Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

SKANEATELES, N.Y. A sign sits beneath Tom Scrivens television in the living room of his Skaneateles home.

Do not be afraid of change, it reads. Be afraid of not changing.

That statement perfectly encapsulates both Scriven and his historic home.

It was Christmas Eve 2014 and Scriven, a native of the village, his wife, Lindsay, and their two children were all set to move to Florida.

Their realtor was with them to sign the papers when suddenly the sale fell through.

We went into panic mode, he said. We had two little children and we needed to buy a house. My wife, We have to do something!

So, I bought a schoolhouse!

The red brick, one-room Willow Glen schoolhouse at 936 Old Seneca Turnpike, just north of the village, was on the market.

It was built in 1872 and educated students from the first to the sixth grade. A previous owner had bought it and had started renovating it but left it largely unfinished.

Scriven called the previous attempt a hodge-podge.

We knew we were in for a project, he said of the almost six-year undertaking to turn the school into a modern open-concept, four-bedroom, two-bathroom house.

Scriven would be up to the task. His family had called Skaneateles home for generations and now he was doing something to preserve a piece of its history.

He said he came from a jack of all trades family and was a pain in the butt kid, who watched his father carefully while he did home improvement projects.

(Scriven also said he had a lot of assistance and during this interview thanked family, friends, and the community who have helped us through the process.)

The school was updated from top to bottom, with fresh paint, new flooring, and new fixtures throughout.

The kitchen features new floors, counters, backsplash, and Samsung Smart appliances. There is also a new pantry and laundry room.

The spacious master bedroom is large enough for a California king-sized bed and two walk-in closets.

Scriven had a great deal sensitivity for this historic property.

We tried to preserve and renew as much as possible, he said.

The coat rack at the front door was made from an old wooden shipping box and the top of the island in the kitchen was made from a canning table found in the basement.

(He has the large original shudders and hinges and thinks they could make one-of-a-kind closet doors.)

An old wooden ladder which was used by children more than 100 years ago to climb to the cupola to ring the schools bell now adorns a master bedroom wall.

I wish we had the bell! Scriven said.

He found other items from the schools early days, maps, textbooks, and composition notebooks, and held on to these treasures which he plans to give to the homes new owner.

He even kept the schools traditional red color.

When we first started the work, he said. Curious people would come up and ask if they could take a look.

Many would tell him stories of when they attended school there.

The backyard has been updated as well.

We love to be outside as much as we can, Scriven said. We try to take advantage of the room he had.

They built a barbecue patio with built-in furniture and storage in their private backyard.

A small koi pond, with a waterfall and underwater lighting, was this summers coronavirus quarantine project.

Scriven said much of the home is finished but not everything.

The COVID pandemic meant that the home ironically reverted back to a school for his son and daughter this year which meant he could not be hammering and sawing away.

It has been a lot of fun, Scriven said, looking back at what he accomplished. It certainly is not a cookie cutter home.

He says he wants to find a new adventure someplace with a warmer climate.

For more information about this property, contact the owner who is selling the property himself. His information is below.

THE DETAILS

Address: 936 Old Seneca Turnpike, Skaneateles, N.Y. 13152

Price: $399,000

Size: 1,773 square feet

Acreage: 8,276 square feet

Monthly Mortgage: $1,325 (based on this weeks national average rate of 2.88 percent, according to Freddie Mac, for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 20 percent down payment. Fees and points not included.)

Taxes: $1,852 (Based on assessed value of $95,000)

Built: 1872

School District: Skaneateles

Kitchen: The new kitchen has plenty of new counter room and cupboard space. Owner Thomas Scriven updated the kitchen with a new travertine backsplash, new flooring, and new Samsung Smart appliances. The island was made from an old canning table found in the basement. Through the kitchen is a new laundry room and pantry.

Living areas: Scriven said that he renovated this historic one-room schoolhouse into an open-concept modern home. The place is like a bomb shelter, he said. It is built and insulated well. Forget the idea of the drafty old one-room school, this is an extremely warm and highly efficient home. The owner has updated paint, flooring, and fixtures throughout. There is a nice dining room off the kitchen and a spacious living room. There is plenty of room for a new home office and workshop in the detached garage. The office is heated and air-conditioned and was very useful during the COVID pandemic. All of the treasures from the buildings previous days as a school found during the renovation will be staying with the home.

