The fourth annual No Room at the Inn event, benefiting Family Promise of Midland, will give Midlanders a chance to browse through hundreds of privately collected nativities.

The No Room at the Inn event has just always been really special, said Kay Brockman, volunteer and displayer at the event. You just see everything from gloriously sculpted things to a rubber ducky (nativity). Its just a fun time and I think that everyone should at least come out and look at all of the beautiful nativities. It makes for a fun afternoon.

In addition, Brockman said organizers encourage anyone interested to join in the event and display their own nativities as well.

Everyone should bring their own nativities out to display, said Brockman, who will be displaying one of her own. Theyre welcome to bring it the Thursday night before the event and sign it in.

While not required, Family Promise will accept a donation of $5 upon entry to the event.

We do ask for a $5 donation and it all goes to Family Promise, Brockman said. We would just like for people to come out and support Family Promise. Even if they dont wish to support monetarily, just their presence here would be an honor. Plus theyll enjoy it.

Brockman said the event ties into the mission of Family Promise thematically as it works with the assistance of its Interfaith Hospitality Network to provide assistance to families who are dealing with homelessness.

For the ones that have been able to enter (the program), they have found a room. Some people dont make it but most of them do, Brockman said. With the economy the way it is now, its hard to think that people would be homeless but they are. Im always surprised how many people need a hand.

Currently the program is at full capacity with four families, providing them with shelter at one of several host churches. Families stay at each host church for one week at a time from 6 p.m. to 6:15 a.m. each day.

Adults in the program are required to work or attend school full time during the day for the full two to three months they are in the program. Free child care and afterschool care is provided for the children in the program as well.

Excerpt from:
Annual Nativity display benefits Family Promise

Kitchen Remodel with a Room Addition
To view some of the tools shown in this video go to http://www.tacwise.com This video goes into detail showing a total renovation of a kitchen along with a room add...

By: Craig Heffernan

Originally posted here:
Kitchen Remodel with a Room Addition - Video

The University of Minnesotas Amundson Hall addition allows some much-needed elbow room for the growing Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Department and for a fancy electron microscope described by the U of M as the first of its kind in the world.

But the project itself didnt leave much wiggle room for construction crews, who squeezed the 40,000-square-foot addition known as the Gore Annex into a tight location at 421 Washington Ave. SE on the busy campus in Minneapolis.

If you look at the building, we are 20 feet from the next building over, said Jeff Schott, a professor in the U of Ms Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and the U of Ms construction point person for the project. It was like building in a phone booth.

U of M officials led a tour of the newly completed building addition Wednesday. Construction started in March 2013.

The $30 million project included $23 million for the Gore Annex, which has two floors below ground and four above ground, and $7 million worth of improvements to the 65-year-old Amundson Hall.

A high point is the FEI Tecnai Femto ultrafast electron microscope, which will enable researchers to learn more about materials at the atomic and molecular scale. The research has applications for everything from energy and medicine to digital technologies, the U of M said.

It allows us to make movies of the materials at the atomic levels, at the time scales we need, explained David Flannigan, an assistant professor in the U of Ms Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science.

Research in the labs could benefit construction, health care, digital technologies and other industries, Flannigan said. Literally, there are experiments that have never been done before that we will be able to do now, he said.

The project will also allow for growth in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science Department, which has seen a 30 percent increase in undergraduate enrollment in recent years.

From a design and construction standpoint, the project presented some challenges, including the constrained site next to the Green Line light rail and existing buildings, and a need to avoid vibration that would throw the research activities for a loop.

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U of M project was like building in a phone booth

INTEREL

INTEREL

Dubai, 12 November 2014: INTEREL, the world's fastest growing manufacturer of integrated room technologies in the luxury hospitality industry, has announced the release of a series of new global products as well as the establishment of a local presence in Asia and the Americas.

The company's online room management system offers highly innovative and intelligent solutions for the modern hotelier. Through a combination of cutting-edge technology and uniquely simplified design, the system allows hotel operators to optimize their energy monitoring and consumption and to deliver a greater guest experience.

The hospitality industry's most advanced portfolio of Room Control Units (RCU) becomes even more powerful with the release of a series of new RCUs, which deliver expanded and flexible configuration options efficiently enabling a wider array of guest room environment features, interactions and experiences. One of these new features is a smart lamp option that provides guests with full bedside lamp functionality even when the master light switch is off.

INTEREL has also introduced a brand new series of customizable wall and tabletop room control panels, which now incorporate a range of leading 3rd party power and connectivity options. In addition, INTEREL has released an expanded creative palette for hotel designers with new bold and elegant options for panel finishes, colors and icon layout designs.

