Texas-New Mexico Newspapers

MARTHA MAURITSON CURRENT-ARGUS Carlsbad celebrates Armed Forces Day with a show of support. Flags from the major branches of the US Armed Forces were on display along Canal Street Saturday.

CARLSBAD >> American flags seem to burst from front porches during the summer months as celebrations drift from Memorial Day to Flag Day to Independence Day.

U.S. flags are especially popular with buyers this time of year, said Diana Herrera, owner of Signergy, a sign shop in Las Cruces. "It's our best seller," she said of the American flag.

With an abundance of red, white and blue holidays ahead, residents should keep in mind the proper etiquette for handling and disposing of the nation's most revered symbol.

Flags are flown at half-staff on Memorial Day from sunrise until noon. The flag is then risen "briskly" at noon and stays up until sunset in honor of fallen service members, according to a Department of Veterans Affairs guide.

The flag is also lowered for the death of the president, vice president, Supreme Court justices, members of Congress and other dignitaries.

"Only the governor and president of the United States can order flags at half mast," Kevin Dasing with the Second Congressional District Veterans' Advisory Council said. "It can't be the mayor of the police chief."

Flags should be taken down in foul weather, Dasing said. They should also be lowered at night unless they are lit. Flags cannot fly in the dark, he said.

It's a fallacy that a U.S. flag must be burned if it touches the ground, Dasing said. It must be brushed off and cleaned but not burned.

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Learn proper etiquette for U.S. flags

When it comes to outdoor furnishings, whats in and whats out are not so clear anymore. Thats because the real trend is a growing category of products thats equally at home in a family room as on a patio. What both have in common is comfort both curl-up and visual. And not unlike the glue that holds interior spaces together, accessories are what make outdoor rooms livable and give them personality.

Livability is quite the buzzword. In fact, on retailer websites, outdoor living is the updated header that once included only a few furniture options and now encompasses pillows, poufs, rugs, lighting, lanterns, planters, curtains, dinnerware and even art.

When IKEA U.S. commissioned a report on the home, its conclusion about outdoor living is that it is our new backyard oasis ... an extension of our living room and our kitchen, a place to relax and entertain. On the Pottery Barn website, a mini primer puts forth design ideas.

For areas big and small, everything starts with comfort; extend your hours outdoors by layering in lighting with a mix of lanterns and flameless candles; to effortlessly entertain, have a variety of occasional tables to accommodate food and drink.

After years of separate but equal, the great outdoors and the great indoors have merged into one space. The backyard used to be a stepchild with lawn furniture and not much more than plants or candles, says Elaine Griffin, author of Design Rules: The Insiders Guide to Becoming Your Own Decorator and one of the competing designers on the NBC reality show American Dream Builders at 8 p.m. Sundays on NBC.

The blurred lines between indoors and out have gotten a boost with performance fabrics and materials as well as style. So weatherproof rugs, which most would not have given a second glance to for al fresco use, let alone in prime real estate indoors, are dazzling with color, pattern, style and even an indoor voice when it comes to texture.

Outdoor living is growing trend

High-end designers such as Emma Gardner now are translating sophisticated rug looks more affordably, as in her recently launched collection for Couristan. And some fanciful designs and hues have even broader appeal such as the new Jupiter polypropylene collection for Loloi, which also is being touted for childrens rooms.

A trending go-to accessory indoors is doubling its appeal outside as well: the small-scale table, which is showing up in all sorts of materials from porcelain to resin and reclaimed steel drums.

Relatively new on the outdoor scene is the pouf, a hybrid that merges ottoman and table, but in a puffy rounded or squared shape. Theres a lightheartedness about it, especially when expressed in vivid geometrics and bright solid weaves. The versatility of a piece that can double as a place to rest ones feet or a tray full of snacks is a big selling point.

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Decor for outdoor rooms

[The summer concert series] provides opportunities to engage community members in the arts, cultural events and entertainment, said Michael Corelli, coordinator for the Western Carolina University concert series. I feel it is a valuable event for people to participate in because it gives individuals the chance to come out during the summer evenings and listen to performers fill the air with amazing music.

And with the official kickoff to summer being Memorial Day weekend, numerous towns around the region will launch their free summer concert series. Everything from old-time bluegrass to gospel soul, rockabilly to honky-tonk country, will hit the stage for all to enjoy. History comes alive through harmonious voices, percussion and vibrating strings that echo into the ancient Great Smoky Mountains, as they have for generation after generation.

June 7 Boogertown Gap (folk/bluegrass)

June 14 Juniper (Celtic/Americana)

June 21 The Freight Hoppers (Americana/bluegrass)

June 28 Lonesome Sound (old-time string)

July 5 The Elderly Brothers (oldies)

July 12 Chris Monteith (Elvis impersonator)

July 19 The Grove Band (rock)

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In search of the sound: WNC summer concert series

Tokyo, Japan (PRWEB) May 21, 2014

Summer is almost here, which means its time to dress up your outdoor porch, patio or deck with beautiful blooms. Flowering annuals offer limitless color and are easy to find at any local garden center.

