Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Apart from this pandemic to end that has cost so many lives already, what do we most wish for these days? Apart from the stuff that we can buy with money I think, the angels Christmas message in the Bible puts it pretty close to what every other religion in the world makes their claim, too. Peace on Earth.

These days, we are entering another period of holiday frenzy. In some parts of this nation, there are lockdowns in place. And between the limitations we experience and the holiday stress, political rifts and traditional prejudices, the nerves of many of us lie in tatters. Although we SHOULD experience the joy of Christmas whether we are believers or not. Instead, we hear of armed clashes between groups of what I dare call individual whims, of police having to interfere, of harsh words against people of a different opinion. And the Christmas message seems to fall on a lot of deaf ears.

How can we change this? How can we achieve this mighty not-to-be-bought peace?

I think we need to slow down a lot and ponder what creates happiness for us and what creates stress. Could we simply not overthink the outer appearance of Christmas or any other holiday we might be celebrating? Is it really about lights, glitz, and making ones bank account scream? Can simpler work? Could we take ourselves down a notch and not try to be perfect for our family and friends? I think perfect people are rather intimidating, by the way. We dont have to clean the house while baking a dozen different kinds of cookies, designing the perfect Christmas decoration, and getting the most luxurious gifts in the now most crowded stores.

How about we take a breath and sit back? Take a walk in the winter air? There are such beautiful areas around. Only recently, my husband and I discovered another park in the area and enjoyed an afternoons sunshine, walking through woods and wetlands. Or take up a book and read maybe even to somebody else? Or sing along a CD or play an instrument even better: perform music together with our family? Light a candle and think of childhood Christmases? Share these memories? Write them down for our family?

Taking speed out of the holiday preparations removes a lot of stress which again creates a much friendlier atmosphere. Everybody needs friendliness. Love. If we think outside our individual selves, do we like others enough? Love them enough? Cherish them enough? When was the last time that we praised somebodys work genuinely? Or told them they looked nice? Or how much we appreciate them in our lives? Its a small gesture that may cause another person to feel warm. And that person might feel encouraged to hand that good feeling on to others.

Indeed, if we cared that everybody else wants to be loved and cherished just like we are, that might make for a strong beginning. A friendly hello to a passer-by on a sidewalk instead of glaring at them because they are walking too slowly or wear clothes that dont fit our bill or A smile that crinkles your eyes above your mask. A helping hand to reach something for somebody too small or disabled in a supermarket. A Thank you, and Merry Christmas to those who deliver our Christmas mail. Im sure, everybody could make a list of how we can spread friendliness that doesnt cost us more than moving a few facial muscles or a supportive hand.

And if we remember that what we deem our rights might diminish the rights of others, maybe we can compromise and find ways of communicating again instead of blasting obdurate slogans into each others faces. Or insults. Or even arm ourselves to our teeth.

We all want and need peace. And it starts in ourselves. So, lets relax and look for the true meaning of Christmas. We can do it if we let everybody be a little less perfect and feel a little more loved.

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Across the Fence: and Peace on Earth - The Suburban Times

A spiked fence in Cameron Heights on which several deer have impaled themselves is being retrofitted with a flat rail.

"City contractors are currently installing retrofit rail along the top of the privately-owned and city-owned portions of the fence in Cameron Heights so they no longer pose a danger to wildlife in the ravine," City of Edmonton spokespersonKaren Burgess said an email to CBC News.

Thework was delayed due to COVID-19, the need for consent from affected homeownersand a decision to "expand the area of eligible properties that could participate in the fence modification program," Burgess said.

Burgess said the work began earlier this week and shouldtake about two weeks.

"The city also installed orange snow fencing to the topof the fence as a temporary measure to reduce the danger to wildlife by helping them better see the limits of the fence until the permanent retrofits could be completed," she said.

The news comes as a relief to homeowner's association president Melanie Wilson who believes at least five deer and one moose have died after becoming impaled on the fence.

She's been pushing for the change for almost four of the eight years she's lived in the community.

"Oh my gosh, we're totally excited that this has finally happened," WilsonsaidThursday. "It is definitely a Christmas miracle, that's for sure."

Despite the good news, Wilson has concerns with the city's handing of the issue.

"They actually suffered quite severely and suffered for quite a long time before they were shot and killed," she said. "There was definitely no way that they would have made a recovery after their injuries."

City councillor Sarah Hamilton, who represents the community, praisedcommunity members who spoke up and kept pressing the issue

"The community has been a great supporter in terms of holding not just me, but the city to account on when this is going to get done," she said. "I think they did so out of the goodness of their heart, it's pretty awful to see this happen to wild animals."

