Hampstead, MD, February 14, 2021 --(PR.com)-- Roof Right, a Maryland Residential Roofing Company, has won a Best of Houzz award for customer service on Houzz, the leading platform for home renovation and design. The annual Best of Houzz awards highlight home remodeling and design professionals with top ratings and the most popular designs among the Houzz community.

Best of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including a professionals overall rating on Houzz and client reviews for projects completed in 2020. Roof Right was chosen for the customer service award in 2020 and in 2021 by the Houzz community. This is an honor considering that only 3% of the more than 2.5 million active home exterior and interior professionals receive this award.

Its a great honor to win the Houzz Award again. We strive to provide our customers with the highest quality of work and service, said Craig Mott, General Manager of Roof Right. We appreciate the homeowners who have made it possible and are especially proud of our team for going above and beyond during these challenging times.

The Best of Houzz awards are an emblem of trust and credibility for home professionals across the U.S. and around the world, and we are excited to celebrate this years winners, said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted our critical need as homeowners to feel comfortable before inviting pros into and around our homes, and the Best of Houzz badge is a powerful way to communicate the trust that homeowners have in a pros business. Its just one of many tools on the Houzz platform that help pros convey their unique expertise, and help homeowners find the right professionals for their projects.

About Roof Right, Inc.Roof Right, Inc. is a locally owned and operated residential and commercial roofing contractor based in Hampstead, Maryland. We proudly serve customers in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, and Montgomery County. Our roofing services include Slate, Cedar, Asphalt, fiberglass, metal, and we provide service for all types of residential roofing repairs. Roof Right also offers insulation, gutters, windows, doors, siding, and decks. For more information, visit Roofright.com

About HouzzHouzz is the leading platform for home renovation and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish online or from a mobile device. From decorating a small room to building a custom home and everything in between, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community empowered by technology, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, find products, and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin, Sydney, Moscow, Bangalore and Tokyo. Houzz and the Houzz logo are registered trademarks of Houzz Inc. worldwide. For more information, visit Houzz.com

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Roof Right, Inc. Awarded Best of Houzz 2021 - PR.com

Haas Fine Arts Center on the UW-Eau Claire campus. (UWEC photo)

Haas Fine Arts Center music spaces will undergo major renovations as part of a more than $6.7 million project approved on Friday, Feb. 5, by the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents.

Renovations to the 50-year-old UW-Eau Claire building include remodeling rehearsal spaces and classrooms to improve acoustics and sound isolation. Poor acoustics in some existing spaces disrupt classes in adjacent rooms, says Dr. Gretchen Peters, professor of music history and chair of the music and theatre arts department.

When you walk into Haas Fine Arts Center, you often hear music coming from all sorts of places, Peters says. While OK, and even charming, for a while, the music becomes disruptive for instructors and students trying to focus on classes, lessons, or other rehearsals.

The renovations will take place in two stages during summer 2021 and summer 2022.

It has been a real challenge to find enough appropriate space for students to rehearse in chamber groups during the day, not because we did not have the actual space, but because the sound bleed between rooms was so bad.

dr. gretchen peters

chair, uwec music and theatre arts department

The extensive renovation project centers around two large rooms that are used throughout the day for choral and instrumental rehearsals. The rooms will be gutted and rebuilt to provide better and safer acoustics, Peters says.

A recording control room between the two rehearsal rooms is being renovated and new recording equipment installed making all sorts of recording projects and pedagogical experiences available to students, Peters says.

Acoustics also will be addressed in three additional classrooms adjacent to the rehearsal rooms that currently cannot be used during the school day, Peters says. The acoustics improvements will make more effective use of space for rehearsals.

It has been a real challenge to find enough appropriate space for students to rehearse in chamber groups during the day, not because we did not have the actual space, but because the sound bleed between rooms was so bad, Peters says. We could not have a rehearsal next to a music theory class because of the lack of sound isolation between rooms.

