By Alex Bridges -- abridges@nvdaily.com

Don't feed the bears, warn wildlife experts.

But not all Front Royal residents heed the warning or even know their actions attract bears into town.

"It's endemic of a urban environment in close proximity to a nature reserve such as the Shenandoah National Park," Town Manager Steven M. Burke said Thursday.

State wildlife experts and the town recommends residents remove any food sources from areas easily accessed by bears such as porches and patios. Residents who receive trash pickup from the town can ask the public works department to retrofit the garbage cans, Burke said.

Residents make sporadic bear sightings, but according to Burke the animals appear focused on certain neighborhoods in town that lie close to more rural areas. Bear sightings have been reported in the area of Ressie Jeffries Elementary School and around apartments on East Criser Road.

Burke noted apartment management, working with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, retrofitted the garbage containers, which appears to have helped keep bears away.

The town also recently helped residents in the Happy Creek area by retrofitting their trash cans as well as educating them about keeping bears away by taking away food sources, Burke said.

"We have had incidents where people arrive home and bears were rummaging through their garbage cans," Burke said. "Some people have kept them in areas that were close to their homes so that has resulting in some interaction between bears and residents and at that point we do encourage our citizens to contact our police department and we'll try and assist them to scare the bear off of the property."

Trapping and removing the bears has little effect on the overall problem, according to Fred Frenzel, of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, who spoke to Town Council about the issue Monday.

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Bears encroaching Front Royal neighborhoods

CEBU, Philippines - Home owners are looking at the outdoors, the gardens and verandas, porches and decks asan extension of the house making ita wonderfulplace to gather,relax,dine and entertain.And manufacturers are eagerly responding.

Ensuring that outdoor seating is every bit as comfortable and stylish as its indoor counterparts, Heritage Muebles Mirabile recently unveiled its novelcompanylogo and presented their newfurniture collection.Guests of honor, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, style icon Rosebud Sala and Ruby Salutan, consultant of the Cebu furniture industry didthe ceremonial ribbon cutting.

Our entry into outdoor furniture will expand our portfolio of products, said Charles Lim. With the introduction of these stylish collections, Heritage iswell positioned to meet rising consumer demand for comfortable and inviting outdoor living environments.

The exceptionalrich designs andthesupremequality of Heritage furniturehas given elegance to the outdoorfurniture segment in the traditional as well as modern aspect.

As the eveningcame to a close, several unique and innovative accent pieces were raffled off. The lucky winners included Honorary Consul of Spain Jaime Picornell, interior designers Maybelline Teh and CristabelleMuertegui,lovely couple Paolo and Michelle Garciaand columnist Joe Recio. Restaurateurs Loreta dy Tian and Rosita Te went homecontented with theiruniquewall framesmade of inlaid stone and stone cuts in various shades and sizes.

Hard-working and driven couple Charles and Sunshine Lim were all smilesas they received warm felicitations from friends who were more than impressed with their latest furniture collection. (FREEMAN)

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Heritage Muebles Mirabile

With new streets, fresh new homes with porches and a renovated community center, Eastons Neston Heights is open for renters and buyers across the socioeconomic spectrum.

But the full renovation wont be complete without homeowners, Easton Housing Authority Executive Director Gene Pambianchi said at the grand opening today of the Neston Heights model home.

Rising at the former Delaware Terrace public housing development, Neston Heights offers family rentals, a senior living area and, now officially, customizable homes for ownership.

The South Side always had the feeling of being on the wrong side of the tracks, said Mayor Sal Panto Jr., who grew up in that section of the city. "But changing neighborhoods changes society."

The look and feel of Delaware Terrace and the Delaware Terrace Annex, with its rundown barracks-style homes, did little to inspire pride among residents, said Panto and Mark Dambly, president of Neston Heights property manager Pennrose Properties. They were home to a perception and, repeatedly, reality of crime.