Bedrooms: There are four bedrooms in the house. The first-floor master bedroom is big enough for a California king bed and two walk-in closets.

Bathrooms: There are two bathrooms in the home. The full bathroom on the first floor has new tile flooring and new fixtures.

Outdoors: Scriven and his family enjoys being outdoors and he has done his best to take advantage of the room we had. The private backyard has been updated with BBQ patio with built-in seating and storage. During the coronavirus pandemic, his project was creating a koi pond with waterfall and underwater lighting. There is an area for bon fires. The owner says that the property is close to everything, and mentions that it is within walking distance to the heart of Skaneateles, a nature trail, and Skaneateles Creek.

Sold by: Owner Tom Scriven

Address: 936 Old Seneca Turnpike, Skaneateles, N.Y. 13152

Phone: (315) 439-1883

Email: socalscriven@yahoo.com

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If you know of a beautiful or interesting house currently up for sale, please consider sending a nomination for it to be featured as a future House of the Week. Send an email with the listing to home@syracuse.com.

Do you know of any older homes in Central New York which have fallen on hard times but have a lot of potential should they be restored to their original grandeur? A fixer-upper with a lot of potential? Consider nominating them to our new feature, Save this Home, in which we will spotlight grand houses of the past around Central New York that need to be saved. Send nominations to home@syracuse.com.

Read more from the original source:
House of the Week: Own a piece of Skaneateles history with this renovated one-room schoolhouse - syracuse.com

Bars in Toronto we had to say goodbye to this year are among some of 2020's most heartbreaking closures. These businesses relied on large gatherings and often sold more alcohol than food, making it difficult for many to stay afloat. At least we'll always have the memories of all the fun we had at these spots.

Here are 30 bars in Toronto we had to say goodbye to this year.

West Queen West's queer haven for karaoke and drag showshad to close this year, but not before having a final blowout virtual party to say farewell.

Theme parties, open mics and live shows are no longer at this kitschy Kensington staple that's been around forever in one form or another, but closed this chapter in the fall.

The Danforth location of this self-described pizza pub closed down this year, leaving the community without one of its main hubs for a casual hangout and pint of beer. An unaffiliated Little Italy location still operates.

This queer club on Church St.known as a "pansexual playground" had to close down this year after 14 years in business.

Kensington sadly couldn't hold onto this popular bar for drinks and DJ nights that was something of an open secret in the city.

Long lineups for this popular bar in the Entertainment District have disappeared from the streets now that it's permanently closed after 30 years in business.

Drinks flowed on busy nights at short-lived spot The Delaware. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

This eclectic cocktail bar with a side patio in Bloorcourt was around for a good time, not for a long time, shuttering its doors after only around a year of operation.

Dundas West was home to this soul food spot and venue that was great for a bite of fried chicken, a stiff drink and live music, but the concept wasn't able to survive the pandemic.

This Little Italy venue and bar that boasted lots of space and pool tables closed in 2020 after 13 years in business that even included a change in location.

Gamers in Toronto are missing this esports bar near Yonge and St. Clair, though they were able to bid farewell to the spot one last time with a closing party in September.

Riverside will sorely miss this cute and cheeky bar owned by a pair of sisters known for its cocktails and bar nibbles. Doors closed in October after 5 years.

This spacious bar for live music and wings shut down this year, but it's already being replaced by another spot for drinks.

At Friday Roots and Vibes, you could eat fried chicken, drink andlisten to music. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Unfortunately, disputes with a neighbour andlandlordplayed a big part in the closure of this Kensington Caribbean restaurant and bar serving dry ice cocktails.

King West wasn't able to hold onto this classic establishment where you could hear jazz play and get a drink, which announced its closurein the summer after 25 years.

Both King East and Entertainment District locations of this pub closed this year due to an uncooperative landlord demanding $156,000 in rent.