Peters says the buildings practice room suite, which has about 40 small rooms, will undergo a significant renovation so students will have quieter spaces in which to practice.

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning infrastructure is being upgraded, Peters says, because humidity levels need to be controlled to maintain the musical instrument collection.

A major challenge since I joined the department over 20 years ago is how all the students and faculty can make music in the building safely and without driving each other crazy, Peters says. This acoustic renovation will help solve the problem.

As a retired instructor used to say, There is no such thing as a private tuba lesson. That is true for many music activities in this building. Better acoustics will help create important opportunities for

faculty and students.

Here are further details on the project from agenda materials from the Board of Regents Feb. 4-5 meeting:

Project work includes remodeling of existing rehearsal and selected classroom spaces to improve sound isolation and acoustics. Additional improvements include installation of new audio/visual infrastructure and equipment in rehearsal rooms and recording control room, and replacement of existing HVAC systems to lower background noise, reduce sound transfer, increase efficiency, and reduce utility costs for the building. Construction of a new entry vestibule at the existing loading area on the first floor will control exterior environmental effects on interior cooling, heating, and humidity conditions. Some asbestos abatement will also be necessary.

Due to poor acoustic conditions of existing spaces, the practice and rehearsal rooms cannot be used for portions of the day without disruption of adjacent activities. This leaves the rooms underutilized and creates a lack of appropriate rehearsal/practice space for the students.

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You Heard It Here: Haas Fine Arts Center to Get Acoustic Upgrade... - Volume One

A newly renovated bathroom is one of the top items on a homebuyer's wish list. But a full bathroom remodel isn't the only way to capture the hearts of would-be buyers. A shower remodel is one way to update the look of a bathroom's aesthetic as well as its function.

It makes sense that homebuyers want the place they bathe to look and feel clean. While a full remodel would be ideal, other updates to a bathroom would also be welcomed. This could mean anything from a new vanity to updated fixtures to a tankless toilet.

But a beautiful new shower -- bonus points for multiple shower heads or a frameless shower door -- could sweeten the deal for potential buyers. And depending on which type of shower you choose, you could change the look of the entire space.

According to HomeAdvisor (NASDAQ: ANGI), the average cost to install a new shower is $4,991, with a range between $1,951 and $8,044. For example, a 32-inch square acrylic stall can range from $750 to $3,000, while a custom-tiled walk-in shower of the same size can run you anywhere from $4,200 to $8,500. Keep in mind that these figures are just for the shower itself, not plumbing, which will cost extra.

Fixing existing plumbing is one thing, but adding plumbing is another. If you plan to upgrade a half bath to a three-quarter, you can expect to pay more to install pipes and drains. Adding a shower to a half bath can cost anywhere between $900 and $12,500, according to HomeAdvisor. A bathroom should be at least 5' x 7' to hold a sink, toilet, and shower. If walls need to be built or removed to make room for these fixtures, your costs will be on the higher side of the range.

As with all home improvement projects, it all depends on size, design, and materials. Suffice it to say, if you want your new shower to resemble something in a hotel spa, you'll be at the higher end of these price ranges.

According to Remodeling's Cost vs. Value Report, a midrange bathroom remodel has a 64% ROI. Even if you don't spring for an entire redo of the bath, it makes sense to update the shower to woo buyers.

While a soaking tub used to be the wow factor for a bathroom, now it's a walk-in shower. Spacious and spa-like, they are as beautiful to bathe in as they are accessible. This is particularly important for buyers with limited mobility, as well as homeowners who wish to age in place and will appreciate the accessibility a walk-in shower offers.

A bathroom renovation is not only a pricey proposition, but it can be a time-consuming one, too. Potential buyers will appreciate having it already done for them -- in fact, some will expect it. That's why a shower remodel, whether on its own or part of a larger bathroom makeover, could be the key to getting more and better offers for your property.