INTEREL has seen exceptional growth over the past six months as a result of strong demand for its products and services. In February this year INTEREL appointed Silvio Reale as CEO Asia Pacific, which saw the company enter a number of business hubs in the region including Hong Kong, Jakarta, Macau and Manila. In September INTEREL appointed Michael Cohen as SVP Key Accounts, who will be leading the company's market entry into the Americas.

"With the Middle East being our biggest and fastest growing market in the world, we decided to move the headquarters to Dubai at the end of 2012, with design and manufacturing still based exclusively in Italy. " Said Florian Gallini, Group CEO of INTEREL. He added: "The extension of our geographical reach with a local presence in Asia and the Americas will enable us to assist our clients directly on the ground and is testament to the growing demand for our solutions worldwide."

"Providing innovative technology and design leadership in integrated room solutions."

Headquartered in Dubai, INTEREL is the fastest growing manufacturer of integrated room technologies and energy conservation systems in the luxury hospitality industry with a footprint across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Established in 1984, the Italian manufacturer has nearly two decades of experience in the hospitality industry and is an approved supplier with more than 17 of the world"s leading hospitality and leisure organizations.

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INTEREL Announces New Product Releases And Expands Its Global Footprint

Superior Room Presented with Serene Design for a Mind-calming Experience. While Premier Room Offers an Enchantingly-modern dcor to Ensure a Refined Memory

The Mind-calming Superior Room at Cosmopolitan Hotel Hong Kong

(Hong Kong, 11 November 2014) As no travel experience should be the same, in continuing to providing quality accommodation for different travellers, Cosmopolitan Hotel Hong Kong welcomes newly refashioned Superior Room and Premier Room in its collection with Both completely made over, Superior Room at this Hotel Causeway Bay Hong Kongis now presented with a serene design while Premier Room, is promised to help craft a refined travel memory.

Superior Room Invites Travellers for a Mind-calming Experience with Its Serene Design

New in the collection, Superior Room exudes a sleek-contemporary ambiance and is delicately designed under an inviting backdrop. Upon stepping into this tranquil sanctuary, the focal point of the room is brought forward with the creamy white patterned sliding panel setting in front of the expansive sandblasted window. The modish sliding panel can be opened flexibly to welcome travellers to a home away from home. With the room dressing in warm hues of creamy white and grey, mind-calming retreat is further brought to life with the upholstered headboard and the use of comfortable bedding and plush pillow menu that has a generous collection of 11 choices. Other traces of its serene design at this hotel in Wan Chaiare presented through the classy and spaciously paid out bathroom that promises the most relaxed private moments are enjoyed.

Premier Room Crafts Refined Memory Over an Enchantingly Modern Dcor

Nestled in an enchantingly modern setting, Premier Room promises to offer a refined experience for travellers. With a bespoke expansive mirror above the headboard glowing in pattern has created a glamorous backdrop, it does not only resonate with the room's opulent design but also invites natural lighting and city glitz to seep into every corner of the room. Other custom-made furniture includes the practically designed wardrobe that comes with a smart built-in iron board, together with the min-bar that camouflaged as a silvery grey cupboard, all neatly arranged to harmonize with the sophisticated dcor in the room. For an additionally unique stay experience, half of the Premier Rooms overlook the racecourse scenery across the hotel offering a breathtaking view to enjoy. With such intimate ambiance, Premier Rooms are promised to present travellers with a premium lifestyle experience that will illuminate any travel mood.

Cosmopolitan's Signature Amenities All Ready to Serve Although different in designs, both Superior Room and Premier Room are furnished with the indispensible Cosmopolitan's signature series of in-room amenities. The signature amenities include Simmons Beautyrest bed mattress, 100% cotton sheet together with an 11-choice pillow menu for healthcare and aromatherapy. The list also includes technology-driven facilities such as smart phone docking stations with free 3G Internet and IDD calls to 7 countries including US, UK, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea and China, in addition to new wall-mounted Samsung HD TV.

Original Design Elements Stemming From Within Not limiting inside the hotel rooms, a great deal of artifice is presented in the original design elements that extended to the corridor. Upon entering the lift lobby, patterns of twigs and hummingbirds on the carpets and on the backlit mirror wall symbolize travellers who are endowed with the energy to travel in all directions! Walking closer to the room, a doorplate with a luminous horse reminds travellers the Happy Valley racecourse, a local neighborhood, is opposite the property within easy reach. In Cosmopolitan Hotel, design of originality is displayed near and far.

