Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Tacoma, WA (PRWEB) December 13, 2013

The results are in: BUILDER magazine has named Milgard Windows & Doors 2014 Most Used Vinyl Brand for windows in the nation. The recognition was based on this years Brand Use Study and distinguishes Milgard as a BUILDER Brand Leader.

A sample of over 74,000 builders, builder/developers and general contractors across the United States were surveyed on the brands they use. Milgard came out on top for vinyl windows for the fifth time.

It is a real honor, says Brian Jones, vice president of marketing for Milgard Windows & Doors. Milgard is committed to providing the best quality, service, and value in the industry, and we are grateful and proud to hear that building professionals continue to choose Milgard as their go-to brand for windows and doors.

Milgard vinyl windows are currently available in four product lines: Tuscany Series, Montecito Series, Style Line Series and Quiet Line Series. As a vertically integrated company, Milgard produces vinyl frame materials in house. This enables the company to closely monitor quality.

Milgard has earned multiple recognitions throughout the years for its products including International Design Excellence (IDEA) awards for the SmartTouch window lock and door handle. Milgard engineers are known for industry-leading window designs that feature Milgard-patented technologies.

The annual BUILDER Brand Use Study originated in 1998 and is conducted by an independent research company. Milgard vinyl windows has been recognized by the annual study as Best Quality Vinyl Window eight times and Most Used Vinyl Window five times including this year. For more information about Milgard vinyl windows and other products, visit Milgard.com.

About Milgard Windows & Doors Milgard Windows & Doors, a Masco company based in Tacoma, Washington, offers a full line of vinyl, wood, fiberglass and aluminum windows and patio doors for builders, dealers and homeowners, all backed by a Full Lifetime Warranty, including parts and labor. The company has been recognized for manufacturing the nations highest quality vinyl windows eight times in a yearly survey sponsored by Hanley-Wood Inc., publishers of BUILDER Magazine. Milgard has approximately 3,800 dealer locations nationwide. For more information, visit milgard.com or call 1.800.MILGARD.

About Masco Corporation Headquartered in Taylor, Michigan, Masco Corporation (NYSE: MAS) is one of the worlds largest manufacturers of brand-name consumer products for the home and family. Masco is also a leading provider of services that include the installation of insulation and other building products. For more information, visit masco.com or call 313.274.7400.

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Excerpt from:
Milgard Named 2014 Most Used Vinyl Brand

Many buyers in Vail buy their property intending to generate some cash flow by short terming the property out when they are not here. Some properties have front desks and operate as full blown hotels, providing maid service and other hotel-like services. These properties are viewed by lenders as condo-tels, meaning condominiums that operate like a hotel.

In other cases, owners either make their own rental and management arrangements through a management company or go it on their own via sites like http://www.vrbo.com (which stands for vacation rental by owner, and I understand was started by a guy over in Breckenridge).

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which fund the majority of the mortgages in the U.S., do not like to lend on condominiums that condone or encourage short-term rental activity. The reason for this has always been rather foggy, but its the rule, and these days theres little getting around the rules.

While properties such as the Charter in Beaver Creek or the Lodge at Vail are obvious condo-tel properties, if a lender plans to sell a loan to Fannie or Freddie, then he has to make very sure the property is not going to be deemed a condo-tel after the loan is closed. This means that lenders must make considerable inquiries to the HOA and research the property online to see if there is short-term rental activity in the building. Lenders do this many ways they may Google the address to see if a rental listing pops up, call a local management company to see if they can book a stay there or search sites such as http://www.vrbo.com to try and find a unit for rent in the building.

This has resulted in many local condo complexes being deemed off limits for Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loans. When this happens, owners and buyers will have to get what is known as a portfolio loan (one that is not sold to Fannie or Freddie).

The first problem is there are very few lenders that want to hold a loan on their books for the next 30 years, and if they do, then they cant realistically lock a rate in for 30 years because they dont have access to raising money to lend via selling an investor a 30-year fixed rate bond. In many cases they are lending depositors money out, or money they borrowed for shorter terms by leveraging their assets with the Federal Reserve Bank.

