Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

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

SHE SPRUCED up the garage with colorful parol and boughs of holly. INQUIRER/GRIG MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines Actress Tessie Tomas inexplicably shed tears when work was done on the heirloom home she bought and started restoring in June 2011. Designed by National Artist for Architecture Pablo Antonio, the two-story structure stands in a bustling neighborhood somewhere in Pasay City.

To cut down on costs, Tessie took a hands-on approach. There were at least 10 workers here every day for three months, she relates. In the home stretch, I was supervising the workers every day.

Six months later, during the blessing, Tessie found herself crying again, this time from sheer exhaustion.

Like a person

I would sometimes talk to the house as if it were a person. I felt so close to it, she says.

BREAKFAST nook by the waterfalls features more antique pieces. INQUIRER/GRIG MONTEGRANDE

She took a break from show biz to devote all her creative energies to the restoration.

Since the man who designed the house was a pioneer in modern Philippine architecture, Tessie made sure not to tamper with the original design. We didnt change the tiles; we just cleaned them. Some friends thought the flooring was vinyl; actually, they are stone tiles.

She was awed by the woodwork on the stairs, doors, beamsall narra. Even if you stomp your feet on the floor or bang the doors, you wont hear a thing, she insists.

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Season of Serenity

"I bowed down to the lord. Before, I was sleeping anywhere I could but I don't have to live like that, no."

Robert Lee Turner was sleeping in the gazebo at Pointdexter Park just a few weeks ago. Now, he lives in this house on Sunrise Drive. House of Restoration operates out of the home. The group provided Christmas meals to 45 homeless people this year, but it's a year-round effort that provides meals at Jackson-area parks and bus stops.

"We took them food and Christmas bags to show them we love them," Minister Ricky Canipe. The mission serves meals three days a week and they need your help to re-fill the food pantry, but the biggest need is for a stove to cook warm meals. The mission runs on donations.

Turner says finding this place changed his life, "Three weeks ago I was in the park and it was going to be 25 degrees and these people came and took my hand and said sir you're not going to sleep out here tonight."

You can donate to the House of Restoration at 4326 Sunset Drive in Jackson or by calling Minister Ricky Canipe at 601-260-9512.

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Providing a home for the Homeless

Members of the grassroots organization Ridgewood Eastside Development (RED) have been tackling the potential development of the Schedler property from various angles, with safety and planning taking the forefront. But the future of the site's most notable feature, the 1830s-style Dutch wood frame home, is drawing extra attention from the group as well as others outside of the area.

MARION BROWN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The Ridgewood Council has started its discussions on future development of the Schedler property and the potential uses of the nearly 200-year-old house at the site.

Historians date the construction of the home's main section to the 1830s, though the existing kitchen wing might have predated 1825. The four separate parcels at the Schedler tract, in fact, played site to a Revolutionary battle and have yielded artifacts from that time.

Despite its seemingly historic significance, the house was not included in the discussions and the subsequent county grant application that Ridgewood filed as it was acquiring the property in 2009.

"The original discussion with the governing body was about adding to the open space inventory and a look toward active recreation at the time. It was also understood to put it into inventory because there was no money at the time," said Councilman Tom Riche, the council representative to the Open Space Committee.

Two conceptual baseball field proposals that have emerged in recent months for the Schedler site indicate no further use of the home, suggesting its demolition. That notion has raised both fear and anger among RED members, who claim its unique character and rare construction are a treasure to the town. Hoping to preserve the home, RED has been working with the Bergen County Historical Society (BCHS) and the Ridgewood Historic Preservation Commission (HPC).

The BCHS has expressed interest in using the Zabriskie-Schedler home, which was last used by Florence Smith Schedler until her death in 2007. Earlier this fall, the county group pitched to the Village of Ridgewood the idea of using the vacant structure for its library and archives, including historical manuscripts, maps, deeds, wills and books, among other items.

In an October letter from the BCHS' Board of Trustees, a copy of which was obtained by The Ridgewood News, the group indicated that it would fund an overall assessment of the home and is "willing to invest additional donations in its restoration." The historical society's board also passed a resolution declaring its desire to use the house.

But, according to board trustee and local historian Peggy Norris, the village's response to the group indicated that the proposed use of the house "was incompatible with the open space easement" that currently exists on the property. The easement suggests the building should be used either for environmental education purposes or as a complement to a sports facility, such as a field house.

