Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

WILMINGTONAs travelers hustle through Wilmington International Airports new terminal expansion, theyll also be welcomed by the talent of local artists, thanks to its partnership with the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County. Three new installations will go up in July 2021, created by Cape Fear muralist Jill Webb, as well as Jeff Hackney and sculptors Paul Hill and Greg Hall.

Proposal requests launched in June 2020, and were marketed to reach artists locally and across the SoutheastRaleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro, Virginia Beach, Richmond, Charleston, and Columbia. The arts council put a call out to state, regional, national and international sculpture organizations, too. By the Aug. 1 deadline, 33 entries shuffled in from North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

An artist selection committee from ILM including business development director Carol LeTellier, airport authority member Julia Olson-Boseman, facilities director Granseur Dick, marketing specialist Erin McNally and TWC architect Brian Wilson chose the finalists work: one 3-D sculpture and two terrazzo floor designs.

The selection committee evaluated submissions based on artistic merit, relevance to the airport, technical feasibility, scale, budget, and maintenance, explained arts council executive director Rhonda Bellamy, who helped launch the search.

With work showing at Friends School of Wilmington, Cape Fear Academy, and in the Brooklyn Arts District, Webb submitted a geometric design with the intent to ease travelers and welcome them to engage in the design. She mocked up a floor labyrinth with imagery of loggerhead turtles. Webb drew inspiration from the areas marine life, and began studying the turtles, from their nest birth to their exploration of life in the Atlantic.

The remarkable journey at the beginning of their lives is well-known and worth contemplating as we travel, she explained, and it sure doesnt hurt that they are cute and well-loved by people of all ages.

First, Webb scaled the floor site, which will be poured by a terrazzo flooring contractor ILM hires. The labyrinth will be installed post security. She landed on colors inspired by the ocean and sand at Wrightsville Beach, and even suggested sea shells be used as partial aggregate.

I am very interested in the role that design plays in placemaking and community building, Webb said of including art in public spaces. She thought back to mazes and parks she reveled in as a child to encompass the same freedom of play.

I really love the idea that a labyrinth can invite people to transform this space in the airport into a little park for kids or a meditative space in the midst of a traditionally busy transitional space, she explained. I love to imagine that this labyrinth will give some weary or anxious travelers a little bit of peace and fun.

The ILM terminal expansion began in November 2019. The call for its new artwork included a request for artists to capture the spirit of coastal North Carolina. Floor plans are allocated a budget of $25,000 each and the installation will be given $250,000; any monies spent over budget will be the responsibility of the artists.

When sculptor Greg Hall heard about the project, he asked to partner up with his mentor, Paul Hill. They wanted to draw on nature and the beauty of the coast.

We considered all of the aspects of our community that make it unique, including the flora, fauna, historic architecture, and significant geographical features, Hall said.

While Hall was driving out of town one morning, contemplating the giant sculpture they would submit, he began to consider the traffic flow of people in the airport. He couldnt seem to land on an idea that would enhance the space while not blocking views of the airfield.

It hit me at 3 a.m., staring down a dark empty highway, Hall said. Live oaks!

A staple on the coastline, live oaks often are revered for their sturdy elegance.For Hall and Hill, the creation of Laurel Oak Tree would take up a lot of space in its height and branches, while still maintaining a small footprint below, as to not impede airport flow in the atrium, next to Loggerhead Labyrinth.

It provides a unique viewer interaction, as travelers who would normally be scurrying through a busy terminal can pause to immerse themselves in a seemingly natural space while waiting for flights, he added.

They built a small-scale of the architectural structure that would surround the oak and then made a small tree of aluminum foil to understand its scale.

The next step will be constructing a full-size small branch out of steel rods, using a structural engineers eye to make sure its safe for public use. Then they will move forward on its base, trunk, and the rest of its branches essentially the internal skeleton, according to Hall.

They plan to cut thousands of leaves to weld to the branches, each flame-treated as to unveil colors like blue, purple, fuchsia and gold.

Once the overall skeletal form is complete, the bark of the tree will be hand-cut from stainless steel sheets and shaped in sections, then welded to the surface, Hall continued.

A plaque noting the significance of the Laurel Oak to Wilmington will be made from an actual Laurel Oak burl slab, donated by the Wilmington Forestry Management Supervisor and City Arborist Aaron Reese.

