Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Visitors to the renovated McClatchy Park later this year could see hints of a roller coaster, carousel and zoo in new playground structures all reminiscent of the sites past as an amusement park.

It will attract parents to bring kids from all over the city, said Dennis Day, associate landscape architect with the Sacramento Department of Parks and Recreation. There is so much history in this park.

Sacramento City Council members tonight will consider granting a $2.4 million contract to Goodland Landscape Construction of Tracy to renovate a portion of the 15.2-acre site in Oak Park. If approved this month, work can start as early as April and finish in the fall.

This is the largest investment in McClatchy Parks history, said Day, adding that the park will be 125 years old this year.

The city plans to spend just under $3 million on the park makeover. The proposal calls for a new, greatly expanded playground with a water spray area for hot summer days, a butterfly garden and a picnic pavilion. A new adventure area will have play structures that will resemble a roller coaster, trolley cars and concession stand items, while a new tot area will have concrete animals, a mini train and fun house elements.

A skate park and jogging trail also will be built in response to resident demand. A basketball court will be replaced by a half-size court and a drop shot game court for younger children.

Funding for the project will come mainly from a Proposition 84 state grant and developer fees. Proposition 84, which voters approved in 2006, funds projects related to water quality, natural resource protection and state and local park improvements.

More than a century ago, the site at 3500 Fifth Avenue was an 8-acre amusement park known as Oak Park. In 1913, it was renamed Joyland, which had a three-story wooden roller coaster, a small zoo and a carousel, among other attractions. Fire destroyed most of the rides in 1920, but the park was partially reconstructed.

When Joyland closed in 1927, Valentine McClatchy bought the site. He donated the property to the city for a park on the condition that it be named after his father, James McClatchy, a founding editor of The Sacramento Bee.

The renovation will require that the playground, tennis and basketball courts be relocated, but the other existing facilities the amphitheater, swimming pool and softball field, as well as the farmers market will stay where they are and remain open during the park makeover.

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Sacramento considers McClatchy Park makeover

Columbus, Ohio (PRWEB) January 07, 2014

A&RJ Landscape answers corporate and private customers demand for expanded services just as harsh winter weather hits central Ohio.

More than two decades specializing in hardscape patios and outdoor living environments means A &RJ Landscape knows what it takes to keep people comfortable and enjoying their front or back yards year round. Now they are working to keep their customers safe and secure in the ice and snow.

Customers may now call A&RJs plows to come to their residence or business for salting or snow removal. A&RJ uses specials salts and materials designed to protect surfaces and plants. The company also ensures that services provided pose no danger to pets delicate paws or for potential ingestion.

A&RJ Landscape will quickly and efficiently whisk away snow and ice whether for residential or for business locations. A&RJ Landscape prides itself on offering the very best in customer service, even in the worst of weather.

Now is the perfect time for us to roll out our new snow services. We want to be there to help our residential customers be secure against the dangers of unplowed sidewalks and driveways while also ensuring our corporate clients are able to provide the best winter experience possible for their own customers, said Karin Jackson, vice-president of A&RJ Landscape. This expansion was a natural fit for our company and really answers a demand from the people we serve - right when its needed most.

A&RJs offers expanded winter service beyond average plowing offerings.

Residential snow removal:

Commercial snow removal:

Other seasonal services include hardscapes, softscapes, landscape design and outdoor staging. Hardscape and landscaping specialties extend to paver patios, retaining walls, seating walls, outdoor kitchens, fire-pits, ornamental ponds, fountains, pergolas, driveways, walkways, putting greens, mailbox holders, light posts, cisterns, drainage, and more. A&RJ Landscape also offers tree and shrub planting, mulching, bed edging, yard clean up, fertilizing, irrigation, sod and grass seed, forest restoration, privacy tree fence rows, and gardens. ###

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Season’s Meetings Made Easier With Delaware and Columbus Ohio A&RJ Landscape Company's Timely Expansion Into Snow ...

Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo

Falls Navy Yard tragedy led members of Congress to take a closer look at the privately contracted security forces standing guard at about 9,600 facilities across the federal landscape.

Though the Federal Protective Service, which relies on about 13,500 of those guards, was not responsible for the facility where the Sept. 16 shooting took place, Homeland Security committees in both chambers are examining the FPS with renewed scrutiny.

During hearings called in the wake of the Navy Yard shooting, members questioned why the FPS, an agency within the Department of Homeland Security, has not yet acted on a number of recommendations from the Government Accountability Office.

Between 2010 and 2012, the GAO made 26 recommendations relating to FPS risk assessment programs and oversight of guards training, certifications and qualifications. The agency accepted half of those recommendations during fiscal 2013, FPS Director Eric Patterson told a Senate panel in December.

