Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

By NAPSDecember 13, 2013 12:00 am

(NAPS)While you probably dont think much about electrical outlets, you should know that theres a whole new generation of receptacle wall boxes and accessories that can make your life easierand safer.

Heres a look at just a few of the more interesting functional electrical wall boxes now available:

A helping hand. The Carlon Retractable Work Surface Receptacle offers the convenience and safety of placing an electrical outlet on a work surface, where most electronic devices are used. When the outlet is not in use, it can be recessed below the work surface by pushing down on its cover; the outlet becomes accessible by pulling up the integral grip on its cover. The receptacle can be mounted easily with the holesaw provided. No wiring is required, as a six-foot cord connects the receptacle to an existing outlet.

Get it together. Wall-mounted, flat-screen televisions look great but dont peek behind them at the wiring; chances are theres a nightmare of outlets and cables. The Carlon Recessed Work Plate is an innovative way of organizing this wiring to make a neat, attractive installation. It also has an exclusive template feature that makes accurately cutting the box opening easier.

High and dry. Water and electricity dont mix. As Americans continue a trend of moving their living space outdoorseven having full kitchens poolsidetheres a growing need for safe electrical service that is weatherproof. To help, there are RedDot While-in-use Covers. They provide waterproof protection while the appliance is plugged in and are the first products to comply with the new National Electrical Code and UL requirements for weatherproof enclosures.

Energy efficient. There are now energy ratings for new homes similar to those on appliances. Thats where the new Carlon Draft-Tight Non-Metallic Box comes in. It incorporates a drywall flange covered with a foam gasket to provide a draft-tight seal. This helps improve the efficiency of the heating and air-conditioning system. Using this easy-to-install, energy-saving device will save your builder time and save you money.

Most of these receptacles are available at home centers. Since electricity is involved, its best to ask your electricians advice. Electricians can easily get them through their local electrical distributor.

For more information on these clever devices, go to http://www.tnb.com/ receptacles.

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Whats up with outlets

Demolition starts at 48 million interchange site

12:00am Saturday 14th December 2013 in News By Elaine O'Flynn, politics reporter

DEMOLITION work has started on the site of Boltons new 48 million transport interchange.

Work began after pre-demolition measures such as utility disconnections were completed at properties in Newport Street, Great Moor Street and Johnson Street while archaeological studies were also concluded in the area.

Leader of Bolton Council Cllr Cliff Morris said: This is another milestone in the transformation of Bolton town centre. This marks the beginning of physical work on a new, up-to-date transport facility for commuters.

Were working hard to keep our town centre development programme moving and the transport interchange is a key part of our strategy.

The project is being funded through the Greater Manchester Transport Fund and will support the councils town centre transport strategy.

It includes a cycle hub as part of a Greater Manchester wide cycling initiative.

The interchange project will see a new bus station built opposite the current train station in Trinity Street with the two facilities linked by an enclosed pedestrian footbridge.

The archaeological investigation uncovered possible remains of Boltons industrial past, including foundations and footings from the old buildings.

Read more here:
Demolition starts at £48 million interchange site

Construction crews are makingprogress in the demolition of the Audubon Elementary School in Rock Island.

Despite freezing temperatures this week, Valley Construction of Rock Island has demolished the northwest corner of the building and a section facing to the south, a task that began Monday.

By Friday, much of the back of the school had been turned into piles of brick, mortar and rubble.

The front of the building facing 18th Avenue had not been touched by Friday afternoon. The tall chimney also appeared untouched.

Crews anticipate that the demolition will last between five and six weeks, said Holly Sparkman, spokeswoman for the Rock Island-Milan School District.

Sparkman said the district has fielded frequent calls this week from people wanting scrap materials and bricks from the buildings.

Crews are setting aside piles of bricks for the community; Sparkman did not know when those may be available.

Sparkman said earlier this week that there was a concern that the cold weather would make it difficult for crews to spray the building with water to cut down on dust.

Crews have been able to keep the dust at bay, however, which was helped earlier this week by snow flurries, she said.

The district plans to sell the land at 2601 18th Ave. once the building is torn down.

Link:
Demolition of RI school continues

By Chris Story

Last updated at 11:05, Saturday, 14 December 2013

Bulldozers could be poised to flatten Carlisles former Lonsdale Cinema with councillors recommended to approve it next week.

The Lonsdale

They are being told they should allow luxury apartments to be built in the derelict buildings place as part of the neighbouring Halston hotel, creating a complex which could accommodate 400 people.

Proposals will go before Carlisle City Councils development control panel on Friday.

Each, planning officials say, will make a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the area.

A report starkly sets out the deteriorating state of the building and that demolition is the only financially viable option for its future.

Councillors will be told there are some who still think the 1930s art-deco structure should be saved because of its importance, arguing it could be used to stage large theatrical performances and film screenings.