[It] will be carved to accentuate the natural beauty and grain of the wood, and placed near the base of the tree sculpture, Hall said. Due to the rarity of finding a burl this size, the Urban Forestry Division decided to harvest and save the wood for use in a community-based art project after the tree died.

The finished sculpture will be transported to ILM as 35 separate sections before being installed.

Hall grew up welding in his fathers shop, forging farm equipment and tractors in youth. He studied engineering and architecture, but landed on sculptural art as his major and graduated with a BA from UNCW more than a decade ago. A full-time artist, he met Hill from one of his professors, Andi Steele.

Over the years, he has mentored me as an artist and allowed me to assist him with many of his public and private installations, Hall said.

Hill went to college, joined the military and then worked as creative director for numerous advertising agencies before following his passion to become a full-time sculptor and painter. He picked up a torch to do steel work more than 25 years ago. His steel and fused-glass Venus Fly Trap erected in downtown Wilmington is a popular scenic stop on the Riverwalk.

For ILMs second terrazzo floor design, Hill teamed up with Jeff Hackney for the 2D design of Venus Flytrap. It is drawn with deep blues, neon green and pink, and will be visible at the security checkpoint in the center of the main terminals high-ceiling atrium.

Since the partnership between the arts council and ILM began four years ago, Bellamy said they have showcased more than 200 artists in solo and group exhibitions. The latest round of installations will be permanent; however, Bellamy said she is confident at whats to come at ILM.

Once the dust settles, were hopeful we will be offered space to curate more local exhibits, Bellamy said.

Have arts news? Contact Shea Carver at shea@localdailymedia.com

Excerpt from:
Bringing color to ILM: Local artwork installation slated for airport's terminal expansion - Port City Daily

John Lauter is best known for his many iconic designs in southern Californiafrom the Elrod House in Palm Springs, made famous by the Bond filmDiamonds Are Forever, to the Chemosphere, a spaceship-like home in the Hollywood Hills.

But a few of the master architect's structures can be found outside of the Golden State, including this recently listed property in Anchorage. As the only Lautner-designed home in Alaska, the waterfront property offers a rare opportunity for buyers willing to undertake the restoration.

Recently listed for sale, the 1966 Harpel Residence II in Anchorage is the only home John Lautner built in Alaska. An unassuming front facade provides a small hint of what's inside.

The home's centerpiece is a circular living area topped by a radial-beamed ceiling. A zigzagged wall of windows overlooks the lakefront location in College Village, about four miles southeast of downtown.

According to the John Lautner Foundation, only about a dozen of the master architect's 200 built and unrealized projects were located outside of Californiaincluding in Florida, Colorado, and Mexico, among others.

This particular property, dubbed the Harpel Residence II, was commissioned by returning clients Willis "Bill" and Patty Harpel, who previously lived in Lautner's more famous Harpel Residence I, built a decade earlier in Los Angeles. Bill Harpel was a popular radio announcer in L.A. and went on to found the KHAR station after moving to Anchorage.

In the rear of the living area, the ceiling opens upward to meet a large skylight that tracks the sun's movement and maximizes sunlight during the shorter winter days.

The elevated portion of the ceiling is supported by a trio of totem poles, which are original to the structure, as are other details such as the built-in couch and slate flooring.

A1967 article in Liferecounts the Harpel's challenges with importing labor and materials, as well as Bill's own work installing some of the finishes with the help of Lautner's go-to foreman, John De la Vaux.

"When a local firm asked $4,500 to install the living room floor, [Bill] ordered the slate from Seattle and put it in himselffor $600," the article notes. "To build the immense fireplace wall, he scrounged tons of rock, trucked it home, hoisted it with a block and tackle, and grouted it into place." Such projects were not new to Bill, who was also heavily involved in the construction of his original residence in L.A.

A dining space overlooks the sunken living area and provides direct access to a deck.

A wall of cabinetry extends from the kitchen and into the dining area. The triangular window pattern seen here is repeated throughout the interior.

A look at the kitchen, which also overlooks the living room via an open section of the wall.

More than 50 years later, many of the home's original details remain, although some are likely in need of restoration by the new buyers. Offered at $1,200,000, the home comes with four bedrooms, three full bathrooms, and a finished basementall spread out across over 6,000 square feet of interior space. Keep scrolling to see more.

