Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The inside of the former Beechwood Market has essentially been stripped to make way for new fixtures, such as the installed refrigerator and freezer units shown in the rear.

Work continues on turning the former Beechwood Market into a natural foods store in Huntington Center.

As of last week, the inside of the 6,500-square-foot retail space had been essentially gutted. New refrigerator and freezer units have been placed across the back of the store and a walk-in cooler added on the side.

Josh Elliott

The old floor has been removed and a new tile floor will soon be put in. There also will be new lighting, shelving and check-out counters, and the entire inside will be painted.

The new store, to be named the Common Bond Market, will sell fresh produce, packaged foods, prepared foods to go, and nutritional supplements. It will have a deli, bulk-bin areas, kitchen and offices.

The landlord is building a new entrance foyer and brick facade in the front, and has added dormers to the roof.

In late August last year, Beechwood Market closed unexpectedly after more than a half century in Shelton.

Joshua Elliott, who will oversee the store, said he hopes the Common Bond Market can open its doors in late March or April. We want to open as soon as possible in the spring, he said.

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Progress continues on new food store in Huntington Center

SALEM - City firefighters spent a lot of their time Wednesday on water problems, including one which shut down the Peebles clothing store for several hours due to a break in the sprinkler system

Store manager Alex Lester said the business located at 2350 E. State St. in the Salem Plaza opened at 4 p.m., with the water causing no damage to merchandise. The business is normally open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

"We just had a little bit of a mess to clean up - just a little bit of water damage and some tiles," she said.

Firefighters were called to the scene at 9:05 a.m. for a sprinkler activation after a police officer had responded for an alarm going off and saw a large amount of water running out from under the glass doors at the front of the store.

The sprinkler system had a break and water was flowing in the front of the store near the entrance. Firefighters shut down the sprinkler system and isolated the flow of water. Tarps were used to cover the merchandise and additional tarps were used to evacuate the water from the building.

The report said the electrical supply had to be shut down, with water flowing through multiple overhead lights. The water had to be evacuated from the light fixtures. Store personnel were told to have the sprinkler system serviced before activating it again.

From there, firefighters responded to Prima Health Care at 564 Second St. at 9:28 a.m. after employees reported a water line break. They had already shut down the water to the building.

Water was coming from the ceiling area in the west hallway and also into the light fixtures in the hallway by the breaker box. The area was checked with the thermal imaging camera and everything appeared okay. Waste baskets were used to collect the water.

The previous shift of firefighters had their share of water breaks, too. They received a call at 3:24 a.m. Wednesday to help a resident turn off the water due to a water line break at the home in the 400 block of East Seventh Street. The resident was able to turn it off before they arrived. They were also called at 11:50 p.m. Tuesday to a residence in the 2500 block of East State Street for a frozen water pipe leaking, helping the resident to turn the water off.

At 5:40 p.m. Tuesday, firefighters were called to Ventra at 800 Pennsylvania Avenue for a sprinkler malfunction in the chemical storage room due to a water line break. The water was shut down for that part of the building. Maintenance was working on removing the water.

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Burst pipes keep Salem firefighters busy

Allotments representative Annette Foan.

Sarah Robinson, Reporter Thursday, January 9, 2014 1:30 PM

AROUND 40 sheds were ripped open in a second break-in at a community allotment, forcing angry gardeners to consider forking out on CCTV cameras.

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The Bournville allotment, which is located behind Lonsdale Avenue and Windwhistle Circle and just yards from Weston St John Football Club, was broken into on New Years Day.

One man, who has maintained an allotment there since the site opened in July 2010, has decided to give up his plot after having a chainsaw and generator stolen.

Site manager Cheryl Puttman said: There were quite a few sheds which were ripped open with what I can only assume were hammers.

They took a radio and a couple of chainsaws. It looks like they were just scouting around looking for anything worth selling.

It is a good community down here and we help each other out and Im worried some people might leave.