According to Chris Spanton, gardening expert from the UK, the biggest trend in gardening today is simple elegance. He suggests picking one flower color and sticking to it. Choose flowers like those from the Suntory Collection that provide non-stop blooms that can be enjoyed from spring through summer.

To instantly transform any outdoor space, Spanton suggests trying these top garden flowers:

Brighten Any Patio with Million Bells Trailing Calibrachoa

More versatile and dainty than petunias, Million Bells Trailing Calibrachoa has become the new classic in the gardening world. And its no wonder Million Bells are easy to maintain and extremely heat tolerant. Available in an array of colors, finding just the right shade of pink, blue or red is never a problem. Enjoy months of colorful blooms that spread up to 48 and 24 in length.

Paint A Porch in a Kaleidoscope of Color with Surfinia Trailing Petunias

Enjoy picture-perfect petunias all the way through fall with Surfinia Trailing Petunias. Noted for their exceptional rain tolerance and resistance to disease, Surfinia Trailing Petunias have worked hard to earn their status as the petunia of choice in Europe. An especially fast grower (up to 4 per season) Surfinia Trailing Petunias thrive in full sun or partial shade. Purple Majesty, Heavenly Blue and Brilliant Pink are a few of the lively shades that give hanging baskets a pop of big blooms all season long.

Celebrate Summer with Vibrant Temari Trailing Verbena

Although it may look tender with its delicate blooms, Temari Trailing Verbena isnt intimidated one bit by the summer sun. In fact, when most verbenas begin to lose steam when the weather starts heating up, Temari is just getting started. Plus, powdery mildew doesnt stand a chance with Temaris hardy nature. Award-winning Deep Rich Blue, Candy Stripe, Cherry Red and Magenta are a few of the eye-catching colors. The 2-2.8 cluster bloom, 4-10 height and up to 48 spread make Temari Trailing Verbenas an ideal choice for flowering hanging baskets.

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Hanging Flower Baskets from The Suntory Collection Make Everyday a Celebration

Timeline

March 22, Tac 2 East Channel

21:29 - Sergeant Sheldon requested EPOD-South crews to respond to the UD campus after UD beats Syracuse. Radio traffic is moved to TAC-2 East.

21:34 - Sergeant Sheldon is the first supervisor on-scene. At this point, large crowds have gathered on both Lowes and Kiefaber Streets between Evanston Avenue and Lawnview Avenue.

21:40 - Sergeant Sheldon took a position at the east end of Kiefaber Street near Evanston Avenue and directed crews to don their riot helmets. All responding DPD personnel are required to wear their riot helmets.

21:43 - Sergeant Sheldon requested mutual aid (Kettering, Oakwood, MCSO) be placed on stand-by.

21:47 - Iwas positioned at the east end of Lowes Street near Evanston Street. 21:52- I requested a mutual aid response.

21:58 - RDC advises that Oakwood, Kettering, MCSO and Metro Parks will be responding. Additionally, RDC advises that the responding MCSO Officers channel will be patched with TAC-2 EAST.

22:00 - UD Police Lieutenant Mike Sipes is on-scene. He advises me that UD Police Chief Bruce Burt was also on-scene. He stays until all the streets are completely cleared.

22:09- Sergeant Sheldon requested a medic stand-by at Kiefaber Street and Evanston Street.

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Timeline of police radio traffic March 22, 27 and 29

The image is pure Mackinac Island, a sprawling timber and cedar shake house by the lake its long, white wrap-around porch with pillars mirrored one floor up with another long, white wrap-around porch with pillars.

It kind of reminded us of the Grand Hotel, said the owner, not to mention the scores more Victorian homes and porches for which Mackinac Island is famous.

But step through the front door of this house and you find its 2001 strengths. You look straight ahead through wide open rooms to high ceilings, expanses of glass, the porch and the lake beyond.

Long sight lines, walls of windows and views of the lake are the defining theme inside this house. The accents are the big round rooms at each end. Theres not a room in this house thats dark, said the owner, and there are wonderful cross breezes.

The house, for sale at $1,299,999, is just west of Brighton between two lakes. Its shoreline is 192 feet on all-sports Clifford Lake, also called Round Lake. The houses street side looks out across the road toward East Crooked Lake.

The most-used rooms, the owner says, are the two large round rooms at each end of the house. On the west side that is the family room. It is two stories tall with a two-story stone fireplace, wrapped with two stories of tall windows. On the inside wall, theres a view through glass doors to the 800-bottle wine cellar.

The east side of the house is the kitchen. Toward the lake, the round end holds the breakfast nook. From there, the kitchen extends across the depth of the house until the sink faces the street-side view, which includes a view of the other side of the lake. Its a relaxed country kitchen with white painted cabinets and vintage-style drawer pulls. The appliances are Sub-Zero, Kitchenaid, Bosch.