This pub ended its 15-year reign on the Danforth this year as the second wave of the pandemic hit, leaving the community with one less space to gather and listen to live music.

Poets, comedians and storytellers will no longer be performing in front of the brick wall at this Ossington watering hole that was around for 12 years.

Little Italy lost this cocktail and snack bar this year, but the people behind it are still filling bellies through other avenues.

Pretty Ugly was a moody environment for creative drinks. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Innovative cocktails can no longer be had at this moody, slightly hidden bar in Parkdale. The landlord changed the locks in the spring.

Dundas West has one less after party destination for late night bourbon now that this intimate spot has closed down after 11 years.

Ascending the stairs to the rooftop patio at this bar near Yonge and St. Clair was arduous but rewarding, and it's sad to see another outdoor spot for pints in the sunshine go.

This kitschy cocktail spot was one of the first places to be locked out by its landlord early into the pandemic, notices on the door appearing in April.

Dundas West may not be home to this brewpub anymore, but it's already been replaced by a very similar concept by the people behind a popular Ontario brewing company.

A loose Rolling Stones theme, live music and dancing are sadly no more at this Parkdale bar that closed its doors this year after 20 years in business.

Supernova Ballroom specialized in low waste cocktails. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

The magic of this high-ceilinged bar for low waste cocktails in the Financial District sadly faded away with its closure this year, though the business is survived by a cocktail delivery service.

Parkdale saw this boozy bar for heavy Eastern European food transform into a more COVID-friendly pizza and burger joint by the same people this year.

The landlord locked owners out of this multi-level party spot this year after almost 20 years in operation.

Steampunk fans and plain old drinkers alike were fans of this quirky bar in Scarborough where there were always puzzles laying around, but sadly it announced its closure in October.

Though it's sad to say bye to this Dundas West pub that made for an amazing late night hangout spot for wine, bourbon and comfort food, it's already being transformed into a cool new pizza place.

A hidden back patio and amazing cocktails distinguished this Little Italy bar that had to close its doors in 2020 after almost five years.

Hector Vasquez at The Beaver

See the article here:
30 bars that closed in Toronto this year - blogTO

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Glass Cleaning System Market 2020 to Soar Across Top Countries in the Globe: Ipceagle, Unger Global, Abc Window Cleaning Supply - The Courier

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Research Snapshot:

Historic Period: 2013-2018

Base Year: 2019

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Key Players: IPC Eagle Corporation

Ecovacs

HOBOT

ZhengZhou BangHao

Windowmate.

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Automatic Window Cleaning System Market Will Generate Massive Revenue In Future: IPC Eagle Corporation, Ecovacs, HOBOT, ZhengZhou BangHao - BIZNEWS

When it comes to cleaning, as long as youre doing it, youre all set, right? Wrong. Even if youre cleaning everything in your home often enough, you might not be doing it correctly. This doesnt have to do with the amount of elbow grease you use or the amount of time you spend on a task. It often boils down to whether or not youre using the right products in the right way.

There are a few problems you can encounter when you dont. At best, these common mistakes can make your job harder. At worst, they can be hazardous to your health and damage the items youre trying to scrub and scour. We asked the experts to identify which cleaning products youre probably using incorrectlyand what you should be doing instead. While youre at it, make your life even easier with theseproducts that will clean your house in less than an hour.

Sure, theyre common household cleaners, but that doesnt mean theyre not also incredibly dangerous. The biggestand most commonmistake you can make is not using them in a properly ventilated room. They produce fumes or odors that can irritate your respiratory system, cause headaches, and lead to allergies, warns Dave Cusick, chief strategy officer for House Method. Thats why its important to keep the doors and windows open when cleaning and avoid using these harsh chemicals in enclosed spaces. Plus, mixing bleach and ammonia together can have devastating consequences. The mixture can produce gases that can cause chronic respiratory problems, and it can even be fatal, he adds. Always read the directions for use in the container to avoid mishaps.

