JOHNSTOWN - With warmer weather on the horizon, the city fire chief reminded the public about what is needed when making home repairs.

Chief Bruce Heberer recently told the Common Council he wanted to remind city residents about property work that requires permits, but mostly will not result in a rise in residents' assessments.

Heberer said his code enforcement division and the city Assessor's Office is letting the public know that city permits may be needed for the following work and projects: repairs to foundations, garages, barns, sheds, basements or entryways, carports, patios, breezeways, siding, sheds under 144 square feet, painting, trees and shrubs, window and door replacement, sidewalks, paving driveways, roofs, chimneys, porches and step repair, repairs to outside, interior renovations, insulation, remodeling, boilers or furnaces, hot water heaters, plumbing and electrical.

"None of that work will result in the increase in your assessment," Heberer stated.

Only an increase in square footage could result in assessment increases, he said.

Heberer urged those with further questions to contact the code enforcement office at the city fire station, or the assessor's office at City Hall.

In regular business, the council reappointed Christine Krempa of 804 S. William St. and Helen James of 404 S. Market St. to three-year terms on the city Zoning Board of Appeals. Their appointments will expire on March 31, 2017.

The council also reappointed Peter K. Smith of 206 W. Third Ave. and George Nicholas of 314 N. Perry St. to three-year terms on the city Planning Board. These terms will expire on March 31, 2017.

Mayor Michael Julius also announced upcoming events that included: Citywide Garage Sale, May 2 through 4; City Cleanup, May 8 through 10; and the farmers market starting May 20. The market will go from 3 to 6 p.m. every Tuesday downtown.

Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at manich@leaderherald.com.

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Fire chief issues permit reminder

Published: Sunday, March 23, 2014 at 9:43 p.m. Last Modified: Sunday, March 23, 2014 at 9:47 p.m.

Then there are those homes that havent been fixed at all since the storm blitzed through the neighborhood 100 days ago.

The debris clean-up was fast, there were no casualties and most of the damage was moderate to minor, but a lot of scars remain. Making home repairs after a tornado is a lengthy process.

The so-called Starlight Tornado touched down in Palm Coast the night of Dec. 14 and damaged homes across three major subdivisions. In all, 241 homes sustained damage, including seven that were destroyed, according to statistics from the city and Flagler County.

Total cost of the damage was estimated at $7.2 million.

Additionally, the city has issued a total of 205 permits for damage repair, said Palm Coast spokeswoman Cindi Lane.

Suzanne Bispos home along Barring Place was significantly damaged, but she and her husband didnt waste any time on their to-do list.

When they walk into their backyard, they dont see the same urgency from their neighbors. Then again, one of the nearby homes is in foreclosure and another is a rental property that was vacant the night of the storm. Someone was scheduled to move in a week later, Bispo said.

The structural damage to the rental house means it is no longer a desirable place to live at least not until some repair work is done.

Bispo said she has called the citys code enforcement office. Shes also called the property owner in California and the property manager in Florida. Shes still waiting for someone to show up with a tool belt.

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Palm Coast still feels jolt of tornado

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Bob & Mariannes Home Improvement Hit List

The Michigan Department of Community Health recently announced $850,000 in funding for lead-based paint hazard control, through the Michigan Lead Safe Home Program, available to families to assist in testing and remediating lead risks within homes. Since its inception in 1997, the Michigan Lead Safe Home Program has made more than 1,900 homes lead safe and has prevented thousands of children from being lead poisoned.

Childhood lead poisoning is the most common yet preventable pediatric health problem in the United States, and these funds will go a long way toward ensuring that more Michigan children have safe, lead-free homes, said James K. Haveman, director of the MDCH.

The presence of lead in decaying paint and dust is the number one source of lead poisoning in children. In total, 90 percent of all elevated blood lead levels result from lead paint dust and surrounding soil in homes built prior to 1978. Elevated blood lead levels cause irreversible brain damage in children including reduced cognitive ability, neurological damage, endocrine system disruption, growth rate reduction, aggressive behavior and hearing impairment.

An estimated 6,786 children under age 6 across Michigan currently have lead levels above the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention action level.