To experience the Premier and Superior Rooms first hand, a 2 night stay will entitle guests a 15% off best available rate, while an exclusive 25% discount will be offered for early bookers who book 30 days prior to arrival. The exclusive discount, together with a host of thoughtful privileges like flexible check-in time covered under the hotel's "24-hour Flexi-stay" program, free Premium Internet plan to name a few, are available to guests booking through hotel's official website http://www.cosmopolitanhotel.com.hk .

Originally posted here:
Introducing Newly Refashioned Premier Room and Superior Room at Cosmopolitan Hotel

When the first sketch of the upcoming addition to Great Bends Heartland Cancer Center (HCC) was finalized, it seemed to represent enough room to accommodate all patient and family needs. But things are not always as they seem. The leaders of HCC soon discovered the original estimate should be doubled. So, the plans have grown from 5,000 to 10,000 square feet to accommodate patients, families and additional services. We started looking even more closely at the architectural drawings and realized that patient comfort would still be lacking, HCC Director Becky Troyer said. And patient comfort is a priority. In addition, once the project is completed next fall, new and expanded services will be available. For example, Troyer noted, the chaplaincy offerings will grow, and a dietitian and social worker will be added to the staff. A larger conference room also is included in the plans to accommodate expanded interactive televideo (ITV) programming. We understand that patients sometimes want a chaplain for spiritual guidance, and dietary services are crucial because many patients have nutritional deficiencies that affect their overall health, Troyer explained. And in some cases, a social worker can guide families to a number of community resources. The large conference room will be important to our connection with the Midwest Cancer Alliance (MCA), she continued. Its ITV capabilities will help us expand our MCA clinical trials and presentations, and the conference room will provide ample space for support groups and medical continuing education. MCA is the outreach arm of The University of Kansas Cancer Center. Coonrod & Associates Construction Co., Wichita, will begin work soon; it will take about a year to complete the project. This firm will be seeking bids from local subcontractors for a variety of services, including electrical and plumbing, Troyer noted. We also will be looking to local companies for furniture and other dcor needs. The changes will be dramatic.

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Cancer Center remodel doubles patient accommodations

10:17 08 November 2014

Adele Table Lamp in Champagne, John Lewis. PA Photo/Handout

Archant

How you light a room is - perhaps surprisingly - one of the most important factors of a decor scheme.

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Consider all the different levels of lighting in the room, from the ceiling lights and pendants, to uplighters and occasional lamps, urges Josephine Bennett, head of home design at Laura Ashley. All these aspects create different moods, which can be interchangeable throughout the day and night. Large, statement table lamps create a real focal point in the room, and provide an intimate light in the evening.

Top trends

The great thing about lighting is you can tune into the latest looks without spending a fortune. Obviously, a crystal chandelier or standout floor piece might make a dent in your savings, but a simple shade or statement table lamp can give a room a whole new look - and give you change from a 20 note.

Copper is a big highlight this season, and matches the autumnal palette perfectly.

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Interiors: How to create atmospheric lighting in each room in your house

Following a vicious headshot that sidelined Nathan Horton in Game 3 of the 2011 Stanley Cup finals, a well-worn Starter jacket hung alone in his vacant locker stall. The jacket was awarded to the player of the game, and embodied the camaraderie of the tight-knit locker room. On that night, it served as a rallying cry.

The jacket was the brainchild of Andrew Ference.

Ference was an integral part of building a championship culture in Boston, on and off the ice. Now hes trying to take what hes learned to his team in Edmonton.

Following the 2012-13 season, Ference signed a four-year deal with the Oilers and was named their captain. Hed served as an alternate captain with the Bs, and it was clear Edmonton coveted him for his locker room presence in addition to his performance on the ice.

Those are really great lessons, Ference said yesterday of what he discovered as a Bruin. To see something that did take time and effort to build, but could be so successful once it was there. Thats some of the same messaging that you try to pass on to the situation that Im in, in Edmonton.

When Ference arrived via trade on Feb. 10, 2007, the Bs werent a playoff team and Dave Lewis was their coach. Their ascension to becoming among the NHLs elite was a process that occurred over the course of his seven-year tenure with the team, as was the jelling of the locker room.

In Edmonton he realizes that itll take time for a transformation to happen as well. The Oilers have been mired in mediocrity for almost a decade, but are one of the youngest teams in the league. They have four top-five draft picks that have yet to turn 23. The 35-year-old captain is trying to lead by example, as the youth on his club makes it an even more impressionable than most.

Ference says hes trying to create solidarity by doing things like, making sure the young guys, and everybody, are coming into the rink with a positive outlook. Creating an atmosphere that doesnt get rattled with that negativity or anything like that, and has the ability to look at the bigger picture.