Something else you might be doing wrong? Using these chemicals on items you shouldnt. Many people think bleach can be used on everything in the bathroom. Thats not true, says James Scott, the cofounder of Dappir, a cleaning and maid service in Miami. Its corrosive to metal. This means any metal faucets, showerheads, handles, and otherwise will not play nicely with bleach. When you do clean your faucets, make sure you read the label carefully to make sure the product is suitable for metal like Kohler Faucet Cleaner, which is ammonia- and alcohol-free. On the other hand, here are 10 different ways youre not using bleachbut should.

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Were all for efficiency, but using a single cleaning product for all of your cleaning needs can lead to big problems. While cleaning products may indicate all-purpose, theres no such thing, says Cusick. Some areas of the house need specific cleaning products, such as your granite countertop, appliances, and wood furniture. Using an unsuitable chemical can damage them. In other words, be sure to read the back of the bottle to see what surfaces a product is recommended for. Otherwise, you might end up ruining expensive items like your stainless steel fridge. Thats better left to products like Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish, which conveniently comes with a microfiber cloth. Speaking of stainless steel, heres how to clean a stainless steel sink.

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Hardwood floors are a big investment. The last thing you want to do is damage them. Water is harmlessin most cases, that is. When were talking about wood floors, it couldnt be further from the truth, says Scott. Too much water on wood floors causes them to warp. Although it may not be noticeable at first, prolonged usage of excess water on wood floors will lead to permanent damage. In most cases, youre better off sticking to a product formulated specifically for hardwood floors like Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner. Here are another 14 things you should never clean with water.

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We all want instant results, but Scott says that isnt always possible when it comes to cleaning products. When it comes to cleaning the bathroom, almost every product should be applied and left to sit for at least five to 10 minutes, he explains. Ive seen very few bathroom products that dont require this. Not only wont they get off the gunk, but they wont disinfect your surfaces should either. In other words, its perfectly OK to take a break while your Kaboom Foam-Tastic Bathroom Cleaner with Oxiclean does all the work. You might also want to pick up a few of thesecleaning products professional house cleaners always buy.

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The more cleaner you use, the better your results will be, right? Wrong. Scott says that going overboard with glass and window cleaner can actually make your job harder. Glass and mirrors can be one of the most gratifying surfaces to clean. However, it can be frustrating chasing streaks around, he notes. Sometimes its because the material being used is dirty. But usually, its due to using too much liquid cleaner. Its easy to think more spray, more clean, but for glass and mirrors, less is more. The other upside? Your basic bottle of Windex will last even longer.

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Laundry is a never-ending project, but it has big rewards. After all, no one wants to walk around in dirty clothes! That said, you might end up doing just that if you use too much laundry detergent. Everyone loves the smell of fresh clothes, so its easy to go to town on detergent, explains Scott. While the intention is good, its actually counterproductive. Excessive detergent builds up in the clothes and the interior of the washer. This causes odor over time and reduces the effectiveness of wash cycles. An easy way to avoid this problem is to switch to Tide Pods, since the correct amount has already measured for you. This will also prevent you from accidentally shortening the life of your washing machine.

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Its essential to clean your oven periodically, but Scott says its equally important to exercise care when using oven cleaner. Powerful cleaners like Easy Off work well, but you have to be careful where you use them. Oven cleaners are [among] the most acidic cleaners of any, he explains. Avoiding the heating element and oven light are imperative, as it can cause permanent damage to them. And certain parts of your oven arent the only things you need to be careful withmake sure to avoid getting any of this on your skin or you could get a painful chemical burn.

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Cusick has strong feelings about vinegar: Vinegar is a good cleaning agent, especially for removing bad odors and burnt-on grime. However, be careful when using it to clean surfaces such as granite and marble. Vinegar is a strong acid and can leave permanent marks on natural stones. You should also shouldnt mix it with bleach. Before mixing vinegar with any cleaning agent, he adds, do a little research to find out if its safe for the surfaces you want to clean. If youve got natural stone, step away from the vinegar and switch to a product like Granite Gold Daily Cleaning Spray. This non-toxic formula doesnt contain phosphates or ammonia, and its safe to use on surfaces where you prepare food. Make sure you keep that vinegar within reach, thoughthese 19 vinegar cleaning hacks will save you money.