Rental properties in Neston Heights have not been crime-free, but Panto said the one little incident of Dashawn Cosme, a 19-year-old who allegedly shot and injured two men March 25, was blown way out of proportion. Cosme is still at large, police said today.

In addition to all-new housing, Neston Heights has new infrastructure, a clean-lined community center to replace the old Boys and Girls Club building, and includes elements such as a Neighborhood Networks Computer Center.

Delaware Terrace was built in 1953. Throughout the 1950s, public and low-income housing designers tended toward Bauhaus-style high-rise buildings free of embellishments, but this created the feeling that public housing was punishment, Dambly said.

The Neston Heights properties follow the tenets of New Urbanism, a way of mixing renters and property owners and low-income and high-income housing to create a sort of ready-made community spirit, Dambly said.

For more than 40 years, the Delaware Terrace property was under a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes system, meaning it represented very little tax value for the city. While the city is attempting to create a tax-incentive zone for home-buyers in the area, "these properties will be fully on the tax rolls, so this is a benefit to the city," said City Administrator Glenn Steckman.

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Neston Heights model home in Easton opens its doors

Zoning for the Princeton hospital site is headed back to the Princeton Regional Planning Board after the developer gave up a requested increase in density and met affordable housing requirements.

AvalonBay was seeking to build 324 units, 44 more than the 280 approved in current zoning for the site. The Iselin-based builder gave up the extra 44 units after pressure from the community and to move the project forward.

Were doing the 20 percent (affordable housing), were reducing to 280 and everything weve heard from the public for the last month, six weeks, weve conceded to and complied with, said Ron Ladell, senior vice president, AvalonBay Communities, at the Borough Council meeting on Tuesday. Except for LEED, which youve already determined by the town attorney you cant mandate.

In previous meetings, the developer had said the 44 extra units would add another nine to the affordable housing component and additional profits on the project.

A new ordinance was introduced on Tuesday night that included provisions for signs, changes to the uses for the site to include a leasing office child care and an arts and crafts studio, said Lee Solow, planning director.

Borough Council members expressed support for porches in the design of the apartment buildings as attractive additions that promote a feeling of community and neighborhood.

Porches got most of the attention on Tuesday night because the Planning Board did not recommend adoption of stoops, patios, porches, balconies, bay windows and other design features to extend into the building setback area.

Mr. Ladell assured council that the porches and stoops do not intrude into the setbacks and stoops and porches make the development look more like one and two family homes, which matches the neighborhood.

Council president Barbara Trelstad said the apartment complex would have some private spaces for residents, and not a gated community. She used an analogy of a private backyard, which is open space, but not open to the public.

Original post:
PRINCETON: Hospital developer concedes; reduces the number of units

Anyway that you want to leave it on your porches, postal workers will collect food items for the needy on Saturday, May 12.

We will be providing bags, or they can use their own bags, said postal worker KaSandra Erwin. They can also just set the cans down on the porch. People also do just that.

The food collection is a combined effort of the National Association of Letter Carriers and U.S. Postal Service.

Last year. Branch 1 (Detroit, Southfield, Livonia, and Garden City) of NALC collected 283,300 pounds of food, Erwin said. Nationwide, 210,000 letter carriers collect food on the largest food drive day in the world.

She advised residents to simply place their nonperishables canned soup, canned meats and fish, canned vegetables fruits and juices, boxed goods such as cereal, pasta, and rice near their mailboxes on the morning of May 12.

We will make certain it gets picked up, rain or shine, Erwin said. Most Garden City residents should expect a post card in their mail during the week leading up to the drive with a bag attached for food donations, but they can always use their own bags and boxes, if needed.

Food can also be dropped off in the lobby of the Garden City post office located at Merriman and Cherry Hill.