But case officer Richard Maunsell states in his report: There is little worthy of preservation other than the memories and historical part that the building has played in the citys history.

Read more from the original source:
Demolition of Carlisle's Lonsdale moves closer

"There is a small piece of land next to my property at 543 W. Wilkes-Barre St. that is owned by Northampton County," says Roslyn Kilpatrick. "There is a retaining wall that is now very unsafe. It is only being held up by tree roots that are exposed."

Kilpatrick says she complained last year because old tree roots had fallen out of the wall.

"They sent some guys up to repair the wall. Or so I thought," Kilpatrick says. "They only put little bits of cement in some cracks and picked up logs and branches. There are now roots growing through my yard and my neighbors' which eventually will be under my house and damage my foundation."

Kilpatrick says children often play in the area even though they are told to stay away.

"It is very unsafe and is an eyesore for my property and others," says Kilpatrick. "One day, someone will get hurt. Maybe a bad wind or snowstorm and that wall will collapse."

Somebody Do Something is a regular feature in which we focus on problem spots in the Lehigh Valley and northwest New Jersey.

Among the problems we've drawn attention to are rundown buildings (one was cleaned up), dangerous or confusing traffic intersections (one was fixed), broken stairs (that were fixed), a bumpy road (that was fixed), a dangerous storm drain (that was fixed), an uneven driveway (that was fixed), a confusing mailbox (that was moved), a teetering pole (that was removed), a shoddy-looking U.S. flagpole (that was spruced up) and propped-up utility pole (that was replaced).

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Somebody Do Something: Rickety retaining wall on South Side Easton street

The Supreme Court has declined to review its order dismissing the petition of Thannicakal Gopinathan Nandakumar challenging a Kerala High Court judgment rejecting his petition questioning a CBI probe involving handing over of the State Data Centre to the Reliance Group in 2008.

A Bench of Justices H.L. Dattu and Ranjan Gogoi dismissed the review petition in the chamber on Saturday. In a brief order, the Bench said, we have gone through the review petition and the connected papers. We see no reason to interfere with the order impugned. The review petition is dismissed.

On October 28, the same Bench had dismissed Mr. Nandakumars petition accepting the Kerala Advocate Generals (AG) statement that his submissions before the High Court for a CBI probe was based on the instructions he received from Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. The Bench had taken the view that after the AG had explained his position, nothing survived in the petition.

The probe pertains to the role of former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, Mr. Nandakumar (who was alleged to have facilitated the award of tender), and three others in the award of tender for IT services management consisting of operations, maintenance, upgrade, security audit, and certification of the State Data Centre and three Network Operating Centres.

In his affidavit, the AG had stated that the writ petition came up for admission in the Kerala High Court on February 6, 2012, and it was adjourned to February 23 to enable him to seek instructions. Thereafter, he wrote to the Chief Secretary, with copies marked to the Secretary, Vigilance Department, the Director General of Police, and the Director, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, for instructions for the purpose of effectively defending the case.

On February 23, the AG had said he was informed over phone by Mr. Chandy to report to the court that the State government would entrust the investigation of the case in question to the CBI.

He said based on the said instruction given to me by the Chief Minister, I made a submission before the High Court on February 23 to the effect that a decision is already taken at the government level to hand over the case to the CBI, recording which, the writ petition was closed.In his affidavit, the State Chief Secretary also pressed for a CBI probe.He said the State Cabinet had rejected the advise of Attorney General G.E. Vahanvati against instituting a CBI inquiry into the case.

The Attorney General had instead suggested that the State government to go for a Vigilance probe first. But the affidavit, he said sought to correct him saying the Vigilance had already looked into the matter. It also recalled that the State government was favourably disposed to the option of a CBI inquiry from as early as February last year. This was based on exchange of views between and collective decision by Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, who is in charge of Vigilance, and IT Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty.

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Decks cleared for CBI investigation on handing over State Data Centre to Reliance

This years Holiday Pops drew gasps on Friday morning before the concert even began. The scene was just so magical.

The hall went dark, except for twinkly lights. And voices came out of the darkness girls voices, singing Silent Night.

The singers were Immaculata Academys Vox Caeciliae (it means Voices of St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music). They drifted down the aisles, singing and carrying candles.

Then the lights went up and you saw them in their deep blue gowns, and the singers in red, white and black who crowded the stage, and the three twinkly wreaths overhead. BPO Music Director JoAnn Falletta, in sparkly violet, raised her baton, and everyone swung full-tilt into We Need a Little Christmas, from Mame.

Holiday Pops 2013 will go down in history as merrily unpretentious. It veers from reverent to raucous, from Broadway to biblical.

The guest star is Michele Ragusa, Broadway singer, Buffalo native and someone who always puts on a good show. The Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus is huge with the addition of reinforcements from Barker Central and Oakfield-Alabama high schools.

And yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He comes out and talks to tykes and to Falletta. Friday morning, there were a lot of giggles.

Between these interludes, the BPO shows off its own sparkle, with music including the Polonaise from Rimsky-Korsakovs Christmas Eve and the Pas de Deux and concluding Waltz from The Nutcracker.

The concert is full of good humor and good spirit. Ragusa, in particular, is a kick. You could not help smiling as, against accusing honks from the tuba, she sang I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. Marvin Hamlischs ballad Hanukkah Lights shone with her sweet delivery.

The Santa number The Man With the Bag was cute and jazzy. And my stocking cap is off to her for being able to sing even Let It Snow as if it were the most wonderful song she had ever heard, and she were introducing it to the world.

See original here:
BPO’s Holiday Pops decks the hall with sparkle and traditional treats

Geneva, Dec 13:

The decks have been cleared for Air India to restart its integration with the Star Alliance, a global network of 28 airlines. On Friday, the alliance invited Air India to join its network following a meeting of Chief Executives in Vienna. The process is expected to be completed in three months.

Air India had been inducted into the Star Alliance in Beijing in December 2007. But in August 2011, the airlines application for membership was put on hold for not meeting parameters contractually agreed to in 2007.

Speaking to Business Line in Geneva, Tony Tyler, Director-General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said the announcement did not surprise him. Nowadays if you are a network airline covering a significant part of the globe, it is helpful to be in one of three alliances. The other two top alliances are OneWorld and SkyTeam.

It is not the only solution to the problems that an airline faces, but being in an alliance helps, added Tyler. It gives big airlines marketing power and the ability to grow.

Star Alliance, which was created in 1997, serves over 1,300 airports globally. The combined fleet strength of the members is over 4,700 aircraft. The Alliance, through its member airlines, has a presence in over 195 countries.

Members include Lufthansa, Air Canada, Air China, Singapore Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Thai Airways, United Airlines and US Airways.

Air India becoming part of the alliance will mean that flyers on the Maharaja could get better fares, frequent-flier benefits and lounge facilities during their international travels.

Seamless travel

The flag carriers passengers will also be able to travel seamlessly with all the airlines that are members of the Star Alliance. Thus, a traveller buying a ticket from, say, Coimbatore, will be able to travel to New York on Air India and then connect on a US Airways flight effortlessly.

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Air India set to join Star Alliance

NETHER PROVIDENCE Police are looking to reunite packages with their owners after a woman stole dozens of boxes off Delaware County porches. The Upland Borough woman admitted to driving around neighborhoods in the Nether Providence area and taking boxes left by delivery trucks, police said.

Police have not released the woman's name, because she has not yet been charged with a crime. When police finish their investigation, she faces charges of theft and receiving stolen property, said Chief David Splain of the Nether Providence Police Department.

On Dec. 5, a neighbor saw a woman in a red SUV pull up to a house in the 200 block of Cedar Road and take four packages off the front step, police said. Police used the license-plate number the neighbor gave them to find the driver. Police said the woman confessed to taking 26 packages on Dec. 5. Police said it appears the woman had turned over all the property she stole, including sneakers, J. Crew sweaters, and Pittsburgh Steelers socks.

However, she had already destroyed the boxes' address labels. Police are telling anyone with missing packages to check with their shipping companies to see if they were delivered. If they were, call the Nether Providence Police Department with a receipt. Several people called Friday reporting missing goods.

mbond@philly.com

610-313-8105 @MichaelleBond

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Delco Police try to undo Grinch's handiwork

Camillus, N.Y. -- A homeless woman driving a U-Haul has been charged with stealing Christmas presents delivered by UPS and FedEx from the porches of houses, the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office said.

Patricia Morris-Girardin, 28, homeless, was charged with petit larceny, criminal possession of stolen property and criminally possessing a hypodermic needle.

Around 2:30 p.m. Thursday a deputy responded to a complaint of a woman driving a U-Haul truck who had stolen a UPS package from the front porch of a house on Cogswell Avenue in Geddes.

The deputy found and stopped the U-Haul truck on Milton Avenue and Horan Road in Camillus. The sheriff's office said the deputy saw that the U-Haul contained about $800 worth of stolen packages that were taken from the front porches in Camillus, Geddes and Solvay.

The sheriff's office said many of the stolen items were Christmas gifts that had been delivered by UPS and FedEx.

Deputy Herb Wiggins said Morris-Girardin's husband, who is in jail, sold their car so she could get the U-Haul. She was issued appearance tickets and released.

Anyone living in Camillus, Geddes or the village of Solvay that thinks they may have been the victim of a similar theft is asked to contact the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office at 315-435-2111.

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Modern-day Grinch? Onondaga deputies charge woman with stealing Christmas presents off house porches