In the Victorian era, porches were considered essential extensions of the well-dressed homes. They were havens for womens charitable society meetings, gracious teas and dinner parties, and discreet courting under the stars. After World War II, when countless Victorian homes were torn down to make way for modern, low maintenance houses, the front and the back porches, wraparound veranda, and side porch often took a backseat to the popular patio designs of the day. Today, however, the porch is enjoying a renaissance, as people everywhere are discovering that this outdoor room not only adds beauty to their homes facade but helps protect the home from the suns intense rays, saving on air-conditioning costs. The porch also provides a warm weather living room for entertaining, alfresco dining, reading, and meditating, and it is a superb place from which to watch nature. While some homes have a traditional open-air porch, others have screened porches to keep insects and animals at bay. A new favorite is a convertible porch, which can be adjusted to serve an open, screened, or totally enclosed porch with glazed inserts. Other delightful outdoor living spaces that can promote hospitality or quiet relaxation include open-air decks, romantic courtyards, sunny patios, loggias (roofed galleries on the side of homes), and decorative gazebos.

Part of the joy of creating outdoor living rooms is that they can be simply or elaborately furnished and still feel enchanting, for nature is always there to provide dramatic lighting, cooling breezes, and calming fragrance, color and sound. A wide variety of outdoor furnishings is available, such as classical or ornate cast-iron garden benches, tables, and chairs; colorful Parisian bistro chairs; minimalist metal, teak, and mahogany furnishings; and ancient-looking garden benches crafted from stone. Synthetic wicker is a favorite all-weather material for outdoor rooms of every style. Synthetic mesh hammocks, woven cotton hammocks, and wooden porch swings are also popular. Outdoor furnishings crafted from branches, roots, and twigs are also sought after.

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By Elisabeth Hulette The Virginian-Pilot January 11, 2015

VIRGINIA BEACH

Have you seen the blue?

It glows off front porches, where some residents have been replacing their usual light bulbs with blue ones. They're doing it to show support for police officers - a reminder that their work and the risks they take are appreciated.

"There's definitely a lot of support out there," said Charlie Sheerin, manager of the Home Depot on Lynnhaven Parkway, one of several stores that were sold out of blue bulbs Friday afternoon. "And rightfully so."

Officer Tonya Borman, a police spokeswoman, said the idea came from the nationwide Project Blue Light, which has been around for a while. It asks people to display blue lights in support of military and law enforcement personnel. But she said she's noticed more lights these days in the wake of the high-profile shootings of two New York City officers and marches around the country showing support for police.

Several hundred people attended a rally last weekend at Town Center.

Officers have noticed, Borman said.

"Personally, you drive down the road and see all these blue lights, and it means a lot," she said.

Sheerin said his Home Depot has a rainbow display of colored light bulbs, but only the blue ones are sold out. Taylor's Do it Centers on Independence Boulevard in Virginia Beach and Battlefield Boulevard in Chesapeake also were sold out Friday, workers said.

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Va. Beach residents use blue lights to support police

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ROCKFORD -- With a significant snowstorm approaching, the mail will still get through, and the Rockford Post Officeto make sure their sidewalks, stairs and porches are clear to ensure mail delivery and help keep postal workers safe.

Snow and ice make delivery dangerous and slow, said Rockford Postmaster Steve Schwalenberg in a news release. Maintaining a clear path to the mail box - including steps, porches, walkways and street approach - will help letter carriers maintain consistent delivery service.

The main issue is for those who receive door delivery from postal workers on foot, where clear sidewalks, steps and porches need to be clear. But even people who get their mail delivered curbside by vehicles need to remove snow piles left by snow plows to keep access to their mailboxes clear for letter carriers.

Schwalenberg says delivery service may be delayed or curtailed whenthe situation is too dangerousfor theletter carriers or when snow is plowed against mailboxes. The Postal Service curtails delivery only after careful consideration, and only as a last resort, says Schwalenberg. Any curtailed mail is attempted the next delivery day.

Residents and businesses with collection boxes near their property are asked to help keep them clear of snow and ice.

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Postal Service Asks for Stateliners' Help During Snowstorm

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HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) - An effort to show support for police officers has taken the country by storm.

Hundreds of thousands of people are joining the first ever "Blue Light Week," which will be held Jan. 1 through Jan. 7.

The campaign was created by a former Virginia policeman who wanted to start something positive for the law enforcement community, and many around The Valley are happy to participate.

Officers are excited about this new campaign, and community members are too. Four Walmarts in the area had nearly every color light bulb in stock, except for blue.

"Blue Light Week" is a national campaign honoring police officers who died in the line of duty, and with the flip of a switch, you can be a part of it.

Bill Davis with the Fraternal Order of Police said he wishes he would have thought of the idea. All you have to do is put in a blue light bulb in your front porch and let it shine.

"Really I don't think we can do enough to honor police officers that paid the ultimate sacrifice and have given their life in the line of duty," said Davis.

It's a simple act hundreds of people are participating in.

Ana Franklin, the Morgan County Sheriff, said it is an honor to see the community show their support of law enforcement and what they stand for.

"That they do appreciate us and that the job that we are doing is worthy of their support and their confidence and their trust," said Franklin.

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Thousands flip switches for 'Blue Light Week' to honor officers

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A traffic stop by Vernal Police on Wednesday, Dec. 17, resulted in the arrest of Lori May Duggins on suspicion of stealing a package left on a porch by a delivery truck driver.

Delivery was made to a home in a residential neighborhood where witnesses say they watched as a woman grabbed a delivery box from a porch.

They confronted the woman who told them that the homeowner asked that she pick up the box, which she tossed into her car and drove away.

Doubting such a request had been made, witnesses contacted Dispatch, which lead to the Vernal Police traffic stop of Duggins, a 49-year-old Vernal resident.

Police investigation found that Duggins had, in fact, stolen the package, which they recovered, according to Vernal Assistant Police Chief Keith Campbell.

Officers impounded Duggins' car and obtained a search warrant for the vehicle, recovering other numerous items of stolen mail.

The Vernal Police Department is working with the Uintah County Sheriff's Department and the Naples City Police in identifying all victims to return stolen mail.

Duggins was placed under arrest and booked into the Uintah County Jail.

Campbell said that a number of the victims have been contacted however there are numerous items where the victim or property-owner remain unidentified.

If you have ordered an item that delivery is overdue, please contact the shipper and attempt to confirm that the item was delivered, says the chief.

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Woman charged with stealing packages from house porches

Be Inspired to Design, Build and Furnish Yours

Are you a big fan of screen porches like Mary and me? We are excited for you because we know how much fun it is to dream and then create an awesome outdoor space for you and your family.

Enjoy our pictures of custom porch enclosures and our tips for designing, building, furnishing, and enjoying your own enclosed porch.

We teamed up with Nancy Moore, founder of The Porch Company of Nashville TN, experts who build custom porches.

The Porch Company pays to advertise on our site and we are proud to share their custom porches with you.

Realtors have told us that screened-in porches make a home easier to sell.

Our friends loved our porch, too. Can't even count how many times we had friends over to visit on our enclosed porch into late hours in the evening.

Enjoy these amazing photos from The Porch Company. Have pen and paper ready to make a list of all the features you want in your porch.

Knowing how it will be used and by how many people will help you determine the optimum size. Keep in mind that smaller porches can still have many of the amenities as larger ones. Use our handy enclosed porch guide information below to assess your needs.

And don't forget about your view. A pleasant view makes for relaxing, happy times on the porch, too.

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Inspiring Screen Porches Pictures - Front Porch Designs ...