Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The proposed future site Affinity at Bellingham a four story, 154-unit apartment building for ages 55 and older, Monday, Dec. 23, 2013 at 341 Telegraph Road in Bellingham. MATTMCDONALDTHEBELLINGHAMHERALD|BuyPhoto

BELLINGHAM - Local investors are close to selling 7.8 acres off Meridian Street for construction of a 154-unit apartment building for baby boomers.

The current owner, Bayfield at Telegraph LLC, apparently will take a loss on the properties. The company, which includes more than a dozen investors primarily from Lynden, bought the properties between Telegraph and McLeod roads south of Home Depot for $4.74 million in March 2007, before the recession. The vacant land is listed on the Keller Williams Realty website at $2.95 million, with a sale pending.

"Somebody is coming in and is interested in purchasing it on the basis of that project that they just filed, I guess," said Henry Klos of Lynden, one of the minority owners. "Everything is still up in the air. They are doing their due diligence, testing the water."

The Inland Group of Spokane Valley proposes building Affinity at Bellingham, four stories of apartments for people 55 and older that would be similar to eight other projects the developer has built in Washington, Idaho and Colorado.

Bayfield at Telegraph initially hoped for a quicker turnaround and a profitable one. They ordered residents of a 22-unit mobile home park off the property in 2008, but the commercial-retail project proposed at the time fell through. The owner then put the properties on the market for $9.1 million that year. There were no buyers.

"We pulled it off the market and did a refinance so we could carry it," Klos said.

The Inland Group has filed four permit applications with the city, including an environmental review and a request to waive some of the standard requirements for improvements to Telegraph Road.

The standard environmental review includes air and water pollution, noise, light and traffic impacts. That part of Bellingham, near Bellis Fair mall, is already among the busiest in the county, and a new 99-room Oxford Suites hotel will be built a half-mile away.

"We're going to be looking closely at the review in terms of traffic impacts," city planner Steve Sundin said.

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Senior apartments proposed where Bellingham mobile-home park was removed

Published Dec 23, 2013 at 1:08 pm (Updated Dec 23, 2013)

Address: 21 West Gate Drive Price: $449,900 Taxes: $11,910 Agent: Kristi Anderson, Prudential gross & Jansen Highlands Realty, (973)764-5555

VERNON This gorgeous custom colonial with upgrades throughout.

An upgraded kitchen features granite countertops, breakfast bar, warming draw, tons of counter space and a double oven.

Custom woodwork, hardwood floors and granite tile are found throughout the home. Two fireplaces keep this home full of holiday cheer. A full finished basement with kitchen and full bath, a heated in-ground pool and fenced-in level rear yard are among the amenities in store for you.

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This is a great home for entertaining with two family rooms and two kitchens. A two-car attached garage and an amazing location just a stone's throw from Route 517 make this home perfect for commuters. The master bedroom is spacious with a full bath and walk-in closet.

Other great features include a security system, skylight and gorgeous patio and deck area, perfect for relaxing when the days grow warmer. Don't waste another minute in a home that is too small to meet your needs.

Twenty-one West Gate Drive is located in a gorgeous community that will make your family feel safe and secure. With just more than an acre of land that's all yours to enjoy with gorgoeus views of the mountains and all of the delights of Vernon Valley, this is a home that is not to be missed. You really have to see this one in person to believe all of the upgrades that have been done with you in mind.

Contact Kristi Anderson for an appointment by calling 973-764-5555 and get ready to enjoy the life you have been dreaming of living.

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Gorgeous colonial has upgrades throughout

Organization delivers free food packages for annual Christmas giveaway Organization delivers free food packages for annual Christmas giveaway

Updated: Tuesday, December 24 2013 5:31 PM EST2013-12-24 22:31:45 GMT

Updated: Tuesday, December 24 2013 5:28 PM EST2013-12-24 22:28:09 GMT

Updated: Tuesday, December 24 2013 5:27 PM EST2013-12-24 22:27:53 GMT

Updated: Tuesday, December 24 2013 5:22 PM EST2013-12-24 22:22:09 GMT

Updated: Tuesday, December 24 2013 5:21 PM EST2013-12-24 22:21:05 GMT

A group of community leaders in Georgia announced their opposition Monday to President Obama's nominations for the U.S. District Court's northern district of Georgia.

They say the proposed candidates do not reflect the diversity of the district.