The MDCH Lead Safe Home Program provides lead testing of homes and lead hazard control services through the use of a lead-certified contractor. Common work on homes includes window and door replacement, vinyl siding, painting, soil work and special cleaning. A family or property owner may be eligible for assistance if they meet the following criteria: a child under 6 years old or pregnant female resides in the home; the occupying family is low or moderate income; the home was built before 1978; and the home is located in the county of Bay, Calhoun, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Macomb, Oakland or the city of Detroit, or elsewhere if the child has an elevated blood lead level (five or above). Other certain criteria may apply, as well.

For homeowners or landlords interested in learning more about making their homes lead safe, or for more information about the Michigan Lead Safe Home Program, call (866) 691-5323 or visit http://www.michigan.gov/leadsafe for an application.

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MDCH has $850,000 to remove lead paint hazards

Updated: Tuesday, March 11 2014, 10:36 PM CDT Reported by James Tully:

HARRISBURG -- Freezing, thawing, and freezing again.

Ice is doing damage to the exterior of your home and there is another temperature swing on the way.

Focusing on what ice has likely already done; such as cracking apart your sidewalk, driveway, and even your homes foundation, there are cost-effective solutions.

"Really all around your window sills, along your house where your basement is, anywhere water is going to get in you want to seal it off because that is where the damage is going to happen," says Jason Hornung of Hornung's Hardware.

The best material to seal those cracks is a six dollar container of silicone. It applies the same way as caulk. Before you seal anything Hornung stresses that you must get that pre-existing water out of the area.

A good absorber like sand, cat litter or oil-dry will be the most effective.

We also met with Luke Stump from Premier Siding and Roofing. Business has been really good this month for them, with good reason. "That water refreezes and pushes the siding right off the house," Stump explains.

If you notice any of your siding looking out of place the easiest solution is to just hammer a nail into it. However, if you are concerned about the appearance it might be time for a full replacement.

Premier says the average siding replacement costs are between $5,000 and $7,000. Another sharp change in the weather could cause more problems for your home

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Another sharp change in the weather could cause more problems for your home

Published: Monday, March 10, 2014 at 6:03 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, March 10, 2014 at 6:03 p.m.

The executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Spartanburg will retire May 1 after building a lasting legacy with the organization.

Tom Webster has served as the executive director of Habitat of Spartanburg since 2008. He had spent the previous year volunteering in the organizations office.

I was just volunteering in the office, I didnt know too much about construction, he said. It was just a good time, good place and good opportunity.

During his time at Habitat of Spartanburg, Webster led the building of more than 30 homes for low-income families in five neighborhoods across Spartanburg County. He also worked to change the appearance of Habitat homes and made sure they lived up to energy efficiency standards.

I wanted Habitat homes to complement the neighborhoods they were in, he said, adding that concrete driveways have been used instead of asphalt and that different types of siding have been used to make sure newly-built homes fit into the neighborhoods.

The homeowners were proud, and the Habitat board was certainly proud, he said.

Webster also developed financial counseling and social service programs run through Habitat of Spartanburg. The social services program held events like health screening and job fairs across the county.

It was about more than building a house, he said. We wanted to make a positive contribution to people in the community.

Webster said he looks forward to spending time with his wife, Patricia, who recently retired from First Presbyterian Church of Spartanburg, and his grandchildren.

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Spartanburg Habitat for Humanity director retiring

BNSF will be making record infrastructural investments in North Dakota, including in the Minot area, to improve rail transportation in the state.

In a letter to Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, dated Tuesday, Carl Ice, BNSF president and chief executive officer, said, "We at BNSF are disappointed that we have not met our customers' expectations in North Dakota and across the network. We know that many customers have been significantly impacted. We are working closely with them to ensure that they have a transparent view into when their service will be improved and predictability will be provided to the service that they receive."

He said BNSF undertook a record capital program last year in its northern corridor including both capacity expansion and the maintenance required to ensure the safety and quality of the physical plant. He said those investments can slow down traffic. He also said the new capacity struggled to keep pace with the sizeable volume growth, including crude oil and grain movements, that BNSF experienced in the fourth quarter of 2013. There also was the extreme weather this winter that caused setbacks.

Eloise Ogden/MDN A BNSF train is shown in Minot. BNSF Railway will be making record infrastructural investments in the Minot area and other areas in North Dakota this year, says its president and chief executive officer.

"In 2014 we plan to make our largest, single-year capital investment in our company's history. Our investments of capital in expansion and maintenance in North Dakota will be a critical part of efficiently, and safely, facilitating the growth from the state, in particular, crude and agriculture, and growth elsewhere on the network," Ice said.

