"Futon Chair Temple" by Dennis Maher.

"Ruin 3" by Julian Montague.

Slipping and sliding over to the West Side, I reached an unassuming corner building with an equally unassuming stencil of black paint on clapboard siding naming the gallery. Once in, the sense of ongoing repurpose engages as the interior fairly breathes transitiona metaphor serving the artists in the exhibit. Each has been selected for significant exposure in other markets, according to gallerist Anna Kaplan, at a price point that reflects their rising status. This is the first time Ive ever referenced price point in writing about art, which indicates a certain nudge in the current paradigm regarding how local artists are represented in commercial galleries. With her gallery Kaplan intends to build on the careers of artists such as these based in Buffalo, and foster for them a base of emerging and seasoned collectors.

The immediate surrounds are set off by a structural installation by Dennis Maher, Futon Chair Temple, a studied conglomeration of woodwork reassembled in a grid of overlaid chair legs, frame molding, finished pieces, and raw lumber, all generously absorbed into the equally raw interior space. Inset at various intervals of elevation are shrine-like miniature temple constructions calling to mind a tiny cliffside kingdom. Lengths of pipe mounted on cinderblocks support the assembled arrangement. The opposite end of the room displays Mahers more formal presentation, composite prints in ink stencil in a palimpsest of silhouetted objects framed in stretcher bars.

Julian Montagues standing vitrine of faux book covers, An Imagined Intellectual History of Animals, Architecture and Man 2010-2914, bisects the room neatly. Working from an aesthetic that astutely references authentic scientific literature, the artist showcases his own restrained graphic designs in digital pigment prints of facsimile cover art and text, complete with authored credentials. The facing wall displays a series of formal photographs of ruined spider webs, isolating in distinct detail the disintegrating webs catching pollen, drops of dew, a blade of grass in a scrawl of entropy caught close-up. Each is framed in black in a field of mustard yellow.

Millie Chens digital prints, 4 a.m. notes on horror, death and lovea four-volume travel-log of her trip to the killing fields of Rwanda, Cambodia, Poland, and Wounded Kneeis another kind of scrawl. Chronicling a six-year journey to long aggrieved sites of genocide, her cramped long-hand diary of observations and interviews bears silent witness to landscapes of atrocityhorrors not long seared into history.

Oil on wood panel sets off four paintings by Amanda Besl, expressing in a kind of baroque enthusiasm with flowing tousled and plaited hairand only hair, except for some equally baroque candlesticks and figurines. In La Sylphe her subject hair is highlighted from above the picture plane, as if seen from underwater. The swirling tresses intimate currents of foreboding depths. Another piece, Adrift, also creates a sense of being out of ones depth in a limitless sea. Besl has in both a literal as well as figurative sense shorn the figure from the picture, leaving her previous teen scenes and horses manes behind to delve into the wispy threads of deeper meaning.

For this accomplished quartet, Blow is the wind of possibility. The gallery is creating a zephyr of its own.

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Amanda Besl, Millie Chin, Dennis Maher, and Julian Montague at BT&C Gallery

Dee Jay Bee Inc./D J's Towing has ranked on the Towman 500, "Most Experienced Towmen in America." Compiled by American Towman Magazine, the towing industry's premier trade publication, the Towman 500 is based on the oldest established towing businesses in America. Dee Jay Bee Inc./D J's Towing was established in 1984.

Members of the Towman 500 gathered at the American Towman Exposition in Baltimore, Md. For more information on Dee Jay Bee Inc./D Js Towing, call Donald Blyton at 248-2801.

Lynnrich Seamless Siding, Windows & Doors has been named an Infinity Premier Partner for 2013 by Infinity Replacement Windows from Marvin Windows & Doors. Infinity Replacement Windows monitors customer feedback to identify and recognize partners that share Marvin's goal of complete customer satisfaction. Lynnrich has displayed industry leading expertise in customer education, product installation, customer support and customer satisfaction. Infinity Windows from Marvin Windows & Doors and Lynnrich Seamless Siding, Windows & Doors are both family owned and operated businesses, sharing the same vision of taking care of customers, employees and communities.