In addition, these loans do not have a backstop of a mortgage insurance company or the federal government. If the bank takes a bath, then they lose their own money. Not surprisingly, the above issues actually make banks more cautious about what they loan, for how much, how long and to whom.

This means that loans for condo-tel properties generally require a larger down payment (generally 25 percent) and wont be a long-term fixed rate. The term of the loan can be for 30 years, but the rate will generally be fixed for five to seven years and adjust annually thereafter.

Chris Neuswanger is a mortgage loan originator with Macro Financial Group in Avon and may be reached at 970-748-0342. He welcomes mortgage related inquiries from readers.

More here:
Vail Daily column: Financing a condo-tel purchase can be challenging

A 24-year-old Lebanon man has been jailed on assault charges after a domestic dispute with his girlfriend, police said.

Nelson Rodriguez was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault and terroristic threats and placed in county prison on $75,000 bail, police said Friday.

Police were dispatched to the 600 block of Chestnut Street at 12:18 p.m. Dec. 5 for a domestic dispute. Rodriguez's girlfriend, who was not identified, told police Rodriguez held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her. She told police she cut her hand when she tried to grab the knife.

Rodriguez fled from the house, but police apprehended him in the 1300 block of Church Street, police said.

public drunkenness >> Orpha Hearn, 31, Myerstown, was charged after an incident at 2:05 a.m. Dec. 7 near South Sixth and Walton streets, police said Friday.

retention of librARY PROPERTY >> Four people have been charged with failing to return library materials after they had been given 30 days notice, police said Friday. Charged were: Billy Jo Keyser, 37, Lebanon; Ines Franco, 32, Lebanon; Andrea Turner, 39, Lebanon; and Chrystal Watson, 25, North Cornwall Township.

theft of leased property >> Three people have been charged with obtaining property from Rent-A-Center, 745 E. Cumberland St., under a lease agreement, making initial payment and failing to make additional payments or return the property, police said Friday. Charged were: Ashley Wood, 26, Palmyra, television valued at $1,400; Andrea Cox, 43, Wernersville, television valued at $700; and Maria Santiago, no age listed, Lebanon, television and laptop computer valued at $3,000.

noise ordinance violation >> Luisa Ramirez, 22, Lebanon, was charged after an incident at 1:35 a.m. Monday at Brookside Apartments, police said.

defiant trespass >> Chelsea Hoover, 20, Lebanon, was charged with entering a property in the 600 block of North Ninth Street at 9:10 a.m. Oct. 24 after she had been notified against trespassing, police said Friday. She was also charged with criminal mischief, accused of causing damage to a door window at the home.

criminal mischief >> Alejandro Vazquez, 28, Lebanon, was charged with kicking and damaging a vehicle during a dispute with a neighbor in the 1000 block of Willow Street at 9:16 a.m. Dec. 3, police said Friday.

The rest is here:
Police blotter, 12/15

Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) December 13, 2013

Tired of having to stop mowing the lawn several times on hot summer days to walk into the house for a cool drink? Fortunately, an inventor from Bloomer, Wis., has found the solution. With his invention there is no need to interrupt such a task or make frequent stops while traveling to get additional cool beverages.

TOUCAN COOLER was developed to keep three drinks cool and accessible simultaneously. It is designed for use in cars, trucks, lawn mowers, tractors, sports vehicles, boats, lawn chairs or anything else equipped with a cup holder.

Besides being convenient, this lightweight accessory is also easy to install and use.

The inventor thought of the idea while mowing his lawn. "One can of pop was never enough for the job," he said. "Since most mowers and tractors have only a single cup holder, I wanted to find a way to carry more beverages and keep them cool."

The original design was submitted to the Edina office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 12-MMB-2127, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.

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Original post:
Portable Cooler for Travel, Work, Recreation Invented by InventHelp Client (MMB-2127)

But the ideas Nolen presented are as relevant today as they were then, argues Bob Callans, a Little Rock landscape architect. For years, Callans has pushed for Nolens vision to get more recognition and for one idea in particular to be realized. Nolens plan saw Capitol Avenue as a ceremonial boulevard and called for an iconic structure at its eastern end to compliment the state Capitol building on the west end. For nearly 30 years, Callans has called for that iconic structure to be some kind ofgateway to the city, something you could identify Little Rock with from a distance that, as you come into town, you then actually go through it.