Lined by built-in shelving, a wide hallway leads to each of the four bedrooms.

The primary bedroom continues the interior aesthetic with wood-clad walls and ceilings.

The ensuite bathroom features a central window above the vanity and more original features.

A look at one of the home's other three bedrooms.

A view of the property across Lake Otis in Anchorage. The steel-ribbed concrete foundation is bolted to pilings reportedly sunk 12 feet into the lakefront soil.

Read more from the original source:
The Only John Lautner Home in Anchorage Asks $1.2M - Dwell

People watch on television or the news about termite infestations but what happens when it happens in your own household?

Cardon Ellis from Santa Claritas Unipest pest control was talking with a customer about termite infestation. Cardon asked him what kind of termite he has, and the customer did not know there is a difference.

Its going to determine whether or not we have to tent your house or not, Ellis said.

Even though termites have many things in common, the difference with termites is to determine whether its a dry wood or a subterranean termite.

Cardon Ellis gives a history lesson telling us about 170 million years ago they evolved into roaches due to developing a protozoon in their gut.

This allows them to process or eat cellulose debris in which most other insects cant allowing them to become this single most destructive structural insect in North America, Ellis said.

Related Rodent Control Using Exclusion For Roof Rats

He also shares a fun fact that termites cause more damage than natural disasters. It costs about 5 billion a year in the United States alone.

Now, to determine what type of termite you are dealing with: look for termite droppings. These will look like sawdust pellets coming out of the wood of the house. Termites love to chew on the wood, so the protozoa processes the cellulose out of the wood and that is when they poop out the sawdust pellets.

Another way to determine the termite: look for mud tubes. They love to take soil up with them and create mud tubes. This is because they are trying to protect the moisture of the colony. This is common in Santa Clarita.

Lastly to determine the termite: look at the termites. Whenever it rains or 77-degrees at night the termites swarm out. This is how they reproduce as well.

If the termite has lighter wings, small and dark black bodies then you are dealing with a subterranean termite.

If the termite has a dark red or brown body and has a large vein-like wing then you are dealing with a dry wood termite.

If you still have questions give them a call and set up your free inspection!

For professional assistance and care, contact Unipest by going tohttps://www.unipest.com/

The Santa Clarita pest control companyUnipestis the premiere residential and commercial pest control company for Los Angeles County. If youre looking for pest control in Santa Clarita or surrounding areas, Unipest prides itself on being your one-stop solution, and offers orange oil treatments, bee hive removal, fumigation, escrow inspections, removal of bed bugs, organic pest control and more. Unipest offers termite control in Santa Clarita as well. Residents and business owners looking for pest control near me or termite control near me are encouraged to call Unipest for immediate assistance.

Unipest

(661) BUG-7575

(661) 284-7575

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Claritas only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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How To Determine The Type Of Termite Infestation - KHTS Radio

RICHMOND, Va., Dec.10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Conserva Irrigation, the only national outdoor irrigation company founded on the concept of water conservation, announced today it has eclipsed 100 territories and signed franchise agreements to grow in Northwest Portland, Oregon; Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas; Northwest Houston, Texas; and Delaware Valley, Pennsylvania. Now operating in 107 territories across the country, the largest franchisor in the irrigation industry is prepared for explosive growth in 2021.

"This is an exciting achievement for Conserva Irrigation and despite a turbulent year filled with plenty of obstacles, we've been able to grow our footprint to more than 100 territories across the country," said Russ Jundt, founder of Conserva Irrigation. "Our company offers the best product and service in the industry and it's our passion for finding a solution to water waste that has allowed us to stand out as a leader. We're eager to continue this momentum in 2021."

Labeled as an essential business amid the pandemic, Conserva Irrigation's rapid growth can be credited to innovation, teamwork and culture, as well as Jundt's creation of a proprietary process to audit irrigation systems. The "System Efficiency Score" rates the water efficiency of a system based on a numerical scale allowing for homeowners to understand how much water their sprinkler systems are wasting, as well as what improvements need to be made to reduce water consumption and lower water bills.

In addition to helping customers save water, Conserva Irrigation operates underneath the Outdoor Living Brands umbrella and remains the only environmentally responsible irrigation company with a franchise business model focused primarily on providing repair and maintenance services for commercial and residential sprinkler systems.

