Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Big Time Restaurant Group To Open Second ElisabettasOn West Palm Beach Waterfront In January

Boca Raton, FL Elisabettas Ristorante, Bar and Pizzeria, led byBig Time Restaurant Groups Corporate Culinary Director Lisabet Summa, will open its second location in early January on the West Palm Beach waterfront. The first Elisabettas opened in July 2019 on Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach.

The 300 seat, 10,000 square foot restaurant, located at 185 Banyan Boulevard in West Palm Beach, includes a massive multi-tiered patio overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. The patio will feature a regulation sizebocce ball court, a 25 tall fireplace, an indoor/outdoor bar, a 19th century gelato cart, an outside pizza oven, and two vintage gazebos. In addition, the restaurant will feature a 12-seat private dining room.

Elisabettas Executive Chef will be Andris Salmanis, a Big Time Restaurant Group veteran who most recently served as the executive chef at the Delray Beach location. The General Manager will be Drew Shane who also joins the restaurant from Elisabettas in Delray Beach.

As a sister restaurant to Louie Bossis, Elisabettas has a scratch kitchen and the menu features many of that restaurants classic dishes, like in-house dry-aged steaks, but also includes expanded seafood, chicken and salad options, as well as housemade pasta dishes.

Everything at Elisabettas will be made from scratch including all pasta, breads, sauces, baked goods and gelatos. Elisabettas dry ages its steaks in house and cure its own salumis. The restaurant features three pizza ovens made in Naples, Italy, two located inside the restaurant and one outside. The restaurant will offer 70 wines by the glass and a 400 bottle wine list featuring classic and less known but great value Italian wines and proseccos. The bar will serve classic Italian cocktails from Negronis to Aperol Spritzes. Elisabettas makes all breads and desserts in house, including several kinds of gelato.

Menu items will include the Roman Lunch, a pizza hearth baked bread with burrata and prosciutto di parma, the Cacio e Pepe, and a white pizza topped with Pecorino Romano. Gelato toppings include honeycombe, salted Marcona almond and chocolate brittle.

Elisabettas interior features a salumi bar faced with cool Calacatta marble, two gold tiled beehive shaped Neapolitan pizza ovens.

The dining room features a beamed wood ceiling above rustic basket weave brick walls. The bar tops are pewter, where guests can sink into their drink on red or gold leather custom bar stools. The restrooms are graced with spectacular entry doors with hand molded glass panels and feature Italian mosaic terracotta floors. The womens restroom is donned with ornate vintage mirrors and a hand-painted textured wall covering.

The original tableware was commissioned for Elisabettas and designed by Sarah Campbell of Collier & Campbell. The restaurants interior was designed by Karen Hanlon along with Big Time partner/co-founder Todd Herbst.

The beverage director for Elisabettas is Ervin Machado. He is a level 2 sommelier with a deep knowledge of Italian cocktails and liquors. He also serves as beverage director for Louie Bossis.

The restaurant will serve dinner seven nights a week, lunch Monday-Friday, and brunch with unlimited mimosas, Aperol Spritzes, Bloody Marys and Froze, served Saturdays and Sundays. Elisabettas will offer valet parking and is also within 100 feet of three public parking garages. The restaurant will have all of the latest sanitizing equipment and will operate beyond what the CDC requires to be Covid safe.

Elisabettas Ristorante and Pizzeria is located at 185 Banyan Boulevard, West Palm Beach. For more information, visit Elisabettas.com.

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New Waterfront Restaurant to Open - The Boca Raton Tribune

If you suffer from seasonal depression and worry about your risk factors should you get the coronavirus, this winter could be tougher than usual.

Shorter and cooler days are already limiting opportunities for the boost that comes from socializing and exercising outdoors, where rates of transmission of COVID-19 are lower than indoors. The specter of diminished holidays, a 6.9% unemployment rate, a third wave of the virus and more than 238,000 coronavirus deaths add to the mental health risks this winter. But there are things you can do.

"People have really embraced the outside as the safest place and relied on their ability to be outside to bolster their mental health," says Vaile Wright, senior director of health care innovation for the American Psychological Association.

"I have way more anxiety this year. I have COVID fatigue, and I'm anxious about the coming winter."

"The more you can prepare, the better you'll be," Wright says. "Think proactively about 'What can I do to utilize the outside more?'" For example, she says, maybe invest in an outdoor heater, already a hot commodity.