It wasnt the right time, Callans said, but with everything going on in the River Market and on Main Street, now is the right time.

Today 100 years to the day and in the same building Callans and the StudioMainbuilding and landscape architects cooperative announced to a gathering in the rotunda at City Hall the winners of their collaborative Envision Little Rock 2013 Ideas Competition.

"It's been a long time coming," Callans told the 30 or so people assembled in the rotunda. He then quoted a line from Nolen's proposal: "A certain complement of fresh air, of open space, of touch with nature, proves in the experience of cities vitally essential for wholesome development." Each of five winning designs took the landscape architect's vision to heart.

The overall professional winner was Fayetteville architect John Krug, whose "Gateway Twin Towers" features tall curving commas on either side of I-30 that would frame the Capital on the west and a roundabout centered with a sculpture on the east.

The overall amateur award went to two UA third-year architecture students, Adel Vaughn and Mary Patterson, for "Silver Spire," which would place a looming, twisting spire in a park just east of Interstate 30 on Capital Avenue as the iconic balance to the Capitol. The aluminum structure would reflect the lights of the city and could be ascended for a view of downtown Little Rock.

A total of 5,800 people participated in a people's vote, choosing Krug's "Gateway" (Envisioning an Icon category), Chris Sheppard's "Urban Greenway" (Establishing Connections) and Maury Mitchell's "Agri-city" (The Wild Card). Each won $250. The public voting prizes were funded by the Arkansas chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

James Meyer, of Witsell Evans and Rasco architects and a member of StudioMain, said the idea for the contest which ran from May 15 until July 15 was to get people thinking about the gateway idea and other ways to beautiful the city in what he called "performative" ways that is, functional.

There were 11 final entries. The design points the jurors were looking for included "recognition of John Nolans 1913 Plan for the city of Little Rock, a large/iconic solution; something characteristic/endemic of Arkansas, think sense of place; represent the face of Little Rock, become memorable; terminal point of Capitol Ave, visual/metaphorical dynamic with the Capitol, multi-use structure and high functionality is always good!"

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Envision Little Rock winners announced

(PRWEB) December 14, 2013

Outdoor Kitchen Design NJ

Outdoor kitchens are a great way to maximize the usage of space on your property as well as the time your family and friends can spend enjoying your backyard. They can provide a welcoming outdoor space for people to gather and peacefully wind down at the end of a long work day, or be a very functional and important focal point when hosting guests for a party or get together. Either way an outdoor kitchen can be one of the most rewarding additions to your backyard and should not be overlooked when rethinking the look and functionality of your property.

There are some exciting new features related to the outdoor kitchens, living and eating areas for 2014 that can make spending extended time outdoors even more comfortable and pleasant than it ever was. These features include radiant heating systems, televisions on lifts, surround sound systems and LED lighting fixtures.

The ability to still use your outdoor kitchen or bar late into the fall season and early in the spring season is possible through the use of radiant heating systems. The radiant heating system will heat the stones of your outdoor patio to near 90 degrees either through electricity or by pumping hot water through hidden pipes between and under the patio stones. The heated stones will aid in maintaining a more enjoyable microclimate on your patio as the weather starts to get cooler. In winter months the radiant heat melts the snow making the grill easy accessible.

Installing an outdoor TV in your outdoor kitchen or bar is another great way to lengthen the enjoyment of spending time outdoors in your own backyard. The TV will give you the option to stay outside longer and watch your favorite TV shows on a beautiful night instead of retreating indoors. It can also be the center of attention during a big sports game on the weekends or for watching movies with family friends. The beauty about installing a TV attached to a hydraulic lift is that you can hide and protect the TV when it is not in use. This way it wont stick out and detract from the view of your backyard, and can be protected from any harm caused by children or the environment.

