YOKOHAMA A teenager was killed Wednesday morning when she was struck by a small landslide while walking through a residential area in the city of Zushi, Kanagawa Prefecture, local police said.

The landslide occurred at around 8 a.m. when a nearly vertical, 10-meter-wide section of a hill underneath an apartment building collapsed onto the street below.

The 18-year-old woman was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital, according to police and rescue workers. There were no other victims.

Although the lower part of the hill was reinforced by a concrete retaining wall, the upper section collapsed releasing around 20 cubic meters of earth. A pile of dirt up to 2 meters high could be seen on the road, which was strewn with boulders, and a nearby guardrail had been bent by the force of the falling earth.

One person was transported to the hospital on a stretcher, and the ambulance staff had a bloodstained bag with them, said a woman from the neighborhood. The road gets busy in the morning with commuters heading to work and school. I cant believe a landslide could happen here.

The prefectural government had previously flagged the area as being at high risk of such an incident. Rain was unlikely to have been a factor in the collapse as there has been no rainfall in the area since last Thursday, according to the Meteorological Agency.

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18-year-old woman dies after small landslide in Kanagawa - The Japan Times

WESTERLY State officials are reviewing an early version of a report outlining options for improving the quality of water that is discharged into the Pawcatuck River after it is treated at the municipal sewer treatment plant.

While town officials await feedback on the report from the state Department of Environmental Management, efforts are underway to secure grant funds to build a berm around the plant. The report was developed by Jacobs Engineering, the company the town contracts with to operate the plant.

Additionally, town officials learned recently that two grant awards totaling $304,000 had been approved from the Resilient Rhody Resilience Program for construction of a retaining wall for the old Canal Street pump station and for establishment of an infiltration swale on State Street and a wet swale around Timothy Drive. The swales and retaining wall are all flood protection efforts.

The Jacobs report presents three options, each with a different level of nitrogen removal. William Beauregard, the town's utilities superintendent, told the Town Council on Monday that DEM will make a determination based on input from federal environmental authorities and based on a study the department conducted of Little Narragansett Bay last summer.

"We'll have to come to a middle ground somewhere ... but the amount of funding that is going to be required no matter what level we have to go to, in my opinion, will require a bond because it will be a substantial sum," Beauregard said.

Town officials are also seeking a $4.2 million Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to build a protective berm around the treatment plant. Town Manager J. Mark Rooney said the berm is needed to protect the plant and future investments in it from potential flooding. The grant would require a $1 million match from the town. An answer on the town's grant application is expected in late March or April, said Lisa Pellegrini, director of the municipal Development Services Department.

Town Council President Christopher Duhamel said the review by Beauregard and Pellegrini points to one of the council's financial priorities in addition to the School Committee's work on a school building project.

"It's not just the school bond ... we have to protect our infrastructure. We can't let this slide," Duhamel said.

Protecting the town's sewage treatment plant and its drinking water supply emerged as two of the top priorities during a community resilience building workshop in August. Conducted as part of the Resilient Rhody Resilience Program, a climate resilience action strategy undertaken by Gov. Gina Raimondo and her administration, the workshop positioned the town to qualify for about $1 million in grant funding, according to Pellegrini.

Altogether Pellegrini's department has submitted applications for up to $7.2 million in grants, including required matches, to state and federal agencies for measures to protect the treatment plant and for a stormwater drainage project. Pellegrini thanked Gina Fuller, a resident and Southern Rhode Island Conservation District manager, who played a primary role in organizing the Resilient Rhody Resilience workshop.

A more detailed presentation before the Town Council on needed improvements to the treatment plant is scheduled for Feb. 24.

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Westerly weighing its waste treatment options | Westerly - The Westerly Sun

More News04 Feb 2020 | 3:08 PM

Puducherry, Feb 4 (UNI) Puducherry unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Tuesday held a demonstration in front of the AFT mill here to press their demands.

Chennai, Feb 4 (UNI) Several crucial issues were discussed during the two hour long Cabinet meeting chaired by TamilNadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami at the Secretariat here today.

Puducherry, Feb 4 (UNI) Puducherry Welfare Minister M Kandasamy on Tuesday met ESI Corporation Director General Santhosh Kumar in New Delhi and held discussions pertaining to labourers problems in the Union Territory.

Chennai, Feb 4 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu government today announced cancellation of board exams for fifth and eighth classes, amid opposition by various parties and other organisations.