"It's been a privilege to be part of Conserva Irrigation's journey and we feel fortunate that the unprecedented events in 2020 haven't impeded our franchisees' success," said Chris Grandpre, chairman & CEO of Outdoor Living Brands. "Conserva Irrigation operates in an industry that has grown to more than $7B in revenue and its always been our vision to build this brand into an industry leader and the household name around the country. Reaching 100 territories in just over three years is just another step in achieving that goal. Our goals for 2021 include opening another 50 territories adding to Conserva Irrigation's footprint across the United States."

In addition to reaching its newest milestone, Conserva Irrigation recently jumped more than 1,400 spots in this year's Inc.5000 ranking, which lists companies based on their percentage of revenue growth from 2016 to 2019. In addition, Conserva Irrigation experienced its highest sales months in June and July 2020 since the company's inception in 2010. With a successful track record and growing number of franchisees, Conserva Irrigation has remained nimble to sustain company growth and even launched a virtual franchisee training this year that includes in-depth videos showing franchisees how to use the irrigation equipment while maintaining social distancing requirements.

Conserva Irrigation is looking to expand further throughout the United States and is seeking single- and multi-unit operators with a range of corporate experience, as well as those looking for add-on or conversion business opportunities. Incentives are also available for veterans, multi-territory agreements and those with existing businesses.

For more information about franchise opportunities with Conserva Irrigation, visit ConservaIrrigation.com, IrrigationFranchise.comorOutdoorLivingBrands.com

About Conserva IrrigationFounded as a franchise in 2017, Conserva Irrigation is the only national outdoor irrigation company founded on the principle of water conservation. The brand is part of Outdoor Living Brands, a market-leading franchisor of premium residential and commercial outdoor living services. With 107 territories operating across the country and growing, Conserva Irrigation is helping home and business owners reduce water consumption through its use of a proprietary irrigation auditing system and water-efficient irrigation products. Conserva Irrigation recently debuted on Entrepreneur Magazine's 2020 Franchise 500 list at #296, followed by recognition in Entrepreneur's 2020 Top New Franchises list at #7. Additionally, the brand was recognized among Financial Times' 2020 America's Fastest Growing Companies list and the Inc. 5000 2020 ranking. For more information about Conserva Irrigation, visit https://www.conservairrigation.com/or OutdoorLivingBrands.com.

Contact:Matt RitterFish Consulting954-893-9150mritter@fish-consulting.com

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Conserva Irrigation Eclipses 100 Territories with Expansion in Oregon, Texas and Pennsylvania - Inside NoVA

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State tax-credit program will help Westmoreland County Food Bank add sprinklers - TribLIVE

Lisa Redmond| The Millbury-Sutton Chronicle

Owner says complaintsmiscommunication

MILLBURY Two months after the town issued a cease-and-desist order against The Care Factory, closing the cannabis-focused art studio and event venue at 175 West Main St., one selectman said she has received numerous complaints that the venue is planning a ladies' pole dancing contest.

Selectman Mary Krumsiek received numerous complaints about the business including an email, which she forwarded to the police chief, that advertises for staff for aladies' pole dancingcontest.

At the Dec. 8 meeting, selectman chairman Mary Krumsiek reported she has received numerous complaints about the business including an email, which she forwarded to the police chief, that advertises for staff for the contest.

But Joe Dion, owner and operator of The Care Factory, told the Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, this is a case of miscommunication.

The pole dancing is nothing risqu, he said. Rather, its a ladies-only event for women who want to have fun and get exercise, Dion said. Pole dancing or pole fitness is an intensive body workout.

Dion opened The Care Factory about a year ago after sinking about $100,000 into his portion of the former mill building. He plans on buying the property. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, his venue is currently closed to the public, he said.

But he is making plans, such as lining up events and hiring staff, so that when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, he can open his 5,000-square-foot space to artists and events of all kinds.

Dion, a cannabis consultant to dispensaries, said he wants to work with the town to turn his venue into something no one has seen before, a flexible studio for art and music, an art gallery and event space.

We strive to complement the creative renaissance in local and global cannabis, hip hop, fashion and tech communities, according to the business' website http://www.carefactoryma.com.

The Care Factory is about creative expression, he said.

Its not a nightclub, he said.

Dion admits there was an incident in October when a guest, who had too much of the free alcohol, hit another guest with a bottle.