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Sometimes, in our enthusiasm for cleanliness, we end up damaging the very surfaces were trying to care for by going overboard. Avoid using products one after another, thinking that youll get faster results, and stick to the recommended amount of product for cleaning, recommends Cusick. Some products may be too strong, so youll end up damaging your home instead of cleaning it. This is another case where reading the labels on those packages is very importantespecially if youre using something as powerful as Clorox Healthcare Bleach Germicidal Cleaning Spray. Here are some other bad cleaning habits you didnt know you had.

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Sources:

Read the original:
9 Cleaning Products You've Been Using the Wrong Way - Reader's Digest

CLEANING your home need not be complicated or costly.

There are any number of fancy and pricey sprays, creams and other products on the market. But Tim Keaveney, from online retailer Homethings, tells how to blitz your home with just three products, and I include tips of my own...

7

CITRIC ACID: Tim says: Citric acid from lemons will leave your kitchen surfaces and floor sparkling. It works wonders on tough stains such as grease and is also handy if you need to break down mildew in between the tiles, or any mould building up around your window sills.

My tip: You could buy a pack of three unwaxed lemons for 1 at Asda, or pick up a four-pack of Morrisons Market St Wonky Lemons for 59p.

SODIUM BICARBONATE: Tim says: Bicarbonate of soda works well to banish unwanted odours from your bathroom. Combined with its talent for removing limescale, this natural deodoriser is sure to get showers, toilets and sinks looking and smelling fresh. Its also good if youre looking to lift marks from towels and bathmats without damaging them.

My tip: Instead of paying 1.40 for a 200g tub of Dr Oetker bicarbonate of soda at Sainsburys, buy the 200g pot for 65p at Asda.

VINEGAR: Tim says: When it comes to getting mirrored surfaces and glass shiny and streak-free, your ultimate solution is as cheap as chips and completely natural. Distilled vinegar is a staple ingredient for savvy cleaners. Vinegar transforms into a grime-busting miracle when mixed with an equal part of hot tap water. This makes it the ideal basis of any spray for sprucing up your mirrors and windows. Just spray and wipe the surface with a damp cloth first, then shine by buffing with a dry cloth.

My tip: I like the Original white vinegar spray from Wilko to do my cleaning and it is just 1.50. But I have also heard great things about the Stardrops white vinegar spray, which is available from valuesuperstore.co.uk for 1.

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Cleaning your home doesnt need to be complicated lemon juice, bicarb & vinegar are all you need - The Sun

100 years ago

Dec. 31, 1920: A complete wireless station can be seen in the window of Guy Carleton Electric. Gareth Somerville, its operator, has been receiving weather reports from Springfield and messages from points across the continent and at sea. You can buy one of these in the store.

75 years ago

Dec. 31, 1945: Heres the movie fare if youre going out tonight. Stork Club is playing at the Irvin Theater; Love, Honor and Goodbye is at the Castle; Duffys Tavern at the Normal. And the Esquire is showing a double feature: Salty ORourke and Lumberjack.

50 years ago

Dec. 31, 1970: News just came out that Secretary of State Paul Powell left $800,000 in cash behind when he died. It was discovered in October when his executor was cleaning out Powells apartment at the St. Nicholas Hotel in Springfield. No one knows where it came from.

25 years ago

Dec. 31, 1995: A new state law will allow employers to secretly monitor their workers' telephone calls. Illinois two largest business groups defend the law, while labor has opposed it. One local telemarketer said he doesnt monitor his 30 workers, relying more on proper training.

Compiled by Jack Keefe; jkeefe@coldwellhomes.com.

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100 years ago: Wireless station operating in store window - Bloomington Pantagraph

Oliver Curran loves to talk. To him, watching news about politics or chatting with his mom is more fun than playing with toy trucks.

As much as he loves talking, Oliver, 12, cant read, his mother, Nancy Curran, said. Curran brought her concern to Olivers special education team at Coonley Elementary School in Chicagos North Center neighborhood, but instructors told her Oliver just needed more time, she said.

That was more than a year ago, Curran said.