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Groups fighting to save Ridgewood's Schedler house

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Clearwater, FL (PRWEB) December 23, 2013

This is the time of year when homeowners start planning for outdoor living spaces and how to upgrade them. The trend for lanais and decks is to bring the comforts of the indoors to the outside, according to Dave Baccari, president of SouthernStone Cabinets, Inc. However, amenities, such as outdoor kitchens complete with stonework ovens and stainless steel grills, require materials that offer the lowest possible maintenance and durability. For his 2014 outdoor cabinet collection, Baccari has chosen top of the line high density polyethylene (HDPE) and PVC materials in a selection of door styles. Vycoms Seaboard and AZEK material from its sister company CPG Building Products, provide great looks and also hold up to the harshest weather and temperature extremes.

Seaboard is an HDPE material that lends itself well to our designs, said Baccari. The material is low maintenance and easy to clean, standing up to the wear and tear of outdoor environments, he said. The AZEK material is made of cellular PVC and stands up to weather extremes. As outdoor living areas become larger and more elaborate, alternatives to wood and metal can provide long-term durability with beautifully crafted looks.

According to Baccari, Seaboard and AZEK provide weather-resistant surfaces that will not rust, rot, corrode, delaminate or splinter over time. They are the perfect replacements for wood and greatly contribute to a low-maintenance, easy outdoor lifestyle. In addition to using materials that do not absorb moisture, Baccari also uses stainless steel hardware for his cabinets.

SouthernStone features nine different door styles in eight colors ranging from a contemporary, slab design to a grooved panel, shaker style door, as well as complete customization of cabinet size and depth. With Seaboard cabinet box colors of Polar White, Mercury Gray, Black, Sandshade, and Seafoam, theres no need for painting. AZEK is available in standard white. All of our Seaboard doors are produced internally using CNC routing equipment for a long-lasting, well-designed look, said Baccari.

In SouthernStones market area of Florida and the Caribbean, it is evident that despite heat, sunlight and summer rains, they can deliver a product that will withstand all that Mother Nature can throw at it. But what do these alternative materials run in cost? Baccari sums it up: We need to educate homeowners that although HDPE and PVC may cost a bit more upfront, they will actually see a return on investment very quickly, because of the way wood deteriorates and becomes an expensive maintenance nightmare with labor, repair and replacement costs.

To learn more about these finely crafted outdoor cabinetry designs, visit http://www.southernstonecabinets.com. For more about AZEK, visit http://www.azek.com and Vycoms Seaboard, http://www.vycomplastics.com/seaboard.php.

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SouthernStone Cabinets, Inc., Features Seaboard and AZEK Materials in 2014 Weather-Resistant Outdoor Cabinet Designs

Columbus, Ohio (PRWEB) December 24, 2013

While Columbus, Ohio roofing contractors do a lot of work during the warmer months, many are called out throughout the winter. The winters here are mild compared to northern parts of the state, but the snow, ice, wind, and freezing rain can still hit pretty hard. Many homeowners are distraught when the winter weather damages their roof and they should be. However, they are far from powerless and at the mercy of the first roofer who shows up. Atlas Roofing is a roofing company in Columbus, Ohio that can provide customers with a fast and affordable fix. These tips should help to avoid some of the more common problems seen on the job, preventing the need to call a roofer this winter.

Keeping the roof clean and in good repair cannot be stressed enough. Homeowners need to inspect and clean their roofs at least twice a yearafter the snow thaws and before it falls. This is basic work that includes washing down the roof, removing any debris, fixing or replacing tiles and shingles, and cleaning the gutters. Missing or damaged tiles or shingles can allow water to enter into the inside of the roof. When the temperature drops, that water freezes. The ice then expands, pushing out and further damaging the roof. The same is true if the gutters are not clean. The water will back up, freeze and rip gutters away from the home or even just pushing ice into the underside of the roof which then travels down the interior walls creating water damage through the various levels of the home.

Better attic insulation is going to help by keeping the interior of the attic warmer. That means the interior of the roof is warmer. This then means that homeowners have less ice accumulating on their roofs through the winter.

It is also important to remember to keep an eye on branches near the roof. These often need trimmed back so that they are not scraping against the roof, dropping debris and sap onto the roof. When snow and ice accumulates on those branches, it also makes it more likely that the branches will snap, falling and doing damage to the roof.

In any event, if someone does have roof damage or a roof leak, they want to keep water off of it as best as possible. Invest in some blue tarps and bricks. The bricks can anchor down tarps that are spread out on the roof until an experience roofer can come out for the roofing repairs. This is only a temporary fix, though, and should not be used for more than a few short days.

Those in need of a new roof or roofing repair in Columbus, Ohio or the surrounding area should contact Atlas Roofing today for a free quote by calling (614) 420-2333.

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Tips for Winter Roof Repair from Atlas Roofing in Columbus