The Millbury police log notes that Oct. 16 around 9p.m. the police were called to The Care Factory for a disturbance. Hours later about 2:30a.m. Oct. 17police, again, responded to the location for a disturbance for a report of an assault and battery.

It was bad publicity, sure, but it was one small thing, Dion said.

At the boards Oct. 27 meeting, Acting Town Manager Sean Kelley told the selectmen the event at The Care Factory was terminated by the police and the building inspector, who issued a cease-and-desist order due to issues related to the sprinkler system in the converted former mill building.

Kelley took a hard line stating, We were not going to allow a Station nightclub incident in Millbury, referring to the 2003 fire started by pyrotechnics set off inside the Station nightclub in Rhode Island that left 100 people dead and 230 people injured. Fire officials concluded that a sprinkler system in the club would have saved many lives.

But, Kelley acknowledged that after meeting with all the parties and town officials it appeared there was a miscommunication between the landlord, the tenant and the event organizer.

Dion said his attorney is working with town officials to resolve any issues pertaining to the certificate of occupancy and the sprinkler system. He wants to work with the town and be a good neighbor.

What people dont see are his quiet acts of altruism such as spending $3,000 to provide Thanksgiving to the homeless in the area or raising $13,000 last Christmas to make sure 10 families could celebrate the holiday.

At the Dec. 8 board meeting, new Town Manager Sean Hendricks said he was told that when there are confirmed violations (at The Care Factory), weve gone and rattled their cage a little bit and it goes quiet for a couple of weeks and then they sort of rear their heads, again.

Hendricks said he will look into this latest issue and if there are violations, I think we are down to the third strike. We are at the point where (the town) has given them as many opportunities as we can to be compliant.

The town manager said he will be taking more decisive action in the near future, using law enforcement, inspections and from an administrative standpoint.

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Town manager says The Care Factory facing its third strike' - Millbury-Sutton Chronicle

In marine applications, DESMIs FineFog Fixed Water-Based Firefighting systems offer a safe, low-pressure alternative. After years of success in Asian-built ships, DESMI is now bringing its efficient firefighting products to the European market.

In Asia, DESMI is known not only for its pumps but also for its firefighting systems. More than 180 such systems are supplied to ship owners around the globe though most of these are for ships built in China. There have not been so many installations in European shipyards, so DESMIs Marine and Offshore Sales Manager, Christian Mellergaard wants to reach out to European ship owners and shipyards to change this.

They mainly know us for our pumps and might not know we offer these highly efficient firefighting systems which of course include our pumps and offer some great advantages, he says.

DESMI has the following types of firefighting systems available:

The benefits of FineFog

For machinery spaces, DESMI offers its low-pressure, water-based FineFog system. FineFog dispenses a mist like a fog. You can kill the fire much easier with mist than by just pouring water on it. These millions of small droplets absorb much more heat, and oxygen is displaced locally at fire source. As a result, an inerting effect is generated, effectively killing the fire, Christian says.

Ships will benefit from the automatic system around high-risk objects like combustion machinery, oil-fired boilers or burners, incinerators or purifiers for heated oil fuel. If there is an oil spill that catches fire, then the FineFog nozzles above that application are activated based on a signal from flame detector or smoke detector and the alarm sounds. The crew can still enter the room and continue with conventional firefighting with hoses. Or, if necessary, they can release the total flooding mechanism in engine rooms up to 5036 m3.

And that's where our system has a big advantage over gas-based firefighting systems like CO2, Christian says. While CO2 systems are effective, they come with a risk to human life. With CO2, if you have a fire on your engine room, you first need to evacuate everybody because otherwise the gas will suffocate them. And you have to make sure ventilation is shut off, and the room is completely sealed off. You must also ensure that all machinery in the engine room is stopped. This can take several minutes. In this time, a minor fire can grow quite large, he says. You only have one shot with CO2 you can only release the system once. And also, CO2 has no cooling effect. So that actually means, the fire could reignite very easily. And afterward, you cant go into the engine room or confined space for several hours. You need to be totally sure that the fire is put out first before restarting ventilation of the engine room.

DESMIs FineFog total flooding by water mist offers a great alternative. You can just start it right away. You can activate the main system, and people can be present, if needed it doesn't kill them. It's just water. And its non-toxic. And theres plenty of it. At the same time, you have the cooling effects. That's one of the big advantages. Its effective, it only uses minimal flow rates, and it's easy.Pump from a freshwater tank or sea chest. The maintenance is easy compared to the regular inspections you need to do with CO2 installations. And you dont need extra room for all these CO2 bottles.