Belle en Blanc, a bridal boutique, has opened downtown at 114 N. Broadway. The newly designed space will feature bridal gowns and accessories and accommodate events. Belle en Blancs owner, Taryn Reitz, founded the boutique, which is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Montana State University-Bozeman Extension's Pesticide Education Program is offering a new MontGuide about pesticide performance and water quality. Poor water quality can significantly reduce the efficacy of many pesticide products.

The MontGuide, Pesticides and Water Quality, explains why pesticide applicators should always test their water for turbidity, pH and hardness prior to using a pesticide mixture. The guide discusses areas of the state that encounter common water quality issues and solutions to overcome water quality limiting factors.

The MontGuide is free and is available from local MSU Extension offices. It may also be downloaded from the MSU pesticide education website at pesticides.montana.edu by selecting References. Printed copies are available for the cost of shipping from MSU Extension publications. To order a printed copy, call 994-3273, write to P.O. Box 172040, Bozeman, MT, 59717, or email orderpubs@montana.edu.

RaeRaes Bakery has opened in the Heights at 1310 Main St., Suite E. All of the baked good are gluten-free and 100 percent organic. The business is owned by Krista Stetson and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Stetson may be reached at 406-212-0328.

First Interstate BancSystem, Inc. has been named one of the best banks in America by Forbes Magazine. To determine Americas best banks, Forbes ranked the 100 largest publicly traded banks based on the following metrics: return on average equity, net interest margin, nonperforming loans (NPLs) as a percentage of loans, nonperforming assets as a percentage of assets, reserves as a percentage of NPLs, two capital ratios, and leverage ratio.

Following a successful initial campaign in 2013, Tractor Supply Co.has announced the second annual Growing Scholars program in partnership with the National FFA Foundation. Last year, Tractor Supply customers donated $362,324, resulting in 284 scholarships awarded to FFA members in their pursuit of a college degree. From Feb. 14-23, which includes National FFA Week, Tractor Supply customers can donate $1 or more at store registers during the checkout process to support local FFA chapters and their members. Ninety percent of funds raised through Tractor Supplys Growing Scholars program will be utilized to fund scholarships for FFA members. The remaining 10 percent of donations will benefit state FFA organizations.

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Business digest

WOODBRIDGE, Ontario -- Royal Building Products is proud to introduce its Conceal Trim System - an innovative hidden trim system designed to work with virtually every exterior material.

Royal's Conceal Trim System -- which consists of corner boards, skirt boards and standard trim -- can be used in countless ways to add value, curb appeal and customization to any home.

Made from Royal's successful S4S trim, Conceal has all the aesthetic benefits of milled wood trim and none of the drawbacks. Closed-cell technology keeps board face and edge surfaces clean, ensuring low maintenance for the homeowner, while the "true square" edges allow for faster, cleaner installation. All profiles in the trim system can accommodate traditional siding, Celect Cellular Exteriors and Portsmouth Shake and Shingles. Conceal is paintable, available in smooth and embossed versions, and backed by a never-rot warranty.

Conceal Corner Board provides a clean, seamless appearance to the home's exterior and eliminates exposed fasteners when installed with the Royal Moulding and Trim Cortex Hidden Fastening System. Available in Traditional Square or Rabbeted Corner styles and 10-foot or 20-foot lengths.

Conceal Skirt Board features a built-in drip edge unlike any other competitive trim on the market. This feature is a water management system that prevents rainwater from streaming down a home's siding and reroutes it to drop directly onto the ground. Available in 18-foot lengths.

Conceal Standard Trim is used specifically for windows and doors and allows the siding to tuck behind the trim piece, giving the home's exterior a finished look and eliminating exposed fasteners. Available in 18-foot lengths.

