A University professor has given his opinion after a huge brick wall collapsed in Nottingham.

Emergency services evacuated five families from four separate properties in Spalding Road and Windmill Lane, Sneinton, on February 3 after a 70-foot high wall fell down.

Nottinghamshire Police said no-one was injured but some homes were left severely damaged.

David Large, a University of Nottingham professor in the Faculty of Engineering, said he believe it was likely to be down to recent weather conditions.

He said: "I looked at the pictures and thought the wall has failed, it has probably been gradually heading in that direction and just tipped over. Of this scale, it is quite uncommon.

"There's been a lot of rain recently, the soils have been quite wet and that would increase the force in the wall.

"If the wall was heading towards a point where it might collapse, it could just tip over. Over time a wall will gradually start to bulge or tilt. It will be subtle and at some point, it will reach a critical stage.

"It looked like the wall collapsed and what was behind it followed. The rockface doesn't seem to have moved that much, it seemed to be the soil between the rocks and the wall that's moved.

"Maybe the wall was a bit old and heading in that direction. It was obviously past its best. I would imagine that extra bit of rain recently has caused this particular section of wall to fall."

He added: "It is an absolutely terrible thing to happen, the people in those houses must've had the fright of their lives.

"Thankfully nobody was outside and close to the wall when it fell that could've been quite awful."

A City Council spokesperson said: We are doing all we can to provide help and support for residents affected by the collapse of a large wall in the early hours of Wednesday morning. This was an awful incident where everyone is relieved there have been no injuries, but which has left households already coping with lockdown with significant issues to deal with.

Boundary and retaining walls are generally the responsibility of property owners and we believe this to be the case here, but in situations like this, councils have the powers to carry out work which ensures peoples safety, with the ability to recover costs.

We are now focused on assessing the condition of the affected gardens and properties and making the area safe before turning our attention to the clear-up work.

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Expert's opinion on how 70ft wall collapsed in the middle of the night - Nottinghamshire Live

I heard about Jane building walls, and I had some tumbledown walls on my property, so I tried to get in touch with her.

Jane DeWitt: I was in my late 20s or early 30s then. It was about 13 years ago. I had come to the idea that stonework was what I loved to do and that Id keep doing it as long as it made me happy. I grew up on a dairy farm a couple miles from Mary Beths farmhouse, and I was deciding that this [town] really was my home. I was just trying to put together a life in this rural place.

Beck: Mary Beth, in your email you mentioned that you had a hard time getting ahold of Jane to hire her.

Mary Beth: Yes, shes very popular and hard to pin down. I knew I wanted her, because every time I saw a stone wall by Jane DeWitt I thought it was beautiful. The way I did pin her down was: Someone she was working for had a dog that wandered into the street. I brought his dog back to him. He was very grateful. I said, By the way, is Jane DeWitt the one who is building your walls? Ive been trying to get her for about a year now. The next day, there was Jane, knocking on my back door.

Jane: I think I interrupted your bath.

Beck: What were your first impressions of each other?

Jane: Mary Beth was so kind and excited. Those are the kind of people I like to work for and with, because its so much fun.

Mary Beth: My first impression of Jane was: This is a woman of confidence. Shes not going to be a bullshitter. Even though shes brilliant and has a degree in literature from Dartmouth, she was a spirit of nature. She loves browns and greens, and she was standing there with her long hair and perfect posture, and I said to myself: This is somebody that I want to connect with.

Beck: How did your relationship evolve from being a business owner and a client to being real friends?

Jane: One of the things that I like about my professionbut which also makes me hard to get ahold ofis that my work takes a while. And youre usually working at someones home, so you get to have a rapport with people. Were a chatty crew. I think Mary Beth asked if I would like to go bicycle riding, and I thought that could be fun.