This is the 20th anniversary and we have collected over one billion pounds of food since beginning in 1993, Erwin said. The need is greater than ever with 46 percent of households reporting having to choose between paying a utility bill or buying food, according to Feeding America, Erwin said. Nearly 49 million Americans are hungry, 16 million being children.

sbuck@hometownlife.com (313) 222-2249

Link:
Postal workers hold annual food drive

(CBS/AP) NEW ORLEANS - In the era of mobile telephones, AT&T Inc. is trying to rid itself of a long-standing tradition in Louisiana: the familiar white pages of residential phone listings dropped on front porches and driveways.

The staff of the Louisiana Public Service Commission has recommended a plan under which white pages would be sent only to customers who specifically request the directory. AT&T customers also could request a CD-ROM of home listings for computer use. Many commissioners say they support the plan.

"Unwanted and unused directories are a waste of natural resources and scarce capital," Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta said. "Savings from printing directories only for consumers who actually want them can free up capital for increased development of consumer DSL and broadband services, in both traditional and cellular based modalities. Consumer choice allows for smart management of resources."

The commission could vote on the proposal May 23.

The program wouldn't affect the yellow pages, which is advertiser-supported, or the business version of the white pages, both of which would be delivered to all customers.

"The traditional residential white page telephone directory no longer provides the same utility it once did as customers are now turning less and less to the residential white pages directory and are looking to online and other resources for listing information," AT&T said in its request to the commission.

At least one Public Service Commissioner, Foster Campbell, opposes the request, calling it "a moneymaking deal" for AT&T.

"What do you think people are going to do when you take their telephone directory away? They're going to call 411 and pay $1.50. If they don't have a computer, they're going to call 411," Campbell said.

AT&T spokeswoman Kim Allen said that in 75 of company's markets across the country where white pages delivery is optional, less than 1 percent of its customers requested the directory. She said at least 19 states have removed mandatory directory delivery.

AT&T would rather use the savings to upgrade broadband services and wireless services in the state, Allen said. Allen would not say how much AT&T spends annually on its white pages and how many customers the company has in Louisiana, citing competitive reasons. She also was unable to say how many cities might be affected the PSC approves the company's request.

The rest is here:
AT&T seeks to end paper White Pages in Louisiana

wwltv.com

Posted on May 8, 2012 at 11:37 AM

Alan Sayre / Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS In the era of mobile telephones, AT&T Inc. is trying to rid itself of a long-standing tradition in Louisiana: the familiar white pages of residential phone listings dropped on front porches and driveways.

The staff of the Louisiana Public Service Commission has recommended a plan under which white pages would be sent only to customers who specifically request the directory. AT&T customers also could request a CD-ROM of home listings for computer use.

The commission could vote on the proposal May 23.

The program wouldn't affect the yellow pages, which is advertiser-supported, or the business version of the white pages, both of which would be delivered to all customers.

"The traditional residential white page telephone directory no longer provides the same utility it once did as customers are now turning less and less to the residential white pages directory and are looking to online and other resources for listing information," AT&T said in its request to the commission.

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell opposes the request, calling it "a moneymaking deal" for AT&T.

"What do you think people are going to do when you take their telephone directory away? They're going to call 411 and pay $1.50. If they don't have a computer, they're going to call 411," Campbell said.

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AT&T wants to end mandatory white pages in La.

EUFAULA, Oklahoma -

Construction is well under way on a different style of lake living.

It's like what you would see in Seaside, Florida, and unlike what you'd normally see with most new neighborhoods under construction.

On a beautiful spot along Lake Eufaula, something unique is taking shape.

"Similar to what you've seen out of the best neighborhoods between 1890 and 1940," said Grant Humphreys, Carlton Landing.

Carlton Landing is under development on Eufaula, introducing what's called new urbanism to life on the lake.

"We haven't seen it done in this region, so we're bringing in world-class design talent, into Oklahoma to redefine the lake experience and provide people with a great quality resort option," Humphreys said.

All of the cottages, with their large front porches, are built close to the street or with access to boardwalks, with the intent of creating a pedestrian friendly and more neighborly environment.