About Royal Building Products Royal Building Products is a division of Axiall Corporation. The company manufactures and distributes leading materials for the home remodeling, building and municipal construction markets. For over 40 years, the company's commitment to quality, innovation and customer relationships has attracted the loyalty of a growing number of building professionals, homeowners, architects, engineers and distributors to its products. With operations throughout North America, Royal Building Products offers the renovation, remodeling and new construction industries a broad range of innovative products including siding, exteriors and shutters, soffit, exterior trim & mouldings, decking, interior mouldings, window profiles & patio doors. Royal Building Products also manufactures pipe and fittings for the plumbing, electrical, municipal, industrial and irrigation markets. For more information, please visit http://www.royalbuildingproducts.com.

Link:
Royal Building Products Launches Conceal(TM) Trim System at the International Builders' Show in Las Vegas

Siding Colorado Springs with Siding Pro - Johnston Project Day Five - James Hardie Siding
Visit http://SidingPro.com to learn more. Colorado Springs Siding Contractor Siding Colorado Springs HardiePlank Siding Siding Installation Fiber Cement Siding.

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Siding Colorado Springs with Siding Pro - Johnston Project Day Five - James Hardie Siding - Video

Colorado Springs Siding Contractor - Siding Pro - Johnston Project Day Eight - Siding Installation
Visit http://SidingPro.com to learn more. Colorado Springs Siding Siding Colorado Springs.

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Colorado Springs Siding Contractor - Siding Pro - Johnston Project Day Eight - Siding Installation - Video

By JANE BIGBEE

Construction work on the new Williamsburg Clinic, being built by Marengo Memorial Hospital, continues despite the cold winter weather.

Siding and roofing are expected to get under way this week. Once an aluminum entry door is received stone work on the exterior can be completed. Dean Schmuecker, director of facilities services for MMH and overseeing the Williamsburg project, said late this last week stone work is now 99 percent complete.

Soffits and framing need to be done before insulating the attic, Schmuecker continued.

With the addition of temporary heat inside rough-ins are being done for plumbing and electrical work along with drywall installation. They also expect to be setting interior door frames.

MMH chief executive officer Barry Goettsch told hospital trustees at their Jan. 22 meeting, when discussing the new clinic, they were still hopeful of a mid-March opening, but late this last week Schmuecker said that may be moved back a little because of the impact the cold winter weather has had on the building work.

Training for staff has been ongoing at the Family Medical Clinic in Marengo, Goettsch told trustees at the January meeting. He also said a doctor for the clinic and his wife were expected to be here to see facilities, meet other providers and attend an annual outing for providers and their spouses. Goettsch said he expects to finalize an agreement with the new provider by mid-February then introduce him to the community.

Following is a list of contractors for the building project:

APC Emmert Manufacturing Inc., steel fabrication

Markham Foam LLC, insulation

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Progress made on Williamsburg Clinic

More Important News Morrison Youth Baseball, Softball Consolidate for 2014 Season

At its January meeting, the Morrison Little League board voted to consolidate the various baseball and softball programs in Morrison with the goals of increasing participation, lowering costs, and facilitating administration. The new umbrella organization is called Morrison Youth Baseball & Softball.

The participating programs include: boys baseball B-league (ages 7-8); boys A-league (ages 9-10); boys Majors (ages 11-12); boys Ponies (ages 13-14); girls softball Minors (ages 7-9); and girls Majors (ages 10- 12). Boys B-league will continue to play other Morrison teams at the sports complex.

The older boys and girls teams will participate in the Prophetstown baseball and softball league. These teams will play home and away games against other local teams from Prophetstown, Fulton, Albany, Erie, and Port Byron. With declining participation and fewer Morrison teams over the years, this will give these teams an opportunity to face different competition over the season.

The group will offer online registration and access to schedules through the Morrison Quickscores page (www.quickscores.com/morrisonsports). In addition, we will continue to offer opt-in text messages for news and scheduling information through our new website http://www.morrisonyouthball.com. Registration and tryout information will be available in March. Opening Day is scheduled for Friday, May 9, 2014 at the sports complex (May 10 rain day).