The defenseman was resigned to the press box for last nights contest, as he was serving the second of a three-game ban for an illegal check on Vancouver forward Zack Kassian.

Ference wasnt happy about having to sit out at the Garden.

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Andrew Ference brings leadership lessons to Oilers

By Carisa Crawford Chappell November 7 at 9:29 AM

History is all around the Regency at Chancellorsville, an amenity-rich development in Fredericksburg for residents 55 and over that sits on portions of a onetime Civil War battlefield.

Once completed, the Regency at Chancellorsville will have 280 single-family houses.

Surrounded by woods with miles of paths, the community is a picturesque oasis near permanently protected open land dubbed the Chancellorsville Battlefield. This includes trails with plaques that explain the historic significance of the fighting on the site in the 1800s.

The development is named for the Battle of Chancellorsville, which was one of the major skirmishes of the Civil War in 1863. More than 30,000 soldiers were said to have died in the battle, including General Thomas Stonewall Jackson. The South, led by Generals Jackson and Robert E. Lee, defeated a large army from the North, resulting in one of Lees greatest victories for the Confederates.

Malcolm and Marge Huffman moved into the Spotsylvania County neighborhood at the end of May after downsizing from their single-family home on seven acres in King George County, about 25miles west of Fredericksburg. They were attracted to the size of the development and the extra amenities it offered.

A couple of years ago, we started to think if we should continue to stay or to downsize to a property with less maintenance, Malcolm Huffman said. After looking around at other 55-and-over communities in the area, they decided on the Toll Brothers development.

Tae Wills, sales manager for the Regency at Chancellorsville, said buyers in the community have been coming from all over the region. Recently, she said, she had buyers from LaPlata in southern Maryland who are looking for a maintenance-free lifestyle.

It was a good feeling hearing the lawn mower and knowing someone else was on the other side, said Huffman, adding that not having to cut the grass was a big selling point.

Built with guests in mind: The community offers four two-bedroom, two-bathroom home styles that are highly customizable and range mostly from 1,685 to 2,026square feet. All of the homes feature 10-foot ceilings on the main level, large walk-in closets and hardwood floors in the foyer, kitchen and breakfast rooms, and an attached two-car garage. The Bedford is $301,995 and is the smallest model. It offers an elegant foyer that opens into a 29- by 15-foot great room and dining room combination.

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History all around at amenity-rich Regency at Chancellorsville development

Googles Nexus Player should appeal to those who want smarter TVs. But it will need to do much more to be the hub of all home entertainment.

Googles Nexus Player lets you stream videos and music to your TV from the Web, and play games, too.

Last year, Google invited itself into the living room with the Chromecast, a $35 dongle that plugs into the back of any TV with an HDMI port and lets you play online videos and other content on your television from another device.

Now, Google hopes to get even comfier on the couch with the Nexus Player, a $99 black disc with a Bluetooth remote control that turns any TV with an HDMI port into an Internet-connected TV that can stream movies, play music and video games, and run select Android apps.

The simple, user-friendly design of the Nexus Players hardware and software, along with great voice search, make it a good deal for those who dont already have a connected TV. Assuming a larger number of apps become available in the near future, it may even eventually be worth it for people like myself who already have a connected TV but hate the interface.

The Nexus Player software is thoughtfully laid out, dominated by a row of popular movies and TV shows along with a handful of YouTube videos it thought I would like (based on my Google account history).

In addition to the puck-like Nexus Player, the devices box contained a power adapter and a slender, cheap-feeling, black remote controlyoull need to use your own HDMI cord, unfortunately. The remote has a handful of buttons, including a circular five-way directional button surrounding an enter button, another button for Googles voice search, and a button to get back to the main Nexus Player screen.

The simplicity makes it a cinch to figure out how to choose apps, videos, and the like, and I had no problem using the remote to zip from YouTube clips to Pandora to video games.

It has a few big problems, though. It lacks volume control, so youll have to keep a regular TV remote nearby. And I was dismayed to realize that some things still require the tedious one-letter-at-a-time username/password process common on so many systems that dont have a touch screen. This really slowed me down while setting up apps that require user accounts, like Netflix and Pandora.

The voice search button is the star of the remote. You can say obvious things like Zoolander to bring up the movie of that name, or get a little more complicated by asking for movies with a specific actor, from a certain genre, or nominated for an Oscar in, say, 2010. For the most part, voice search understood what I was saying, and it did yield some good results. It also seems to understand foreign movie titles, so long as you say them with an American accent; I figured this out while asking for Ma Vie en Rose.

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Googles Half-Finished Attempt to Take Over the Living Room