"New urbanism is just a way of designing communities around people instead of just the automobile," Humphreys said.

"I love the fact that you park your car and you really don't have to get back in your car again until you have to go into town here," Jen Humpreys said.

Read more here:
Development On Lake Eufaula Puts Emphasis On The Past

Stephanie Klein-Davis | The Roanoke Times

Robert Morris, 83, of northwest Roanoke, dances to music on Saturday in front of the former Claytor Clinic in the Gainsboro neighborhood.

In the old days, people would gravitate to their front porches in the summertime, where they would talk to their neighbors and interact with the community.

"Air conditioning has been our worst enemy, said Bob Clement, neighborhood service coordinator for Roanoke. "When it was invented, everybody started hanging out indoors."

But during the next few weeks, neighborhoods across Roanoke are coming together to pull people outside for block parties and picnics, yard sales and street fairs. These events are in honor of Neighborhood Month, a celebration of community and neighborhood pride hosted by Roanoke's neighborhood organizations.

The Gainsboro neighborhood of northwest Roanoke helped kick off the celebrations Saturday with its first community celebration and block party. Streets were blocked off near the Gainsboro library for free hot dogs, music, face painting and a martial arts show. Free health screenings and voter registration also were available.

"I see a whole lot of people here I haven't seen in a long time," said Calvin Bradshaw, who has been a resident of the Gainsboro neighborhood for 54 years, as he waved to a friend. "Anything like this is good for the neighborhood. It brings people together to talk about things and ways to improve the neighborhood. I wish they'd have more of these events."

In 2003, eight to 10 organizations were participating in National Night Out to fight neighborhood crime every year in August. However, every celebration was on the same night, at the same time, which meant city council members couldn't support all of them and neighborhood residents couldn't attend one another's events.

"I thought, why not do something in the spring where neighborhoods come out, not just to fight crime, but celebrate their accomplishments," Clement said. Roanoke first celebrated Neighborhood Month the next May, with events scattered throughout the month.

Although Gainsboro hasn't had an event like this in years, all ages of neighborhood residents and visitors were out in full force. Children got their faces painted like tigers and butterflies, adults and clowns did line dances together in a cul-de-sac, and balloon animals dotted the crowd.

Continued here:
Community camaraderie: Gainsboro block party could become annual event - http://www.roanoke.com

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Historic Mobile Preservation Society will host the first annual Oakleigh Porch Tour on Saturday, May 5, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. in the Oakleigh Garden Historic District.

Come, visit, sit a spell and see why our porches are truly the Parlors of the South, stated Renea Greene, Oakleigh Porch Tour Chair. Listen to stories, chat with neighbors and absorb the history of how some of these porches came to be. Start your summer on the right foot; step back in time and enjoy the day in Oakleigh. We are looking forward to your visit.

This event allows HMPS to showcase the lifestyle of this very historic and close-knit neighborhood in a casual presentation, stated Rhonda Davis, executive director of HMPS. May is National Historic Preservation Month and we want to celebrate Mobiles preservation legacy by creating a fun event that allows the public to meander through and explore one of our most loved historic districts. This tour will do just that.

Twelve beautifully restored and decorated porches will be open for the tour, along with lemonade stands, dog watering stations, and surprise entertainment along the way. The afternoon will end with a Porch Play at the Cox-Deasy Cottage at 4:00 p.m.

The Benson Home 202 Rapier Avenue 1908 Italianate

The Burns Home 1160 Church Street 1896 eclectic Queen Anne

The Cummings Home 1011 Augusta Street 1904 Coastal traditional and Colonial

The Garrett-Cumbie Home 1104 Palmetto Street 1927 Arts & Crafts Craftsman Cottage

The Grill Home 1124 Palmetto Street 1930 Arts and Crafts Bungalow

The Harrell Home 1156 Palmetto Street 1899 Queen Anne transitional to Colonial Revival

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Take the Oakleigh Porch Tour