Kozhikode, Feb. 4 (UNI) Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan has urged the political party leaders to read the Constitution before making irresponsible comments.

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AP CM sanctions Rs 125 cr for completion of retaining wall along Krishna River bund - United News of India

Land north of Spring Mountain Drive in Brighton is hilly, shown Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. A 70-home development is proposed on the land and neighbors are concerned the new homes will add to existing problems with erosion and flooding.(Photo: Jennifer Timar/Livingston Daily)

Several Brighton residents living next to the site of aproposed 70-home developmentareconcerned about the new homes after experiencing drainage and erosion issues in their neighborhood.

Farmington Hills-based Schafer Development has proposed 70 single-family homes on about 30 acres ofhilly, wooded land between off Flint Road between Interstate 96 and Spring Mountain Drive.It would be called The Bluffs at Spring Hill.

Schafer Development's President, Steven Schafer says he wants to assure neighbors the proposed storm water system and soil grading planswill not only address potential erosion risks but could also potentially improve neighboring residents' situation.

If city officials approve final site plans and a planned unit development agreement, then Pulte Homes will construct the homes. The city's Planning Commission is expected to review final plans and vote on whether to recommend City Council approval in February, but a date has not been set.

Maddalena Fanelli, who lives on Spring Mountain Drive, said she fears The Bluffs at Spring Hill would cause additionaland worsen existingsoil erosion and drainage issues.

Fanelli's home is one of 29 on the street, immediately south of the proposed development.

She said the way grading and storm water management was constructedin her neighborhood caused many problems for homeowners.

"If they go in and compact the land and remove land and trees, what then?" Fanellisaid. "This could be an erosion disaster area."

She pointed out a 1974 Livingston County Soil Survey that identified the hilly, sandy land as a severe erosion hazard. She enumerated her concerns in an October letter she submitted to city officials and Schafer Developmenton behalf of herself and her neighbors.

Court records show properties on Spring Mountain Drive the neighborhood is called Spring Hill have had erosion and drainage problems. Thecityhad to force the builders who constructed Fanelli's neighborhood to address the issues.

In 2014, the City of Brighton filed a lawsuit against Three-T LLC, Surgrady & AssociatesLLC, and Surdu Development Group Inc.

The city's lawsuit claimed the developers were out of compliance with a county ordinance on soil erosion and sediment control. It listed a variety of problems residents of Spring Hillwere experiencing.It also claimed work to bring the site into a safe condition caused "substantial deviations" from the city-approved site plan.

Residents on Spring Mountain Drive in Brighton, shown Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020, live south of a a 70-home development that is proposed on the land. Neighbors are concerned the new homes will add to existing problems with erosion and flooding.(Photo: Jennifer Timar/Livingston Daily)

The Livingston County Drain Commission performed several inspections in the neighborhood and discovered multiple problems caused by the way Spring Hill builders developed the land.

For instance, in 2014,drain commission inspectors discovered unstable ground along the edge of a basin that caused a sinkhole to form, according to court records. They also found sediment accumulation and numerous other problems.

Other issues found onSpring Mountain Drive included washed out slopes, eroded rock retaining walls, and water draining toward at least one home's foundation due to steep slopes.

In August2014,Livingston County Circuit Court Judge Michael Hatty ordered Spring Hill builders to immediately remediate the issues or prevent access to problem areas.

A 2015 consent judgement signed by Hatty established the conditions of a new, amended site plan and compelled Spring Hill builders to bring the development into compliance with the plan and address erosion and grading issues.

Nancy Durance, who lives on Spring Mountain Drive, was impacted.

"When they put in landscaping, it fell down the hill," Durance said. "When they tried putting the sod in, the grass wouldn't adhere to the soil. The soil wasn't staying because the angle of the land was such that even the soil was washing away. When there is water or rain, all of that runs down hill, a rock wall in back actually deteriorated."

She said she is skeptical the proposed The Bluffs at Spring Hill won't cause similar issues.

"Don't you remember, we have this issue, it's the same soil, the same hill, so are we going to end up with the same issues?" she said.

"We've engaged the right professionals, soil engineers, and we've been ensured that it's not a concern," Schafer said.

Schafer said the proposed storm water system for The Bluffs at Spring Hillis expected to capture a lot of the water currently flowing towardSpring Mountain Drive.

"Water will be captured into our storm water system into our detention basin and into a county drain," he said.

He said he and his team have taken residents' concerns seriously.