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Shower Remodel: Worth the Investment? - MSN Money

Christian Mackie/Collov Home Design/Chastity Cortijo/Unsplash

Yep, thats righta little friendly snooping goes a long way. Just like youd scope out the comps, or comparable homes, in the area before placing an offer on a house (to ensure youre getting a fair price), you should see what types of appliances and upgrades are included in the homes listed in your neighborhood.

Its really easy to overspend on a remodel, de Jong explains. And whats trending in Chicago or top-of-the-line for Dallas may not be the best bet for your area. If you buy a Sub Zero fridgethose can cost $15,000you probably wont see a good return on that unless you live in Beverly Hills, You can spend $100,000 on a kitchen easily, but that doesnt mean it adds $100,000 to your home. In the words of our expert, you dont want to over-upgrade.

To that end, its worth thinking about your potential buyer. Whos most likely to be attracted to your home and the surrounding neighborhood? Do you have great schools and plenty of parks nearby? In that case, maybe young families are your target market. (Your real estate agent will have great insights here.) And, if thats the case, you might see that Carrara marble is trending. Our tip? Opt for quartz instead. This is an easy way to get in on the popular detailwith the durability families like and a more budget-friendly price point that works for you.

That said, dont obsess too much here. Its more about working within your budget and what people are looking for in your area than appealing to a specific buyer. In general, less is more when thinking of other buyers, de Jong says. You want to give them some room to imagine the space as their own. The more niche you go, the narrower your funnel of potential buyers (hence why cloffices may be trendy, but they might not be the best use of your reno budget, compared to general kitchen or home upgrades.) Whatever you can do to make the kitchen feel light, bright, open and clutter-free, the better.

Oh, and one more thing: If youre remodeling for yourself, by all means, buy the best of the best, if thats going to make you happy, de Jong says. So, you have our permission to go after that Sub Zero life, if its been your dream and if you plan on staying in the house awhile.

RELATED: The Four Best Organizational Upgrades to Boost Your Homes ROI

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Heres One Thing You Should Do Before Renovating to Get the Highest ROI Possible - PureWow

COLUMBUS, Ind. Bartholomew County is spending more than $33,000 to complete repairs and remodeling in offices planned for the Bartholomew County Health Department nursing division.

While doing some upgrades, county workers discovered damage near the front door of one of the county-owned offices on Foxpointe Drive, as well as a threshold and flooring area, county maintenance director Rick Trimpe said. The county was also aware that roof repairs would soon be needed when the damage was discovered.

However, Trimpe said some required work is beyond the scope of his crew, who are already busy with renovations to a courtroom and new holding cell at the Bartholomew County Courthouse.

So a decision was made to hire a local contractor Haidiver Homes Inc. to do these projects at a total cost of $18,811, he said.

But after further inspection, county officials discovered there was a second area that was in disrepair. Due to a hidden water leak, black mold was found in the flooring and under the crawlspace in the building, Trimpe said.

Its believed the water leak had slowly spread since before the health department moved into the facility, he said.

An inspection showed a good portion of the flooring had rotted out and had extended into a wall and another room, Trimpe said.

So we decided to go ahead and treat all of the under-skirting of that building, the crawlspace, and whatever walls need treating, Trimpe said.

This second and final part of the repairs and remodeling will cost $14,665, he said.

For more on this story, see Fridays Republic.

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County adds additional repair work to nursing division offices - The Republic

Check out these three homes in Ripon listed between $300,000 and $800,000 | Real Estate | riponpress.com

You have permission to edit this article.

In this weeks real estate feature, were looking at three homes in Ripon listed between $300,000 and $800,000.

Take a look:

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2

Size: 3,162 sqft

Lot: 0.39 acre

Listed by: Century 21 Properties Unlimited

Description:

Walk back in time with this restored Victorian beauty! Extensive updates and remodeling to this beautiful Victorian located on a large corner lot. Variety of living spaces and options in this home and ready for you to move right in! Walk up to the attic that is partially finished! Must see the interior to appreciate it!