Mary Beth: She had an old Subaru, and she would leave the windows open and play NPR while working on a wall. I hear this and I think, Wow, she likes the same radio station that I listen to. I had a pond [on the property], so I may have said, Help yourself to the pond, or something like that. There may have been swimming involved. It all happened very organically.

Jane: Swimming is something I love so much. Often on a hot day, even if shes not there, Ill go up and swim in her pond. It has become a refuge for me. Its just a beautiful place that shes created.

View original post here:
Friendship and Stonework Grow More Beautiful With Time - The Atlantic

Mumbai: The much-needed repairs of BG Kher Marg, the road that links areas like Malabar Hill, Walkeshwar, Kemps Corner to the rest of Mumbai does not seem to begin anytime soon, according to sources at the BMC.

The road that was damaged following a massive landslide after incessant rains in August 2020, will now be repaired only after an inspection post monsoon. "It is very important to observe what happens on the hill slope during monsoon this year. Only after observing the effects of heavy rains on the slope will we be able to start with the repair works accordingly," said a senior BMC official.

Formerly called as the Ridge Road, it is a long stretch running parallel to Walkeshwar. Named after former premier of the erstwhile State of Bombay, Bal Gangadhar Kher or B G Kher, the road is sometimes still referred to by its old moniker.

The road links the Malabar hill to a crucial junction, where Hughes Road, Napean Sea Road and Peddar Road connect. In a sense, it covered the gap between the Malabar hill and the rest of Mumbai, and hence started to be called as the Ridge Road.

The landslide near Kemps corner flyover on August 5, 2020 developed huge cracks on BG Kher Marg (Ridge Road) outside the iconic hanging garden and damaged the retaining wall of the garden too.

The incident did not just damage the road near Kemps Corner, Hughes Road but also led to the collapse of many trees on the stretch and damage to the main water pipeline that supplied water to D ward. The pipeline has been temporarily fixed and water supply was restored immediately by the BMC hydraulic department.

After the landslide, BMC formed a technical advisory committee, which included professors from IIT, NMIMS, BMC officials and members from structural consultancy companies, to study the condition of soil and road before reconstruction of the patch. As per reports, the Geo Technical investigation is completed as per the recommendation of the committee.

The work to be carried out on the stretch includes stabilisation of hill slope, retention of wall, repair of N S Patkar Marg and B G Kher Marg. While work in stabilising the hill slope and repair of N S Patkar Marg has already been undertaken by BMC, the Ridge Road will have to wait till post monsoon 2021.

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Mumbai: Repair of BG Kher Marg only after post-monsoon inspection - Free Press Journal

In 1959, a group of students died while on a hiking trip in the Ural Mountains. The circumstances of the incident and the way in which they died presented a mystery that has remained unsolved in the decades since.

The Dyatlov Pass incident is an intriguing unsolved mystery from the last century. In February 1959, a group of nine experienced Russian mountaineers perished during a difficult expedition in the northern Urals. A snow avalanche hypothesis was proposed, among other theories, but was found to be inconsistent with the evidence of a lower-than-usual slope angle, scarcity of avalanche signs, uncertainties about the trigger mechanism, and abnormal injuries of the victims.

Now, researchers have come up with a plausible explanation of the accident: a low-angle avalanche enabled by unusually slippery snow and high winds. From a piece in Wired about the investigation:

The cross-country skiers had actually pitched camp on a small step in the hillside, scooping away the snow to level it out. When they cut into the snowpack, they sliced through the weak layer, essentially initiating a countdown. When you create a cut in the slope to install the tent, its like when you remove a retaining wall, says Gaume, a snow physicist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. The slab of denser snow now hung precariously over the camp. All the ingredients were there, Gaume adds. There was a weak layer, there was a slab, and the slope angle was locally steeper than the critical angle.

Also from the Wired piece: the researchers were inspired by the realistic snow modeling that Disney did for Frozen. (via kottke ride home)

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Explaining the Icy Mystery of the Dyatlov Pass - kottke.org

PEOPLE who moved traffic cones and signs at Greengates junction, which resulted in a member of the public being injured, have been condemned by the construction team.

