Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

ABC Rural Trojan force: researchers say Trojan females look like normal females, but their male offspring are infertile.

Scientists in Australia and New Zealand are working on a new approach in the battle against insect and animal pests, inspired by a fighting tactic from Greek mythology; the Trojan horse.

Pests can eat through crops, wipe out native flora and fauna, and sicken or kill animals and humans.

The New Zealand government estimates that pests cost its primary industries $2 billion per year, in money spent on control measures and loss of earnings due to lost production.

But Professor Neil Gemmell from the Anatomy Department of Dunedin's Otago University believes a new approach to pest eradication using "Trojan females" may ease the pain.

"The Trojan female idea is that, like the Trojan horse in the Troy war, it looks good but it contains something intrinsically bad for that population," he said.

"Our Trojan females look fine, they're normal fertile females, but they produce sons who are infertile which is bad news for the population."

Trojan females are not created through genetic modification, he says, but through a naturally occurring mutation in mitochondrial DNA.

"We could be looking for mutations which occur with the frequency of somewhere around one in 200, one in 300, may be one in 1,000," he said.

"And if we can find them in large populations, which pest populations often are, identify those individuals, bring them into captive situations, breed the females up, then we have a tool potentially we could use for eradication."

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Researchers turn to Greek mythology for 'Trojan female' pest control solution

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A long-running billing dispute between the CEO of Pittsburgh insurer Highmark Inc. and the general contractor that remodeled his $2.7 million mansion in Sewickley Heights could be coming to a resolution in the next few weeks.

William Winkenwerder Jr. has been sued by contractor Mark A. LaBella, president of Century Interiors Inc. Mr. LaBella claims that Dr. Winkenwerder and his wife, Mary Pride, stiffed Century Interiors to the tune of $147,274, plus interest.

The total bill for the renovations was about $892,000.

The lawsuit claims the Winkenwerders made regular payments from August 2012, when the massive rehab began, to January 2013. But invoices submitted by the contractor between Jan. 25 and March 3, 2013, have gone unpaid.

The Winkenwerders are claiming that the contractors went overbudget without clearly authorized change orders, and that the final cost of the project was not included in the original contract proposal, a purported violation of the state's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act.

But, according to Mr. LaBella's attorney, Francis McTiernan Jr. of Wayman, Irvin, & McAuley, the provision of a precise price estimate would have been impossible because the scope of the job and the materials included in the remodeling changed as the rehabilitation was carried out.

The civil complaint, filed in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, says the Winkenwerders have yet to pay up for substantial carpentry and painting work, the installation of a security system, plumbing work, a new vanity mirror in the master bath, chandelier removal, improvements in the butler's pantry and flower-cutting room, and several jobs carried out by subcontractors.

Century Interiors filed a mechanic's lien in May, and filed the civil complaint in the same month. A conciliation conference has been scheduled between the two parties for Jan. 30, although that could be postponed. If the settlement talks are not fruitful, the litigation would proceed. The Winkenwerders are asking that the suit be tossed.

One of the Winkenwerders' attorneys, Matthew Burger of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, said, "We believe [the] plaintiff's claims are without merit, and have no further comment at this time."

Disputes between contractors and homeowners are common, Mr. McTiernan said, but this one is noteworthy because of the size of the tab and the residence. "You get into more craftsman-type work, the expenses build up very quickly," he said.

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Highmark CEO faces suit over renovation

Midtown Sacramentos long-awaited outdoor beer garden has local beer lovers waiting a little longer.

Construction continues this week at Der Biergarten, located at 24th and K streets. On the beer gardens official Facebook page, co-owners Thomas Roth and Sean Derfield posted photos this past weekend of its near-completion with outdoor lighting, landscaping and bar now in place.

To all my friends, it has been a long year and a half since we started on our newest drinking/dining place here in Sacramento, posted Derfield, who also owns Old Sacramentos River City Saloon. We hope you come down and experience it. I look forward to some of our South City friends visiting and letting me buy you a beer this Spring/Summer.

Hopefully, Der Biergarten will be pouring long before that seasonal change. Expected to open Jan. 2, the beer garden now is looking at an opening sometime later this month. (Stay tuned.)