The site started as an overgrown field and everyones worked really hard here and this has disheartened them.

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Allotment heartbreak as thieves rip open sheds

Jan 9, 2014 11:12am

(Photo Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images | @chumlee_/Instagram)

Pawn Stars fan-favorite Austin Chumlee Russell is all about making money for the store, but also all about losing weight lots of weight.

The 31-year-old has lost 75 pounds, according the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Im going to the gym six days a week, he told the Review-Journal. Im eating right. Well-balanced diet. I drink a juice smoothie every morning.

Read: Marriages Revealed for Pawn Stars, Modern Family

Russell added that losing his father was also an inspiration to shed the weight.

My dad died from pancreatic cancer at 54 Im making sure Im eating my vegetables and staying away from the red meat, he said.

To show off his new, slimmer look, Chumlee and his girlfriendTany Hyjazi, whos a chef at a major casino in Vegas, posted Instagram pics of the two of them on the beach in Hawaii for New Years.

See: Other Celebrities Who Dropped Weight

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'Pawn Stars' Funnyman Chumlee Sheds 75 Pounds

By Juan Manuel Rotulo

01/09/2014 at 02:30 PM EST

Chiquis and Alejandro Chabn

Courtesy People en Espanol

Chiquis worked with celebrity nutrition and wellness consultant Alejandro Chabn to achieve her goal of losing 30 pounds in eight weeks.

"People would say I was gordita," or chubby, says Chiquis, 28. "Yes, I had a little chubby girl in my heart, and she's still with me, but like I always say: 'It's time for you [the gordita] to take a break.' "

The young actress says she achieved her goal by avoiding two foods she loves: white rice and chocolate.

"Her effort has been admirable," says Chabn about Chiquis. "It's been a pleasure being a part of her life because she inspires a lot of people."

Chiquis says she now feels truly sexy, and that this new body has presented her with a new challenge: to continue to lead a healthy lifestyle.

"The curves are there, and I want them there," she says, as she puts her focus on launching her career as a regional Mexican music singer, following in the footsteps of her Latin Grammy-winning mother, who died in a plane crash in Mexico just over a year ago.

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Jenni Rivera's Daughter Chiquis Sheds 30 Lbs. in Eight Weeks

Trading floor, Nigerian Stock Exchange

Equity trading on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange closed negative on Thursday with the market capitalisation of the listed equities declining by N150bn or 1.12 per cent to close at N13.237tn.

Similarly, the NSE All-Share Index fell, shedding 1.12 per cent or 467.84 basis points to close at 41,363.05 basis points, compared to an appreciation of 0.06 per cent or 24.16 basis points, which helped it to close at 41,839.89 basis points the previous day.

In the same vein, the NSE 30 Index was down by 0.77 per cent or 14.73 basis points to close at 1,896.30 basis points.

The NSE Insurance Index and NSE Consumer Goods Index fell by 0.42 per cent and 0.47 per cent to close at 153.23 basis points and 1,086.56 points, respectively, while the NSE Lotus Islamic Index declined by 1.53 per cent to close at 2,870.61 basis points.

The NSE Industrial Index recorded the worst sectoral performance for the day, falling by 2.74 per cent or 72.86 basis points to close at 2,589.70 points.

However, the NSE Banking Index and NSE Oil and Gas Index rose by 0.80 per cent and 4.70 per cent to close at 436.20 basis points and 323.86 basis points, respectively.

The banking index was the top sectoral performer for Thursday with the NSE ASeM Index closing flat at 963.02 basis points.

After investors traded 322.280 million shares worth N3.249bn in 5,509 deals, a total of 32 stocks recorded price appreciation, while 24 other stocks recorded price depreciation.

Oando Plc led the price gainers chart, rising by 10.19 per cent or N2.21 to close at N23.89 per share. Mobil Plc followed on the chart with a gain of 4.99 per cent or N5.58 to close at N117.30 per share, while UBA Capital Plc rose by 4.98 per cent or 10 kobo to close at N2.11 per share.