Hamilton said this type of spiked fence isprevalent throughout Edmonton, but seems to really be an issue in Cameron Heights.

"It just so happens that in this particular neighbourhood it doesn't really work for the wildlife."

Burgess said an update to the City of Edmonton's design and construction standards to be completed by the end of the year, will exclude spiked fences.

"In the meantime, a moratorium has been placed on picket-style subdivision perimeter fences to prevent new fencing from conflicting with wildlife," she said.

Thecost of the retrofit won't be knownuntil the jobis complete, Burgess said.

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City fixes Cameron Heights fence after deaths of several deer and years of complaints - CBC.ca

A view of construction progress at 44 East Avenue. Image: Flintco

Construction outfit Flintco, currently putting up developer Intracorps 44 East Avenue condo tower in the Rainey Street District of downtown Austin, is giving us another episode of its documentary series Beyond the Fence providing an unusually inside look at the kitchen-sink process of developing a 49-floor building.

Image: Flintco

Episode 2 of the series, Harmony by Design, spends its more than 15-minute runtime exploring the many connections between local firms, individuals, and designers to eventually create a residential building that responds to its surrounding downtown environment particularly the social life of the adjacent Rainey Street entertainment district and the budding parks and trail connections surrounding its site. Catch the whole documentary in the video below:

Produced by Flintco marketing directorTim Garbuttand videographerJohn Whitton of SteadyBuilt Productions, each episode of the series includes an original song, also written and recorded by Garbutt. We are particularly enthralled by this auteur-esque addition to what might otherwise risk being a dry piece of promotional material its honestly one of the more full-tilt strange and wonderfully human marketing decisions weve ever seen from a company associated with a project of this magnitude.

This episodes original song is entitled Every Road I Take, and serves as a posthumous collaboration between Garbutt and his brother Billy Garbs, an Austin musician who wrote the song in the 1990s but died in 2001 without ever releasing it. Garbutt recorded the track for the documentary again, this is an unusually personal choice for Flintcos marketing director, and its endlessly fascinating to us as tower enthusiasts and fans of interesting, dare we say weird, Austinites. If you like looking beyond the fence around town as much as we do, this series is must-see TV.

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See Austin Condo Tower Construction Up Close With 'Beyond the Fence' Episode 2 - TOWERS Austin

She points to the attention around the death of 13-year-old Evan Frustaglio, a healthy Toronto minor hockey player who died of H1N1 in 2009. The case galvanized once-skeptical parents, prompting Toronto to launch public vaccination clinics early.

Information alone is not sufficient, said Dub. Stories are important because they are authentic, they contain a narrative and they are from someone whom patients can identify with.

Social media has made it possible for vaccine skeptics to find like-minded people and amplify their messages. Those who completely reject vaccines are a small but vocal slice of the population about two per cent, she said.

Vaccine skeptics have borrowed personal freedom rhetoric and language from other groups, said Mai. With COVID-19 vaccines at hand, they are pivoting to focus more squarely on sowing doubts about the necessity for COVID vaccines and their safety.

Public officials always have to look behind them to see what misinformers are saying. They will have to think like them, in a way.

Past outbreaks have shown that communication has to be a two-way street, said Alison Thompson, a researcher in ethical issues in public health at the University of Toronto.

Peoples concerns about vaccines must be listened to, because not all concerns come from the extreme fringe of the anti-vaccine movement. There are legitimate concerns about how much we will know, what will happen if people are injured by vaccines, and who stands to profit most from COVID-19 vaccines.

Read more:
Vaccine hesitancy and COVID-19: How many will stay on the fence? - Windsor Star

Al Mezan condemns the act and calls for international intervention

On Wednesday morning, 16 December 2020, Israeli military bulldozers crossed the perimeter fence into the Gaza Strip, east of Khan Younis, reaching up to 200 meters into agricultural lands in Abasan al-Kabira, Khuzaa, and al-Fukhari. For hours, Israeli troops razed and leveled Palestinian lands and cropssome of which had been prepared for plantingand eventually left placards written in both Arabic and Hebrew demanding that the Palestinian farmers uproot their crops in the area within a certain time frame otherwise the military is going to remove them.

During a similar incident on Thursday, 17 December 2020, farmers in the Rafah district also reported that they had found similar placards on their farmlands located 100 meters from the perimeter fence.

Israel, the Occupying Power, continues to carry out land incursions and to maintain its closure policy over the Gaza Strip even against the backdrop of the COVID-19 global health crisis and related concerns for the financial situation and food insecurity in the Strip, directly violating its obligation to protect the human rights of civilians in the occupied Gaza Strip.