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2

Size: 1,579 sqft

Lot: 46.51 acre

Listed by: American Realtors

Description:

Welcome Home to the Farm! This property includes nearly 50 acres of highly desirable Plano soil and an updated farmhouse with new windows, updated bathrooms including a continental master bathroom, and a main level family room with a wet bar. The outbuildings include: a main barn with hayloft and concrete yard, machine shed, loafing and storage sheds. The Southern lot line is bordered by a municipal street with utilities. Located just 20 miles west of the Fox Valley, Ripon is a prime location for future development.

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 3

Size: 3,590 sqft

Lot: 42.12 acre

Listed by: YELLOW HOUSE REALTY

Description:

Frank Lloyd Wright inspired design. This Prairie Style home offers beautiful country views and spacious interior rooms. Quality can be found throughout the home with the solid wood doors and trim, leaded glass foyer, Granite countertops, radiant in-floor heat in the home and garage. The large and open kitchen is ideal for entertaining and truly very functional with its built-ins and walk-in pantry. Main level owner's suite with a large bedroom, oversized walk-in closet and a spa-like bathroom. There are two additional bedrooms and a full bath on the main level. The lower level has a FR, Rec area, wet bar, bedroom, full bath, storage and 2nd laundry area. LL patio, main level screen porch and expansive deck with great views.

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Check out these three homes in Ripon listed between $300000 and $800000 - Ripon Commonwealth Press

BATH While the construction of the new Morse High School in Bath is nearing completion, it wont be done as soon as initially planned.

The high school is scheduled to be handed over to Regional School Unit 1 next month with students resuming classes on Feb. 25, which is later than its initial December target date, according to Cuyler Feagles, RSU 1 clerk of the works.

Feagles credited the two-month delay to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which arrived in Maine last March.

Mostly the impact weve had is delayed deliveries from manufacturers, said Feagles. Getting supplies has been much slower as a result of COVID-19.

Feagles said builders arent able to hire more workers to speed up construction, in part because of COVID-19 limits how many people are allowed in certain parts of the building at a time.The state has also seen an absolutely unprecedented building boom during the pandemic, Feagles said, making it difficult to find workers available to hire.

This is also a largely state-funded project, and so because of that, workers must follow state COVID-19 guidelines, said Feagles. Work is somewhat slower because we have to take precautions like daily cleaning and having everyone check-in every day now.

Built by New Hampshire-based Harvey Construction, the school will house Morse High School and the Bath Regional Career and Technical Center. With a total of just over 600 students, Morse High School is the only high school in Regional School Unit 1, which serves Bath, Phippsburg, Arrowsic and Woolwich.

Patrick Manual, RSU 1 Superintendent, said work is ongoing seven days a week to have the school ready for teachers and administrators to move in in mid-February.

Harvey construction continues to make steady progress with the new Morse High School/Bath Tech, said Manuel. Students are scheduled to begin classes at the new school on February 25th. We are excited to open this impressive facility that will benefit our students, staff, and the community.

Once complete, the new school at the Wing Farm Business Park will stand three-stories tall and cover nearly 186,000 square feet, slightly larger than the current Morse High School building on High Street. The school will have two gyms, two athletic fields, and a theater.

Feagles said a few nonessential portions of the building, including the theater and band room, wont be completely finished when classes resume, but workers will finish them while students are in school.

The kids have to be in, so those are the least necessary and the easiest to finish while kids are in school, said Feagles. Workers are able to finish work while kids are going about their daily activities. We dont want workers in the middle of their school day.

Despite being a bit behind schedule, the project remains on budget, according to Manuel.

The state is funding $67.4 million of the $75.3 million cost; $7.2 million is to be paid locally through borrowing, with $700,000 earmarked from fundraising.