Seasonal depression, also called winter depression, seasonal affective disorder or SAD, is linked to a biochemical imbalance in the brain prompted by shorter daylight hours and less sunlight in winter. The American Psychiatric Association estimates that about 5% of adults in the U.S. experience SAD. Symptoms include depression and fatigue, carbohydrate cravings, increased appetite and weight gain, and withdrawal from other people.

"The further north you go, the more the rates of seasonal impairment go up," says Dr. Paul Desan, director of the Winter Depression Research Clinic at Yale University.

"Plenty of people don't meet the criteria for major depression but feel lousy in the winter," he adds. "Fifteen percent have a symptom that causes depression that they would like treatment for. And ninety percent of people will say they feel different in some way."

He says that more time indoors with dim light and less time driving to work in bright light in the morning has exacerbated the problem.

"I'm worried about this year," Desan says. "The rates of seasonal changes will be worse."

Depression and Anxiety On the Rise

Though never diagnosed with SAD, Robin Farmer, a 59-year-old writer who lives in Mechanicsville, Va., had all the symptoms when she worked in Connecticut at The Hartford Courant newspaper. "It was a sense of feeling blue, low energy, anxiety. I would stuff my face with carbs to feel better. I remember going back to the apartment and turning on every light," she says. "I have way more anxiety this year. I have COVID fatigue, and I'm anxious about the coming winter."

She is not alone. A survey by Mental Health America, conducted from January to September 2020, found that the number of people with moderate to severe depression and anxiety increased through 2020 and was higher than in the same period before COVID-19. "The number of people looking for help with anxiety and depression has skyrocketed," according to the report.

Dr. XinQi Dong, director of the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research at Rutgers University, notes that hurricanes in the South and fires on the West Coast are also pushing people inside.

People with SAD can have double the trouble: their usual symptoms and what the pandemic has wrought at a time of year when they are especially vulnerable.

"Issues relating to loneliness, despair, suicide, all of them accumulate when COVID limits social connectedness," says Dong. He hopes that when connecting virtually, people can appreciate "that it's not about physical presence, it's about emotional connectedness."

Fabiana Araujo, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at University of Chicago Medicine, says "replacement strategies" can mitigate stress.

"What you want to do is signal to your brain and body that this is a lightand brightplace."

"Of course going outside is wonderful, but there are a number of activities that can be done indoors," says Araujo. "I would highlight the small pleasures that we take for granted, making a cup of tea, preparing an indoor garden, practicing yoga, learning a new handcraftpaying attention to small rituals on a daily basis."

Worrying and uncertainty "are a perfect combination for a storm," she says. "But we have the ability to shift our attention to experiences in our life that are not anxiety-provoking This could be saying, 'I am home, I am safe, I wore a mask.' It's not that we should lower our guards. Let's maintain that and at the same time not let it take over our experience."

The Best Light Therapy

Desan says that for treatment of SAD, a half hour of bright light therapy in the morning, with the proper device at 10,000 lux, under the supervision of a clinician, is safe and effective. SAD lights can be found at many retailers costing from $30 to more than $300. Many are shaped like iPads and boxes, but there are also lamps and even eyeglasses.

Desan cautions that many devices are too dim and too small, though; he and colleagues who tested 24 light therapy boxes found that only seven met their clinical criteria.

He says an early morning walk with exposure to bright light can also alleviate symptoms. Those who have a significant mental health problem should see a mental health clinician, he says.

Getting enough sleep, exercise, and healthy eating are also important; indeed, Farmer felt better when she switched to a diet that minimized carbs and sugar and included healthy fats. And paradoxically, a house fire in 2015 offered the chance to rebuild with overhead lighting that brightened her mood.

Luckily, you don't need a house fire to make choices that can support good health.

Natural Light and Houseplants

Jamie Gold, a consultant in wellness design and author of a book on the topic called "Wellness By Design," says, "You can look at your window coverings to see if they're letting light in during the day while providing privacy. You can also look at adding natural light with solar tubes, similar to skylights but smaller, orientating furniture placements near windows and patio doors, making the most of our outdoor living space and considering lighter paint colors that reflect light rather than absorb it."

She is also a believer in having houseplants, whose health benefits, such as reducing physiological and psychological stress, are documented in a 2015 study.

The59-year-old had winter depression when she lived in New York but left it behind with the cold weather when she moved to San Diego. In her townhouse, artwork and decorative details incorporate "comfort and joy."

