has returned several times to replace or move shrubs.

We have had Ace Landscaping return for other jobs also and are satisfied with his work.

Sincerely,Dean & ShariWalla Walla

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WATER FEATURE DESIGN SERVICES - Ponds/Streams & Garden ...

Enhance your flower garden with a beautiful pond using the AB Courtyard Collection. With this flexible system you can build a pond in a weekend without any special tools and without splitting blocks.

In this example we are building a 6 ft (1.8 m) diameter pond with a pre-formed liner (found at your local pond supply store) on soil. If you are constructing your pond on an exisiting concrete surface, skip to Step 4.

Place a stake in the center of where you would like to build your pond. Measure the diameter of the pond liner, then mark on the string one half of the diameter. Tie the string to the stake and rotate it marking the ground for the liner. Temporarily place 30 AB York blocks along the outside of the circle marked on the ground. The amount of blocks needed is based on the pre fabricated liner that was used. Verify the liner size and adjust blocks as needed to fit the design. Use a shovel to cut around the blocks and mark where the sod and soil will be removed to construct the base.

Remove the blocks used to layout the pond location. Then remove the sod and 3 in. (76 mm) of soil in the entire area. If your plans includes a decorative center sculpture or fountain it is recommended to remove additional soil in the center to construct a stronger base. If electricity is required please follow local electrical codes.

Next prepare the foundation pad by placing 4 in. of well-graded base rock in the excavated area. Level the area making adjustments where needed. A straight 2x4 and a level make easy work of leveling the site. Compact the base rock with a hand tamper.

Start building the pond using the string to position the blocks. Building two courses at a time will insure proper alignment. Check the blocks for level. Make adjustments to the circumference of the circle so that cutting is not required. Next add the third course of blocks.

Place the pre-fabricated plastic liner in the ring of the blocks. Position the panel caps and glue them down with concrete adhesive. This will lock the blocks together and prevent unwanted disassembly.

Place your choice of clean decorative rock in the bottom of the liner. Now you're ready to add water and other ornamental accessories to customize your design.

Above Ground Pond

This below ground pond will use 4 courses of AB York blocks, Wall Caps, a flexible pond liner, which can be found at a local pond supply store, and a fountain (optional).

When completed the pond will be an outstanding element in your yard. The liner we are using will be placed on the outside of the blocks to allow the AB Courtyard blocks, decorative rock and fountain to be the main focal point.

First, choose the location for your pond and place a stake in the center. Using a tape measure, mark 41 in. (1.04 m) on the string starting at the stake. Using paint and the string, mark a circle around the stake at the location of the pond.

Temporarily place the AB York blocks along the inside of the circle marked on the ground. Each course of the pond will use 28 blocks to complete the circle. Adjust blocks as needed, making sure the blocks are tight together. Use a shovel to cut around the blocks and mark where the sod and soil will be removed.

Remove the blocks used to mark the pond location. Next clear any existing landscaping in the entire area and dig a hole a minimum of 12 in. (300 mm) deep to accommodate the pond. Later, we will be using some of the removed material as backfill to add a gradual slope up to the ponds edge.

In the bottom of the hole, dig a leveling trench 8 in. wide (200 mm) by 3 in. deep (75 mm) around the outside of the pond where the blocks will be placed.

Leveling Pad

Level Blocks

If there will be a statue or fountain in the pond, dig a leveling trench for its location as well. Fill the leveling trench(s) with 3 in. (75 mm) of course sand. Compact the bottom of the pond and the sand leveling pad with a hand tamper.

Use a level and a straight 2x4 to level the entire pond area from side to side. A level base will make it easy to install the rest of the pond. If electricity is required for a fountain, please follow local electrical codes.

Temporarily place the first two courses of AB York blocks on the sand leveling pad. Building the first two courses at the same time ensures proper alignment. Level and adjust each block from side to side and front to back. Once the first two courses are in place. Use a level and a straight 2x4 to level the blocks from side to side across the pond.

Before adding the liner, carefully remove all the AB York blocks. The blocks must be leveled before the liner is installed to prevent damage to the liner later. When installing the flexible liner, be sure to press the sides of the liner into the outside edges of the pond. Be careful not to step or stand on the sand leveling pad.

With the liner in place, carefully replace the first 2 courses of blocks in the location of the leveling pad. To avoid damaging the liner later, make only minor adjustments if possible to re-level the blocks. With the first 2 courses complete and leveled, install the 3rd course.

Modify block to make room for the power cord

Install power cord and blocks

With the 3 courses installed, fold the liner up over the top of the blocks. Using onsite soils, backfill around the outer edge of the liner up to the top of the blocks. Gently compact this soil to prevent settling of the soil later. Using a utility knife, trim the excess liner at the outer edge of the top of this 3rd course of blocks. Remember that the high water mark can not exceed the top of the cut of the liner. For deeper water levels, you must bury more courses.