Once complete, the existing Morse High School will be turned over to the city to be repurposed.The city has three main ideas for how to repurpose the school, all of which involve repurposing some of the building into housing, Assistant Bath City Manager Marc Meyers told The Times Record last November.

Meyers said the city doesnt plan on changing the brick faade. None of the possible renovations include plans for the theater or gymnasium, as those were sections of the school alumni said they wanted to be preserved.

While Bath residents and Morse alumni have offered suggestions, Meyers said the jurys still out on what the building will become and theres no firm deadline on remodeling.

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TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Masonite International Corporation (NYSE: DOOR) has appointed John H. Chuang, co-founder and CEO of Aquent, to the companys board of directors effectively immediately. Chuang was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board.

John has a wealth of experience and insights in change management, talent acquisition and employee development, said Robert J. Byrne, chairman of the board of directors. We are pleased to welcome John to the Masonite board of directors and look forward to his contributions.

Chuang co-founded Aquent in his dorm room as an undergraduate at Harvard University in 1986. Within five years, he grew the workforce solutions company to the 12th fastest-growing private company in America.

Over the course of his career, Chuang has been widely recognized for his entrepreneurial leadership and accomplishments, as Boston Business Journals, 40 Under 40, Mass High Techs High Tech All-Star, Ernst and Youngs Entrepreneur of the Year and Staffing Industry Analysts Staffing 100.

Chuangs thought leadership and expertise has been featured in a number of national media outlets and trade publications, including Fast Company, NPR, The Boston Globe, U.S. News & World Report, The Financial Times, Business Insider and Quartz. He is also a frequent guest on Bloomberg Television, Fox News, Yahoo Finance and CNBC.

Previously, Chuang served as president of the Massachusetts Staffing Association and as chairman of the board of directors of Angies List. He has also served as a board member for the American Staffing Association and AIGA.

Chuang earned a bachelors degree cum laude from Harvard University and an MBA with honors from Harvard Business School.

About Masonite

Masonite International Corporation is a leading global designer, manufacturer and distributor of interior and exterior doors for the new construction and repair, renovation and remodeling sectors of the residential and non-residential building construction markets. Since 1925, Masonite has provided its customers with innovative products and superior service at compelling values. Masonite currently serves approximately 8,500 customers in 60 countries. Additional information about Masonite can be found at http://www.masonite.com.

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Masonite International Corporation Appoints John H. Chuang to Board of Directors - Business Wire

When Ellen Connor needed a hip replacement in October, her doctor recommended that rather than being discharged to a rehab facility, because of COVID-19 it would be better to go home after surgery.

The only problem for the 83-year-old was the flight of 14 stairs to her second-floor apartment in Baldwin. Her adult children recommended a stair lift at a cost of $3,000.

"When my daughter suggested it, I said Im not doing that. I just didnt think I needed it," Connor said. "But then I thought about it. Even before my surgery it was already hard to get my packages up the stairs and I had to take the steps one at a time. I really do like it. It certainly makes it more comfortable and easier to deal with everyday things like shopping."

Another change she made to her apartment four years ago also turned out to be good planning: She had the tub she hardly used replaced with a walk-in shower, built-in corner bench and grab bars for safety, as well as a comfort-height toilet. "All these changes are very helpful now," she said.

Many seniors and their adult children would rather they remain at home, particularly as nursing homes have been hit hard by the pandemic, said Heather Brin, the principal architect of Aging in Place Architecture in Port Jefferson. Even before COVID, according to a 2017 AARP study, 90% of people age 65 and over would prefer to stay in their own homes as they get older and not go to a nursing home or assisted living facility.

The alternative is aging in place, a term the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines as "the ability to live in one's own home and community safely, independently and comfortably, regardless of age, income or ability level."

Often that means using a universal design, a concept for building, designing or remodeling your home to consider fixes that can prevent injuries, sickness, discomfort and avoidable fatalities. The problem on Long Island, said Brin, is that many homes were built in the 1960s with lots of levels, intended for young families. That can mean to age in place will require home renovations.