"It's not falling on deaf ears," Schafer said. "We will be responsible and we want to be a good neighbor.

"I understand what they went through. It was a busted job, so I understand, but we're working with a national home builder, Pulte Homes, and they don't cut anycorners," he said.

He said installing a water pressure booster could improve water pressure for neighboring homes.

"We're going to do the right thing. We're not going to put their housing develop at any time in jeopardy," he said.

The Bluffs at Spring Hill homes would range between about 2,000 to 3,000 square feet.

"They will probably start in the upper $300,000's to $400,000's range," Schafer said.

ContactLivingston Daily reporterJennifer Timar at 517-548-7148 or at jtimar@livingstondaily.com.Follow her on Facebook @Jennifer.Timar99 and Twitter @JenTimar99.

Read or Share this story: https://www.livingstondaily.com/story/news/local/community/brighton/2020/02/03/brighton-70-new-homes-neighborhood-impact-erosion-flooding/2856494001/

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Neighbors fear erosion, water issues at proposed site of 70 new homes in Brighton - Livingston Daily

During my recent trip to Israel, an Orthodox rabbi took me to see something that most outsiders do not usually see. It was Friday night (Shabbos, the Jewish Sabbath), and he wanted to go to pray at the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem. Before that, he took me to see Kotel Katan an older, smaller, less well known section of the Western Wall located within the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalems Old City and from therewe went to one of the gates that serve as an entrance to the Temple Mount.

Walking through the Muslim Quarter, the air was thick with tension. Since I am a Christian, nobody bothered me. But there were people who went out of their way to bump into and shove my friend, who is easily identifiable as a Jewish rabbi. They were trying to start a fight. So I was surprised, upon arrivingat the gate to the Temple Mount, to find a large gathering of Jewish students. There, deep within the Muslim Quarter, these Jewish students wereprotesting about how they are not allowed to pray at Judaisms holiest site. Armed guards were there to keep Jews out. This is what he wanted me to see.

The Temple Mount, of course, was the site of the first and second Jewish Temples and where according to the faithful the third Temple will be built. I had some understanding about the rules governing the Temple Mount. According to theTimes of Israel, Under the current 52-year-old status quo at the site, Muslims can pray at the site while Jews are allowed to visit under heavy restrictions, in a predetermined route and only for several hours on weekdays but not pray there.

I wanted to know more about these students, who are brave enough to fight for change. So I was told to contactTom Nisani, the Israeli-born leader of Students for the Temple Mount and head of campus activity in the Im Tirtzu organization. I interviewed him briefly:

Mitsotakis (SM): What is happening on the Temple Mount and why?

Nisani (TN): The Temple Mount was liberated by the Israel Defense Forces in 1967. [There was] a total lack of interest among the Israeli public, and due to various historical realities that caused the national consciousness among the average Israeli, and even among the political leaders and military personnel of Israel, to be drawn simply to theKotel(Western Wall) despite it being only a retaining wall for the Temple Mount. The Mount itself was forgotten and the Jordanian Waqf that abandoned it during the battles was brought back to administer it by the State of Israel itself! Today, more than even 50 years later, basic freedoms such as prayer and freedom of movement are still ignored for all those ascending the Mount who are not Muslim. The Temple Mount is a place where these basic human rights and others are trampled on in the most outright and direct way. And this is happening in the holiest place for the Jewish people in the Jewish state! And just like in the other holy places for Jews in Israel, improvement is a process we are trying to hasten but at this stage on the Temple Mount, there are clear human rights violations and infringements of the rights of all non-Muslims.

SM:What is your organization, why do you do what you do, and what do you hope to change?

TN: Our organization was established about five years ago and includes students and young Israeli adults secular, religious, and so forth. We are from all over the nation of Israel. We want to return the Temple Mount to its fitting place in Israeli society. This means, practically, that we work towards normalizing the Temple Mount under full Israeli sovereignty and once it is, all other challenges, problems, and difficulties will cease. It would be beneficial to all involved parties for the Temple Mount to be under complete Israeli sovereignty. Today, as the Jordanians, Qataris, Hamas, and so many more, all attempt to influence what happens on the Temple Mount, we all lose. Peaceful tourists are routinely assaulted, Jewish worshippers are restricted and oppressed, and even the Muslims suffer from the corruption of their leaders including the Jordanians and the senior Waqf members. We will not rest until we change this situation, and we have already begun seeing change.

SM: I amtold that your group is secular. Yet this is an issue of enormous religious significance. Is the religious community supporting you?