Billed as Sacramentos first outdoor beer garden, the establishment will feature two dozen beer hall-style tables and about 30 brews on tap. Der Biergarten also holds another distinction: Recycled industrial shipping containers were used for the construction.

For more updates and a look at Der Biergartens growing beer list, visit its official website, beergardensacramento.com.

Call The Bees Debbie Arrington, (916) 321-1075. Follow her on Twitter @debarrington.

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Midtown’s Der Biergarten nearing completion

TAMPA (FOX 13) -

When cancer strikes, it delivers an emotional and physical knock-out punch. Everyday tasks become difficult, even something as simple as cleaning the family house.

Some eager community givers can't wait to jump into help. Local maid services have joined together with a national group called "Cleaning For A Reason."

It's a charity service that teams women who are undergoing cancer therapy with volunteer cleaning companies in their area. The service and cleaning are all free.

Sheila Lach owns Busy Bee Cleaning. Twice a month, she and her cleaning team visit Kathleen Brodnick, who is undergoing chemotherapy and doesn't have the energy to dust, vacuum, and mop the floors.

"I think it's honorable what they are doing. I really do," Kathleen said. "You know, it's pay it forward. I wish there were more people out there that were doing it."

Sheila said the decision to step up and help was an easy one: "We would prefer that the women use their energy to fight as they are going through treatment."

Cleaning For A Reason is always standing by to help, and encourages women with cancer to contact the group.

For more information: http://www.cleaningforareason.org/

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Cleaning for a reason, helping cancer patients

PUNE, India ?? The Indian government demanded Wednesday that the U.S. Embassy in New Dehli cease all commercial activities - including the running of its restaurant, bowling alley and swimming pool - in a spat over the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York.

India has been apparently retaliating against America's diplomats in a campaign to pressure the U.S. attorney in New York to waive charges against Devyani Khobragade, an Indian diplomat who was strip searched by U.S. marshals when arrested in December.

Khobragade was apprehended on suspicion of not paying her maid the federal minimum wage and lying about it on her visa application. Khobragade, 39, pleaded not guilty to fraud charges and is free on bail while a federal prosecutor mulls whether to go ahead with the case.

The charges have caused an outcry among politicians especially in India, where the idea of an educated, middle-class woman facing a strip search is seen as outrageous. The U.S. Marshals Service said it was following standard procedure during the arrest.

Since the arrest, India downgraded privileges for U.S. diplomats in India. It limited immunity in case of serious offenses and decided that families of U.S. consular staff will no longer get diplomatic ID cards.

India on Wednesday ordered the American Community Support Association, which runs leisure offerings at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, to shut down its businesses, which include a bar, video club, sports field, beauty salon and gym.

In addition, all U.S. diplomatic vehicles will now be penalized for traffic-related offenses such as unauthorized parking and running red lights.

"Some retaliation has occurred," said Shashi Tharoor, India's minister of human resource development, in an article on the Prague-based website Project Syndicate.

"The initial American rationale (that foreign consuls in the U.S. enjoy a lower level of immunity than other diplomats) led India's government to re-examine privileges enjoyed by US consular officials that are unavailable to their Indian counterparts in the U.S.," he added.

The Indian government says providing commercial services to non-diplomats is a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which states that "the premises of the mission must not be used in any manner incompatible with the functions of the mission".

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India orders shutdown of bar, pool at U.S. Embassy

Gisborne has only three days water supply left if residents dont reduce their use of water. Gisborne District Council needs every business, every organisation and every resident to reduce their use of water by at least a third, says deputy Chief Executive Peter Higgs.

"Water consumption reduced marginally yesterday but nowhere near enough. Gisborne does not have enough water to meet the current demand. On Sunday and Monday we used 23,000 m3/day. This must reduce to 14,000 m3/day to avoid turning the taps off."

"Luckily Gisborne has a standby treatment plant at Waipaoa that is supplying water to the city. This is being topped up by water from the Te Arai stream that is feeding through the Waingake Treatment plant. Together they are providing a small supply of water. With careful use this should ensure the city has enough water for essential use only."

"If demand for water is not drastically reduced we will have to have periods of time where we have rolling water stoppages - times when you will turn on the tap and there will be no water. Council will not allow the city to completely run dry."

Council has put a number of things in place to reduce water consumption.