"Some of those nominees have views and impulses that are out of step with citizens of the northern district of Georgia, and it's for this reason that we're asking President Obama to withdraw this slate and to restart with process that's open, transparent and inclusive," said Charles Johnson with Advocate for Action.

"Justice cannot be found in some secret deals and negotiation that shut the people out," said Rep. John Lewis (D). "Mr. President, the lives of the people in this state are hanging in the balance. We question whether this is the kind of legacy you want to leave in the state of Georgia. We believe it is not too late to turn this train around."

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Community leaders oppose President Obama’s Ga. judicial court nominations

DIY Flooring Installation
425-890-4649 | http://www.northseattleareahomes.com/miarticles/articleid/121/ - Explore a wealth of information that will help you better understand the fact...

By: Brad Thomsen

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DIY Flooring Installation - Video

KUALA LUMPUR: Kanger International Bhd (Kanger International), a China-based bamboo maker which made its debut on the ACE market yesterday, seeks to list on the main board in two to three years.

It is in talks with local real estate developers and hotel operators to supply its products, with a hotel in Sabah having adopted its offerings, managing director Leng Xingmin told reporters after the share debut here yesterday.

The company is expanding into Malaysia in the wake of growing competition in China, a market where Alliance Research estimates to have 200 bamboo flooring makers.

Malaysia has abundant supplies of bamboo but no one is tapping the resource, Leng said.

Although the demand for bamboo across the world is expected to pick up five per cent every year amid calls for the adoption of greener materials in industries such as construction, the material is underutilised in Malaysia, Leng said.

The listing would help Kanger promote the use of bamboo and increase brand awareness, he added. Kanger currently operates two plants in China and plans to set up a manufacturing plan here after the completion of a feasibility study by mid-2014.

The plant would allow it secure more supplies for customers in Malaysia and China, Leng said, declining to offer investment figures.

According to Alliance Research, it is too early for investors to be excited as there are substantial execution risks due to the intense competition within the industry.

Despite the eco-friendliness of bamboo flooring, consumers generally prefer hard flooring such as tiles and marble due to their durability and ease of installation, it said in a note.

There is also increasing consumer concern on the potential health risk from formaldehyde-based adhesives used in bamboo flooring products, the research firmsaid.

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Kanger International to list on main market in two to three years

Energy efficient updates are all the rage right now, but which ones will help you sell your home at a better price?

By Alexandra Gallucci CTW Features

Making green improvements on your home not only helps the environment, but it can also equate to sizable cost savings on your energy bill and your taxes. There are many options available when it comes to updating your home, but here are some points to consider if you want to determine which projects to tackle first.

Theres a lot of places you can start when remodeling or updating a home, especially if youre getting ready to sell it, but the main places are around energy efficiency, says Kane Sutphin, marketing director at TreeHouse, a green home improvement store in Austin, Texas. That helps customers find green alternatives to building and remodeling.

Homeowners are increasingly concerned with their energy bills, and for good reason. The average household spends at least $2,000 a year on energy costs more than half of which goes to heating and cooling, according to the most recent Buildings and their Impact on the Environment report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

For older homes, I think its very important that they have some of those upgrades because buyers whether theyd like a new home or theyre buying an older home are going to look at the energy costs, and the more they can save on energy costs, the more they can put toward the mortgage, so the more home they can buy, says Jim Liptak, regional vice president of the National Association of Realtors.

When it comes to energy efficiency, the most important improvement you can make on your home is to seal your air ducts, says Kristof Irwin, owner and lead building scientist of Positive Energy, a building science consulting company in Austin. Although duct sealing can be a difficult process, it can pay for itself in as few as three months, Irwin says.

Energy Star, the EPAs energy efficiency program, estimates that homeowners can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs by sealing air leaks and adding insulation to their attic.

Having a non-leaky air distribution system, which includes your ducts and your mechanical equipment itself, has positive effects for health, comfort, safety, durability and energy efficiency, Irwin says. Only after sealing your ducts should a homeowner consider investing in new HVAC equipment, he says. Energy Star recommends replacement of heating systems that are more than 15 years old. Todays high efficiency units operate at more than 90 percent efficiency. Regardless of the type or age of your equipment, changing your systems air filter every month will improve its efficiency.