The actions, along with drivers making illegal manoeuvres, were a cause for concern in the latest update on the multi-million pound improvement works at the junction of Harrogate Road and New Line.

Howard Civil Engineering said construction has continued in 2021 as normal despite the national lockdown, as the work is exempt from the 'stay at home' regulations.

But the firm raised concerns about the behaviour of some people at the roadworks.

It said: "We are aware a small number of road users are making dangerousmanoeuvres around the traffic management measures which jeopardise the safety of others.

"Should you witness any dangerous or illegalmanoeuvres, please report these directly to West Yorkshire Police.

"We have also been receiving reports of people interfering with the traffic management measures in place, including moving cones and taking down signs.

"A member of the public has recently suffered an injury as a consequence of this and we urge members of the community to please keep in mind that it is illegal to tamper with traffic management measures.

"Doing so puts our workforce and other members of the public at risk.

"Howard Civil Engineering and Bradford Council would like to thank those who are driving safely through the junction.

"Your continued patience and understanding as we undertake improvement works are greatly appreciated."

In the past fortnight, work rerouting water mains has continued, and a significant amount of work has been done on the retaining wall next to Farmfoods.

Workers have continued with work to create the new P-loop road but the recent bad weather has slowed progress. Work installing kerbs has also been delayed as materials are in short supply due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the next two weeks, work on water mains and P-loop will continue and landscaping work around Farmfoods will begin, and adaptations around New Line Retail Park will also be started.

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Anger after traffic cones moved at Greengates junction - Bradford Telegraph and Argus

APP donates to new mom

Dominicas youngest political party, the Alternative Peoples Party, has announced that since their formation in January 2020, over $85 thousand has been spent to cater to the needs of citizens here on the island.

Speaking to Dominica News Online (DNO) the partys executive disclosed that financing came primarily from funding from members and friends of the party, with the highest single donation being EC$1,500.00 and the lowest at $2.65.

According to the executive team, within the past six months, the party has undertaken a total of fifty projects some of which includes, free public internet access (Wi-Fi) for the community of Tarreau, the refurbishment of a basketball court and youth bakery in Point Mitchel, back to school incentives and Layt donations to moms and pregnant women in need, donation of a fire hose to the Dominica Fire and Ambulance Service, partnership on Delices Petite Savanne Road with Singoalla Blomqvist-Williams, and the initiation of a mobile and Childrens Library project to name a few.

The party further revealed that for the past year, while surveying the entire island, theyve also made several donations to numerous families in need, which includes, food supplies, clothing, and other essential items.

Notwithstanding the amount spent last year, the team says plans are in place to double that figure. Just this past weekend, the party held its first block meeting in the communities of Fond St.Jean and Bagatelle where several pronouncements were made.

Following our several trips over the past six months, we have decided to adopt the area. We identified the needs of the residents in these areas and our team is ready to do all it takes to improve the lives of these individuals. We are one and we are in the struggle for progress together, they made known.

Acknowledging that theyre not able to commit to all the needs at the present moment, in the first instance, the team has agreed to commence the construction of a new home for elderly resident Mr. Bonnie Fontaine of Fond. St. Jean.

The elderly man sleeps sitting down; on a pail and when it rains, he is not spared. Construction for this new house for brother Bonnie will commence almost immediately, we were told.

Additionally work for the community will include the building of a retaining wall that will protect vital properties and the creation of a more permanent crossing for the ravine in the community.

In the neighboring community of Bagatelle, plans are in place to assist the youth with the establishment of their business enterprise: animal livestock rearing, shrimps production, pesticide production, essential oils, and other commercial products development, and the development of the housing stock.

These are not promises, they state. We have indeed declared what we have already begun to do. We shall build a house for Mr. Bonnie. We will organize the youth and give them all the support they need to become self-sustaining. We have gotten good signals of support for tarish and other materials needed for the back wall in Fond. St. Jean and we will work on constructing a permanent cross-over ravine in Fond St. Jean.