Image: The FineFog kills the fire with millions of tiny droplets of water, absorbing heat and oxygen.

Protecting accommodation areas

For living areas, hallways, and other accommodation areas like cafeterias, DESMI offers its automatic water sprinkler system. The most common is a conventional wet-pipe system, meaning the piping is filled with pressurized water from a dependable source. It runs with low pressure.

It starts locally Only sprinklers above or adjacent to the fire are activated to avoid water damage. Its very effective. In most cases, it will kill the fire in a very short time and maybe only with two or three sprinklers active.

A similar, dry pipe system is available for areas where the water in the piping would be subject to freezing. In such a system, air or nitrogen fills the pipes until a fire activates the sprinklers. In that case, air escapes from the pipes and activates the dry pipe valve, causing water to flow from the activated sprinklers.

Image: The water sprinkler system for accommodation can in most cases kill the fire in a very short time with only a few sprinklers active.

Low expansion foam

DESMIs low expansion foam firefighting system protects oil and chemical tanker deck areas, helidecks, or other open deck areas (like loading areas) and closed, horizontal spaces like streamer reel and purifier room. Water will not kill an oil fire. Instead you can apply foam, and this will form a floating blanket. There is no vapor from the oil and the foam also cools the area.

The pressurized foam is delivered by a foam pump or from a tank to a mixing device. Then it is aerated and sprayed directly onto the areas of the fire.

Images: DESMI low-expansion foam firefighting system

Water spray system

DESMI also offers a water spray/deluge/drencher system with open nozzles. It is activated by a fire detection system, opening a deluge valve and letting water flow simultaneously from all the open sprinklers in a specific section. Deluge systems are used for protection against rapidly spreading, high-hazard fires on for example RO-RO and RO-PAX vessels.

Image: Deluge system working on a ferry car deck

Water spray is used to cool fires, and for crew protection on for example gas carriers or chemical tankers, where you cool down the whole deck area and surfaces with water spray. Water spray is also required on vessels transporting class 1 material like containers and open hatch general cargo vessels.

Images: Water spray systems (white piping) for gas carrier and chemical tanker PO deck area.

For self-unloading vessels, water spray is used to kill or suppress fires in material and offloading equipment. Systems can also be installed for dust suppression on these self-unloading vessels.

Images: Water spray in use at a C-Loop system for self-offloading vessel dust suppression, outside and inside views.

The low-pressure advantage

Christian Mellergaard says that of all the advantages of the DESMI firefighting system, the biggest is a low-pressure (max 16-bar) system. Its easy to install and you can use galvanized piping, which is cheaper. Its high precision, the maintenance is easier. This is where DESMI has an advantage over many of the other systems.

In addition, up-to-date development ensures rule compliance and system reliability.

These include regulations from the International Maritime Organizations Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), the international convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and other regulations from Classification and Flag Authorities.

Plus, he adds, the system is designed with DESMIs own pumps and controls in mind. So, we calculate the pump sizes and design the system and make the drawings for the shipyards. And as you know, there are a lot of pumps on a vessel. DESMI can supply these, too. So, we can make an attractive package offer for both pumps and fire system.

Read more here:
The benefits of DESMI onboard firefighting systems - The Motorship

As the cooler weather sets in, grass and plants require less water than during our spring and summer months. Water loss due to transpiration and evaporation decreases as does the growth of the typical Florida landscape.

Some of the common grasses in a Florida landscape are: Bahia (the only drought tolerant grass designated by University of Florida), St. Augustine, Zoysia, and Bermuda. These grasses go dormant as temperatures decrease. Temperatures averaging 82 degrees or less keep these grasses in their dormant stage. Your grass may still remain green during this time.

So what does this mean for you as you continue to want to keep a beautiful lush Florida lawn? Simple. Practice wise water use. You dont want to water inefficiently as this will matter come spring time. Overwatering stresses your lawn. First you should adjust your irrigation system to water one day a week. This will continue to keep the roots healthy receiving the needed nutrients for a nice return in the spring. A typical Florida grass needs approximately 1-inch of water per week to keep it healthy.