Now, with Oliver attending school virtually due to the pandemic, Curran has noticed other students are already reading in her sons seventh-grade class of fellow special education students.

Why are other kids reading and not my son? said Curran, of Streeterville. Im very concerned about that, and Im not really being taken seriously.

Remote learning has opened a window for parents to peer into their students classrooms, which was difficult to do before the coronavirus pandemic. At Chicago Public Schools, some parents of children with disabilities say they are disheartened by services they believe fail to meet students needs and are upset by the low expectations some educators have for their children.

Mo Buti, who founded a Chicago advocacy organization, AiepA, for people with autism and other disabilities, said her clients observing their childrens virtual classes are realizing they arent always being challenged in school.

One of Butis clients recently noticed their sons sixth-grade CPS class still has morning circle and song time, which Buti said is more typical of activities for younger kids.

For the first time ever, parents are getting a snapshot of what school looks like for their child, Buti said. The most, kind of, sad thing is that many parents are realizing maybe the level of their child or the low expectations of their child.

Oliver Curran is in a CPS cluster program at Coonley, where students with disabilities receive instruction in a separate classroom with a modified curriculum for the majority of the school day. Coonley, which hosts some of the citys cluster programs, has a higher concentration of special education students.

Oliver is one of more than 63,000 students in CPS 18% of the student body, according to the districts 2020 report card and one of more than 7 million students across the nation who have learning accommodations through Individualized Education Programs or other defined plans, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

An IEP is a specific legal document for students with disabilities. It states the students current education level, goals to work toward and additional supports necessary to better educate them, things like therapy and time with a social worker.

Olivers physical and learning disabilities stem from a brain surgery he had when he was 4 to stop his epileptic seizures, and hes had an IEP since preschool, his mother said. When Curran asked her sons IEP team why he hadnt learned to read by seventh grade, she said the team didnt provide any reason.

Her sons IEP even said he should be able to independently read and comprehend a paragraph or short story by this past April, which Curran said hasnt happened.

You dont get any help with CPS, Curran said. Its like you sink or swim.

CPS spokesman James Gherardi said meeting students unique needs is a top priority, though the district recognizes some support that students with disabilities need can only be provided in-person. The district will phase in optional in-person instruction starting this month, he said, and most cluster programs will be able to attend school daily. Of the 31,687 students with IEPs eligible to return to school, 11,351 opted in about 36%.

We have committed to ongoing dialogue and engagement to ensure we are meeting their needs, Gherardi said. Based on engagement data and feedback for parents, its clear that remote learning cannot work well enough for many of our diverse learners.

Gherardi did not respond to specific questions about Currans son.

Curran, however, said she wont send her son back to school in January because she doesnt want her son to be the guinea pig to test if students can safely return to school without spreading the virus.

Students with IEPs often receive related services to support them: speech therapy, psychological services and occupational therapy, among other things. But even existing services written in students IEPs arent always being delivered, said Matthew Cohen, a special education attorney in Chicago.

CPS added a Remote Learning Plan to students IEPs to explain how those services would be delivered while school remained online during the pandemic. But these remote services are insufficient, Cohen said. Having a paraprofessional online doesnt replicate the one-to-one support some students require, when aides regularly checked in with students in the physical classroom before the pandemic, he said.

A high percentage of the kids are not getting anything approaching what they need, Cohen said. Im concerned that this is going to really result in a reduction of expectations of what the school is supposed to do.

At DePriest Elementary School in Austin, John Yolich teaches a class of 15 diverse learners (which is how CPS refers to special education students). His students IEP goals typically aim for a certain learning level by the end of the school year, like being able to analyze a nonfiction story or mastering math multiplication tables.

Lysandra Cook, associate professor and coordinator for the special education program at the University of Virginia, said many students wont meet their IEP objectives this school year and will need revised or rewritten IEPs after missing out on critical learning.

Cook said the majority of schools are doing their best to meet their students needs, but for students with a more severe disability, things get complicated. The student doesnt have the same ability to meet with members of their IEP team, Cook said, a challenge in and of itself.

Its a lot for schools, Cook said. Theyre being so responsive in trying to provide supports, but its really difficult.