Moreover, in Pointe Michel, work started over the weekend on the Gomer Feeder Road, a project they say will greatly assist the farmers in that location.

The new party vows to unite the community to work for progress, and states, together, we will take care of the needs of our people and work to put them in a position where they can fend for themselves. APP is ready to build together with the citizens of our dear nation from scratch. We just need the people to help us to help them, as we are here to serve.

To anyone willing to join in the efforts be it cash or kind, they are encouraged to visit the partys website to donate or contact them via their Facebook page for more information.

Original post:
APP spends nearly $90K assisting; plans to double that figure this year (With Photos) - Dominica News Online

With taxpayer approval, several hundred feet of guide rail may soon line a section of Hubbell Mountain Road in Sherman.

With taxpayer approval, several hundred feet of guide rail may soon line a section of Hubbell Mountain Road in Sherman.

Photo: Google Maps / Google

With taxpayer approval, several hundred feet of guide rail may soon line a section of Hubbell Mountain Road in Sherman.

With taxpayer approval, several hundred feet of guide rail may soon line a section of Hubbell Mountain Road in Sherman.

Guide rails proposed for Shermans Hubbell Mountain Road, now its up to the taxpayers

SHERMAN Several hundred feet of guide rail may soon line a section of Hubbell Mountain Road but whether or not that happens will be up to taxpayers.

During its Thursday evening meeting, the Board of Selectmen voted to bring to a town meeting a request of no more than $9,999 to install 450 feet of guide rail on the residential roadway.

First Selectman Don Lowe said there have been a few accidents on Hubbell Mountain Road, and one particular resident is very concerned about having a car go right into her home.

She said there have been two accidents, and only a row of trees have kept the cars from going into her home, Lowe said.

According to state police, a driver lost control outside that residents home last August, crashing into a series of small trees and bushes before proceeding down the yard and striking a stone retaining wall.

Lowe said two other Hubbell Mountain Road residents have also expressed traffic safety concerns, and he agrees there is quite a safety issue.

The road has been examined and analyzed, Lowe said, and the town has received proposals from several companies that install guide rails.

Ive been on site with (Public Works Supervisor) Don Borkowski and all three of these people who have submitted proposals, Lowe said.

Of the proposals, Lowe said, he and Borkowski happened to like the least expensive of the three.

The proposal includes the installation of used guide rails, which Selectman Kevin Keenan noted would be in between the weathered steel guide rails that sort of blend into the environment and the shiny new ones that you see along interstates.

Since the rail would be used, he said, it would have a dull effect.

I just wanted to point that out in case anyones concerned about bright, shiny new guide rails going up on a nice country road, Keenan added.

Lowe said he believes the rural-looking guide rails would blend in well.

I felt we got kind of lucky because the least expensive option is also the most aesthetically pleasing for that road, he said.

Lowe said the installation of guide rails in other parts of town are being considered, but those roadways havent been fully analyzed yet.

A town meeting date has not yet been set for the vote on the Hubbell Mountain Road guide rails.

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Guide rails proposed for Sherman's Hubbell Mountain Road, now it's up to the taxpayers - Laredo Morning Times

Do you want to add a new member to your family and give back to the world at the same time? Adopt a pet from a local shelter or organization! Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, animal shelters in and around Oxford have dogs, cats and other animals ready and waiting to be adopted.

Across Connecticut, there are thousands of dogs, cats and other animals of all ages without a home many of whom are located in your area. In the search for an adorable new family pet, consider checking out a local animal shelter like A Pups Pizzazz, where Ziggy the cat is waiting patiently. If you aren't sure if you have time to take care of a pet year round, many shelters also offer opportunities to foster pets until they are placed.