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This was the consideration two years ago for Lynn Spinnato when it became clear that her widowed mother and mother-in-law, both in their eighties, needed to move in. She and her husband decided on a one-story extension to the rear of their existing two-story historic house in East Setauket. The addition, which required getting town permits, included two new bedrooms with en suite bathrooms and a common living space. Its separated from the existing house with a barn door with a moon-shaped window.

"They liked having that space as a private area. Even though they're older and you want to be able to watch them, they liked that independence; it was very important to them," said Spinnato, whose mother has since passed away.

Dont wait to assess those future needs. "Preparing for the future is always better if you can do it during the calm. Smarter decisions are made when its not an urgent situation," said Kim Kuester, owner of 101 Mobility in Farmingdale, which sells and rents mobility equipment such as stair lifts, elevators and ramps.

"There are so many falls and complications that can be avoided by taking some very simple and inexpensive steps," said Lisa Stern, assistant vice president for senior and adult services at the Mineola-based nonprofit FCA, formerly known as Family & Childrens Association, which offers case management, financial counseling and other services for seniors.

In some cases, federal, state and local agencies can help low-income seniors modify their longtime homes. "You can also consider a reverse mortgage and Medicare will pay for medical equipment," Stern said. "People don't want to spend money on renovating their house, but the cost of putting some small things in place might be less expensive than if you were to go to an institutional facility."

Universal designs dont have to be extensive. Stern said its about assessing your situation and making modifications that work for your space. When evaluating your home for future needs consider these five factors.

Ideally your home has an existing first-floor bedroom and bath, but if not, this may be a renovation to look into. Jolanda Schreurs in Port Jefferson is in the process of reviewing plans with Brin to renovate a ground floor bedroom and adjacent bathroom for her 90-year-old mother who will be moving in this year. The plans include wider doorways for walker/wheelchair access and a first-floor laundry room. "We are creating a space for both the immediate needs of my mother as well as for my husband and myself as we consider our future," said Schreurs, 63.

Assess the entrances to the house. How many steps do you have and could you ramp it if needed? Are there handrails? Can you enter through the garage and if so, is there a threshold to get over? Brin said these are considerations to be aware of while youre still mobile.

Furthermore, if youre doing any renovations, consider widening the doorways to the ADA recommendation of a clear opening of 32 to 36 inches for wheelchair passage. "Doors to bathrooms and bedrooms are the priority," Brin said.

She also recommends replacing doorknobs with ADA lever door handles, which are easier to use if someone has grip issues. The cost to replace the doors can start at about $185 for materials and labor; lever handles are about $30 for materials and labor.

When getting in and out of your home becomes a problem or getting to another floor there are several solutions.

When Renee Romeros 86-year-old mother broke her leg in two places, she had to figure out how her mother was going to navigate the two sets of steps to the main floor of her West Babylon home. "The house has four steps, a landing and then 10 steps, so we had to connect them with two stair lifts," she said. She got two pre-owned stair lifts, which are about $2,350 each.

Other solutions for dealing with steps indoors and outdoors include threshold ramps, a wedge that gets you over the door jamb for as little as $60, and modular ramps that cover the steps to your front door.

Kuester said, "We have to watch the pitch and the slope so that it's not too steep for people. Sometimes we have to add a platform. Every house is different." The average cost to install a new ramp is $3,000 to $4,000. Pre-owned and rentals are available for less.

Stair lifts can be used inside and outdoors and a base model is $2,895 and can be rented or bought. Kuester said that when a stairway isnt straight, or you need to connect it to another one like in a split-level house, there are curved stair lifts, which are customized. They start at around $12,000.

There are also motorized vertical platforms that start around $6,000 and usually are the height of four to six steps. Flex steps convert four to seven steps into a platform for a wheelchair that lifts. The cost starts around $20,000.