Install the last course of blocks. If the pond needs electricity, chip off the bottom edge of one block using a hammer and chisel to make room for the power cord. Follow individual manufacturers instructions on proper installation of any accessory you will be adding to the pond.

Finish the pond with Wall Caps. Then secure in place with concrete adhesive.

Its time to add the water, decorative rock, a sculpture/fountain or plantings. When using rock, we recommend rinsing the rock before placing in the pond for best results. Finish the landscaping around the pond with mulch and plantings and enjoy.

Above Ground Pond

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How to Build a Pond - Allan Block Wall Systems

ORLEANS In recent years, the town has been marching down the field toward its goal of cleaning its waters. At next month's special town meeting, selectmen will ask voters to support grinding out a few more yards now to set up a full-scale attack on the end zone at annual town meeting in May.

Some members had higher ambitions for the Oct. 16 meeting, but with four positive votes required to put borrowing questions on the ballot, the board compromised Aug. 30 on a handful of smaller-scale initiatives.

Voters will be asked next month to support building a section of the collection system for the proposed downtown sewer system under Main Street between Routes 6A and 28. The small step forward was prompted by ongoing state department of transportation reconstruction of the two major intersections; when that work is finished, the pavement may not be dug up again for five years. That would delay the town's sewer project well into the next decade.

Contractor Lawrence-Lynch, which is doing the road work for the state, would install the hybrid gravity-low pressure system. An estimate for the job was expected by yesterday's (Sept. 6) selectmen's meeting, when the board was scheduled to approve a debt exclusion vote on the Oct. 24 special election ballot.

With a trio of decisions to make on collection, treatment, and disposal of wastewater selectmen were able to agree to ask town meeting for authority to negotiate a long-term lease with the state for land at Route 6's Exit 12 cloverleaf as a discharge site for effluent (treated wastewater). Others the type of collection system and whether the town would process waste from septic systems as well as the sewer were deferred. Also set aside was pursuit of either a design-bid-build or design-build-operate track for creating the system.

Meeting without the familiar cadre of consultants in a work session, the board heard positive news about the Exit 12 site from Selectman Alan McClennen, who guided Lt. Gov Karyn Polio and state Rep. Sarah Peake on a tour of the location. She got right into this and understood the issues, McClennen said of Polito. My impression was that this is moving in a very positive way.

Although he was one of four votes to support using the site (Selectman David Currier, who owns two businesses in the downtown area, is sitting out meetings on the first phase of the project to avoid a potential conflict of interest), Selectman Mark Mathison said two alternative sites (the transfer station and a nearby water tower location) recently brought to the board's attention by McClennen should be investigated by consultants. The board voted unanimously to have AECOM look into both additional sites.

A previous board of selectmen voted to discharge no treated wastewater into the Namskaket and Little Namskaket marshes, but some current members say the very low projected percentages of infiltration show a total ban isn't necessary.

Our wastewater is flowing now through all our coastline and bays and estuaries, Selectman Mefford Runyon said. They all deserve our careful stewardship and care, but I'm not prepared to bestow special status on any of them. I think all the watersheds are part of what we need.

Noting studies that showed the majority of effluent from the now-closed tri-town treatment plant going under the marsh, not into it, Selectman Jon Fuller said a good rainy day puts more fresh water into the marsh than any treatment water. The last five-incher, probably a trillion gallons went into the marsh and there wasn't a perceptible change.

Mathison said selectmen have to consider that the board in the past has made a commitment that some people will now look as being unfulfilled, and that's going to cost votes. We can't afford to lose any of those votes.

Exit 12 is our first site, not our last site, said McClennen. We're working on other sites. Earlier, he had said his personal hope is that as we move ahead in phases we continue to find other disposal sites so what's collected and cleansed is discharged in different watersheds.

The site at the back of the landfill is under the selectmen's control, but the board of water and sewer commissioners would have to give its approval for testing and any other subsequent work at the water tower site. The boards are already scheduled for an Oct. 4 meeting.

Selectmen were unable to move forward on AECOM's recommendation to go to 100 percent design for a hybrid gravity-low pressure collection system for the downtown area. The consultants identified that option after completing a 25 percent design of the system, which jibed with those from several other engineering firms over the last decades.

But Mathison said there's a perception among some in town that the consultants are not unbiased. The concern is you hire a firm whose expertise is in building gravity systems and their recommendation is you build a gravity sewer system. He said leaders can't ignore public interest in smaller cluster systems such as those in use at Shaw's and the Community of Jesus. They work, he said. They're less expensive.

Fuller said he doesn't believe small cluster systems are less expensive in the long run. They may be less expensive to put in. At the Wequassett Inn (in Harwich), a third of their maintenance budget is for their wastewater treatment plant. They spent a lot of money after they put it in. It was required for their expansion.