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Market capitalisation sheds N150bn as 24 stocks fall

Whitney Jennings

Whitney Jennings writes for various online publications, focusing on topics in business, technology and fitness. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in management from North Georgia College and State University.

A backed up or blocked septic line or drain is not a pleasant thing to have happen in the home. There are some things you can try if a backed up or clogged septic line or drain occurs in your home. However, you must be very careful and call a plumber if you do not feel comfortable taking care of it yourself.

A clog can lead to mechanical problems and possibly replacement of the entire septic system. Clearing a clogged line is relatively easy...

Foul odors are also an indication of a clogged septic line. If your system is working properly there should be no odors...

A clogged sewer line can present a problem to homeowners. The unpleasant smell associated with a blockage can be almost unbearable. Obstructions...

Clogged pipes and/or blocked sewer lines can pose a serious problem. After all, if the plumbing isn't working correctly, the entire house...

Septic systems hold household waste and can become easily clogged if you flush the wrong thing down the toilet or drains. Once...

If you detect septic system odors, either outdoors or inside your home, there could be a variety of reasons for this. For...

Sewer drains don't often clog, but when they do, they can become quite dangerous. Clogs can cause water to rise up into...

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The Best Ways to Clean Out Blocked Septic Lines | eHow

ANTIOCH -- The work is over; now it's time to play and learn.

After almost two years of renovation, Special Haven is reopening a bigger and better version of its multisensory room for children with special needs.

The nonprofit will celebrate the project's completion from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, with a ribbon cutting, Lego playtime with Bricks 4 Kidz, and performances by Elite Dance Studio and magician John Gardenier.

The room is located inside the Intuitive Healing Center, 213 G St.

Assemblyman Jim Frazier, D-Oakley, will be attending Sunday's event.

"Special Haven is filling an ever-growing need for the special needs community in Antioch and the surrounding areas," Frazier said in a news release.

The multisensory room, the first of its kind in East Contra Costa County, now has a lot of activities and specialized equipment aimed at stimulating the senses of those with autism, brain injuries, behavioral issues and developmental delays. It helps encourage learning, improve a child's focus and builds self-esteem, said Christine Schwab, a Special Haven board member.

"It provides access for a very fun and soothing, therapeutic experience," Schwab said.

The $36,000 addition, which was made possible by a grant and training assistance from the Christopher Douglas Hidden Angel Foundation, includes bubble tubing from the floor to the ceiling, a ball pit that includes lighting, a tactile corner, color-changing fiber optics, a stereo system for music and vibrations and a waterbed with speakers underneath.

The Antioch room is unique because it is open to the public, as similar rooms are usually attached to a school or hospital, Schwab said. The cost is $5 for a one-hour session.

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Celebration to be held for reopening of Antioch multisensory room

Homeowner Lynn Foster doesnt search for words when describing the renovation-and-restoration project that on Wednesday won her a Polly Earl Award from the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach.

Its about a love affair rather than just a home. I fell in love with this house, Foster said about the top-to-bottom project at her landmarked Mediterranean-style house at 424 Brazilian Ave.

The lake-block house was designed in 1930 by noted society architect Maurice Fatio and christened Tradewinds, the name it bears today.

Foster accepted the award during a private ceremony that was held in conjunction with a meeting of the foundations trustees at the nonprofits headquarters.

The Polly Earl Award, established in 2005, honors small-scale, historically sensitive renovation projects. It complements the foundations Robert I. Ballinger Award, a similar award that honors projects carried out at large estates.

With a home in New York City, Foster, a retired investments executive, bought the house to use as her primary residence in 2011. She then worked closely with her two grown sons to hone ideas for the renovation. One son, John Claflin of Los Angles, is a screenwriter with professional experience designing homes. The other, Richard Claflin of New York, also is a screenwriter.