"What you want to do is signal to your brain and body that this is a lightand brightplace," Gold says.

Wright encourages people to write letters or pick up the phone, which people seem to be doing, as telecommunications companies report an uptick in phone calls.

"We know that social isolation has a negative effect on well-being. We really still need to be mindful of reaching out to those we love," she says.

"If you know your family won't be together (on Thanksgiving), maybe you Zoom and say what you're grateful for."

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Are You More Likely to Be SAD This Winter? - Next Avenue

The mid-terrace on Keighley Road is set over three floors with four double bedrooms, two reception rooms and ample off street parking on a paved driveway for up to four cars.

The home has gas central heating throughout, with double glazed windows and uPVC front door.

To the ground floor; you enter the home into the porch with hanging space for coats and shoe storage and opens into the hallway.

The hall leads off to the open plan kitchen diner where there is a range of fitted wall and base units with complimentary work surfaces, free standing double oven and hob, integrated dishwasher, fridge /freezer.

Off from the entrance hall is double wood and glass doors opening up into the carpeted living room with neutral decor and abundance of natural light coming through the three double glazed window and patio doors leading into the conservatory.

The focal point of the living room is the gas fire set back into the chimney breast with a fitted wooden floating set into the wall.

Off from the living room you can access the lower ground floor to the Utility space on the stairs landing which leads off to two double bedrooms on the lower ground floor.

The second bathroom is downstairs and is tiled from floor to ceiling, bath with shower over, a low level flush WC, pedestal hand wash basin and shelving for additional storage space.

To the first floor is the master double bedroom with double glazed window the width of the home, the second double bedroom to the rear aspect of the home is carpeted, has two double glazed windows looking out to the views with a central heating radiator.

The third bedroom has; fitted wardrobes, neutral decor and a double glazed window to the front aspect of the home.

The house bathroom comprises of; a low level flush WC, a wash basin and shower over the bath. having vinyl flooring, double glazed frosted window and a central heating radiator.

Outside there are enclosed gardens to the front and the rear of the home with a privacy hedge from the mixture of shrubbery, trees and plants to the front and to the rear with fenced all the way round with a patio, shed and lawn.

There is ample off street parking on the paved driveway for up to four cars to the front of the home.

Excerpt from:
See inside this five bedroom property in Halifax with space to park four cars - Halifax Courier

A modern detached home with four bedrooms and potential for further expansion is for sale with Newton Fallowell, of Newark, at a guide price of 375,000 to 400,000.

The property, in Manor Court, in the village of Carlton-le-Moorland, between Newark and Lincoln, is in a quiet cul-de-sac location.

The brick-built L-shaped property was constructed by locally-renowned building firm Peter Sowerby Homes.

The property has spacious and adaptable accommodation, which is well-presented.

On the ground floor it comprises, briefly, an entrance hall with stairs to the first floor, a cloakroom, two reception rooms, a fitted dining kitchen and a separate fitted utility room.

The first reception room is a large dual-aspect lounge with beamed ceiling, patio doors to the garden, and a feature fireplace.

There is also a separate dining room.

On the first floor there are four bedrooms.

The master bedroom has a dressing area and an en suite bathroom.

There is also a re-fitted wet room.

A particular feature of the property is a large room above the double garage, which has the potential to be used as a home office, further bedroom accommodation, games room or other use.

The double garage also offers potential, subject to gaining the relevant planning consent, for conversion to annexe accommodation. There is also off-road parking space for several vehicles.

There is also a large, enclosed rear garden, with a lawn, paved areas, and established shrubs and trees.

The property is offered for sale with no chain.

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Modern four-bed with double garage and expansion potential for sale - Newark Advertiser

PENNSYLVANIA Polls have closed in Pennsylvania in the Nov.3 general election, with Tuesday being the culmination of days of early and absentee voting a shift seen across the country due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With voting now officially over, Pennsylvanians and voters across the country are waiting to see who wins the state's 20 electoral college votes: Republican President Donald J. Trump or Democratic challenger and former Vice President Joe Biden.

It's unclear exactly when the unofficial vote count will be complete, but Gov. Wolf said that results "probably" will not be available Tuesday.

"On Tuesday night and the day that follows, I encourage all of us to take a deep breath, and just stay calm," Gov. Wolf said. "We will have a fair election."