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., hopes to seize the renewed interest in federal facility security while the Navy Yard tragedy is still fresh in lawmakers minds. She called a September 2013 GAO report highlighting the lack of training on X-ray and magnetometer equipment and active shooter response, the final straw during a recent interview and said she plans to introduce a bill to overhaul the FPS early this year.

Details are still being hashed out, but Norton hopes to clarify how the FPS is monitored, require more transparency in the way each facility organizes its security and define the legal authority of contract guards.

They are your first responders. However, they have no more arrest authority than you or I, she said.

Recent legislative history suggests Norton might face an uphill battle to change the agency. Bills to overhaul the FPS have been proposed in both chambers every year since 2010. Former Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph I. Lieberman, I-Conn., moved a bill to modernize the FPS through the committee in 2010 and 2012, but the full Senate never voted on the bill.

Former House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., who now serves as ranking member on the committee, reintroduced an FPS overhaul bill in February 2013. He sponsored the nearly identical versions of the legislation in the 111th and 112th Congresses.

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Advocates Still Hope for Federal Protective Service Overhaul

The landscape for Steilacoom High School boys swimming has shifted.

Thats because Ben and James Scott have rattled the foundation and turned the Sentinels from a 2A SPSL afterthought and a program with no swimming pool into a state powerhouse, even if they still lack that home pool (they swim at either Clover Park or Lakes High School).

Upon seeing the team increase participation from 15 to 35 swimmers, James declared boys swimming the best (sports) team at Steilacoom. Its been great to be a part of this teams rise.

Since their arrival, the Sentinels record book has been rewritten. Ben broke six individual records last year, and James set the new mark for the 100-yard breaststroke. Ben, James, Andrew Gonzalez and Andrew Lamb also own the 200 medley, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay records.

Last season, Ben won a state championship in the 100 freestyle

and the 100 backstroke while Steilacoom had its highest team finish (fourth place) in the 2A state meet behind winner Archbishop Murphy. James finished fourth in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke.

They had a solid first season together, to say the least.

This season, Ben (five), a senior, and James (three), a sophomore, have already qualified for state in eight combined individual events. Both also qualified in the 200 medley relay along with Gonzalez and Lamb.

Ben and James have swimming in their blood, Sentinels coach Kathy Casey said. Theyve been swimming all their lives in club swim with their older brother Sammy. It just comes naturally for them.

Sammy Scott, Jr., a 2011 Steilacoom graduate who competes for Arizona State University mens swimming team, has been a driving force for both his younger brothers all their lives.

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Steilacoom brothers have swimming in their blood

By Steve Jacobs

Although it can be hard to tell here in San Diego, with our blue skies and t-shirt weather, it is winter. Most of us associate winter with the holidays, family time, and curling up by the fire, not with spending time in our gardens. Thats what spring and summer are for, right? Well, not necessarily. There are definitely things to do in the garden this time of the year. One is to prepare your garden for the freezing temperatures that have been forecasted to occur in a few weeks time. Also, there are steps you can take in winter to maintain the overall health of your garden. Heres a great list to keep your landscape in top form throughout the year:

If youre not satisfied with the results of your current landscape maintenance company, January is a great time to consult with Nature Designs to discuss improvements in your landscape.

For more information on what we can do for you, log ontohttp://naturedesigns.net/ or call us at(760) 945-4321.

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Short URL: http://www.ranchosantafereview.com/?p=29364

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Winter Tips for Your Rancho Santa Fe Landscape

CVS Caremark confirmed it has launched an agency creative review, which will include current shop Arnold. The Havas company won the account after a review in 2010, taking it over from crosstown Boston competitor Hill Holliday.

"With the changing consumer and health care landscape, we are evaluating advertising partners to encompass our entire suite of enterprise and retail needs, a company rep said in a statement. The incumbent agency, Arnold, will receive an RFP.

Arnold will defend, sources said. The search does not include media handled by GroupMs Mindshare, which won the business around the same time CVS hired Arnold. Boston-based Pile & Co. is handling the current review as it did the one in 2010.

An Arnold rep declined comment, referring calls to CVS and Pile & Co. execs didnt respond to inquiries. Sources said the review has just started.

As for the timing of the search, some observers point to the arrival of a new CVS president, Helena Foulkes, who is took on that role Jan. 1. A 20-year veteran of the company, Foulkes was most recently chief health care strategy and marketing officer, responsible for corporate strategy and enterprise marketing, government relations and communications. Foulkes' track record includes creation of ExtraCare, which CVS said is the industrys largest retail loyalty program with about 70 million active cardholders.