Or consider a home lift, or elevator, that can be installed, usually behind stairs or through closets. The cost starts in the mid-$20,000 range.

Michael Shapiro, 78, had an electric elevator installed in his Massapequa home in October for a cost of $30,000. "We have four stories and my wife has a bad leg so doesnt do stairs well and I have bad knees and we figured why wait until it gets so bad we cant do anything? The elevator was fitted into a coat closet with half in and half extending out, so no real room was lost. It goes from the second floor to the fourth floor where the bedroom is."

Brin said there are simple steps you can take during your next update to prepare for ease of use and safety in the future.

"When you do general maintenance or updating, that's the opportunity to think about future-proofing," Brin said. "That means, for instance, if you're opening up bathroom walls, you put a nailing block at a height of approximately 36 inches above the finished floor behind the Sheetrock. You can do that in the shower area and near the toilet. If sometime in the future you need to put in some grab bars, you can screw them right through the tiles or Sheetrock into the nailing block. Before you tile it over, take pictures to see exactly where it is."

You can do the same behind the bathroom vanity in case you need a wall-mounted sink in the future to slide a wheelchair under. Brin suggests tiling under a floor-mounted vanity so that if you do need to remove it, the floor wont need to be repaired.

If youre putting in a new toilet, rather than a standard height, which is 15 inches, Brin recommends installing a comfort-height toilet, which is 17 to 19 inches and starts at about $200 for labor and materials.

You can also replace a tub with a low threshold or no threshold shower as Connor did.

Brin said when renovating your kitchen, consider areas that can easily be changed in the future. For instance, many kitchens have desks. "That desk works well for a wheelchair so it has a dual function," she said.

Rather than putting the microwave above the stove, consider putting it at counter height. The counter area near the sink could have removable cabinets underneath.

"The biggest issue with future-proofing is to have the components there and you don't necessarily have to go all the way to install them, but you have the option to pull something out and put something else in," Brin said.

For resources for seniors who are considering modifying their homes, contact:

These three organizations can do safety assessments as well as construction:

By Liza N. Burby Special to Newsday

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How some LIers are aging in place in the pandemic - Newsday

By Angela ShepherdGEVS

Last week, the Greenfield Exempted Village School District presented its inaugural State of the District address, which highlighted district details, ongoing programs, how data and information are shared, and projects the district will move forward on.

Superintendent Quincey Gray opened the virtual presentation, beginning with some district details: it covers 164 square miles, includes two outlying elementaries in addition to the main campus located in Greenfield, and there are currently 1,950 students enrolled in the district with 13 percent having disabilities and 59 percent considered economically disadvantaged.

Later, Gray discussed a couple projects that are planned to begin soon and a couple other projects that are on the horizon, but as yet have no set start time.

A project that was initially slated for last spring, but was held up due to the pandemic, is the locker room expansion and new gym lobby renovation. This project is now set to begin this spring.

It will consist of extending the east side of the new gym facade out into the courtyard, allowing more room on the first floor to add ticketing and a concession area, and more space on the second floor for additional locker room space in both the girls and boys areas.

The additional locker room space will provide more appropriate changing areas for not only home and visiting athletes, but also for student members of the drama department during productions. The plans also include renovation of the restrooms in the new gym lobby.

Another project that has been in the works is also set to begin this spring, and that is the development of the practice field, which is a block from McClain High School.

The plans show that the west end of the property by Eighth Street is where the new bus garage, capable of housing 20 buses and containing three maintenance bays, will be built. The building will also include storage for athletics, band, and district maintenance.

Moving east on the property there will be a full-size football field with a 70-yard football field next to it. Parking will remain along most of the McClain Street side of the property. And two new paved basketball courts will be placed on the northeast corner. There are currently two basketball courts at the southwest corner of the property that see much community use. It is important to the school district to be able to keep that aspect. Shaded elements will also be a part of the development.