These regular incursions and movement restrictions in the Israeli-imposed buffer zone in Gaza are not only life-threatening, but they also severely harm the livelihoods of thousands of Palestinian farmers. For instance, Israel periodically conducts aerial spraying of herbicides over Palestinian farmlands to destroy vegetation adjacent to the perimeter fence and has often employed lethal force to ward off farmers. At a time when families across the whole Gaza Strip are at higher risk of food insecurity and poverty, the impact of Israels relentless attacks on farmlands in the buffer zone has increased.

Al Mezan strongly condemns Israels targeting of Palestinian farmers and warns of the grave repercussions it has on their lives, most notably, the role such attacks play in stifling the Strips economic development and exacerbating the dire living conditions of Gazas population, especially during the pandemic.

Accordingly, Al Mezan calls on the international community to uphold its moral and legal obligations towards the Palestinian people by exerting pressure on Israel to cease all the attacks against Palestinian farmers and lift the blockade and closure unilaterally imposed on the Gaza Strip, in addition to ensuring accountability for all suspected violations of international law perpetrated in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Continued here:
Israeli forces carry out a land incursion and threaten to remove Palestinian farmers' crops - occupied Palestinian territory - ReliefWeb

Tributes have been paid to a dad-of-four who died after his car crashed into a fence in north Manchester.

Jeff Beaumont, 67, is thought to have suffered a medical episode whilst driving his Volkswagen Golf on Crescent Road in Crumpsall.

Emergency services were called to the junction of Duchess Road at around 1.40am on Monday, 14 December.

Mr Beaumont, who lived in the Cheetham Hill area, was taken to hospital where he was sadly pronounced dead a short time later.

Police believe he suffered a medical episode before the crash.

A post-mortem examination to determine exactly how Mr Beaumont died is yet to take place.

Manchester Coroner's Court confirmed they had received a file relating to Mr Beaumont's death. An inquest is due to take place at a later date.

Tributes have poured in for the dad on social media, following the tragic news of his death.

One friend wrote: "Rip Jeff you were always so kind to me we would talk for hours on the front your with your wife now but have left us broken. RIP to the best next door neighbour ever.

Another said: "Was such a lovely man. Hes with his wife Jackie now. RIP the both of you. Thinking of their children and grandchildren at this heartbreaking time.

Another wrote: "Rest in peace Geoff [sic] now reunited with Your Lovely wife Jackie a beautiful couple, going to miss our chats about football when you came in shopping rest easy Geoff [sic] thinking of all your family at this sad time."

One person said: "So sad r.i.p sweet heart fly high my heart goes out to your family and friends at this sad time."

An investigation into the incident has been launched, and police are urging for any witnesses to come foward.

Sergeant Matt Picton, of GMP's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Our thoughts are with the man's loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.

"Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the collision - I'd ask anyone with information or dash cam footage to contact us."

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 4741 quoting 137 14/12/20 or the independent charity - Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

The rest is here:
Tributes paid to 'lovely' and 'kind' dad who died after his car crashed into a fence - Manchester Evening News

Gov. Greg Abbott (right) and John Hellerstedt, Texas Department of State Health Services commissioner, provide an update on COVID-19 vaccine distribution at a Dec. 17 news conference. (Courtesy Office of the Governor)

Gov. Greg Abbott said at a Dec. 17 press conference that by the end of the week, the state will have shipped roughly 224,000 vaccines from drug company Pfizer to Texas hospitals. Plans are to ramp up distribution further next week when the Moderna vaccine becomes available in the state, he said.

Long-term health care facilities will be receiving these vaccines later on this month as well as local health departments, state hospitals and state-supported living centers, Abbott said.

Among the first to receive the new vaccines will be residents who are more vulnerable to the virus, including older residents and those with existing medical conditions that increase the risk of hospitalization or death, Abbott said.

The governor reiterated that he would not pursue further business shutdowns, urging personal responsibility from residents to slow the viral spread.

The states top health official said that continued compliance with mask orders and public health guidelines would remain essential in the coming months before the vaccine is widely administered.

This is the ray of hope at the end of the tunnel, but were not done yet, said John Hellerstedt, Texas Department of State Health Services commissioner.

More than 9,500 Texans were known to be hospitalized with the virus as of Dec. 16, the highest number recorded since late July.

More than 1 million doses of the vaccine are expected to be shipped before the end of the year in Texas, Abbott said. The state has 29 million residents, according to the latest government surveys.

Abbott said the speed of vaccine distribution will rise over time as manufacturing accelerates. Other companiesincluding Johnson & Johnson and AstraZenecaare expected to begin distributing their vaccines in the early months of 2021, he said.