Beginning the school year online in largely unchartered territory, Yolich thought writing IEPs almost involved making stuff up, but its really a matter of finding a happy medium in writing proper education goals for each specific student, he said. He balances challenging students enough that theyre still engaged but not making goals so rigorous that theyre impossible to achieve, especially in a virtual classroom.

But since students are allowed to turn off their cameras and disengage, Yolich said his classs educational progress is declining.

I dont fool myself as a teacher, Yolich said. Theyre really not learning at all.

Laurie Viets knows all three of her children will be behind in school once classes resume in person, she said.

All her children have IEPs, said Viets, 48, of Irving Park. Canyon Viets-Strel, in sixth grade, and twins Raven and River Viets-Strel, in fourth grade, are autistic and have oppositional defiant disorder, characterized by disobedient behavior. River and Raven also have ADHD, she said. All three attend Agassiz Elementary School in Lake View.

Canyon is the only sixth grader in his class who needs a high level of support, so he doesnt have to share the aides with other students with disabilities, Viets said. Canyon logs into a separate Google Meet to communicate directly with his paraprofessionals. The twins dont have the same level of support written into their IEPs, she said, and more students in their fourth-grade class require the same level of support as River and Raven.

Viets hasnt fought very hard to get more academic support for her twins, she said, because she isnt sure it would help. Her children still arent really learning in online classes, she said.

Some parents with enough money have circumvented this problem by building learning pods, small groups of students that meet in person and hire a teacher to instruct them, only revealing an underlying socioeconomic inequality in special education, said Cook, the University of Virginia professor.

Students used to being in learning pods will have more stamina for being in the classroom when classes return in person, Cook said. But for students with disabilities who havent had as much stimulation, she said the disparities in the classroom are going to be bigger.

Aidan Hughes is in his second year at a transition program at Southside Occupational Academy High School. The post-secondary program offers students with disabilities a chance to learn life skills and gain job training after finishing high school.

Since the pandemic, Hughes, 19, who is autistic, hasnt received the job training and skills the transition program aims to offer, his mother, Mary Hughes, said. If classes werent virtual, her son would have gotten job experience working in a gift shop or cleaning the Thompson Center. Instead, his class simply discusses job skills virtually, said Hughes, 57, of Beverly.

Its no ones fault, Hughes said. But it is something that is going to have to be made up.

Hughes said shes especially concerned about sending her son and other students back to school in person, with such high numbers of positive cases in the city. Aidan Hughes will continue school remotely in January, she said.

Viets said theres no way shes sending her children to school in January. At the start of the year, she considered homeschooling her three children all year.

But if she were to have done so, she was told her children would have lost access to all district services including speech and occupational therapy and social work, Viets said. They would also lose their spots at Agassiz since it isnt their neighborhood school.

Instead of CPS being like, Hey, its a pandemic. We get it. Its like, Nope, if you leave, youre screwed, she said.

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Frustrations of a CPS special ed parent: Why are other kids reading and not my son? - Chicago Sun-Times

A church at Malappuram district in Kerala has initiated a novel way of raising funds to complete a new building under construction.

Unlike the usual practice of collecting donations from believers, members of the parish are being initiated to various types of farming activities and the revenue earned out of it would be used for completing the construction work.

The St Mary's Orthodox Church at Edakkara, about 50 kilometres from Malappuram town, has initiated the novel method. Financial hardships owing to the back-to-back calamities as well as Covid-19 had prompted the church authorities to come out with the fresh initiative.

The church has initiated organic farming in about two acres of paddy field and plantain farming. Fish farming is being carried out at four places with the support of parish members. Goats, cows and hens are being distributed among the parish members for farming purpose.

Convener of the church construction committee Babu K Paul told DH that though the church did not expect a huge revenue from these farming initiatives, the initiatives would help the new generation members of the parish attracted towards the farming sector. The parish members participated enthusiastically in the farming initiatives of the church.

The new church construction was initiated a couple of years ago with an estimated cost of Rs 1.5 crore. The work began with the funds available with the church. The members of the parish are not generally financially sound enough to make huge contributions. But the church hoped of getting donations from nearby churches as well as well-wishers.