The review follows the loss of Volvo for Arnold last month. However the agency was named the creative lead for the PUR water filtration device in late December and, in October, landed ADT's creative duties.

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CVS Launches Creative Review

Jan. 7, 2014, 2:08 p.m.

SEE inside Debra and Geoff Dickson's energy smart home in Black Hill.

DEBRA and Geoff Dickson only moved into their Esmond Street house in February, but it's already one of the most important of their lives.

They started plans for the house soon after buying the Black Hill property with a cottage on it seven or eight years ago.

Their daughter, who was studying architecture at the time, designed the original layout before they worked with a local architect to perfect the details.

While the house was built, Debra and Geoff moved into the cottage. It was only meant to take two years, but ended up taking longer.

The home is the Dickson family's first build, although they have renovated several houses before.

"My husband has always been interested in building this was a dream for him," said Ms Dickson.

"It's nice to live in a brand new home that's fresh and clean."

The Dicksons last year enjoyed watching their son get married in the house with an intimate group of 24.

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Ballarat at Home: Building a home at Black Hill

Paula Shipley with her cat Mittens outside her Cherryville home that was destroyed in a Sunday fire.

Friends of a Cherryville woman who lost everything she owns in a house fire Sunday morning have set up a fund for others to provide help.

Paula Shipley was asleep about 12:30 a.m. when her kitten woke her up, alerting her to a fire that was consuming her mobile home. She and the cat escaped, but two of her other pets died and the home was a total loss.

Fire investigators say the cause is undetermined, but believe faulty wiring may have been to blame.

Anyone who wants to help can make a donation to the Paula Shipley Fire Fund at any Woodforest National Bank, which has branches inside the Wal-Mart stores in Cherryville, Shelby and Belmont.

Shipley is sleeping on the couch at her nephew and nieces home in Kings Mountain but said she is still in need of clothes and other basic necessities. She had to cut off much of her hair because it was burned while she was escaping her home.

She had insurance, but said shes learned shell only receive a nominal amount to replace all the things she lost.

Im very optimistic, said Shipley, who has a history of helping others and of fostering abused animals. I look at the fact that Im just blessed to have the kitten and blessed that Im alive.

Shipley can also be reached directly at 704-802-4004.

Reach Michael Barrett at 704-869-1826 or twitter.com/GazetteMike.

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Fund to help woman who lost home in fire

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (PRWEB) January 07, 2014

Waking up to a blanket of snow can be a beautiful sight but, as winter storms affect states throughout the country, not being prepared can put your home and your pocketbook at risk. Its not too late to keep your home safe and warm this winter season with these 10 tips from TotalProtect Home Warranty, a nationwide leader in home maintenance and protection plans.

When a cold snap hits, the last thing homeowners need is the worry of a broken furnace or frozen pipes, said Sandra Finn, president of TotalProtect. In 2012, the National Weather Service reported $15.6 million dollars in property damage during extreme cold temperatures. That is 181 percent more than during the hot months. Peace of mind is a powerful thing and a little upfront preparation can mean the difference between a stress-free or stress-filled winter.

Tune Up the Furnace: Fire up the furnace to ensure it is working properly. Licensed heating contractors can perform a routine maintenance check-up and make any necessary repairs to reduce breakdowns during a cold spell.

Dont Get Burned: Keep anything flammable three feet from portable or stationary heaters, and make sure to turn off space heaters when going to sleep or leaving a room. Always plug a space heater directly into the outlet, not into an extension cord or power strip.

Keep Water Moving Through Your Pipes: Keeping the temperature inside a home at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit will help keep pipes from freezing; frozen pipes can cause cracks and severe water damage. Should a storm hit and there is power loss, homeowners should turn faucets on to a slight drip; this will keep water moving through the pipes and prevent them from freezing.

Check Safety Alarms: Test carbon monoxide and fire safety alarms and install fresh batteries.

Add or Upgrade Insulation: Homeowners can keep the cold out by professionally insulating their home and caulking window cracks, as well as upgrading to storm windows, which help reduce heat loss up to 50 percent.

Prevent Ice Dams: Keeping an attic well ventilated is essential in preventing ice dams from forming on the roof. A warm attic will melt the snow on the roof, run down to the roofs edge and refreeze where it is much cooler. Ice that has built up and melted could force itself under the roof covering and down the walls, causing serious water damage.

Trim Those Trees: Pruning nearby trees will help prevent ice buildup, which can crack branches, clog gutters and damage the roof.

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Don’t Get Left in the Cold as Severe Weather Approaches This Winter

Home Security Infographic
Statistics from the FBI Crime Statistics about home security and home break ins.

By: medecolocks

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Home Security Infographic - Video