ST. CHARLES The St. Charles Public Library will be closed during its renovation project, beginning Monday and continuing through March 28, according to a news release.

The library, 1 S. Sixth Ave., St. Charles, is scheduled to reopen at 9 a.m. March 29. The closure will include removal of asbestos that the construction crew found in the vinyl composite tile in the Reference/Info Commons area on the librarys ground floor, according to the release.

The tiles are underneath the carpet in the reference area, and neither the public nor the library staff were exposed to the asbestos, Library Director Pam Leffler said.

Its not uncommon ... for this type of material to be found because it was used so prevalently in construction in the past, Leffler said of the asbestos. We just want to make sure were dealing with it in the most responsible manner.

The asbestos was found in an area that was added to the library in 1964. The area was sealed off after the discovery, all renovation work in that section stopped and the tile was tested to be certain asbestos was there, Leffler said.

The actual tiles in question were not disturbed or broken, which is further evidence that this asbestos did not harm anyone, Leffler said.

The librarys computer lab, which is next to the Reference area, still is open and will remain so through Sunday. The standing-only computer terminals right outside the lab will likely be removed by the end of today, Leffler said.

The librarys ongoing renovation project began in February and will include new carpeting in the Carnegie Meeting Room and mezzanine level, additional computer work stations, furniture replacement and retrofitting lights.

Due dates for library materials checked out from now until Monday have an extended loan period and will not be due until the library reopens. Any fines accrued for items due during that week will be waived, the release said.

During the closing, books and media items borrowed from the library may be returned using any of the librarys four outdoor book drop locations.

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St. Charles library to close next week

A Tauranga tile seller has been awarded more than $17,000 for being unfairly dismissed.

Tile Trends, a tiling company based across the North Island, has been ordered to fork out more than $10,000 for humiliation and $7280 for lost wages to former tile-saleswoman Jan Mazzola.

Ms Mazzola was fired from Tile Trends' Tauranga store after the company alleged complaints had been made about her, including that she had been handing a disproportional amount of tiling work to her boyfriend Kevin Langford.

In a decision released on Saturday, the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) ruled Tile Trends had dismissed Ms Mazzola unfairly and conducted a poor investigation into complaints.

"Ms Mazzola was a long standing employee of some nine years and had never received any warnings," the ERA's judgment said.

The ERA noted there had been an incident in 2012 at a work function, resulting in a complaint by the Tauranga branch manager Cherie Sullivan.

"The incident and the complaint soured the relationship between Ms Mazzola and Ms Sullivan," the ERA said.

In July 2013, Tile Trends told Ms Mazzola that complaints had been made by staff and customers, but refused to hand over detailed information about those complaints.

The ERA ruled the company should have provided all available information about complaints when requested.

It said the company had not acted as a fair and responsible employer would, failed to comply with statutory obligations and conducted a poor investigation into Ms Mazzola's behaviour.

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Tile seller gets $17,000

Some students and teachers from Richmonds Fairfield Court Elementary School will be bused to another school for at least two weeks so school officials can make emergency repairs to the East End school.

The buildings roof has long leaked, but a repair scheduled for spring break had to be moved up after a student was hit by a falling ceiling tile during an after-school program this week.

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Fairfield repairs planned after ceiling tile hits student

By Chris Smith Tuesday 11 March 2014 Updated: 12/03 16:00

ENGINEERING firm Sarginsons Industries has been fined 20,000 after an employee was hurt in a 16ft fall while carrying out maintenance work.

Bosses at the company on Torrington Avenue in Tile Hill said they deeply regretted the incident and had taken action to avoid a repeat.

Magistrates heard the 49-year-old worker was helping out during the foundrys shutdown period in August last year with cleaning and maintenance work.

He got up to the gutters by ladder after first climbing onto and across a smaller fragile roof. But he then fell through a roof sheet to the factory floor below, suffering the painful rib injuries.

The court was told no measures were in place to prevent or mitigate a fall, such as netting on the underside of the roof, and that there was no safe access or working arrangements.

Investigators from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) also revealed gutters had been cleaned by the firm in the same manner for many years.

The worker, who was from Coventry, has felt numbness in his left leg since the incident as well as ongoing mental anxiety and is no longer able to drive, struggles with everyday tasks and has been forced to curb his love of Kabaddi, a sport in which teams compete to tag opponents.

HSE inspector Paul Cooper said: "The danger posed by working at height, and in particular falling through fragile roof sheets, is well known.

"The company had a risk assessment that stated control measures would be needed for roof working, including creating a safe working platform with scaffold boards, or netting out beneath the roof sheets, as well as close supervision. However, none of this was acted upon."