Wolf expects the final tally to be available within a few days. Unofficial results are due at the latest by Nov. 10, Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar said. Thursday, Nov. 12 is the deadline to declare a recount, if a recount is needed. A recount will be automatically initiated if the race is within 0.5 percentage points, unless the losing candidate waives that right by Wednesday, Nov. 11.

The final deadline for official election results in Pennsylvania is Nov. 23.

Wolf noted that in the past, unofficial election results were known for many races by 8:01 or 8:02 p.m. "That ain't gonna happen this time," he said the week before Election Day.

In Pennsylvania, mail-in ballots are not allowed to be counted prior to Election Day, meaning clerks will be working late into the night. A record number of more than 9 million Pennsylvanians registered heading into the 2020 election, with a record 3.02 million voting by mail-in ballots.

A ruling from the Supreme Court in the week before Election Day upheld the three-day delay in counting ballots, meaning that ballots received as late as Nov. 6 can still be counted.

Voters in Pennsylvania were urged to hand deliver their ballots up to a week before Election Day to ensure they would be counted.

Of course it's not just the presidential election results that residents across the Keystone State are awaiting.

Dozens of state legislature and state senatorial races are up for grabs, as well as numerous seats in U.S. Congress.

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How Long Will It Take To Count The Votes In Pennsylvania? - Montgomeryville, PA Patch

Pittsburghs housing market will stay strong through the end of this year, with low interest rates. And with the election behind us, people are focusing on the future, says Lori Hummel of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services.

It is busy, Hummel says. While there is still an inventory problem we need more inventory there are good options out there for people. And if someone is thinking about listing a house, nows the perfect time to do it. Your house never looks better than it does around the holidays when its decorated for people to come visit.

There are apartments, townhomes and some spec homes for those wanting new construction, as often is the case with people moving here from out of state, Hummel says.

Were seeing a lot of that people moving in from other areas as a result of Covid. Someone who will be working from home might say, Why am I staying here in D.C., in an expensive rental, when I can move back to Pittsburgh and be near family?

The higher-end market can be a little more challenging, but even at the $400,000 price mark there are options in and around the city. Just be prepared: Homes are still selling quickly. Heres a sampling across the region to see what this price point gets you in different neighborhoods.

SOUTH

752 North Meadowcroft Avenue in Mount Lebanon.

Neighborhood: 752 N. Meadowcroft Ave., Mt. Lebanon

Asking price: $399,000

Style: Colonial

Description: Built in 1940, this 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath brick home has a 1-car garage, fenced backyard and hardwood floors throughout. The living room has a fireplace and access to a slate patio; the kitchen has a pantry and breakfast bar. There are touches of character throughout, such as a window seat at the top of the stairs and a built-in bookshelf in the family room.

1800 McMillan Road in Upper St. Clair.

Neighborhood: 1800 McMillan Road, Upper St. Clair

Asking price: $399,900

Style: Colonial

Description: This brick home has 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a large landscaped yard and a 2-car garage. The central hall with an open staircase and the main floors hardwood floors speak to formality, but the family room with a gas fireplace and the eat-in kitchen make this a welcoming home. Theres a finished basement with a wet bar and full bath. A park is within walking distance.

EAST

6332 Burchfield Avenue in Squirrel Hill.

Neighborhood: 6332 Burchfield Ave., Squirrel Hill South

Asking price: $399,900

Style: Three-story

Description: This 4-bedroom, 2-bath home on a tree-lined street is located near Frick Park and all the amenities of Squirrel Hill. Beyond the front porch is a well-kept interior with hardwood floors and good-sized rooms. The bedrooms have large closets and the third-floor bedroom could be an office or play space. There is a back porch, fenced yard and a detached garage.

458 44th Street in Lawrenceville.

Neighborhood: 458-44th St., Lawrenceville

Asking price: $395,000

Style: Townhome

Description: This remodeled townhome is indicative of what makes Lawrenceville so popular. Built in 1900, the 3-bedroom, 1.5-bath property is move-in ready. The hardwood floors, kitchen and baths have been completely redone; an enclosed porch could be a four-season room. The attached garage with parking for 2-3 vehicles is an unusual bonus for this neighborhood.

NORTH

113 Charterwood Drive in Ross.

Neighborhood: 113 Charterwood Dr., Ross

Asking price: $395,000

Style: Multi-level

Description: This 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath home in the North Hills School District has an open floor plan and a spacious yard made for families. The master bedroom has two walk-in closets; an office/den on the main floor could be a fifth bedroom. The kitchen has been remodeled, with an island, and the family room has a decorative fireplace. Theres a 2-car integral garage.