The board welcomes your comments or questions, so please contact any member if you would like to discuss this exciting new direction.

West Carroll FFA participated in the Poultry CDE. From left to right, front row: Christy Ralston, Cassie Johnson, Chelsea Wurster, Tessa Ehlers, and Anthony Mendoza; and back row: Kristen Houzenga, Rachel Dykstra, Natalie Shaw, Cameron Ehlers, Shawna Lott, Ashley Hunt.

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Morrison Youth Baseball, Softball Consolidate for 2014 Season

Homeowners worried about what happens when the power goes out and the furnace stops, the freezer shuts down and the computer goes dark can have peace of mind with the installation of a whole-house standby generator.

Standby generators are free-standing units, connected to the home's wiring,that sit outside much like an air-conditioning unit. Theykick in automatically when the power fails.

Standby generators areone of the products Koehler Electric Home Services of Davenport will highlightat itsbooth during the 36th annual Quad-Cities Builders & Remodelers Association Home Show from Feb. 7 to 9 at the QCCA Expo Center in Rock Island.

Matt Logue, Koehler service technician, said there has been a big uptick in the sale of these generators, beginning about 2006, as units have become more affordable.

Homeowners who don't want to pay to keep every electrical appliance going can opt for different capacities,thus saving money while retaining vital services, he said.

In addition to keeping heat on in the winter, generators can keep sump pumps running during rainstorms that might otherwise flood one's basement, Logue said.

Another product Koehler will showcase is the new Nest brand of thermostats and smoke/carbon monoxide detectors. These can be synchronized to a smartphone, allowing you to make changes remotely. You also will be notified of any problems.

In addition, the thermostats have the technology to "learn" your habits. For example, if a cleaning person arrives every Tuesday and turns up the heat,over time the thermostat will "learn" that and turn up the heat automatically, Logue explained.

Koehler is located at 2716 W. Central Park Ave.

Here are five other vendors you'll find at the show:

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Vendors offer standby generators, siding, refinishing

Step into the great room of Jim and LanetteCarlson's rural Henry County, Ill., farm home and you immediately see the possibilities.

You grasp how wood and other itemssalvaged from old barns andbuildings can be repurposed into new-use building materials as well as decorative elements.

The floor ismade of oak, cutin random widths. Most of it wassalvaged from a barn that was taken down, then re-milled in the Carlsons' shop.

The ceiling is amix of barn salvage roof sheathing, structural beams and rusted corrugated steel in the dormers. Adding bursts of color are stained-glass windows from a church in Rock Island.

The room is a real-lifeadvertisement for their business, Carlsons' Barnwood Co., founded in 1995 as a supplement to their farming operation.

The Carlsons' business isone of nearly 140home-related companies you can visit next weekend, Feb. 7-9, during the 36th annual Quad-Cities Builders & Remodelers Association Home Show at theQCCA Expo Center in Rock Island. It's one-stop shopping.

You'll find vendors selling plumbing, drapes, landscaping, windows, doors, insulation, siding, hot tubs, fencing and landscaping, as well as remodeling, interior decorating andnew construction services.

Theshow's theme is "keeping it local," and thatfits right in with what the Carlsons do. They salvagematerials from a roughly 100-mile radius and re-mill thelumberin a shop on their property, employingseveral full- and part-time workers.

But from there theCarlsonscast long lines, selling to homes and businesses,particularly restaurants, all over the country, and even overseas. Pictures of high-end homes incorporating their products, particularly in Colorado and California, are posted on their website.

When the Carlsons started, they mainly sold raw barnwood and other artifacts that could be used as "decor." But in 2001, they began manufacturing reclaimed flooring, and that has become their biggest product, Lanette said.

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2nd time around: Barn salvage becomes flooring, decor

Siding Pro Colorado Springs - James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding - Johnston Project Update Day One
Siding Pro, Colorado Springs - Visit our website at: http://SidingPro.com Siding Colorado Springs Colorado Spring Siding Company James Hardie Siding HardiePl...

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