If you need some help in your search, Patch and Petfinder have you covered. We round up a list each week of all the pets recently put up for adoption in your area. Whether you're a dog or cat person, there are several great options available. Click on any listing for more information, or to start the adoption process.

Editor's note: This list was automatically generated using data compiled by Petfinder. Please report any errors or other feedback to content@patch.com.

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Adorable Adoptable Pets Of The Week In The Oxford Area - Oxford, CT Patch

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Reconstruction of Third Street wall in Leechburg expected to start in April or May - TribLIVE

Holy Trinity Diocesan High School Deputy Mayor Fitzgerald

Last week, Mayor Longobardi and I had the pleasure to participate in and be guest speakers at Holy Trinity Diocesan High School in Hicksville for the senior class seminar entitled Participation in Government. The students had great questions and it was a very engaging experience discussing the many topics about local government with them. What was most impressive was their desire to know how to become more involved in and to learn more about the many functions of government. I wished the seminar lasted longer because it was so much fun to engage with the students and their future for government participation looks promising. Mayor Longobardi enthusiastically echoed Deputy Mayor Fitzgeralds comments.

Recreation Department Trustee Pombonyo

All are invited to pursue interesting hobbies and get fit and ready for spring with Session II of our Village Recreation Program. Youth programs will feature Zumba, gymnastics, yoga, gardening, and tennis. Adults and seniors will enjoy aerobics, cardio-kickboxing, interval fitness training, yoga, Zumba, knitting, agility and strengthening, silver sneakers programs, and tennis lessons. Classes will be a combination of in-person indoors/outdoors and virtual. Registration dates are February 10th and 11th. Watch for your flyers in the mail, on the Village website and Village/Recreation Facebook pages.

Conservation Society Trustee Pombonyo

Although Centennial Gardens is closed for the winter, we will open briefly for the global Great Backyard Bird Count sponsored locally by the Floral Park Conservation Society and our Recreation Department. Come to the Floral Parkway main gate on Friday, February 12th from noon to 4 p.m.; Saturday, February 13th from noon to 1 p.m.; and Sunday, February 14th from 1 to 2 pm to view the extraordinary species of birds who inhabit and travel through our beautiful Gardens. Our very own Don Haug, ornithology expert, and enthusiast, will be there to present the stories of all our bird friends and help us identify them. A local photo contest for children and teens will be offered this year, with details to follow. Visit the global website birdcount.org to learn more about this popular global event. More to follow on our Village website; Floral Park Centennial Gardens, Village, and Recreation Facebook pages; and at our February 2nd Village Board meeting.

In the meantime, please consider helping our local bird friends eat during the winter by donating wild bird seed, thistle bird seed, and suet cakes at the Rec/Pool building Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. All will appreciate your donations.

Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce and Our Businesses Trustee Pombonyo

The extensive clean-up of our fire-damaged businesses on Covert Avenue continues in earnest. With asbestos removal near completion, the property owners contractors continue to clear away and remove tons of badly damaged and loose debris. The owners architects continue to be on-site, communicating with the contractors and Renee Marcus, Village Building Superintendent, to assist the property owners in making complex decisions regarding the future of their properties. Watch for Superintendent Marcuss update on the Village website, in your Village email, and on the Village and Hillcrest Civic Association Facebook pages in the coming week.

With 2021 upon us, our Covert Avenue and Floral Park Chambers of Commerce are announcing new dual membership programs. Interested businesses, nonprofits, and others may join one Chamber and, for an additional small fee, become a member of the other Chamber. See the Membership links on both Chambers websites for the details on joining. Our Chambers value and support the success of all businesses in the Villages of Floral Park and Stewart Manor and so, together with your local Village Trustees, unanimously encourage all to SHOP, DINE, AND TAKE OUT LOCAL. Its vital to our Villages futures, and we thank you!