Health care workers have been among the earliest to receive vaccinations because of their ongoing role in caring directly for patients with the virus that has been linked to more than 24,000 deaths in Texas since the start of the pandemic.

Everybody owes a debt of gratitude to these doctors and nurses who have been on the front lines for months now, Abbott said.

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Abbott: Vaccines to reach some in Texas nursing homes by end of year - Community Impact Newspaper

By: Molly Maid | 1Shares 95Reads

December 16, 2020 // Franchising.com // WACO, Texas - Molly Maid, a Neighborly company, announced its franchise networks top performers of 2019 during Neighborly United, which occurred earlier this quarter at the organizations first-ever virtual reunion.

Neighborlys annual reunion may have looked a bit different this year, but the pride of being part of the worlds largest family of home service brands was as strong as ever, said Vera Peterson, President of Molly Maid. Despite the challenges 2020 presented to our Molly Maid network, our franchise owners have risen to the occasion and continued to provide services to American families, when most needed. While we may not have been able to celebrate these outstanding individuals in person, it was an honor to shine a spotlight on the Molly Maid franchise owners who represented the very best of what our franchise network had to offer this year.

Top award winners included:

In addition to celebrating the noteworthy success of these franchise owners, Molly Maid also has much to celebrate in terms of development. As of the close of November 2020, the brands growth highlights of 2020 include nine new franchise agreements signed, all amidst an ongoing pandemic.

SOURCE Molly Maid

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Molly Maid Honors Top Franchise Performers During Neighborlys First-Ever Virtual Reunion, Neighborly United - Franchising.com

December 16, 2020, 10:35 AM

4 min read

A Florida woman has been arrested after attacking a maid and throwing her German shepherd off a motel balcony.

The incident occurred at about noon on Dec. 14 when the Daytona Beach Police Department received a call from staff at a Motel 6 reporting that a woman had attacked one of the motel's maids and had been standing over a railing and threatening to jump off of the motel's second-floor balcony.

When deputies arrived, however, the suspect, 35-year-old Allison Murphy, was locked inside of her room.

In police body camera released by the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, authorities can be seen knocking on the door several times in an attempt to coax Murphy out of the motel room when the door suddenly swings open and Murphy comes out with a leashed German shepherd, which she immediately picks up and throws over the railing to the ground.

Allsion Murphy, 35, was arrested in Daytona Beach, Florida and charged with felony charges of animal cruelty and resisting an officer with violence on Dec. 14, 2020.

The dog -- now nicknamed "Miracle" by Volusia County Animal Services -- managed to land feet first and tried to run away before she was corralled by bystanders.

Murphy, meanwhile, was tackled to the floor in her motel room and taken into custody by authorities.

"Volusia County Animal Services took custody of the dog and nicknamed her 'Miracle,' as no name was provided," said the Volusia County Sheriff's Office in a statement on social media. "She was taken to Atlantic Animal Hospital in Port Orange for emergency evaluation, and is now in the care of Animal Services. Thankfully, during her examination, it was determined that Miracle escaped serious injury. However, an X-ray revealed a sewing needle was lodged in her right thigh. Miracle underwent a procedure to safely remove the needle and is currently recovering with Animal Services."

Authorities did not disclose what led up to Murphy's alleged attack on the motel maid or throwing her dog off the balcony, but did say that a petition for custody over Miracle will be scheduled in the courts in the coming weeks.

Murphy currently remains in custody and is facing felony charges of animal cruelty and resisting an officer with violence. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

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'Miracle' the German shepherd survives being thrown off motel balcony by owner - ABC News

New York, Dec. 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Professional Cleaning Services Market in the U.S.- Industry Outlook and Forecast 2021-2026" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05997460/?utm_source=GNW

The U.S. professional cleaning services market is experiencing growth on account of the increased popularity of green cleaning technology. The use of sustainable washing agents, which include special chemicals, equipment, and techniques, is a major factor contributing to the growth of the market. Green products contain natural solutions and cleaners, which are safe and preferred for commercial end-users. Organic ingredients in the cleaning agents are harmless with health minimal effect on the human body. Green cleaning is an effective alternative, which employs chemicals. Efforts are consistently made by vendors to promote green methods as chemicals used in conventional procedures are polluting the air, water, and land. Hence, the dependency on green products, which are made up of natural, plant-based materials, is witnessing traction, thereby driving the demand for eco-friendly professional services.