2394 Bellwood Drive in Franklin Park.

Neighborhood: 2394 Bellwood Dr., Franklin Park

Asking price: $405,000Style: Colonial

Description: Built in 1979, this stately 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath home has mature landscaping and wooded views. The kitchen opens to the family room, with a wood-burning fireplace. Bedrooms are large, with double closets, and the bathrooms have been updated. The 2-car garage has cabinets and a work bench. Theres a back porch and a covered patio.

WEST

403 Patriot Drive in Carnegie.

Neighborhood: 403 Patriot Dr., Carnegie

Asking price: $399,100

Style: Two-story

Description: Built just four years ago, this 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath home has an open floor plan and 4-car garage. The main floor includes a bonus room and sunroom; the laundry room is on the second floor. In the finished basement, theres a multi-purpose room with a kitchenette and media/theatre area. Theres a large backyard, and the neighborhood has a swimming pool.

200 Church Drive in Coraopolis.

Neighborhood: 200 Church Dr., Coraopolis

Asking price: $399,924

Style: 1.5-Story

Description: This home, built is 1987, is well-appointed inside and out. Custom built, it has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, an oversized 3.5-car garage and a covered deck. Design details include vaulted ceilings, two fireplaces, built-ins and a 14-by-16 closet in the master suite. The first floor has a laundry room and computer room. Gardens with a stone waterfall surround the house.

STRIP DISTRICT

2512 Penn Avenue in the Strip District.

Neighborhood: 2512 Penn Ave., Strip District

Asking price: $399,900

Style: Two-story

Description: This beautiful remodel in the heart of the Strip District features exposed brick walls, laminate flooring, a basement game room, a main-level laundry room and a fenced backyard. Built in 1890, the home has two bedrooms and 1.5 baths and an easy, open floor plan. Its close to Pittsburgh Opera and DiAnoias Eatery.

16 Greenbush Street in Mt Washington.

Neighborhood: 16 Greenbush St., Mt. Washington

Asking price: $399,000

Style: Multi-family Victorian

Description: Built in 1920, this home has a great floor plan and outstanding views from all floors. The high ceilings and detailed woodwork show off its Victorian design. The first floor could be a 1-bedroom apartment; the second floor has a living room, dining room, kitchen, den and laundry room. The third floor has a master suite and two more bedrooms.

Looking for more real estate? ReadWhat $350,000 will buy you in Pittsburgh right now.

Pittsburgh housing marketPittsburgh real estate

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What $400,000 will buy you in Pittsburgh right now - NEXTpittsburgh

At 16 years old, Shawna Huston found herself homeless after her mother died in a car accident. At 21, she remodeled and fixed up a rental she was occupying in exchange for lower rent. Three decades later, Huston would continue to spruce up and update living spaces and homes all around the county, finding her home in many.

There is something that my friends call a quintessential Shawna House, Huston said about homes she chooses to remodel. Generally, the home will have a big, beautiful front porch, be a beautiful farmhouse style with a lot of character. Those are signs of what people would call a Shawna House.

Huston got her start in remodeling homes not long after she fixed up her rental, and her inspiration to work in real estate goes back even further. When she was a child, she would ride in the back of her parents car as they looked at real estate. While she might not have understood everything her parents were talking about she knew one thing: real estate was exciting and there were opportunities everywhere. Following her rental fixup at 21, Huston bought a 10-acre parcel of land in La Center and divided the property into two separate 5-acre plots. She sold one of the 5-acre plots and used the funds to put in a well, septic system and build her first spec-house, a house you build for profit. Once she was finished, a career was born, and for the next 30 years, Huston would see, do and participate in every part of the remodeling process.

Buying, selling, designing, flipping. After 30 years, there isnt much I havent seen or done, she said, mentioning that she has worked on everything from tiny houses to homes with more than five bedrooms.

While there are a few aspects that make up a typical Shawna House, Huston said she has done everything from a small remodel that required just a new paint job, to completely renovating a house from the ground up.

When looking at homes to fix up, Huston uses a two-step process. First, she decides whether or not the project will pencil out, a phrase she uses to describe whether or not the project will work out financially. To decide whether or not it's worth it, Huston takes into account finances and how much work she is going to need to put into the house. Because Huston does nearly every part of the remodel on her own accord without contractors, some homes can take years to complete. Secondly, Huston takes into account what the house needs and where she is at personally.