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City firm fined 20,000 after worker fell 16ft

The Tamil Nadu Public Works Department cannot even carry out minor maintenance works in the gallery area of the Mullaperiyar dam because of protests from Kerala irrigation officials on Thursday.

Kerala officials ordered the Tamil Nadu officials to stop work immediately and wait for their advice, according to sources in the PWD.

The PWD engineers had finalised a tender to fix tiles on the floor of gallery of the Periyar dam at an estimated cost of Rs. 4 lakh. Construction materials were also transported to the dam site through Vallakadavu in Idukki district. When they began the work on Wednesday, the Kerala police did not allow them to proceed stating that they did not get any information from the Irrigation Department in this connection. The matter was brought to the notice of State-level officers, an official said.

After the State-level talks, a special team led by Mullaperiyar Special Cell Chairman Parameswaran Nair and Tamil Nadu team led by PWD Chief Engineer Thamizharasan inspected the spot on Thursday.

The Tamil Nadu team explained that it was just a maintenance work in the gallery. Prior intimation was given and permission obtained from the Kerala Forest Department to mobilise materials.

The floor of gallery was damaged owing to seepage of water from the dam. The officials at the dam site had to inspect the area periodically to check seepage level through V measurement. But, the Kerala team described it as strengthening work and refused permission.

The Tamil Nadu officials insisted that it was nothing but maintenance work.

This work could be done only during summer as there would be less storage in the dam and the less seepage. But, Kerala officials curtly told the workers to stop tile-laying work. We will discuss the issue with our [Kerala] government and let you know, they said and advised Tamil Nadu workers not to go ahead with the work, the sources said.

The PWD officials here informed that it was the only work in the dam site and they had no other work to do.

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Even minor maintenance works cant be done in Mullaperiyar dam

Graben Toilets, Vienna, Austria

Cheapflights.com begins its list of cool loos in Vienna. It may feel like youre entering a subway station when you head toward these underground toilets along the Graben (one of Viennas most famous streets), but these loos are actually lovely. Vienna didnt always have the best track record when it came to public bathroom options, but a proposal from Wilhelm Beetz helped change that in the late 19th century. In these bathrooms, which are near Kohlmarkt, youll be treated not only to attractive toilets but also to brass fixtures, marble walls and wood paneling, as well as some cool tile work. The mens side features waterless urinals Beetzs brainchild.

This potty takes the word public to a new level. Perched 14,200 feet up on Alaskas Mount McKinley, this john stands on its own surrounded by nothing more than three wooden slabs and plenty of ice and snow. Hiking to this toilet wont be easy, and theres still more than 6,000 feet to go from here to reach McKinleys summit. Once you arrive, youll be in for a bathroom break that will make you say brrrr, after all, this loo is largely open to the elements. But the novelty of the experience, and the view of Mt. Foraker youll be treated to, will do their best to help you forget about the wind and sub-zero temperatures.

Some visitors stop at the Hundertwasser toilets not to pee, but just to take pictures. Located along State Highway 1 in the rural area of Kawakawa on the North Island, these public toilets were designed by late artist-architect Frederick Hundertwasser. Built in the late 1990s, these bathrooms feature bricks from a former Bank of New Zealand building, a living tree, tile mosaics, curvy columns and walls embedded with glass bottles. The facility, which is topped off with a grass roof, is a cant-miss collage of colors and interesting materials. Hundertwasser died a few years after the bathroom was completed, making this his final project and only piece of work in the Southern Hemisphere.

When you gotta go, you gotta go and some European cities are taking this sense of urgency seriously. Places like London and Amsterdam are curbing public urination with a futuristic solution toilets that emerge from the ground during the nighttime hours then retract and disappear during the day. A company called Urilift is producing these cylindrical lavatories that look like something out of The Jetsons. Theyve started with walk-in urinals and have now moved on to pop-up loos with doors for the ladies. Other types of portable urinals have also been popping up across Europe for more than a decade.

From the folks who brought us Toto, one of the worlds high-end toilet brands, come the commodes of the Daimaru Department Store. The public bathrooms here are outfitted with you guessed it Toto toilets. The shopping destination has 13 floors, each of which has its own bathroom designed to match the floors atmosphere. These arent your standard toilets, though. They have everything from heated seats to sound effects (to mask typical bathroom noises), and they feature a self-cleaning mechanism, complete with temperature-controlled water.