The following factors are likely to contribute to the growth of the U.S. professional cleaning services market during the forecast period: Preference for Green Cleaning Services Development in Robotic and Automated Cleaners High Preference for Specialized Services

The study considers the present scenario of the U.S. professional cleaning services market and its market dynamics for the period 2020?2026. It covers a detailed overview of several market growth enablers, restraints, and trends. The report offers both the demand and supply aspects of the market. It profiles and examines leading companies and other prominent ones operating in the market.

U.S. Professional Cleaning Services Market Segmentation This research report includes a detailed segmentation by service type, end-user, operations, geography. Disinfectants, which also include COVID-19 solutions, witnessed a sudden demand in 2020. The increased awareness of contagious diseases is likely is to drive the growth of the disinfectant segment during the forecast period. Powered by automated solutions such as artificial intelligence window cleaners, window, and faade cleaning services are expected to generate incremental revenue of approx. $4 billion by the end of the forecast period.

The increased interest in green technology is prompting the adoption of green cleaning services in commercial and educational centers. The outbreak of pandemics such as COVID-19 is driving the demand for sterilized wipes, disinfectants, microfiber cloths, and mops in surgical and clean rooms. Therefore, hospital and medical centers are expected to pose an absolute growth of 52% during the forecast period.

With the ease of restrictions and lockdowns, the demand from gyms and fitness centers is expected to grow at an impressive rate during the forecast period as the probability of cross-contamination is high in these places. Therefore, these centers are striving to maintain high standards of hygiene, thereby influencing the market growth.

A wide variety of reasons are responsible for the dominance of standard services in the US market. Floorcare services, window, restroom cleaning is carried out with conventional equipment and chemicals contributing to the growth of the segment in the US.

While the standard segment contributing over $55 billion in 2020, it is expected to lose its share on account of the increased lucrativeness of green technology during the forecast period. Moreover, increased hygiene and health awareness, pandemic outbreaks are projected to negatively influence the segment growth.

Service Type Floor and Carpet Window and Faade Furniture and Upholstery Construction Cleanup PEST Control HVAC Others o Restroom Services o Cleaning and Dusting o Trauma Control End-user Commercial o Retail outlets o Shopping malls o Corporate offices o Educational Centers o Hospitality o Hospitals and Medical Centers o Gyms and Fitness Centers o Others Residential Industrial Operations Standard Green

INSIGHTS BY GEOGRAPHY Flexible workspaces with sustainable IT infrastructure have significantly grown in the North-Eastern US over the years. The region has the cleanest programs, mechanisms, and policies that enhance the adoption of green technology. North-Eastern US is expected to reach over $31 billion by 2026. While Boston and Massachusetts remain the most lucrative market, New Hampshire has witnessed slower growth and has taken a hit relatively by the COVID pandemic. Unlike other markets, the construction industry in North-East states are highly developed. The growth is majorly driven by the growth in new constructions and renovation activities in buildings.

Geography North-East US Mid-West US West US South US

INSIGHTS BY VENDORS Green technology is expected to revolutionize the US market. The technology has become an integral part of the janitorial portfolio for major vendors, thereby offering an add-on advantage to them. The inclusion of LEED and Green Seal environmental certifications ensures the rigorous adherence of the vendor to the green status in its services and products. ABM GreenCare, BoGREEN from Bonus Building Care, Stratus Green Cleaning programs are some of the leading green services in the US professional cleaning industry. Green approaches can be prioritized for the entire business management including materials and processes carried out like paperless proposals and invoice systems. An extensive service portfolio and catering to the niche industrial and commercial demands can fetch a wide consumer base. Venturing into facilities such as aircraft, warehouses, storage facilities, factory setups, and front offices could be profitable for vendors.

Prominent Vendors ABM Coverall Jan-Pro Jani-King International Inc. ServiceMaster Clean

Other Prominent Vendors Anago Cleaning Systems BONUS Building Care CleanNet USA Pritchard Industries Inc. Red Coats Inc. SERVPRO Stratus Building Solutions Vanguard Cleaning Systems Inc. Buildingstars Steamatic US Janitorial Inc. Americas Janitorial Service IMAGE ONE USA GDI Integrated Facility Services Marclean USA USSI Pro Clean Janitorial Facility Services Inc. MC Janitorial Maid to Clean Greens Commercial Cleaning Inc.

KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED 1. What is the future outlook and growth projections of the U.S. professional cleaning services market? 2. Which end-user segment is expected to account for the largest janitorial service market share by 2026? 3. What are the key factors that are likely to increase the global cleaning services market growth? 4. Who are the key players in the U.S. professional cleaning services market? 5. What major strategies are likely to be adopted by market players during the forecast period?Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05997460/?utm_source=GNW

About ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.

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The US professional cleaning services market by revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 6% during the period 20212026 - GlobeNewswire