Third Track & LIRR Trustee Cheng

New Work Tunnel Street work is proceeding at the north end of the tunnel connecting Magnolia Avenue with Tunnel Street. Piles are being vibrated into place to hold steel retaining sheets. This is being done to support excavation. The installation of the piles must be done during partial track closures between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Following this, a retaining wall (similar to the retaining wall at Field 7) and temporary fencing will be installed starting at 30 Tunnel Street and continuing on the south side of the sump to New Hyde Park. The retaining wall will be visible above grade to a height of 5 feet with an 8-foot permanent security fence placed atop of the wall. According to 3TC, the excavating and placement of the retaining wall should be completed by the end of February. Temporary fencing will be installed after the retaining walls are in place. The permanent security fence will be installed at a later date. Once the retaining wall has been extended approximately 100 feet past the east side of the tunnel, access from Tunnel Street will end, and access for the rest of the work behind the sump will be provided from New Hyde Parks dirt parking lot on Stewart Street along the perimeter of the sump. We have instructed 3TC to stage equipment and employee parking at our parking lot across from our tennis courts.

Library Trustee Chiara

The Floral Park Library is again coordinating with AARP to offer a Tax Assistance program for Village seniors. Details and information will soon be on the Librarys website. The challenge this year, working with COVID restrictions, is to put together a safe environment to have this program. The Library is confident they will be able to do so and offer the program to its patrons.

Next month the Library will be offering a tech program given by teens to assist Village seniors and all patrons with tech issues. The program will focus on ways help to educate how to navigate different websites like Instagram, Facebook, online shopping sites, video chats, and streaming. Registration is now open by calling the library reference desk at 326-6330, ext. 105.

Please continue to check the Librarys homepage for information on scheduled events. Chair yoga, cooking and meditation classes and Time for Kids programs are all available. Dont miss out on these and so many other programs our Library continues to offer.

Police Department Trustee Chiara

On Monday, Jan. 18, there was the final walkout, signifying the last working tour of retiring Police Officer (PO) Michael Hearne at Village Police Headquarters. PO Hearne served Floral Park Village for over 30 years. We thank Mike for all his dedicated years of service in protecting and keeping our community safe. We wish him all the best in his retirement!

Recently, there were two accidents in the vicinity of Plainfield Avenue. Both had injuries to the occupants of the vehicles. The Floral Park Police Dept. will be increasing traffic enforcement throughout the Village in an effort to decrease these events. Please continue to drive carefully and obey the traffic regulations to ensure everyones safety.

Also as a reminder, please remember to lock your car and house doors. There was a recent arrest for trespassing and the arrested had stolen items in his possession, indicating that they may have already been in a vehicle in our area.

Thank you to the Floral Park Police Department for all their efforts in keeping our community safe.

CREW Trustee Chiara

The CREW committee will host a jam session on Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. at the Recreation Pool Building. Anyone interested in sharing his or her musical talents is welcome. Please follow the COVID regulations when entering the building.

Building Department Trustee Chiara

The Building Department has no new updates.

Mayors Report Mayor Longobardi

Mayor Longobardi reported on the recent change in leadership in the Floral Park Chamber of Commerce. The Mayor thanked outgoing Chamber President Stephen Wickes for his dedication to the community and its businesses, and especially his work on the beautification project. He then congratulated Pastor Evan Peet of the Bridge Community Church on being appointed the new President of the Chamber. He looks forward to working with Pastor Peet and recognized him for his past successes with the Street Fairs and many wonderful community projects.

Mayor Longobardi again congratulated Floral Park Police Officer Mick Hearne on his retirement. He thanked Mike, who is also a Floral Park resident for his over 30 years of dedicated service in keeping the Village of Floral Park safe, and wished Mike many happy years to come.

In closing, the Mayor stressed the need for drivers to obey all traffic and safety laws. There has been a recent uptick in traffic and crowded roadways and a rise in traffic stops due to drivers speeding and not following the rules of the road. Please drive safely. Thank you.

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Floral Park Board of Trustees report for January 19 - The Island Now