TN: In our movement, we have members who are from all the types and stripes of Israel. And this is the beauty in our movement, Students for the Temple Mount. We reflect the Israeli public and understand the import of our mission. The Temple Mount is a place for all of the nation of Israel and so too will it be in the future. Even the most secular among us, or those who would be considered less religious, are connected to our faith and Jewish nationality and see those as important aspects of our identities. In fact, it is the Temple Mount that connects us the most.

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MITSOTAKIS: Meeting The Jewish Students Fighting For Freedom On The Temple Mount - The Daily Wire

Diane Smith @DianeSmith_RC

ThursdayJan30,2020at2:53PMJan30,2020at10:59PM

RAVENNA One of Ravennas international companies is planning to expand.

The citys planning commission recently approved site plans for Saint-Gobain to add a storage building and a new truck lane at its property at 335 N. Diamond St.

Ted Manfrass, architect for Saint-Gobain, said plans were approved by the city panel in 2018, but the company delayed funding for the expansion, and has since changed its plans. Originally, the company wanted another storage building to house waste materials, such as paint, until they could be properly disposed of. But since then, the company has changed its procedures for having such materials hauled off its site, and that building is no longer needed.

However, Manfrass and Dale Sibert, facilities manager at the Ravenna plant, said the plant needs more storage for the items that it manufactures.

The Paris-based company designs, tests and manufactures a variety of products, including airline equipment.

Ravenna Mayor Frank Seman, who has toured the plant many times, said he has a hard time going between the companys buildings because of traffic, something that the truck lane will help address.

Sibert said there will be a retaining wall between the truck lane and the storage building.

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Saint-Gobain to expand in Ravenna - Business - Wooster Daily Record

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Across Walt Disney World Resort, arrival enhancements are underway at each park. These projects will improve guests overall arrival experience and are set to be complete before the resorts 50th anniversary.

For Magic Kingdom, a major component of many guests arrival experience is a trip through the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). Lets take a look at the work going on there now.

The biggest change we noticed was in the area by Mickeys Gift Station, which was recently closed. The store is still open, but guests have been rerouted around construction to reach the stores entrance. Construction hedges blocked the exit by Mickeys Gift Station just a few days ago.

Black material has been taped over the windows for protection from the ongoing work. The planter by the store has been stripped to its base. The concrete surrounding the planter has been removed and new concrete has begun to be poured. Areas have been framed out for more new concrete.

Where the tram loop once was, large sections of pavement have been ripped up.

The retaining wall has more sections completed since ourlast update. Not much paving work has happened on the new guest walkway.

Well be keeping an eye out for any changes at the TTC. If you want to see more of the front entrance construction projects from the other parks, check out the new security structures at Disneys Animal Kingdom and EPCOT. Keep checking WDW News Today for all of the latest construction updates!

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PHOTOS: Construction at Transportation and Ticket Center Extends to Mickey's Gift Station - wdwnt.com

There has been a partial collapse of the construction pit retaining wall that borders the Congee Noodle House restaurant building, located at 141 East Broadway in Vancouvers Mount Pleasant neighbourhood.

A photo taken byRachel Atherton and shared with Daily Hive shows the building rears ground-level parking lot, facing East 8th Avenue, progressively caving into the construction pit next door.

Sinkhole forming next to Congee Noodle Houses building in Vancouver on January 31, 2020. (Rachel Atherton / submitted)

A video submitted by another Daily Hive reader shows the construction area in daylight Saturday morning.

The adjacent property at 138 East 8th Avenue is currently under construction for a new infill six-storey, 18-unit residential building by Green Oak Development.

According to the city, there were no injuries and damaged vehicles, and the surrounding buildings are not at risk of collapse, but the immediate area has been closed as a precaution. Earlier in the evening, Daily Hive phoned bordering businesses; some of the businesses next to the construction site have been able to remain open, and Congee Noodle House was the only business that did not pick up our calls.

Such incidents of construction pit retaining walls caving in and severely affecting adjacent properties are exceptionally rare.

The Citys Engineering Services Department was notified late this afternoon of an issue regarding excavation at a private development site, reads an email from the municipal government to Daily Hive.

The side of the excavation wall caved in which compromised the adjacent surface parking lot, as well as the storm connection on site. There were no injuries or damage to vehicles. A geotechnical assessment has confirmed that there is no risk to the surrounding buildings. The City has secured the site and closed the south side of the sidewalk as a precaution.