Widely known as the largest public restroom in the world, this facility in Chongqing is impressive in numbers alone: four stories of about 1,000 toilets spread across more than 32,000 square feet. Now, thats a big bathroom. But the intrigue doesnt stop there the toilets here range in design from curvy women to open crocodile mouths. The bathroom even features one group of open-air stalls and entertainment options such as calming music and TV shows. This photo of Meixin Foreigns Street is courtesy of TripAdvisor

The toilets themselves may not be the main draw of these 15 elaborate themed bathrooms at the upscale Chung Yo department store in Taiwan. Were talking a Coca-Cola bathroom, a Wizard of Oz bathroom, a secret-garden-themed restroom and a Finding Nemo loo. But the bathroom that really gets people talking is a mens room that is much more than just a place to go. This bar-bathroom combo (yep, you read that right) features refrigerators stocked with Heineken for those whod like to take a leak and a swig of beer at the same time. Cheers!

Who knew you could pee and people watch at the same time? In 2012, Sulphur Springs introduced a pair of glass bathrooms in its downtown square. From the outside, these restrooms appear to be a mirrored cube, but step inside and youll discover these walls are made of a one-way glass that allows those on the inside to look out, giving you the feeling youre popping a squat in front of anyone and everyone who passes by. But dont worry, all those people strolling down the street cant see you pee. The walls work, in part, through an imbalance of light the light outside must be brighter than it is inside, so LED lights have been set up outside to keep the magic alive at night. The toilets came as part of a general revamp of Sulphur Springs downtown area and they were inspired by an installation in Switzerland by artist Monica Bonivicini. Photo by Sulphur Springs Texas

The mens restroom on Rothesay Pier was commissioned by Rothesay Harbour Trust in 1899. Retaining its Victorian-era charm, the bathroom is covered in elaborate ceramic tile work and features white enamel urinals topped with marble 14 of them line the walls and six more act as a centerpiece of sorts circling a stand in the middle of the room. The crest of the Royal Burgh of Rothesay sits at the restroom entrance. Much of the equipment, which originally came from Twyfords Ltd. Glasgow, is still here. The lavatory was restored in the 1990s and, at that time, showers, womens toilets, as well as facilities that cater to children and people with disabilities were added.

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'Transparency Toilet' Window In Japan Is A Terrible Idea And Can Leave You Rather Exposed

Fort Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) March 10, 2014

Marble Of The World, a leading South Florida exotic stone importer and distributor for over 25 years, recently became the first and only U.S. distributor of a new collection of colorful, whimsical ceramic tile designed by iconic international artist Romero Britto. Romero Britto is a Brazilian Neo-pop artist, painter, serigrapher, and sculptor. He combines elements of cubism, pop art and graffiti painting in his work. Britto has lived in Miami, Florida since 1989 and has become a key figure in the Miami art world.

Were very excited to introduce the Britto tile collection in the U.S. at the same time were opening our new Miami showroom because Brittos style is so celebrated in Miami, Marble Of The World CEO Charles Urso said in an announcement. A key part of our brand strategy is to offer exclusive and unique materials, so we are constantly sourcing new and exclusive product lines, Urso added. Marble Of The World is also an authorized distributor for Roberto Cavalli luxury tiles, Radianz by Samsung, and other exclusive products and brands.

The vibrant Britto ceramic tiles are handcrafted near Brazil (birthplace of Romero Britto) by highly-regarded ceramic tile manufacturer Pamesa Ceramica. The product line includes Basic, Kitchen, Pop, Kids, Teen and Pool. Now the distinctive Britto style that the New York Times exclaimed "exudes warmth, optimism and love can be incorporated into any design project indoors or outdoors to achieve a look that is playful, modern and fun. The Pamesa by Britto tile collection is on display at all three Marble Of The World locations. To view the complete Britto collection online, visit: http://www.marbleoftheworld.com/index.php/default/decorative-elements/parmesa-britto.html

About Marble Of The World

Marble Of The World is a leading U.S. importer of rare and exotic natural stone for flooring, countertops and more. The worlds finest travertine, onyx, granite, marble, quartzite, limestone, semi-precious and engineered stone are featured in its three Florida showrooms: Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm City/Stuart. Worldwide shipping and export assistance available. For more information, visit http://www.marbleoftheworld.com or call 800-537-6995.

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Marble Of The World Becomes First U.S. Distributor of Ceramic Tile Designed by Renowned International Artist Romero ...

If you went swimming early last month at Belmont Parks historic pool, the Plunge, you likely noticed that the Wyland sea-life mural on the south wall was split from pool deck to high ceiling, exposing vertical steel beams. And if you stop by today, youll find the Plunge closed for repairs, with signs of construction throughout the Belmont Park complex.