Using a built in surround sound system in your outdoor kitchen design would help to enhance the experience of sitting outdoors. The outdoors tends to be noisier than sitting inside the walls of your home, so a surround system makes sure you hear everything at a comfortable level. It can also be hooked up to your favorite music adding to the experience and enjoyment you get from spending time in your backyard.

Finally, LED lighting when installed properly and used in the correct way, can enhance and show off many aspects of your beautiful outdoor kitchen. Aesthetically it will make your outdoor living space more pleasing as the sun begins to set and day turns into night. Functionally, LED lighting will also save you a significant amount of money in energy cost since they operate at 90% efficiency. This allows you to extend the lighting usage needed to make your walkways and outdoor kitchen safe for nighttime use. Another benefit of the LED fixtures is that they carry an extended warranty of 10-15 years for the unit as well as the bulb.

As individual items these are all great new features to enhance your backyard and maximize the usage of your property. Combined together they can create an incredible experience that will provide endless hours of return for your family as well as wow any guests that visit.

Celebrating over 24 years in business, 14-time international award winner Cipriano Landscape Design distinguishes themselves from all other swimming pool & landscaping companies with their extensive experience. The Mahwah, NJ company provides more than just a pool installation. As a recognized national leader in custom residential & commercial landscaping, masonry, swimming pools and water features, the NJ firm has been offering complete estate transformations since 2001. With a design office headed by 15-year-veteran, Certified Landscape Architect William Moore, the Cipriano team has won 75 awards of excellence since 2006 and in 2013 was named By Pool And Spa News to the "Top 50 Pool Builders. NJ Custom Swimming Pools

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New Outdoor Kitchen Design Ideas For 2014- Bergen County NJ

London, UK (PRWEB) December 13, 2013

The European market for medical devices was worth about USD 95 billion in 2009. Fragmented reimbursement environment and stringent regulatory landscape in Europe are the major challenges in the European medical devices market. Meantime, novel approval pathways, the expanding pool of potential patients, and rapidly ageing population open up promising possibilities for the regional market. Germany and the Netherlands capture the biggest shares of the total market for higher-technology medical devices in Europe.

Europe ranks the worlds second leading market for medical devices. The cumulative value of Europes market for medical devices is anticipated to grow at a 7% CAGR through 2016. By end of the forecast period it is poised to go beyond USD 150 billion.

In-demand research reports bundle Europe Medical Device Market Reports elaborated by Espicom Business Intelligence has been recently published by Market Publishers Ltd.

Report Bundle Details:

Title: Europe Medical Device Market Reports Published: September, 2013 Price:US$ 24,864.00 http://marketpublishers.com/report/life_sciences/medical_devices/europe-medical-devices-reports.html

The reports bundle uncovers expert analysis and valuable information on the key European markets for medical devices. It contains comprehensive analyses of 32 country markets, each covering the historical background and the actual performance of the industry. Every country market profile outlines the main risks related to the countrys business environment, characterizes the influencing macroeconomic trends, presents insights into the domestic market landscape, describes the regulative framework and identifies the key industry growth prospects. Each report presents a summary of the recent industry trends and developments, pinpoints the most promising growth sectors, evaluates the main market threats and opportunities, and thoroughly discusses the important industry related issues. In addition, detailed forecasts for each country market are available in the research reports bundle.

The country markets covered in the report include: Austria, Greece, Russia, Belarus, Hungary, Serbia, Belgium, Ireland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Latvia, Spain, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Estonia, Norway, Turkey, Finland, Poland, United Kingdom, France, Portugal, Ukraine, Germany, and Romania.

Kea Reasons to Buy:

More insightful research report bundles and separate reports by the publisher can be found at Espicom page.

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European Medical Product Markets Reports Bundle by Espicom Business Intelligence Available at MarketPublishers.com

Stockton home of 12-year-old in coma gets major retrofitting

Roy Vazquez Jr. is shown in a family photo in August, a day before a ruptured brain artery rendered him comatose.Hector Vazquez

December 14, 2013 12:00 AM

STOCKTON - Sylvia Vazquez wants to bring her son home for Christmas.