The next steps towards stabilizing and restoring the property will be determined tomorrow between the developers geotechnical engineer and staff from the citys Development and Business Licensing department.

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Collapse of construction pit next to Congee Noodle House in Vancouver | Urbanized - Daily Hive

Congee Noodle House, located on East Broadway near Main Street, was ordered by officials on Saturday to shutter its doors and bar entry to all individuals until further notice after thecave-in of the construction site next door.

The retaining wall of the construction pit collapsed late Friday afternoon, and caused much of the restaurants ground-level parking lot at the rear of the building to fall into the pit.

There were no injuries nor damage to any vehicles, and the building itself does not appear to have sustained any major structural damage at this time.

Site of the construction pit collapse at 138 East 8th Avenue, Vancouver. (Kenneth Chan / Daily Hive)

Site of the construction pit collapse at 138 East 8th Avenue, Vancouver. (Kenneth Chan / Daily Hive)

On Saturday, officials from WorkSafe BC and the City of Vancouvers engineering services, development, and licensing departments convened with the building developers geotechnical engineer to determine the next steps.

In a follow-up email to Daily Hive, the municipal government stated the geotechnical engineer has provided directions to the construction contractor to begin remedial work to the construction pit, where the wall caved in.

That work has begun and the excess water has been pumped out from the site, said the city.

Congee Noodle House forced to close by City of Vancouver and WorkSafe BC. (Kenneth Chan / Daily Hive)

Site of the construction pit collapse at 138 East 8th Avenue, Vancouver. (Kenneth Chan / Daily Hive)

According to the city, after an assessment was made on the on-site conditions, WorkSafe BC has issued a Stop Work Order to the restaurant. As a further precaution, city officials also provided the restaurant with a Do Not Occupy notice.

However, the restaurant was already closed at the end of the week for other reasons; as it turns out, Congee Noodle House informed customers it would be closed starting Friday onwards to allow for BC Hydro maintenance work.

Such incidents of construction pit retaining walls caving in and severely affecting adjacent properties are exceptionally rare. It is unclear whether Fridays heavy rainfall was a contributing factor in the collapse.

Site of the construction pit collapse at 138 East 8th Avenue, Vancouver. (Kenneth Chan / Daily Hive)

Congee Noodle House forced to close by City of Vancouver and WorkSafe BC. (Kenneth Chan / Daily Hive)

The construction pit is being excavated for a project named Grand a new six-storey infill building with 18 condominium units, as well as two underground levels for vehicle parking.

Construction was originally scheduled to reach completion by Summer 2020, as the buildings structure will be made out of prefabricated modular units stacked together. The modular construction process carries a far shorter timeline than conventional construction methods.

Artistic rendering of Grand at 138 East 8th Avenue, Vancouver. (Ankenman Marchand Architects)

Artistic rendering of Grand at 138 East 8th Avenue, Vancouver. (Ankenman Marchand Architects)

Artistic rendering of Grand at 138 East 8th Avenue, Vancouver. (Ankenman Marchand Architects)

Artistic rendering of Grand at 138 East 8th Avenue, Vancouver. (Ankenman Marchand Architects)

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Congee Noodle House ordered to close after construction cave-in (PHOTOS) | Urbanized - Daily Hive

Diane Smith @DianeSmith_RC

ThursdayJan30,2020at2:53PMJan30,2020at10:59PM

RAVENNA One of Ravennas international companies is planning to expand.

The citys planning commission recently approved site plans for Saint-Gobain to add a storage building and a new truck lane at its property at 335 N. Diamond St.

Ted Manfrass, architect for Saint-Gobain, said plans were approved by the city panel in 2018, but the company delayed funding for the expansion, and has since changed its plans. Originally, the company wanted another storage building to house waste materials, such as paint, until they could be properly disposed of. But since then, the company has changed its procedures for having such materials hauled off its site, and that building is no longer needed.

However, Manfrass and Dale Sibert, facilities manager at the Ravenna plant, said the plant needs more storage for the items that it manufactures.

The Paris-based company designs, tests and manufactures a variety of products, including airline equipment.

Ravenna Mayor Frank Seman, who has toured the plant many times, said he has a hard time going between the companys buildings because of traffic, something that the truck lane will help address.

Sibert said there will be a retaining wall between the truck lane and the storage building.

Continued here:
Saint-Gobain to expand in Ravenna - Business - Akron Beacon Journal