I ask myself, do I want to bust my butt right now or just make this a quick flip? she said.

Instead of living in a permanent residence and flipping homes on the side, Huston moves into the house she is working on so she is always there. The home shes currently residing in with her husband Joshua, who is helping he with the project, was built around the time of the Great Depression and is a four-square with a big solid porch and has six bedrooms. According to Huston, the Woodland home was built to house workers building the railway that runs through the town in the early 1900s. Huston said it was in terrible condition when she bought it a year ago as the home lacked heating as well as having both porches caved it when she bought it. She finally moved into the home in July.

Its starting to get very cozy now, she said, mentioning that while she's doing the remodeling work, she does everything she can to not get emotionally attached to the home.

The home Shawna Huston is currently living in was built around the time of the Great Depression and housed people building the railroad. Huston said the home was in terrible condition when she bought it and is hopeful for its future.

Another unique thing Huston adds to her builds and remodels is the presence of a real wood fireplace or wood stove. Many places Huston chooses to remodel have them already installed, but if they dont, Huston makes sure they do. As to why she does it, Huston said she grew up with wood-fired heating in her home and went to bed with a potato at her feet to keep the bed warm. She wanted those memories in every house.

I just love a home that oozes comfort and joy, she said. I want everyone to feel welcome.

Huston does nearly every single part of the remodeling project on her own. If a house needs tile, shes there to install it. Fresh coats of paint and primer are applied by her as well. Everything down to the foundation is touched by Huston to ensure the final product is perfect.

Ive knocked down so many walls you wouldnt believe, she said.

Even though she does most of the heavy lifting, Huston said her favorite part of working on homes is the design process. She said houses and real estate are her art form and compared a piece of real estate to a blank canvas. She said many people will look at a house and think what a piece of crap, but Huston said she can see the end product in her mind, no matter the current situation.

People will come back a year later and see the work Ive done and just be blown away, she explained. In my mind, all I ever see is the end product.

After completing 24 homes in the Clark and Cowlitz county areas, Huston said she isnt done fixing up houses yet, but does hope to eventually retire to a piece of land with property. For now, she is the self-described queen of the five-year plan and said she always plans out five years in the future. The five-year plan keeps her on her toes and holds her accountable for her projects. Some of her favorite projects of years past were an older farmhouse in the Hockinson Area she dubbed the Original Hockinson Farmhouse and a project where she worked on a cottage near Lake Merwin with her daughter.

As Huston looks at prospects of retiring from the business, she continues to make a mark in her family. Her daughter, currently abroad in the United Kingdom, seems to have found the same love of real estate as her mother. Huston said her daughter's love of house flipping was inspired by growing up in it. Because the family never had a permanent residence, her kids were used to moving into a house and seeing every aspect of the remodel process.

They see value in something that no one else wants, Huston said of her children.

As far as permanently settling down in the future, Huston said her dream is to own a large plot of land to stay on with a beautiful house and landscaping. Because she gardens in her free time, she wants her permanent residence to have a place for garden and landscaping work. Most of all, she wants a place where she can enjoy life and create a place where a family can thrive.

Shawna Huston holds her son, Sean Haug, on the porch in front of one of her favorite projects that she dubs the Battle Ground Parkway House in 1999.

Coming where I came from at 16 and not having those things, its extremely important to me, she said. Im looking for a place where I can enjoy my grandkids and a life well lived.

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Flipping it around: Local spends time flipping houses all over the county - The Reflector

Darrell Hofheinz and Shannon Donnelly| Palm Beach Daily News

Now their neighbor might be coming home to stay.

And just like any neighborhood, opinions about the big news in Palm Beach that PresidentDonald Trump would be leaving the White House after one term following his defeat by former Vice President Joe Biden varied Saturday from somber to joyful.

"I'm disappointed," said John Scarpa, a longtime friend of President Trump. "As an American, I'm worried aboutour future."

Palm Beacher Blair Brandt, a political strategist and Republican fundraiser who helped lead money-gatheringefforts for the president in the SunshineState, said Trump had won an impressive victory in the state of Florida during Tuesdays election.

But he declined further comment due to the legal challenges the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee are waging in multiple states.