There is a complete ban on the use of hoses - no washing your car, watering your lawn and garden or filling swimming pools etc. People really should just be using water to drink and for hygiene reasons. If you see your neighbours or anyone else wasting water please let Council know.

There is now a total fire ban in place in Gisborne city. No fires of any description should be lit and no permits will be issued. "With the supply of water so limited it is a risk we cannot afford to take, says Mr Higgs. "Any fire outside of the city must have a permit."

"Water crisis response manager Dave Hadfield is in contact with the citys top 20 industrial water users. All have water shortage contingency plans which they are being asked to action immediately. By doing this now it is hoped there will be minimal disruption to industry as many enter their busy processing season."

Gisborne is running out of water because its main water supply has been damaged by a land slide. The main water pipe from the Mangapoike Dam into the Gisborne District Council water treatment plant was knocked out on Monday at 3am.

"The break is in the pipe line from the dam into our water treatment plant. The water in your tap has still been treated. Engineers and geotechnical experts have a plan to fix the pipe and get the water flowing again. This will take 8-10 days."

Read more from the original source:
Total city fire ban to help Gisborne water crisis

Water Crisis Media Release (3)

Release date: Wed 8 January 2013

Three days water left in Gisborne if use doesnt reduce

Gisborne has only three days water supply left if residents dont reduce their use of water. Gisborne District Council needs every business, every organisation and every resident to reduce their use of water by at least a third, says deputy Chief Executive Peter Higgs.

Water consumption reduced marginally yesterday but nowhere near enough. Gisborne does not have enough water to meet the current demand.On SundayandMondaywe used 23,000 m3/day. This must reduce to 14,000 m3/day to avoid turning the taps off.

Luckily Gisborne has a standby treatment plant at Waipaoa that is supplying water to the city. This is being topped up by water from the Te Arai stream that is feeding through the Waingake Treatment plant. Together they are providing a small supply of water. With careful use this should ensure the city has enough water for essential use only.

If demand for water is not drastically reduced we will have to have periods of time where we have rolling water stoppages times when you will turn on the tap and there will be no water. Council will not allow the city to completely run dry.

Council has put a number of things in place to reduce water consumption.

There is a complete ban on the use of hoses - no washing your car, watering your lawn and garden or filling swimming pools etc. People really should just be using water to drink and for hygiene reasons. If you see your neighbours or anyone else wasting water please let Council know.

There is now a total fire ban in place in Gisborne city. No fires of any description should be lit and no permits will be issued. With the supply of water so limited it is a risk we cannot afford to take, says Mr Higgs. Any fire outside of the city must have a permit.

See the rest here:
Three days water left in Gisborne if use doesn’t reduce

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CMG:Landscape Architecture

If you worked on a house for five years, you'd call it a labor of love, right? What if that process took 25 years? Is there a name for that?

This is the story behind architect Paul Zajfen's epic quest in Laguna Beach.

Zajfen, a design principal at the Los Angeles firm CO Architects, bought an ocean-view site on the steep, winding bluffs of Laguna in 1989. His dream was to create a modern oasis, hugging the landscape and opening to the elements. Then things got messy.

First, a lawsuit by locals to ensure that lots on Zajfens street were buildable held up the project for about five years. Next came changes to the neighborhoods specific plan, which delayed construction for several more years. Around 2000, the architect began the painful slog through the local design review committee, a process that lasted until 2007.

Zajfen still grimaces at the thought of neighbors fighting his contemporary structure because it didnt fit into the local guidelines calling for rustic architecture. In Laguna, that means re-creations of New England, Italian or Spanish Colonial designs.

PHOTO GALLERY: Paul Zafjen's Laguna Beach house

Even though Ive done this stuff a ton of times for big clients, the process was physically affecting me more than anything Id ever experienced, Zajfen said. I thought I was going to die.

The review committee reacts to neighbors concerns, and there were plenty: the homes size, its openness, its lighting, the large amount of glass.

After half a dozen trips to the board, Zajfen finally got the citys blessing. He started construction in 2010 and recently completed the house. It displays some of the compromises necessary to get approval, including a lower profile and a discordant brown stucco entryway on the top floor that does indeed look almost rustic.

But his dream has been realized, somehow. Visiting the house can be nothing short of magical.

Originally posted here:
25 years in the making, a dream house rises in Laguna Beach