John Shores, George Koertzen and a dozen or so building trades volunteers are doing everything in their power to make that happen.

And 12-year-old Roy Vazquez Jr. is demonstrating those signs of hope - independent breathing, opening his eyes - that could make that dream a reality.

Roy Vazquez Jr. is a seventh-grader at Hazelton Elementary. The school is selling T-shirts with his bucket list printed on them as a fundraiser. The family still faces daunting financial challenges. "Our son will require many things insurance doesn't provide," said Sylvia Vazquez, Roy's mother. "Diapers, personal care items, bedding, disposable bed pads." To help, you can:

Call: (209) 933-7210

Visit or write: Hazelton Elementary, 535 W. Jefferson St., Stockton CA 95206

Online: Get a T-shirt at Etsy.com ("Calianimal" in search box).

Original post:
'God's blessings' for stricken boy's family

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December 13th, 2013 2:03 pm by Associated Press

CATAWBA, N.C. The scheduled burning of the million-dollar home once owned by former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield as part of a fire training exercise has been canceled.

Chief Donald Robinson of the Catawba Volunteer Fire Department said Saturday's scheduled burning was called off because of the threat of rain. Firefighters had said previously that rain would not prevent the burning from taking place.

Robinson said the house was in such bad shape firefighters couldn't conduct any of the practice drills inside. He also said the new owner doesn't want to keep the house, adding that the house will either be burned down or torn down.

State officials kicked Mayfield off the land in November 2012. Catawba County sheriff's deputies changed the locks on the doors. Carolina Farm Credit received an order that month transferring the land and buildings to the company. Court records show the bank bought the land for $1,725,000.

The windows and the wiring have been stripped from the home. Drywall and other building materials are now exposed.

Mayfield was suspended from driving in 2009 after testing positive for methamphetamine. He is facing a variety of charges.

CATAWBA, N.C. The million-dollar home once owned by former NASCAR driver Jeremy Mayfield is scheduled to be burned to the ground as part of a fire training exercise.

The Catawba County Fire Marshal's Office said the 12,000-square-foot unfinished house will be burned down on Saturday.

Read the rest here:
Update: Threat of rain cancels burning of Mayfield's former home

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) December 13, 2013

Having recently locked up the exclusive dealership rights to the metro Phoenix area, Republic West Home is now ready to go full ahead in promoting a new product to the customers they service.

Tank Paint, billed as the worlds toughest paint, is now available as an alternative to the house painting cycle which many homeowners endure. With Tank Paint of Phoenix, their skilled crew matches any color desired and paints the home with a ceramic and elastomeric based home which features a lifetime warranty; eliminating the need to ever paint your house again.

Applied to the home like a normal paint job, Tank Paint of Phoenix undergoes a thorough preparation and application process when applying the product which ends up drying up to 10x thicker than normal paint. This exclusive product acts like a coat of armor for your home, becoming virtually impenetrable from moisture and warranted against chipping, peeling and cracking.

Tank Paint is a great new addition to our product line and were thrilled to start offering it to our Phoenix area customers, explained Michael Zimmerman, owner of Republic West Home.

Republic West Home is a licensed, bonded and insured contractor servicing Scottsdale and Phoenix, AZ as well as all surrounding cities. Free roofing estimates can be obtained by calling (480) 423-9300.

About Republic West Home: Republic West Home is a company that stands for quality, honesty and the best value. Our vision, in an industry often lacking ethics and reliability, is to deliver the best home improvement experience possible.

To deliver the best possible experience before, during and after the completion of your project, an extensive team of professionals was put in place: employees driven to make the home improvement experience a great one for you, our customers. The formula works and the pleasant experiences we create for our customers have paid off. In an industry where repeat business averages less than 5%, Republic West Home and our 15,000+ clients generate an amazing 50% of our business from previous customers and referrals.

For additional information, please call 480-423-9300 or visit http://www.republicwesthome.com.

Media contact: Jason W. Jantzen Phoenix Marketing Associates http://www.PhoenixMarketingAssociates.com

Link:
Painting Contractor in Phoenix, Republic West Home, Offers New Permanent Ceramic House Paint