Biden, a longtime Delaware senator who served two terms as vice president under President Barack Obama, secured enough electoral votes Saturday to claim the presidencyafter winning the state count in Pennsylvania. Joining him as vice president will be California Sen. Kamala Harris, who made history as the first Black woman and the first person of South Asian descent to be elected to the second-highest office in the land.

The news of Biden's victory left Kevin Byrne "absolutely elated."

"I have regained my faith in my fellow citizens," he said. "It's like waking up from a nightmare, especially this past week."

Democrat Leta Austin Foster, a Palm Beach interior designer and retailer, alsowas relieved and happy to hear the race being called or Biden, though she sounded a note of caution.

But I know its not all over yet, she said, referring to Trumps ongoing efforts to challenge the election results. Unfortunately, that just makes people doubt the legitimacy of the vote. Im not surprised at that. I wish I were, but Im not.

>>RELATED: Trump has left his imprint on island

She added: What Im really sad about is that (the last four years) exposed how many people in this country are really racist and thats so sad. But hopefully, things will get better.

The presidential election exposed deep divisions in American society, with one side certain that a second Trump presidency would usher in a right-wing autocracy, and the other just as convinced that a Biden presidency would mean a triumph for socialism. Voters turned out in record numbers: About 161 million people voted, with Biden on track Saturday afternoonto win the popular vote by more than 4 million ballots.

Another key concern for residentssuch as Bruce Langmaid was a possible change in fiscal policy. Trump, whose secretary of commerce is fellow Palm Beacher Wilbur Ross, signed a tax cut into law in 2017 that was widely seen as beneficial to the nation's wealthiest citizens.

Langmaid said hefears a Biden Administration will increase his tax burden.

"I'm worriedabout my income taxes going up," he said. "And I wonder what this means for property values in Palm Beach."

>> RELATED: Trump has raised the town's profile

Jeff Alderton was unhappy about Saturday's development, and suggested that election anomalies were responsible.

"This has been a very difficult election process for me. It was a national election, which should have national standards ... not state-run standards, which may have interfered with the voting count, hence the outcome," he said.

But Alderton also said what mattered going forward was how the new president would work with the Senate, and "most importantly how we as Americans will be heardand react in a level-headed and respectful way."

Hanging over the election was the coronavirus pandemic, now into its eighth month and resurging strongly across the United States, where more than 236,000 people have died of the contagion and nearly 10 million people have been infected.

Former Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jeff Greene, an island resident, said he is confident that Biden is better equipped than Trump to effectively tackle the demands of the coronavirus crisis.

I have been so disappointed by this administrations response to the pandemic, Greene said. Im thrilled that we have an adult in Vice President Biden who will finally address this issue.

Greene hasnt agreed with many of Trumps decisions and policies including his support of automatic assault rifles, which Greene described as weapons of mass destruction," andthe presidents appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Palm Beach Democrat Bram Majtlis said hebelieves Biden and Harris will work to protect the rights of LGBTQ people, including the legality of same-sex marriages. He and his husband, Nick Gold, were together more than 30 years before they got married a year ago.

The LGBTQ community will be in good hands with this new ticket, Majtlis said.

Democrats, he added, must work to bridge the divides that characterized the contentious election. Bidens maturity and his reputation as a centrist, Majtlis said, will help that effort.

We should reach out our hand to make one America," Majtlis said. "I think we need to be civil, and civility has been lacking over the last four years.

Nancy Brinker, a lifelong Republican and former U.S. ambassador to Hungary, also expressed hope for conciliation.

"Whether youre a Republican, Democratic or independent, we can all take a strong measure of gratification and pride from the record turnout and participation that we have witnessed in our democratic process," she said. "I am especially heartened by the record number of women who were elected to office and the message that sends to young girls across the country."

Brinker, who also served as chief of protocol at the State Department, said the world looks to America for leadership, and that means the different sides must work together.

"It is my hope that our elected leaders in Washington, regardless of party, understand that collaboration in the name of freedom and progress is no vice. There is far more that unites our great nation than divides us, she said.

Foster, the Democratic interior decorator, made national news when she was the sole person to show up in June for what she thought would be a Palm Beach protest against the death of George Floyd, the Black man who died while being detained by police in Minneapolis.

She said she is hoping Biden can help heal divisions in the country. Hes always been an across-the-aisle man, she said.

Perhaps the last word belongs to Bill Bone, who took a uniquely Palm Beach view.

"I'm glad the election has been called so I can stop talking about this and start loving my neighbors again," he said."I will never again get upset when it seems like all we worry about is parking, leaf blowers, beach sand, and the size of the second story on the new house down the street."