McClennen noted that every small treatment plant needs a disposal site. He said that a Cape Cod Commission study of various collection systems found that a centralized system could remove nitrogen at the lowest cost per pound. Downtown is particularly well-suited for a gravity system, McClennen said, because the grade changes from eight to 104 feet above sea level.

Noting that a gravity system has the fewest possible moving parts, Runyon said that, in my perfect world, the sewer system goes into the ground and I never have to think about it again. I certainly hope I never have to be engaged in conversation about it again.

I don't dispute those kinds of things, Mathison said, but expressed again his disappointment that the town's consultants had said completion of a 25 percent design could lead to a number of design-build-operate companies bringing competing visions of a system before the town. Recently, the board was told that d-b-o would not work in Orleans.

The town is trying to get out from under its approved comprehensive wastewater management plan, which would see 52 percent of the community sewered. Non-traditional approaches such as using oysters to remove nitrogen from ponds and installing permeable reactive barriers to contain pollutants could limit traditional sewering to less than 15 percent, but such methods are still being tested and have yet to be approved by regulators.

In short, Mathison argued, there are too many questions to be answered. You're putting a train on a track and there are no sidings, he said. You keep throwing fuel into the boiler and the train keeps going faster and faster. I want to know where it's going and how much it's going to cost me before I get on that train.

We understand what the current cost is for downtown, McClennen said. The voters

by petition last time took Meetinghouse Pond off the table, so we know what the downtown system collection, treatment and disposal will cost. We don't know what non-traditionals will cost, but we do know a couple of things. If they don't work, we're looking at a project of $247 million, not $148.5, not $117 million. That scares the hell out of me.

The board discussed having a consultant do a peer review of the plan to date. Selectmen planned to vote on remaining warrant articles for the Oct. 16 special town meeting last night.

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Selectmen Limit Water Projects At Upcoming Special Town Meeting - Cape Cod Chronicle

Melrose-Mindoro hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for their new $24.7 million consolidated campus project, which is slated be completed by next school year.

The consolidated campus project will bring together all students in the Melrose-Mindoro School District under one roof at the current high school location. Voting on the referendum took place last November.

After residents were surprised at their property tax bills earlier in the year due to the consolidated campus project, months of contentious debates at school board meetings began.

The Melrose-Mindoro School Board decided to move forward with stage one June 12, which has neared completion, and have now begun stage two.

It has been a long time coming and Im very excited. I think its going to be a good move for the district, school board president Marlane Anderson said.

Melrose-Mindoro Superintendent Del DeBerg is excited about this opportunity to bring the two communities together, something he said was the original plan when the two school districts originally merged.

The goal was to recognize the fact that 53 years ago when both school districts of Mindoro and Melrose agreed to co-op, that one day they would have all grade levels at one site. We only get one opportunity to do this and we want to do it right, DeBerg said.

Most of stage one was completed over the summer including remodeling the high school music rooms, office area, entrance area and two English rooms. The only thing left to complete in stage one is to install the receptionist desk, which is set to be completed on Sept. 15.

Stage two recently began with the completion of the new septic system and removal of trees for a drainage pond. This stage is expected to go throughout the school year and be completed after next summer, includes connecting the existing tech ed building and high school, adding a cafeteria and classroom addition for the middle school and adding a two-story elementary addition.

It has been an exciting challenge to get the design ready, and now we are ready to start the actual construction and that brings a new challenge and a new level of excitement, so now we can really see the design come into play, DeBerg said.

To kick off the second stage of the project, many students from across several grades got to participate in the groundbreaking by participating in the groundbreaking themselves by throwing some dirt with gold-plated shovels.

We really wanted the focus on having students involved in some capacity, school superintendent Del DeBerg said.

The fact that students were able to pitch in was a great thing to see for Anderson. The young people coming up are getting a chance to be involved from the ground level.

The construction management company for the project, Market and Johnson, was at the groundbreaking and is excited about the consolidated campus project.

It is a great opportunity for us. We appreciate the trust the Melrose-Mindoro School District has put in us to help them with the project, Craig Namyst, project manager with Market and Johnson, said.

As a part of the project, Market and Johnson works to find local subcontractors to do parts of the project.

When we put these projects out for bids, we look for local talent as it were to help out with the project, Namyst said. ACT Concrete is doing all of the concrete work for the project. They are based out of this area. A lot of their kids go to school here. We just work hard to try to pull whatever talent we can out of the area.

With the groundbreaking complete, DeBerg is excited for the open house planned for next year once the upgrades to the school have been completed.

Continued here:
Mel-Min breaks ground on new consolidated campus project | Local ... - Jacksoncountychronicle

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Long Island Pond Maintenance And Koi Fish Available