Three of the four bedrooms are round rooms with round walls and windows. The exception is the owners suite, where its the bathroom that got the round wall. All of the bedrooms are suites with their own full bath. Two have extra-large showers with multiple shower heads. Like a car wash, the owner said.

The layout takes an explanation. Technically, this would be called a two-story house plus a lower-level walkout. But the bottom floor the walkout stands on its own, about three-quarters free from enclosing earth, so the real-life effect is a three-story house. That makes it logical to count all three floors, 6,800 square feet, as its size, although legally you dont. The two-story family room and one bedroom suite are both located on the bottom floor.

Other assets of the house include:

The rest is here:
Michigan House Envy: Mackinac Island-inspired mansion revels in wrap-around porches

Got Porches? Here are some motorized solutions for your porch.
I created this video with the YouTube Video Editor (http://www.youtube.com/editor)

By: ronswindowsinc

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Got Porches? Here are some motorized solutions for your porch. - Video

Q: How can I perk up my porch?

A: The porch is an architectural concept that has been in existence since prehistoric times. It can be traced back to overhanging rock shelters. The modern porch concept dates to ancient Greece.

In America, front porches have long been a cultural symbol of our love of nature. By creating a kind of outdoor living space, porches have become a way to greet guests and socialize with neighbors. They range from formal porticos to homey sitting areas above the front stoop.

If youve been feeling like your porch is starting to look, well, ancient, here are some surefire ways to create a space that is as functional as it is inviting.

Dress up your porch with a couple of comfy seats. Any room, even an outside one, should be furnished in a way that creates conversation areas.

Depending on your view and your preference, position the seats to look out or to face each other.

If your porch isnt protected from the elements, furniture with weatherproof fabric is a way to bring color, comfort and style to your space.

Add a table or two and dont be afraid to get creative.

Overturned crates, an old metal trunk dressed with colorful place mats, even a short bench can serve as a table.

Anything that can handle the elements and gives you enough space to place a book, a drink and perhaps a lamp can add to a look that represents your style.

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Ideas that add character to your porch | HomeWork

Porches thick with dust, vibrating walls, pounding headaches from the noise for four years theyve had it all.

But neighbours on a stub of a residential street that had become a service road for construction vehicles finally have peace proving the squeaky wheel gets the grease, as long as the press hears after one call to the media.

That call to The Free Press came after several pleas to city hall for help during the past two years, said Leigh Maulson, whose Trevithen St. home is one of only three on the dead-end block thats been dealing with heavy machinery since it was upgraded in 2011.

Since that summer, road crews have used a private lot at the end of the road to store supplies and machinery, while working on other roads in the neighbourhood.

From now on, city councillors get one courtesy call, then Im directing my complaints to the media, said Maulson, after learning the contractor would be moving supplies to the boulevards directly surrounding the job site.

This is amazing. Its so quiet. Its fantastic, he said. We can look forward to a summer where we can enjoy the outside of our property without all the dust and noise.

Maulson said neighbours welcomed the original 2011 roadwork, which cost them $2,700 on their property tax bills to upgrade water and sewer lines on their block. They begrudgingly tolerated the return of construction workers a year later, when crews spent much of the summer finishing and fixing problems from the previous year, he said.

But last year they were outraged that supplies for work on streets several blocks away were being kept in the lot, causing a steady stream of construction vehicles to use the block as a service route.

The answer is simple: Convenience. But certainly not fair, the city has suddenly agreed.

That lot is very convenient from a construction perspective because it is so close and a large area, said construction manager Justin Lawrence. But we recognize that three years of construction has a major social impact to these people.

The rest is here:
Trevithen St. residents finally get action from city hall

Trees and hydro poles were snapped, roofs were ripped off, and multiple porches were severely damaged as Ontarios first confirmed tornado of 2014 hit the town of Mildmay Tuesday evening.

Laurie Trelford, the owner of a womens clothing store in Mildmay, was trying to close the store for the evening when the tornado struck.

About 5 p.m. a crazy, crazy wind came up, Trelford told the Star. Ive been on the main street here for 10 years, and I have never seen the wind come like that. It was very creepy, very scary.

A series of strong thunderstorms moved across southern Ontario Tuesday evening, and numerous tornado warnings were issued by Environment Canada.

One of these severe thunderstorms produced a tornado in the Mildmay area, just south of Walkerton in Bruce County.

Geoff Coulson is an Environment Canada meteorologist. He estimates that the tornado happened between 5:15 and 5:30 p.m. and lasted only a matter of seconds, according to radar and eyewitness reports.

The storm itself was over relatively quickly, said Coulson. But it did leave a fair amount of significant damage in its wake.

Winds were estimated to be between 135 and 175 km/h. The width of damage was around 150 metres wide with a length of two kilometres.

No one was injured during the storm, but cleanup efforts are ongoing.

Half of the roof of my cousins house and his barn are damaged, said Trelford, whose own house escaped damage. Its quite a mess.

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Trees snapped, roofs torn off in Ontarios first tornado of 2014