As Covid-19 and calamities stopped the church from going for fund collection drives considering the financial constraints of the people, the farming initiatives were launched, he said.

Continued here:
Kerala church initiatives farming activities by believers for church construction - Deccan Herald

The COVID-19 pandemic created both opportunities and challenges for builders in Wilkes County in 2020.

Wilkes County Inspections Department records show new single family home construction and other types of building activity increased in 2020.

The department issued 96 permits for construction of new single family residences in 2020, up 14% from 84 in 2019. Eighty such permits were issued in 2018, 109 in 2017 and 78 in 2016 in Wilkes.

The Wilkes Building Inspections Department covers all of the county except North Wilkesboro. Additions and renovations accounted for most of the construction activity in North Wilkesboro in 2020, said Curt Hayes, the towns building inspector.

By far the biggest factor driving this (increase in construction) is low interest rates for borrowing money, said Gary Hayes, president of the Wilkes & Yadkin Home Builders Association.

Next to this I would say, or am told, is the low supply of existing houses on the market for sale in Wilkes, said Hayes, adding that people moving to rural areas also increased construction.

Eric Huffman, a builder and Realtor in Wilkes, agreed about low interest rates being the single biggest factor driving construction and real estate activity in Wilkes in 2020.

There are also a lot of people moving here from out of town and out of state because COVID-19 is so bad in big cities and they want to get away from it, said Huffman. The impact is countywide, he added.

The average U.S. mortgage rate for a 30-year fixed loan dropped to multiple record lows in 2020, including 2.67% in December. Interest rates continued to fall after the U.S. Federal Reserve's cut in its key interest rate to near zero in March to help buttress the economy amid the pandemic.

Interest rates are expected to rise in 2021.

Builders were challenged by shortages of building materials and resulting higher prices in 2020. In many cases, these shortages resulted from supply chain problems. COVID-19 surges worsened a shortage of construction workers.

The combined value of single family construction in Wilkes was $22.3 million in 2020, $18.8 million in 2019, $18.9 million in 2018, $22.6 million in 2017 and $17.6 million in 2016, according to permits issued by the Wilkes Inspections Department.

Square footage of this construction totaled 183,084 in 2020, 164,572 in 2019, 152,231 in 2018, 201,505 in 2017 and 154,363 in 2016.

Among the four largest (dollar-wise) construction projects the Wilkes Inspections Department issued permits for in 2020, three wont generate property taxes because the owners are nonprofit organizations.

The most expensive is a new 18,680-square-foot place of worship under construction on N.C. 115 for Cherry Grove Baptist Church, with a current church building off Vannoy Ridge Road in the Brushy Mountain community. Permit records list the one-story, wood-frame facility with a value of $5.13 million. This includes a sanctuary, kitchen and more. The general contractor is Brushy Mountain Builders Inc.

The 17,883-square-foot Planet Fitness building on Two Rivers Drive (off Curtis Bridge Road) in Wilkesboro was recently completed and is open for business. This structural steel building is listed with a value of $4.97 million.

A building permit also was issued for a 21,000-square-foot aircraft hangar for nonprofit Samaritans Purse at the Wilkes County Airport, listed with a value of $2.51 million. James R. Vannoy Sons Construction Co., the projects general contractor, has started construction. Samaritans Purse recently completed a three-story, 47,000-square-foot office building on its 21-acre N.C. 268 East campus in North Wilkesboro.

Another of the four is the Town of Wilkesboros new ABC store, nearly complete along U.S. 421 near the Browns Road intersection. This 5,207-square-foot, wood-frame building is listed with a value of $1.21 million. Luray Construction Services Inc. is the general contractor.

The Wilkes Inspections Department issued permits for additions, renovations and other improvements valued at $44.95 million in 2020, up 21.8% from permits for similar work worth $36.90 million in 2019.

Permits were issued for placing 89 mobile homes in 2019 and 91 in 2020. They were issued for six modular homes in 2019 and 11 in 2020.

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Low rates, in-migration drive construction increase - Wilkes Journal Patriot