But if youre looking to make less costly improvements, here are some suggestions:

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Greening to sell

Sandra Weese, Pepperlane co-owner, puts cloth tops on each bottle by hand. (Tom Wharton Photo)

Wanship When company founder Michele Trover began selling Pepperlane jellies in 1990, she worked out of small rented kitchens and even in the basement of the Wanship home she and her husband Mike built on the Old Lincoln Highway in this small Summit County town.

You might say the business has grown a bit. Nowadays, the Trovers and company co-owners Rod and Sandra Weese produce

14 varieties of the pepper-based jelly in a new state-of-the-art facility near the Trovers home.

Despite the new facility, each jar of jelly is produced by hand.

Rod Weese often begins his shift at 5:30 a.m., mixing 15 to 20 batches of one of the "condiments with a kick" the company produces.

On a recent day, after employee Elma Portillo hand-poured each batch into small glass jars, Rod quickly screwed on lids. Sandra, who is also the companys marketing and sales manager, labeled the jars and draped each one with the signature piece of hand-cut cloth.

Michele Trover said her 84-year-old neighbor Dot Young cuts each of those cloth squares.

The facility can produce about 500 bottles an hour, Rod Weese said. It uses about 5,000 pounds of sugar and 1,200 pounds of jalapeos each month.

On a normal day, the company produces 15 batches, but on this late December day, 20 were needed to meet demand from Associated Food Stores throughout Utah, other grocery stores in 17 Western states and catalogues such as Williams and Sonoma and Jackson and Perkins. The company also fills orders on its website, http://www.pepperlane.com.

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Utah pepper jelly business takes off in Summit County

Advances in LEDs and lithium-ion batteries have produced some unusual new flashlights.

Looking for a last-minute stocking stuffer? Technology improvements and cost reductions in LEDs (think indoor lighting) and lithium-ion batteries (think laptops and electric cars) are making for some very interestingand unusualflashlights.

These flashlights are dramatically brighter than any non-LED flashlight that I have ever used. The light comes from high-intensity devices such as the CREE XLamp XM-L. The XM-L can draw as much as 10 watts of power, which produces 1,040 lumens of output. Thats considerably brighter than a 60-watt incandescent bulb (which produces 800 lumens), but all of the light is collimate in a flashlight, so its more like a traditional outdoor floodlight.

Unlike the bulb in traditional flashlights, the CREE LED needs some electronics to drive it properly. Flashlight vendors have not passed up the chance to gild the lily. Most of the flashlights that Ive tested offer up to five different modes: high, medium, low, flashing, and SOS (three short flashes, three long, and three short again, corresponding to Morse code). Annoyingly, theres only a single switch, so you need to repeatedly press the button10 times!to cycle the between all the modes.

Most of these flashlights are based on the 18650 battery, a 3.6-volt lithium-ion battery thats a little longer than a traditional D cell and a little wider than an AA. The 18650 is best known for its use in Teslas racers, but it was previously used in laptops. Cars and laptops use multiple 18650s with solder tabs wired together. For flashlight use you get batteries with a button and flat top, just like a traditional flashlight battery. The 18650 requires a special charger; you can buy four generic 3,000-milliam-hour batteries for $7.86 on Amazon; each packs roughly the same power as two high-capacity rechargeable AAs. I bought a set of generics and had one fail, so be sure to buy a few extra.

Some of flashlights can run on either a lithium-ion or standard alkaline AA or AAA batteriesuseful for an emergency light you might leave in your car, since alkaline batteries can hold a charge for years. In my tests I got anywhere from two to six hours of continuous use on a flashlight depending on the mode. Frequently I could turn the flashlight off for a few hours and then get a few more minutes of high-power output when I turned it back on. Like conventional flashlights, the LEDs will slowly fade as you use them; be sure to have a spare pair of charged batteries ready to go.

There are quite a few of these flashlights on the market now from a variety of manufacturers. Items of differentiation include the number of modes, the zoom lens (from spotlight to wide-angle), the brightness of the LED, and the number of batteries.

I bought a selection of the flashlights from Amazon and tried them out. I dont have a lumens meter, so the specs are from the website.

UltraFire CREE XML-L T6This flashlight with a bronzed tip and five modes weighs 140 grams and is 13 centimeters long, so it fits nicely in the hand. It comes with a wrist strap. The CREE T6 bulb produces 1,800 lumens. I got more than five hours of output on low, which was still plenty bright.