They turned to architect Patrick W. Segraves of SKA Architect + Planner, who had worked at the property 25 years ago.

We wanted to make the house 21st-century livable while keeping its integrity and charm, said Segraves, who pointed out original features such as the saltbox-style, the pecky-cypress ceiling in the two-story-tall living room and the Cuban-tile floors.

His plan included a 348-square-foot addition at the rear of the main residence that provided enough space on the ground floor for an en-suite third bedroom, which Foster uses as a sitting room, and a larger master bedroom above. Both rooms have views of the pool.

Completed in 2012, the yearlong renovation increased the size of the house to nearly 4,000 square feet of living space, inside and out. Overseen by contractor Benno Chip Janssen III and project superintendent Dave Elhage of Janssen Construction, the renovation replaced every window and door with mahogany-framed, impact-resistant versions.

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Polly Earl Award honors owner for renovation of 1930 Fatio house

Sitting on a bench beneath an enormous 70-year-old magnolia tree in Norfolk, Va., I gazed across the waters of the Lafayette River. The huge cranes and derricks of busy Portsmouth and Norfolk harbors dominated the far shore. When the tree whose shade I was enjoying was planted, though, the view would have been far different, more bucolic, with tree-lined banks, extensive wetlands and sandy strands.

Behind me, the rambling Hermitage Museum has undergone an equally impressive transformation.

Details: Norfolk

Originally a five-room summer residence built for William and Florence Sloane in 1908, the house over the years was added to, remodeled and literally turned 90 degrees to accommodate the growing art collection of Florence Sloane, a transplanted New Yorker who came to Norfolk with her husband, who owned several nearby knitting mills. The house eventually became the family home, where the Sloanes raised their two sons. Today, the mansion contains one of the finest Asian art collections in the Southeast, as well as American impressionist paintings and a sculpture collection.

Its a hidden gem, said curator Colin Brady, who greeted my wife, Carol, and me at the front door on our recent visit.

Wed just driven up the entrance road that winds through the estates 12 acres of gardens, walks, woods and fields in a residential area of Norfolk. The drive gave us a sense of the place. The house is a 42-room Arts and Crafts structure built in the Tudor style, with Gothic- and Tudor-inspired rooms. In addition to the museum and gardens, the estate includes a Visual Arts Studio, where art courses and workshops are available to the public, and a Studio Artist Cottage, offering studio space to guest artists.

Florence Sloanes collection, which spans 5,000 years of art, started in 1901 with her sisters gift of a Japanese bowl. For the next 50 years, Florence would dedicate her life to the thoughtful acquisition of art, showcasing it in her ever-expanding and evolving home. And that collection remains here today, complete under one roof.

Brady took us first to the drawing room, done in Gothic revival style, with a hand-carved rood screen and a pipe organ, a Steinway piano and the family silver. Built in Philadelphia in 1922 and transported to Norfolk by rail, the room felt like something out of Elizabethan times with its oak paneling, half-beam ceiling, plaster walls and walnut floor. Mrs. Sloane wanted her house to be 500 years older than it actually was, Brady said. And thats certainly the feeling it conveys.

Evidence of Florence Sloane is everywhere. A handle placed unusually low on the drawing room door tells a story of its own. Standing only 4 feet 10 inches, Florence required latches that corresponded to her height. In the large painting of her with her Russian wolfhound, Zonoza, that hangs in the central gallery downstairs, the artist rendered the dog shorter than it really was so as not to accentuate Mrs. Sloanes diminutive stature.

The dining room is a hand-carved wood masterpiece. Artisan Charles Woodsend took three years to construct this room, which felt to me like the interior of a wooden sailing ship. The walls and ceiling are hand-cut wood. The large wooden table and other furniture are also hand-carved. A blue Persian carpet designed by Sloane graces the floor.

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Norfolk’s Hermitage Museum, home to an impressive art collection