This is also a great time to go through your system to make sure there are no broken heads, emitters spraying sidewalks, driveways, your neighbors yard or possibly finding out that there is a hidden program on your controller that is costing you extra money and wasting water.

When spring returns you should always go back through your system and adjust the sprinklers, check for leaks, and make sure your programming is set for the change of weather. It will definitely be warmer and chances are you will need to go back to the 2 day a week schedule.

Checklist to go by for proper irrigation check:

1. Check controller for correct time, date, and day.

2. Manually turn on each zone: Check for proper pressure (low pressure could indicate a line break or a possible missing sprinkler head). Check for proper rotation for rotor sprinkler heads and adjust these to perform efficiently. You dont want to be watering impervious surfaces like the road or sidewalk. Adjust fixed sprays in the same manner.

3. Replace heads that are overgrown with grass and cannot pop up to irrigate properly. St. Augustine should have 6 inch heads and sprays. Some of you probably had your system installed with 4 inch heads or sprays, if this is the case it would be better to replace these with 6 inch ones. This will definitely help with the overall appearance of your lawn.

4. Check and clean filters for all rotors and sprays. If you have Netafim (micro-irrigation), then clean this filter also.

5. Reprogram your controller for the necessary allowance of water per zone. Typically, rotors are set on average for 30 minutes and sprays are set for 15 minutes. Many of you also have the new Netafim, which usually waters on average of 45 minutes. This can be cut back as plants become established. Some Netafim zones can be completely cut off as they are irrigating Florida Friendly Plants.

6. Keep in mind plants have grown or in some cases have died off due to weather or disease. So areas might need different irrigation times depending on the situation. Adjust these areas as necessary.

7. Replace the battery backup on your controller. The battery backup does not operate the controller but keeps run times and start times in the controller in the event of a power outage. This will stop the system reverting back to a default setting.

Need help?

Your Water Conservation Team at Toho Water Authority can assist and advise on your irrigation needs. We conduct Irrigation Evaluations in our service area. Please call us at 407-944-5121.

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Water less in the winter - Skip a week - Osceola News-Gazette

Eric Ratts, of DLZ (top left), and Jake Williams, of CPM (second left) talking to the Board of Works earlier Monday evening.

Greensburg, IN The City of Greensburg awarded the City Hall renovation contract on Monday to Construction Planning Management (CPM) during the City Council meeting. Project manager Eric Ratts, with DLZ presented 8 bids to the City. The CPM bid came in at 3.855 million dollars. This was less than the original estimate for the renovation project. The bid acceptance included additional alternatives to add a fire sprinkler system, extend the roof replacement warranty, refinish the oak doors throughout the building to match the new upgrades, and additional stucco refinishing throughout the building. The project is also estimated to be complete in 175 days, which is well under the original determination of 365 days.

The Council voted 4-1 in favor of the renovation project. Councilman Kevin Fleetwood expressed concern for the overall cost of the project in the current economic climate and made suggestions towards a less costly partial renovation or the items that needed attention sooner, such as updating the HVAC system.

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City moving forward with $3.855 million renovation WRBI Radio - Country 103.9 WRBI

Illusion Theater announced late last week it will be moving from its current downtown Minneapolis theater and office space in the Cowles Center at 528 Hennepin Ave. to become an anchor partner with the Center for the Performing Arts new multi-use neighborhood arts development project at 3754 Pleasant Ave. near 38th and Lyndale in South Minneapolis.

According to an Illusion news release, the Center for Performing Arts is an arts center in the Kingfield Neighborhood. Once a former convent connected to the Incarnation Catholic Church, it was renovated in 1995 to house artist studios, classes and dance and performance spaces. The expansion will be a new four-story performing arts building adjacent to the current building. Included in the new building will be two flexible 100-seat performance spaces.

In 1977, Illusion was the first theater to open studio space in Minneapolis Warehouse District. As the area grew in popularity, so did the rent, so Illusion moved to a building on Washington Avenue and stayed there until a lightning strike set of the sprinkler system and damaged the space in 1985. Illusion moved to Hennepin Center for the Arts and raised money in 1999 to renovate the 7th and 8th floors. The building was moved to Hennepin Avenue in 2011 and is part of the Cowles Center.

Illusion will continue to do virtual production, as it has since the start of the pandemic. The move is expected to take place in spring of 2021.

Excerpt from:
Illusion Theater moving to a new home in Minneapolis - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press