There are two other projects that were discussed, but neither have a timeline as yet.

The first is the development of the schools property off of north Fifth Street to include soccer, softball, and baseball fields. The second is the renovation and remodeling of the current bus garage into an athletic facility.

Greenfield Elementary Principal Bob Schumm presented information about leadership teams across the district. Those are a District Leadership Team (DLT); a Building Leadership Team (BLT) in each of the elementaries, the middle school, and the high school; and Teacher-based teams (TBT).

The DLT is composed of administrators, teachers and certified staff who meet monthly to review data, listen to input from building leaders, and make decisions for the district. Information from the DLT goes to the BLTs where it is reviewed with building-specific needs. Then TBTs receive the information, which then goes to all teachers.

Schumm said the district has worked many years to have a clear path in idea-sharing and information from the top of the district to the individual teachers.

Next up, McClain Principal Matt Shelton gave an overview of the districts Visible Learning Plan, which was implemented this year.

The plan is multi-year, and its during this first year that the focus is on learner dispositions and clarity in teaching and learning, which are foundational blocks in building visible learners. The initiative is district-wide and across all grade levels.

Clarity is setting clearly defined steps for learning, and through the process employing the learner dispositions: taking ownership, embracing challenges, persevering, continually growing, and being engaged.

Special programs director Heather Dratwa spoke about the responsibilities of her office. Among those are assisting students with special needs to get the needed support and the resources to achieve and be successful. Additionally, the pre-school program is through this office. The National Network of Partnership School grant, which focuses on parental involvement and fostering home/school relationships, is also administered through this office.

More information on the Special Programs office can be found on the district website at http://www.greenfield.k12.oh.us. Scroll over the Our District tab, and in the drop-down menu choose Special Programs.

Transportation supervisor Bradley George provided an overview of district transportation, which on a daily basis consists of 18 buses and two vehicles covering a total of 2,152 miles and carrying 1,084 students to and from school. He commended the drivers for their excellent job, especially with this years added tasks of temperature checking all students and cleaning and sanitizing the buses after students are unloaded.

If anyone has any questions, the transportation office can be reached (937) 981-2620.

Gray provided a COVID-19 update in the presentation, which included infection rates since August 2020. Those are: 1.2-percent of students have tested positive for the virus, which is 23 students out of 1,950 total students; 8 percent of staff members have tested positive for the virus, which is 20 out of 250 total staff.

She also spoke about recent research on COVID-19 spread in schools and this leading to the state announcing that if students are masked and distanced in a traditional classroom setting or on a school bus, then the students near a student who tested positive do not have to be quarantined. These new guidelines, however, do not apply to things like lunch, recess, and extracurriculars.

As a reminder, there is a COVID-19 tracker available on the districts website. Go to http://www.greenfield.k12.oh.us, then scroll over the Our District in the banner. The tracker is in the drop-down menu.

To watch the State of the District address, find it on the districts Facebook page or on the website.

District information and updates can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and on the district website. Information is also routinely communicated through the districts all-call system, Remind messaging, FinalForms, and the district newsletter, which is distributed following the conclusion of each quarter. Additionally, the superintendent offers Coffee and Crumbs sessions where the public is invited to ask questions. The next one, which will be a Facebook live session, is scheduled for Jan. 22 at noon and can be accessed on the districts Facebook page.

We strive to communicate information and to be as transparent as possible, Gray said, encouraging all those who have questions, to ask.

For district information and updates, go to the district website at greenfield.k12.oh.us, go to the districts Facebook page, or Instagram and Twitter. The individual buildings also have Facebook pages. The districts central office may be reached by calling (937) 981-2152.

I greatly appreciate the daily hard work of our staff members, and it was nice for some of our team to share about the wonderful things going on in the district, Gray said later. We look forward to holding a public event next year during which guests can attend and ask questions.

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GEVS State of the District highlights programs, projects - The Highland County Press