Ice said BNSF's maintenance investment grows as volumes grow. "In North Dakota this year, BNSF is spending $125 million to keep the existing tracks and facilities strong. Last year set a record for replacement and maintenance spending in the state $112 million."

He said replacement capital expenditures in North Dakota and elsewhere have also been growing since 2009. "Our planned expansion and efficiency capital will be more than $900 million in 2014, of which $265 million will be spent in North Dakota. This spending is part of a three-year capital expansion plan for North Dakota. We plan to spend $396 million over three years on the Glasgow subdivision alone that will result in over 100 miles of double track and the construction of three critical sidings. This investment will be important to successfully facilitating the growing volumes of freight trains of all kinds, as well as the Empire Builder," Ice explained.

"With the great increase in rail transportation in North Dakota, BNSF needs to make significant investments so the line can meet the many needs of our state," said Heitkamp, in a news release issued Friday. "Whether it is for rail safety, improved agriculture shipments, or Amtrak delays, our businesses need to know their products will be transported efficiently by rail and North Dakotans must be able to have reliable passenger rail."

To address issues specifically in North Dakota, BNSF notified Heitkamp that it will:

- Spend $162 million to double track the rail line from Minot to Glasgow, Mont., to help address major congestion issues for westbound traffic to destinations in the Pacific Northwest.

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Investing in N.D.

WINDHAM The high school experience came somewhat early for four classrooms of third-graders, who arrived in their new digs at Windham High School early Monday morning.

The past month has been a challenging one for the local school district, which is coping with a number of displaced Golden Brook Elementary School students after water and mold damage forced administrators to shutter a portable classroom building housing eight classrooms.

Weve made the best out of a very difficult situation, superintendent Winfried Feneberg said Tuesday afternoon. The first day went absolutely wonderfully.

The third-grade classes will be spending the rest of the school year at the high school, while four first-grade classes will be moved to other areas of Golden Brook School, including the art and music rooms and the computer lab.

Though the schools were closed for February vacation last week, dozens of staff members and volunteers were hard at work, moving desks and blackboards into the a section of the districts preschool, which is housed in an area of the high school thats separate from the general population.

Feneberg said the third-graders were greeted by waving high school students and their teachers as they exited the bus for the first time.

Once the kids arrived inside, another special surprise was in store: their very own lockers with official Windham High School Class of 2023 T-shirts tucked inside.

Almost everyone wanted to wear those shirts right away, the superintendent said. The staff thought of absolutely everything to make this a safe and welcoming environment.

An open house was held at the high school Sunday evening, and school officials said the majority of parents and children opted to attend.

The School Board is deciding on the future of Golden Brooks portable classrooms, with discussions to continue this week.

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Displaced third-graders warmly welcomed by Windham high-schoolers

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Tlock Roofing Shingles Discontinued Denver 80210 - Call Us Now For a Free Quote! 720 346 7773 - Video

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Governor Tom Corbett announced today that 33 rail freight improvement projects that will help sustain more than 43,000 jobs across Pennsylvania were approved today for funding from three PennDOT-managed programs.

"Pennsylvania has more operating railroads than any other state, and investing in our rail freight network keeps these invaluable assets in prime position to generate economic growth and jobs,'' Corbett said. "Improving rail networks not only spurs our economy, it also increases safety by helping to ease traffic on our highways."

The State Transportation Commission (STC) voted to approve $33.4 million for 15 projects through the Rail Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) and 14 projects through the Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP). RTAP is a capital budget grant program funded with bonds and RFAP is underwritten through the new Multi-Modal Fund, created by Act 89. In November, Corbett signed Act 89, a far-reaching transportation program that clears the way for significant investments in all transportation modes.

Also, the STC approved $1.3 million for four projects from Marcellus Shale impact fees designated for distribution through PennDOT's Bureau of Rail Freight, Ports and Waterways.

For more information, visit http://www.dot.state.pa.us.

Media contact: Rich Kirkpatrick or Erin Waters-Trasatt, PennDOT 717-783-8800 Steve Chizmar, Governor's Office 717-783-1116

Editor's Note: Following is a by-county list of approved rail freight projects under the three programs with the state share:

RTAP Projects:

Allegheny County

Berks County

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Thirty-three Rail Freight Projects Approved For State Funding Through Three Programs; Action Sustains Roughly 43,000 ...