Planned work on the Plunge pool at the Wavehouse Athletic Club was expected to take up to two weeks for replacement of the nearly 30-year-old filtration system with a modern one that uses fewer chemicals. But draining the pool revealed bigger problems: in places, water had seeped underneath the tile, some of which is dated from the 1920s, and patchwork repairs were failing.

We were stepping in sections of the pool and could sink, said Belmont Parks director of operations, Justin Lopez. The Plunge will be closed until late April, while the pool is repaired and the uncommon small tiles are replaced. The San Diego History Center is ensuring that the new tile maintains the original look of the pool, which debuted in 1925 as the largest saltwater pool in the world.

When the now-freshwater pool reopens, it wont be without its famous artwork. Accessing the old Plunge buildings interior steel structure for repair and reinforcement necessitated removal of sections of drywall, including some on which Wyland painted one his famous Whaling Wall murals in 1989.

Orcas off Point Loma will not be lost, however. Before repair work began, Wyland and his team took hundreds of digital photos of the mural. Steve Creech, executive director of the Wyland Foundation, said, We have been working very closely with the developer to find a solution that not only retains the integrity of the former mural, but does something that we hope will be amazing for everyone.

That solution involves using the photos to replicate the mural on glass panels, which will allow swimmers to enjoy the orcas as before, but will also be transparent from the opposite side of the interior wall, so that gym users can see into the pool area. The effect will be like a bus wrap, explained Lopez. The mural will also be illuminated and visible at night from outside the building.

It isn't only the Plunge thats getting upgraded; hardhats and barriers are everywhere, as much of Belmont Park is being reworked. There are plans for a large rooftop deck, restaurants, new bathrooms, and more even a zipline. The owners expect that by the start of summer, Mission Beachs oceanfront park will be back and better than before.

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Tile repairs, new filtration system, Wyland mural to become glasswork

It's time to give Windows 8's modern-style apps some respect. Admittedly, some Windows Store apps are inferior to their desktop cousins. But many others take advantage of the full-screen modern (also known as "Metro") interface to provide a different and better experience. With an open mind anda little TLC, your Start screen can be a great resource. Here are four ways you can get the most out of modern apps.

These five apps are free and provide a compelling reason to visit the Start screen.

FlipboardThis beautifully designed personal magazine app has been a staple of tablets for years and has recently arrived at the Windows Store.

FacebookAnother new arrival, needing no further introduction.

WikipediaThough it closely resembles the traditional browser view, this Windows 8 app has a level of design and polish that makes wasting time on Wikipedia more fun than ever before.

The Windows Store Wikipedia app is a lot more polished than the browser view.

NetflixTheres no shortage of ways to stream content from Netflix these days, but the app for Windows 8 is the easiest, most attractive way to do so from your PC.

ToolboxThe quirky Toolbox is designed to give you quick, multitasking access to a number of useful tools, such as a calculator, a clock, and a weather report.

A clear advantage Modern apps have over regular applications is their live tile functionality, which displays information directly on the Start screen without having to open the app. These five apps make the most of the new visual scheme.

ClockWindows 8s clock-deprived Start screen is puzzling, but tons of developers have stepped forward to fill this basic need. Among the dozens of free options, we like Alarm Clock HD, which looks nice and provides a number of additional small features.

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Mastering Metro apps: 4 ways they can work for you

PC World It's time to give Windows 8's modern-style apps some respect. Admittedly, some Windows Store apps are inferior to their desktop cousins. But many others take advantage of the full-screen modern (also known as "Metro") interface to provide a different and better experience. With an open mind and a little TLC, your Start screen can be a great resource. Here are four ways you can get the most out of modern apps.

1. Get the best modern apps

These five apps are free and provide a compelling reason to visit the Start screen.

Flipboard--This beautifully designed "personal magazine" app has been a staple of tablets for years and has recently arrived at the Windows Store.

Facebook--Another new arrival, needing no further introduction.

Wikipedia--Though it closely resembles the traditional browser view, this Windows 8 app has a level of design and polish that makes wasting time on Wikipedia more fun than ever before.

Netflix--There's no shortage of ways to stream content from Netflix these days, but the app for Windows 8 is the easiest, most attractive way to do so from your PC.

Toolbox--The quirky Toolbox is designed to give you quick, multitasking access to a number of useful tools, such as a calculator, a clock, and a weather report.

2. Build a dashboard of at-a-glance Metro Tiles

A clear advantage Modern apps have over regular applications is their "live tile" functionality, which displays information directly on the Start screen without having to open the app. These five apps make the most of the new visual scheme.

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Mastering Modern Apps: 4 Ways They Can Work for You