Ultrafire W-878This versatile flashlight can be powered by an 18650 battery, a 26650 battery, or three AAA batteries. (The 26650 is larger still than the 18650 and packs 5,000 milliamp-hours or more.) Five modes, 196 grams, 14 centimeters lomg, with wrist strap. Reportedly delivers 1,000 lumens.

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Flashes of Inspiration

Our Vision: People living and working in thriving communities beyond the Earth, and the use of the vast resources of space for the dramatic betterment of humanity.

The Society publishes Ad Astra magazine and maintains an active global network of volunteers and local chapters. Membership and participation are open to all. Join the space movement, and help build a positive future for humanity!

2014 Legislative Blitzes: Washingon DC in February, Home Districts in August

Washington Legislative Blitz February 23-25, 2014: The National Space Society will be participating in the Space Exploration Alliance (SEA) 2014 legislative blitz in Washington DC in February. NSS encourages all members to sign up for and participate in the SEA Blitz as described at http://www.exploremars.org/space-exploration-alliance-blitz-2014 from Rick Zucker of Explore Mars. Dale Skran, Deputy Chair of the NSS Policy Committee will be coordinating NSS members as needed. Please send him a short email message at dalelskranllc@gmail.com indicating you plan to participate when you sign for the Blitz.

The Space Exploration Alliance includes groups ranging from NSS and Explore Mars to AIAA, the Moon Society, the Mars Society, the Planetary Society, the National Society of Black Engineers, SEDS, and Buzz Aldrin's ShareSpace Foundation. The major goal of the SEA blitz from an NSS perspective will be to provide as much support for the NASA budget as possible during these difficult budgetary times. Now is the time to stand up for space and be counted. We look forward to seeing you in Washington, DC, February 23-25, 2014.

Home District Legislative Blitz August 2014: If you live too far from Washington to participate in the 2014 SEA Blitz, NSS is currently planning on organizing a "home district" blitz later in the year, probably during August when Congress is in recess and members of Congress are in their home districts. If you are interested in participating in the home district visits please send an email to Dale Skran at dalelskranllc@gmail.com. This email should contain your contact information. By doing so, you are giving permission for a statewide coordinator to contact you for purposes of organizing home district visits.

Additionally, we are seeking at least one volunteer to coordinate visits in each state. If you are interested, please send an email to that effect to Dale Skran at the email address above. We especially encourage multiple volunteers for larger states such as California and Texas. Thanks for your support.

Roadmap to Space Settlement 2014 International Student Art Contest

The National Space Society is looking for student artists to create illustrations for the NSS Roadmap to Space Settlement. Submitted artwork should REALISTICALLY illustrate one of this year's two themes: Asteroid Settlement or Building a Space Settlement. All full-time students at any grade level between the ages of 12 and 25 are eligible. The deadline for submissions is March 16, 2014. See our contest web pages for information about prizes and submission requirements.

National Space Society Congratulates SpaceX on First Successful GEO Transfer Mission

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National Space Society - Official Site

SAN MARCOS A second mixed-use housing project this one featuring 416 apartments, retail space and a park is being proposed along the Sprinter line in San Marcos, bolstering the citys efforts to concentrate new housing near existing transportation corridors.

The project, which the City Council is scheduled to discuss and possibly approve Jan. 14, would be built just east of 370-unit Palomar Station, the first transit-oriented housing on the 22-mile Sprinter rail line.

Were glad to be among the first cities on the Highway 78 corridor to embrace this concept, Assistant City Manager Lydia Romero said Monday. This project will help transform the area from industrial to a walkable, livable vibrant community.

Like Palomar Station, which has been under construction since spring, the new project would include retail stores in addition to housing to encourage residents to shop where they live. It would be built just south of state Route 78 on 12 acres of former industrial land near Palomar College and the Las Posas Road shopping district.

In addition to apartments and 15,000 square feet of retail space, the project would include a 1.3-acre neighborhood park. About half of the apartments would be one-bedroom units, boosting the projects appeal to students and employees at the college and nearby Cal State San Marcos.

The project which would be called Davia Village and developed by Milano Holdings would be four stories tall: three levels of housing above one level of surface parking.

Community leaders predicted many such projects would sprout up along the Sprinter when it began operating in 2008, but the Great Recession stifled nearly all housing development for several years.

Experts say projects like Palomar Station and Davia Village will help shift North County away from sprawling subdivisions toward smart growth.

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Transit-oriented housing proposed