*

Staff writer Greg Stepanich contributed to this report.

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On the island of Palm Beach, reactions to Biden win range from gloom to elation - Palm Beach Daily News

For Michelle, an outdoor living space was a must-have.

I like to bring my cats outside with me, she says. We put them on long leashes.

A space for a table so she and Ellery can dine in the fresh air was a consideration, as well. For that reason, Michelle was excited to see the six-foot seven-inch by 16-foot two-inch balcony off the great room.

Among the couples favourite spaces within the home is its generously proportioned U-shaped kitchen.

My mother said, I know if I love a place after I cook in the kitchen and your kitchen is perfect, says Michelle, pointing to the quality of appliances and well-designed food preparation space as personal highlights.

Belwood also has a two-bedroom townhome model called the Avenue.

What makes Belwood Park so appealing is that buyers can get a home from a builder with a good reputation that has great layouts and finishes, at a great price point, says Belwood Park sales associate Andy Issik.

They also feature the ability to customize finishes to reflect the buyers own taste and personality to really make it feel like home.

As a quick possession home, the couples finishes were already in place. But they were pleased with what they saw from Stone, the interior collection featured in their home.

Its a good contrast, says Ellery, adding that the use of greys elevate other colours within their space.

I used to be an interior decorator 10 years ago, adds Michelle, who currently works with new Canadians at a not-for-profit. They have beautiful colour swatches. Its like, just pick one and youll be happy.

DEVELOPMENT: Belwood Park.BUILDER: StreetSide Developments.AREA: Belmont is a community in south Calgary.DEVELOPER: Anthem United.PRICES: Townhomes at Belwood Park start in the $250,000s.HOURS: The sales centre is open 2 to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and noon to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays.INFORMATION:belwoodpark.com

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New home in Belwood Park just as connected as couple's former inner-city digs - Calgary Herald

When the majority of couples want to commit to each other they get engaged. Hiromi Yoshinaga and Zeb Whitehead got a business instead.

We joke about getting this instead of rings, Whitehead said about the Zutto Vintage and Antiques on the water side of downtown at 164 Bjune Drive SE.

They met through online dating 1 1/2 years ago. He has three kids, and she has a daughter; they all live in the area. She had owned several online businesses in Japan before coming to the states in 2005.

Yoshinaga, of Bainbridge Island, and Whitehead, of Seabeck, took over the store Sept. 1. Whitehead is retired military, but works as a mechanic on the shipyards. Yoshinaga worked in the North Kitsap School District as a secretary and paraeducator in Poulsbo.

She started looking for other opportunities when she was furloughed due to COVID-19. She collects antiques anything from mid-century to modern anything that catches my eye or is unique, she said. She had been selling antiques at Meli Melo for three years.

After buying it, they changed the name to Zutto, which means for eternity in Japanese in honor of their long history on Bainbridge Island. That includes the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and how the islanders supported them.

Thankfully, in many cases neighbors and friends stepped up and took care of these things until they were released over three years later, Yoshinaga says in an email. Zeb and I want to continue that legacy and show the true community spirit of Bainbridge Island that still thrives on Winslow Way today.

Yoshinaga said she became interested in old stuff as a child since her dad was an antique dealer.

I remember going dumpster diving together looking for treasures, she said with a laugh, adding she spent half of her early years in Japan and half in Vancouver, B.C.

Whitehead said hes new to the business, although he grew up in a 100-year-old plantation-style house with old living quarters below. There were a lot of artifacts there, he said.

Yoshinaga said all of the 28 vendors stayed when they took over, and while business was slow at first things have gotten better.

Lately its picking up, and it should get better during the holidays, she said. Were getting a lot more foot traffic from the ferry.

One key is letting people know where it is. Since its on the back side of Winslow Way, I didnt even know it was here, Whitehead said.

Mothers like to shop there. Moms come to take a break and get away from schooling their kids at home, Yoshinaga said.

Zutto has a classy look to it. Shes our decorator, Whitehead said of Yoshinaga, who has a design background with interior decorating.

Each vendor brings a unique style and a sense of creativity that brings life to the store. Hiromi has a brilliant eye for vintage and antiques. With the help of our lovely staff, she has transformed the store into a world of wonders, Zeb says in the email.

Rock Band and superhero items are in this display.

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Couple that buys business together, stays together - Bainbridge Island Review